Tonga bounced back from a surprise defeat to Canada with an 18-9 triumph over the United States on Friday in rugby's Pacific Nations Cup.

Flyhalf Ian Madigan converted five penalties to lead Ireland to a 15-12 victory over a determined United States on Saturday in the first of two North American rugby Tests for the Irish.

France and New Zealand will look to the future, not the past when they meet on Saturday for the first time since the All Blacks eked out an 8-7 victory in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.

Brian O'Driscoll will lead the British and Irish Lions in the first of their nine matches in Australia, standing in for injured captain Sam Warburton against the Western Force on Wednesday.

Rival Kiwi coaches Robbie Deans and Warren Gatland are facing contrasting pressures ahead of the British and Irish Lions' visit to Australia in what could be a career-defining tour for both men.

World Cup-winning coach Sir Graham Henry faces potential disciplinary action after making a blistering attack on the standard of refereeing in Super rugby.

Veteran flanker George Smith and center Pat McCabe kept their hopes of facing the British and Irish Lions alive after scans Tuesday revealed their injuries were not as bad as initially feared.

Ireland's grand slam-winning captain Brian O'Driscoll ended months of uncertainty over his future on Thursday when he agreed to play on for one more year for province and country.

Wales lock Ian Evans has said any verbal tricks played by former coach Scott Johnson ahead of next week's Six Nations international at Murrayfield will come as no surprise to him.

Former Wallabies flanker George Smith, who led Tokyo-based Suntory Sungoliath to their fifth All-Japan title on Sunday, is set to return to Super Rugby after agreeing to a short-term contract with his former club ACT Brumbies.