Rugby

France missed an injury-time drop goal as stand-in flyhalf Bernard Foley inspired Australia to a 25-23 win on Saturday, their third consecutive victory in the autumn internationals.

Ireland have made one enforced change from the side that recorded their first ever victory over the All Blacks with flanker Sean O'Brien in for the injured Jordi Murphy.

Opinion - A mere fortnight ago, Ireland were the lovable losers. Not anymore. Now they're a threat.

The New Zealand Maori have beaten Harlequins 26-10 in their tour finale in London.

Former Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald said the All Blacks were punished for showing "a lack of respect" to Ireland when they lost in Chicago.

Ireland followed up their defeat of the All Blacks with a hard-fought and entertaining 52-21 win over Canada.

France performed a demolition job on Samoa, scoring seven tries in a 52-8 romp, but they lost flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc to injury.

Wales have recovered from last weekend's loss to Australia with a 24-20 victory over Argentina in a bruising test match in Cardiff.

Live Rugby - The All Blacks take on Italy in Rome. See how the action unfolded here with self-declared benchwarmer Jamie Wall.

Stand-in All Blacks captain Sam Cane is anticipating power and flair from Italy when the two teams meet tomorrow in Rome.

Irish rugby has scored a double victory over New Zealand in the space of a week.

The Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt says he will not be joining Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions coaching staff.

The New Zealand College of GPs would welcome a move to make CT scans more routine for rugby players with head injuries, it says.

Italy will rely on a blend youth and experience when they face New Zealand in Rome on Saturday in new coach Conor O'Shea's first test on home soil.

New Zealand has been drawn with Canada, Wales and a qualifier for next year's Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland.

The New Zealand Maori have made seven changes to the starting XV for Saturday morning's match against Munster in Limerick.

A coroner has found no fault with New Zealand Rugby over the death of a young Northland player from a head injury he received during a tackle.