They say you cannot score tries from set-piece at the highest level any more. They are wrong. Over the past few years, New Zealand has steadily taken over from Australia…
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Analysis: Guy Thompson embodies grit and graft of Wasps
Guy Thompson began September 3, the first day of the Championship season, sitting on the fence. With Jersey travelling to newly-promoted Richmond, two of his previous teams were in action. Via…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
One scored, one saved Dominic Waldouck scored a try at one end of the pitch and saved one at the other as Newcastle won away from home in the…
After an annus horribilis, what now for Chris Ashton?
Journalists all around the rugby-playing globe were hunched over their laptops waiting for news of Chris Ashton’s disciplinary hearing to drop into their inbox on Tuesday. Then, at 11.50pm, the…
Top 14 to promote French talent over foreign imports
Midi Olympique’s XV of the Weekend in Monday’s edition was a United Nations of rugby talent. England’s Nick Abendanon at full-back, a couple of Kiwis in Conrad Smith and Casey…
How to make it as a sports journalist: Stephen Jones
By Graham Jenkins Welcome to The Forward Pass, a series of conversations with leading rugby union journalists, broadcasters, presenters and photographers who will offer the next generation of media professionals…
A Guinness Pro12 and Aviva Premiership All-Star XV
The Guinness Pro12 takes an inordinate amount of flak from fans and media alike and is generally regarded as the poorer cousin of the Aviva Premiership.The teams at the bottom…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Rare hooker’s hat-trick Exeter Chiefs No 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie became only the third hooker to bag a hat-trick in an English Premiership match when he crossed for three…
Eddie Jones: Do New Zealand run world rugby?
Eddie Jones rarely resists the chance to have a crack at opposition, or anybody else, and this week he was in typically combative mood in the gym at England’s base…
Top 14: Could La Rochelle become French champions?
A gambler would have got enticing odds if he’d bet a few euros on La Rochelle to be leading the Top 14 a month into the new season. Four matches…