Australia

The June International test matches between Southern and Northern Hemisphere teams looks set to be closer than expected in 2012.

When the NSW Waratahs forwards packed down for their first scrum of the 2012 Super Rugby season against the Queensland Reds, they were missing a significant amount of the intellectual property and experience they have had at their disposal in recent years.

The 2012 Super Rugby season has quietly popped up without many people apart from the players and coaches really noticing it - but yes indeed it does start this weekend and for many rugby fans it's just as well given it comes at the end of one of the longer off-seasons in recent times.

When I last wrote a Blog I was still in New Zealand enjoying what I can only describe as the best World Cup to have ever been played out!

England are set to face South Africa four times in 2012 with confirmation that the Springboks will visit Twickenham in November.

Adam Ashley-Cooper scored a wonderful second half hat-trick as the Wallabies withheld some early pressure to win comfortably against the USA.

The Wallabies have rung the changes with David Pocock still out and Drew Mitchell replacing James O'Connor with Adam Ashley Cooper switching from left to right wing.

In what is one of the greatest results for Irish rugby, the men in green ground out a well deserved victory against Australia. The Wallabies were outplayed, out-muscled and out-scored by the men from the Emerald Isle.

Ireland and Australia go into their second pool C game on the back of wins as Australia were rampant against a sorry Italy while the Irish staggered past a resilient USA.

The match kicked off in driving rain in the North Harbour stadium as The Wallabies looked to assert their dominance over the underdogs Italy

Australia will be looking to start their World Cup Campaign off with a bang against the favoured underdogs Italy at the North Harbour stadium tomorrow morning

We all arrived back home yesterday (Tuesday) after flying into Heathrow in the morning and I'm now back home with my family in Southampton shattered but overjoyed at the success we experienced as a squad in Oz.

The Wallabies have deservedly won the Tri Nations by defeating the All Blacks 25-20 in Brisbane, but what can All Black fans take from this match? What did we learn from this match?

Robbie Deans Australia showed great mental toughness to survive a superb second half surge from the All Blacks and claim their first Tri-Nations title since 2001.

The Australian rugby public were left stunned on Thursday after it was announced that 92-cap Wallaby veteran Matt Giteau had been dropped from the final World Cup squad

It may not have been the sort of comeback written in the stars solid if unspectacular would be the best description

New Zealand maintained their brilliant record at Eden Park and produced a brilliantly clinical display to see off Australia and retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Australia banished the memories of their shock defeat to Samoa a week ago, with a dominant display against a very poor and weakened South African side in Sydney.

When perusing Australia's 40 man squad for the upcoming Tri Nations tournament it's difficult not to get excited about every one of the Queensland Reds 14 representatives

Talking Rugby Union posed the question the other day of who should the next Lions captain be. An interesting proposition, as there is no stand out leader in Britain or Ireland at the moment