Rugby World Cup notes: Australia’s Reece Hodge hit with ban while USA eye England upset September 25, 2019 Australia wing Reece Hodge will miss the remainder of his country’s pool games after receiving a three-game ban for his no-arm tackle on Peceli Yato in their win over Fiji. The dangerous challenge went unpunished at the time but was deemed worthy of a red card retrospectively. It means Hodge will not be involved in [...]
England’s game against USA is a chance for fringe players to impress September 25, 2019 The fact Eddie Jones can make 10 changes to his starting XV to face the USA and still put out a team full of quality players speaks volumes for England’s squad depth. It is a side filled with international experience despite the changes and Dan Cole will come in to earn his 91st cap, tying [...]
USA hoping to make England sweat in humid encounter as number of familiar faces line up against Eddie Jones’s side September 25, 2019 England may be looking to use Thursday’s match with the USA to rotate players but for the Americans, this will be their opening match at the Rugby World Cup and a rare opportunity to test themselves against the very best. Ranked 13th in the world, a good performance from the Eagles in Japan is seen [...]
Opportunity knocks for Saracens back-row duo Andy Christie and Sean Reffell with stars away at Rugby World Cup September 24, 2019 While the eyes of the rugby world are on Japan, the new domestic season has quietly begun back here in England. The Premiership Rugby Cup, brought forward due to the World Cup and the resulting delayed start of the Premiership, got underway last weekend. And while the usual stars of the domestic stage are halfway [...]
England kick way to Tonga win in World Cup opener but errors suggest work to be done still September 22, 2019 If there was any doubt as to why England leant heavily on their kicking game on Sunday, it quickly became apparent from the physical might that Tonga provided in their Rugby World Cup opener in Japan. Early on in England’s victory, while the scores were still level, Tonga flanker Zane Kapeli collided with Billy Vunipola [...]
Rugby World Cup notes: Scotland face battle to progress as Fiji fall to foul play September 22, 2019 Ireland’s 27-3 demolition of Scotland on Sunday has put them on course to top Pool A and set up a likely quarter-final with South Africa, following the Springboks’ defeat to New Zealand. Both groups have had potentially decisive opening matches at this Rugby World Cup, although Scotland now face a challenge to make the knockout [...]
New Zealand and South Africa will be the main contenders at an evenly poised Rugby World Cup – and this weekend’s match could be crucial September 19, 2019 This is one of the most evenly poised Rugby World Cups in a long time. Previously, New Zealand have been outright favourites, but the once-dominant force have looked fallible during the last 12 months. England, Wales and Ireland have all run the All Blacks close or beaten them, while they also lost to Australia and [...]
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 [...]
South Africa could spring a surprise in World Cup opener against New Zealand September 17, 2019 The Rugby World Cup may get under way on Friday when hosts Japan face Russia but the tournament will not fully ignite until a day later when the giants of New Zealand and South Africa collide in Yokohama. It is an encounter between two of rugby’s great nations, who have collectively won five of the [...]
Which Premiership clubs will be hardest hit by the Rugby World Cup? September 17, 2019 It is always a special occasion when Bath Rugby play Bristol Bears under the floodlights at Ashton Gate in a West Country derby, even more so when it is the opening fixture of a new Premiership season. On this occasion, however, there will be some notable differences. The Premiership’s opening weekend will take place later [...]