Ollie Phillips: World Cup fixture cancellation disadvantages Wales but France mutiny can go either way October 10, 2019 Typhoon Hagibis may not have directly affected Wales’s Rugby World Cup fixtures but the tropical cyclone has still managed to leave them at a considerable disadvantage. If, as expected, Wales win their final group match against Uruguay on Sunday they will finish top of Pool D and set up a quarter-final clash with the runner-up [...]
Lawrence Dallaglio: England can benefit from cancelled match and World Rugby not to blame October 10, 2019 As the Rugby World Cup is thrown into turmoil by Typhoon Hagibis, England have fled the eye of the storm. World Rugby’s unprecedented decision to cancel two fixtures in Tokyo and Yokohama that were set to be hit by 100mph winds has ensured England will top their pool ahead of France and likely meet Australia [...]
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 [...]
Scotland firing on all cylinders ahead of Pool A decider with Japan – plus all the permutations October 9, 2019 After a disastrous start to the Rugby World Cup, Scotland appear to have drastically turned their fortunes around. Having looked unconvincing in their opening 27-3 defeat to Ireland, they have not conceded a single point since, beating Samoa 34-0 before thumping Russia 61-0 yesterday. It is the first time they have kept their opponents scoreless [...]
England v France: Should Eddie Jones rotate his squad for Pool C decider? October 8, 2019 Ever since the Rugby World Cup draw was made, England’s final pool game against France has been billed as the decisive fixture in the tournament’s so-called group of death. It will, as widely anticipated, decide who tops the pool, but with both sides having already guaranteed qualification to the knockout phase following wins over Argentina, [...]
England 39-10 Argentina: Ford delivers, substitutes make an impact but Vunipola injury a worry October 6, 2019 Argentina promised a war but in the end it proved to be little more than a skirmish. England are through to the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with a third successive win after seeing off the Pumas 39-10 in Tokyo on Saturday. England will be delighted to have their passage into the knockout stages [...]
Ollie Phillips: Argentina are a potential banana skin, but exactly the kind of test England need October 3, 2019 England are in good form and their World Cup has been wholly positive so far, but Saturday’s game against Argentina definitely represents a banana skin. Eddie Jones’s side have enjoyed plain sailing in Pool C, comfortably beating Tonga and the USA, and on paper the No10-ranked team should be no different. However, they haven’t been [...]
England v Argentina preview: Forward-thinking but one-dimensional Pumas pose set piece threat October 2, 2019 The stage is set and England know exactly what to expect from Argentina in Tokyo on Saturday. The significance for the Pumas is clear. They need to do what they haven’t done in the last nine meetings and 10 years: beat England. Do that and their narrow opening 23-21 World Cup defeat by France might [...]
Australia 25-29 Wales: Gatland’s side dig deep to hold onto “massive” win and determine their own World Cup pathway September 29, 2019 As a head coach in a long tournament it is down to you to keep your players focused on what’s in front. Wins are enjoyed, of course, but they should always be followed by assertions that more tests await. After Wales’s hard-fought Rugby World Cup win over Australia, Warren Gatland followed the ascribed path of [...]
England 45-7 United States: George Ford stars as Red Rose click into gear in Kobe heat September 26, 2019 After their meek opener against Tonga, today’s World Cup game with the USA was an opportunity for all of England’s players, but none more so than George Ford. Named captain by Eddie Jones, the Leicester Tigers fly-half was handed responsibility for leading the side, directing traffic and implementing tactics. He grabbed the chance with both [...]