By BRENDAN GALLAGHER PORTUGAL Coach: Patrice Lagisquet Captain: Tomas Appleton AS you might expect from a team coached by the Bayonne Express Patrice Lagisquet, Portugal […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER ARGENTINA Coach: Michael Cheika Captain: Julian Montoya Conventional wisdom has it that the Pumas, at least in modern times, make a splash […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER CHILE Coach: Pablo Lemoine Captain: Martin Sigren RUGBY can be a game of soaring highs and lows, especially minnows such as Chile […]

By PAUL REES ENGLAND Coach: Steve Borthwick Captain: Owen Farrell Never mind swinging low, those steering England’s chariot are aiming low – and missing. Approaching […]

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SAMOA Coach: Seilala Mapusua Co-captains: Chris Vui and Michael Ala’alatoa ARE SAMOA about to make some noise again? The islanders have a […]

By BEN JAYCOCK JAPAN Coach: Jamie Joseph Captain: Michael Leitch Japan are appearing at their 11th tournament, with their best ever performance coming in 2019, […]

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… France v Australia Today. Kick-off 5.45pm (4.45pm UK time), Stade de France FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie has gone full throttle […]

By NICK POWELL Italy……………… 42 Japan……………. 21 Italy continued their excellent preparation for the World Cup as Monty Ioane scored a terrific hat-trick against Japan. […]

Spain …………….. 3 Argentina ……62 ARGENTINA ended their World Cup preparation on a bright note as they saw off Spain with a nine-try victory. Juan […]

Damian Willemse was delighted to have got revenge for the Springboks humbling by the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship and says it gives his […]

Ireland 17-13 Samoa By GARY FITZGERALD CIAN Healy dealt Andy Farrell a big World Cup blow as the veteran prop sustained a bad injury at […]

By TOM WRIGHT Italy……………….57 Romania ………… 7 Ange Capuozzo scored two tries on his return from injury as Italy demolished 14-man Romania at Stadio Riviera […]

By BEN JAYCOCK France……………………. 34pts Tries: Mauvaka 29, Atonio 39, Macalou 59 Conversions: Jaminet 30, 60 Penalties: Jaminet 5, 7, 10, 42, 71 Fiji……………………………17pts Tries: […]

Georgia………………..22 USA………………………… 7 Georgia  eased past the USA yesterday in their second warm-up for this year’s World Cup. Fly-half Luka Matkava kicked seven points for […]

Uruguay…………33 Argentina XV .. 13 Uruguay completed their warm-ups with a fine win on Friday, their third in a row at the Estadio Charrúa after […]

Talismanic back row Michael Leitch and hooker Shota Horie will travel to their fourth World Cup after being named in the Japan squad. Leitch, who […]

Chile’s RWC squad includes four sets of brothers – atournament first. Los Cóndores have named Alfonso and Diego Escobar, Matías and Nicolás Garafulic, Santiago and […]

By BRYN PALMER New Scotland recruit Ben Healy admits he may have “a bit of a chip on his shoulder” as he aims to prove […]

New Zealand head into Friday’s match against South Africa in top form having won their last 11 Tests and were crowned Rugby Championship winners for […]

By BEN JAYCOCK Faf de Klerk says South Africa have a point to prove against New Zealand when they clash at Twickenham on Friday. The […]