Mapimpi, Kolbe and Pollard win World Cup for South Africa
South Africa laid the groundwork with traditional Springbok rugby and finished an out-gunned England side off with two late tries to win the World Cup for the...
Rugby World Cup
Ireland into World Cup quarter-finals after thrashing Samoa
Johnny Sexton’s two-try turn dragged 14-man Ireland to the World Cup quarter-finals but Bundee Aki’s red card in the 47-5 win over Samoa could end...
Wales beat Fiji to reach World Cup quarter-finals
Wales survived a major fright to subdue flamboyant Fiji 29-17 at Oita Stadium and book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals. Warren Gatland’s team...
Springboks overwhelm Canada to storm into World Cup quarter-finals
Third-string scrumhalf Cobus Reinach scored a hat-trick of tries in 11 minutes as South Africa celebrated their 500th test by storming into the Rugby World...
England into the foothills as ‘real’ World Cup begins
England’s Rugby World Cup campaign effectively begins on Saturday as, after the phoney war of two easy pool games and nine days’ rest, they face Argentina in...
Two sparks of brilliance see New Zealand past South Africa
Four minutes of first-half brilliance led an otherwise unconvincing New Zealand to a 23-13 victory over South Africa in a clash between two World Cup...
Lopez drop goal sees France past Argentina in Tokyo thriller
France dominated the first half and just about held on in the second to edge Argentina 23-21 in a thrilling Rugby World Cup Pool C...
Australia weather Fijian storm to win World Cup opener
Twice champions Australia were forced to abandon a wide game plan and resort to controlled possession as they survived an almighty scare in their World...
England coach Lancaster resigns after World Cup failure
By Justin Palmer Stuart Lancaster paid the price for host nation England’s World Cup failure when he resigned on Wednesday following a Rugby Football Union...
Rugby World Cup hailed as biggest and best yet
By Justin Palmer The 2015 Rugby World Cup won by New Zealand has been hailed by organisers as the biggest, best and most competitive yet....
Tasman rivals block All Blacks path to glory
By Justin Palmer Hailed already by some as all-time greats, New Zealand will be venerated in rugby folklore if they become the first team to...
All Blacks carry the lessons of 2011 final
By Mitch Phillips New Zealand’s players and management know just how the tension of a World Cup final can put paid to the best-laid plans...
Pumas and Springboks look to end World Cup on a high
By Rex Gowar The Rugby World Cup third-place playoff is often regarded by teams as a match too far but South Africa and Argentina have...
Rugby final just the tip of Australia-New Zealand rivalry
By Julian Linden They’re the best of friends and the worst of enemies and Australia and New Zealand wouldn’t want it any other way. Like...
Barbs fly across ‘the ditch’ before World Cup final
By Iain Ransom Australia’s advance to a first World Cup final match-up against the All Blacks triggered an exchange of verbal barrages from salivating fans...
Ashley-Cooper hat-trick sends Australia into World Cup final
By Justin Palmer Winger Adam Ashley Cooper’s hat-trick of tries sent Australia into a first World Cup final since 2003 after a 29-15 victory over...
Australia and Argentina to ignite new rivalry
By Julian Linden As great rugby rivalries go, Australia and Argentina is still a work in progress, lacking the historical and cultural antagonism shared by...
Familiar foes ready to ‘rip heads off’
By Justin Palmer AMID the platitudes and mutual respect for each other coming out of the New Zealand and South Africa camps this week, both...
Mauls on a roll at Rugby World Cup
By Justin Palmer Like it or loathe it – and New Zealand coach Steve Hansen is certainly no fan – the rolling maul has proved...
Questions raised after humiliation of Six Nations teams
By Julian Linden There are still two weeks to go in the Rugby World Cup but the winner is already known. For the seventh time...
