Exeter returned to the top of the table but this was not a match to be deposited in memory banks. It yielded four points for Exeter and a rare one away for the Bears, who on this evidence should not be worried about returning to the Championship having competed on an even level throughout. It…
Month: March 2019
England underline Women’s Six Nations credentials by thrashing France
England’s women appear certainties for a grand slam after only two games. A ruthless display by their forwards and some sharp finishing by their backs destroyed the Six Nations champions in Doncaster. This was supposed to be a real test for Simon Middleton’s side. It was over by the interval by which time England had…
Just when England rugby needs clarity the waters have been muddied
The big problem with coaching England, believes Eddie Jones, is the media. In a nutshell they ask too many questions. “Anywhere else you do the press conference for about five minutes and then you are done. Here it is two hours of non-stop questioning.” It partially explains, apparently, why he is now naming co-captains who…
Bloodied Tom Curry channels spirit of Terry Butcher to stake England claim
Perhaps it should not be surprising Tom Curry did not know who Terry Butcher is. It is a sure-fire way to make one feel old, yes, but not really a shock considering Curry was born almost a decade after Butcher’s blood-soaked heroics earned his place in English sporting legend. At 20 Curry is the youngest…
Ireland need to produce best game ever to beat England, claims Rory Best
Signs of weakness were thin on the ground in the Ireland camp on Friday. In response to Eddie Jones’s somewhat half-hearted attempt to turn the pressure up on the Six Nations champions – “praise can make you weak” – the Ireland captain, Rory Best, quipped back: “It’s maybe the lack of praise from Joe behind…
Scotland are hopeful Finn Russell will be fit to face France in Paris
Finn Russell has given Scotland hope that he may face France on Saturday despite going off with a head injury in Paris on Sunday. The fly-half failed an initial head injury assessment after going off just before the break in a Top 14 encounter for Racing 92 against Toulouse. But he was symptom-free after he…
England overwhelm careless Australia with Kyle Sinckler power game
Click:软文发稿 When England finished their 2016 series in Australia with a flourish, they had a backline with an emphasis on ball-handling rather than manhandling. Fired by George Ford at fly-half, the aim was to be reactive and revel in the unstructured. They scored 44 points that night in Sydney, their record against the Wallabies, and…
CJ Stander try salvages draw for Munster to deny Exeter
Nothing stimulates Munster more than Europe. They arrived at Exeter, whose only defeat in their previous 17 matches had been in the Premiership final against Saracens last May, without an away victory this season but even without a clutch of leading players – Keith Earls pulled out after being injured during the warm-up – they…
Christian Wade set for shock Wasps exit in a bid to play in the NFL
Christian Wade appears set for a remarkable career change to American football after it emerged he is leaving Wasps to pursue a future in the NFL on Thursday night. Dai Young calls for overhaul after ‘ridiculous’ ban for Nathan Hughes The 27-year-old winger has 82 Premiership tries to his name, placing him third on the…
Geordan Murphy appointed Leicester coach despite dismal run
Geordan Murphy has been appointed as Leicester’s permanent head coach despite a run of eight straight defeats that has left the Tigers at “their lowest ebb”, according to the former Ireland full-back. Murphy, who has spent 21 years at Leicester as a player and coach, was handed the role on an interim basis when Matt…