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RugbyU: Springboks flank Botha out for season

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 11:31

South Africa flanker Arno Botha has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing knee ligaments in a Test victory over Scotland on Saturday. Making only his second Springboks appearance, the 21-year-old Northern Bulls forward was forced to go off just four minutes into a match won 30-17 by the hosts. The loss of Botha leaves coach Heyneke Meyer to choose from Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Pieter 'Lappies' Labuschagne and Francois Louw for the two flanker positions in the June 22 Test against Samoa. dl/pi

RugbyU: Gatland's challenge to patched up Lions

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:51

Coach Warren Gatland has challenged his patched-up British and Irish Lions to maintain their momentum and remain unbeaten on tour with victory over the ACT Brumbies on Tuesday. With an eye on next weekend's opening Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Gatland will give three players their Lions debuts while veteran Welsh winger Shane Williams will be 'dropping in' for a three-day stint. The Lions are unbeaten in five tour games and on Sunday named six players of their matchday 23-man squad from outside their original 37-strong selection.

RugbyU: Wallabies probe for roaring Lions weakness

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:50

Australian rugby has been looking for weak spots in the British and Irish Lions armour as the tourists brush aside all comers in the countdown to next weekend's first Test against the Wallabies. With Tuesday's game to come against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, Warren Gatland's formidable side have totted up 33 tries and amassed 261 points in their five wins and there have only been a couple of encounters where the Lions have been fully extended on tour.

RugbyU: All Blacks regain Carter; France lose Picamoles

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:50

Ace All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter has been cleared to play in next week's third Test against France, while Les Bleus have lost two key players. Influential backrower Louis Picamoles and veteran pivot Frederic Michalak were both injured in Saturday's second Test here, won by the All Blacks 30-0, and have been ruled out for next week. A cracked hand bone sidelined Carter from the first Test in Auckland, won 23-13 and Saturday's second Test victory which allowed the All Blacks to wrap up the series with a game to spare.

RugbyU: All Blacks say stout defence kept France pointless

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:46

The All Blacks hailed their resolute defending after they held France scoreless for the first time ever in a resounding 30-0 victory which sealed the three-Test series. Although the All Blacks won on the back of a smart kicking game, and scored trademark running tries in what was their 500th international, a five-minute period of solid defence was seen as the turning point.

RugbyU: Selection headache for England's Lancaster

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 06:33

England head coach Stuart Lancaster admits he faces some tricky decisions before he finalises his Elite Player Squad in August. Lancaster is due to name a 33-man party and another 33 players in the second-string Saxons side and his choices have not got any easier following the 2-0 win over Argentina. The coach rested five players - Danny Care, Chris Robshaw, Brad Barritt, Toby Flood and Chris Ashton for the tour to South America and had ten on British and Irish Lions duty in Australia before Christian Wade's call-up on Saturday.

RugbyU: Test result - Canada 14 Ireland 40

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 05:30

Result of a Test between Canada and Ireland at BMO Field on Saturday: Canada 14 Ireland 40 (H-t: 9-12) Scorers Canada - Tries: Tyler Ardron; Penalties: James Pritchard (3) Ireland: Tries: Fergus McFadden (3), Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Tommy O'Donnell; Conversions: Ian Madigan (4), Paddy Jackson afp

RugbyU: Wallaby Kimlin to lead Brumbies against Lions

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 03:31

Wallaby squad members Peter Kimlin and Scott Sio will lift an under-strength ACT Brumbies named on Sunday for their tour match against the British and Irish Lions in Canberra this week. The duo were given permission to leave the Wallaby's training camp for Tuesday's clash, ahead of the first Test in Brisbane next week. Number eight Kimlin will skipper the Australian Super 15 conference leaders, who will be without six other Wallaby squad members.

RugbyU: Six try Ireland rout Canada 40-14

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 03:30

An Ireland side depleted by the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia brought Canada to earth with a thud on Saturday with a 40-14 Test triumph at BMO Field. Canada came into the contest riding high, after victories over Tonga, Fiji, the United States and Russia. Ireland, in contrast, were without many of their biggest stars. Nevertheless, the eighth-ranked team in the world lived up to their favorites' billing, breaking open the contest in the second half after taking a 12-9 lead into the interval.

RugbyU: Brumbies team to play Lions

Agence France-PresseJune 15, 2013 23:32

The ACT Brumbies team to play the British and Irish Lions in Canberra on Tuesday: Brumbies (15-1) - Jesse Mogg; Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Clyde Rathbone; Matt Toomua, Ian Prior; Peter Kimlin (capt), Colby Faingaa, Scott Fardy; Sam Carter, Leon Power; Scott Sio, Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith. Replacements: Josh Mann-Rea, Jean-Pierre Smith, Chris Cocca, Etienne Oosthuizen, Jordan Smiler, Mark Swanepoel, Robbie Coleman, Zack Holmes. afp