Fiji edge Australia to keep knockout hopes alive

By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor Australia………………..15 Tries: Nawaqanitawase 23, Suli Vunivalu 68 Conversion: Donaldson 70 Penalties: Donaldson 3 Fiji…………………………..22 Tries: Tuisova 43 Conversion: Kuruvoli...

Reinach’s rapid treble sparks Springbok demolition

By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor South Africa……………………..76 Tries: Reinach 3, 9, 24; Mapimpi 7, 64, 68; Willemse 12, Fourie 43, Williams 55, 62, Le...

Itoje: We are here to win, not entertain

By ADAM HATHAWAY Maro Itoje insists he is not worried by England’s World Cup try famine – as long as the...

RFU face major leadership challenge

By NICK CAIN The RFU Council has challenged the leadership of the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney and Board chairman Tom...

Dawson: Hard for Farrell to get back

EXCLUSIVE By BEN JAYCOCK World Cup winner Matt Dawson is struggling to see how captain Owen Farrell gets back into the...

England need to extend control

By NICK CAIN PREVIEW...England v Japan, Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade de Nice Can Japan produce another “Brighton Miracle”, mirroring their incredible...

Fitness first: Both teams out to show they’re at their best

The hard grind is about to pay off ! That was the message being broadcast by the England and Japan fitness...

Scrum-halves taking over as Springboks ring changes

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... South Africa v Romania Today. Kick-off 2pm, Stade de Bordeaux Jacques Nienaber’s South Africa have built themselves...

Portugal make it hard for Wales

By NICK CAIN Wales.............................. 28pts Tries: Rees-Zammit 8, Lake 42, Morgan 55, Faletau 82 Conversions: Halfpenny 9, 43, 56; Costelow 82...

Gatland happy with bonus point but admits there is work to do

WALES coach Warren Gatland said after the game: “I’m happy with the bonus point. If someone said you’d have 10 points...

Clunky Samoa fail to impress

By PAUL REES Samoa ................................ 43pts Tries: Paia’aua 40, Taumateine 41, Lee 46, Malolo 51, 80 Conversions: Leali’ifano 40, 52, Sopoaga...

Great to see the spine of a new team emerge

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND JOB DONE . . . just! Five vital points to Wales, but many of the...

Ireland get in mood for Springbok clash

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Ireland............................ 59pts Tries: Beirne 21, Doris 26, Hansen 33, Sexton 38, Lowe 59, Aki 62, 69; Herring 79...

England must up the tempo and go at Japan

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE reality of the Argentina game was that England managed to dig deep and...

Equation is simple now for Fijian bid

By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Australia v Fiji Sunday September 17. Kick-off 4.30pm, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne Return? Will Skelton could be back...

Libbok calls the tune as Scotland are left standing

By NICK POWELL South Africa .... 18pts Tries: Du Toit 47, Arendse 51 Conversions: De Klerk 52 Penalties: Libbok 13, 25...

Fiji miss chance to see off Wales

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales.............................. 32pts Tries: Adams 7, North 29, Rees-Zammit 48, Dee 66 Tries: Conversions: Nayacalevu 13, Tagitagivalu 17, Josua...

Six-try Japan too good for the new boys

By NICK POWELL Japan................ 42pts Tries: Fakatava 8, 41, Naikabula 30, Leitch 53, Nakamura 71, Dearns 79 Conversions: 10, 31, 42,...

We must not ignore Cipriani’s treatment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Danny Cipriani’s recent biography has shined a light on the player cliques within...

Bunker boys need to be fair

NICK CAIN Tom Curry’s red card after a bunker review was to be expected under the current laws aimed at preventing...

Jones to stick with the Aussies

ON THE BLINDSIDE Eddie Jones is pouring cold water on reports that he could return to Japan and plans to see...

Grayson is helping out Smith

ON THE BLIND SIDE FORMER Northampton Saints boss Paul Grayson has been spotted at Wigan Warriors Robin Park training base working...

Bonjour a tous, je m’appelle Steve Diamond

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Steve Diamond is taking intensive French lessons as he eyes up a move across the...

Jonny doesn’t quite hit mark

ON THE BLINDSIDE Jonny Wilkinson’s shirt from England’s 2003 World Cup Final win failed to match expectations at a recent sale...

Chelsea still eyeing Twickers

ON THE BLINDSIDE Chelsea are continuing to have talks with the RFU about using Twickenham during the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge,...

I owe it all to Clive…

ON THE BLINDSIDE Lawrence Dallaglio admits he has Sir Clive Woodward to thank for his World Cup winners medal. Dallaglio, speaking...

Dream Team with Ben Foden

The former England, Northampton, Sale Sharks and Rugby United New York full-back and occasional scrum-half chooses the best XV he has...

Time for an elite 16-team contest

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST OCTOBER 2003 was a busy old month, what with Mother Teresa being beatified by Pope John Paul...

For me, anthems strike the right note

CHRIS HEWETT FAR be it for us to fly in the face of public opinion in this corner of the paper,...

Canada next for Mitchell’s new-look England

By BEN JAYCOCK Under a new look coaching staff, England women return to action when they take on familiar foes Canada...

Grayson aiming to march on at Saints

By PAUL REES James Grayson is one of the longest serving players in the Northampton squad and intends to use that...

Cardiff boosted by the arrival of Pirate Robson

By BEN JAYCOCK Cardiff have signed former Dragons fly-half Arwel Robson from English Championship club Cornish Pirates. Robson, 26, left Dragons...

Mauling by Chiefs will motivate us says Lam

By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Bristol v Ealing Today. Kick-off 2.30pm BRISTOL face ambitious Ealing Trailfinders at Ashton Gate today with Pat...

Jersey stun Bath with famous win

By LUKE JARMYN Bath .............................. 10pts Tries: Harris 20, Muir 36 Jersey Reds .............................. 34pts Tries: Scott 27, McHenry 50, Holgate...

Brilliant Radwan to the rescue for Falcons

By ANDREW HASTINGS Newcastle........26pts Tries: Fletcher 9, Kerr 29, De Chaves 65, Radwan 72 Conversions: Thomas 10, Johnson 66, 73 Bedford...

Hayler calls the shots as Hartpury take charge

By PAUL SMITH Nottingham...... 17pts Tries: Wright 7, Clayton 69, 78 Conversions: Hollingsworth 78 Hartpury Uni .... 21pts Tries: Hayler 4,...

Barton leads the way as Gloucester floor Saracens

By GARY FITZGERALD Saracens ..........20pts Tries: Tries: Willis 3, Iswieke 29 Conversions: Manu Vunipola 4 30 Penalties: Vunipola 43 54 Gloucester...

Vintcent holds the key for Chiefs to overcome Pirates

By MARK STEVENS Exeter Chiefs ...................38pts  Tries: Wyatt 11, 64, Vintcent 15, 55, Hammersley 43, Hodge 73 Conversions: Haydon-Wood 13, 44,...

Caldy power is too much for battling Ampthill

By JOHN LYON Caldy ..................26pts Tries: Aigbokhae 13, Gallagher 40, 47 Hearn 80 Conversions: Rogers 13, Kilcourse 40, Hayes 80 Ampthill...

Doncaster snatch it in the last moments

By DAVID CHALLIS L Scottish .........22pts Tries: Waghorn 16, Lloyd-Seed 22, Waghorn 42, Brown 53 Conversions: Lloyd-Seed 17 Doncaster K .......

Coventry go so close to Quins shock

By NATHAN EDWARDS Harlequins ......................21pts Tries: Jibulu 3, Slevin 52, Jurevicius 78 Conversions: Slevin 5, 53, 79 Coventry ..........................21pts Tries: Rigg...

Cambridge give it their best shot but there’s no stopping Saints

By STEVE JACKSON Northampton...55pts Tries: Seabrook 4 Pollock 8, 59 Thame 31, 33, McParland 37, Glister 47, Hendy 53 Conversions: Grayson...

Pollard has the class to keep Tigers on course

By LUKE JARMYN Sale Sharks .....14pts Tries: Caine 51, Onasanya 78 Conversions: Curtis 52, 79 Leicester T....... 18pts Tries: Hassell-Collins 54,...

Reviving the lost art of the drop goal

Paul Rees sees George Ford join an impressive list of players whose quick thinking has made the difference GEORGE Ford resurrected...

Time aspiring nations received more even-handed officiating

IT WAS hard not to feel for Fiji at the end of one of the epic World Cup matches. Not because...

Scarlets pay the ultimate tribute to Bennett

By BEN JAYCOCK The Scarlets honoured legend Phil Bennett with an impressive display of running rugby to beat the Barbarians 33-19....

Fit-again Richards is setting his sights high

By JON NEWCOMBE Bath's Ewan Richards is hoping that he can put last season’s injury troubles behind him and keep pushing...

Mum’s pleased Mitchell brothers are kept apart

By LUKE JARMYN PROUD Mrs Mitchell must be the only person pleased that her two sons will not be going head-tohead...

PJ keeps on rolling, against all the odds

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE rain hadn’t long stopped sheeting down when the Grand Old Man of...

Adam Hathaway’s World Cup Diary: Week Two

TRP reporter Adam Hathaway gives the lowdown on the latest inside stories at Rugby World Cup 2023 The Times nearly keep...