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RugbyU: Reds down Sharks with first-half try blitz

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 18:16

A dazzling four-try opening half set up the Queensland Reds for a 32-17 Super 15 victory to end a run of outs against the Coastal Sharks in Brisbane on Friday. The 2011 Super Rugby champions shredded the Sharks' defence to earn a four-try bonus point in just 34 minutes before the South Africans recovered to win the second half 14-3. The Durban-based Sharks had won six of their previous seven encounters against the Reds, including dumping Queensland out of last season's playoffs 30-17 in Brisbane, but the Reds were clearly superior on this occasion.

RugbyU: Blues hold off Rebels second-half uprising

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 17:45

The Auckland Blues survived a second-half fightback by the Melbourne Rebels to force their way back into the Super 15 top six with a 36-32 win in an 11-try thriller at Eden Park on Saturday. Former sevens star Frank Halai laid the platform for the victory with his hattrick of tries in the first half, while Francis Saili added another two and Rene Ranger scored the Blues' lone second half try.

RugbyU: Watson, Catrakilis star as Kings bounce back

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 14:00

Flank Luke Watson and fly-half Demetri Catrakilis starred as Southern Kings put a three-week Super 15 nightmare behind them by defeating Otago Highlanders 34-27 Saturday. Injury-prone Watson was given back the captaincy of the southern hemisphere rookies and scored two pushover tries during the first half at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Indian Ocean city Port Elizabeth. Catrakilis became the first South African in seven years to top 100 points in his debut Super Rugby season as he reached 107 thanks to four conversions and two penalty goals from seven shots at goal.

RugbyU: Tigers tame Quins tio reach Premiership final

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 14:00

Tom Croft starred as Leicester reached a ninth successive Premiership final with a 33-16 semi-final win over reigning champions Harlequins on Saturday. England flanker Croft made a fine case to be one of the British and Irish Lions starting back-rows in their upcoming Test series with Australia, scoring Leicester's third try -- a 50 metre solo score -- to cap an impressive display. Leicester will meet the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Saracens and Northampton in the final at Twickenham on May 25.

RugbyU: Super 15 - Cheetahs 34 Hurricanes 39

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 22:01

Result of a Super 15 match at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein Friday: Central Cheetahs (RSA) 34 Wellington Hurricanes (NZL) 39 H-t: 12-12 Scorers Cheetahs - Tries: Coenie Oosthuizen (2), Robert Ebersohn. Conversions: Elgar Watts (2). Penalties: Burton Francis (4), Watts Hurricanes - Tries: Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito. Conversions: Barrett (2). Penalties: Barrett (5) Sin bin Cheetahs: Robert Ebersohn 15-24 minutes Referee: Stuart Berry (RSA) afp

RugbyU: Toulouse set-up Toulon Top 14 semi-final showdown

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 18:15

Two-time defending champions Toulouse powered past Racing Metro 33-19 on Friday to set-up a French Top 14 semi-final duel against Toulon in a repeat of last year's championship match. The two sides met in the 2012 final at the Stade de France with Toulouse winning 18-12. "Some people would have said that had we lost today, then this would have been our most catastrophic season," said Toulouse coach Guy Noves. "Sadly for them (his critics), they will have to wait a little longer. I dedicate this victory to them."

RugbyU: Toulouse look to deny Berbizier glorious farewell

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 12:46

Toulouse have not played like two-time defending Top 14 champions this season but on Friday they will hope that the onset of the play-offs reignites their champion mentality and they dispose of Racing-Metro. If they do so it will bring to an end the stormy Racing reign of former France and Italy coach -- and club managing director for the past season -- Pierre Berbizier, who revealed this week that he was staying on even though he had effectively been sacked on March 30.

RugbyU: Kahui to miss France Tests, Japan stint in doubt

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 22:30

An injured shoulder means All Blacks centre Richard Kahui will miss next month's Test series against France and his hopes of playing club rugby in Japan are in doubt, reports said Tuesday. Kahui, who is due to take up a two-year contract with Japanese side Toshiba Brave Lupus in August, hurt his shoulder in training last week, the latest setback in a career plagued by injury. Dave Rennie, the 27-year-old's coach at Super 15 club the Waikato Chiefs, told Fairfax Media that Kahui needed surgery on the shoulder and was facing four to six months on the sidelines.

RugbyU: Berbizier to 'officially' leave Racing-Metro - L'Equipe

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 09:45

Pierre Berbizier will officially leave Racing-Metro at the end of June having been essentially fired in March, the former France scrum-half told L'Equipe. Berbizier, who played 56 times for France, was Racing coach from 2007-2012 before being moved upstairs when Argentine Gonzalo Quesada was brought in before the beginning of this season. But his new role of sporting director was not all that it would seem, according to the 54-year-old. "I was fired on March 30, in June it will be over with Racing," Berbizier told L'Equipe.

RugbyU: Aussie O'Connor lands Leinster role

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 09:01

Australia's Matt O'Connor has been appointed as the new head coach of Leinster on a three-year deal starting on July 1, the Irish province announced Monday. The 42-year-old O'Connor, currently with English giants Leicester, will take over from Joe Schmidt following the New Zealander's appointment as Ireland coach in succession to Declan Kidney. Former Australia international O'Connor has been with Leicester, working under Richard Cockerill, since 2009 and in that time has helped the Tigers win two Premiership titles.