Wales 0-73 South Africa: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened

Thanks all for your company and comments. That’s the end of the Autumn fixtures, see you back here for the Six Nations.Siya Kolisi is offering thoughts“We had to fight, we respected them, we didn’t play in our half and made sure we played. I’m sure [Etzebeth] didn’t mean to do that [eye gouge] on purpose and I don’t want that to be the highlight of the game. The only way a team can get better is play the best, so next year after facing this they will be better

Etzebeth red mars South Africa romp as Wales slump to record home defeat

Every bit as dispiriting as expected. Worse, was it pointless? Well, it certainly had more points to it than Wales would have liked. But, worse again, was it actively alienating? A record defeat, 11 tries conceded, the first time since 1967 Wales have failed to score a point in Cardiff. The opposition on that day 58 years ago, Ireland, scored 70 fewer than the Springboks here.“It’s quite a raw, emotional dressing room,” said Dewi Lake, Wales’s captain

Constitution Hill falls again as Golden Ace storms to Fighting Fifth Hurdle win

There was another twist to what is becoming a sorry tale here on Saturday as Constitution Hill, whose first two seasons over jumps led him to being ranked among the finest hurdlers of all time, fell for the third time in his past four starts in the early stages of a much-anticipated Fighting Fifth Hurdle.The New Lion, unbeaten in five starts, also fell in the closing stages, leaving Golden Ace to pick up the pieces at long odds, just as she had in a similarly dramatic Champion Hurdle in March after Constitution Hill suffered the first fall of his career.Golden Ace was a 25-1 chance at Cheltenham and a 22-1 shot here. While her odds were trimmed slightly for next year’s festival, the 16-1 still on offer for a successful defence of her crown is a fair reflection of her place in the pecking order over hurdles. She will never be rated within 20lb of Constitution Hill at his peak, but that Constitution Hill seems to be gone for good, replaced by an impostor whose confidence at the hurdles is shot to bits

‘I could have been a better captain’: Stokes admits errors as England seek Ashes reset

The sheer number of Australian voices triumphantly telling England to show some humility this past week has been slightly ironic. The first Test finished as an eight-wicket thumping, done inside 48 hours and worthy of criticism, but it was not without a genuine wobble from the hosts en route.Either way, Ben Stokes looked to do so when his players resumed training at Allan Border Field on Saturday morning before next week’s day-night second Test at the Gabba. Gone was the “shell-shocked” captain seen during the immediate aftermath of going 1-0 down and in his place, having reflected during the past few days, a far more conciliatory figure.Performances can only truly change perceptions of this England side, but there was an acceptance from Stokes that some of the blowback has been valid

North Melbourne beat Brisbane: AFLW 2025 grand final – as it happened

Thanks a lot for following along as history was created in multiple ways as North Melbourne defeated Brisbane by 40 points in the AFLW grand final at Ikon Park. We’ll have more on the ruthless Roos in the coming days, but for now you can dive into the match report.North Melbourne foundation player, and a premiership player last year, Nicole Bresnehan presents the cup to Jasmine Garner. Bresnehan has missed almost all of this season due to a torn ACL but gets to play her part in the trophy lift.🏆 BACK-TO-BACK 🏆#AFLWGF pic

Mark Wood Ashes blow as England pace bowler ruled out of Gabba Test

Mark Wood is set to be ruled out of England’s next Ashes Test at the Gabba after reporting soreness in the troublesome left knee that required surgery in March and forced him to miss the entire home summer.The eight-wicket defeat suffered in Perth last week was Wood’s first competitive game since the Champions Trophy in February and his first Test outing for 14 months. That he is now struggling after sending down 11 overs in the first Test is of huge concern given the size of England’s task ahead.Though a voluntary session, that Wood was missing from England’s return to the nets at Allan Border Field on Saturday morning was notable and confirmation soon followed that he had reported soreness in the joint. The second Test, starting on Thursday, is expected to come too soon