England should not fear South Africa’s physical but one-dimensional style in World Cup final October 27, 2019 Back in the pool stage, the consensus was that England would be taking the hardest path to the Rugby World Cup final. Finishing top of Pool C meant being in the same side of the draw as New Zealand, the No1 side in the world and winners of the last two tournaments. Now, having overcome [...]
Innovative All Blacks are playing a new ball game with Barrett and Mo’unga on the field October 16, 2019 When Ireland beat New Zealand on a historic night in Dublin just short of a year ago, they looked like being the team to beat at this year’s Rugby World Cup. How quickly things change in sport. On Saturday the pair go head to head in the World Cup quarter-final and it is Ireland who [...]
France will be fired up for England clash despite talk of mutiny October 9, 2019 When France face England at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, there will be more than just a place at the top of Pool C on the line for Les Bleus. They may have been misfiring at this tournament so far, hobbling to a 23-21 victory against Tonga last weekend, but when it comes to [...]
Chris Robshaw on England’s World Cup hopes, dealing with his omission and seeking help from Tony Adams September 18, 2019 The Rugby World Cup is upon us and for most there is an unparalleled excitement that comes with uniting behind a nation in one of sport’s elite tournaments. For Chris Robshaw that will also be true, along with a lingering sense of what might have been after head coach Eddie Jones decided against including the [...]
Ben Spencer’s late call-up for World Cup final raises the stakes after Eddie Jones’ gamble October 28, 2019 Eddie Jones admitted it was a “gamble” back in August and, on the eve of his biggest match as England head coach, the stakes have duly increased. Jones raised some eyebrows when he named only two scrum-halves in his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup and, with Saturday’s final against South Africa on the [...]
Premiership final: Why I’d love to see resurgent Wasps spoil Exeter’s double dream October 23, 2020 If you had to put your mortgage on a team to win the Premiership final then, based on their entire 2019-20 campaign, it would have to be Exeter. The Chiefs proved that they are the best team in Europe by lifting the Champions Cup last weekend. Completing the double with victory over Wasps in Saturday’s [...]
No country for rugby men? How tiki-taka philosophy put Spain on the cusp of Rugby World Cup glory March 15, 2018 Former flanker turned Hollywood star Javier Bardem once described playing rugby in Spain as “like being a bullfighter in Japan”. Despite its proximity to the relative European rugby powerhouses of France and Italy, the sight of a cauliflower-eared back rower in the land of Real Madrid and Barcelona would be as incongruous as a traditionally-clothed [...]
Cazoo, Dettol and Tik Tok: How the pandemic has changed the sport sponsorship landscape March 3, 2021 The pandemic may have halted the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, but in the world of sport sponsorship it has sparked some dramatic moves. New entrants are making major investments while more established sponsors have moved aside to make way. A combination of enforced changes of habit and the uneven nature of Covid-19’s [...]
Coronavirus: ITV shares fall as travel firms pull advertising March 5, 2020 Coronavirus has hurt 2020 demand for ITV advertising as travel operators stopped booking ads with the broadcaster, but it has posted better than expected earnings for 2019. MGM and Universal’s decision yesterday to delay the release of the next James Bond movie, No Time To Die, from April to November due to the coronavirus outbreak, [...]
England’s win over Australia vindicates Eddie Jones as he gets big calls correct October 21, 2019 A number of questions hung over England and Eddie Jones ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia on Saturday. Were they undercooked? Was dropping George Ford a mistake? Were Mako Vunipola and Henry Slade ready to start? Could Owen Farrell be a decisive leader during the heat of battle? All of those questions [...]