By Rory Baldwin Tales of the unexpected Where was all the running rugby? Both sides’ previous matches suggested this would be a swashbuckling free-for-all, instead it was a physical and…
Tournaments
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Good job, Jones A new generation of players has joined the list of England’s Grand Slam winners – the first to do so since 2003. Dylan Hartley has…
Wales: Five things we learnt v Italy
Markedly different approach Wales beat Italy by 67-14 in what was as dramatic a seven-day change in tactics as you’ll witness in modern test rugby. Gone were the predictable straight…
Analysis: Why New Zealand are masters of the offload
We compare the offloading skills of New Zealand and France to discover why the All Blacks are masters of the art
RBS Six Nations: France 21-31 England
England won their first Grand Slam in 13 years in a raucous atmosphere at the Stade de France. In a game where England could never quite relax, it was not…
RBS Six Nations: Ireland 35-25 Scotland
Ireland finished off their Six Nations with a high-scoring win over a Scottish side who refused to back down, but who allowed the Irish onto the front foot too often…
RBS Six Nations: Wales 67-14 Italy
A round-up of what’s hot and what’s not from Wales’ final Six Nations game of 2016 against Italy in Cardiff
While plaudits rain down elsewhere, James Haskell’s role mustn’t be ignored
By Alex Shaw It’s been a productive Six Nations so far for England. New head coach Eddie Jones has steered his side to the title with a round still to…
In George Kruis and Maro Itoje, have England found their best lock pairing?
England have played 50 Test matches since the 2011 Rugby World Cup and, as a cricket fan, Eddie Jones will know the significance of raising your bat for a half…
A week in the life of a Sale Sharks academy player, Part Two
In this follow-on from Charlie Pozniak’s diary of a typical week as a Manchester Grammar School pupil and a Sale Sharks U18 player, Mark Bennett – head of performance at…