South Africa have sacked coach Allister Coetzee after a difficult couple of years in charge. The 54-year-old becomes the first Springboks coach to be dismissed while still under contract since Rudolf Straeuli following the 2003 World Cup. Rugby and the rainbow nation: can 2023 World Cup heal South Africa’s wounds? Coetzee took up the role…
Jonathan Joseph replaces Te’o in England team to face Wales
Jonathan Joseph has been recalled to the England side to face Wales on Saturday with Eddie Jones also handing a start to Danny Care at scrum-half. Joseph comes in for Ben Te’o – as predicted by the Wales head coach Warren Gatland – while Care is selected in place of the injured Ben Youngs in…
Joe Schmidt tells Ireland ‘we can’t rely on Johnny Sexton to keep saving us’
A relieved Joe Schmidt hailed his Ireland team for dragging themselves out of a hole it had appeared for 70 minutes there was no danger of them tumbling into. “It’s pretty hard to explain how you feel when you think you’ve let the game slip and then suddenly you’ve grabbed it,” he said. “I felt…
Scott Williams hoping Wales can carry on good start against England
Wales were on Monday night finalising their Six Nations side to face England at Twickenham on Saturday. What would ordinarily have been a short conversation following the bonus‑point victory against Scotland was complicated by the return to fitness of two of their injured British & Irish Lions outside backs, Liam Williams and George North. North…
Wales stoke Six Nations tension by warning England against ‘scrum-fest’
Wales left for London on Thursday afternoon with a dig at the three-figure price of tickets at Twickenham, promising fans that they would entertain and not let a match that has become verbally acrimonious in the buildup become bogged down by reset scrums. Little more than an hour after the England head coach, Eddie Jones…
Greig Laidlaw urges Scotland to be disciplined not frantic against France
Gregor Townsend’s stated aim of playing the highest-tempo rugby in the world has been much misunderstood – not least, it seems, by some of his Scotland players. As they bid to get their Six Nations campaign back on track after it came badly off the rails in Cardiff, Scotland know they will need a more…
‘We don’t use history, we don’t look at trends’: inside the mind of Dylan Hartley
Many people believe Dylan Hartley is fortunate still to be captain of England. Maybe he is in some respects but every footsoldier loves a lucky general. Then again, how much luck is ultimately involved when you have led your team in 24 Test matches and lost once? The more I practise the luckier I get…
Winter Olympics gaming, pep talks and Spurs v Arsenal at Wembley
1) The Winter Olympics is back, baby. Ample reason to once more open the retro computer games cupboard, featuring Winter Games 1985 (including hot dog ski jumping, biathlon and bobsled!), Winter Challenge in 1991 and everyone’s favourite Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (which includes mild cartoon violence, apparently). 2) To…
Eddie Jones tells England to be ruthless against Italy or face the axe
Back when Eddie Jones rose early to watch Six Nations games in his native Australia one thing always caught his eye. The matches tended to be played at a slower pace than in the southern hemisphere but their physicality and set-piece intensity struck him every time. Now he is coaching England those first impressions remain…
Gregor Townsend gears up for Scotland’s ‘twin challenge’ in Dublin
After ending the famine in his first Calcutta Cup match as Scotland coach, Gregor Townsend has turned his attention to curing his side’s travel sickness. If buoyant Scotland can clinch a first win in Ireland since 2010 on 10 March they will be catapulted firmly into contention for the title – but to do so…