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About Rupert Guinness
About Rupert Guinness
Rupert Guinness has been a sports journalist for more than 25 years and has been writing about rugby union since 2002. A Walkley Award commended journalist, he has been working for The Sydney Morning Herald as a rugby writer since January, 2007. He is also a leading authority on rowing and cycling - having covered 19 Tours de France, and is the author of eight books of which the last - "The Flying Grocer" which is based on the story of a Australian Lancaster bomber pilot and his crew in WWII - has just been released. Rupert, who began his career at News Ltd (working on both The Australian and Daily Telegraph newspaper), also lived in Belgium and France for nine years from 1987 to 1996 covering sports as a freelancer. He speaks fluent French, is married and lives in Sydney.
Wallabies get les thumbs up from Traille
THE Wallabies will be right in the mix to challenge for this year's Tri Nations trophy, says French superstar Damien Traille after Les Bleus' 22-6 loss to Australia at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Wallabies fined over food fight as ARU gets tough
THE Australian Rugby Union has fined three Wallabies including teenage star James O'Connor for being involved in a St Trinians-like food fight in Canberra two weeks ago, in a sign that no ill-discipline in the Test squad will be allowed to go unpunished.
Beasties monster Woodies to cement top-six spot
EASTERN SUBURBS are no longer positioned precariously in the top six of the Shute Shield thanks to their round 13 away win against Eastwood at the weekend.
Tired visitors in a spin with Monsieur Matthew's spot of je ne sais quoi
FRENCH coach Marc Lievremont warned of the tendency of his winger Cedric Heymans to come without his A-game in crucial Tests.
No joke: this prankster is silent, deadly type
French captain Thierry Dusautoir is a quiet leader on and off the field - one of those lead-by-action types who remain so calm before a game they could be mistaken for being in a slumber.
Rainbow Warrior? Wacko Jacko? Farrah? Les Bleus say 'pfft'
This team does not want to talk about what everyone else is talking about, writes Rupert Guinness.
France coach says Carter is no longer world's best
HAVING named Lionel Beauxis at No.10, France coach Marc Lievremont has left his playmaker in no doubt about the size of the challenge he faces in tomorrow's Test against the Wallabies, saying he will be up against the best in the world.
Wallabies try to get maul rolling
THE Wallabies forwards are bracing, even hoping, for a heated training session today so they will be primed for the marauding French rolling maul during Saturday night's Test at ANZ Stadium.
Trinh-Duc the face of French new wave
The gifted No.10 is one of several Frenchmen writing chapters of amazing stories that began outside their homeland, writes Rupert Guinness.
Uniforms will stay: Les Bleus
THE French team rejected any suggestion that members should no longer wear official uniforms in public after the mugging of centre Mathieu Bastareaud on Saturday night.
All Blacks and Bleus: French sore and tired
FRANCE'S coach, Marc Lievremont, won't accept that his side should
be better prepared for Saturday's Test than the Wallabies, on the
back of two punishing games against the All Blacks.
Pretorius coup a carrot for O'Connor
WESTERN FORCE coach John Mitchell makes no secret of the value he places in keeping teenage Wallabies sensation James O'Connor on board at the Perth Super 14 side next year.
Friend defends charged Harrison
Former Wallaby Justin Harrison still has a bright future, despite possibly facing disciplinary charges relating to a party while at his former his English club Bath, says Brumbies coach Andy Friend.
Pirates change tack for Tuqiri and Tahu
LOTE TUQIRI'S fight to regain his spot in the Wallabies side is being helped by his West Harbour club styling its game around him, rather than forcing him to adapt.
Dry track suits Drew down to the ground
WALLABIES winger Drew Mitchell is desperate to make the best of the guaranteed dry conditions expected in Melbourne for the second Test against Italy on Saturday night and prove he is the electric finisher for whom coach Robbie Deans is looking.
French are just warming up
THE Wallabies face the prospect of playing a French side that will
offer far more danger than the one that has already stamped Les
Bleus as serious contenders for the 2011 World Cup with their
stunning 27-22 victory over the All Blacks at Dunedin on Saturday.
Tahs won't be last to miss Smith: Norton-Knight
SAM NORTON-KNIGHT has some advice for anyone planning to watch
Northern Suburbs back up against Warringah this Saturday after
their upset Shute Shield victory over West Harbour.
Waugh vows to force way back into the selection mix
WALLABIES breakaway Phil Waugh says he has been given no indication
of how long he will be confined to playing in Sydney club rugby
during the domestic Test season, which starts today.
Between Rocky and a hard place: Mowen frustrated over new deal
THE Waratahs have risked losing one of their stand-out revelations in Ben Mowen by allowing talks with the classy back-rower to extend to the point where he has yet to re-sign.
Italy to use Wallabies Tests as All Blacks trials
THE Wallabies will continue to speak highly about Italy before their two-Test series against the Azzurri starts on Saturday night, but the tourists are not fooled about their chances.
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