#David Pocock

The path to the Webb Ellis Trophy is rarely smooth and never easy. But as we prepare for the World Cup knockout stage to begin, it's worth taking a look at where that path is likely to lead - and who is likely to tread it. The perennial contenders - unless you count England among them - are all still in the mix. So what should we expect to see in…

In the 47 years since the ACT was belatedly granted two senators, just nine people have represented Canberra in the federal parliament - and at all times, it has been one senator from Labor and one from the Liberals. Every three years the Greens and a grab bag of independents vow that, finally, they've got the formula right and this will be…

All the latest odds ahead of this weekend's quarter-final The countdown to the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup is underway. All eight teams will have optimism filling the air around them as some hope to upset the odds while others will be looking to prove why they are the favourites. England, Wales and Ireland will be representing the Home…

Pierre Spies is the best No 8 to have played in Super Rugby, writes Mark Keohane, who picks his all-time Super Rugby XV. I was privileged to report live from the ground on 14 of the 16 South African Super Rugby matches in Australia and New Zealand in 1996. The reason I couldn't be at all 16 was because of the schedule and of being in Australia on…

For many Australian rugby fans the enduring image of Michael Cheika is of a scowling figure in the coach's box, railing at the heavens as the national team crashed to yet another defeat. These days, however, Cheika is finding it hard to wipe the smile from his face. "Right now I'm really loving what's going on with my footy," he tells Australian…