AIG and the All Blacks brand: How New Zealand dominates rugby on and off the pitch September 25, 2015 New Zealand’s opening two wins over Argentina and Namibia at the World Cup will not rank particularly high in the annals of the country’s proud rugby history. Yet even in what was a tense and at times ill-disciplined 26-16 victory over Argentina on Sunday, there was enough in the All Blacks’ opening performance to understand [...]
Rugby Comment: Question marks remain but Sam can be the man September 25, 2015 I’M not surprised that Stuart Lancaster has gone with Owen Farrell and Sam Burgess at 10 and 12 for England against Wales on Saturday. The most important thing for this match is to have a very, very strong defensive line. Wales will want to get over the gainline and those two probably won’t let them. [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Wales have not broken rules, fumes Warren Gatland September 25, 2015 Wales coach Warren Gatland has issued a robust rebuttal to suggestions of cheating after England’s Pool A rivals became embroiled in a row involving the use of non-World Cup squad players. Governing body World Rugby slapped Wales with an official warning for using players outside of their nominated 31-man party during a training session on [...]
Rugby World Cup: New Zealand cruise past plucky Namibia September 24, 2015 Defending champions New Zealand ran in nine tries to dispatch a truculent Namibia and maintain their winning start to the Rugby World Cup at the Olympic Stadium last night. Full-back Nehe Milner-Skudder dotted down twice as the All Blacks crossed the line five times before the break, while No8 Victor Vito, centre Malakai Fekitoa [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Once bitten twice try for South Africa in open Samoan encounter September 24, 2015 Last Saturday afternoon, South Africa were on the wrong end of arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history, losing 34-32 to minnows Japan. Tomorrow’s opponents, Samoa, played the part of underdogs in another contender for that crown when, as Western Samoa in 1991, they overturned Wales to stun the sport. They’re much more competitive [...]
Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess feels ready to start England’s crunch Group of Death match against Wales September 24, 2015 England rookie Sam Burgess insists he unfazed by being thrust into the starting line-up for Saturday's pivotal Rugby World Cup fixture against Wales at Twickenham. The rugby league convert, 26, has just three caps to his name since switching codes last year but is set to form an untried centre combination with Brad Barritt for the Pool [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England v Wales Group A clash previewed in seven stats September 24, 2015 England face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday in a crunch Group A tie that could either lift or irrevocably damage both sides' World Cup campaigns. England coach Stuart Lancaster has made the bold call to pick union rookie Sam Burgess at inside centre, while Gatland has made nine changes to the side that destroyed Uruguay last [...]
England v Wales: Hosts willing to thrust Sam Burgess into frontline Rugby World Cup action after Jonathan Joseph struck by injury September 24, 2015 England are ready to thrust international rookie Sam Burgess into frontline Rugby World Cup action against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday should centre Jonathan Joseph fail to recover from a chest injury, according to backs coach Andy Farrell. Joseph, who scored four tries during this year’s Six Nations, has emerged as an injury doubt for [...]
Rugby World Cup: Laidlaw: More to come from Scots September 24, 2015 SCOTLAND 45 JAPAN 10 SCOTLAND skipper Greg Laidlaw insisted that his side are primed for a sustained Rugby World Cup charge after opening their tournament with a bonus-point victory against surprise package Japan in Gloucester yesterday. Four successful penalties from Laidlaw, who ended the clash with 20 points to his name, helped the Scots to [...]
Rugby World Cup: Wales have plans to combat rookie Burgess, says Howley September 23, 2015 Wales have hatched a plan to combat the unchartered threat posed by England rookie Sam Burgess when the two sides meet in Saturday’s pivotal Rugby World Cup clash at Twickenham, according to attack coach Rob Howley. Rugby league convert Burgess is set to replace the injured Jonathan Joseph in the crucial Pool A showdown despite [...]