CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST OCTOBER 2003 was a busy old month, what with Mother Teresa being beatified by Pope John Paul II, the Chinese launching […]
Paul Rees sees George Ford join an impressive list of players whose quick thinking has made the difference GEORGE Ford resurrected not only England’s reputation […]
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER NATIONALITY is a pretty fluid concept in the South Pacific with families […]
By Matthew Luddington Simon Halliday has commended George Ford’s outstanding performance against Argentina, describing it as “pretty special.” He also expressed the view that Owen […]
James Simpson-Daniel has claimed George Ford’s performance against Argentina was the best an England fly-half had played since the prime days of Jonny Wilkinson. Ford […]
By Nick Powell, Online Editor at Stade de Marseille South Africa…………………18 Tries: Du Toit 47, Arendse 51 Penalties: Libbok 13, 25 Conversions: De Klerk 52 […]
Beyond the opening night, there was another blockbuster clash between two of the world’s top five teams to be played this weekend. And South Africa […]
From NICK CAIN at Stade de Marseille England ……………………….. 27pts Penalties: Ford 10, 46, 54, 59, 66, 75 Drop-goals: Ford 27, 31, 37 Argentina …………………….. […]
BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOMETIMES a little adversity does you good and it certainly sparked a reaction from England in Marseille last night. Already under the cosh […]
From NICK CAIN at Stade de France France………………………….. 27pts Tries: Penaud 55, Jaminet 78 Conversion: Ramos 57 Penalties: Ramos 5, 20, 29, 65, 74 New […]
JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE Rugby World Cup party kicked off in France on Friday. Things have been simmering along with anticipation here for some […]
By GARY FITZGERALD England’s failing stars have been ordered to cut out the “siege mentality” and begin “owning their performances”. World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio […]
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER ITALY Coach: Kieran Crowley Captain: Michele Lamaro Resurgent Italy may have landed the toughest of groups but they have nothing to lose […]
By JAMES HARRINGTON FRANCE Coach: Fabien Galthie Captain: Antoine Dupont Fly-half Romain Ntamack, loosehead Cyril Baille, centre Jonathan Danty and, now, second row Paul Willemse. […]
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER URUGUAY Coach: Esteban Meneses Captain: Andres Vilaseca Uruguay are beginning to shed upstart status. This will be their fifth Rugby World Cup […]
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NAMIBIA Coach: Allister Coetzee Captain: Johan Deysel INDEPENDENCE from South Africa, in 1990, came a little too late for Namibia to make […]
By BEN JAYCOCK ROMANIA Coach: Eugen Apjok Captain: Christian-Marian Chirica ROMANIA return to the World Cup after missing out four years ago due to a […]
By BEN JAYCOCK TONGA Coach: Toutai Kefu Captain: Sonatane Takulua TONGA are one of the biggest benefactors out of the change in World Rugby eligibility […]
By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOUTH AFRICA Coach: Jacques Nienaber Captain: Siya Kolisi The bookies may still marginally favour hosts France and Rugby Championship winners New Zealand […]
By BEN JAYCOCK Coach: Simon Raiwalui Captain: Waisea Nayacalevu After stunning Twickenham last weekend, Fiji will be confident of making their third World Cup quarter-final. […]
By PAUL REES WALES Coach: Warren Gatland Co-captains: Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake One of the more interested spectators at England’s tussle with Fiji last […]
By BRENDAN GALLGHER GGEORGIA Coach: Levan Maisashvili Captain: Merab Sharikadze Georgia have become a permanent fixture at the Rugby World Cup with this their sixth […]