EVERY FOUR years, a player not considered for the Lions tour suddenly finds themselves on the plane, regardless of Test experience or age. Ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia next summer, here are five potential ‘bolters’:
Australia
Draw in Brisbane shows signs of an Australian recovery
Posted 238 days ago
LIMPING INTO this year’s final Bledisloe Cup match, Australia were not given a hope. Take away the quality of Will Genia, James Horwill, David Pocock and James O’Connor from any team and they will struggle.
Australia given little hope ahead of final Bledisloe Test
Posted 244 days ago
AFTER A tough summer, Australia are available at unprecedented odds of 8/1 ahead of this weekend’s test against New Zealand at home in Brisbane. The odds reflect not only the troubles of the Wallabies throughout the inaugural Rugby Championship, but also the supreme dominance of the All Blacks against their Southern Hemisphere rivals.
The Rugby Championship Review: Australia
Posted 252 days ago
CONSIDERING THE enormous amount of criticism poured on Australia throughout The Rugby Championship, the fact that they finished the tournament in second place is somewhat of a surprise. Factor in that Australia were without James Horwill, Will Genia, James O’Connor, David Pocock, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell plus many more
Battered Australia ring the changes for Test with Argentina
Posted 258 days ago
REELING FROM an injury list that has deprived them of David Pocock, Will Genia and James Horwill to name just a few, Australia have been forced to select an inexperienced XV for their encounter with Argentina this Saturday in Rosario, with only one player possessing over 50 caps in captain Nathan Sharpe.
Jonny Wilkinson eager to tour Australia with the Lions
Posted 258 days ago
JONNY WILKINSON has declared himself available for selection for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2013, if Warren Gatland comes calling. The Toulon fly-half retired from international rugby with England following the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but has continued his fine form in the south of
Gatland named Lions coach for 2013 tour to Australia
Posted 288 days ago
SO THE worst-kept secret in rugby is out, Warren Gatland is the man entrusted by the Lions to bring a first Series win since South Africa in 1997.
In truth, at Lions HQ in the plush surroundings of Ballsbridge, Dublin, Gatland has always been penciled in as the outstanding candidate for the top job, this despite powerbrokers rightly proclaiming it a…
Michael Foley joins Western Force
Posted 322 days ago
FORMER WARATAHS mentor Michael Foley has joined the Western Force coaching staff for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
Foley joins the Perth based team on a three-year contract from the Waratahs, where he spent three seasons as Assistant Coach before taking the reins of the side for the 2012 Super Rugby season.
The 45-year-old takes over from Richard Graham, who stood down…
Journey through rugby – Gareth Delve
Posted 335 days ago
IN 2010 Gareth Delve, who has won 11 caps for Wales, swapped Gloucester for Australia and the Melbourne Rebels. Here the back-rower talks birthdays, boarding school and bodybuilding…
I had visions of being the next Jonah Lomu. I started out on the wing, but my lack of pace caught up with me. I had a dabble at second-row and absolutely hated it – you’re in close proximity to the props! – so I settled in the back row.
Hat-trick for Scotland on the road less travelled – Tour review
Posted 358 days ago
IN A summer where the myopic slant was to denounce the Northern Hemisphere as out of touch with their southern hemisphere counterparts, there was an odd feeling of glee in Scotland. The national side had not only recorded a three match series win south of the equator, but they had also
