Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says players from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa should be free to play in any of the three countries' Super 14 rugby franchises. He is also supporting Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill's view that the competition should be increased to two rounds.
They may be the world champions, but the Springboks have few illusions that their new status will stave off a new push by the government to overhaul the team's racial composition. Meanwhile, Springbok wing Bryan Habana was on Sunday named the International Rugby Board player of the year.
France upset the odds in dramatic style to come from behind and beat tournament favourites New Zealand 20-18 in the World Cup quarterfinal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. For the All Blacks, 13-0 up as early as the 30th minute, defeat was arguably as devastating as their equally unexpected 43-31 loss to France in the 1999 World Cup semifinal at Twickenham.
Doug Howlett became the leading try-scorer in All Blacks history as New Zealand strolled into the World Cup quarterfinals with a 40-0 demolition of Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday. The 29-year-old wing claimed two of the six tries scored by the tournament favourites.
New Zealand star Dan Carter says he is happy to be surrounded by friends, family and teammates who help keep his feet firmly on the ground despite all the hype surrounding him. The 25-year-old flyhalf is the pin-up of All Black rugby, a player widely regarded as one of the best in the world.
Hot tournament favourites New Zealand got their World Cup campaign off to the ideal start at the Stade Velodrome with a scintillating 76-14 rout of rivals Italy. The contest was dead and buried after the first 20 breathless minutes, during which the All Blacks scored five converted tries against an Italian team shown up to be woefully inept in their early defensive alignment.
