Matt Giteau has recovered from his illness and Mark Gerrard has gotten over his injury, both are training with the Wallabies. Both will be available for this weekend rugby test match between Australia and England. It looks certain that Giteau will regain is sport in the starting line up after his replacement, Morgan Turinui, had a poor game against Scotland. While Gerrard probably will not make it into the starting lineup, he may make it onto the bench.

The New Zealand Herald are reporting that Tana Umaga has signed a contract with the NZRFU which lasts until 2007. At 31 years old he only has a few years of top level rugby left in him. Although for once it is good to see the NZRFU retaining one of their senior players. In recent years it has been the norm for senior players from New Zealand to end their playing days in Europe or Japan. Meaning that up and coming players are not able to benefit from experience of the older players.

I am still not totally convinced that he is the best player to lead the All Blacks. Although he has gotten off to a good start as captain with two victories from two games. He is yet to be tested in a difficult game.

Following on from Saturday night’s match between England and New Zealand, English players Danny Grewcock and Simon Shaw were both cited for foul play. On Sunday they both appeared in front of a International Rugby Board (IRB) judiciary.

Simon Shaw who was sent off for kneeing All Black Keith Robinson in the head was spared further punishment by way of a technicality. During the game Australian touch judge Stuart Dickinson called on the video ref to help identify Simon Shaw, however this goes against the protocol set down by the IRB on the use of video refs.

Danny Grewcock was cited by citing commissioner Dennis Wheelahan, who have reviewed the video spotted Grewcock stamping on the head of Daniel Carter. Grewcock pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty by the judiciary and suspended for 6 weeks.

A much improved Welsh team was able to turn around from last weeks loss and win convincingly against the Pumas. The star player for the Welsh was Shane Williams who scored three first half trys.

The Welsh victory was the only win by a northern hemisphere team over the past two weekends.

Argentina - Tries: Martin Aramburu, Omar Hasan, Lucas Borges. Conversion: Hernan Senillosa. Penalty: Senillosa.

Wales - Tries: Shane Williams (3), Jamie Robinson. Conversions: Gavin Henson (3). Penalties: Henson (3).

South Africa just scraped home against Ireland, holding out against a late surge by the Irish. The Irish team played up better than last week. A late try to Brian O’Driscoll brought Ireland within 6 points of the Springboks. This spurred the Irish on, but they were unable to convert there changes into points. A penalty goal right on full time sealed the victory for the Boks.

This makes it three from three for southern hemisphere teams this weekend.

South Africa - Tries: Jaque Fourie, Breyton Paulse. Conversions: Percy Montgomery (2). Penalties: Montgomery (4).

Ireland - Tries: Tyrone Howe, Brian O’Driscoll. Conversions: Ronan O’Gara, David Humphreys. Drop goal: O’Gara.

Scotland showed much more passion in this game than last week’s game, however that passion was not enough to win them the match. Australia played a solid game, they made a few mistakes, but were still could enough to win convincingly.

Australia - Tries: Lote Tuqiri (2), Wendell Sailor, Morgan Turinui, Joe Roff; Conversions: Roff (3); Penalty: Roff.

Scotland - Try: Chris Cusiter; Conversion: Dan Parks; Penalties: Parks (2).

The game started off with a much more aggressive English forward play. England start well putting lots of pressure on the All Black team and earning two penalty goals for their efforts. But perhaps a bit too aggressive as English lock Simon Shaw was sent after 10 minutes for kneeing All Black Keith Robinson in a ruck.

New Zealand weathered the English storm and struck back with a break from Joe Rokocoko who fed the ball to Dan Carter who scored in the corner. Giving the All Blacks a 10 to 6 lead over England going into half time.
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Although the All Blacks haven’t ruled out Richie McCaw, it looks like he wont make the team for Saturdays game.

Meanwhile Clive Woodward has played down suggestions that his team is over coached. While hinting there may be a bit of biff in the game.

An interesting report has come out quoting Wasps coach and former Irish coach Warren Gatland as saying that English players are frustrated. He met up with some of the Wasps players who are in the England squad they told him they are not happy.

I don’t know how much you can read into it. Of course the players will be unhappy, they have just lost a game badly.

Doug Howlett is out of the All Blacks team to play England on Saturday and it looks like Richie McCaw may be out of the match as well.