Wallabies

Wallabies battling to free Giteau from French club for Bledisloe Cup test with All Blacks

Giteau has been absent as the bulk of the Wallabies squad began their Rugby Championship preparations in Sydney this week.

Giteau has remained in France to start training with Toulon where owner Mourad Boudjellal has maintained a hard-lined stance over his international stars playing test rugby.

Wallabies lose second Test against England 23-7

It marked England's first series win on Australian turf, but it was the turf itself that was the biggest talking point as the pitch more closely resembled a sand pit at times.

England had won the first Test 39-28 in Brisbane last week to set up the series victory.

Despite assurances from ground staff in the lead-up to the Test, the sub-standard turf failed to hold up for even the first scrum.

Stephen Moore heading back to Queensland

The 32-year-old hooker came through the junior ranks at the Reds before moving to the Brumbies in 2009 and has played 102 times for the Canberra-based side, matching exactly his tally of test caps.

A statement released by the Brumbies said the 2016 season would be Moore's last with the team "following his decision to re-join the Queensland Reds".

VIDEO: Rugby Union World Cup Highlights Round Up

The Wallabies won the match 28-13 courtesy of a  stellar two-try performance from David Pocock.

In what was a far from a polished performance, the three-try win fell short of delivering a valuable bonus point in the 'Pool of Death' clash at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

In another game, Scotland beat Japan 45-10 in their opening game.

Australia pair Pocock & Hooper against Fiji

Pocock starts at number eight with Hooper at seven - just as they did in the win over New Zealand in August.

Toulon's Matt Giteau, who is available after the Australian Rugby Union relaxed rules over overseas-based players in April, starts at centre.

Will Genia is preferred to Nick Phipps at scrum-half and wins his 61st cap.

Henry Speight signs Australian Rugby Union deal to play sevens

The Brumbies player, who is clear to return from suspension for the Wallabies against the All Blacks in Sydney on 9 August, is allowed to represent Australia at the Rio Olympics in August under the new contract, should they qualify.

Speight has a background playing sevens in his native Fiji and is looking forward to playing the abbreviated form of the game again.