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Posted 88 days ago
The player himself took to Twitter, pumping out tweets in several different languages to say that his sending off in the 36th minute for swearing – in English according to the French press – was a misunderstanding. With his hearing with the league’s Disciplinary Committee (NRL) being brought forward to Wednesday afternoon for the sake of the Italian national side,…
Posted 104 days ago
IT WAS heavily assumed that France, with all their resources and illustrious red-carpet players, would enter Rome and destroy the Azzzurri. However, before the anthems had even finished there was a sense the aristocrats of the Top 14 were in for a nasty surprise.
Posted 427 days ago
One look at this match told you it was a Wooden Spoon decider. The first half was woeful, with barely any decent rugby played and far too many long lectures from referee Alain Rolland. The entertainment value improved a little after the break but it was still an error-strewn affair, with most of the play taking place in the middle third.
Posted 428 days ago
If Italy can beat Scotland in Rome this weekend, there will doubtless be joyous scenes inside the Stadio Olimpico, but if Scotland triumph I have the feeling their players’ reaction will be more muted – more about relief than ecstasy. There might be fireworks during the match, but Scotland know they have under-performed over the last six weeks and so should not get carried away with their celebrations if they finally achieve their first win of the 2012 RBS Six Nations.
Posted 428 days ago
AFTER SEVEN weeks and five rounds of cracking international rugby, the RBS 6 Nations is over for another year. Wales are Grand Slam Champions, but which individuals stood out for you? We provided the shortlist below, and you nearly 1,000 of you voted.
We love a good debate here at Rugby World, so if you think the wrong man has been…
Posted 433 days ago
Italy tackled themselves to a standstill in a scrappy game in which Wales struggled to find their rhythm but still had more than enough class not to be ruffled by the Azzurri. In the first-half Wales dominated in terms of possession but only had three Leigh Halfpenny penalties to show for all their territorial advantage.
Posted 435 days ago
On paper, and in virtually every alehouse in the principality, Wales are nailed-on favourites to overcome an Italian side seemingly bereft of confidence, belief and conviction. This is despite the Azzurri showing glimpses of their undoubted potential against France and England, where they were a few missed kicks away from victory. Sadly in this fixture, the history books point against an Azzurri win.
Posted 437 days ago
MIRCO BERGAMASCO will make his long-awaited return from injury and line up for Italy in their RBS 6 Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The winger’s return is one of seven changes made by coach Jacques Brunel from the side that lost to Ireland. In the forwards, prop Andrea Lo Cicero, lock Cornelius van Zyl and flanker…
Posted 447 days ago
Having not played a match for three weeks, Ireland looked nervous as they came out of the Aviva Stadium blocks, but they exerted consistent pressure on their opponents and were rewarded with five tries. The hosts were penalised within kicking distance a number of times, but luckily for them it was not Italian fly-half Tobias Botes’s day with the boot. Man of the Match Jonathan Sexton, on the other hand, was successful with seven out of eight kicks at goal, notching up a total of 18 points.
Posted 449 days ago
By Bea Asprey, Rugby World Writer
WHO could forget Ireland’s near-horror story from the 2011 RBS 6 Nations? On a sunny afternoon at the Stadio Flaminio on the opening weekend of the tournament, a Luke McLean try gave Italy an 11-10 lead with minutes left of the match to play, and Ireland were staring down the barrel of defeat. Then…
