We’re going in right direction – Steve Borthwick

By Adam Hathaway at Twickenham England boss Steve Borthwick is not fearing the chop – despite adding a 29-20 defeat to...

James Botham: We have to stay positive

By Simon Thomas James Botham says Wales can’t dwell on the negatives if they want to end their long losing run....

Financial stability is key, says World Rugby chair

By Paul Rees Brett Robinson, who last week became the first person from the southern hemisphere to be elected World Rugby...

Plans for global league

By Sam Jackson A breakaway rugby franchise competition could soon be launched in an attempt to revolutionise the sport. Newspaper reports...

Lee Blackett building next generation

By Jon Newcombe England A attack coach Lee Blackett is convinced it won’t be long before several of the players on...

Ben Thomas glad to have old pal Max Llewellyn alongside him

By Simon Thomas Partner: Ben Thomas Ben Thomas is relishing his reunion with Max Llewellyn as they go in search of...

Cheslin Kolbe’s double piles the pain on England

By Nick Cain England...............................20pts Tries: Sleightholme 4, Underhill 26 Conversions: Smith 5, 27 Penalties: Smith 16, 52 South Africa..................... 29pts Tries:...

England are being outsmarted too often

PAUL REES ENGLAND’S revival under Steve Borthwick was designed to be built on defence, but South Africa’s decisive try yesterday was...

Why does it always go wrong in the last quarter for England?

By Brendan Gallagher Where do England minds go in the final quarter of big rugby games? Why do they lose focus...

Battling Argentina make it tough for Ireland

By Brendan Gallagher Ireland...............22pts Tries: Crowley 3, Hansen 5, McCarthy 31 Conversions: Crowley 3, 32 Drop goal: Crowley 21 Argentina .........19pts...

Relieved Andy Farrell glad to ‘win ugly’

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was relieved his side could register the win and feels they will keep improving as the...

France fight back to snatch thriller against All Blacks

By James Harrington France................ 30pts Tries: Buros 32, Boudehent 44, Bielle-Biarrey 51 Conversions: Ramos 33, 45, 52 Penalties: Ramos 7, 57,...

Italy facing fierce Georgia test

■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Italy v Georgia Today. Kick-off 1.40pm, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa RICHARD Cockerill’s Georgia will be looking...

Gatland: If I lose my job, I’ll go to beach

■ By SIMON THOMAS Wales v Australia PREVIEW... Today. Kick-off 4.10pm, Principality Stadium Coach: Warren Gatland ONE of the more revealing...

We are ready for a brusing encounter, admits Schmidt

Recalled: Samu Kerevi AUSTRALIA head coach Joe Schmidt feels that Wales will be “incredibly hard to beat” at the Principality Stadium...

Gritty Portugal can’t keep up with Scots

■By BEN JAYCOCK Dominant: Josh Bayliss runs in to score Scotland’s fifth try PICTURES: Getty Images SCOTLAND showcased their strength in...

Townsend impressed by Jordan link work

SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend applauded Portugal’s defensive effort. He said: “We’re pleased with the result. I thought Portugal were really good,...

I fear that young players will be lost to the game if chances missed

I REFER to Geoff Stalker’s letter of October 27 regarding schools rugby. Some points perhaps need to be amplified so that...

England look like a clueless rabble

Another one bites the dust: England feel the pain against Wallabies I WATCHED with a g rowing sense of bewilderment as...

Two great games in one day

I SAW two of the best matches of the season last Saturday. The first was “live” between Stow on the Wold...

Too many mistakes

ENGLAND have the players to be successful but they seem to lack the mental fortitude to get over the line. They...

Dream Team – Jimmy Gopperth

JIMMY GOPPERTH, THE FORMER WELLINGTON, HURRICANES, BLUES, NEWCASTLE, LEINSTER, WASPS AND LEICESTER PLAYMAKER, WHO IS STILL GOING STRONG AT AIX-EN-PROVENCE, CHOOSES...

Jac Morgan could lead Wales into new era

By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week... Wales do not have much chance of beating Australia today in Cardiff...

Undercard get chance to show their A-game

By Paul Rees England's A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard...

Mega-league plan will have to overcome huge hurdles

By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week If 200 of the world’s highest-paid players are about to join...

Simon Gillham must get justice for the Championship

Simon Gillham’s arrival as chair of the Championship/Tier 2 Board should be good news for English club rugby. Gillham, below, who...

Building blocks for England’s future

England A’s fixture against their Australian counterparts at The Stoop at 2pm today is an essential building block for any head...

McParland keen to shine for England A

By DAN ROBERTSHAW Stepping up: Northampton’s Archie McParland on the attack PICTURES: Getty Images Class: Antoine Dupont NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland...

Bristol’s exciting approach suits me, says Harry Thacker

By Mark Stevens Bristol Bears are fast earning themselves a reputation as rugby’s great entertainers, captivating fans with their bold, high-energy...

We will all suffer in the land of the giants

By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed It was the rugby version of Easy Street, the 1917 silent movie in which Charlie...

Pundits need that forward thinking

Ian Robertson put it most colourfully. “I work with backs,” said the celebrated BBC radio commentator on being asked to coach...

Exeter Chiefs in hunt for new investment

By Mark Stevens DoR: Rob Baxter Tony Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as...

Chinnor take early control (but don’t tell Twickenham)

■ By MO SHER Chinnor ..............33pts Tries: Crowley 9, Bourton 13, Watson 27, Dugmore 47, Pascoe 78 Conversions: Bourton 10, 14,...

Rising tide of criticism closing in on Warren Gatland

By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Warren Gatland will spend another Sunday praying for deliverance from the...

The day France pulled a fast one on Grant

OF all the international coaches in all the world, none can have endured a stranger initiation than Scotland’s Derrick Grant, against...

I am calm and loving my life, says Danny Cipriani

Paul Rees talks to the former England No.10 as he agrees to put his boots on one final time to help...

Chalking off White’s try was a mistake

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER No try: Ben White’s touchdown was ruled out...

Coach who gave Hastings brothers their debuts

THERE was a time when the strength of rugby in the Borders was a weathervane for Scottish rugby generally. That period...

Beziers begin to get act together

THESE are hectic and tumultuous times at once-great Beziers. We recently reported that two charges of domestic abuse by Beziers players...

Gatland’s second coming struggles to lift Welsh spirits

PAUL REES HEARS CRITICISM OF THE WALES COACH MOUNT AS HE PREPARES FOR TODAY’S VISIT OF AUSTRALIA TO CARDIFF Under pressure:...

‘I decided to work hard and Eddie Jones backed me’ – George Kruis

My Life in Rugby - George Kruis the former England, Saracens and Panasonic Wild Knights second row Man-mountain: George Kruis on...

Dickinson hits the 50-mark for Archers

■By CHRIS COLLYER Proud: Nottingham’s Jack Dickinson PICTURE: Alamy JACK Dickinson brought up his half century of appearnces in style by...

Bears swoop for Jordan

BRISTOL Bears have signed Scotland’s Tom Jordan from Glasgow Warriors for next season. The 26-year-old was instrumental in Glasgow’s United Rugby...

Sela extends deal at Bath

TIGHTHEAD Billy Sela has signed a new deal with Bath. The 19-year-old is currently out for up to two months with...

Schmidt praised for Sua’ali’i shift

■By CAMERON STEPHENS Winger: Joe Tomane FORMER Wallaby wing Joe Tomane says Joe Schmidt’s coaching qualities are the reason why Joseph...

Terrific Rotherham Titans celebrate toughest triumph

By Joe Barnes Taylor Sedgley Park .30 Rotherham ......35 Rotherham secured a bonus-point victory in a tough tussle against Sedgley Tigers....

Allsopp proves an Ollie good fellow for Birmingham Moseley!

By Rhys Stratton B Moseley ..............27 Rosslyn Park .........26 Birmingham Moseley scored at the death through Ollie Allsopp to record a...

Hosts are over the Hill and far away

■By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S ...............33 Darlington MP ....... 19 TOBY HILL provided the spark as Bishop’s Stortford beat Darlington MP....

A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher

■By MIKE DAVIS Leicester L ....... 31pts Tries: Romano 7, Allen 11, Sterland 24, Murdoch 47, Tebbatt 80 Conversions: Bouchier 8,...

Dings do enough to take wind out of Sale’s fight

■By BAZ JOHNSON Dings ........................ 31 Sale FC..................... 15 EARLY indications suggested Sale could come out on top, especially as it...