Stephen Larkham has been axed as Wallabies assistant coach by Michael Cheika, eight months out from the Rugby World Cup. The former Wallabies five-eighth says he and coach Cheika could not agree on key points of attacking strategy and game philosophy. The axing follows the Wallabies’ dismal year in which they slipped to a record-low…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
Ryan Crotty the only change to All Blacks side for Ireland clash
Ryan Crotty replaces an injured Sonny Bill Williams in the only change to the All Blacks team to meet Ireland in their clash of the world’s top-ranked teams in Dublin. Veteran inside centre Williams damaged a shoulder during last week’s 16-15 win over England at Twickenham and may yet recover for the tour-ending Test against…
Manu Tuilagi casts aside roguish image to give England sense of calm
Manu Tuilagi has mixed memories of playing against France. His two Six Nations matches against England’s opponents on Sunday have ended in victory, with Tuilagi on the scoresheet both times, but his first encounter against France illustrates just how long and winding his road has been. It came at the 2011 World Cup, ended in…
Confusion over Owen Farrell’s tackle is widespread and understandable
When Kurtley Beale was asked this week about Owen Farrell’s challenge on André Esterhuizen, his first thought was to glance in the direction of Australia’s media officer. The Wallabies’ playmaker clearly had a view, but with Twickenham their final destination this month, it needed to be placed in a diplomatic bag. Beale, like other players,…
Israel Folau in centres as Adam Coleman ruled out of final Bledisloe Test
Israel Folau will start at outside centre, while a groin injury has forced lock Adam Coleman out of the Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks on Saturday in Yokohama. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has named Sefa Naivalu on the wing to accommodate Folau’s switch to the centres for the first time in his…
England denied by All Blacks and late decision in Twickenham thriller
New Zealand do not lose many matches, even fewer when Brodie Retallick plays. The second-row has been on the beaten team in the black jersey only once since August 2015, against the Lions last year, and was hugely influential as the World Cup holders overcame an early 15-point deficit and torrential rain that hampered their…
Sean Lonsdale try helps Exeter Chiefs return to the top of Premiership
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…
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…