rugby

A soporific win over Argentina is the lone prize in six of these November trials, this season and last.  

AUSTRALIA'S rugby union season reached a shocking new low with an humiliating 9-8 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield early this morning.  

Ireland scored five tries as they comprehensively defeated Fiji 41-6 at the Royal Dublin Society. Keith Earls crossed the line in the first period as the Irish enjoyed a 13-3 advantage at half-time. Brian O'Driscoll, Earls, Rob Kearney and Shane Horgan added further touchdowns after the interval.  

South Africa scored four tries to beat Italy 32-10 in a rugby international here on Saturday and win the first match out of four on the northern hemisphere tour. Bryan Habana, Jacque Fourie, Fourie Du Preez and Wynand Olivier all touched down, while Morne Steyn kicked 10 points and substitute Ruan Pienaar added a late conversion for the world champions. Gonzalo Garcia scored Italy's lone try, which Craig Gower converted and the Australian later added a penalty.

We prepared for a tough match   -Peter de Villiers

 

New Zealand recorded their eighth successive win over England with a 19-6 victory at Twickenham after scrum half Jimmy Cowan scampered over for the only try of the match. Meanwhile South Africa won their first match on tour with a 32-10 defeat of Italy and Wales coasted to a 33-16 win over Italy. Cowan's second-half try came after relentless recycling by New Zealand as they surged on to the attack, although the home supporters thought the final pass from captain Richie McCaw had gone forward.  

An assured presence under the high ball and a dangerous runner out of defence . 7 14 MATT BANAHAN: The Bath winger set the tone early with some big defensive hits but was not always comfortable in attack. 6 Ball winner: Simon Shaw shines at the lineout 13 DAN HIPKISS: A committed defensive performance from the Leicester centre but little opportunity to attack. 7 12 AYOOLA ERINLE: Used as a battering ram to get England over the gainline and did himself proud on his first Test start. 7 11 UGO MONYE: Magnifice  

Wing wizard Shane Williams lit up the Millennium Stadium with two dazzling tries as Wales recorded a record victory against Argentina . Shane Williams races through for his second against the Pumas Williams struck twice in the second half, taking his Welsh international record tally to 48. There was also an opportunist try for fly-half Stephen Jones, who finished with 17 points, while Williams' fellow wing Leigh Halfpenny kicked two penalties.  

Five-eighth Matt Giteau missed a conversion attempt two minutes into injury time that would have saved Australia's blushes after Ryan Cross had scored the game's only try in the 81st minute. The stunning victory was Scotland's first over Australia since 1982, ending a painful run of 16 successive losses to the Wallabies. Compounding Australia's woes were worrying injuries to key forwards Wycliff Palu and Benn Robinson.  

Scotland claimed their first win over Australia in nearly three decades after a defence-inspired 9-8 victory in their one-off Test match at Murrayfield here on Saturday. Australia dominated possession throughout but the Scots, under new coach Andy Robinson, produced a world-class defensive performance to keep the Wallabies at bay. Scotland were leading 6-3 in the latter stages of the match but a Chris Paterson drop goal in the 76th minute put them 9-3 ahead and within sight of a win.