CATEGORIES

Gatland's Lions get ready for Bok-lash

WARREN Gatland warned his Lions of a major Bok-lash after the tourists savored first blood in a bruising and brutal Cape Town battle.

Fighting talk from Galthie should put fear in rivals

It should come as precisely no surprise that France head coach Fabien Galthie reckons he knows 90 per cent of his squad for the next World Cup, two years before the first match kicks off.

All Blacks tell Wales: We're still coming OK

WALES’ money-spinning clash against the All Blacks will go ahead at the end of October after the New Zealand union said they would not be following the country’s Rugby League side which cited Covid fears when last week pulling out of the autumn World Cup in England along with Australia.

Rory's determined to seize his new chance

RORY Jennings says he is determined to make a success of his second proper crack at the Premiership, nearly five years on from his last competitive appearance for Bath.

Poite was plain wrong, there is no justification

Whether Ken Owens takes a nightly double knee to give The Almighty thanks for rather more than just another day is, of course, his business and his alone.

Folau looks set to cause more havoc off the pitch

Precious few players are described as “undroppable” a mere half an hour into their Test careers, but no one ever mistook Israel Folau for Joe Ordinary.

Versatile Wyles and Goode show merit of ‘Swiss Knife' ability

THE question of what selection policy to take with multi-positional players like Elliot Daly is not a one-size-fits-all issue according to Kevin Sorrell.

Injury count suggests England are too brutal

If you’re a Premiership supporter, what are your feelings when one of your club’s players gets injured in an England training camp? It has always happened and you’ll have experienced the disappointment when the news breaks. The latest players to be injured in camp are Worcester’s Ted Hill and Bath’s Josh McNally.

Clash of the gladiators thrills the World Cup

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

Joe and Danny have last tango at Twickers

JOE Marler fears that Harlequins stunning victory in the Premiership final will be the last dance he enjoys with Danny Care.

Scrum power keeps the Grand Slam alive

ENGLAND remain on course for the Grand Slam after ending Ireland’s run at successive championships, thanks largely to a forwards pack who bullied their opponents into submission.

Lions tour should not be going ahead now

While not being as much of an enthusiast for the British & Irish Lions as some, I absolutely understand the attraction of following them across the globe. However, that’s in normal times – in the current circumstances I think the whole endeavour is misguided, bordering on barking mad!

Conor part of Munster legacy with the Lions

From his home by the banks of the broad, majestic Shannon, Keith Wood considers one of the more startling facts about to be woven into Lions’ folklore.

Ireland edge home for World Cup pay-back

THE recent theme of entertaining, high scoring games continued at the Aviva yesterday in a match of sumptuous skills if occasionally sketchy defence in which ultimately Andy Farrell’s side had just too much for the visitors.

Boks must find right balance in back row

Last week Conor Murray described his appointment as British & Irish Lions captain as “unbelievable”. The Ireland and Munster stalwart, and veteran of two previous

Boks unleash flyer Fassi in warm-up win

IT TOOK a while, almost an hour in fact, for the Springbok machine to splutter into life but once it did, it steamrolled Georgia and rumbled to a big win at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.

Warrenball no more as fluid Lions show flair

A RUNAWAY victory against markedly inferior opposition usually offers little value, but for Warren Gatland’s Lions every match in the build-up to the Test series counts.

National Leagues get online show

NATIONAL League rugby is set for its own weekly highlights show, with part of the proceeds generated going back to its 48 member clubs.

I fear it looks quite serious for Leigh

THERE is no other way for me to start other than by wishing Leigh Halfpenny all the best. For his 100th Test to end like that was just so cruel and after just 30 seconds, too.

Is The Rash Of Red Cards Truly Making Game Safer?

Brave boy,” said Ugo Monye, admiringly, as he watched his beloved Harlequins close in on their famous Premiership semi-final victory over Bristol. “Tough boy,” agreed Lawrence Dallaglio, just a little less enthusiastically, being a lifelong Wasp with an axe the size of a guillotine to grind when it comes to the Twickenham set.

Fast Start Keeps England On Track

England will head into next week’s showdown with Ireland with two bonus-point victories in the bag, after coming through unscathed against Scotland.

Quins have taught Eddie a lesson in how to attack

SO a season that started with Eddie Jones arguing it was almost impossible to play attractive attacking rugby under the current laws ended with one of the greatest Cup Finals in Rugby history, let alone Premiership history, and a nation falling back in love with the beautiful game.

Pollard can cement his place as best ever Bok 10

In Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn and Elton Jantjies, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has a set of flyhalves that tick every box. No matter what Warren Gatland throws at him, the hosts of the upcoming Lions series have all bases covered at 10.

Underdogs? Quins roar like big dogs in a classic

WHEN it comes to long runs from the back there is nothing in the annals of English club rugby to match the one that Harlequins made yesterday to become Premiership champions by dethroning Exeter in an epic six tries to five final.

High ball doubt may cost Hogg Lions slot

STUART Hogg’s high points this season in leading Scotland to away victories over France and England in the Six Nations, as well as his two blistering tries against Wales, reaffirmed him as one of the great attacking talents.

No doubt Sarries will get some abuse next season

The totally unsurprising news that Saracens slaughtered Ealing Trailfinders in the two-leg Championship final doesn’t seem to have provoked the strong reaction some might have expected.

Banahan aiming for new life as a golf pro

HAVING played in his first professional golf tournament, recently retired rugby star Matt Banahan admits turning from lock to wing was a far easier transition.

Booth has helped Beard find his consistency and regain Wales slot

Force: Adam Beard playing for Wales in Six Nations

Adam aims to provide spark

ADAM Hastings believes he can take his game to the next level at Gloucester after leaving family life behind in Glasgow to test himself in the Premiership again.

If Ealing Are The Best, What Are The Others Like?

Let’s hope that the members of the RFU Council were watching Saracens annihilate Ealing Trailfinders in the first leg of the Championship final, as the game should have removed any doubts about the need for an extension to the moratorium on promotion and relegation.