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 [...]
Rugby World Cup: Australia shrug off failure to keep pace with Pool A rivals September 23, 2015 Australia coach Michael Cheika was unperturbed by his side’s failure to seize a bonus point after they made stuttering start to their Rugby World Cup campaign against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium yesterday. The Wallabies stormed into the ascendency courtesy of two first-half tries from No8 David Pocock, while prop Sekope Kepu also touched [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Tube travel busier than usual at Bank, Liverpool Street, Stratford and on Central, Jubilee and DLR lines as fans head to Queen Elizabeth stadium for France Romania game September 23, 2015 Commuters heading home this evening may be in for a surprise. Bank, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf stations, along with the Central, Jubilee, DLR and Overground lines will be busier than usual because of the Rugby World Cup. Transport for London (TfL) is warning passengers to expect more crowded trains and stations as fans head [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England women’s team players Fiona Pocock and Vicky Fleetwood to give Canary Wharfers a gruelling training session September 23, 2015 The Rugby World Cup isn’t just about Stuart Lancaster’s 31-man England squad. The nation's women's rugby players Fiona Pocock and Vicky Fleetwood are heading to Canary Wharf today to show workers how it’s done with a training session at Reebok Sports Club ahead of the gym’s own five-a-side tournament next month. So far JP Morgan and [...]
Australia skipper Stephen Moore keen for Wallabies to shrug off Rugby World Cup cabin fever September 22, 2015 Australia skipper Stephen Moore believes the competitive nature of the opening Rugby World Cup jousts have increased the anticipation for England’s Pool A rivals ahead of their tournament bow against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium. The Wallabies can deal a huge blow to Fiji’s World Cup hopes with a second successive defeat after the Pacific [...]