Springboks should dismantle England by 20 points in World Cup October 20, 2023 Watching South Africa edge France in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday evening was extraordinary, maybe one of the very best games of oval ball I have ever seen. And I am in no doubt that the Springboks will beat England this weekend, despite my run of poor predictions last week in the quarter-finals. South [...]
England not looking at 2019 final thrashing ahead of Boks semi October 18, 2023 England’s World Cup final defeat to South Africa in 2019 is not motivation for Ollie Chessum with the second-row eager to be part of his side’s semi-final against the Springboks on Saturday. England were beaten 32-12 four years ago in Japan and nine of England’s 23 from that day aren’t in Steve Borthwick’s squad as [...]
Premiership Rugby salary spend hit £100m season before three clubs went bust October 17, 2023 Premiership rugby club salary spending rose to £100m in the season before three clubs folded, the league’s latest report into wages shows. The amount spent on senior salaries saw an increase from £94m in 2020-21 to £100m in 2021-22 in the latest figures released today by Premiership Rugby. The rise represents a larger increase, £6m, [...]
England’s survival shows beautiful unpredictability of World Cup rugby October 16, 2023 After this spring’s Six Nations championship, many collectively decided that England would not challenge in this Rugby World Cup and that they could even find themselves dumped out in the group stages. Instead Europe’s fancied teams were Ireland and France. But after Sunday’s 30-24 victory over Fiji in Marseille, and then France’s 29-28 loss to [...]
Farrell deserves more credit from fans, says England coach October 16, 2023 Fans should give England captain Owen Farrell more credit, according to the team’s attack coach Richard Wigglesworth. Fly-half George Ford was dropped to make place for the captain ahead of Sunday’s 30-24 victory over Fiji at the Rugby World Cup to much fan criticism. “We are lucky to have Owen. As ever, the tallest trees [...]
Steve Borthwick hits back at England critics after Rugby World Cup thriller with Fiji October 15, 2023 Steve Borthwick said his players had been written off before their Rugby World Cup run.
Rugby World Cup: Ireland go from ‘Zombie’ to the ghost of tournaments past October 15, 2023 Ireland and Johnny Sexton received a brutal lesson from New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.
Ireland will beat New Zealand and finally win World Cup knockout October 14, 2023 The pool stage of this Rugby World Cup provided some corking matches for fans new and old to get their teeth into, and I expect all four quarter-finals this weekend to be equally show-stopping. The big game of the weekend for me sees Ireland take on New Zealand on Saturday night in Paris. It’s hard [...]
France are hosts with most, rugby needs them to succeed October 13, 2023 As it stands, prior to this year’s tournament, there’s a 33.33 per cent recurring chance of lifting the World Cup as competition hosts. New Zealand did it at Eden Park in 1987 as co-hosts, South Africa achieved the feat at Ellis Park in 1995 and the All Blacks ensured they’d never lost a home final [...]
Premiership needs stability to build on competitive foundations October 13, 2023 Though there are fears of the Premiership’s return on Friday being overshadowed by the World Cup quarter-finals, it is good to see the domestic season back again. Saracens will go in as favourites because they are the holders but each squad seem to have developed well in the long off-season that a World Cup year [...]