Post Contributor Badge This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story. More about badges | Request a badge Read more [...]

Post Contributor Badge This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story. More about badges | Request a badge Read more [...]

Argentina have made three changes to face France in Lille on Saturday, two enforced by injuries to Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Hernandez in last weekend's win over Wales. Marcelo Bosch, ever-present during the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship that ended five weeks ago, joins Gonzalo Tiesi in the centre in place of Contepomi, whose knee ligament injury has ruled him out for the rest of the tour. Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino comes in at fullback Read more [...]

SAO PAULO (AP) - Top-scorer Fred has been selected for Brazil's second leg against Argentina in a series dubbed the Superclassic of the Americas. Coach Mano Menezes on Tuesday also picked forwards Neymar and Leandro Damiao for the Nov. 21 match at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. The game was postponed from October because of a power failure in the interior city of Resistencia in Argentina. Brazil won the first leg 2-1 in Goiania in September. Only players from local clubs are Read more [...]

Tweet Luke Charteris readily accepts that Wales' France-based players run a considerable risk of dropping down the selection pecking order. But the Perpignan lock also has no doubt his game has improved since he opted for a cross-Channel move from Newport Gwent Dragons last summer. Charteris looks set to win his 38th cap when Wales tackle Samoa at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night - a game that has taken on added significance following last weekend's dire 26-12 defeat Read more [...]

Argentina will ask a U.N. court to order the release of a navy sailing ship seized in Ghana unless the African country releases it within a day, officials announced Monday. The ARA Libertad training ship was seized on Oct. 2 in the port of Tema as collateral for unpaid bonds dating from Argentina's economic crisis a decade ago. Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said if Ghana does not free the vessel by Tuesday, Argentina will appeal to the International Read more [...]

“The legal representatives of the Foreign Ministry are already in that city to begin the legal actions,” Timerman said Monday in a press conference at government house.Argentina argues that as a warship, the Libertad is immune from being seized and it says it will take the issue to the arbitrage court under a United Nations convention on the rights of the sea.Timerman said the government also asked Ghana to immediately restore power and water services that were shut off last week when Argentina Read more [...]

France's comprehensive 33-6 win over Australia Saturday in Saint-Denis, France has pushed Les Bleus past England into the No. 4 ranking. The movement is significant because the top four teams as of December 3rd will be placed in separate pools for Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, assuring Les Bleus they won't have to play any of the Southern Hemisphere giants in pool play. The loss drops Australia to No. 3 behind New Zealand and South Africa, following their recent wins over Scotland and Ireland, Read more [...]

MADRID: Barcelona extended their near-perfect start thanks to another Lionel Messi double but again suffered the defensive lapses that have plagued them this season in a nervy 4-2 La Liga win at Real Mallorca on Sunday.Atletico Madrid kept pace with the leaders three points back in second with a 2-0 success at home to Getafe, while third-placed Real Madrid were indebted to goals from a wounded Cristiano Ronaldo and Read more [...]

Ireland have confirmed that Paul O'Connell and Stephen Ferris will miss the critical showdown with Argentina. O'Connell and Ferris are yet to recover from respective back and ankle injuries, ruling them out of the climax to the Guinness Series on Saturday week. The Lions forwards' absence means Ireland will be without six key personnel against the Pumas, with Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Best, Rob Kearney and Sean O'Brien completing the list. Read more [...]