Rugby World Cup 2015: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen dares mercurial French to rekindle old flair October 15, 2015 New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has dared rivals France to rediscover their attacking flair when the two sides do battle for a place in the World Cup semi-final at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. There are echoes of the 2007 tournament when France, runners-up in their pool, turned the tables on the much-fancied All Blacks to [...]
Rugby World Cup: Scotland launch robust appeal in aid of banned duo Ross Ford and Jonny Gray October 15, 2015 Scotland have promised a vigorous appeal against the suspensions handed out to forwards Ross Ford and Jonny Gray, which would rule them both out of the remainder of the World Cup. The duo were slapped with three-week bans for their illegal two-man tip-tackle on Samoa flanker Jack Lam, which precludes them from Sunday’s quarter-final clash [...]
Rugby World Cup: Warren Gatland happy to dole out harsh lessons to stoke Welsh pride October 15, 2015 Wales coach Warren Gatland insists that subjecting his players to a brutal review of their failings against Australia will stoke their desire to overpower South Africa in Saturday’s quarter-final. Two-time world champions South Africa will start as favourites against an injury-ravaged Wales, with a showdown with either New Zealand or France the prize on offer for [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015 injuries are a leveller but Ireland should still prevail over Argentina October 15, 2015 The Welsh injury list may be more substantial, but Ireland’s is surely more critical. Against France, talismanic captain Paul O’Connell was stretchered off, while Johnny Sexton limped from the field of play and remains a doubt for Sunday’s clash with Argentina. The back row looks bare too, with freight-train flanker Sean O’Brien banned, [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Investment bank forecasts Wales victory over South Africa in quarter-final – but New Zealand tipped to win tournament October 15, 2015 Wales' squad may be decimated by injuries, but an analyst at investment bank Macquarie has crunched the numbers and still sees Warren Gatland's men beating the Springboks in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Yet they will then be beaten by New Zealand in the semi-final, according to Macquarie, who predict the All Blacks to lift their [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Scotland fired up for quarter-final with Australia in tribute to banned duo October 15, 2015 Scotland forward Josh Strauss insists the suspension of team-mates Ross Ford and Jonny Gray has enraged the remainder of Vern Cotter’s squad ahead of their World Cup quarter final against Australia on Sunday. The Dark Blues duo were dealt the devastating blow on Tuesday evening that their tournament was over after being slapped with a three-week [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015 fixtures: Double blow for Ireland while skipper Paul O’Connell remains major doubt October 12, 2015 Ireland have suffered a double blow ahead of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina after flanker Peter O’Mahony was ruled out of the tournament with injury and Sean O’Brien was cited for striking. Munster’s O’Mahony had to be withdrawn 14 minutes into the second half of Ireland 24-9 victory over France at the Millennium Stadium [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England head coach Stuart Lancaster not expecting a squad mutiny October 11, 2015 Under-fire England head coach Stuart Lancaster is not expecting his players to twist the knife when rugby bosses kickstart their review into their dismal World Cup showing today. A 60-3 thrashing of minnows Uruguay on Saturday evening did little to lighten the mood surrounding a harrowing World Cup exit which saw England become the first [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Skipper Paul O’Connell’s tournament in doubt after injuries mar Ireland’s 24-9 victory over France October 11, 2015 Ireland coach Joe Schmidt admitted that skipper Paul O’Connell’s World Cup is in the balance after the influential lock was one of several injuries to mar today’s seismic victory over France which sees his side avoid holders New Zealand in the quarter-final. Leading 9-6 at half-time, second-half tries from full-back Rob Kearney and scrum-half Conor [...]
England v Uruguay: The figures that put the host’s Rugby World Cup 2015 failure in damning perspective October 10, 2015 England could rack up a record score against the bank managers, civil servants and students of Uruguay tonight and it would do little to raise the gloomy mood surrounding the national team after a calamitous World Cup campaign. Tonight's dead rubber in Manchester will see an exciting England back line featuring Henry Slade, Alex Goode and [...]