Latest rugby union news
Disallowed tries cost Force against Sharks
![Powerplay: Steve Mafi of the Western Force charges into the Sharks defence.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/5/e/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma5e2.png/1427575532923.jpg)
Chris Pike 7:45 AM Two disallowed tries ensured the Western Force ended their South African tour fruitless on Saturday, with the Sharks winning their Super Rugby match 15-9 at Kings Park in Durban.
NZ beat Australia in Hong Kong Sevens group
![Allan Fa'Alava'Au.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/5/d/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma5do.png/1427575288221.jpg)
7:41 AM Defending champions New Zealand beat Australia in the most anticipated second-day clash of the Hong Kong Sevens Saturday, as the arch-rivals prepare to take each other on in the cricket World Cup.
World record crowd for a club rugby match
![The scoreboard at Wembley Stadium.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/5/d/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma5cc.png/1427575077951.jpg)
7:37 AM Saracens moved up to second place in the English Premiership on Saturday after beating Harlequins 42-14 in front of a world record crowd for a club rugby match.
Tahs overcome Blues to post fourth win
![Shackles broken: Nick Phipps dives over to score against the Blues at Allianz Stadium.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/3/f/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma1ey.png/1427552184244.jpg)
Georgina Robinson 1:16 AM The Waratahs put a week of controversy behind them with an emphatic 23-11 victory over Super Rugby cellar dwellers the Blues in Sydney on Saturday.
Lacklustre affair highlights value of passion
![Rupert Guinness dinkus Dinkus](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/t/m/r/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma0eg.png/1427550531433.jpg)
Rupert Guinness 12:48 AM What a difference a week makes ... even if the Waratahs again walked away winners against the Blues at home in Sydney on Saturday night.
Former Wallaby says Pocock could be World Cup star
![Sport
A friendly rugby match between the Silver Foxes and the Australian Defence Force Old Boys at Bungendore.
27 March 2015
Photo: Rohan Thomson
The Canberra Times](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/2/4/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9xt0.png/1427535220754.jpg)
David Polkinghorne 8:33 PM Former Wallabies prop Richard Harry says ACT Brumbies flanker David Pocock is the "bloke you want to go to war with", while Canberra Raiders great Bradley Clyde believes the former Wallabies captain was part of a "milestone case" that has changed the Australian sporting landscape.
Highlanders take foot off the brake
![On the move: Aaron Smith of the Highlanders.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/1/x/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma1xj.png/1427534725876.jpg)
8:25 PM Fijian flyers Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne both got in on the act as the Highlanders beat the Stormers 39-21 to record their biggest win of the Super Rugby season.
Chiefs too good for Cheetahs
![Destructive: Sonny Bill Williams on the charge on Saturday.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/1/s/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma1qj.png/1427534088417.jpg)
8:14 PM The Chiefs have overcome some heavy pressure and poor discipline to grind out a 37-27 Super Rugby win over the Cheetahs in Hamilton, with Sonny Bill Williams looking in good touch on his return from concussion.
Rebels may lose Weeks for Good Friday game
![Laurie Weeks reacts as he sustains an injury against the Hurricanes on Friday.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/0/s/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9uo8.png/1427531112185.jpg)
Roy Ward 7:25 PM Laurie Weeks needs scans on a knee injury while the Rebels will address their try scoring problems.
Pool of death looks murderous for Wallabies
![Matt Burke / Matthew Burke](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/1/7/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9tpv.png/1427530950852.jpg)
Matthew Burke 7:22 PM What’s the magic number of games to be fully prepared for the Rugby World Cup? How many trial matches are needed before you can climb the summit?
Eales: Leadership calls for taking a stand
![John Eales arrives back in Sydney after the Wallabies’ 1999 World Cup triumph with a badly bloodshot eye, the result of French gouging during the final.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/r/1/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9eka.png/1427466954203.jpg)
Rupert Guinness and Georgina Robinson It was a stand-out moment in the Wallabies captaincy of John Eales when, with 25 minutes left in the 1999 World Cup final against France at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, he approached the referee and threatened to lead his team off the field in opposition to the dirty play of Les Bleus.
ARU should have given more details
![Spiro Zavos dinkus Dinkus](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/t/m/r/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m8xfa.png/1427461964706.jpg)
Spiro Zavos Transparency is the key for the ARU in dealing with Jacques Potgieter's homophobic slur.
Waratahs won't risk Tatafu Polota-Nau after head knock
![Supportive: Wallabies and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/3/r/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m8zaw.png/1427461914302.jpg)
Georgina Robinson Michael Cheika has defended the intentions of coaches and team medicos after withdrawing Test hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau from the Waratahs' clash with the Blues on Saturday.
Kirwan predicts 'fireworks' in physical battle with Waratahs
![Bounced back: Jacques Potgieter at Waratahs training.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/b/f/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m93v1.png/1427461894040.jpg)
Georgina Robinson John Kirwan has predicted "fireworks" and a physically explosive clash between the Blues and Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
Reds cling to finals hopes despite nailbiting loss
![Back in action: Quade Cooper.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/q/u/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9quo.png/1427461598924.jpg)
Beth Newman It was a game that was supposed to "kick-start" Queensland's Super Rugby season after Quade Cooper's long-awaited return from injury.
Rebels fail to capitalise on possession
![Caught: Rebel Mitch Inman is tackled by Motu Matu'u in the loss to the Hurricanes.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/q/8/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9q9r.png/1427453657273.jpg)
Toby Robson It wasn’t quite the celebration the Hurricanes envisioned in front of their home crowd, but when you’ve won six straight the spectacle can be forgiven.
Pocock the invisible man
![Standing up: David Pocock made a strong, and entirely correct, stand for sport.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/5/5/r/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m8ocz.png/1427468920366.jpg)
Chris Dutton Imagine if David Pocock was invisible. He'd be able to pinch the ball the breakdown without being penalised and people would be able to see what the real issue was this week - a homophobic slur.
Royals and Whites put off-field dramas aside for grudge match
![Soakai Tai in action for Royals in 2013.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/3/6/9/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m81zk.png/1427440467983.jpg)
Chris Dutton Royals will delay a decision on whether to pursue action against Soakai Tai until after their clash against the club's former club in a local rugby grudge match against the Queanbeyan Whites on Saturday.
Larkham backs World Cup plans as ex-Wallabies come together
![Stephen Larkham with old mate Owen Finegan in their playing days.](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/b/s/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m8oh1.png/1427433946727.jpg)
Chris Dutton Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is "preparing to get hurt" in a charity match on Saturday before joining the Wallabies' pre-World Cup camp.
Brad Thorn linked with Super Rugby return at Queenland Reds
![Serial winner: Brad Thorn](/web/20150329015212im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/8/z/5/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m8z3x.png/1427412378202.jpg)
Duncan Johnstone There might be time for one final chapter to Brad Thorn's remarkable playing career with speculation he could link with the Queensland Reds for next year's Super Rugby campaign.