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…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
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…
Freddie Burns’ nightmare finish hands Toulouse victory over Bath
Professional sport is a trying business, but it is difficult to imagine a more psychologically traumatic experience than the one Freddie Burns endured in the space of three minutes here. Twice, he contrived in the dying minutes to miss as easy a pair of opportunities to win a match that sport can offer, let alone…
Wales will not afford England a free ride to potential grand slam
The toll booths were removed from the Severn Bridge two months ago but granting a free ride to English rugby teams in Cardiff will never catch on. It explains why the Six Nations retains its passion and lustre, in defiance of societal changes and Britain’s shifting political sands. The desire to make England pay for…
Ellis Genge an injury worry for England’s Six Nations date with Wales
England have encountered further problems at loosehead prop in the buildup to their Six Nations match with Wales a week on Saturday after Ellis Genge picked up an ankle injury in training. Genge failed to finish Thursday’s training session because of soreness in an ankle and, while England are hopeful there will not be “any…
Ireland seek added flexibility and take leap of faith with Robbie Henshaw
If Dublin is to witness the battle of the skies as widely expected on Saturday, the team announcements came on Thursday with no little irony. Lining up in Dublin will be one faltering full-back, another from left field. Eddie Jones has kept faith with Elliot Daly; Joe Schmidt is taking a leap of it with…