Australia

Fresh from lifting the NSW Waratah’s first-ever Super Rugby title back in August, it’s fair to say that Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley were two men with plenty to feel good about heading into Australia’s Rugby Championship campaign and European tour.

Australia winger Adam Ashley-Cooper believes Saturday's QBE International against England will give the Wallabies a strong taste of what is to come at the World Cup next year.

Michael Cheika has vowed not to play "social worker" to controversy-plagued Australia utility back Kurtley Beale.

There is plenty of rugby union for fans around the world to debate this coming weekend. Talking Rugby Union have shared several articles this week, centred on Stuart Lancaster and his England team.

The November Autumn Internationals Round 3 saw some close matches with the damp conditions keeping the scores close in most games.

The November Internationals Round 2 saw some great test match rugby union, depending on who you support.

Australia coach Michael Cheika has made two changes from the side beaten 29-28 by New Zealand last month for Saturday's Test match against Wales in Cardiff.

In stark contrast to Round 1, there are ten games in the November Internationals 2014 Round 2 and if you get through this round with a 100 per cent record then as Fitzy used to say, "full credit".

The November Internationals Round 1 went as predicted with wins for the All Blacks, Maori All Blacks and the Wallabies, but these matches were more a celebration of rugby than the results.

Australia launched the Michael Cheika era with a victory, but failed to convince in edging past the Barbarians 40-36 at Twickenham.

There are only three games in the November Internationals 2014 Round 1 and only one of these is a test match. You could say it is the calm before the storm.

Alastair Kellock and Colin Slade will lead a Barbarians side full of shunned stars auditioning for Rugby World Cup 2015 reprieves, according to John Kirwan.

Australia have reunited Quade Cooper and Will Genia at half-back for Saturday's non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Australia will summon Kurtley Beale to their tour of Europe if he proves his fitness after assistant coach Nathan Grey revealed he was left behind for conditioning rather than disciplinary reasons.

Australian international Kurtley Beale has been find 45,000 Australian dollars after being found guilty of a serious breach of the Australian Rugby Union's code of conduct.

The Barbarians will hand New Zealand fly-half Colin Slade the chance to heap yet more misery on Australia at Twickenham on November 1.

Michael Cheika has been appointed as the new Australia head coach.

Ewen McKenzie has resigned as Australia coach and would have stood down even if his side had held on to beat New Zealand in a thrilling clash in Brisbane.

New Zealand clinched a last-ditch 29-28 win over Australia in the third and final Bledisloe Cup encounter of the season at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

This time next year we will be talking Rugby World Cup and be eagerly debating the perennial rugby union question: Northern or Southern Hemisphere ascendancy.