All Blacks Give Proof They're Still The Boss

New Zealand posted notice that their bid for a third successive World Cup title is alive and well by ruthlessly seeing off a South African side predicted to be their main challengers.

England Go Numb as the Big Freeze Strikes Again

From NICK CAIN at the Aviva Stadium SEIZE the day? Not a chance, because on far too many occasions in this potentially epochmaking match England could not even catch the ball.

Farrell's Signature Is Worth Weight In Gold

OWEN Farrell’s statement of intent by signing a five-year contract at Saracens will ensure the rest of the club’s highly prized stars stay put, according to recently retired flanker Will Fraser.  

Daly Has The Towering Talent To Lift Wasps To Title

Daly Has The Towering Talent To Lift Wasps To Title

Gloucester Battered By Quins' Storm Troopers

WE HAD thunder and lightning on and off the field for 20 minutes at the Stoop yesterday which was more than enough for Quins to seize this game and claim a morale restoring victory after the disappointment of defeat against London Irish first time out.

Sharks Go Wonky In The Lineout To Hand It To Falcons

FOR ALL the zip and zest of the previous weekend, where attacking rugby thrived and defences were deemed surplus, this brought the Premiership back down to earth with a juddering halt.  

Dan's A Big Loss But Ospreys Do Have Sam

Dan's A Big Loss But Ospreys Do Have Sam

Henson On Target But Dragons Fade

EDINBURGH head coach Richard Cockerill insists there is a lot more to come from his side after their bonus point victory over the Dragons on Friday night.

Still Time For Yarde To Turn His Image Around At Sale

Marland Yarde has got to play at a club where he fits in and feels he can go about making the most of his ability in the right way, and, hopefully, his move to Sale Sharks will do that for him. There seems to have been some kind of communications breakdown between him and Harlequins this season, with the result that he has not lived up to the demands of the culture at The Stoop.

Tonga First Up For Jones' Ould-be World Beaters

ENGLAND’S opening Pool C game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan will be against Tonga in Sapporo on September 22.

Haskell-Marler Spat Shows Refs Need Help

Haskell-Marler Spat Shows Refs Need Help

Quins' Fans Cry Foul As Yarde Takes A Late Hit

Quins' Fans Cry Foul As Yarde Takes A Late Hit

Snubbed Wilson Shows Eddie What He's Missing

Snubbed Wilson Shows Eddie What He's Missing

Cipriani Injury Will Not Affect Wasps' Focus

Cipriani Injury Will Not Affect Wasps' Focus

Connacht Collared By Two-Try Halaholo

Connacht Collared By Two-Try Halaholo

Cook's Boiled Down To Find His Fighting Weight

Cook's Boiled Down To Find His Fighting Weight

I Wouldn't Ask Nowell To Play Outside Centre, Eddie

IT is interesting that Jack Nowell is now being talked about by Eddie Jones as an outside-centre, especially as he still has Henry Slade and Alex Lozowski in the England squad. The England coach also has Jonathan Joseph and Elliot Daly as main options at 13, and Owen Farrell at inside-centre.

Tipuric Holds Key To Wales Success

I WAS delighted to see some of the new names in the Wales squad this week, but it’s a more familiar face who I’m looking forward to seeing most against Scotland a week on Saturday.

Memo To Warren: Let Scarlets Lead Way

IN February 2008 I was part of a Wales side which went to Twickenham and beat England in the opening game of that year’s Six Nations.

Ashton's Alive And Kicking At Full-back

Chris Ashton hasn’t always shown the fancy kicking that helped Toulon secure a bonus-enhanced victory over Bordeaux-Begles yesterday.

My Azzurri Still Have A Few Tricks Warns Mac

LUKE McLEAN looks back at the way Italy bamboozled England last season with a wry smile.

Joseph Must Stop Ambling Through And Get Positive

IF Jonathan Joseph was more penetrative in his running, and making more clean breaks, there would be no discussion about the England 13 shirt because, rather than being ousted by Ben Te’o, he would have made it his own.

Captain Carys Tells Wales To Be Clinical

HANNAH Bluck’s try on debut for Wales helped her side survive a late onslaught from Scotland in a thrilling opening to the 2018 Women's Six Nations.

Edwards Knows How To Win At Twickers

Shaun Edwards has been in the habit of cleaning up at Twickenham ever since his Wigan team made light work of what remained of rugby’s Berlin Wall. Winning the Middlesex Sevens more than 20 years ago meant more than removing what was left of the barricades put up a century earlier with the breakaway of the northern clubs from the RFU over their refusal to allow broken-time payment.

Ireland's Italian Romp Marred By Injury Fears

IRELAND duly accumulated an impressive total against Italy which helped boost their points difference immeasurably – but it came at the cost of two big injuries that could play a big role later in this tournament.

Eddie Was So Right To Moan About Alun Wyn

Eddie Jones’ mission to provide good copy is relentless, and he starred yet again during the week when he had a pop at Alun Wyn Jones. However, he was absolutely on the money, because the Welsh captain clearly overstepped the mark when he planted his size 12 boot in front of the ball to prevent Finn Russell taking a conversion.

Ackermann: Now Let's Beat Our Travel Bug

GLOUCESTER preserved their 100 percent home Premiership record – but head coach Johan Ackermann immediately insisted that his side need to become winners on the road as well as at home.

Magnificent Seven Of Wigan Make Their Mark

Wigan won the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley for the eighth time in a row on Saturday April 29, 1995. Four months later Rugby Union embraced professionalism on a global scale.

Ford Warns Smith To Get Ready For Target Practice

Ford Warns Smith To Get Ready For Target Practice

Perry: Sooner England Switch Watson To Full-Back The Better

MIKE Brown’s days as England’s first choice full-back are numbered according to Matt Perry, who reckons it is time for Bath and England to stop pussy-footing around and hand Anthony Watson their No.15 jerseys.