English rugby has its share of thorny issues at present but there is one fast-emerging success story out there. If a distinctly chilly Sunday afternoon in west London exuded little obvious glamour, the inaugural Tyrrells Premier 15s final represented the latest major positive stride for the domestic women’s game, a potentially significant staging post along the long,…
Month: March 2019
Dan Leavy inspires Leinster to beat holders Saracens in Champions Cup
The jerseys were blue rather than green but otherwise this was an entirely familiar Anglo-Irish storyline. Leinster are through to the last four of the European Rugby Champions Cup while England’s Six Nations under-achievement has now been mirrored at elite European club level. The presence of three Pro14 sides in the semi-finals and none from…
Sam Simmonds’ hat-trick helps Exeter Chiefs to easy win over London Irish
There remains a mathematical chance of London Irish avoiding relegation from the Premiership this season but any realistic hope of a reprieve was in effect ended on Sunday by a runaway Exeter. Although better sides than Irish would have struggled to stop the galloping Chiefs, for whom the England back-row Sam Simmonds scored a hat-trick of tries,…
Exeter march on and show no sign of letting up in victory over Sale
Exeter had already secured home advantage in the play-offs but there was no letting up from the champions who ensured they will finish at the top of the table for the first time with a bonus point victory over opponents on the trail of the Champions Cup who refused to go away. There is a…
Jacques Brunel has brought France together, but can he bring success?
Back in 2009, Jacques Brunel made a bet with his players at Perpignan. If they won the championship that season, Brunel would give a piggyback to their prop, Sebastian Bozzi. Brunel is a slight man, Bozzi is not. The latter came in at 19 stone. Brunel was 55 years old. Well, Perpignan beat Clermont in…
Eddie Jones threatens England changes for likely Paris ‘slogathon’
Eddie Jones has warned that “no one is indispensable” as he mulls over his best options for the key Six Nations away game against France on Saturday. The probability of wet weather in Paris may influence England’s selection in certain areas, not least at half‑back, the back-row and in midfield. Eddie Jones’s recipe for England…
Greig Laidlaw’s nerveless kicking carries Scotland to cathartic win over France
This will hardly have Scotland dreaming of a first championship of the century but they are back on track at least. They were their usual selves, brilliant when the mood took them, all over the place when the mind wandered. But the relentless accuracy of Greig Laidlaw, restored to the team and a much-needed focus…
Andrew Conway’s late try sends Munster into Champions Cup semis
With the clock in the red and the home support on their feet, Toulon were doing their damnedest to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive. Phase after phase, knowing a successful penalty would be enough – but just when they were getting into shooting range they were penalised for holding on at the tackle. Chris…
Rugby Union: Signs good for a Wallabies side learning to coach itself
When Rod Macqueen coached the Wallabies during their last golden era his ultimate objective was to develop a team that was capable of coaching itself. With great leaders such as John Eales and George Gregan steering the team, the empowered Wallabies held the Bledisloe Cup for five years, won the 1999 World Cup and defeated…
Eddie Jones apologises for offensive comments about Ireland and Wales
Eddie Jones and the Rugby Football Union have both issued apologies after video footage emerged of the England head coach referring to “the scummy Irish” and Wales as a “little shit place” during a speech last year. Jones said he was “very sorry” for remarks he concedes were inexcusable. Jones made the comments during a…