Player tiredness and availability could be key; there are six new laws to consider and Warren Gatland does battle with Steve Hansen againIreland broke the mould in 2014 but before that, as sure as death and taxes, France would win the first Six Nations championship after a Lions tour, often with a grand slam to boot. Related: Rob Baxter challenges Exeter to play like Premiership champions | Robert Kitson Related: Premiership 2017-18: team-by-team preview of England’s rugby union season Related: Ambitious Pro14 looks at Germany, Spain and Canada for further expansion | Paul Rees Related: New Zealand begin to suffer from player exodus to the wealthy north | Paul Rees Continue reading...
Injury-plagued centre’s fresh scrape will reveal how much effort national coach is prepared to take with only player he believes can ‘rip apart’ All BlacksAt the end of a mediocre autumn Test series that caused no little concern considering it came less than a year before the 2015 World Cup, Stuart Lancaster was asked what could improve his England side. His answer, as so often the case with Lancaster, was to the point: “Manu”.Last week Eddie Jones was more effusive with his praise for the only England player capable of “ripping New Zealand apart” – a pointed remark considering the British & Irish Lions’ second Test victory against the All Blacks on 1 July. Jones described Manu Tuilagi as “worth...
World Rugby’s decision to clamp down on high hits from Tuesday will free up the game for creative ball-carriers and try-scoring rates look set to soar even higherIn theory it is just another winter Tuesday. No big games are happening on 3 January 2017, no one will instantly sense the change. Could it be, nevertheless, that the date will one day be ranked among the most significant in modern rugby union history? Might it also be the moment the cork is removed from the old-school bottle and, in a spray of sparkling foam, it starts raining tries?World Rugby’s decision to tighten the tackle law with immediate effect and clamp down on high, dangerous “hits” is meant to be all about...