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Posted 92 days ago
WE’VE HAD a breather from the RBS 6 Nations to catch our breath, but the heat is back on this weekend as Wales head to Rome, France hop across the channel to Twickenham and Scotland host Ireland. We put our neck on the line and pick our winners, but do you think we’ve got it right? Join the discussion on Facebook Rugby World magazine and Twitter @rugbyworldmag.
Posted 94 days ago
THE BRITISH and Irish Lions are still hotter than a Justin Bieber and David Beckham collaborative calendar. Need proof? Every single test ticket for this summer’s tour sold out in 15 minutes. People are tearing their hair out, trying to find a seat. The powers that be Down Under have promised a spectacle to rival the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the omens are good.
Posted 98 days ago
AS THE rain tumbled down at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland were toiling. They had dug deep, hoping to scoop out some of the visceral anger that bubbles up whenever England stand opposite, but they had dug themselves a hole instead. Now, almost a week later, they are left with their heavy-footed prop Cian Healy kicking his heels until March 10 and their normally ice-cool fly-half Jonny Sexton icing his hamstring, while their flying winger Simon
Posted 101 days ago
YES, FIRST half injuries to Simon Zebo and Jonathan Sexton didn’t help the Ireland cause and certainly England’s Owen Farrell played with composure far beyond his 21 years, but basic handling errors and poor decision making cost Ireland points and consequently handed them straight to their opponents.
Posted 103 days ago
A DIFFERENT type of win to the one over Scotland at Twickenham last week but a win nonetheless. The wet weather in Dublin dictated that this was never going to be a classic in terms of attacking rugby – the sheer number of handling errors from Ireland putting paid to that idea – but the pure physicality to the contest and the ferociousness of both teams’ defence was somehow absorbing.
Posted 106 days ago
FORMER IRELAND and Munster back-row Alan Quinlan goes inside the Six Nations squad’s training camp and talks us through their warm-up routine with strength and conditioning coach Jason Cowman…
Posted 109 days ago
BOD’S HANDS… Zebo’s feet… First half demolition… Second half defensive scrambling… It’s hard to know where to start with the latest celtic clash in Cardiff because as the late Belfast comedian Frank Carson would have said “It’s a cracker!”
Posted 111 days ago
IRELAND ENTERED the Millennium Stadium with confidence and a resolve to give Brian O’Driscoll, a win on what could be his final encounter in Cardiff. They didn’t disappoint. They didn’t disappoint. Ireland went on to dominate the first half, racing to a 20-0 lead within the first half-hour.
Posted 112 days ago
WHEN SATURDAY comes the Six Nations will throw up an interesting anomaly. In one day we will get to see several fit and firing candidates for the British and Irish Lions tour, facing off, with the gloves off. It could be argued that a strong performance this weekend could propel a player to the forefront of Warren Gatland’s mind, like an Iranian astro-monkey fired into the stratosphere.
Posted 114 days ago
WHEN DECLAN Kidney named his extended 39-man training squad for the Six Nations, there’s no doubt the announcement was overshadowed by, perhaps, his boldest decision of his five-year tenure as Irish head coach. The news that Jamie Heaslip would continue to captain Ireland, having led them through the Autumn Series, raised eyebrows from Limerick to Donegal.
