One defeat is damaging enough. Two in the space of eight days would surely end Ireland’s hopes of retaining the Six Nations, and perhaps also of regaining the affections of some of those fans who felt so cruelly disillusioned by their loss to England in Dublin a week ago. Joe Schmidt’s team will be under…
New Zealand’s coach Steve Hansen suggests 16-week off-seasons for all
Steve Hansen has called for a mandatory 16-week off-season, days after an 11-month campaign was announced in England. The New Zealand head coach said England were still counting the cost of having 15 players on the British & Irish Lions tour of his country last year, amid escalating concerns over player-workload. Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks…
All Blacks sprinkle caps like confetti with England and Ireland in mind
When New Zealand face Japan in Tokyo on Saturday, the All Blacks will be thousands of miles away. Dress it up any way you like but by announcing a squad to face the Brave Blossoms featuring eight rookies at almost the precise moment 23 frontline players were boarding a flight to London, Steve Hansen is…
My form is having a mental effect on England’s opponents, says Jonny May
At this rate Jonny May might have to consider changing his surname. Nowadays it is less a case of “may” than “will” when the Leicester wing hurtles towards a try-line, to the point where Wales will have to make special plans for England’s prolific flyer in Cardiff this weekend. Give him half a yard and…
Danny Barrett’s brutal brilliance puts USA top of the rugby sevens world
The USA men’s sevens team has found a way to win – or at least to lead – while losing. Twickenham considers NFL-style plan for elite to split into two regions On Sunday, they lost the final of the Cape Town Sevens to the Olympic champions, Fiji, by 29-15. A week before, they lost the…
Nathan Earle’s double helps Harlequins stun Premiership leaders Exeter
Exeter’s director of rugby, Rob Baxter, was magnanimous in defeat after his side suffered their first loss of the Premiership season at the hands of Harlequins in a thriller at the Stoop. Even Leicester are not free from the threat of relegation this winter | Paul Rees Joe Marchant’s crucial late tie swung the game…
Late Bryce Heem try hands Worcester unlikeliest of wins against 11-man Bath
Twenty minutes after time had elapsed, with Bath down to 11 men, Duncan Weir landed the conversion that has secured Worcester a vital edge in this insane relegation battle. Insanity is the word for this finish, Worcester overturning a 16-point half-time deficit at 5.12pm to put four points between them and Newcastle at the bottom…
Gareth Anscombe selection highlights Wales’s adapted Warrenball strategy
A constant of Welsh rugby through the years has been a raging debate about who should play at fly-half. Even Cliff Morgan, Barry John and Phil Bennett had their detractors, but lost in the verbal jousting between Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones this week was the former’s decision to play Gareth Anscombe at 10 against…
Joe Marchant try seals ‘Big Game 11’ victory for Harlequins over Wasps
Harlequins defended for most of the match against their erstwhile neighbours, but outscored Wasps by two tries to one after showing a side to their game that matched their black jerseys. Their snarling, defiant attitude was personified by their hooker Dave Ward who was sent to the sin-bin 10 minutes in for stepping on the…