No one forgets their first gouge. Feeling another man’s finger burrowing into one’s eye is a frightening experience. It happened to me in my second match in France. I’d made…
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Why England’s mounting injury problems could have a silver lining
By Alex Shaw There are two words rugby fans and coaches the world over fear to hear – injury crisis. It can loom like an ominous, dark cloud over any…
Champions Cup: Clubs ready themselves for European adventure
The Champions Cup starts in earnest this month with enough high-profile clashes to whet the appetite of the most ardent Euro sceptic. The English leg of EPCR’s (European Professional Club…
Eddie Jones names an England squad that hints at chaos-by-design
In naming seven uncapped players in his England squad for a training camp before the upcoming autumn Tests, Eddie Jones has made it clear that he is keen to promote form…
England’s hooker logjam
Who’s got the Paracetamol? As Eddie Jones today names his latest EPS, a logjam is developing in the very position that England’s coach once graced for Randwick and NSW –…
Who should succeed Eddie Jones as England coach?
Eddie Jones has three years left on his England deal but talk of who will succeed him is doing the rounds and Premiership bosses could be left out in the…
Aviva Premiership: Six English stars with a huge future
The Aviva Premiership salary cap may have risen this season and the quality of foreign imports improved as a result, but that has not stopped the young, future stars of…
Top 14: Why Jake White’s approach was his downfall at Montpellier
South African Jake White is set to be replaced as Montpellier coach by Vern Cotter next summer – here's a look at where he went wrong
How to attack the All Blacks way from set-piece: New Zealand v Argentina analysis
They say you cannot score tries from set-piece at the highest level any more. They are wrong. Over the past few years, New Zealand has steadily taken over from Australia…
Analysis: Guy Thompson embodies grit and graft of Wasps
Guy Thompson began September 3, the first day of the Championship season, sitting on the fence. With Jersey travelling to newly-promoted Richmond, two of his previous teams were in action. Via…