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“We’re going to the Gardens to win” – Mark Anscombe

6 December 2012 0 comments

Securing a losing bonus-point during your Heineken Cup travels is vital to any team hoping to go through the group stages but Ulster head coach […]

Peter Jackson: T-shirt test revealed Gavin was an outsider

6 December 2012 1 comment

Gavin Henson has been branded a non-team player by the Wales coach who gave him his international baptism eleven years ago. Lynn Howells, in charge […]

Wasp Tom Varndell hunting down Steve Hanley’s record

5 December 2012 2 comments

With nine tries in nine Premiership games played so far this season, Tom Varndell is in the form of his life and the Wasp winger […]

Jeff Probyn: Lack of collective thinking cost us World Cup victory

5 December 2012 0 comments

I am rather surprised by some people’s reactions to the reasons why England’s young team failed to make the right choices in last week’s game […]

Irish rookie Craig Gilroy ‘has X-factor to be a Lion’

5 December 2012 0 comments

Craig Gilroy has the type of X-factor that could see him go from international novice to Lions starter within a season according to one of […]

Tonga titan Semisi Taulava wants England call

4 December 2012 1 comment

Worcester No.8 Semisi Taulava has become the latest overseas star to declare his availability for England. The giant Tongan has made a huge impact for […]

Nick Cain talks to Chris Ashton about try scoring, Munster and the Lions

3 December 2012 0 comments

Chris Ashton divides opinion like no other current international in Britain, or Ireland. There are those who see the England wing as a cocky ‘disrespectful’ […]

Nick Cain looks at the challenge facing England at Twickenham next weekend

2 December 2012 0 comments

If Stuart Lancaster thinks he’s got injury problems with Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Tom Croft on the sidelines then he should spare a thought […]

Jeremy Guscott: England lack cool heads at key stage

1 December 2012 0 comments

This is a game England should have won – it was the next logical step in their progression under Stuart Lancaster and this will act […]

Fearless Freddie Burns gets his chance – Mike Tindall

30 November 2012 1 comment

Gloucester player-coach Mike Tindall believes 22-year-old Freddie Burns will have no problem stepping into international rugby should he feature against the All Blacks tomorrow. The […]

“We’re getting more and more confident” – Tom Varndell

30 November 2012 0 comments

London Wasps are travelling to Sandy Park tomorrow to face Exeter looking to carry on their good run of form against one of the toughest nut to […]

Owen Farrell starts against All Blacks for England

30 November 2012 1 comment

As expected, Owen Farrell will lead the England attack on Saturday against New Zealand starting at fly-half. The new IRB Player of the Year nominee […]

Premiership round 10: previews and predictions

30 November 2012 0 comments

Harlequins v Worcester Harlequins have made three changes to the starting XV that played Bath last weekend for the reception of Worcester tonight. Seb Stegmann […]

Wales v Australia teams

30 November 2012 0 comments

Wales v Australia teams Wales have made four changes to the side that lost to the All Blacks last weekend for their match against Australia […]

Nick Cain: Thomson’s escape shows bias towards All Blacks

30 November 2012 0 comments

The fawning towards all things All Black by the game’s officials goes on unabated with the latest example being the one-week ban given to Adam […]

England won’t regret saddling up with Matt Parker

30 November 2012 1 comment

Matt Parker will have no problem in transferring his cycling success to the rugby field, according to one of his key associates. Parker, one of […]

Peter Jackson: The force is no longer with Welsh club rugby

29 November 2012 0 comments

There used to be a time when Wales-England matches required a heavier police presence on the field than off it, when the boys in blue […]

Lions Greatest XV: full-backs

29 November 2012 1 comment

As the last line of defence, the full-back must be a good tackler with safe hands and a fair bit of pace to come into […]

Manu Tuilagi can turn into a playmaker like Ma’a Nonu

29 November 2012 1 comment

Of all the conundrums Stuart Lancaster needs to solve before the All Blacks come to town, the most pressing is – to paraphrase the musical […]

Jeff Probyn: RFU ‘blazers’ are value for money – unlike others!

28 November 2012 3 comments

The relevance of the RFU Council was brought into question in last week’s paper by former chairman of the management board Martin Thomas. He said […]

Openside gambit from Luke Wallace: “I’ll oust Chris Robshaw”

28 November 2012 1 comment

Ultra-competitive Harlequins flanker Luke Wallace believes he could provide the long-term answer to England’s search for a genuine openside. And he has put Quins team-mate […]

“We must be the No.1 team in the world now” – Gary Street

28 November 2012 17 comments

With England wrapping up their second consecutive Test-Series win over the Black Ferns last night, Gary Street was adamant his side was now the best […]

England Women beat New Zealand to seal Series win

28 November 2012 1 comment

England have secured their second consecutive Test Series win over New Zealand with a 17-8 victory in Aldershot yesterday. With the score stuck at 10-8 […]

Referee Nigel Owens blocked Chris Robshaw’s call change

27 November 2012 0 comments

Captain Chris Robshaw tried to change his mind over his dramatic decision to kick for the posts rather than chase a winning try in yesterday’s […]

Premiership round 9 review

26 November 2012 0 comments

Bath (beat Harlequins 21-18) While the talk is all about Gloucester in the West Country, Bath are quietly becoming a force to be reckoned with […]

Autumn Internationals week 3 Round up

26 November 2012 1 comment

I’ve never believed in the media hype but if people are wondering the effect of the press on players just look at Chris Robshaw’s decision […]

Freddie Burns called up by England

25 November 2012 0 comments

Freddie Burns has been called up to the England squad ahead of the clash against New Zealand next Saturday. The Gloucester fly-half has been in […]

Spirited London Wasps tame Leicester Tigers

25 November 2012 2 comments

London Wasps remained unbeaten at home with a spirited 14-12 win over the Leicester Tigers at Adams Park today. As a result, the Men in […]

Andy Robinson quits Scotland’s head coaching role

25 November 2012 0 comments

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has announced today he is stepping down from his role with immediate effect. The decision follows their embarrassing 21-15 defeat […]

Nick Cain talks to Danny Cipriani about his challenge at Sale, tackling and England

25 November 2012 1 comment

Danny Cipriani has found himself in the headlines over the last few weeks, but they have not been of his own making. Sir Clive Woodward’s […]

England lose to Springboks at HQ

24 November 2012 2 comments

England suffered a 16-15 defeat to South Africa in a bruising battle at Twickenham today. It was all about penalties in the first half with […]

Jeremy Guscott: Wales must act quickly to stop the talent drain

24 November 2012 1 comment

With the news that Jamie Roberts has decided to move on from Cardiff Blues, Roger Lewis chief executive of the Welsh RU and the chairmen/benefactors […]

“We stopped doing the hard graft up front” – Northampton’s Ken Pisi

23 November 2012 1 comment

Last week against the Dragons, Northampton ended a four-game losing streak which saw them go from unbeaten at top of the Premiership to fifth in […]

Nick Cain: Bending the ref’s ear should be binned

23 November 2012 2 comments

One of the worst aspects of the new TMO intervention on foul play is the sharp increase in players badgering referees and their assistants to […]

“They have thrown the challenge back to us” – Black Ferns’ Brian Evans

23 November 2012 0 comments

Black Ferns head coach Brian Evans is under no illusion over the scale of the challenge ahead as his side begin their three-match series against […]

Bryan Redpath is ready to face the Kingsholm abuse

23 November 2012 0 comments

Bryan Redpath will stride through the gates of Kingsholm with his head held high on Saturday, proud of the legacy he left behind at Gloucester. […]

England v South Africa teams

23 November 2012 3 comments

Joe Launchbury has been handed his first Test start for England ahead of their game against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday. The London Wasps […]

Wales v New Zealand teams

23 November 2012 0 comments

Wales captain Sam Warburton has been recalled by returning coach Warren Gatland ahead of their clash with the All Blacks on Saturday. Gatland is back […]

Premiership round 9: preview and predictions

23 November 2012 0 comments

Bath v Harlequins: Army boy Semesa Rokoduguni is in line to make his Premiership debut for the West Country side as they host the reigning […]

Peter Jackson: It wasn’t just the money that lured Jamie away

22 November 2012 3 comments

Once this column revealed the sheer scale of the offer from Racing Metro a fortnight ago, it was just a matter of time before Jamie […]

Gavin Henson – “At last a coach is playing me at No.10”

22 November 2012 0 comments

It’s been a long journey of broken promises, off-field incidents and not a lot of rugby but Gavin Henson says he has now resurrected his […]

Lions Greatest XV: Wingers

22 November 2012 1 comment

When it comes to the finishers who play in the two wing positions The Lions come second to no-one. A list of Lions’ wingers reads […]

Morgan and Haskell called up by England to face South Africa

21 November 2012 0 comments

Ben Morgan and James Haskell have been called up by Stuart Lancaster to face South Africa on Saturday at Twickenham. The Gloucester No.8 returns on […]

Jeff Probyn: French laissez faire makes English exports play better

21 November 2012 1 comment

What is it about the Press that always makes them want someone picked by England who is not in the squad? Week after week we […]

Jonathan Joseph set to make a racket for England

21 November 2012 1 comment

Jonathan Joseph could have been donning whites at Wimbledon instead of the white shirt of England had he chosen to follow a different sporting path. […]

Toby Flood boots Sir Clive Woodward penalty jibe into touch

20 November 2012 1 comment

Toby Flood hit back last night after Sir Clive Woodward condemned England for failing to kick their penalties to possibly salvage a draw with the […]

Quade Cooper to leave Australian Rugby?

19 November 2012 1 comment

Quade Cooper has reportedly quit Australian rugby after being offered a meagre incentive-based contract. According to Australian television the mercurial fly-half has turned his back […]