I CAN'T begin to imagine the impact on Ireland's pysche having come so close to beating the World Champions on their own turf, and then suffering a record defeat the…

WALES’ 12-26 defeat to Argentina seems to have come as a shock to many. To those who analysed the Pumas performances in the inaugural Rugby Championship, it hasn't. Argentina may…

Jonathan Joseph

Would New Zealand have put 80 points on this below-strength Fiji side? They may well have, such is their ability to see an opportunity and take it. That is what…

Tim Visser

THREE TRIES in eight first-half minutes enabled New Zealand to take the game away from Scotland after a hard-fought first quarter, with the world champions showing their class with some…

Ireland v South Africa

IT WAS an unspectacular match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with the physical exchanges dominating and little creative attacking play on show. Ireland built a healthy 12-3 half-time lead,…

Argentina

WARREN GATLAND’S mantra is paying off for Argentina – but not Wales. Gatland has long said that Wales can only get better by playing the best in the world –…

JAMIE HEASLIP will lead Ireland out against the Springboks for the first time, promising to ‘give the Irish people something to cheer about’. The big Leinsterman added for good measure.…

THE AUTUMN Internationals start tomorrow, expect these players to make an impact in the coming weeks As a straight-running crash ball centre on the fringes of the Leicester squad three…

Adam Thomson

SCOTLAND BEGIN their programme of EMC Internationals looking for a fourth win in succession, after a clean sweep on their summer tour of Australia, Samoa and Fiji. Their opponents are…

England huddle

EVEN THE most optimistic of souls in the visitors’ camp would be hard pressed to make a case for a Fijian victory at Twickenham this weekend, one of 30 Tests…