Rob Kearney will return at full-back for Ireland’s Six Nations trip to Scotland, with Chris Farrell parachuted into the centres. Munster’s Farrell will partner Bundee Aki in midfield, with Robbie Henshaw dropping out of Ireland’s match squad because of a dead leg. Henshaw struggled positionally when shifted to full-back in last weekend’s 32-20 home loss…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
Wasps face the might of Leinster and then another player exodus
When Wasps last entertained Leinster in Europe, they won 51-10 on their way to the Champions Cup semi-finals. It was only three years ago and completed an 84-16 season’s double, but when the sides meet at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday it is the Premiership side who are facing the hiding. Wasps have not won…
Wales’ Liam Williams helps turn scramble into a frolic against Tonga
Warren Gatland praised the strength in depth of the Wales squad after his side claimed an eighth consecutive win by crushing Tonga. Wales’ winning sequence is their longest since the 2004-05 season, and victory over South Africa next Saturday would complete a first autumn Tests clean sweep. Jacob Stockdale scores only try as Ireland earn…
England’s Daley-McLean on point for Le Crunch clash in Women’s Six Nations
England and France notched up more than half a century of points in their opening fixtures of the Women’s Six Nations and Sunday’s meeting in Doncaster will decide the fate of this year’s title. Simon Middleton, the England coach, happily concedes that last season’s grand slam winners are favourites but the only certainty at Castle…
Alex Lewington’s late try adds gloss to Saracens’ routine win over Lyon
This is no time to be sniffy if you are an Englishman in Europe, so two wins from two for Saracens, English flag-bearers, is on balance an achievement to celebrate. But the faithful of north London remained largely in their seats throughout this mundane exercise in result collection. No one thought for a moment that…
Owen Farrell rues ‘game that got away’ but says England will peak at World Cup
Owen Farrell believes the controversial defeat to New Zealand was easier to take because England will be closer to their peak if the sides meet in next year’s World Cup. England thought they taken the lead five minutes from time, but Sam Underhill’s try was ruled out after Courtney Lawes’s chargedown from an offside position….
Gregor Townsend puts Scotland on attack footing against Argentina
Greig Laidlaw cannot wait to see the outcome as Scotland prepare to use all of their attacking weapons against Argentina in their final November outing. Wales feeling the pressure of closing gap on born-again Springboks | Paul Rees Gregor Townsend has decided to take the reins off his side after naming a back division that…
England’s Eddie Jones to make late call over Manu Tuilagi for Australia Test
Eddie Jones was on Wednesday night set to make a late decision on whether to play Manu Tuilagi against Australia on Saturday. The centre has not played for England for more than two-and-a-half years but took part in a make-or-break training session on Wednesday with Jones mulling over whether to include the heavyweight Tuilagi when…
Wales need strong attack to win World Cup, says defence coach Shaun Edwards
Shaun Edwards believes Wales’s formidable defence alone will not be enough to win next year’s World Cup but that the squad are the strongest he has known. The defence coach’s side will travel to Japan third in the world rankings after a run of nine victories. They conceded an average of 14.7 points in 12…
Kevin-Prince Boateng raps, Vuelta memories and managerial meltdowns
1) The Vuelta a España, the third and last of cycling’s Grand Tours of 2018 gets started on Saturday with a time trial in Málaga. Last year, the race was won by Chris Froome, who won’t be in Spain to defend the red jersey. Philippa York, then known as Robert Millar, recalls here the heartbreaking…