Ireland is No. 1. At least to New Zealand coach Steve Hansen. His All Blacks, the undisputed No. 1 for nine years, lost to the Irish 16-9 on Saturday for the first time in Dublin. Hansen immediately dubbed Ireland the favorite for the Rugby World Cup next year.
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Owen Farrell spearheaded a rescue act from England's powerful bench as a late and unanswered onslaught of points denied Japan a famous victory in its first visit to Twickenham on Saturday.
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Wales scored three tries in the first 11 minutes before adding seven more in a rampant second-half display to thrash Tonga 74-24 in a rugby international in Cardiff and seal an eighth straight victory on Saturday.
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South Africa became the first visiting team in a year to storm Murrayfield after beating Scotland 26-20 in a rugby international on Saturday.
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For the second week in a row, the Manu Samoa has been left wondering how on earth they lost. Georgia rode a 17-0 second half comeback to turn over Samoa 27-19 at home in Tbilisi. They took an early lead after a penalty from an attacking lineout gave them a kick for goal in the third minute.
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The Wallabies got the job half done. They beat Italy 26-7 on Saturday in Padua but had to survive an early scare and were far from convincing, still.
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Samoa were good value for their 45-56 win against Papua New Guinea in the opening game of the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship. They dominated set pieces and the collisions, but some poor kick defence and mistakes let Papua New Guinea stay in the game.
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Manu Samoa technical advisor Chris Latham feels “immensely encouraged” ahead of the game against Georgia in Tbilisi tomorrow morning. Despite a heartbreaking 30-29 loss to USA on the first game of the Northern Hemisphere Tour, Latham said there’s a fantastic mood in the Manu Samoa camp.
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Jonah Holmes will debut at fullback in a Wales side with 14 changes playing Tonga on Saturday in Cardiff.
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Adam Ashley-Cooper will start his first test for Australia in more than two years as one of seven changes to the team to face Italy on Saturday.
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Wing Yoann Huget will play his first match for France in a year against Argentina this Saturday in Lille.
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Ireland brought in lock Devin Toner and fit-again backs Rob Kearney and Garry Ringrose to play New Zealand on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.
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Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga has been demoted from his role as head coach of Super Rugby's Auckland-based Blues.
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New Zealand has won the right to host the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup, bringing the tournament to the southern hemisphere for the first time.
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Japan is playing England this weekend for the first time since the so-called amateur era. And being paid like it. Coach Jamie Joseph says his team of "amateurs" receives less than $18 a day on tour.
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Canada and Germany were in pole position for the last berth in the 2019 Rugby World Cup after opening wins in the repechage tournament on Sunday.
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France cracked right at the end once again as South Africa scored a try deep into injury time to win 29-26 at Stade de France on Saturday.
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Ireland got the scrap it wanted before playing New Zealand as it had to grind past Argentina 28-17 at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
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Manu Samoa coach Steve Jackson could not imagine a worse way to lose a rugby game than what happened to his team against USA Eagles yesterday morning. A last-gasp penalty kick stole the USA a 30-29 victory over the Manu in Jackson’s first game in charge. “To say I’m a little gutted would be an understatement.
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Wales ended a 13-match losing run against Australia as Dan Biggar kicked a late penalty for a 9-6 win in Cardiff on Saturday.
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Undisputed world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his four belts and sent Tony Bellew into retirement by knocking out the British fighter in the eighth round in Manchester on Saturday.
He can laugh about it now, the concept of being "too big" that led him on this extraordinary journey to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Cristiano Ronaldo denied the accusations of rape against him, saying Wednesday that he had a "clear conscience" as he awaits the conclusions of an investigation.
The Samoa Basketball Federation started its four-day tournament at Apia Park gym earlier this week. The various categories competing in the tournament include open women and men, Under 17 and 14 boys, girls’ teams from Upolu, Savaii and an open men’s team from American Samoa.
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