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Savea credits Ruben Love for 'taking control' as All Blacks edge France 34-32 in Christchurch thriller
Ardie Savea singled out Ruben Love as a surprise leadership standout after the All Blacks survived six lead changes to beat an understrength France 34-32 in the first Test at Christchurch's One New Zealand Stadium.
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England routed 45-21 by South Africa as discipline crisis and Furbank injury deepen tour misery
England slumped to a fifth consecutive Test defeat, losing 45-21 to South Africa at Ellis Park in their Nations Championship opener. Captain Jamie George admitted discipline 'let us down' after Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper were sin-binned simultaneously, leaving the tourists with 13 men in the final seven minutes.
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Erasmus praises Springboks debutants but admits pair 'weren't brilliant' in 45-21 rout of England
Rassie Erasmus gave a measured verdict on Cameron Hanekom and Paul de Villiers after the uncapped pair stepped in at the last hour for South Africa's 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park, with Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi both ruled out on the eve of the match.
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Tandy savours Wales's six-try rout of Fiji but warns of stern tests ahead
Wales ended a near five-year wait to score six tries in a Test match with a 39-24 victory over Fiji in Cardiff, but head coach Steve Tandy is tempering expectations ahead of away fixtures against Argentina and South Africa.
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Jac Morgan's double leads Wales to bonus-point win over Fiji in Nations Cup opener
Wales overcame an early Fijian onslaught to win 41-27 at Cardiff City Stadium, with flanker Jac Morgan scoring twice on his return to the side. Six Welsh tries secured a bonus point despite Fiji crossing three times.
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Schmidt backs Donaldson after fly-half's last-gasp penalty miss costs Wallabies in 33-31 thriller
Joe Schmidt has pledged his support for Ben Donaldson after the fly-half missed two penalties — including a match-winning attempt in the final play — as Australia fell 33-31 to Ireland in Sydney.
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Fineanganofo breaks Super Rugby try record then spends All Blacks debut halftime sick with nerves
Fehi Fineanganofo earned his first All Blacks cap off the bench in New Zealand's tight win over France in Christchurch, but the Hurricanes winger admitted nerves drove him to the toilet at halftime before he settled with his first carry on the field.
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Springboks lose Kolisi and Etzebeth to late withdrawals before England clash at Ellis Park
South Africa have been dealt a major pre-match blow as captain Siya Kolisi and veteran lock Eben Etzebeth are both withdrawn from the squad hours before Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park.
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Rennie hails 'outrageous' 85% ruck speed as All Blacks edge France 34-32 in Christchurch
Dave Rennie singled out New Zealand's lightning-quick ball as the standout statistic from a narrow 34-32 win over France in Christchurch, with 83% of the All Blacks' rucks won inside three seconds in his first Test in charge.
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Matsunaga's 17-point haul steers Japan past Italy in Nations Championship opener
Fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored a try and kicked four from the tee to finish with 17 points as Japan defeated Italy 27-10 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, claiming a commanding victory in the inaugural Nations Championship.
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Jamie Hannah earns shock All Blacks debut after last-minute Tuipulotu injury in Christchurch
Crusaders lock Jamie Hannah was handed his first All Blacks cap just hours before kick-off in Christchurch after Patrick Tuipulotu was ruled out with a tight calf, with Hannah finding out at lunchtime on matchday.
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Baloucoune ruled out hours before kick-off as O'Brien steps in for Ireland against Wallabies
Rob Baloucoune has been ruled out of Ireland's Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney through injury, with Jimmy O'Brien called up to start on the right wing in his place.
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Furbank rushed to hospital with appendicitis hours before England's Springboks opener
George Furbank has been withdrawn from England's matchday squad after being taken to hospital with appendicitis on the day of their Nations Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park. The setback likely rules him out of the remaining Tests against Fiji and Argentina.
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Will Jordan's 70th-minute try seals All Blacks' tense Nations Championship opener against France
New Zealand edged France 19-13 at half-time before surviving a fierce second-half fightback in Christchurch, with Will Jordan's try proving the decisive score in the inaugural Nations Championship Test.
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World Rugby Nations Cup launches 4 July with 12 World Cup qualifiers across two pools
The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup begins in Montevideo on 4 July as Uruguay host Georgia, featuring 12 nations already qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, split across Pool A and Pool B.
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All Blacks lose third lock as Tuipulotu injury hands Hannah debut against France
Patrick Tuipulotu has been ruled out of New Zealand's Test against France with a tight calf, forcing coach Dave Rennie to turn to Crusaders lock Jamie Hannah — his third lock change ahead of the match.
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Horan backs Shaw debut as Schmidt eyes Wallabies depth for 2027 Rugby World Cup
Wallabies legend Tim Horan has endorsed the selection of uncapped lock Lachlan Shaw for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Ireland in Sydney, arguing Joe Schmidt is building squad depth with the 2027 Rugby World Cup firmly in mind.
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Maddison Levi and Luciano Gonzalez headline Ultimate Sevens' first 16 marquee signings
Ultimate Sevens has confirmed its first 16 marquee players for Season One of the new global championship, launching in September. World Rugby Sevens Players of the Year Maddison Levi and Luciano Gonzalez lead a group that also includes three-time Olympian Henry Hutchison and Paris gold medallist Jazmin Felix-Hotham.
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Clarke relishes first Clarke-Penaud duel as Six Nations snub fuels French winger
Caleb Clarke admits he expects a fired-up Damian Penaud when New Zealand host France in Christchurch on Saturday, with the All Blacks winger acknowledging his opposite number's motivation after being dropped for the Six Nations despite being France's all-time leading try-scorer.
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Kolisi warns Springboks they cannot afford complacency against resurgent England at Ellis Park
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has cautioned his side against underestimating England, pointing to their near-miss in the 2023 World Cup semi-final as proof that Steve Borthwick's team remain a dangerous opponent despite a troubled Six Nations campaign.
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