The best, worst, most pleasing, annoying defeat Wales’ performance against the Springboks, in isolation, was impressive. But in the context of the first test, it was miraculous. The performance must…
Countries
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Unstoppable New Zealand’s 36-13 win over England was their 17th consecutive Test triumph and equalled the record winning run for a top tier rugby nation. They are playing…
England v All Blacks: New Zealand smash clear in series closer
An exhibition of power, pace and perhaps even cruelty was put on by the world champion All Blacks in Hamilton as they put away a lacklustre England with a dominant…
JWC 2014: England retain title
They did it, just. England U20 won the Junior World Championships for the second year in a row after defeating South Africa 21-20. England and South Africa scored two tries…
England v All Blacks: Mischievous Hansen recalls Read
More often than not in international rugby, coaches and players face down cameras and talk in boring platitudes and in general terms about how hard opposition teams play. Sometimes, though,…
England v All Blacks: England change their midfield for third Test
England have ended up reverting back to some of their first Test combinations for their final run out in Hamilton this Saturday, with Stuart Lancaster claiming “I still think we…
Five of rugby’s biggest borefests
So much for Aussie innovation and French flair. Last weekend’s second Test in Melbourne was one of the biggest borefests in modern memory. A scoreless first half followed by a…
England 38-7 Crusaders: England get their win in loose affair
It was billed as a ‘fourth Test’ on England’s tour of New Zealand, but in the end England won efficiently if unspectacularly against the Crusaders. The visitors did just enough…
Owen Farrell out of third Test
Owen Farrell has been ruled out of the third Test of England’s tour of New Zealand having pulled up with knee ligament damage. The news, which came just before England…
Wales v South Africa: Five things we’ve learned
The gap is widening This week Warren Gatland will feel as though he has gone from O.B.E to OMG. There was a stage when the performance gap between Wales and…