It is six years since New Zealand lost in Europe. It was not so much a sickness bug that laid them low at Twickenham but Manu Tuilagi who went on a one-man rampage in England’s emphatic 38-21 victory. Eddie Jones’ England to prepare for World Cup in heat of Italy The Leicester centre was then…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
Six Nations: talking points from opening round of fixtures
1) Slow coach Ireland have won every match in the final round of the Six Nations under Joe Schmidt, but they have won only one of their last four on the opening weekend – in France last year when Johnny Sexton’s late, late drop goal took them past France. They were seven points down against…
Resurgent Toulouse leading the French rugby renaissance
To say French rugby is overdue a renaissance is easier than predicting precisely when it will occur. Last time out in November the national team were beaten at home by Fiji; it is now almost nine years since Les Bleus won a Six Nations title. Since the 2015 Rugby World Cup they have managed only…
Six Nations 2019: team-by-team guide
Ireland Coach Joe Schmidt Captain Rory Best Last year Champions Having beaten all their tier-one rivals in the past 15 months strength in depth is no longer a problem and Ireland were able to overcome the loss of Conor Murray in the autumn, when New Zealand were among their victims. Six Nations could be tougher…
Wales v England: remembering six of their best meetings down the years
1) 1967: Jarrett shatters Triple Crown hopes (34-21) Wales, with a delirious commitment to handling rugby which at times made one wonder at the reality of it all, completely shattered England’s delusions of winning the triple crown and sharing the Championship. It must be said that in the making of this, one of the greatest…
Wales angry that Samu Kerevi has escaped punishment for late tackle
Wales cannot understand why the Australia centre Samu Kerevi escaped punishment for a late tackle on Leigh Halfpenny last weekend that left the full-back concussed. Halfpenny, who suffered his fourth concussion in as many years, was injured six minutes from the end of Wales’s victory when Kerevi attempted a charge down and clattered into the…
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi strives for more after All Blacks win
There is only one man still playing the game who knows what it is like to lead a team to victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand – Siya Kolisi. The handful of others who have done it this century have all quit. John Eales, Martin Johnson, Thierry Dusautoir, John Smit and Sam Warburton….
Newcastle stand firm in Toulon to seal remarkable comeback triumph
The Newcastle director of rugby, Dean Richards, refused to get carried away with his side’s 26-25 win against the three‑times winners Toulon at Stade Fleix Mayol as they returned to the Champions Cup with a bang. It was Newcastle’s first time in the top tier of European club rugby for 13 years and it was…
Wallabies: with eight defeats in 11 Tests, losing has become a bad habit
Losing has become a bad habit for the Wallabies. The Wallabies’ try-less 9-6 loss to Wales in Cardiff was their eighth defeat from 11 Tests this year, ingraining the feeling that losing is now a matter of course for the Australian side. A pattern of negative behaviour has resulted in self-doubt, high anxiety and a…
US Eagles face Ireland in Dublin with both teams at an all-time high
The USA have won nine straight Test matches. That they will in all likelihood not make it 10 on Saturday is arguably of less importance to the rugby world than the fact their last game of 2018 is against Ireland in front of a sellout Dublin crowd. The Breakdown | Steve Hansen was right, Ireland…