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Tag: France

Jeff Probyn: Scotland’s slump is so bad for Northern Hemisphere

21 February 2014 0 comments

I know it may sound strange but I am really saddened by the Calcutta Cup game last Saturday, not the result but what it represents. […]

Peter Jackson: James Hook plays the Invisible Man come hail or shine

20 February 2014 1 comment

The Invisible Man of the Six Nations could be seen down by the Mediterranean the other day, literally warming up for his club’s fight to […]

France make one change to face Wales

19 February 2014 0 comments

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made one change to his starting XV for their trip to Cardiff on Friday with Wanceslas Lauret starting at […]

My Life in Rugby: Jon Sleightholme – former Bath, Northampton & England wing

18 February 2014 0 comments

Scoring my first England try at Twickenham as we sealed the 1996 Five Nations title is probably my highlight. Not bad for a lad from […]

Nick Cain: Stubborn Stuart Lancaster must admit mistakes

14 February 2014 0 comments

Stuart Lancaster is doing a Sinatra. By sticking with the same 23 man line-up against the Scots that lost to France in Paris he said […]

Brendan Gallagher: Ruan Pienaar keeps faith with Ulster

14 February 2014 0 comments

There might have been a more influential and committed ‘overseas’ signing than Ruan Pienaar in the last 18 seasons since rugby turned professional but I […]

One of world’s best No.8s? I’m not even top in Wales, says humble Taulupe Faletau

13 February 2014 0 comments

Trying to make Taulupe Faletau sing his own praises, and watching him refuse to brand himself as one of the best No.8s in the world, is as painful as it is refreshing.

20 Questions: Blaine Scully – Leicester and USA wing

12 February 2014 0 comments

How have you found your first season in England? There was initial adjustment in terms of the intensity and duration of the season and it’s […]

Scott Williams to miss rest of Six Nations

12 February 2014 1 comment

Wales’ Six Nations hopes have suffered a big blow with Scott Williams likely to be out for the rest of the campaign with a shoulder […]

My Life in Rugby: John Beattie – Glasgow Accies, Scotland & Lions No.8

11 February 2014 1 comment

I was born in Borneo and went to an English boarding school in Penang, Malaysia, called Uplands. When I left to come back to Scotland […]

Jeff Probyn: Bashed up by the French, but I loved every minute

7 February 2014 2 comments

It’s that time of year when I am filled with a mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to regret. The start of the world’s premier […]

Nick Cain: Sam Warburton could be the first casualty of Welsh war

7 February 2014 0 comments

Sam Warburton’s central contract with the WRU is threatening to become an unholy mess. When the news broke last weekend that the Wales captain had […]

Scotland v England preview

6 February 2014 1 comment

Scott Johnson has dropped his captain Kelly Brown ahead of Scotland’s clash against England on Saturday. The Saracens flanker, who is not even on the […]

France v Italy preview

6 February 2014 0 comments

Hugo Bonneval will make his France Test debut after being named on the wing to take on Italy on Sunday. as one of three changes […]

Nick Cain previews the clash between Scotland and England

6 February 2014 1 comment

Legend has it that the 9th Roman Legion disappeared without trace after marching north of Hadrian’s Wall into the Scottish hinterland. Stuart Lancaster likes his […]

England U20s call on Walker and Owen

5 February 2014 1 comment

Jack Walker and Will Owen have beend called up by England U20s ahead of their Six Nations game against Scotland on Friday at Netherdale. Leeds […]

My Life in Rugby: Ricky Nebbett – former Harlequins, Leicester, Leinster and Esher prop

4 February 2014 0 comments

When I joined Harlequins as a teenager the first team had Brian Moore, Will Carling and Jason Leonard. It was basically the England team at […]

Six Nations teams

31 January 2014 1 comment

Teams for the RBS 6 Nations openers.

Peter Jackson: Dr Ron still at the head of Grand Slam pack

31 January 2014 3 comments

It has been said of Dr Ronald Cove-Smith that he never turned up on a Saturday afternoon without his little black surgical bag to ensure […]

Dai Young fears that weary Welsh Lions will suffer in Six Nations

31 January 2014 1 comment

Dai Young feels the after-effects of a gruelling Lions tour could hinder Wales’s chances of becoming the first side to claim three Six Nations titles in a row.

Sale Sharks still expect bite from lock of ages Nathan Hines

30 January 2014 1 comment

Nathan Hines will be 39 by the time his newly-signed Sale contract finishes, but retirement is still far from the mind of the evergreen lock.

Nick Cain: England need Saxons to be battle-hardened

29 January 2014 0 comments

The Saxons should be a huge influence in building an England team, so that the head coach never runs out of seasoned tightheads – as […]

France name 23 for England

22 January 2014 0 comments

Philippe Saint Andre has named his 23-man squad to take on England in the opening round of the Six Nations in Paris next week. Antoine […]

Nick Cain looks at the challenge awaiting England in their opening six nations match in Paris

22 January 2014 2 comments

Le Crunch 2014 is going to leave either England or France broken*. The opening Test of the Six Nations in Paris a fortnight from now […]

Luther Burrell gets defensive about his big chance

21 January 2014 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi may be the irresistible force but Luther Burrell believes he can be the immovable object if Stuart Lancaster hands him England’s No.13 shirt.

Saracens bait Adam ‘Hair Bear’Jones with £300k

21 January 2014 0 comments

Saracens have entered the bidding war for Wales and Lions star Adam Jones offering him £300,000 a season

Dream Team: Richard Hill – former Bath & England scrum-half

20 January 2014 0 comments

1. Gareth Chilcott – I liked forwards who frightened the opposition and Gareth scared the hell out of them. Fortunately he was always on my […]

Thierry Dusautoir blow for France

20 January 2014 0 comments

France captain Thierry Dusautoir will miss the upcoming Six Nations with a arm injury. The 2011 IRB Player of the Year suffered a torn bicep […]

Young Gun: Paul Hill – England u20s & Leeds prop

17 January 2014 2 comments

Paul Hill is being forced to play something of a balancing act at the moment between club and country but the U20 England prop insists […]

Chris Robshaw re-appointed England captain

17 January 2014 0 comments

As expected, Chris Robshaw has been re-appointed England captain for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations. Since taking the reins for Head Coach Stuart Lancaster’s first […]

Bredan Gallagher: Nutter who made Jim Telfer’s class of ’84 finest of all

17 January 2014 1 comment

Jim Telfer shakes his head in amusement and then caves in completely and laughs uproariously. It happens occasionally: “All really good sides need a nutter […]

Peter Jackson: Italy arrive in Wales on a wing and a blessing

17 January 2014 0 comments

Italy come to Cardiff for the opening match in the Six Nations next month armed with something different, a Papal blessing. Judged on their biennial […]

My Life in Rugby: Phil Christophers – former Bristol, Brive and England wing

14 January 2014 0 comments

After spending a year away from rugby I realised I didn’t want to finish my career on injuries. It was definitely the right choice. It […]

Peter Jackson: Let’s spare a thought for Toggie and Tanky

10 January 2014 0 comments

Freddy ‘Tanky’ Turner captained Scotland one hundred years ago, a Liverpudlian by birth who worked in the family printing business and played cricket for Lancashire’s […]

Delon Armitage: Toulon will release us for England

10 January 2014 1 comment

Delon Armitage has described England’s refusal to pick France-based players as a “big opportunity missed”, insisting he and brother Steffon are available for all international training camps.

Brendan Gallagher: Georgia on my mind as the cosy club stick together

9 January 2014 2 comments

Lacking a degree in applied mathematics I only look at the IRB world rankings once a year and that is in the first week of […]

Dragons sign Lee Byrne and Aled Brew

8 January 2014 1 comment

The Newport-Gwent Dragons’ desire to become Wales’ top region has been boosted by the signing of internationals Lee Byrne and Aled Brew. Revealed on Sunday, […]

Nick Cain urges England to look at some new faces in the World Cup build up

8 January 2014 0 comments

The seemingly routine announcement of amendments to the England elite squad on Thursday at Twickenham is the exact opposite. It is a make or break […]

Nick Cain: This Anglo-Welsh decoy shouldn’t be discounted

8 January 2014 0 comments

Is the golden handshake across the Severn, binding the four Welsh regions to the English clubs, the solution it is being cracked up to be. […]

Brendan Gallagher: RFU Championship clubs face a vital strategy meeting

8 January 2014 0 comments

Later this month the chairmen and owners of the 12 RFU Championship clubs will lock themselves away in a Birmingham Hotel room with a pile […]

Jeff Probyn: Why didn’t BT deal with the other leagues as well?

3 January 2014 2 comments

As the European row still rumbles along with a myriad of possible outcomes, it’s time to reflect on what started it. The sudden announcement that […]

Nick Cain: Danny Cipriani is a risk, but he could unlock golden door

2 January 2014 0 comments

Who holds the keys to No.10 for England? There is no shortage of contenders to pilot them through the 2015 World Cup passage, with Owen […]

Jeremy Guscott: My fab four could make any team in the world

1 January 2014 3 comments

The Northern Hemisphere possesses some brilliantly talented players who would be comfortable playing in any team because they are that good. The Southern Hemisphere normally […]

Nick Cain picks his highs and lows from 2013

1 January 2014 2 comments

Team of the Year – The 2013 Lions. Whereas the All Blacks are virtually a club side which plays and trains together for half of […]

Dead-eye Stephen Myler has England in his sights

1 January 2014 0 comments

Northampton’s marksman Stephen Myler has revealed his burning to desire to represent England during the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

Quotes of the Year

31 December 2013 0 comments

“I was the Englishman who gate crashed the Welsh party. Phil Bennett got the ball and ran up his own back side and got lost […]

Peter Jackson: All Blacks chase the dollar in Big Apple

27 December 2013 0 comments

The All Blacks have announced their intention to cash in on the American market with a match in New York next November. Not to be […]

Jeremy Guscott: Danny Cipriani’s back as he decides to return to Planet Earth

25 December 2013 0 comments

Danny Cipriani is back on the England radar, there’s little doubt about that, he’s far from the wilderness he found himself engulfed in from around […]