Seven-try France smash sorry Samoa

Scrum-half Frederic Michalak confirmed Sunday he has been ruled out of France's Six Nations clash against Italy next weekend because of a knee injury.The Toulouse player will be replaced in the France line-up by Biarritz scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili.Michalak injured himself just two minutes into Toulouse's Top 14 league game against Stade Francais on Saturday and was stretchered off and replaced by New Zealand's Byron Kelleher.

Any feelings of fatigue after a draining season that began back in February are on hold, New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has warned ahead of Saturday's Test match against France."We realise it's going to be a good challenge," said the openside flanker who will become the third most capped All Black when he wins his 80th cap at the Stade Velodrome here."We've had a light couple of days at the start of the week to make sure we're fresh for Saturday and the guys are looking forward to it.

Montpellier flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo returns to the French lineup for the closing autumn international against Australia at the Stade de France on Saturday replacing Julien Bonnaire.Ouedraogo upset coach Marc Lievremont after he complained about being left out of the squad to play Argentina on his home ground last Saturday, a match the French won 15-9, but that appears to have been put aside for the Test against the Australians.

Samoa survived a late New Zealand surge to triumph 24-22 Friday after the first major clash in the South Africa leg of the IRB Sevens World Series.New Zealand won 24-12 when the teams clashed in the Dubai final last weekend and made a dream start in the Western Cape city of George with leading try scorer Sherwin Showers dotting down 20 seconds into the opening half.But Samoa stormed back to compile 24 unanswered points through tries by Mikaele Pesamino, Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Ruepeni Levasa with Lolo Lui converting them all and adding a drop goal.

Stade Francais stayed firmly in the hunt for a Top 14 play-off place on Saturday as they outclassed leaders and European champions Toulouse 31-3 at the Stade de France.Despite the defeat Toulouse stayed top because second-placed Montpellier were held 12-12 at home to 2009 champions Perpignan, who are struggling to even make the top six.Racing-Metro could move to within a point of Toulouse should they beat Toulon, and take a bonus point, in Sunday's high-profile clash.

The All Blacks exacted revenge for last year's humiliation by the Springboks when they ignited this year's Tri-Nations series with a 32-12 victory over the defending champions here Saturday.In a high-tempo clash between the world's top two rugby sides, the All Blacks claimed a bonus point as they scored four unanswered tries.A year after relinquishing their Tri-Nations crown when they were trounced in all three Tests against South Africa, the All Blacks bounced back with determination as they extended their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 21 Tests.

Australia's rugby boss said Friday that Asia should continue to host a neutral-ground Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand, despite a bid by the US city of Denver."Our strategic preference is Asia," Australian Rugby Union chief executive officer John O'Neill said in Tokyo on the eve of the year's fourth and final Bledisloe Cup match. The All Blacks lead the series 3-0.The Tokyo fixture is the second trans-Tasman Test played abroad after Hong Kong hosted a game last year, as part of a drive by Australia and New Zealand to develop the game in the growing Asian market.

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has been ruled out of his side's clash with South Africa and the two-Test tour to New Zealand.Jenkins has a calf muscle injury sustained during Cardiff Blues' European Challenge Cup final win over Toulon and will be sidelined for four to six weeks.Wales coach Warren Gatland has not yet decided on a squad replacement for the 29-year-old, who has 73 caps for Wales and was a key figure for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa last year.