England’s survival shows beautiful unpredictability of World Cup rugby October 16, 2023 After this spring’s Six Nations championship, many collectively decided that England would not challenge in this Rugby World Cup and that they could even find themselves dumped out in the group stages. Instead Europe’s fancied teams were Ireland and France. But after Sunday’s 30-24 victory over Fiji in Marseille, and then France’s 29-28 loss to [...]
Farrell deserves more credit from fans, says England coach October 16, 2023 Fans should give England captain Owen Farrell more credit, according to the team’s attack coach Richard Wigglesworth. Fly-half George Ford was dropped to make place for the captain ahead of Sunday’s 30-24 victory over Fiji at the Rugby World Cup to much fan criticism. “We are lucky to have Owen. As ever, the tallest trees [...]
Steve Borthwick hits back at England critics after Rugby World Cup thriller with Fiji October 15, 2023 Steve Borthwick said his players had been written off before their Rugby World Cup run.
Rugby World Cup: Ireland go from ‘Zombie’ to the ghost of tournaments past October 15, 2023 Ireland and Johnny Sexton received a brutal lesson from New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.
Ireland will beat New Zealand and finally win World Cup knockout October 14, 2023 The pool stage of this Rugby World Cup provided some corking matches for fans new and old to get their teeth into, and I expect all four quarter-finals this weekend to be equally show-stopping. The big game of the weekend for me sees Ireland take on New Zealand on Saturday night in Paris. It’s hard [...]
France are hosts with most, rugby needs them to succeed October 13, 2023 As it stands, prior to this year’s tournament, there’s a 33.33 per cent recurring chance of lifting the World Cup as competition hosts. New Zealand did it at Eden Park in 1987 as co-hosts, South Africa achieved the feat at Ellis Park in 1995 and the All Blacks ensured they’d never lost a home final [...]
Premiership needs stability to build on competitive foundations October 13, 2023 Though there are fears of the Premiership’s return on Friday being overshadowed by the World Cup quarter-finals, it is good to see the domestic season back again. Saracens will go in as favourites because they are the holders but each squad seem to have developed well in the long off-season that a World Cup year [...]
Best places in London to watch the Rugby World Cup October 12, 2023 The Rugby World Cup has reached the knockout stages, with just eight teams remaining in the hunt for the William Webb Ellis Cup. We’ve scouted out the best spots in London to watch the four quarter-finals, and here’s what we have found. Sound Cafe, Marble Arch Located within the Cumberland Hotel, Sound Cafe is actually [...]
Oxford v Cambridge Varsity Matches LEAVE Twickenham October 12, 2023 The iconic Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity Matches have are to move away from Twickenham Stadium after 100 years to head to north London. Saracens‘ StoneX stadium will play host to the famous university rugby match, which has seen a male and female double-header in recent seasons. But the move away from the home of English [...]
Ford to be dropped with Smith at No15 for England quarter-final October 11, 2023 George Ford is set to be dropped from the England starting XV as Steve Borthwick’s looks to return to play-maker Owen Farrell on Sunday against Fiji. The Sale Sharks No10 started three of England’s four pool stage games at the Rugby World Cup – versus Argentina, Japan and Samoa – but is set to be [...]