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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: James Hook plays the Invisible Man come hail or shine
The Invisible Man of the Six Nations could be seen down by the Mediterranean the other day, literally warming up for...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: We must find out soon if George Ford is the real deal
Stuart Lancaster is a careful planner, so when I asked him this week about his bench policy in the opening two...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher: A belting then BOD became the scourge of England
Brian O’Driscoll has been waging war on England since his Six Nations debut in 2000 and although there have been highs...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 12 years agoJeremy Guscott: England must beware the day of the jackal
You cannot help but be impressed by the Irish team since Joe Schmidt took over. The game against New Zealand might...
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Sevens World Series
/ 12 years agoTom Mitchell: Semi-final defeat to New Zealand hurts but we can’t wait for Tokyo
As we return to England with another fourth-place finish there is a now familiar feeling of so close yet so far....
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: Stubborn Stuart Lancaster must admit mistakes
Stuart Lancaster is doing a Sinatra. By sticking with the same 23 man line-up against the Scots that lost to France...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher: Ruan Pienaar keeps faith with Ulster
There might have been a more influential and committed ‘overseas’ signing than Ruan Pienaar in the last 18 seasons since rugby...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: ‘Slammin Sam’ Burgess could be hit for England
Sam Burgess might just be the answer to England‘s 2015 prayers. The idea of an outstanding 18 stone, 6ft 5ins athlete...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: Ordeal of Iestyn Harris is a warning to Sam Burgess
The Welsh Rugby Union’s first central contract, as awarded to Iestyn Harris, amounted to £1.6m with half of it paid to...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 12 years agoJeremy Guscott’s verdict on England: Chris Robshaw has come of age as openside
Chris Robshaw has led England from the front with bravery and tenacity since his tenure as skipper began two years ago....
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson’s verdict on Wales: It screamed out for a gamble on James Hook
In the privacy of the team room just before the Six Nations began, Warren Gatland urged Wales to play with ‘a...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: Hurt and angry? England will just be disappointed!
What a start to the Six Nations! All the matches brimmed with pace, power and pathos, from the first to the...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: Bashed up by the French, but I loved every minute
It’s that time of year when I am filled with a mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to regret. The start...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: Sam Warburton could be the first casualty of Welsh war
Sam Warburton’s central contract with the WRU is threatening to become an unholy mess. When the news broke last weekend that...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher talks Calcutta Cup with Peter Brown
It’s exactly 50 years ago since Peter Brown started taking the sword to the Sassenachs in earnest and, save for Robert...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: The ancient battleground welcomes Warren Gatland again
So Warren Gatland has felt it necessary to make a pre-emptive strike aimed at reducing the hostility level towards him in...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain previews the clash between Scotland and England
Legend has it that the 9th Roman Legion disappeared without trace after marching north of Hadrian’s Wall into the Scottish hinterland....
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Tom Mitchell
/ 12 years agoTom Mitchell: What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas so now we can concentrate on Wellington
Ten days of temptation is plenty and we’ve battled Sin City for long enough. After three days of intense competition we’ll...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 12 years agoJeremy Guscott’s verdict on England: Character is there… now cut out errors
After a horror start England showed they have the character and class to fight back and almost win this marvellous match...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson’s verdict on Wales: So close as Wales dodge a Tyson KO
For a few startling minutes towards the end, Wales ran the risk of falling victim to the biggest upset in Six...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: Dr Ron still at the head of Grand Slam pack
It has been said of Dr Ronald Cove-Smith that he never turned up on a Saturday afternoon without his little black...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: All shapes and sizes should play rugby
Money, money, money, it’s a rich man’s sport. The increase in the salary cap, up by £500,000 to £5 million, will...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: England need Saxons to be battle-hardened
The Saxons should be a huge influence in building an England team, so that the head coach never runs out of...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: Rookie 10s can shape outcome of Six Nations
The Six Nations cast for 2014 includes seven fly-halves who have yet to play in the tournament and seven more who...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: Italians have a lot to gain by forming their own league
The comments of Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) president Alfredo Gavazzi that they may remove their two professional teams from the Rabo...
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Tom Mitchell
/ 12 years agoEngland Sevens captain Tom Mitchell: Sevens in Sin City
When people think of Las Vegas they think of high rollers, world famous shows, Caesar’s Palace and the MGM Grand. It...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher: George Chuter is the face of professional game
He looks and sounds like a London publican and certainly a job for life awaits on the EastEnders set should luvviedom...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: French cash pile could bury international game
Ben Mowen’s decision to quit Australian rugby at the end of this year to take up a contract with a Top...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 12 years agoJeremy Guscott: Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees are big men for big job
The starting England backline in this season’s Six Nations should have a locked-in belief that they can strike up a connection...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain looks at the challenge awaiting England in their opening six nations match in Paris
Le Crunch 2014 is going to leave either England or France broken*. The opening Test of the Six Nations in Paris...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBredan Gallagher: Nutter who made Jim Telfer’s class of ’84 finest of all
Jim Telfer shakes his head in amusement and then caves in completely and laughs uproariously. It happens occasionally: “All really good...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: Italy arrive in Wales on a wing and a blessing
Italy come to Cardiff for the opening match in the Six Nations next month armed with something different, a Papal blessing....
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: Just 20 games to go for Stuart Lancaster to get it right
With last week’s additions to the Elite Player Squad, Stuart Lancaster gets his one and only chance to choose the players...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: It’s not all tickety-boo as debenture holders revolt
Imagine paying £7,000 for a debenture seat which is meant to guarantee you the right to buy a face-value ticket for...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain takes a look at Stuart Lancaster’s Six Nations squads and likes what he sees
If England can show the sort of staying power that Stuart Lancaster demonstrated at Twickenham last Thursday then it will hold...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: Let’s spare a thought for Toggie and Tanky
Freddy ‘Tanky’ Turner captained Scotland one hundred years ago, a Liverpudlian by birth who worked in the family printing business and...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher: Georgia on my mind as the cosy club stick together
Lacking a degree in applied mathematics I only look at the IRB world rankings once a year and that is in...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: Why I’m backing the WRU in showdown with regions
As if the Greek tragedy of the European Cup was not enough we now have a Welsh suicide pact that seems...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain urges England to look at some new faces in the World Cup build up
The seemingly routine announcement of amendments to the England elite squad on Thursday at Twickenham is the exact opposite. It is...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 12 years agoJeremy Guscott: Backs must stop game being just about size and power
One of my New Year resolutions for 2014 would be for the backs in all teams bar New Zealand and Australia...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: This Anglo-Welsh decoy shouldn’t be discounted
Is the golden handshake across the Severn, binding the four Welsh regions to the English clubs, the solution it is being...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher: RFU Championship clubs face a vital strategy meeting
Later this month the chairmen and owners of the 12 RFU Championship clubs will lock themselves away in a Birmingham Hotel...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: Cliff was out of this world, but Barry was untouchable!
New Year gongs will be all the rage all too soon, a good enough excuse to enter the festive spirit and...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 12 years agoJeff Probyn: Why didn’t BT deal with the other leagues as well?
As the European row still rumbles along with a myriad of possible outcomes, it’s time to reflect on what started it....
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher takes a personal look at the Rugby World in 2013
BEST NEWCOMERS BTSport for their lively match day coverage and excellent Sunday lunchtime round-up show which is the must-watch rugby programme...
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain: Danny Cipriani is a risk, but he could unlock golden door
Who holds the keys to No.10 for England? There is no shortage of contenders to pilot them through the 2015 World...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 12 years agoJeremy Guscott: My fab four could make any team in the world
The Northern Hemisphere possesses some brilliantly talented players who would be comfortable playing in any team because they are that good....
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Nick Cain
/ 12 years agoNick Cain picks his highs and lows from 2013
Team of the Year – The 2013 Lions. Whereas the All Blacks are virtually a club side which plays and trains...
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Peter Jackson
/ 12 years agoPeter Jackson: All Blacks chase the dollar in Big Apple
The All Blacks have announced their intention to cash in on the American market with a match in New York next...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 12 years agoBrendan Gallagher reminisces about some unique times with a hell-raising rugby fanatic
The security guard’s radio crackled around a deserted Twickenham: “Lawrence Of Arabia and a Man Called Horse are leaving the stadium....















