Rugby World Cup 2015: We can cause upset, insists coach John McKee September 30, 2015 Fiji head coach John McKee insists his side are a more potent unit now than when they last faced Wales 10 months ago, a game which saw Warren Gatland’s outfit suffer an almighty scare. The Pacific Islanders lost 17-13 at the Millennium Stadium in November and have previous for dousing the principality’s World Cup hopes, [...]
Rugby World Cup: Will Carling refuses to end England verbal jousting September 29, 2015 Former England captain Will Carling has continued his verbal jousting with the England camp ahead of their must-win clash with Australia on Saturday and reiterated that harsh lessons must be learned quickly. Carling delivered a damning verdict in the wake of England’s 28-25 demise at the hands of Wales on Saturday, in particular accusing head [...]
Rugby World Cup: Australia are underdogs for England clash, insists Michael Cheika September 29, 2015 Australia coach Michael Cheika insists his side are the underdogs for Saturday’s pivotal Pool A clash at Twickenham despite England staring down the barrel of World Cup elimination following their calamitous defeat to Wales. Cheika’s preparations were dealt a blow yesterday after experienced No8 Wycliff Palu and giant second row Will Skelton were ruled out [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England v Australia tickets fetching £4,000 September 29, 2015 Tickets for England's pivotal Rugby World Cup match against Australia on Saturday are fetching a record £4,000 apiece on the re-sale market. The price is a record for seats at any match other than a final, not just in rugby union but across all sports, says re-sale platform Viagogo, where the tickets were sold. England [...]
Rugby has a brilliant, unique brand – it should do more to showcase it at the World Cup September 28, 2015 Three years ago, I was engaged by the RFU to look at their brand identity and it was then that my preconceptions of rugby as a studious game for privileged southerners challenged (I’m originally from the North West of England and a lifelong fan of Everton). But rather than becoming an evangelical convert, my apathy [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England v Australia game is now a final, says Ben Youngs September 27, 2015 Pre-tournament chatter centred on England emulating the World Cup-winning class of 2003, but scrum-half Ben Youngs admits Saturday’s must-win showdown against Australia represents the current vintage’s moment of destiny. England’s 28-25 error-strewn Twickenham surrender to an injury-plagued Wales at the weekend means Stuart Lancaster’s side are running the risk of becoming the first host [...]
England v Wales in Rugby World Cup 2015 thriller: Geoff Parling defends Chris Robshaw penalty call in England defeat September 27, 2015 England skipper Chris Robshaw may live to regret his decision to spurn a late kick at goal which could have levelled matters against Wales on Saturday, but second-row Geoff Parling has pointed the finger elsewhere. Robshaw shouldered responsibility for England opting against a penalty kick with three minutes of their 28-25 demise against Wales remaining, [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Ireland continue flawless start and edge closer to quarter-finals in front of record crowd at Wembley September 27, 2015 Ireland coach Joe Schmidt admits his side’s Rugby World Cup starts now after they chalked up a second successive bonus-point victory against tier-two opponents Romania at Wembley yesterday. Centre Keith Earls touched down twice, equalling Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll’s World Cup tally of seven tries, while wing Tommy Bowe also scored two in front [...]
Rugby World Cup: Cotter revels in Scots’ second-half fightback September 27, 2015 SCOTLAND 39 USA 16 SCOTLAND coach Vern Cotter hailed his side’s ability to conjure victory from the threat of defeat after the Dark Blues orchestrated a second-half fightback against the United States at Elland Road yesterday. The Americans led 13-6 at half-time courtesy of a try from prop Titi Lamositele – the first time the [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Injury-hit Wales are not thinking about lifting trophy yet, says George North September 27, 2015 Wales wing George North insists they have spent little time savouring Saturday’s 28-25 World Cup win over England at Twickenham. North admits that upsetting the tournament hosts brought Warren Gatland’s injury-hit squad huge satisfaction but emphasised that they would not take stock – or contemplate their chances of lifting the trophy – until they have [...]