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After the end of silly season and Christmas festivities, for English cricket, it marks the start of whipping out the firing board. England are…
The Spring internationals are upon us after nearly three years of World Cup and pandemic disruption. Earlier in 2021, the Six Nations was a…
The last few weeks have shown the farcical element of the British and Irish Lions touring covid hotspot South Africa. I, like many people,…
South Africa release their 45-man squad this Saturday, a bulky one including players that will be picked for the South Africa A fixture against…
The recent floggings of Australian Super Rugby teams by the polished New Zealand outfits re-invites the perennial idea that rugby union is not popular…
This Lions squad reveal has plenty of gossip about it. Warren Gatland, love or loathe him, is making some bold calls. The drama around…
The various articles on everyone selecting their squads and XVs for the British and Irish Lions has been entertaining and extremely insightful. Sadly, this…
Cricket is well and truly back to life, in the white-ball game at least. The recent India-England series showed us how rich both nations…
Watching Super Rugby Aotearoa highlights in the UK are regularly filled with Jordie Barrett satisfyingly nail 55 metre shots at goal with pure ease.…
With this Lions talk of selecting unique XVs, I was thinking about the idea of combined Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere sides going toe-to-toe…
Super Rugby AU is well in flight and has seen both some good and ugly things. The Waratahs, once Australia's premier rugby team and…
While everyone is throwing their Lions XV's left, right and centre, no one is speaking about the World Champions. South Africa may not have…
I'll say it – this Six Nations, even without fans, was the best instalment for a while in northern hemisphere rugby. Eight games decided…
There may be no fan attendance, but the Six Nations is certainly living up to all expectations. All of the games – apart from…
As a lover of cricket and rugby union, I often like to compare what the sporting codes can learn from each other. Whilst there…
As the 2020 season comes to a close, Dave Rennie will have seen the end of his first rock-and-roll season with the Wallabies filled…
Nicholas Bishop and Rhys Bosley have written some awesome articles on the Australian blindside problem, but I think we can take this debate even…
2020 has been globally disrupted, but there was still ample opportunity for rugby to be played. As the international year ends with the conclusion…
Spring in 2020 has marked the much-needed return of international Test rugby in both hemispheres of the globe. The Six Nations concluded on Halloween…
The disrupted 2020 Six Nations finally came to a conclusion last Saturday, with England claiming their third championship in five years under Eddie Jones.…
Enjoy the series. What squad should the Aussies have had in the 2015 Ashes? On paper and since 2013 the England Test Team has looked really ordinary, so I suppose the application of the Australians, ( middle order from Clarke onwards couldn’t apply themselves at all and Clarke was in his swan song anyway) plus Ryan Harris’ injury was costly. Either way since 2015 the Aussies have dominated England and I suspect that will continue
Test XIs we should have had: India 2013
How fitting I read this after watching Chasing the Sun
Is rugby enough to hold South Africa together?
Just checked the lineups. Launchers always benched. My word that lineup was brutal, gave Ireland a real lesson in off the ball work rate
How Gatland outsmarted the Boks at their own game on their own turf
Think that happened in 2020 6N when Curry was shifted to No8.
How Gatland outsmarted the Boks at their own game on their own turf
Kiwis will get flogged in Indian conditions. They may be WTC Champions, but are only proven in two countries, NZ and England, which are by far the most favourable conditions to them. Williamson may be their best spinner
Is the Indian Test team as good as it is made out to be?
Very true- Slade, however boring he seems or poor England use him, was the reason England beat France. Not because of his attack, because of his defence. Contained Vakatawa with some gutsy tackles and marked him well all game
'The be all and end all': Why the Lions series rests on the first Test
Nic is Elliot Daly just a left footed Reece Hodge with less tackling ability?
'The be all and end all': Why the Lions series rests on the first Test
If you watched any of the Six Nations games this year, Henshaw was the best Irish player alongside Beirne. Him, Beirne and Van der Flier nearly won Ireland a game against Wales with a man down for 70+ mins. Defensively, Henshaw is very very secure and has a perfect choke tackle- he alpha’d many a back rower and Ollie Lawerence this year, as well as dominating the overrated Exeter backline,
'The be all and end all': Why the Lions series rests on the first Test
Not great may be a bit harsh- he’s inconsistent- can be very good, can be beaten but overall better than Nyakane
'The be all and end all': Why the Lions series rests on the first Test
I wonder if Nyakane is a tactical move to avoid the best of Sutherland- Sutherland and Wyn Jones are the strongest scrummagers, Jones got the best of him in the ‘A’ game. Will Malherbe ( unarguably the best scrummaging TH in the world) come on for the second half to prevent a fresh impact cameo from Sutherland?
Are surprise selections the 'secret winning sauce' in Boks-Lions opener?
Where’s the hype from Mcreight. Can’t even tear up Super Rugby. Similar and slightly bigger than Hooper yet nowhere near Hooper’s skill set, experience and Rugby IQ.
VOTE: Wallabies player ratings vs France
Have you seen the Lions leaked team? Supposedly no Adams, Beard or Williams. Even with Nyakane starting, the Lions in my view are in for a good floor wiping. They could prove me wrong but not much that inspires me from big wins against understrength club sides. A few have fired like Conan, Daly and Curry but the Saffers look even better having played virtually no rugby- PSDT looks leaner, fitter and more scarier. Mostert can tackle trains. Only worry is that Mapimipi and Kolisi could be rusty, and no Steyn brothers ( or even Dale) are on the bench. Would like to see Fassi involved later. The even bigger concern is that SA ‘A’ played simple rugby, as did the Lions in their warm up game and the A side didn’t even try and attack in the second half yet the Lions only managed points with a 2 man advantage.
Springboks ready for physical Lions series
Simply class. For all the Hooper haters, ask why every other Test nations have him as one of the best of this generation.
Where would the Wallabies be without Michael Hooper?
Where are the Hooper haters now? Proven he’s one of the top 5 flankers in the world.
'That wasn't about rugby, it was about heart': Brave 14-man Wallabies' stirring win
Well his proven ‘weakness’ ( not really a weakness just something he gets out to more frequently) was quality off-spin from Ashwin in December. England don’t even seem to play a spinner these days so think England better hone in their line and length come the Ashes.
Nothing will save England from losing the Ashes
This is similar to the Saffers saying they’ll pump the Lions 3-0 in Rugby. Whilst you talk about the glaring weaknesses in England’s test set up, which are all true, I want to see more of your suggestions. Dom Sibley and Rory Burns ( successful against Australia in 2019) will likely open come Brisbane. Both are ugly to watch and borderline torture, but on flat roads, don’t be surprised if Sibley bats multiple days. He is perhaps after Root and Stokes England’s only batter who can really grind in and value his wicket, without really knowing his off stump or moving his feet as well. Dawid Malan is in the form of his life and was decent last Ashes down under. Bowling wise, England have many options but their policies will probably be mismanaged and over-bowling someone like Stuart Broad. There is talk that him and Anderson may not even play all 5 Tests, and nor will Archer. Naughty boy Ollie Robinson could be back in the team at 8 if the ECB’s harsh treatment of Chris Woakes emerges.
Nothing will save England from losing the Ashes
Against an inexperienced, young and average Wallaby team and Argentina whom hadn’t played since the WC yet dominated them in the first game? NZ forward pack is miles behind the likes of Ireland, England, France and SA. NZ are still a very class team, no2 in the world for me but their forward pack is in heavy decline. Their backs however, different gravy. Apart from the 12-13 conundrum ( Havilli-ALB best combo) they’ve got never-ending talent flowing.
Unofficial first Test? Covid-hit Boks go for strengthened 'A' side
Don’t think there’s too much in the NZ forward pack to fear for the Boks
Unofficial first Test? Covid-hit Boks go for strengthened 'A' side
History lessons combined with Rugby… kudos
Box the Boks or tame the Lions: A preview of a surreal tour
Win’s a win, better than playing some part timers like the AB’s did. The same ‘3rd’ XV ( large majority of them) nearly beat England in the ANC in December
Reaction: Why thriller was 'almost perfect result' for Rennie
Were pretty damn talented- made a WC final, Foley individual accolades v England. Only bad things abt them were Beale’s Lions slip and mismanagement of Foley in 2019 when him and Toomua were clearly better than Lealifano
UNBELIEVABLE: Stunning howler from France gifts Wallabies thrilling first Test win
Not sure how to rank Paisami- did some silly kicks near the end but was very courageous and up for it ball in hand
VOTE: Wallabies player ratings vs France
French rugby is showing similarities in India’s cricketing bench strength. The so called second or third XV is still bloody good- in some areas they have a lot more potential than the older, more established France premier choices ( Le Roux, Willemse, a lot of the front row) whereas today’s back row and much of the backline apart from 9 and 10 is in the mix of France’s first choice team. Woke, Cretin, Jelonch are virtually going to be in France’s 2023 squad and Vincent, Penaud, Bouthier are all starting 23 or 15 players.
UNBELIEVABLE: Stunning howler from France gifts Wallabies thrilling first Test win
As much as I love Rassie, did Eddie Jones and England keep quiet after the Wales game?
Erasmus's extraordinary 62 minute video rant at Aussie ref Nic Berry stuns World Rugby