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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain column: ‘Gutted’ George Ford will soon get his stuffing back in place
George Ford has had a rough few months. Having been given the vote of no-confidence just before England’s decisive World Cup...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott column: Taulupe Faletau can become best No.8 in the world at Bath
Taulupe Faletau’s decision to join Bath next season means that they have acquired a 25-year-old who is not only a world-class...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 10 years agoJeff Probyn column: Matt Symons’ pilgrimage has been an indictment of our system
I had an interesting letter this week from Jeff Gage who often corresponds with The Rugby Paper. In his letter, he...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson column: Foreign legion encamps at No.8
England, Ireland, Italy and Scotland are in the process of acquiring No.8’s from the Southern Hemisphere for the New Year. France...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain talks to Saracens No.2 Jamie George about the subtleties of the scrum
Jamie George was the best hooker in England last season, but barely got a look-in at Test level. And when recognition...
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Shane Williams
/ 10 years agoShane Williams column: Ospreys must not waste that great result in Clermont
That wonderful fightback by the Ospreys in Clermont has given them the chance to make a real push for a quarter-final...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain column: Quota system cost Heyneke Meyer as much as that Japan defeat
It’s the impossible job. It’s called coaching South Africa, and it’s the one that Heyneke Meyer has just resigned from, falling...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott column: Dan Carter can be a success like Jonny Wilkinson – if he learns French
Dan Carter is without doubt a sensational signing for Racing 92 – as big, or bigger, than Jonny Wilkinson was for...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson column: Is George North’s new deal really such a delight?
George North proclaims himself “massively delighted” to be extending his stay at Northampton beyond this season. Head coach Jim Mallinder, a...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 10 years agoJeff Probyn column: Our home grow talent is blocked by foreign imports
After a brilliant display by all the Premiership teams in Europe last week, it would seem that there’s definitely not a...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain column: Which leader will march to England’s new drum beat?
Eddie Jones will appoint an England captain when the Red Rose squad meets in January to prepare for the Six Nations,...
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Shane Williams
/ 10 years agoShane Williams column: So, could Dai Young and Rob Howley work together?
Rob Howley and Dai Young could be the dream ticket to succeed Warren Gatland. Wales will need a new head coach...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain talks to Aaron Mauger who is teaching the Leicester Tigers to be creative
Aaron Mauger may not have moved mountains yet, but Leicester’s new Kiwi head coach has already achieved something close to it...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott column: Eddie Jones should pick Wayne Smith, Shaun Edwards and Rob Baxter
What will Eddie Jones do with his assistant coaches? Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt have all had four years...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 10 years agoJeff Probyn column: Clubs flex muscles over European postponements
The disruption of the European Champions Cup first round caused by the Paris atrocities last week has inadvertently shown what appears...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher feature: How the ale and hearty Varsity girls reached HQ
It all started in a pub, as most of the best rugby stories do, back in the summer of 1987 and...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson column: Dan Biggar is the man to lead Ospreys on glory run
Dan Biggar goes to work this afternoon in a place surrounded by volcanic mountains, a suitable location for an Osprey who...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher looks back at the life and career of Jonah Lomu
During a lifetime in sport journalism I can’t remember anything more exhilarating and life enhancing than reporting on the young Jonah...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher column: Let Eddie Jones get England singing to his tune, and nobody else’s
Eddie Jones is not a politician – he’s a hands on coach and doer – and I like to think Friday’s...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott column: I thought I had tackled Jonah Lomu – but like so many I was wrong!
Jonah Lomu was the most exciting rugby player I have ever had the privilege to watch, play against or play with....
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Jeff Probyn
/ 10 years agoJeff Probyn: Dean Richards is the man for me to revive England fortunes
Well, I suppose it was inevitable, especially after the expected back-stabbing from within his squad, Stuart Lancaster has chosen to fall...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher: It’s farewell to Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield. Yes, really!
For those of you suffering post World Cup cold turkey the Pumas are back at Twickenham on Saturday against one of...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher comment: Stuart Lancaster was the right man in the wrong job
The alarm bells started ringing loudly, for me anyway, in a dusty classroom at Loughborough University last May. It was just...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott: England must rebuild their pack the way Michael Cheika rebuilt his Australians
My big concern from England’s World Cup is that we saw a decline in their core strengths at the scrum and...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson – If Warren Gatland intends to stay why not say so?
The Welsh Rugby Union deny that their long-term contract with Warren Gatland contains a clause allowing another country to buy him...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain: Stuart Lancaster did decent thing – so should the other coaches
With the RFU suits in a state of panic having failed to put in place a detailed contingency plan to take...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain on the big debate: Call in Sir Clive, Jones, Baxter, Mallinder and Edwards
Ian Ritchie has a solution to England’s coaching future staring him in the face: Appoint Sir Clive Woodward as RFU performance...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoA preview of the Champions Cup pools
By Brendan Gallagher Pool 1: Saracens, Ulster Toulouse and Oyonnax Overview: Saracens had 15 players involved in the World Cup but...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoEuro clubs must not let RWC have all the epics
By Brendan Gallagher To borrow heavily from the great Tom Petty, “too much ain’t enough”, although I fancy the rock maestro...
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British and Irish Lions Tour
/ 10 years agoLions Tour 2017: Schedule threatens to undermine pinnacle
Lack of prep time and finals of Premiership and Pro12 could prove major blunder in the face of rugby's biggest test,...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher comment: A fittingly Olympian venue for these sporting giants to bid their farewells
It was all about farewells at the Olympic Park on Friday night, as the latter stages of a World Cup often...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 10 years agoJeff Probyn column: Why these jibes at England review panel are laughable
Am I the only England fan to be sick and tired of the continual criticism of everything the team or the...
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Shane Williams
/ 10 years agoShane Williams World Cup XV
15. Ayumu Goromaru (Japan): The Brave Blossoms deserved more after three wins and he was key against South Africa. 14. Nehe...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson: When WRU sneak tried to ban us over £50 expenses
On the Sunday before we played England at the Arms Park in February 1975, five of the Wales team chosen the...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher World Cup XV
15. Ben Smith (New Zealand): Consumate in all departments, Japan‘s brilliant Agumu Goromaru the next in line 14. Julian Savea (New...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain talks to England’s great grand-slam winning captain Will Carling
Will Carling, the triple Grand Slam captain who helped to transform England into one of the best teams in the world...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson comment: Whisper it…this could be the finest team we’ve ever seen!
In between winning World Cups, Steve Hansen took a course in horse whispering for reasons far removed from the block-busting Hollywood...
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Shane Williams
/ 10 years agoShane Williams column: Taulupe Faletau veto good news for Wales and regions
Taulupe Faletau’s transfer saga may have been a mess but hopefully it could prove a turning point for Welsh rugby. For...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher feature: England apart, this has been a World Cup to remember!
So how will history view Rugby World Cup 2015? The biggest and grandest in terms of crowd numbers and stadia? Unquestionably,...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott verdict: I’m delighted classy Dan Carter could savour his fitting finale
For a man who for four years has had a memory of not being involved in the match that won New...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain column: Big-bucks Sam Burgess short-changed by England
Sam Burgess is the swagman, that’s why it’s hard to summon huge sympathy for the way his cross-code sortie into Rugby...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher feature: This was just a complete blast from start to finish
The construction – or in this case deconstruction – gangs will arrive at Twickenham first thing this morning to start ripping...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 10 years agoJeremy Guscott World Cup XV
15. Ben Smith (NZ) is one of my favourite players, his skillset is of the highest calibre, which affords him the...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoBrendan Gallagher comment: Sublime Conrad Smith has a five-star lawyer’s brain and he can hit too
Richie McCaw and Dan Carter deserve every plaudit that comes their way – the golden duo have redefined their positions and...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain column: RFU review panel will have zero credibility
Let the whitewash begin! The RFU review panel eventually announced last Monday – two long weeks after England‘s ignominious World Cup...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson column: Heroes? No,Wales lost plot when it mattered!
Scotland took their enforced leave of the World Cup in a state of understandable high dudgeon hours after Ireland had beaten...
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Nick Cain
/ 10 years agoNick Cain gets the lowdown on Wallaby coach Michael Cheika
Bob Dwyer is a member of one of rugby union‘s most exclusive clubs as one of the seven coaches who have...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 10 years agoJeff Probyn column: Crucial to reintroduce level between club and country
For the first time since its 1987 inception, the Rugby World Cup does not have Northern Hemisphere side in the semi-finals...
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Shane Williams
/ 10 years agoShane Williams column: Our packs lack skillset of the giants down South
It’s no fluke that this weekend’s World Cup semi-finals are like a UKIP manifesto – with no mention of Europe. Over...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson comment: Get ready to crown team for all seasons
And so it has almost come to pass, the All Black coronation of New Zealand as the supreme long-term rulers of...
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