Rob Andrew, England’s elite rugby director, insisted the team were engaged in a “long-term” project following a crushing trio of defeats at the hands of the Tri-Nations last month.

The Wallabies have received the best draw imaginable for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. If results go according to seedings during the pool stages of the tournament, the Wallabies cannot run into the defending champion Springboks or the top-ranked All Blacks until the final.

New Zealand will return home to their shores the best team in the world by some margin – and the conquered home nations should be better for it.

In an era where winning the World Cup is everything, the fact the All Blacks go into Saturday’s match against England here at Twickenham on the verge of a grand slam may not seem like a big deal. But don’t tell that to New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

Eyeing a small slice of rugby history, Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock says defeat in Saturday’s season-ending Test against Wales doesn’t bear thinking about.

All Black coach Graham Henry has warned England’s future success at international level is being harmed by the mass recruitment of New Zealand players into the elite Premiership club competition.

This is the final international Test for both nations, where a win would cap off very successful years. We could claim it to be a litmus test for the teams, but the reality is that both nations have proven themselves already this season.

Returning No.8 Richard Brown says the Wallabies must outdo Wales in the enthusiasm stakes if they wish to complete an unbeaten spring tour of Europe on Saturday.

Phil Waugh has vowed to make up for lost time after being recalled for the Wallabies’ crunch match with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

The buoyant All Blacks have arrived in London vowing the pursuit of rugby excellence will beat complacency ahead of a grand slam showdown with struggling England.

As they eye a rare spring tour clean sweep, the Wallabies have been placed on notice that Wales will be anything but pushovers in Saturday’s Test at Millennium Stadium.

Another World Championship is decided, with an underdog team claiming the glory against the champion elect. Is it fair? I recall with fond memories the years of 2005 and 2006 as an All Black supporter.

At half-time in the thrilling Rugby League World Cup final, Australia had established a 18 -16 lead over New Zealand and it looked to me as though they would run away with the match in the second half. So I turned on the video and went for our usual night-time walk with my wife.

Rugby world champions South Africa rounded off their 2008 campaign in style with a record-breaking 42-6 thrashing of England at Twickenham here Saturday.

South Africa captain John Smit has no truck with the ‘f word’ - fatigue - as the rugby world champions eye a sixth straight win over England which they hope will kickstart a return to the top of the game.

The Wallabies are wary of France hardman Sebastien Chabal performing the same talismanic role as the All Blacks’ Richie McCaw and the Springboks’ Schalk Burger when they face Les Bleus at Stade de France on Saturday.

England manager Martin Johnson says his players need to be a “bit smarter” if they are to beat South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday in what will be a repeat of last year’s World Cup final.

Wasps flanker James Haskell has been recalled by England as team manager Martin Johnson looks to strengthen his pack for Saturday’s clash with world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

Robbie Deans has challenged his high-flying Wallabies to prove they’re no flash in the pan in Saturday’s showdown with the unpredictable French in Paris.

France defeated Argentina in a tough, abrasive contest, with bodies flying around the slippery field. But this was the only victory by a Northern Hemisphere team over the Sourthern Hemisphere invaders. The Pacific Islander side is not counted in this context as it’s a pick-up side that is generic rather than specific.