All Blacks legend TJ Perenara has come clean on his decision to use his final haka for New Zealand to make a big statement on the nation’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill.
Borthwick’s new England are stuck in a time warp with few signs of change | Gerard Meagher
Morale-boosting win over Japan cannot conceal issues facing a coach who could be running out of time
As is standard practice, after one last night together, perhaps sharing a collective sigh of relief at ending their losing streak against Japan, England’s players have returned to their clubs. Less common is that the coaches do so too but Joe El-Abd’s Oyonnax are currently third bottom of the French second division and needs must.
That El-Abd will spend most of the next two months in the foothills of the Jura mountains as part of his job-share arrangement is, to borrow a favourite phrase of the Rugby Football Union, suboptimal. Not least because, after the nine-try win over Japan, the captain Jamie George acknowledged what has been obvious to most observers – that England’s defence, nicknamed “the Hammer”, is their biggest work-on. George reckons it is 80% of the way there, but there has been a significant step backwards since Felix Jones was consigned to video analysis purgatory, running hard drives of information across the Irish sea according to Steve Borthwick, as he sees out his notice.
Continue reading...Wales working hard on journey
James Botham is ready to work hard, improve and set new goals for the Welsh team as they prepare to head into the Guinness Six Nations in January after gaining more experience as a squad in the Autumn Nations Series. The Cardiff Rugby flanker put in a huge shift throughout the 80 minutes that also […]
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McBryde steers RGC to SRC victory over Swansea
RGC made it four wins on the spin at Parc Eirias with a Billy McBryde inspired victory over bottom side Swansea in Super Rygbi Cymru. The former Wales U20 outside half pulled the strings for the Gogs as he ran in a try, kicked two conversions as well as landing five penalties for a 24-point […]
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Titcombe puts the boot into Bridgend to earn Quins a win
Carmarthen Quins director of rugby Steff Thomas was pleased to see his side break their win duck away from home ahead of a testing month. The Quins’ 35-29 bonus-point triumph at Bridgend Ravens was their fourth win in Super Rygbi Cymru this season – but their first away from Carmarthen Park. It was something they had […]
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Autumn learnings will be taken into Six Nations
Warren Gatland is confident that his players will have learned lessons from their defeat to South Africa they will be able to take forward into the Guinness Six Nations in the New Year. Dewi Lake’s side had the final word in the 45-12 defeat in their final game of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series when […]
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WRU turnover increases despite ‘challenging year’ for ‘future-focussed’ new CEO
Group Chief Executive Abi Tierney has told the Welsh Rugby Union’s member clubs in the latest annual report ahead of the Annual General Meeting that turnover has increased to £102.7m (2023: £97.9m) during the last financial year and that investments into the game at large totalled £60.4m. The Group’s operating profit before distributions decreased slightly […]
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Grand Slam dream ends: Suaalii hurt as ravaged Wallabies downed by Scotland
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu scored a try against the land of his birth in a 27-13 win over Australia at Murrayfield on Sunday that dashed the Wallabies’ dream of a Grand Slam.
England 59-14 Japan: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened
England eased to a win over Japan to end their losing run
9 mins. The first bit of shape from England has Slade firing a kick in the left corner over the head of Osada, the ball is cleared to touch, but it simply invites the home side back at them. Smith calls a pattern off the lineout via an angled Lawrence run who finds Earl to go over under the posts. A very neat and tidy try.
Smith adds two.
Continue reading...Reality check of Scotland defeat brings resurgent Wallabies back to earth | Daniel Gallan
Excitement and optimism abounded after two statement wins but result shows Schmidt’s work is just starting out
It had been a fortnight of razzle-dazzle and eye-catching headlines. Offloads and sidesteps, pyrotechnics and sliding tries in the corner had filled highlights reels and provided content for podcasts and think-pieces. There wasn’t a spare seat on the bandwagon. The hype train was chugging along at full throttle. Everyone wanted to know: Were the Wallabies back?
This was the reality check that Australian rugby needed. Because for all their brilliance in their record wins in London and Cardiff, they were handed a lesson here in Edinburgh. This 27-13 defeat serves as a timely reminder that for all the positivity that has been accrued this autumn, there are still more pressing questions that need answering.
Continue reading...Scotland 27-13 Australia: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened
Sione Tuipulotu helped halt Australia’s autumn resurgence as the Scotland captain scored the opening try in an impressive 27-13 triumph
“Gervase Greene here in (very) early-morning Sydney, finding myself in the weird situation of hoping a rampant Wallabies can offset the national shame of our aged and hapless cricket team being trounced in the Perth Test. You’ll appreciate this is not a sentence we have had cause to utter in several decades…”
4 mins. A big clearing kick from Kinghorn forces Wright to find touch in his own half. The Scotland lineout is good, but as Russell looks to get the attack going the ball is spilled forward by Jones in midfield.
Continue reading...‘We let him get away’: Aussie exile who can come back to haunt Wallabies
Sione Tuipulotu feels “I am where I’m supposed to be” as he prepares to captain Scotland against his native Australia in a November rugby international at Murrayfield on Sunday.
RFU accused of betraying game over Premiership promotion criteria
- Former England back hits out at governing body
- Simon Halliday: ‘Clubs have been stalled and misled’
Top officials at the Rugby Football Union have been accused of betraying and misleading the game by the former England international who has been helping to negotiate the sport’s future below the Premiership. Simon Halliday, part of England’s 1992 Five Nations grand slam-winning side, has also called for a review into the “significant” failings of some RFU executive directors.
Halliday, who was chair of European Professional Club Rugby for seven years until 2021, has latterly been representing Championship clubs seeking greater funding and firm guarantees from the RFU over promotion and relegation. In an excoriating letter sent to the RFU’s chair, Tom Ilube, seen by the Observer, he alleges the existing tier 2 clubs “have been stalled, misled and misinformed” and warns recent poor governance “threatens the game” in England.
Continue reading...Jamie George expects England fans to give Eddie Jones ‘respect he deserves’
- England face Japan and former head coach on Sunday
- Captain says under-fire Jones ‘did brilliant things’ for side
Jamie George expects England supporters to show Eddie Jones the respect he deserves when he makes his first return to Twickenham as an international coach on Sunday.
Jones, who is now with Japan, won three Six Nations titles as England head coach, including the 2016 grand slam, and guided them to the 2019 World Cup final during his seven-year tenure. He won 59 of his 81 Tests, making him the England coach with the highest winning percentage.
Continue reading...Wales 12-45 South Africa: Autumn Nations Series – as it happened
South Africa score seven tries in comfortable win that consigns Wales to a 12th straight defeat.
Tell you what, that was a moving rendention of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
No matter the context, the Welsh know how to back their boys. Tears in the eyes of Lake and Dyer. If they can bring that to the pitch we might have a game.
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