Rugby

6:22 AM BST All is seemingly forgiven with the Wallabies set to welcome back sinning superstar Marika Koroibete for Saturday’s do-or-die Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Auckland. Dropped alongside forwards Isi Naisarani and Pone Fa’amausili for a late-night drinking session, Koroibete is likely to be rushed straight back into Australia’s starting line-up

3:32 AM BST South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx believes the Springboks will have no trouble lifting themselves for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) on Saturday. The Springboks defeated the British & Irish Lions 2-1 in a bruising series, but have little time to reflect on that

1:45 AM BST The scope of Dave Rennie’s challenge was perhaps best evident after the final whistle of Saturday night’s opening Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park. There was Aaron Smith, the World Cup winner and veteran scrum-half, receiving a New Zealand cap to mark his 100th Test appearance in the black jersey. Later in

7:16 PM BST Veteran Morne Steyn kicked over a last-gasp penalty to hand South Africa a narrow 19-16 victory over British & Irish Lions in the third and final test on Saturday to seal a 2-1 series victory. The 37-year-old reprised his heroics from 12 years ago when he did the same for the Springboks

9:02 PM BST South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber hailed nerves of steel from flyhalf Morne Steyn as his “fairy-tale” return to the Springbok team led to the penalty that won the series against the British & Irish Lions, a repeat of his feat from 12 years before. The 37-year-old Steyn came off the bench to

NZLNZLAUSAUS NZL No. Name 15Damian McKenzie, FB 14Sevu Reece, W 13Anton Lienert-Brown, C 12David Havili, C 11Rieko Ioane, W 10Richie Mo’unga, FH  2 9Aaron Smith, SH 1George Bower, P 2Codie Taylor, H 3Nepo Laulala, P 4Brodie Retallick, L 5Samuel Whitelock, L 6Akira Ioane, FL 7Dalton Papalii, FL 8Ardie Savea, N8 Replacements 16Samisoni Taukei’aho, R

10:57 AM BST ESPN staff Rugby Australia and Football Australia are investigating allegations of misbehavior from athletes on the flight home from the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Australian Olympic Committee was made aware of incidents involving the men’s rugby sevens team and the Olyroos on the Japan Airlines flight on July 30. It’s believed the

2:58 PM BST British & Irish Lions prop Kyle Sinckler has been cleared of biting a South African opponent in Saturday’s second test, World Rugby announced on Tuesday. Sinckler appeared before a hearing via video conference on Tuesday and denied that he had committed any foul play. 1 Related Sinckler was cited “for an act

2:13 PM BST Warren Gatland said he was disappointed the British & Irish Lions had been called out by World Rugby over alleged comments about match officials in the test series against South Africa that has been overshadowed by off-field complaints. South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has been called to a misconduct hearing

1:11 PM BST South Africa will be without key players Pieter-Steph du Toit and Faf de Klerk when they face the British & Irish Lions on Saturday in the final test of the series. Flanker Du Toit and scrum-half De Klerk both miss out through injury with former World Rugby Player of the Year Du

12:00 PM BST The British & Irish Lions have made six changes for their series decider against South Africa on Saturday. With the series poised at 1-1, the two teams face off in Cape Town to decide who takes the 2021 tour. 1 Related Josh Adams, Liam Williams, Bundee Aki, Ali Price, Ken Owens and

6:43 AM BST Liam Napier Appreciate what you’ve got before it’s gone is a notion that hangs large over the resumption of the All Blacks’ season this week. There is every chance, at this point, that the opening two Bledisloe Cup Tests in Auckland could be the last time the All Blacks play at home

2:23 AM BST ESPN staff The Wallabies now face an even tougher task in their quest to regain the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 18 years, with Auckland’s Eden Park confirmed to host the first two Tests of the series. Given the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia and the presence of the Beervana festival

8:12 PM BST South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus have been called to a misconduct hearing after his hour-long video critique of the match officials following the first test loss to the British & Irish Lions, World Rugby said on Monday. The global governing body has expressed concern that “individuals from both teams have

7:50 PM BST British & Irish Lions prop Kyle Sinckler has been cited for an alleged biting incident in the second test defeat to South Africa on Saturday, on the same day full-back Stuart Hogg denied he had been involved in a similar incident. “British and Irish Lions player Kyle Sinckler will attend an independent

5:26 PM BST Duane Vermeulen has rejoined the South Africa squad ahead of a decisive third test against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town next Saturday, but will undergo a fitness test on a troublesome ankle injury before he is cleared to play. The 2019 World Cup winner is a key part of

11:51 AM BST British & Irish Lions fullback Stuart Hogg has denied he bit rival Willie le Roux on the arm during Saturday’s 27-9 defeat to South Africa after accusations surfaced on social media following the match. A scuffle involving most of the players on the pitch took place in an ill-tempered first half, leading

7:19 PM BST South Africa’s backs Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am scored second half tries as the Springboks beat the British & Irish Lions 27-9 to win Saturday’s second test at the Cape Town Stadium and level the series. Handre Pollard added five penalties and a conversion for a 17-point contribution while the Lions’ points