Venter to assist Azzurri

Brendan Venter is set to assist Italy as a short-term defensive consultant during their end-of-year Tests.

Wallabies reshuffle backline

Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley will form a new halfback pairing for the Wallabies in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks.

All Blacks close in on record

While South African cavemen ponder the workings of a simple wheel, the All Blacks spaceship looks set to go where no tier-one Test side has gone before, writes JON CARDINELLI.

All Blacks recall Savea

All Blacks wing Julian Savea will start against the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday.

Kriel, Brussow can aid Boks

Jaco Kriel is the obvious candidate to replace Francois Louw, but the injury to the Boks’ first-choice openside flanker may also precipitate a recall for Heinrich Brussow on the end-of-year tour, writes CRAIG LEWIS.

Halfpenny back to boost Wales

Star fullback Leigh Halfpenny has been included in Wales' 36-man squad to play the Springboks, Wallabies, Argentina and Japan in November.

Smith to miss Bledisloe Test

All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith has been issued with a formal warning and will voluntarily miss this weekend's Bledisloe Cup Test following a misconduct meeting.

Double boost for Wallabies

David Pocock and Sean McMahon have returned from injury to bolster the Wallabies squad for the final Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks next weekend.

French ref for Boks-England Test

French duo Jérôme Garcès and Romain Poite will referee the Springboks' Tests against England and Wales respectively in November.

‘Boks need intervention’

Duane Vermeulen says he wants to be part of finding a solution to the Springboks' woes, but can't see a 'positive outcome' with the way things are currently going.