Xavier Rush upstaged fellow All Black Jonah Lomu with two tries as Cardiff moved closer to the European Cup quarterfinals with a 43-16 win over Italian minnows Calvisano at the Arms Park on Saturday. Only the six pool winners are guaranteed a spot in the last eight, the final two places going to the two best runners-up overall.

New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith has insisted the All Blacks will be tested behind the scrum as well as up front when they face world champions England at Twickenham on Saturday. England overpowered Australia at the scrum in a 26-16 win last week but their backs failed to make the most of all the team’s possession.

Australia head into Saturday’s Cook Cup clash against England at Twickenham knowing they are just one defeat away from equalling their worst run of seven straight losses. But a win matters just as much to England, who have declined since winning the 2003 World Cup final and under current coach Andy Robinson have won just four of their last eight matches.

League Cup holders Chelsea were knocked out of this season’s competition 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out by Premiership rivals Charlton at Stamford Bridge in London on Wednesday. Manchester United’s youngsters took centre stage as they thrashed league-two strugglers Barnet 4-1 at Old Trafford.

Liverpool’s season went from bad to worse when the Champions League holders crashed out of the English League Cup with a 2-1 defeat away to Championship side Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Tuesday. In the day’s other League Cup matches, West Brom beat Fulham and Wigan beat Watford in extra time.

English Premiership rugby union’s new season gets under way this weekend against a familiar backdrop of a row between the leading clubs and the Rugby Football Union over player availability. The governing body are demanding that all elite England players have an 11-week rest break between the end of the last season and the start of this one.

Arjen Robben is set to become the latest high-profile Chelsea player to be dropped by Jose Mourinho when the Premiership champions take on West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. But unlike Ricardo Carvalho, Robben is not being demoted for speaking out against Chelsea’s squad-rotation policy.

Australia beat England by 239 runs to win the first Test at Lord’s on Sunday with more than a day to spare. England, chasing what would have been a Test world record fourth innings victory total of 420, were bowled out for 180 after tea on the fourth day.