Australia coach Michael Cheika has included New South Wales Waratahs lock Jed Holloway among three uncapped players in a 31-man squad released on Thursday for the third and final Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Yokohama. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon and loose forward Angus Cottrell, an unused squad member for the final Rugby Championship matches…
Ireland v All Blacks is pick of autumn feast with strong World Cup flavour
New Zealand (World ranking: 1 Points: 92.96): New Zealand are like a machine, mowing down all who stand in their way, but their blades get tangled occasionally, as they did against South Africa. It was another day when they did not go through the gears but engaged top immediately; they tend to be more strategic…
Eddie Jones’ willingness to push the boundaries shows forward thinking
Eddie Jones was not thinking aloud when he said that he fancied trying out the Exeter wing Jack Nowell as an openside flanker. The England head coach has always looked to extend the boundaries of the game and at a time when set pieces have diminished in number and the number of rucks has exploded,…
Jacob Stockdale: ‘We went after the All Blacks with confidence’
Jacob Stockdale might be the deadliest finisher in European rugby but he reflects on his remarkable year with a light touch. The Ulster wing was the player of the tournament while setting a Six Nations record by scoring seven tries as Ireland sealed the grand slam. Stockdale also made the difference with the only try…
England can trade on being hated, says defence coach John Mitchell
It may come as some surprise to hear it has taken a New Zealander to hammer home just how much England hate losing to “disliked” Australia this week. John Mitchell, the defence coach, has only been in the role a couple of months but has called on England to recognise there is universal animosity towards…
Maro Itoje: England beating Ireland won’t be easy – but we will be ready
With the majority of sports people what you see is essentially what you get. With Maro Itoje it is more complicated. “Are you asking about Maro the person or Maro the rugby player?” he says, more than once. Not everyone would draw a major distinction but, in Itoje’s mind, there is clearly a sizeable gap….
‘I can give back to America’: Alex Corbisiero on NBC, the Premiership and never playing again
The Pig and Whistle calls itself New York’s premier rugby bar. The title might be contested but it’s certainly very rugby and very New York indeed. Premiership looks like 10 in a scrum plus Saracens and Exeter on top | Robert Kitson On West 36th Street, in the Garment District, it is surrounded by buzzing…
Champions Cup preview: Leinster’s Sexton back but Saracens miss Itoje
Pool One Elliot Daly captains Wasps for their must-win encounter with Toulouse in Coventry on Saturday amid reports of his departure to Saracens over the summer. Dai Young is boosted by the returns of the wing Josh Bassett, the hooker Tom Cruse and the flanker Thomas Young as Wasps look to improve a run of…
Japan captain Leitch says his side will not bow down at Twickenham
The Japan captain, Michael Leitch, insists his side are targeting nothing less than victory against England on Saturday, claiming Eddie Jones would not have it any other way. England’s Eddie Jones to boycott ‘waste of time’ referees’ meetings Leitch, who was Jones’s captain for the stunning win over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup,…
Conor O’Shea’s long wait goes on and there is little respite for Italy
The waiting goes on for Conor O’Shea. After three years as Italy’s head coach, he still has to taste victory in the Six Nations and it is set to be unlucky 13 for the former Ireland full-back when his countrymen visit Rome on Sunday. Since losing in the Italian capital six years ago, Ireland have…