CATEGORIES

Lack of relegation is not causing a loss of edge

It’s five weeks since the moratorium on Premiership relegation was announced, and if the doom-mongers were to be believed, some teams would by now be swanning around with their players demonstrating a couldn’t-care-less attitude. We were told that the lack of ‘jeopardy’ would be damaging to the league, and that fans would lose interest, but so far nothing could be further from the truth.

Getting inside head of Gatland not easy

S0 the 2021 Six Nations is all but done and dusted and our thoughts turn afresh to Lions selection regardless of exactly what format that ‘tour’ will take.

Dusautoir feels the pain of World Cup failure

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Premiership's treatment of Lions is a scandal

THE Premiership is on its way to becoming the biggest pariah in Rugby Union. Hallmarks of its blinkered, divisive selfishness, highlighted by its ring-fencing agenda, have surfaced again in its latest fight with the British & Irish Lions.

Lions leave space for Farrell to join the tour

WARREN Gatland has left the door open for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell to join the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa this summer if his international commitments allow.

Maybe clubs are reason England failed, not Eddie

The European Champions Cup has reached the quarter-final stage last weekend with a mixed bag of teams from the three leagues involved.

Massimo was heart and soul of Azzurri

THE death of Massimo Cuttitta earlier this week of Covid-related issues at the age of just 54 was not only very sad in human terms but also a poignant reminder of the quality of player Italy once possessed.

Forget Six Nations form, Itoje can rattle the Boks

WHEN you think of must-go Test Lions for the 2021 series against South Africa, the first forward that comes to mind is Maro Itoje. He will be a cornerstone of the Lions in South Africa, despite not having the best Six Nations in a disappointing England side.

Prince Harry Granted Lood An Exclusive Interview!

Daniel Gallan talks to Sale Sharks lock Lood De Jager about World Cup memories

Ewers gets dogged Exeter over the line

EXETER’S famous determination enabled them to cling on to second place in the Premiership table as they pulled off the great escape after trailing for 75 minutes.

Why should Thorley pay for defending himself?

There is virtually universal support for the current clampdown on tackles involving contact with the head, but events last week must raise questions about whether the disciplinary process in the Premiership is working.

Frazzled Wasps take time out to recharge

IF EVER a game illustrated the contrasting mental states of two sides this was it – Bristol all bustle and resilience, Wasps a depleting force in need of a holiday.

Bath's belief shines through the storm

BATH’S group morale was key as the West Country side produced a superb six-try display to get their third victory from their last four matches to continue their resurgence in form.

Hogg aims to make up for Dublin howler

SCOTLAND and Ireland have become such familiar and feisty foes in recent times – today is their fifth meeting in a little over two years – that the fixture is rarely lacking spice.

Grayson's on target as Saints close it out

SALE dominated Northampton for large chunks of this bitty encounter but it was the home team’s defence and resolution which proved decisive.

I'm backing wonderful Wales all the way in Paris

In my column last week I wrote that George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and the rest of Wales’ dangerous back-three players could cause havoc in the Italian sunshine. So it proved. Italy were as bad as I expected them to be and Wayne Pivac’s side took full advantage to move to within a game of a Grand Slam.

Playmaker Theo eyes long run in the middle

THEO Brophy Clews has banished his injury woe and is ready to deliver on the talent that has long marked him down as a London Irish star of the future.

Stopwatch away! It's quality time that counts

Thanks to the “game clock” and a scrum process best measured in light-years, top-end Rugby Union matches generally last between 85 and 90 minutes – or, to put it another way, slightly longer than an England innings on a dry and dusty turner in India.

Fiji Magic's Everywhere – Except In World Cup

If you were among the sporting soothsayers who foresaw that the current breakdown laws would provoke a health and safety crisis as well as straitjacket the game and that the television match official’s seat might be better occupied by any species of bat, the following prediction will hardly come as a shock.

The chickens are coming home to roost for Eddie

VIVALDI had a thing for the four seasons, and, with England’s 2021 Six Nations campaign looking like a spring shocker, so does this column. While it may seem uncharitable to dissect Eddie Jones’ record by leaving out his turbo-charged first two years in charge, the reality is that in the four seasons from 2018 to 2021, Jones has only a 50 per cent win-loss ratio against the leading sides in the world when England play them in a competitive environment.

They're back – Chiefs smash six of the best

CRISIS? What Crisis? Chiefs hardly looked like a team with major problems as they battered Bath into six-try submission at The Rec.

Joe fronts Quins' bid for Falcons atonement

JOE MARLER leads the Harlequins scrum into battle against Saints’ impressive setpiece with a huge endorsement from forwards coach Jerry Flannery ringing in his ears.

Naulago's hat-trick denies the Warriors

SIVA Naulago scored a hat-trick of tries to deprive Worcester of a remarkable victory at Sixways.

Lonergan missile torpedoes Rebels

BRUMBIES remain unbeaten in Super Rugby AU after Ryan Lonergan kicked a 55-metre penalty to clinch victory over the Rebels.

World class De Klerk sparks Sharks attack

IF THIS is the season that Sale Sharks finally challenge for the Premiership title, it will be done with a distinctly South African flavour and is likely that Faf de Klerk will play a pivotal role.

Gloucester character survives red card

GLOUCESTER produced a fine performance while being down to 14 men for nearly an hour to get their first back-to-back win of the season and lift themselves off the foot of the table.

Ealing believe it's mission possible

CRAIG HAMPSON says Ealing Trailfinders go into the Championship with “no fear” as they set out to try and upset the odds and beat Saracens to promotion to the Premiership.

Guildford make history in Daily Mail U15 Cup

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools

Marquee men mock the salary cap principles

THE Premiership salary cap regulations are one of the biggest cons in sport, despite the claims by Lord Myners that they represent a “gold standard framework”.

Furbank excited to ‘Front up' for Saints

VERSATILE George Furbank leads Northampton into battle from fly-half once again as his side aim to finish ‘Front-up February’ with a flourish.