Hugo Bonneval’s second-half try proved pivotal as France ended their nine-match winless run and left Italy facing another Six Nations wooden spoon after a tense battle in Marseille. France’s 34-17 victory – their first since March – came despite an error-strewn display, with the hosts relying on the boot of the scrum-half Maxime Machenaud to…
Month: March 2019
Ten questions to be answered at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
Who will win the inaugural women’s rugby sevens event? In a big win for gender equity in sport, women will participate in the Commonwealth Games in sevens for the first time. Australia is favourite for gold after securing the inaugural women’s Olympic gold at Rio, while they also currently sit 10 points clear of their…
Cape crusader Danny Cipriani on a mission in first England start since 2008
High on the list of things the 30-year-old Danny Cipriani would tell his younger self with the benefit of hindsight would be to keep believing. Over the past decade his high-profile career has taken more twists and turns than that of anyone else in modern English rugby but, finally, the white No 10 jersey is back…
Ireland defeat Australia to claim Lansdowne Cup in dramatic third Test
A thrilling climax to a wonderful series put the exclamation mark on a stunning season for Irish rugby. Ireland were clinging on for dear life, and had to go through the ordeal of a late TMO referral but a first series win against a southern hemisphere superpower for 39 years is theirs. Just. Johnny Sexton’s…
Dazzling Danny Cipriani steers Wasps past Newcastle into third place
Quite where Danny Cipriani will be playing his rugby next season remains unclear but this was the latest glimpse of his rare talents as he prepares for the next chapter of his career. The enigmatic fly-half, who is leaving Wasps at the end of the campaign and is expected to move to France to join…
Sports quiz of the week: England v Netherlands, Gareth Bale and meat
José Mourinho or Donald Trump: who said it?
Newcastle resist fightback as Billies’ boots fail to convert Gloucester tries
The unthinkable becomes ever more likely. Newcastle claimed their sixth away win of the season to strengthen their position in the top four, a new face among the usual suspects at the top of the English game. They rode the worst of the Beast From You Know Where and the loss of Toby Flood on…
Finn Russell masterminds historic Scotland victory over England
Two years ago Scotland started against England here, following a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland, like a deflated set of bagpipes. This time they matched their crowd and were at full bellow as they played with a sustained, controlled fury to record their first victory over the Auld Enemy for 10 years and throw…
Jacob Stockdale surges past Wales to keep Ireland’s grand slam hopes alive
Another fabulous match between these two, who so love to spar with each other and invariably raise us from their seats when they do. It took Ireland until the very death to put Wales away, but the manner in which the visitors hung in there despite overwhelming pressure from their hosts was a marvel in…
Stuart Lancaster pledges future to Leinster amid Harlequins speculation
Stuart Lancaster is not interested in the vacant job at Harlequins and has ruled out a return to the Aviva Premiership in the immediate future. The former England head coach wants to remain involved at Leinster, who face Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup final in Bilbao on Saturday. There has been speculation linking…