‘France promised to be all I enjoy about rugby. They’ve let me down’ February 7, 2024 When Ben O’Keeffe blew his full-time whistle last Saturday afternoon it marked the conclusion of round one of the Six Nations. And amid the feelings of what could have been for Scotland after their Wales scare or for England with Italy breathing down their necks, it was France who left a longstanding and unsavoury aftertaste [...]
Gatland confident Wales can beat rebuilding England at Twickenham February 7, 2024 Wales head coach Warren Gatland has insisted his side will travel to London with confidence as they take on England in the Six Nations on Saturday. Wales nearly came back from 27-0 down against Scotland but lost 27-26 in their opening match of the tournament. “England are in a rebuilding phase,” Gatland said. “We will [...]
Six Nations takeaways: Borthball, Gatland and Cardiff surrender? February 4, 2024 It’s back and it is surprising us more than ever. The opening round of the Six Nations had a bit of everything; it saw the favourites beaten, it saw the projected worst side come within a try of winning and it saw both one of the most extraordinary capitulations and comebacks in the tournament’s history. [...]
Six Nations: Italy have a new look, but can they get a win? February 2, 2024 Being the new kid is never easy but that is the role Gonzalo Quesada will take up in this year’s Six Nations. The Argentinian is no stranger to European rugby, having once been France assistant coach and holding managerial roles with the likes of Racing, Biarritz and most recently Stade Francais. He is also familiar [...]
Six Nations: Scotland gamble on Russell and Darge to progress February 2, 2024 How do you measure success? Is it by trophies won, memories made or the journey you take along the way? For Scotland it remains unclear. Every year seems to be heralded as their turn in the Six Nations and in 2023 they got off to a best ever start, winning their opening two matches for [...]
Six Nations: Write off Wales at your peril… again February 2, 2024 Warren Gatland and the Wales national rugby team are basically a sporting version of conjoined twins. Since 2007 the New Zealand coach has had some form of affiliation with Wales – except from a two-year hiatus between 2020 and 2021 – but back in a role many thought he had given up for good little [...]
Six Nations: England savouring renewed title ambitions February 2, 2024 It’s amazing isn’t it, how predictions often fall flat on their faces? England, alongside neighbours Wales, were billed as the potential flops at the Rugby World Cup last year in France. All eyes were on Les Bleus and Ireland to make the case for the northern hemisphere against the might of the south. But Wales [...]
‘Don’t laugh: England can win the Six Nations’ February 2, 2024 You’ll laugh at me when I say it – in fact you might disqualify me entirely from having opinions on rugby – but I genuinely believe that England have a viable path to this year’s Six Nations title. Hear me out: Steve Borthwick has a much-changed squad but he has, arguably, the most continuity out [...]
Six Nations: France on tour as Paris evicts Les Bleus February 1, 2024 The fashion, the food, the sights and the jouer jouer rugby: Paris is a staple of the Six Nations and a bucket list venue for anybody looking to experience the game at international level. The Stade de France is home to iconic moments from multiple sports, most recently the Rugby World Cup final in October, [...]
Six Nations: World Cup cycles don’t matter for Ireland, replacing Sexton does February 1, 2024 As the Cranberries classic Zombie rang around the Stade de France at multiple points during last year’s Rugby World Cup, it almost seemed destined that fly-half and Ireland great Johnny Sexton would cap his career standing by lifting the William Webb Ellis trophy. The four provinces were coached by Andy Farrell for the first time [...]