Talks over a global calendar are all very well, but the international game is being undermined by clubs, mainly in the Top 14, taking advantage of its instabilityBrighton is an unlikely setting for a rugby revolution, but Japan’s 34-32 victory against South Africa there in the World Cup last year showed how the old order was changing. There had been shocks before, not least Western Samoa beating Wales in Cardiff in 1991, but the toppling of the Springboks, twice winners of the tournament and who had never before lost to a tier two nation, brought a giant crashing to the ground. Related: From Tonga to Twickenham: Mako and Billy Vunipola’s incredible journey | Andy Bull Related: Rugby union’s rewards have...
Ireland’s men in green are daring to dream that after waiting 111 years to defeat New Zealand they can make it twice in two weeks in Dublin on SaturdayNot many sequels manage to outdo a famous original. You can make a decent cinematic argument that Mad Max, The French Connection, Kill Bill and Toy Story were all superior at the second time of asking but the list is relatively short. Difficult second album syndrome is a frequent musical issue and, where New Zealand rugby is concerned, double-whammy defeats to the same opponents are on the rare side of occasional.What chance, then, of Ireland improving this weekend on their remarkable Chicago coup early this month when they defeated New Zealand for...
England have put their World Cup travails firmly behind them, Australia have a mountain to climb and Wales coach Rob Howley faces some tough decisions It is remarkable how quickly sporting fortunes can swing. A year ago, England were failing to escape their World Cup pool on home soil while South Africa were just two semi-final points away from reaching the final. Twelve months on, the Springbok team is a very different, more vulnerable animal. The simultaneous loss of several long-time stalwarts has coincided with a continuing player exodus to Europe and Japan, while the politics of transformation further complicate Allister Coetzee’s task. The Boks should overcome Italy this weekend but, longer-term, the outlook looks highly uncertain. England, on the...
The Springboks coach insists his team will not lose their aura, but after their defeat to England he faces a lot of work to halt their slideBack at the start of the month, South Africa’s head coach, Allister Coetzee, was asked about the “aura” of his side. The Springboks had lost five of the nine games they had played since the last World Cup, going down to Ireland in Cape Town, Argentina in Salta, Australia in Brisbane, and New Zealand in both Christchurch and Durban, the last of those a 42-point thrashing, the worst defeat they had ever suffered at home. “The Springboks will never lose their aura,” Coetzee said, “definitely not.” Coetzee, who spent 22 years playing the game...
Ben Youngs was integral to England’s speed against South Africa but Dylan Hartley’s leadership was also a key factor in the victory Related: Eddie Jones uses Ali inspiration to outfox lumbering South Africa | Andy Bull Related: South Africa’s thin confidence popped by farcical Charlie Chaplin try for England | Michael Aylwin Continue reading...