Alex Goode, the European Player of the Year, believes the constant criticism and claims of salary cap breaches has helped turn Saracens into triple Heineken Cup champions. Saracens defeated Leinster 20-10 in Newcastle, a win that confirmed their status as the best club team in Europe and Goode’s personal award only increased questions about why Read More …
Zinzan Brooke believes Joe Cokanasiga has the talent to become a force for England at the World Cup but does not deserve to be compared to Jonah Lomu, his former All Blacks team mate. Brooke was at Twickenham to see Cokanasiga help England defeat Italy and although the Bath wing failed to get on the Read More …
England head coach Eddie Jones has finally accepted that Maro Itoje needs to be allowed to fully recover from the knee injury that has ruled him out of all but one of England’s Six Nations matches with the Saracens lock sent back to his club in the build up to Saturday’s clash with Scotland at Read More …
Former captain Serge Betsen admits he has already ripped up his wish-list for France in this season’s Six Nations following losses to Wales and England and is urging coach Jacques Brunel to put his faith in the young players who refused to capitulate during the Twickenham debacle. France’s thumping 44-8 loss to England followed their Read More …
For 51 minutes England inflicted what must have felt like death by a thousands kicks for France. Every time England put boot to ball it exposed the French defence and brought yet more points in what was a clinical application of a simple but highly effective game plan. The French turned up at Twickenham with Read More …
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has ruled himself out of taking charge of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2021. Schmidt and Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, have made it clear they will both be taking a break from rugby after the World Cup in Japan and have not lined up Read More …
Four Tongan internationals headed by ex-Northampton prop Soane Tonga’uhia are powering a small Bedfordshire club towards the second division of English rugby – one step away from the Gallagher Premiership. Ampthill RFC are one point clear in National Division One and if they can maintain their form, promotion to the English championship will see the Read More …
Courtney Lawes has admitted that “maybe I need to take a step” after being controversially penalised for offside which ruled out Sam Underhill’s solo try that would have given England victory over New Zealand. Instead, television match official Marius Jonker ruled Lawes had come up too quickly on New Zealand scrum half TJ Perenara to Read More …
The All Blacks are to pay homage to their country’s most famous rugby jersey which Saracens owner Nigel Wray paid £180,000 to buy and is on display at Twickenham’s World Rugby Museum in the build-up to Saturday’s test with England. Wray has temporarily loaned the jersey Dave Gallagher, captain of the legendary 1905 “Originals” wore Read More …
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has revealed his close relationship with England opposite number Eddie Jones and says the pair speak “probably every second week”. England will face New Zealand for the first time in four years at Twickenham on Saturday, with Hansen dismissing suggestions Jones is under severe pressure in his head coach role. Read More …
