Chris Ashton’s hopes of winning an England recall this autumn have been dealt a hammer blow after he was hit on Thursday night with a seven-week ban for a tip-tackle during a pre-season friendly with Sale. Ashton will have just one match to prove his worth before Eddie Jones names his autumn squad in October after…
Month: March 2019
Ireland seal nervy win over Argentina but Sean O’Brien a casualty
Ireland laboured to a patchy 28-17 victory over Argentina in Dublin, losing Sean O’Brien and Kieran Marmion to serious-looking injuries. Marmion, Bundee Aki and Luke McGrath scored Ireland’s tries as the Six Nations champions started their November campaign with a staccato win over the stubborn Pumas. Bautista Delguy crossed for Argentina, who edged ahead in…
Waratahs accused of playing like Harlem Globetrotters after scare in Japan
Captain Michael Hooper has accused his NSW Waratahs of trying to play like the Harlem Globetrotters after scraping to an unimpressive 31-30 Super Rugby win over the Sunwolves. A record-breaking double from Israel Folau helped the Waratahs survive an enormous fright in Tokyo on Saturday, with the fast-finishing hosts coming painfully close to pulling off…
Jordan Larmour’s try for champions Leinster is a bad break for Bath
Bath have been flagging of late, one victory in 10 matches before welcoming the Champions Cup holders, which is maybe why they decided to confiscate 1,500 Leinster flags before the match on health and safety grounds. They succeeded in lowering the provinces’s standard, but could not stop it fluttering on a dank afternoon when defences…
Eddie Jones leans on England’s Lions to build dossier on defeating New Zealand
England have compiled a dossier on how to beat the All Blacks based on information from the British & Irish Lions players who toured New Zealand last year. Eddie Jones also hopes the input of the former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, now in England’s camp, will enable his side to “climb Everest” by toppling…
Bath denied chance to replay Champions Cup tie with Toulouse
Bath’s controversial Champions Cup tie with Toulouse will not be replayed, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has announced. Bath lost 22-20 to their French opponents and were aggrieved that the referee, Andrew Brace, appeared to blow the full-time whistle before the full 80 minutes were complete according to the clock on television screens. Premiership rugby…
‘We’ve seen so much growth’: how rugby is tackling children’s developmental issues
On a warm and sunny Sunday morning in February this year, a small group of families came together in Royal Park on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD – all attending a special introductory rugby clinic for kids. Sense Rugby went on to establish itself in the eastern suburbs of the city, officially kicking off in…
Maro Itoje set to miss England’s Six Nations games with France and Wales
Maro Itoje is set to miss England’s Six Nations matches against France and Wales and may be out for the rest of the tournament, because of knee ligament damage. In better news for the head coach, Eddie Jones, Manu Tuilagi is clear to face France on Sunday after escaping a citing for a shoulder charge…
David Strettle try helps Saracens back to the top of the Premiership
Saracens needed a bonus-point win to retake their position at the top of the table, so that was what they took. For the majority of the match a bonus point, at least of the attacking variety, was the farthest notion from any of the minds assembled here in Barnet. Indeed, with an hour gone, Saracens…
Rugby union: talking points from the first round of autumn internationals
1) Mitchell works his magic on England’s defence Owen Farrell escapes being cited over André Esterhuizen tackle New Zealand are heading to Twickenham where they will bump into a familiar adversary. John Mitchell was the All Blacks head coach at the 2003 World Cup but, as England’s new defence coach, now finds himself in charge…