Team by team: Premiership Rugby transfer analysis August 16, 2024 It’s fair to day that I had my fair share of transfers when I was playing professional rugby across England and France. And while rumours of who is going where remains one of the most fascinating parts of the rugby off-season, the confirmed transfers – a month our from the new season – allow us [...]
Olympics: Rugby sevens needs Dupont and USA to be medal contenders July 26, 2024 As a former sevens player, the Olympics is always an exciting time. We see the very best of a bunch of athletes who otherwise go under the radar across the rest of the calendar. But in a rugby-mad country like France, where stars like Toulouse and international No9 Antoine Dupont will be on show, this [...]
Rugby: Wales, Cory Hill and what if they lose to the Queensland Reds? July 18, 2024 Let’s make one thing clear: if Wales lose to the Queensland Reds this weekend it would be an incredible humiliation for Warren Gatland and the national team. The game is uncapped and the Welsh side is a mix of experience and inexperience – including captain Cory Hill, who was forced to apologise this week for [...]
Are the All Blacks feeling the pressure ahead of Eden Park showdown? July 12, 2024 There has been a lot of talk this week about the history of playing the All Blacks at Eden Park being a heavy burden for Steve Borthwick’s England team to shoulder. But I actually believe that the weight of being unbeaten at one ground for 30 years, as the All Blacks are at the Auckland [...]
Cunningham-South, Baxter and Freeman: England players to watch in New Zealand July 5, 2024 The next fortnight will be one which could end up defining Steve Borthwick’s tenure as England manager. For their two-Test series against New Zealand could be the difference between establishing a winning side to take through to the next World Cup – in Australia in 2027 – or the realisation that England are not up [...]
New Zealand favourites but England can cause issues June 28, 2024 The start of next month marks the start of England’s true test of strength, progression and ability as Steve Borthwick’s men look to topple the mighty New Zealand across two matches in the Land of the Long White Cloud. First in Dunedin and then in Auckland, England take on the All Blacks looking to win [...]
Northampton deserved Premiership title as Lawes leaves a legend June 11, 2024 Congratulations to Northampton Saints on winning the Premiership final. The East Midlanders’s 25-21 victory over Bath was a reflection of just how good they have been all season. They finished the Premiership top of the pile, level on points with their final opponents, and came out on top in a thriller at Twickenham to win [...]
Front row dominance will be difference between Northampton Saints and Bath June 7, 2024 When Northampton Saints and Bath take on each other this weekend in the Premiership final at Twickenham, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that it is all going to be about speed of ball and free-flowing moves created by each team’s backs. But in reality the team that lifts the trophy on Saturday evening – [...]
Sale Sharks and Saracens can spring Premiership surprises May 31, 2024 As is the competitiveness of this year’s Premiership, I wouldn’t put it past Saracens and Sale Sharks becoming the first two teams in the history of four-team play-offs to produce two away wins. The Premiership has never seen two away wins in the play-offs in the same season but that could change this weekend. Northampton [...]
Intensity at centre of Investec Champions Cup final between Toulouse and Leinster May 24, 2024 Without getting you all too excited, I do believe this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup could be one of the few finals that matches last year’s epic comeback by La Rochelle, who rallied from 17-0 down inside the opening quarter. Because Leinster versus Toulouse isn’t just Leinster versus Toulouse; it’s four-time winners against five-time winners, Ireland [...]
