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Brave Wales lack the guile to stop Carter masterplan

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

New Zealand may well have lost their aura of invincibility in other arenas of world rugby, but in Cardiff they still seem invincible as ever. In extending their staggering period of dominance over Wales to 56 years and 21 Tests, the All Blacks forced Warren Gatland to seek a target elsewhere. The home coach duly turned his anger on the referee.

David Flatman: Green and gold giants finally pack a punch

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Much to my disappointment, the scrummage did not quite develop into the headline-grabbing, tone-setting confrontation I had hoped for yesterday at Twickenham. Inevitably there was the odd penalty either way, but not the violent, passionate, 2005-esque flare-up we all so desired.

Ruck and Maul: Family ties, family tries as identical twins line up for Baa-Baas

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The Barbarians have picked their first set of twins, and identical ones at that, to face the Combined Services in the annual Remembrance Match at Aldershot on Wednesday evening. Rob and James Lewis – a scrum-half from London Welsh and a centre with Coventry respectively – have played together before with Wales Sevens and Ebbw Vale, and were opponents last Friday when their clubs met in the Championship. There is fun to be had with these chromosomal coincidences. In the 1950s, cricket's Alec and Eric Bedser were playing in an exhibition match at The Oval when Alec bowled the first three balls of an over to the great Frank Woolley medium-fast, and Eric sent the remaining three down as spinners. Woolley was clearly none the wiser, remarking to the wicketkeeper: "Wow, that young man's got a wonderful change of pace, hasn't he?" On the other (if identical) hand, Manchester United recently got into bother with their Brazilian twins Fabio and Rafael and a case of mistaken identity over a booking at Barnsley. The Lewis boys have been there, done that, as dad Steve, a former scrum-half and chief executive of the WRU, told Ruck and Maul: "They had an area final at school when Rob put in a high tackle but James was the one sent to the sin-bin. And it's happened more than once in Gwent age-group matches that Rob would be captain and the referee would turn to James to ask whether he wanted the kick or choice of ends." A proud spectator at Aldershot will be the twins' grandfather Ernie, 85, who was a touch judge at the Barbarians' famous 1973 meeting with New Zealand. Another family member will be there in spirit, the remembrance spirit – sister Abbie is an Army lieutenant who has just returned safely to Germany after a three-month tour in Afghanistan.

Geraghty needs time to blossom for Red Rose

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Martin Johnson's hand may have been forced when he inked his back line to face Australia in the Autumn International series opener, with Delon Armitage and Riki Flutey ruled out through injury, but the new-look midfield partnership of Shane Geraghty and Dan Hipkiss in particular, failed to ignite England as they crumbled to a woeful 18-9 defeat at Twickenham yesterday.

Wilkinson's return not enough to save flat-footed England

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

There is a long list of troubling tasks facing Martin Johnson and his cohort of England coaches this morning. So low did the sweet chariot swing yesterday that the metronomic swipe of Jonny Wilkinson's boot was drowned out by chimes of doom among a Twickenham crowd who cheered their returning hero whenever they could but were not so sycophantic as to ignore the discordant rugby unfolding in front of them.

All Blacks too strong for brave Wales

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:00:01 GMT

New Zealand withstood another brave performance by Wales to continue their mastery of this fixture.

England beaten by Australia

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:20:04 GMT

Australia beat England 18-9 at Twickenham today after sorting out some early indiscipline that threatened to hand the home side victory.

Shane Geraghty: 'I know Wallabies are out to get me'

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

An awful lot has happened to England's rugby team since Shane Geraghty suddenly materialised at Twickenham in the spring of 2007 and ran Saturn-like rings round a high-rolling French back division containing such luminaries as Christophe Dominici, Vincent Clerc and Yannick Jauzion. A good deal has happened to Geraghty too, precious little of it a cause for celebration, but when he takes the field against the Wallabies today, it will be as if the last two and a half years never happened. That's the thing about supernovas: they always appear to be shining for the first time.

Springboks humbled by Leicester

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Peter Wheeler was not wearing a hat last night which will have come as a relief to Austin Healey who had promised that he would eat the Leicester chief executive's headgear if his former club won this game. Healey's gloomy prediction that Leicester would be "tonked" was not just another controversial comment from the "Liverpool Lip" but was based on the sensible premise that a depleted Tigers would stand little chance against the World Cup holders, albeit the Springboks' midweek dirt-trackers.

Recuperating Vickery to miss start of Six Nations

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Wasps prop Phil Vickery will miss the start of the Six Nations despite undergoing successful neck surgery. Vickery requires a minimum three months of rehabilitation from the injury sustained against Racing Metro last month.

Roberts brings home Lions spirit

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Through all the mind games, reverse swipes and subtle putdowns that have characterised a build-up that at the very best could be described as tetchy, the Wales and New Zealand camps have at least managed to agree on one thing. Jamie Roberts will be a key man at the Millennium Stadium this evening - if not the key man.

All Blacks confirm Carter will start

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

New Zealand would like everyone to know, Warren Gatland in particular, that Dan Carter will most certainly, most definitely, most undeniably be starting at the Millennium Stadium today. "He's assured me all week he will be playing," said Richie McCaw. "And he better not be lying to me."

James Lawton: England rugby may soon have to face hard truth that Johnson is not fit to rule

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Six years after achieving one of the most stunning moments in the history of English sport Jonny Wilkinson might have been wise to take his sainted, miraculously resurrected bones for a flying visit to Lourdes before coming home for today's assignment against Australia at Twickenham.

Shane Geraght: 'I know Wallabies are out to get me'

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Brian Ashton: Weaker Wallabies must rediscover killer instinct

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

It goes without saying that this afternoon's Twickenham international between England and Australia is an important one for both countries as they seek to build confidence and continuity ahead of the next World Cup, but I have to confess that it's more difficult than usual to take a firm view on how things will turn out. A big part of me struggles to see the Wallabies winning, for reasons I will explain. There again, there is always something perilous about writing off any Australian team ahead of the event.

Johnson desperate for first big scalp

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

England have spent the last decade and a half beating Australia in all the games that really matter: the World Cup quarter-finals of 1995 and 2007 are prime examples, along with the 2003 contest in Melbourne, where Sir Clive Woodward's team proved to everyone except a couple of one-eyed sheep farmers from Wagga Wagga that they were the outstanding side on the planet. Not forgetting another little tussle in Sydney later the same year, when a bloke by the name of Wilkinson dropped a goal and Martin Johnson cracked a smile for the first time in his adult life.

Vickery operation a success

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:39:16 GMT

England prop Phil Vickery will miss the start of the RBS 6 Nations despite undergoing successful neck surgery.

Carter desperate to win fitness battle

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:35:17 GMT

New Zealand star Dan Carter is confident he will be fit to face Wales in Cardiff tomorrow.

Lawes can make England impact insists Saints director

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:32:57 GMT

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has backed second row Courtney Lawes to make a big impact for England against Australia on Saturday - provided he is given an opportunity off the bench.

The ten best England v Australia rugby matches

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:06 GMT

England and Australia renew hostilities at Twickenham this weekend in their latest Cook Cup clash.

Gatland says Carter is not fit

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The Wales coach, Warren Gatland, said yesterday that he does not expect New Zealand's Dan Carter to be fit enough to face his side at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow. Carter has been named in the All Blacks XV, but has not trained this week as a result of a calf injury.

Australians bring back Smith to haunt Johnson

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

No rugby player wins 100-plus caps for his country without knowing a thing or two about this rough old game, so George Smith's return to the Wallaby back row for tomorrow's sell-out meeting with England at Twickenham gives Martin Johnson and company something to ponder. The rugged little flanker from the ACT Brumbies is one of eight survivors from the side that started the resounding victory in London a year ago – Australia's biggest in the capital in almost a quarter of a century – and in his department at least, the tourists look stronger this time around. Oh dear.

Lawrence Dallaglio: 'England have had no strategy since we won the World Cup'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Lawrence Dallaglio ambles out of the room, checking the messages on his mobile phone. A couple of minutes later he returns. "About all that England stuff..." he says and then pauses. This zealous communicator, a happy chewer of the fat, for once does not have the words immediately to hand. "I'm a patriot," he states after a moment, and shrugs. "All I want is to see England doing well."

Gatland: Carter not fit

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Australia expect England to prove toughest test

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:21:25 GMT

Australia coach Robbie Deans believes Saturday's Twickenham showdown with England will be the toughest assignment of their autumn tour.