Welcome to the engine room, where the men who generate the heat come in a range of shapes, sizes and sensibilities. There is a good reason why most right-thinking rugby folk identify Martin Johnson and John Eales as their dream partnership at Nos 4 and 5: Eales, the celestial light of Wallaby rugby, performing technical and athletic feats beyond the imagining of any of his peers; Johnson, the most successful of Red Rose captains, operating best under cover of darkness, for reasons not difficult to understand.
Judging by events in Dublin last weekend, where another Australian second-rower, Will Skelton, delivered the latest in a line of big-occasion masterclasses, the forthcoming World Cup may well be decided on the quality of performance in the locking department. Run an eye over the cast list and you’ll get the picture: Maro Itoje, Eben Etzebeth, Brodie Retallick, Cameron Woki, Tadhg Beirne…when the really big issues are up for debate, the arguments put forward by these people will be every bit as powerful as those tabled by Antoine Dupont, Cheslin Kolbe and Ardie Savea.
Esta historia es de la edición May 28, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 28, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.