Wallabies

Hunt recommits to Wallabies, Reds

The code-hopper has played five Tests for the Wallabies since making his debut against Fiji in June.

Hunt, 31, represented Australia and Queensland in rugby league and played Australian rules football before settling into union with the Reds in 2015, having also featured in the 15-man code six years earlier.

"It's been a big year for me personally, obviously making my Wallabies debut was a huge honour but I really enjoyed getting some really solid minutes up in Queensland with Reds," he said.

England claim controversial win

Criticised for their underwhelming display against Argentina last time out, England delivered a gritty display in miserable conditions at Twickenham - where rain fell throughout and knock-ons were plentiful - before surging clear with three tries in the final eight minutes.

Yet the visitors fumed at a host of refereeing calls, with yellow cards for Michael Hooper and Kurtley Beale coming in between the former seeing a try disallowed and Elliot Daly being awarded a controversial score for England.

Horwill: Wallabies can beat England

Critics rounded on the Wallabies when they were whitewashed 3-0 by England on home soil last year before suffering back-to-back defeats to world champions New Zealand.

Australia ended 2016 with back-to-back defeats to Ireland and England, but Michael Cheika's men have turned their fortunes around this year.

The Wallabies finished runners-up in the Rugby Championship and won the final Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks prior to hammering Japan.

Wallabies to check on Coleman

The lock damaged his thumb late in the Wallabies' 29-21 victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium last weekend and has been unable to train since.

Coleman, who scored one of four Australia tries in Cardiff, will undergo a fitness test on Thursday to determine whether he will face the Six Nations champions.

Lukhan Tui will also be examined before the encounter with Eddie Jones' men as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

If Coleman and Tui are ruled out, either Matt Philip or the uncapped Blake Enever could come into the side.

'No way' Wallabies and All Blacks would train together

England and Wales had a 40-minute hit-out that featured 12 scrums and 16 line-outs under the scrutiny of top international referee Nigel Owens in Bristol.

The idea was suggested by England coach Eddie Jones to his Welsh counterpart Warren Gatland ahead of their teams' encounters with Argentina and Australia respectively this weekend.

Sio admitted he'd be intrigued by the prospect of a similar session with the All Blacks but couldn't envisage Wallabies coach Michael Cheika ever picking up the phone to Steve Hansen or any other international coach.

Wallabies win comes at a cost

Australia trailed for most of the match and found themselves four points down, before two yellow cards in three minutes gave them a two-man advantage and Stephen Moore immediately took advantage to steal the game for the Aussies.

Australia may be without two of their rising stars on the Spring Tour, though, with Jack Dempsey (leg) and Lukhan Tui both in doubt after injuries.

One Percenters: Indigenous jersey a hit with players and pollies

Fans and former players took to twitter to voice their support for the initiative, including centurion Matt Giteau, who shared a pic pre-game of his whole family donning the special kit.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika took the chance at the post-match press conference to speak of the significance of wearing that jersey.

“Dennis (Artist Dennis Golding) came in and explained to us the meaning of the jersey itself and I think that the team has been instrumental," he said

Wallabies down All Blacks in Brisbane

The third Test of the series might have been a dead rubber but Michael Cheika's men had a point to prove to their trans-Tasman enemies - and they did it, ending a run of seven straight defeats to score their first win over New Zealand since August 2015.

Australia scored three tries to two, showing new-found grit to close out the match as New Zealand mounted a late rally in front of 45,107 supporters who braved constant rain.

Two crunch second-half penalties from Reece Hodge - in the 64th and 78th minutes, both from beyond the halfway line - iced it for the Wallabies.

'Selfless' Moore earns home Test farewell

Moore will say goodbye to Australian fans in a hometown Bledisloe at Suncorp Stadium, a ground that has been a familiar one for the Queenslander.

He recalled on Thursday travelling to the old Lang Park with his father from Rockhampton, snatching up cheap World Cup tickets with uni mates to watch the 2003 World Cup at the then-brand new Suncorp Stadium and ultimately facing off against the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions on the Brisbane turf.

Cheika names veteran lock in Bledisloe 15

Rookie Rodda was ruled out of the rest of the season this week to undergo shoulder surgery, and the 77-test veteran Simmons will partner Adam Coleman in the second row.

Hooker and former captain Stephen Moore has been named on the bench and is sure to farewell home fans at Lang Park as he winds down his valedictory season.

Prop Tetera Faulkner has been replaced by Tom Robertson in the reserves, with blindside flanker Ned Hanigan also coming back into the matchday 23 on the bench.