Eddie Jones has a vivid recollection of the buildup to his first game as England coach against Scotland in Edinburgh. Two years on, before Saturday’s Calcutta Cup reunion, he has been replaying the video footage to his squad this week and says it still sends a shiver down his spine. “After the first training run…
Category: Rugby
Joe Launchbury set to return as England fight to keep South Africa series alive
England’s efforts to mount a series comeback against South Africa have been boosted by the return of a fit-again Joe Launchbury. The Wasps lock has recovered from a sore calf and is set to feature in a reshuffled pack for Saturday’s second Test in Bloemfontein. Launchbury will be a valuable addition for a game England…
Israel Folau loses appeal over one-match World Rugby ban
Wallabies ace Israel Folau will miss the NSW Waratahs’ crucial Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night after he failed to have his one-match ban overturned on appeal. Folau fronted a high-stakes appeal hearing on Thursday night after he was banned from one match by a World Rugby judiciary panel on Wednesday…
Premiership roundup: Joe Simmonds sends Exeter top after late comeback
Joe Simmonds converted Thomas Waldrom’s last-minute try to cap a dramatic comeback from Exeter, who rallied from 13 points down to edge out Northampton 31-30 at Sandy Park. The Chiefs were staring at a fourth consecutive league defeat when they trailed 30-17 with 10 minutes remaining but Don Armand and then Waldrom touched down. Simmonds…
Scotland’s Gregor Townsend joins condemnation of Jones’ tormentors
Gregor Townsend has condemned the verbal abuse handed out to Eddie Jones after England’s Calcutta Cup defeat. The Australian was jostled and taunted by a group of Scots as he arrived in Manchester by train the day after his side’s 25-13 defeat at Murrayfield. He had travelled alone to be a guest of Sir Alex…
Siya Kolisi to make history by becoming South Africa’s first black captain
Siya Kolisi will become South Africa’s first black captain after being handed the role for the Test series against England next month. The 26-year-old flanker was the vice-captain to Eben Etzebeth last year and temporarily took over when the second-row was off the field but has been awarded the role on a full-time basis for…
Johnny Sexton returns to Ireland’s starting side against Australia
The selection of Johnny Sexton by the British & Irish Lions for the second Test against New Zealand last year marked a turning point in the series and Ireland are looking for the fly‑half to make a similar impact against Australia in Melbourne after the 18-9 defeat last Saturday. Wallabies stick with winning formula for…
Wales ready for Ireland’s aerial assault in must-win Six Nations match
Ireland and Wales meet on Saturday in Dublin to determine the heir apparent to England for the Six Nations crown. Matches between the two have in recent years been brutal even by the overtly physical nature of modern international rugby, but the route to victory has usually been in the sky. Ireland’s kicking game, led…
Scott Williams try puts Scarlets into semi-finals with win over La Rochelle
The Scarlets uncorked a full-bodied red rather than their customary champagne as they overcame imposing opponents to reach the last four of the Champions Cup for the first time since 2007. It was a victory based on grit and courage as they absorbed pressure for the first hour before delivering the coup de grâce with…
Power in danger of squeezing out skill in rugby union’s battle of big hits
The chairman of Augusta International, Fred Ridley, this week expressed his concern that modern golfers were smashing their way through courses and damaging the sport’s ecosystem: power was elbowing out skill through improved athleticism and technology. Rugby union has the same problem. As various surveys are made of injuries and concussion – the latest on…