Professional game is fast losing its soul

SO there I was last Sunday night at a deserted Haywards Heath Hospital – and that is another story – and suddenly I was besieged by what I can only describe as May Day calls from three of rugby’s great and good. It was like sitting in the confession box, sworn to secrecy while listening to everybody’s intimate but previously unthinkable thoughts.

Joyce hits hat-trick but perfect Quins power on

A RAMPANT second-half showing from Harlequins kept their perfect record intact, clinching a seventh consecutive bonus-point win.

Morale-boosting finish to Wayne's annus horribilis

SO that’s the end of 2020 for Wales. I think most people will be glad to see the back of this year after it has been dominated by Covid-19 and I’m sure Wayne Pivac and his team will feel the same.

Have World Rugby the wit to save our game?

There are worrying numbers of lifelong rugby aficionados out there who believe the northern hemisphere game has lost its bite and are losing patience with its efforts to gum the audience into submission.

Cropper's coming, but not just yet says Deano

NEWCASTLE continue to defy the pundits and thoroughly deserved this win over a flat and depleted Wasps team.

Evans aims to put on a variety show for the fans

AMBITIOUS fly-half Lloyd Evans says Gloucester will happily eschew a slavish kicking game if his side keep racking up thrilling victories like last week’s over Wasps.

England must score four tries against French 2nds

THERE is always a danger in making too many changes at the international level and still expecting a team to function smoothly.

Bath weather fly-half storm to canter home

A MUSCULAR display by the Bath pack laid the foundations for a bonus-point win that got the West Country side’s season up and running.

France Still Lack Shape To Conquer The World

I Do not see France as the best side in the 2020 Six Nations, mainly because England’s wins over Wales and Ireland were bigger in terms of team performances. By comparison, France are still a side relying on individuals to produce moments of magic to win matches, rather than team-work.

Flood's Late Winner Nicks It For Falcons

TOBY Flood scored a match-winning try in added time to secure Falcons’ second win on the trot to start the new season.

Scott wants to see Wales' nasty side

SCOTT Quinnell has described Wayne Pivac’s Wales as “too nice” and told the side to quickly find a hard edge or risk sliding further down World Rugby’s rankings.

Safety-first France book place in final

AN experimental France side ran in five tries against a dogged Italy in Paris to book their place in the Autumn Nations Cup final against England at Twickenham next weekend

Please can we have more Ali and less Mayweather

FOR someone like me who watches boxing occasionally, I do it for the attacking boxers. It’s not that I don’t appreciate great defensive boxers and counter-punchers like Floyd Mayweather, but Mohammed Ali was always the main attraction for me.

The control freaks will stifle rugby fans' interest

“Borthwick also appeared to have a problem answering questions from the media”

Dominici, so strong on pitch, so fragile off

“‘Domi’ had been fighting his demons virtually since childhood”

Cole relying on Wiggy to drive Tigers standards

LEICESTER prop Dan Cole is backing veteran scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth to help his side surge to their best Premiership start in five years.

Championship consider return to playoff system

NOTTINGHAM chairman Alistair Bow says he would welcome plans for a shorter, conference-based Championship season with the title decided by play-offs.

The Lone Ranger rides again with Gorgadze

Watching Beka Gorgadze play England and Wales on his own was an interesting experience, the young Georgian No.8’s carrying and tackling and organising and all-round stand-up-to-be-countedness confirming him as a back rower of undisputed international quality. Which is good news for Georgia. One down, just the 14 to go.

Now We Must Up Our Game For England

Well it was a win and a win is what Wales will take right now. It would have been unthinkable to lose to Georgia and thankfully that fate was avoided.

Bird's-Eye View From The Old South Stand

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

Kepu's hungry to tick that final box

DANIEL GALLAN finds out what keeps Wallaby great Sekope Kepu motivated

Much improved, but Italy can't stop Scots

THE Scotland bandwagon continued to gather pace with a fifth consecutive win but this will count as one of their harder fought triumphs over an Italian side who hinted at better times ahead.

Red Roses on top of the world after France win

THE RED Roses got their 2020 Autumn Internationals off to winning ways with a powerful showing against France in Grenoble.

Lewies will lean on Quins leaders to drive title bid

WITH few Test call-ups hampering preparations, new Harlequins captain Stephan Lewies believes a fast start will underpin a charge towards the top four.

Clermont shock call for Cov's No10 Rory

RORY Jennings admits he can’t believe his luck after signing for Clermont Auvergne, calling his surprise move to the two-time Top 14 champions “a great honour”.

This dash for cash could end in a crash

If you fancy undertaking a basic English language challenge this Sunday morning – it really shouldn’t take long, so you won’t miss church – rearrange the following words to make a well-known phrase or saying:

Big Billy was like a pig in muck again

I suspect most of us could have written the match report for England v Georgia on Friday morning over a cup of coffee. You didn’t need to be Mystic Meg.

Ask Lipman if red cards are necessary safeguards

Last weekend’s Bledisloe 4 match between the Wallabies and All Blacks was a cracker, and featured two red cards, one for each side.

That All Black axe is sharpening its blade

It seemed like a joke worth telling. “What’s the difference between the All Blacks and an arsonist?”, your columnist asked the presenter of a New Zealand radio sports show in the dying weeks of 1998. “Not a clue,” came the reply. “Well…no arsonist would ever lose his last five matches.”

Star-maker Ioan's time with Wales must come

There used to be a time when Wales led the world in pioneering coaches, when Carwyn James, Clive Rowlands and Ray Williams changed the mentality of Test rugby.