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Tag: New Zealand

Five players who have scored five or more tries in a single game

20 January 2025 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott After Damian Penaud’s heroics for Bordeaux Begles against Sharks over the weekend, having broken the Champions Cup record for tries in a single game […]

Steve Borthwick: It’s time to put our foot down

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Steve Borthwick insists he has come up with a solution to England’s problem in closing out matches – be even quicker out […]

Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade can work in Six Nations – Brad Barritt

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Brad Barritt backs the misfiring duo of Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence to continue together in midfield for England, stressing the importance […]

Uncapped Fergus Burke gets nod from Gregor Townsend in Scotland Six Nations squad

19 January 2025 0 comments

Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke has been named in Scotland’s squad for the Six Nations as they look to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. New […]

Prop Jack Boyle called up to Ireland Six Nations squad after Tom O’Toole ban

19 January 2025 0 comments

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has called up Leinster’s uncapped prop Jack Boyle, 22, for the Six Nations to replace the suspended Tom O’Toole. […]

Stephen Varney & Tommy Allan back in the mix for Italy

19 January 2025 0 comments

Italy have recalled Stephen Varney and included Tommaso Allan in their squad for the Six Nations but are without Louis Lynagh who has undergone knee […]

Jeremy Guscott – Steve Borthwick must put faith in his players during Six Nations

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscot – Outspoken and unmissable every week… The change of England captaincy that was discussed in last week’s column has become reality with […]

Captains don’t have to play the full 80

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed It seems your columnist’s hotline to the England head coach Steve Borthwick has turned positively polar. “Don’t take the […]

Black mark for the Joe Biden

19 January 2025 0 comments

And so Joe Biden leaves the White House for the last time. Whatever judgement history passes on his single term in the Oval Office, there […]

Steve Borthwick needs to be brutal – and bold – this Six Nations

19 January 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the tough decisions the England coach has to make ahead of this season’s Six Nations It is the middle of winter […]

Scotland’s class of 1925 fired by legends

19 January 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher Scotland only have three Grand Slams to lovingly remember but […]

Simon Easterby welcomes return of Leinster quartet for Ireland’s Six Nations title defence

15 January 2025 0 comments

Interim head coach Simon Easterby believes the availability of Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Jimmy O’Brien “massively increases” Ireland’s competitiveness ahead of their […]

Gregor Townsend hoping Kyle Steyn can still feature for Scotland in Six Nations

15 January 2025 0 comments

Gregor Townsend is hopeful that Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn can still play a big part in the Six Nations despite being omitted from Scotland’s initial […]

Lock Jonny Gray and hooker Dave Cherry recalled by Scotland for Six Nations

15 January 2025 0 comments

Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray and Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations. Uncapped duo Jack Mann […]

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations

14 January 2025 0 comments

Maro Itoje will lead England into the upcoming Guinness Six Nations after replacing Jamie George as captain. George has been in charge since the 2023 […]

Handre Pollard: Argentina will test Steve Borthwick’s England

12 January 2025 0 comments

England have been warned to expect “tough battles” when they enter the backyard of the Pumas later this year.

Sam Underhill to undergo surgery and miss Six Nations

12 January 2025 0 comments

England flanker Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for the Six Nations after Bath announced that he requires ankle surgery.

Chris Farrell sacked by Oyonnax

12 January 2025 0 comments

Former Ireland international Chris Farrell has been sacked by French club Oyonnax following his conviction last month. Farrell, 31, received a four-year sentence, with two […]

Tom Shanklin – 2005 Grand Slam was pinnacle of my career

12 January 2025 0 comments

My Life In Rugby The former British & Irish Lions, Wales, Cardiff & Saracens centre, who now commentates for Premier Sports on URC, Champions Cup […]

Fabien Galthie’s Six Nations dilemma: Who gets the vote at 10?

12 January 2025 0 comments

French Column – By James Harrington There are bigger rugby weeks to come in 2025, but the Wednesday between January’s twin Champions and Challenge Cup […]

Aldcroft takes over at helm for England

12 January 2025 0 comments

■By BEN JAYCOCK In charge: New captain Zoe Aldcroft PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER-Hartpury lock Zoe Aldcroft has been installed as England women’s captain for 2025, […]

Top Seven Rugby Rivalries That Defined the Sport

9 January 2025 0 comments

There are only a few sports that can match Rugby in terms of intensity, passion, and rivalry. Over the years, there have been some matchups […]

Stick with Marcus Smith, he’s the best in England

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Borthwick has put three outside halves on hybrid contracts and he has less than a month to decide which one to […]

Pat Lam: Fitz Harding is good enough for England

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Pat Lam’s New Year wish is for his Bristol captain Fitz Harding to gain international recognition after a number of eye-catching performances […]

We need return to the County game

5 January 2025 0 comments

In Rugby Paper December 29, Paul Rees refers to Exeter’s Rob Baxter, whose club were bottom of the Premiership after eight successive defeats. Exeter are […]

Ollie Lawrence: We want to do double over Saints

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Match Preview Northampton v Bath – Kick-off 3pm, Franklin’s Gardens For Ollie Lawrence, last year’s Premiership final defeat to Northampton is firmly […]

Hybrid Hash will tie Steve Borthwick in knots

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week The description ‘Hybrid Central Contracts’ does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of […]

Glorious Gerald Davies, a man of true class

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know Every now and then, Gerald Davies would take a stroll through the rare old times […]

Springboks and Ireland to still lead the way in 2025

5 January 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks forward to 2025 and sees South Africa and Ireland keeping their places at the top of the tree A new year carries […]

When the Pontypool front row became a hit

5 January 2025 0 comments

It’s pretty much 50 years ago to the day that the Pontypool front row became a thing, well sort of. Before January 4, 1975 […]

‘Trailblazer’ Ilona Maher showing the way, says World Rugby chief

1 January 2025 0 comments

World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin is convinced Bristol Bears TikTok sensation Ilona Maher is just what the sport needs as momentum builds towards this summer’s […]

Freddie Steward prepares new plan of attack

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Freddie Steward has the safest pair of hands in the Premiership and is now set on finding his feet as an attacking […]

Ollie Sleightholme is the right man for England

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscott – Outspoken and unmissable every week… Since Ollie Sleightholme won his first two England caps against New Zealand last summer, and then […]

Ethan Roots looking to find his old form

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Ethan Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with […]

Maro Itoje: Life’s taken turn for the better under Steve Borthwick

29 December 2024 0 comments

England and Saracens lock Maro Itoje has claimed that the ‘atmosphere and experience’ of playing for the national team has improved under Steve Borthwick compared […]

My take on the good, the bad and the ugly of rugby in 2024

29 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher – A Weekly look at the game’s other talking points The Good Lorenzo Pani: His exquisitely crafted try for Italy […]

Playing rugby was a free passport to travel – Maurie Fa’asavalu

29 December 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby – Maurie Fa’asavalu THE FORMER SAMOA RU, GREAT BRITAIN RL, HARLEQUINS, OYONNAX AND ST HELENS PLAYER, WHO IS NOW COACHING WEST […]

Put John Mitchell in charge of Lions, says Maggie Alphonsi

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Eddison John Mitchell is the perfect candidate to lead the inaugural Lions Women team when they tour New Zealand in 2027 according to […]

Speedster Ollie Sleightholme ends the year on a high

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Ollie Sleightholme will not be among those glad to see the back of 2024 – a year in which he made his […]

Speedster Ollie ends the year on a high

22 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES OLLIE Sleightholme will not be among those glad to see the back of 2024 – a year in which he made his […]

Speedster Ollie ends the year on a high

22 December 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES OLLIE Sleightholme will not be among those glad to see the back of 2024 – a year in which he made his […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

No Franco Mostert? That’s got to be a mistake

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed Here’s a funny thing: one of the more prominent rugby sites on the worldwide web super information highway thingy […]

No Mostert? That’s got to be a mistake

22 December 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Class act: Franco Mostert scoring for South Africa PICTURE: Getty Images HERE’S a funny thing: one of the more prominent rugby […]

No Mostert? That’s got to be a mistake

22 December 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Class act: Franco Mostert scoring for South Africa PICTURE: Getty Images HERE’S a funny thing: one of the more prominent rugby […]