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Tag: Nick Cain

Series 3, Episode 2: Ireland’s World Cup Prospects with Willie Anderson

1 August 2023 0 comments

As we continue our overview of how the major nations are shaping up for the World Cup in France later this year, it’s time to […]

A man-mountain who needs to be stopped

9 July 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Posolo Tuilagi is a force of nature who stands between England U20 and the chance of another […]

Halliday’s collective ultimatum

2 July 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN New Championship chairman Simon Halliday says the survival of many of the clubs in the second-tier professional league depends on the RFU/Premiership […]

Series 2, Episode 25: Mal O’Kelly on Ireland’s World Cup prospects and Leinster’s end to the season

28 June 2023 0 comments

This week on The Rugby Paper Podcast, joining host Ollie Little, columnists Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher and Digital Editor Nick Powell, Mal O’Kelly discusses […]

Series 2, Episode 24: European Cup format and reattempting an England XV

21 June 2023 0 comments

This week on the Rugby Paper Podcast, host Ollie Little is joined by columnists Brendan Gallagher, Nick Cain and Chris Hewett to discuss the format […]

Arrival of novice advisers is cause for grave concern

11 June 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There could not have been a bigger catalyst for change at Twickenham than Bill Sweeney’s abject announcement […]

Your chance to join the (£55,000) culture club

11 June 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN The RFU’s failure to put in a robust, stringent regulatory framework has led to three Premiership clubs going bust this season, and hundreds […]

Time to call up X-factor reserves

4 June 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Where can Steve Borthwick find the X-factor players to take England back to the top of the […]

Farrell in command as Sharks cut down by incisive Saracens

28 May 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Saracens …………………….. 35pts Tries: Penalty 20, Malins 34, Daly 67, van Zyl 71 Conversions: Farrell 35, 72 Penalties: Farrell 5, 14, 50 […]

Strewth, mate! Fast Eddie’s cash jackpot

28 May 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Eddie Jones returned to Twickenham this week as an RFU-made millionaire coach. Jones, who was paid over […]

Eligibility rules have failed the Pacific Islands

21 May 2023 0 comments

THE decision of former England tighthead Henry Thomas to become a Welshman is a relatively minor example of the Test rugby ‘circus’ described by former […]

RFU failed to enforce regulatory standards

21 May 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Nothing holds a mirror up to all that is wrong with the elite end of English rugby […]

Parisse and Ollivon sparkle

21 May 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN Toulon’s 43-19 European Challenge Cup victory over Glasgow was notable not just for the style in which the French club seized the title, […]

England need to get it right at scrum time

14 May 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Steve Borthwick’s decisionion to raid Leicester for his latest scrum coach – and England’s third in the […]

Eligibility laws that need to be changed

7 May 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE recent international eligibility law that allows Henry Thomas to be selected by Wales, just because he […]

Series 2, Episode 17: Irish superiority in Europe with Stephen Ferris

1 May 2023 0 comments

In a blockbuster weekend of rugby, the Red Roses claimed the Grand Slam in a record-breaking decider at HQ, and La Rochelle and Leinster set […]

Crisis as RFU hit by £50m bombshell

30 April 2023 2 comments

By NICK CAIN EXCLUSIVE A £50 million bombshell looks destined to sink the current RFU administration headed by chief executive Bill Sweeney and Board chairman […]

Series 2 Episode 16 – Maud Muir on Six Nations decider and record-breaker

25 April 2023 0 comments

This weekend’s Women’s Six Nations decider is set to set a new record for attendance at a standalone women’s rugby fixture. The Red Roses and […]

Retaining the status quo threatens to split game

16 April 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Club rugby in England is crying out for a new start, based on a sustainable future for […]

Meafou must miss out this time

16 April 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN Emmanuel Meafou is a one-man army at 6ft 8ins and 22 stone, and with that sort of physical firepower no wonder his adopted […]

Series 2, Episode 13: Red Roses resurgence and Champions Cup action with Maggie Alphonsi

3 April 2023 0 comments

Champions Cup and Women’s Six Nations action made for a fantastic weekend of rugby to say the least. To reflect on the Red Roses’ opening […]

Series 2 Episode 12: World Rugby tournament prospects and Champions Cup Round of 16 preview

28 March 2023 0 comments

Plans for a World Rugby tournament that will culminate every two years in a grand final between the top side in the Northern and Southern […]

England need to be fit for purpose

26 March 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK ONE of the crosses that Steve Borthwick’s England team are going to have to bear after another […]

10-minute window to make the correct call

26 March 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN Freddie Steward’s red card being overturned by a Six Nations disciplinary panel was the right outcome because the decision to send him off […]

Series 2 Episode 11 – Ireland Grand Slam Glory with Willie John McBride

20 March 2023 0 comments

Congratulations to Ireland, who secured a deserved Grand Slam against England at on St Patrick’s day weekend – we can only imagine how the party […]

A party for the ages as Sexton brings Grand Slam joy to Ireland

19 March 2023 1 comment

By NICK CAIN Ireland…………………………. 29pts Tries: Sheehan 33, 68; Robbie Henshaw 62, Herring 77 Conversions: Sexton 35, 63, 70 Penalties: Sexton 19 England………………………….16pts Tries: George […]

Magnificent France run riot to destroy dreadful England

12 March 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN at Twickenham England ………………………… 10pts Tries: Steward 48 Conversions: Smith 49 Penalties: Smith 34 France………………………….. 53pts Tries: Ramos 2, Flament 26, 57, […]

Too much fog to see where we are going

12 March 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The English club game has a great opportunity right now for an urgent overhaul, especially as the […]

Crowley deserves the credit for Azzurri surge

12 March 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN It is a travesty that Italy were fighting to avoid retaining the Wooden Spoon against Wales, because this Azzurri side has galvanised the […]

What’s in this Sunday’s Rugby Paper (03/03/23)

3 March 2023 1 comment

The Six Nations has its second and last weekend off this Saturday and Sunday, but there’s plenty of top class action, exclusive interviews and in-depth […]

Sweeney more of a liability than an asset

26 February 2023 0 comments

SADLY it needs to be realised that the RFU has abandoned its frequently misused historic role as guardian of the game’s best interests. Grassroots rugby […]

Borthwick right to ask for eligibility changes

26 February 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Steve Borthwick has had the guts, and the gumption, to state that the RFU’s ban on selecting […]

French will want all angles covered

26 February 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN The French will be twitchy about any repeat against Scotland in Paris today of the defective TMO process which awarded the James Lowe […]

Urgent problems that RFU needs to address

12 February 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK England go into the second round of this Six Nations as the only team that Italy have […]

Borthwick right to give Farrell chance at 10

12 February 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN Steve Borthwick is paid to make tough calls, and credit to him for grasping the Marcus Smith-Owen Farrell nettle and bringing a halt […]

Farrell doesn’t work at 10

12 February 2023 0 comments

AT last a writer (Nick Cain) has said what I’ve said for the past year: England can’t win with Farrell at 12. He’s not my […]

Dazzling solo try leaves England for dead

5 February 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN AT TWICKENHAM England ……………………….. 23pts Tries: Malins 24, 38; Genge 48 Conversions: Farrell 49 Penalties: Farrell 43, 65 Scotland ……………………… 29pts Tries: […]

Better ways to combat concussion problem

5 February 2023 1 comment

THE RFU’s ill-conceived law trial banning tackles above the waist again highlights the failure of rugby’s administrators to end the injuries crisis threatening the game’s […]

With this record, it’s time Sweeney headed to the exit

5 February 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Bill Sweeney will be looking over his shoulder as the Six Nations gets underway, and with good […]

‘New’ England need to take their chances

29 January 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK A SIX Nations slip-up on home turf to Scotland in his first match as England head coach […]

Time this autocratic RFU is held to account

29 January 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN The warning signs that the RFU’s administrative standards have plumbed the depths became a red flashing light on Friday when senior administrators were […]

RFU has no right to deliver this low blow

22 January 2023 2 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The RFU has just introduced one of the biggest changes to the game in its 152-year history, […]

Season 2 Episode 1 – Picking an England XV with Lewis Moody

10 January 2023 1 comment

Happy new year! The Rugby Paper Podcast is back for its second season, and at the turn of World Cup year, selection questions surround the […]

England need scrum firing on all cylinders

8 January 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Here is a New Year prediction. The scrum will be hugely influential in the 2023 World Cup […]

Time to ban the curse of the caterpillar

8 January 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN The stop-watches are in play with a view to speeding-up the game by putting time limits on goal-kickers, setting scrums, forming lineouts, and […]

Selection maze the big test for Borthwick

23 December 2022 2 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK STEVE Borthwick’s brave new world, launched on Monday when he was confirmed as England’s head coach, faces […]

Episode 44 – The Sackings Special

7 December 2022 0 comments

In a momentous week for home nations rugby, we bring you a special episode of The Rugby Paper Podcast. Host Ollie Little has rapidly assembled […]

South Africa’s power machine crushes England into submission

27 November 2022 0 comments

By NICK CAIN England…………………………. 13pts Tries: Slade 72 Conversions: Farrell 73 Penalties: Farrell 14, 46 South Africa………………… 27pts Tries: Arendse 33, Etzebeth 50 Conversions: de […]

Johnson’s 2003 team better than Eddie’s lot

20 November 2022 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There are those who believe that today’s international players are bigger, better, faster, and more skilful than […]