Flanker Sam Cane will miss the All Blacks tour of Japan and Europe after suffering a broken neck during their win over South Africa. Cane was to undergo surgery on Sunday and remain in Pretoria for another week to recover after departing with a grimace midway through the 32-30 win at Loftus Versfeld. New Zealand…
Month: March 2019
Eddie Jones lights fuse under Wales clash by questioning Gatland comments
Eddie Jones wasted no time lighting a fuse under England’s potential Six Nations grand-slam decider against Wales on Saturday week after crushing France. Jones pointedly challenged comments made by Warren Gatland last year that England and Wales were “poles apart” and turned up the pressure on the New Zealander by claiming his team were “the…
Reece Hodge to start at centre for Wallabies in Bledisloe opener
Utility back Reece Hodge will fill the Wallabies’ troublesome centre position for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks in Sydney. Hodge, who spent much of the season at flyhalf for the Melbourne Rebels, has played virtually every other backline position for the Wallabies and steps in for the injured Samu Kerevi and Tevita…
Wasps v Wigan, a young Marseille fan goes rogue and ping-pong wizardry
1) The Premiership rugby union season kicks off this weekend. There were some brilliant tries last season. Here are eight of the best of them. There were some shuddering tackles too. Saracens are the team to beat in 2018-19, having been crowned champions for the fourth time after beating Exeter 27-10 with a sizzling display…
Furore over Owen Farrell’s big hit leads to call for refereeing consistency
Kurtley Beale said confusion will remain over tackles which merit a red card until there is consistency from referees. The Australia centre was speaking after the furore generated by Owen Farrell’s challenge on André Esterhuizen at the end of England’s victory over South Africa. England’s co-captain went into the challenge with his right shoulder and…
Michael Cheika survives as Scott Johnson is named Wallabies’ director of rugby
In the stock market they call it the “Santa Rally” – the bounce in optimism two weeks out from Christmas. Rugby Australia’s own version may have come with the appointment of Scott Johnson to the newly-created position of director of rugby just eight days away from Christmas. The game in Australia certainly needs some festive…
Eddie Jones splits captaincy between Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell
Eddie Jones has claimed the England captaincy has become too big for one man after taking the surprise decision to split the role between Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell for the autumn internationals and revealing he is considering doing so at next year’s World Cup. Just when England rugby needs clarity the waters have been…
Joey Carbery helps Munster kick battling Exeter Chiefs out of Europe
Saracens will again be the only English club in the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup after Exeter lost narrowly in a gruelling match at Thomond Park. The Chiefs did not just have to win to top the group and progress but deny Munster a bonus point. It was mission improbable but 14 minutes from…
Gloucester’s Johan Ackermann urges Eddie Jones not to drop Danny Cipriani
Eddie Jones has been urged to hold talks with Danny Cipriani, and judge the fly-half on form rather than his off‑field “mistake” in Jersey, when considering his England future. Cipriani made his Gloucester debut in a 40-31 pre-season friendly victory over the Dragons on Thursday night after escaping sanction at a Rugby Football Union disciplinary…
England 37-18 Australia: how the players rated at Twickenham
England Elliot Daly 7 He may move back to the wing when Anthony Watson is fit. Daly has had a mixed month but he picked a nice line to score a superb try after the break that turned things England’s way. Joe Cokanasiga 7 Made a try-scoring debut against Japan but this was always going…