1) Ireland ▲ (1 place from September) Steve Hansen knew what he was doing when anointing Ireland as the world No 1 side, even if the official rankings have not done so, saying: “It’s their turn at the moment so we’ll see how they cope with that.” So far they are not doing a bad…
Category: Rugby
Santiago Cordero: ‘England should worry. Argentina are getting better and better’
It is Santiago Cordero’s own choice but a life in rugby exile can be testing. On Saturday the 24-year-old could have been running out against the All Blacks in Buenos Aires, facing the haka and standing shoulder to shoulder with his best mates for the national anthems. Instead he will be in distant Devon, plying…
Newcastle seal thriller over Montpellier with 39-phase, 89th-minute try
Is it written in the stars for Newcastle Falcons? How else to explain a grandstand finish as remarkable as this, finally ended by Callum Chick’s matchwinning try after a staggering 39 phases, deep into the 89th minute. Newcastle have claimed two major French scalps – the three-times winners Toulon and now Montpellier, dark horses to…
Rugby union: talking points from the Premiership’s weekend action
1) Set pieces separate New Zealanders Two New Zealand coaches presided over an old-school British game in which the set pieces shaped the outcome. Todd Blackadder is in his third season in charge at Bath while Chris Boyd moved to Northampton in the summer. Bath’s supremacy up front plus their lineout mastery gave them the…
This must not be the year when rugby union trashes its finest qualities
If ever there was a year for rugby union to show the best side of itself it is 2019. A first Rugby World Cup to be staged in Asia, fresh financial investment offering club rugby a chance to take a significant next step, a Six Nations championship requiring only a sprinkle of on-field brilliance to…
Ruthless Exeter Chiefs turn on the power to give Leicester early shock
If Bristol were looking for an example of what passionate home support can do for a side emerging from the Championship they need look no further than 80 miles down the M5. It is some tribute to the distance Exeter have come that this dismantling of a recently mighty outfit, never once anywhere near the…
Henry Slade: ‘I’m not small but my game is putting others in space’
Nothing more succinctly sums up the state of the professional game than Henry Slade’s belief that he is relatively small for a centre. Exeter’s England international is 6ft 4in and weighs more than 15st, taller and heavier than most second rows not long before the 25-year-old was born, but not sufficiently bulky to be tasked…
Taulupe Faletau a major doubt for Wales internationals after breaking arm
Taulupe Faletau is a serious doubt for Wales’s autumn internationals after the Bath director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, confirmed the No 8 has suffered a broken arm and requires surgery. Gareth Steenson leads Exeter’s surge as they come from behind to beat Bath Faletau suffered the injury during Bath’s defeat by Exeter on Friday and,…
Champions Cup: Edinburgh gain stunning win in Toulon
Edinburgh remain on course for their first Champions Cup quarter-final since 2012, beating Toulon 28-17 to become only the third team to win at Stade Felix Mayol in the competition. Richard Cockerill’s side hit back after conceding a try in the second minute of the game and dominated territory and possession throughout to make it…
Eddie Jones keeps faith in World Cup ambition despite downturn
When Eddie Jones took charge of England after the last World Cup he felt his third year would be the most challenging. It would follow a Lions tour, after which the England players involved would not have as long a rest period as their colleagues in the other three home unions and it would be…