Wallabies thumped by England as Labuschagne is axed and Brisbane Lions choose Cameron Bruce

Australia’s rugby union slump deepened at Twickenham, Marnus Labuschagne was ruled out of the summer’s Test series against New Zealand, and Brisbane began its post-Chris Fagan era by settling on a new coach.

Rugby Union: England pile on the pain for the Wallabies

The Wallabies’ spring tour began with another sobering defeat, as England ran out 45–22 winners at Twickenham on Monday morning Australian time. England scored seven tries to three, recording its highest-ever score against Australia and retaining the Ella-Mobbs Trophy. The result was particularly damaging for the Wallabies, who have now lost three consecutive Tests and are mathematically out of contention for the Nations Championship final.

Australia briefly threatened to make a contest of it when Max Jorgensen scored an intercept try just before half-time to cut England’s lead to 19–10. But England regained control almost immediately after the break, with Jack van Poortvliet crossing before Henry Pollock added two tries in quick succession. The Wallabies managed further scores through Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams, but England’s attack continued to expose defensive weaknesses. Coach Les Kiss and captain Harry Wilson now face a short turnaround to address the performance before Australia meets Scotland at Murrayfield.

AFL: Lions settle on Cameron Bruce as Fagan’s successor

The Brisbane Lions have settled on Cameron Bruce as their next senior coach, with the club’s board approving the appointment on Monday. Bruce, who has spent the past five seasons as an assistant under Chris Fagan, was chosen ahead of a field that included former senior coaches Nathan Buckley and Adam Simpson. He has been part of Brisbane’s coaching staff throughout its run of three consecutive premierships and previously worked under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn during that club’s three-peat. The Lions are expected to formally unveil Bruce on Tuesday.

There was also a pointed reaction to the off-season departure of former GWS captain Toby Greene. Young Giants defender Joe Fonti said it was difficult to see his former skipper leave for Geelong, describing the move as feeling like an abandonment of the club. Greene is one of several experienced players to have departed GWS, alongside Lachie Whitfield, Jesse Hogan, Jake Stringer and Kieren Briggs. The Giants have lost more than 1,000 games of experience through the off-season, leaving a significant leadership and list-management challenge for the club’s younger group.

Cricket: Labuschagne ruled out of New Zealand Tests

Marnus Labuschagne’s difficult run at Test level has cost him his place in Australia’s plans for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. Chairman of selectors George Bailey confirmed on Monday that the Queensland batter would not be considered for any of the four Tests, beginning in Perth on December 9. Labuschagne has gone 49 Test innings without a century and averaged just 21.83 across six innings during the recent series in South Africa. He will return to leading Queensland in the Sheffield Shield as he looks to rebuild his form, with selectors set to finalise the rest of the Test squad after the next round of matches.

The renewed debate over Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal also gathered momentum. David Warner publicly backed Usman Khawaja’s claims that knowledge of the sandpaper plot extended beyond the three players who were punished, calling Khawaja’s account in his forthcoming autobiography “100 per cent accurate”. Warner also criticised Cricket Australia’s original investigation as rushed and inadequate, while the governing body has continued to stand by its findings. Khawaja’s separate claims about ball-tampering practices in domestic cricket also drew a response from Scott Boland, who said he had not witnessed anything untoward during his time playing for Victoria.

There was a further setback for fast bowler Lance Morris, whose return to competitive cricket has been interrupted by another injury. Morris had taken 3–29 in Western Australia’s one-day match against England over the weekend, his first professional appearance in around 20 months, but injured his non-bowling left hand at a social event afterwards. He is due to see a hand specialist, with no return date yet established.

Rugby League: Leniu faces suspension after World Cup semi-final

Samoa forward Spencer Leniu is facing a two-match suspension after being charged with grade-three contrary conduct on Monday. Leniu was sin-binned for dissent during Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Australia, then made a money gesture towards the officials as he left the field. An early guilty plea would see him miss the opening two games of his 2027 NRL season with Parramatta, including the club’s trip to Las Vegas. If he contests the charge and loses, the suspension would increase to three matches.

Formula 1: Piastri sixth in Brazil as Webber partnership ends

Oscar Piastri finished sixth in a rain-affected São Paulo Grand Prix, as McLaren teammate Lando Norris claimed victory and Mercedes secured the constructors’ championship. The race swung between wet and dry conditions, with Norris recovering from a poor start to take control, while Max Verstappen charged from 21st on the grid to finish second. Piastri made progress after a difficult qualifying session but could not get close enough to challenge for the podium. Mercedes’ title is its first constructors’ championship since 2021 and its ninth overall.

Away from the track, Piastri and longtime manager Mark Webber announced that they had mutually agreed to end their management arrangement. Webber and his partner Ann had guided Piastri since 2019, helping him progress through the junior categories and secure his Formula 1 seat with McLaren in 2023. The pair said their reduced trackside involvement this season had made it an appropriate time to part ways, with Piastri now set to move to a new management structure.