Inconsistency hurting Wallabies

LUKE Burgess, under pressure from Will Genia to hold on to his Test half-back starting spot, yesterday admitted a lack of composure, inconsistency and wrong decision-making had shackled the Wallabies this year.

Marshall Proud To Lead Nz Into Battle

NEW Zealand dynamo Benji Marshall returns to the scene of a recent triumph to make his international captaincy debut in tonight's World Cup rugby league showdown with England at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Nz Favourite Against England

NEW ZEALAND and England have been swapping the tag of second favourite for rugby league's World Cup based on the ineptitude of their performances against Australia.

Robbie's Flown The Coop, So Kiwis Flip The Bird

MONDAY was an amazing day, seeing New Zealand's top coach taking the reins of the Wallabies. To give a perspective of the depth of anger at this loss across the Tasman, Chris Rattue wrote in the NZ Herald of the newly announced All Blacks team: "This squad is playing under a coach that I can't stomach and an administration that I loathe."

Is Nz Coach Spooked By Our Robbie?

THE SANZAR unions are struggling to agree on what laws this season's Tri Nations will be played under. Although officially there has been "no resolution" on the matter, it is known the unions of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are in conflict over whether they should use the Super 14 experimental law variations, or those which the International Rugby Board will introduce in a global trial on August 1. Logically, with all three nations accustomed to the Super 14 ELVs, these should be used. ...

Under 13s Side To Play In Nz Rugby Tour

AN Illawarra under 13 rugby union team will embark on an intensive 10-match tour of New Zealand's South Island in the July school holidays.

Petersen To Fight Sydney's Corner

SYDNEY will get more quality Tests, including Bledisloe Cup matches every season, if new Australian Rugby Union director Arvid Petersen gets his way. As the minor states attempt to assert their authority at the ARU, at least Petersen is reminding all that NSW, the prime source of rugby players, has recently been dudded in the Test scheduling. Too many good games are being taken away from Sydney, as shown this season when it will host a B-grade international against Wales, and a Springboks Test. ...

Today's Mercury

Due to production issues at our printing plant, some sections of today's Mercury have been affected. We are unable to bring you late racing results and coverage of the Australia-NZ rugby league Test. The Mercury turf guide starts on Page 35. If the Weekender is not in your newspaper, please ask your newsagent for a copy.

Nz Stars Shouldn't Be Rested

THE Not So Super 14 kicks off this weekend with many of the stars on the sidelines. With the worth of the South African sides (apart from the TV money they bring in) remaining largely unanswered, it has been the success of the New Zealand teams that has made the tournament what it is. The decision to sit a majority of that country's best players on the sidelines for the first half of the season shows little respect for the supporters. The Rugby World Cup isn't on until October. Imagine someone ...

Kiwi May Stand Down Over 'grannygate' Scandal

NATHAN Fien is prepared to stand down from the remainder of the Tri-Nations tournament in what is almost certain to prove a futile bid to save New Zealand from being stripped of competition points after it was revealed that Fien's great-grandmother - not his grandmother - was born in NZ, meaning Fien was not eligible to represent the Kiwis.

It's All Bad News Over Nz Cup Plan

RUPERT Murdoch's News Ltd last night crash-tackled All Blacks coach Graham Henry's master plan to win the World Cup. News Ltd has threatened legal action over Henry's plan to rest players from the Super 14 competition next year.

Too Many Fill-in Expats In Nz Team - So The Kiwis Tag Goes

NEW Zealand Rugby League will ditch the "Kiwis" tag for the national team playing Great Britain next month in England - which could foreshadow a move to downgrade the Anzac Test next year.

Rugby League Focus

NZ coach cleared of ref abuse

Bulldogs, Nz Bosses Swap Insults Over Injured Stars

A TRANS-TASMAN war of words has erupted between the Bulldogs and the New Zealand Rugby League about the availability of star players for the Tri-Nations series.

Nz Battle Japan In Bidding War

JAPAN'S rugby boss is preparing to go to war with the NZRU for the right to host the 2011 World Cup.

Kiwis Deserve Best Of Origin And Test Worlds: Nz Chief

NEW Zealand Rugby League executive chairman Selwyn Pearson says Sonny Bill Williams and other Kiwis must be allowed to play State of Origin for NSW or Queensland as well as represent their country in Tests or the international game will die.

Country Boys To Tour Nz

THREE heroes of the Illawarra under 18 Country Rugby League divisional championship side have been selected in the NSW Country under 18 team to tour New Zealand this month.

Illawarra Backs To Help Nsw Country Take On Nz

ILLAWARRA divisional backs Adam Blake and Fuad Suljkanovic have been selected in the NSW Country representative rugby league team to tour New Zealand at the end of this month.

Woodward Claims Nz Have The Edge

AUCKLAND.- World champions England needed to make up for lost time if they were to preserve their stranglehold over Southern Hemisphere rugby teams against the All Blacks next week, coach Clive Woodward said.

League Juniors Jailed In Nz

AUCKLAND.- Three junior members of the New Zealand Warriors rugby league club have been sentenced to prison for trying to kill an unborn baby.