Wales’ constant revolving injury door during the 2015 Rugby World Cup has made Warren Gatland’s men favourites to land next year’s Six Nations title, according to absent full-back Leigh Halfpenny.

Wigan Warriors and England captain Sean O’Loughlin is desperate to put his Grand Final misery behind him by leading England to international success over New Zealand this autumn.

It might be a tough challenge, but legendary skipper Richie McCaw is trying his hardest not to make Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final all about him – the All Blacks captain refusing to declare if the showpiece will be his last game for either his club or country.

Australia wing Drew Mitchell believes playing in European rugby’s premier club competition has been the key to taking the World Cup by storm.

On a weekend crammed full of memorable sporting occasions, football let itself down once again.

MM head out to the streets of Manchester to find out the public’s opinion on whether posting embarrassing images or videos of other people online without their consent is acceptable.

England and New Zealand face each other twice this weekend as both codes of rugby contest international fixtures – but is it union or league that has the better chance of beating the rugby kings?

England’s last win over Australia was in the 1995 World Cup at Wembley Stadium, although the side did beat the Kangaroos in the 2006 Tri-Nations Series in Sydney when competing as Great Britain.

Injuries to Geoff Parling and Ed Slater mean that New Zealand born Paterson could be picked by Stuart Lancaster ahead of the Autumn internationals, with the squad announcement due later this week

The 33-year-old, currently undergoing rehabilitation on a knee injury, was impressed with fly-half Cipriani’s performances on the tour in New Zealand as Sale look ahead to the new season.

Having clawed his way back into the England squad and, thanks to George Ford’s injury, the mercurial Cipriani is in with a real chance of getting the nod from Stuart Lancaster to start at fly half.