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Nick Bishop has worked as a rugby analyst and advisor to Graham Henry (1999-2003), Mike Ruddock (2004-2005) and most recently Stuart Lancaster (2011-2015). He also worked on the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and produced his first rugby book with Graham Henry at the end of the tour. Three more rugby books have followed, all of which of have either been nominated for or won national sports book awards. Nick’s latest is a biography of Phil Larder, the first top Rugby League coach to successfully transfer over to Union, entitled “The Iron Curtain”. He is currently writing articles for The Roar and The Rugby Site, and working as a strategy consultant to Stuart Lancaster and the Leinster coaching staff for their European and Pro 14 playoff matches. Leinster achieved the double of European Champions Cup and Pro 14 league winners in 2018.
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Remember all those blokes in the ‘before and after’ adverts for weight loss? You wouldn’t think it could apply to someone who is already a rugby professional, would you?
When Napoleon was threatening to overrun his defences on the battlefield of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington declared: “Night or the Prussians must come.”
“From the liberal Cape Town to the conservative highveld… the one common factor is that the South Africans are a hard race and their rugby players are fearsome physical specimens. A Springbok is a big, big man.
Hollywood acting legend Robert Redford was 77 years old when he made the film All Is Lost.
I had my first taste of boarding school when I was 11 years old. At the time, I used to whistle Bob Dylan’s song Blowin’ in the Wind out of habit. I liked the lyrics and the melody, and it appealed to my feeling for a new life that I neither knew nor understood.
Wind back the clock, all the way to the first of July, 2017. All Blacks versus the British and Irish Lions – the second Test of a momentous series.
If it was a story from medieval times, the characters would be easy to paint. Sir Brodie Retallick is the dreaded black knight, the undisputed champion of the joust, roaming the realm from tournament to tournament, taking on all-comers from far and wide.
How do you build the best scrum in the world?
The legendary coach of the ‘Crimson Tide’ in Alabama, Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, once memorably announced that “Offence sells tickets. Defence wins championships”. Since then, that phrase has become a cliché among supporters of nearly every sport on the planet.
With the third and final Bledisloe Cup encounter for 2018 drawing ever closer, in partnership with Sage, premium partner of the Invictus Games, we look at how some accountability in the Wallabies’ backline defence – and from the men planning it – can help Australia match it with the All Blacks.
With the third and final Bledisloe Cup encounter for 2018 drawing ever closer, in partnership with Sage, premium partner of the Invictus Games, we look at how accountable play from the Wallabies’ impact players can help Australia match it with the All Blacks.
With the third and final Bledisloe Cup encounter for 2018 drawing ever closer, in partnership with Sage, premium partner of the Invictus Games, we look at how a greater sense of accountability in the forwards can help Australia match it with the All Blacks.
Make no mistake, it is a war. The resumption of an ancient rivalry, hopefully signalled by the Springboks’ shock win in Wellington, was confirmed at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon.
The Springboks’ historic win over the All Blacks in Wellington a couple of weeks ago threw down the gauntlet to Australia.
It was all so simple, and so very deadly back in early 17th century England: you were either a Cavalier or a Roundhead.
I don’t know whether it was from elation or from sheer exhaustion. But the tears that flowed so freely down the face of South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit at the end of Saturday’s match in Wellington were a picture worth a thousand words.
The celebrated college American Football coach Woody Hayes once said, “There’s nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you.”
They have money by the bucketloads, without any pinpricks of conscience to stop them spending it. At least, that’s one popular view of the English and French clubs looking from the other side of the fence.
Speed kills. It used to be the mantra of an old British television advert, warning drivers about their speeds in urban areas.
It was all so very, very different 40 or 50 years ago. In the good old days, the lineout was a free-for-all.
He has a big upside Olly, and the motivation of knowing it will be prob his last crack at a major title.
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
There are enough good players to make a run to the semis I think RW… Kerevi/Hodge would be one way to go in the centres (with Hodge defending at 13) to fix that particular issue..
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
They do need to find a bit more meaningful width Hazzaaa, and maybe that was the reason why Larkham was dispatched into outer darkness?? 🙂
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Not all 12’s have to be built like brick outhouses B.
Hadleigh Parkes isn’t huge but he managed well for Wales in the 6N, and Hodge is bigger than he. Defensively he’d be at 13 with Kerevi inside him in any case 🙂
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
I think he can contribute just as well from 15 as a second play-maker Kiwi, and let’s face it if he has a position on an international rugby field it has to be at 15.
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Good background then, and surprised it doesn’t lead to a more generous appraisal of KB 🙂
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
That may not be far away from the truth Gishan.
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
By rights DHP should get first shot at it, for sure Cad.
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
You’re right that Gopperth did become he back Wasps couldn’t do without, and made a better fist of 12 than KB to boot CUW…
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Any number of stirrers will tell you the opposite P 🙂
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Remarkable comeback after what he’s been through, but not sure he would last physically in the Test arena anymore…
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
That sounds like a good sign, and I think he would unquestionably be the next best after Genia…
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
That’s called forward thinking Doc, particularly at the bookies!
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Physically he looks like a half-back, but also has more to his game than a 9…
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
The whole point is Australia does have at 3 fullbacks better
Sorry but I don’t see the evidence for that strong an assertion Waxy….
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
The flight tends to be truer than that of a spiral pass, which can ofc wobble depending on how the ball is gripped!
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Yes they have suddenly become unfashionable with lots of their players wanting out, so I’ve heard CUW. Maybe Sarries can expand their version of the salary cap to take some more on 😀
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Yes DHP is the obvious choice CUW – but MC will want his second playmaker in somewhere, so it would also affect the selection at 12… Maybe no Kerevi in that position then.
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
I think MC will want to get the ball wider, quicker than Larkham was prepared to do. Just a hunch right now.
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
He was at the heart of a lot of good things in UK rugby MZ…
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour
Any idea who the other two selectors would prefer at 15 Bob??
Why Israel Folau has done Kurtley Beale a favour