Robert Kitson Who will win? Ireland. Impossible to predict with total certainty this year but Ireland’s set-piece is superior to those of their rivals. Otherwise it’s basically six hungry ferrets in a sack. Predicted order: Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, France, Italy. Brutality, home wins and drop goals: what to expect from the Six Nations Key…
Month: March 2019
Sports prospects of 2019: the men set to shine in the year ahead
Football Frenkie de Jong (1) (Ajax & Netherlands) He’s been dubbed “the new Johan Cruyff”, “the new Franz Beckenbauer” and the future of Dutch football. A midfield technician as comfortable operating as a No 10 as in assorted deeper roles, De Jong has also had a successful stint at sweeper, this time prompting comparisons to…
Scotland must improve ‘everything’ against Ireland, says Gregor Townsend
Gregor Townsend believes that Scotland will have to improve “probably everything” about their game if they are to beat Ireland on Saturday, despite the panache with which they played for large stretches of their 33-20 win over Italy. The head coach was not overly concerned by the late lapse which saw this team concede three…
Gareth Anscombe: ‘Wales are now genuine heavyweights. Warren’s one of the best’
Beneath the seasonal mistletoe in Wales this Christmas there will be less frivolity than normal. With the nation’s rugby team third in the world rankings, this is no time for casual distractions. Forget the frankincense and myrrh: just imagine the golden glow in 2019 should wise old Warren Gatland deliver a Six Nations title and…
Rugby union: talking points from the weekend action
1) Size matters for Cokanasiga Already it seems likely Joe Cokanasiga will win his first England cap this autumn and the smart money would be on him doing so against Japan in the third match of the series. He has impressed since his move to Bath and Eddie Jones has been eager to add size…
Mãori All Blacks beat US Eagles as Soldier Field sees three thrashings
The US Eagles advanced to meet the haka at Soldier Field, following the Stars and Stripes and drawing a roar from a keen home crowd. The game that followed was at times similarly fiery but, missing key players through injury and unavailability, the Americans were unable to sustain the challenge and capitalise on three yellow…
Stuart Lancaster insists England return has never crossed his mind
Stuart Lancaster has revealed he has not given any thought to the prospect of replacing Eddie Jones for a second spell as the England coach. Lancaster’s contract with Leinster runs out at the end of the season and, while he confirmed the province has opened talks over an extension, a place on Andy Farrell’s coaching…
European club rugby surprises may offer barometer in World Cup year
The result of a weekend in Europe that kicked convention high into the stand came in Paris, where a Worcester side laced with academy players achieved a bonus-point Challenge Cup victory over Stade Français, who lie second in the Top 14. Europe, in the form of the Champions Cup, is regarded as being close to…
The All Blacks will provide the acid test for north’s leading lights
“You want to be out there when the lights are on,” said Australia’s captain, Michael Hooper, during the build-up to the Test against New Zealand in Yokohama , explaining that the Wallabies’ slump since reaching the 2015 World Cup final was not down to a withering of competitiveness or desire. The lights will be on…
Rugby union: talking points from the Premiership’s opening weekend
1) Skelton shows promise for Sarries There are plenty of high-profile fixtures heading to Newcastle over the next 12 months, with the city to host this season’s European Champions Cup final and England’s final warm-up game prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which will be confirmed this week for a Friday night at St…