An unexpectedly one‑sided Six Nations Championship has made two things crystal clear. There can be no disputing that the runaway grand slam winners, Ireland, are the European side best placed to succeed at the Rugby World Cup next year. And the other inescapable conclusion? Unless England absorb the harsh lessons of their worst finish in…
Month: March 2019
England’s latest Fijian recruit, Lagi Tuima: ‘I get a thrill from chaos’
England roll into Scotland on Friday night to continue their pursuit of another Women’s Six Nations title, with a smattering of fresh faces and sprinkling of Fijian flair. Lagi Tuima, the 19-year-old niece of the Fiji men’s captain, Akapusi Qera, makes her first Six Nations start and while she considers it an “honour and a…
Brad Shields talks ‘chip butties’ after winning starting spot for England
Only a few months ago an England team-sheet containing Brad Shields and Danny Cipriani and lacking Chris Robshaw would have been about as likely as Eddie Jones wearing a cravat. Fashions are changing within international rugby, however, and the newly arrived Shields and much discussed Cipriani have both been invited to add a dash of…
Siya Kolisi: ‘We represent something much bigger than we can imagine’
Siya Kolisi knows the meaning of what it truly is to suffer. As a small boy surviving in the township of Zwide near Port Elizabeth on South Africa’s east coast, he ate irregularly. His grandmother and young mother were unable to put food on the table every day. It was proper, aching hunger, something no…
Eddie Jones hits back at Bath owner over England injuries complaint
Eddie Jones has returned fire in an escalating row over the number of injuries sustained at England training camps, insisting the Premiership clubs have “no right” to tell him how to coach his side following criticism from the Bath owner, Bruce Craig. Craig described the toll of England camps on his club as “totally unacceptable”,…
Australia end Ireland’s unbeaten run as David Pocock returns in style
From Surfers Paradise to total wipeout. Ireland’s 12-match winning run hit the rocks against a fired up Australia as David Pocock’s late try sank the Six Nations champions in Brisbane. Bernard Foley chipped in with 13 points but it was fitting that the back-rower, in his first international appearance since 2016, had the final say…
Finn Russell remains Scotland’s creative hub despite patchy form
Anyone surprised by the selection of Finn Russell for the Calcutta Cup match on Saturday failed to take into account two factors. One is the calm, forgiving nature of Gregor Townsend, the Scotland coach who, as a former stand-off, arguably has a keener insight than anyone else into Russell’s complex make-up. The other is the…
Sydney Convicts’ Bingham Cup win promises legacy to tackle homophobia
The Sydney Convicts have won both men’s divisions at the Bingham Cup – the world championships of LGBT rugby – in Amsterdam. A record 72 teams and about 2,500 players competed in the ninth edition of the tournament, which included a women’s trophy for the first time, won by locals the Amsterdam Lowlanders. The Sydney…
Warren Gatland has World Cup in mind as Wales face struggling Argentina
Warren Gatland is approaching the final year of his contract with Wales but is not slipping gently into his goodbye. The longest-serving head coach of a tier-one nation has assembled the strongest squad in his 11-year reign as he aims to go out at the top in Japan. Wales’s 2015 World Cup tilt was ultimately…
Israel Folau escapes Rugby Australia sanction after revealing he offered to quit
Israel Folau has escaped sanction by Rugby Australia in the wake of his controversial comments on homosexuality after he said he offered to walk away from his contract and revealed that tension remains with the game’s administration over the issue. The Wallabies fullback wrote a lengthy piece on sports website Players Voice on Monday night,…