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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: Paul O’Connell could take over from captain Sam Warburton
There have been some stand-out performances by the Lions and perhaps more questions raised than answered. It’s disappointing the opposition haven’t...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Remember Finlay Calder and stick with Sam Warburton
Sam Warburton‘s selection as Lions captain was under serious scrutiny before last night’s crushing of the Waratahs, but the Welsh openside...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Richard Hibbard, from dog-house to life with the big cats
Richard Hibbard came home from Australia this time last year fearing the worst, that he would never play for Wales again....
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Croft gets my vote and there’s no Sam!
Warren Gatland wanted standout performances to cement Test selection and he certainly got some against the Waratahs. A handful of guys...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: No retaliation? That leaves players open to attack
I apologise if I sound like angry from Tunbridge Wells but am I the only one a little puzzled by all...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Our power defence will have worried Wallabies
There’s a reason why this was billed as the fourth Test and the Reds duly obliged in asking questions of Warren...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Why it may pay to keep faith with Vunipolas
Before she takes morning service at Avenue Methodist Church in High Wycombe today (last Sunday), the Reverend Singa Vunipola will say...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: The folly of Foley could kill off the Lions tours
Michael Foley played against the 2001 Lions four times. Once at hooker for the Queensland Reds, and three times for the...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain wonders why the Lions have not turned to the obvious choice as they tackle front row crisis
The departure lounges of airports as distant from each other as Durban and Buenos Aires have been busy over the last...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: Wow, this game is so easy from Press box
I had last minute surgery on my knee a couple of days ago and was under the knife for over three...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Will next Warburton stand up now please!
Every Lions captain has to begin somewhere as an international player but only one began in the middle of nowhere. Four...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Chattering refs led to Hartley’s disgrace
There is no escaping the fact that Dylan Hartley‘s sending-off at Twickenham in the Premiership final last weekend cost Northampton the...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Lions must have full control and never do a Hartley
As the Lions prepare for the real start to this summer’s much awaited tour, the question is, (money aside) why bother...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Five golden steps which would restore the scrum
The IRB have announced their latest incarnation of the scrum engagement sequence that incorporates pre-binding and the need to put the...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Leigh’s the guardian ‘angel’ for home club
Gorseinon RFC have done more than their bit for the international game over the last half century – from Onllwyn Brace...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: First blood to Lions as toxic Quade gets ‘axed’
The slabs of red meat are one up already! The sledging war initiated by our Aussie mates ahead of the arrival...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain talks to Leicester’s Tom croft about his double challenge of Premiership final and Lions tour
Tom Croft has an attribute that few international forwards possess, including those back rowers alongside him in the 2013 Lions squad:...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: Being big and strong does not make you good
Is rugby becoming too dangerous? Are players getting too big? Could rugby be heading the same way as the NFL, with...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Tigers can edge this battle of the giants
Northampton‘s results against the top teams in the Premiership have generally not been the best and they won’t be favourites for...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Late kick-offs can harm the legacy of RWC 2015
With news about the Lions selection dominating the sports pages, someone at RWC 2015 must have thought no-one would notice. The...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Forgotten Byrne can join select Welsh club
A new name ought to be added to Europe’s painfully small Welsh roll of honour next weekend, a player long declared...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Forget the chess game let’s go for check mate
The squad Stuart Lancaster has selected to tour Argentina next month is spot on, and I like the inclusion of 11...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain says the tour party to Argentina represents a sea-change for England
The grass-roots setting of Barnes RFC is an unlikely location for game-changing decisions at the apex of the English elite game....
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Put star players outside salary cap
What has happened to the once proud record of English clubs in Europe? When Saracens slipped out of the Heineken Cup...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: I can’t wait to see new back row in action
Being injured sucks! Not just because you miss out on all the tours. No it sucks because you end-up working harder...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Wales have been down and laid out Down Under
The Welsh usually run into trouble in Australia, big trouble. As a sport, trying to tie the Wallaby down in his...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Sorry, but I just can’t see any Englishman starting first Test
With the horse trading over at last we can now focus on a squad that we all hope will bring home...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: No more squabbles, let’s all just get behind our squad
I like the look of Warren Gatland‘s 2013 Lions squad, which has physicality as well as speed and skill. Like all...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Football could yet kick RWC 2015 into touch
There were cautionary notes amid the fanfare for England‘s 2015 World Cup when the schedule and venues were announced at Twickenham...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: These slabs of meat will be mighty mouthfuls
Slabs of red meat? More like slabs of gristle. The sort of tough, unpalatable stuff that the Aussies, who like the...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: Power of music puts me in mood for a battle
Once on tour, the pressure and nervous excitement will start to creep up on the Lions players, building to a crescendo...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Blame Sarries fan base not ERC for no-show, Edward
As the majority of the Aviva Premiership took a well- earned break this weekend, the expectation was that the only major...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Black time for Blues underlines Euro row
Cardiff Blues have played 30 matches in all competitions this season and lost 20 of them – two defeats in every...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Give Danny loving care the same as Quade
Danny Cipriani must be cursing his luck that he wasn’t born an Aussie. Cipriani is a less divisive and outspoken character...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Make cuts now, Exiles, or you may face ruin later
Like the scene from Titanic after the ship hit the iceberg, the relegation of London Welsh has seen many of those associated with...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: It’s Wade or Care as my man of the season
Coming to the business-end of the season means finals, tours and awards. The shortlist of names for this year’s Premiership Player...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: All Blacks rest cure will cost WRU £4m
The All Blacks have torn a gaping hole in Wales‘ autumn schedule, one damaging enough to run into seven figures. Instead...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Be brave and blood more kids against Pumas
Should England go to Argentina with purely a development side, or should they go with enough experience and firepower to ensure...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Quins must answer questions on squad depth and mentality
Qualification for the Aviva Premiership play-offs is pretty much all over bar the shouting. Sarries and Tigers will finish one and...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain meets Paul Gustard, the man responsible for Saracens’ famous defence
Paul Gustard may not be in quite the same league as Crocodile Dundee when it comes to animal magic, but the...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: Lions must be wary of these Aussie dangermen
So what sort of side will the Lions face Down Under? Having played Super Rugby against many of their guys when...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: You’re lucky George, they said Lewis sold his soul
Lewis Jones remembers what it was like when he left Llanelli, how all hell broke loose over his transfer to Leeds...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott looks at the contenders for the Lions captaincy and selects his man
For the first in a long time whoever Warren Gatland selects as his Lions captain will not be a majority pick...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 13 years agoJeff Probyn: Where do English clubs go if they quit Heineken Cup?
This week saw the traditional end to the rugby season at club level with the vast majority of England‘s clubs playing...
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James Haskell
/ 13 years agoJames Haskell: Magic of the Lions transcends everything
As the end of this season approaches, the elephant is in the room. The topic being touched upon with baited breath...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Come on Leicester, prove that Toulon are just mercenaries
Two fantastic European fixtures will be taking place today, Toulon v Tigers and Harlequins v Munster. In both cases it’s old...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Give me just a little more time, begs Olly
Olly Kohn has no intention of ending up as cannon-fodder for any bright sparks on Brain of Britain or University Challenge...
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Nick Cain
/ 13 years agoNick Cain: Baxter can improve England’s set-piece
Stuart Lancaster has made a smart move in asking Rob Baxter to join the England set-up as forwards coach for the...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 13 years agoJeremy Guscott: Ref scrums as laws say and all will be fine again
The scrum statistics from the Six Nations makes grim reading and tell us a great deal about the state of the...
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Peter Jackson
/ 13 years agoPeter Jackson: Drumrolls, but the big act has yet to appear
The Welsh Rugby Union considered their announcement important enough to carry a ‘strict embargo’ until one minute past midnight on the...
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