Friday Mar 12 21:10 AEDT

Reds youngsters 'keen to stay'

Scott Higginbotham believes delays in re-signing key Reds Peter Hynes and Quade Cooper won't discourage off-contract Queenslanders staying.

Brumbies clash: Sharks switch Smit back to prop

Title chase: Bulls have Highlanders in their sights

Ioane no certainty for Reds return

Digby Ioane believes he may have to bide his time on the bench if he gets his desire to return to Super14 action.

Axe report: Referee Paul Marks sacked

Bench warmer: Lievremont drops Bastareaud

Waugh's record: Waratahs on attack

Brumbies name same team for Sharks clash

For the fourth match in a row, the Brumbies have named the same 22-man squad as they prepare for the Sharks.

Bar incident: Chiefs' Lauaki charged

Rebels move: Welshman considering Super15

NZ lock: Ross returns to start for the Crusaders

Referee Paul Marks hands out a yellow card. (Getty)

Sharks coach blames ref

Sharks coach John Plumtree says referee Paul Marks' decisions cost his team in the match against NSW.

Lions clash: Waratahs remain unchanged

100th cap: O'Driscoll leads unchanged Ireland

Hickey demands improvement

NSW coach empathises with frustrated fans and is demanding improvement against the Lions.

Genia declares: Belief is back at Reds

Six Nations: Shaw out of Scotland match

Berrick Barnes in action. (Getty - file)

Barnes re-signs with Waratahs

Berrick Barnes has re-signed with the Waratahs for another year after Melbourne Rebels lost interest.

Six Nations: French look to avoid Italian trap

Clock error: Bath sink Newcastle with help

Experts

Mark Cashman

Round fiveReds look for a milestone against the Force. Steve Hitstirrer

Just a wanna be?Jonathon
Thurston can
see himself
being a
Wallaby. Lance Peatey

Pleasing the fansWallabies make inroads for rugby as a spectacle.

More union headlines

Crusaders beat Waikato Chiefs 26-19Dan Carter became the second-highest points scorer in Super rugby, kicking 16 points as the Canterbury Crusaders beat the Waikato Chiefs 26-19 on Friday. Ioane, Hynes fit for Force clashWallabies pair Digby Ioane and Peter Hynes have shrugged off injuries to bolster Queensland's backline for Sunday's Super 14 clash with the Western Force. Brumbies to face hungry Sharks sideThe Brumbies are expecting to face a fired-up Sharks outfit in Canberra on Saturday, as the South Africans go in search of their first Super 14 win for 2010. French wary of Italian slip-upFrance will edge closer towards a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004 if they can extend their 10-year winning run over Italy at the Stade de France. NZ accuse Aussies of price 'beat up'Claims by Aussie tour operators of high hotel prices at next year's Rugby World Cup in NZ have been have been dismissed as a "beat-up" to drive prices down. Super14 preview: Round fiveQueensland Reds will attempt to string two wins together for the first time in four years when they host the Western Force, writes Mark Cashman. Tom Carter signs new Waratahs dealNSW centre Tom Carter has signed a new two-year deal with the Waratahs which will take him through to the end of the 2012 Super 14 season. Dour Waratahs urge fans to keep faithThe NSW Waratahs have pleaded with their fans to keep the faith after the Super 14's ugly ducklings opened their 2010 home campaign in typically dour fashion. Aussie Super 14 teams complete win sweepA heroic Queensland team provided the highlights as Australia enjoyed its first unbeaten round of the Super 14 rugby era. Bulls retain Super14 lead as rivals falterSouth Africa's Northern Bulls remained the leaders of rugby's Super14 after four rounds as their fellow title chasers slumped to surprise defeats this weekend. Stormers beat Otago HighlandersBryan Habana nailed the bonus-point 4th try but it was the forwards who sealed the Stormers' 33-0 Super 14 whitewash of the Otago Highlanders on Saturday. Waratahs hold on to beat SharksThe NSW Waratahs held on for dear life to post a 25-21 victory over the Sharks in Saturday night's Super 14 clash at the Sydney Football Stadium. Cheetahs stun Hurricanes in Super 14The Central Cheetahs pulled off an upset 28-12 win over the unbeaten Wellington Hurricanes in a Super 14 southern hemisphere championship match on Saturday. Carter kicks Crusaders to third winAll Blacks five-eighth Daniel Carter won a goalkicking duel with former teammate Stephen Brett to lead the Crusaders to a 33-20 Super 14 win over the Blues. Giteau admits he must lift his own gameBrumbies playmaker Matt Giteau concedes he is not playing at his best but is adamant he will bounce back. Hill fills in for injured Pretorius at ForceExperienced New Zealand fly-half David Hill has joined injury-hit Western Force as their marquee player for the remainder of the Super 14 season, officials said Friday.

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