WALES HAD a tackle completion rate of 98% against Scotland. That’s right – 98%. They only missed two tackles in 80 minutes and completed 83. It was a sensational display, typified by Adam Jones who led the team with ten tackles at tighthead.
Six Nations
RBS 6 Nations match review: England 18-11 Italy
Posted 71 days ago
The Grand Slam is still within England’s reach, but they are stuttering rather than marching towards it.
RBS 6 Nations match review: Ireland 13-13 France
Posted 71 days ago
France remain winless in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations as their visit to Dublin resulted in a draw. On a wet, grey day in the Irish capital, the hosts were the ones who initially looked to be gritting their teeth, and were rewarded on the scoreboard in the first half, earning a 13-3 lead by half-time. Ireland came out of the changing room full of confidence at the start of the second half, only to lose their way in the third quarter of the game.
RBS 6 Nations match review: Scotland 18-28 Wales
Posted 72 days ago
WALES AND Scotland, like two prize fighters slugged out a first-half bereft of quality and punctuated by a constant penalties given by whistle-happy referee Craig Joubert. The only highlight, if you can call it that, was a close-range try from blond battering ram Richard Hibbard on 21 mins, after some fine work down the touchline from George North.
RBS 6 Nations: Round Four Talking Points
Posted 73 days ago
THERE IS a lot of love in the air. Not the kind of sickly sweet love, where champagne with strawberries is a must and a handmade card has to be presented on top of the Eiffel or Blackpool Tower while Frankie Goes to Hollywood blares out from a boombox circa ’92. Just lovely love for all things nice.
RBS 6 Nations: Variety is spice of life for England
Posted 73 days ago
WITH THE naming of the England squad it became easy to take the return of Tom Croft to international rugby as the headline. Of course, his comeback from a broken neck is a brave tale of a professional gritting their teeth and inching back into contention whether his body wanted to or not.
RBS 6 Nations: Old-stager Jones happy to take on captaincy role
Posted 73 days ago
AGE. IT is tricky to come to terms with. Grey wings in your hair; you’re distinguished. Too many crow’s feet; even worse, you can’t judge a dancing competition any more. For Wales captain Ryan Jones, 31, advancing years mean that he has benefitted from a change in attitude whilst coming to terms with how things pan out. He knows his role and he will do it, come what may.
RBS 6 Nations: Howley steers an upturn in Welsh fortunes
Posted 73 days ago
IT’S FAIR to say Rob Howley has been subjected to a testing introduction to life as an international head coach but chatting to him at The Vale, ahead of tomorrow’s game at Murrayfield, he cuts a far more relaxed figure than he has of late. For while Howley has attracted opprobrium as Wales lurched to five consecutive defeats on his watch, he deserves credit for reviving his side’s fortunes and putting them in contention for the Six Nations championship.
RBS Six Nations: France search for the perfect combination
Posted 74 days ago
THIRD TIME lucky for France? Philippe Saint-Andre will be hoping so when his third half-back pairing of the Six Nations run out against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday evening. The French coach began the tournament with Maxime Machenaud and Frederic Michalak, a combination he retained for Wales even after the defeat to Italy on the opening weekend.
Rugby World TV: Six Nations round 4 preview
Posted 74 days ago
THE TEAMS have changed and, if they’re not careful, some coaches could be for the chop if they don’t get a win in this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations! In this episode of Rugby World TV, we preview Scotland v Wales, Ireland v France and England v Italy – and predict our winners. Have we got it right? Let us know…
