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Posted 27 days ago
STAYIN’ ALIVE by the Bee Gees was a late 70s sentiment so powerful that it generated an eponymous follow-up movie to Saturday Night Fever in which John Travolta hustles to become a Broadway star. Fast forward through a few decades and the funky lines of “Feel the city breakin’, and ev’rybody shakin’, and we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive” could well describe Dublin this Saturday as several British and Irish Lions give their all to win the the RaboDirect Pro12 title.
Posted 40 days ago
IT IS awards season and whether you agree with the esteemed panels or punters’ votes, there are a few players carrying off more gongs than Daniel Day Lewis. Ulster’s Nick Williams was the talk of the Celts, with the brutish No 8 claiming the RaboDirect Pro12 players’ Player of the Season as well as the same award from the Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association, a fillip for the wrecking-ball breakaway before tonight’s Pro12 semi-final against Scarlets.
Posted 41 days ago
PLAY-OFF RUGBY is as nerve shredding as it is rewarding. Months of hard work can be undone in one high-pressure showdown. It is completely different to regular-season rugby and for the four teams participating in the RaboDirect Pro12 semi-finals, winning the whole thing would mean a change in league fortunes.
Posted 77 days ago
THE NEWS that George North is to leave his homeland to ply his trade in Northampton may cause some hand wringing in Wales, but there is scope to consider another viewpoint. Indeed, there may even be a case for jealousy with regards to Welsh rugby’s civil war.
Posted 80 days ago
IT IS worth noting for a moment what Gregor Townsend is achieving at Glasgow Warriors. Considered somewhat of a superfluous appointment in the off-season, nipping into the front of a queue few had even thought would be forming behind successful head coach Sean Lineen was Gregor Townsend.
Posted 86 days ago
AS A nimble Tom Varndell danced up the touchline against Northampton Saints at the weekend – an act of human dressage so well timed that both teams must have choreographed it a week in advance – he notched his twelfth try of the season and his 72nd try in Premiership history, only five behind leader of the pack, Mark Cueto, with 77. This is impressive outright, but it also makes the Wasps winger the most prolific try scorer in the top European leagues.
Posted 124 days ago
THE FIRST of the 6 Nations’ horrific lulls is here. Unless you are willing to maintain your patriotic streak –painting your face with your sister’s makeup, hanging your bedspread with the country’s colours on it out the window and belting out the national anthem at you local pub – you are stuck without a reason to scream about your heritage.
Posted 166 days ago
GET THE chopping block ready. Remove the ceremonial stretching-rings. It’s time to put my neck on the line. The season has, so far, provided very few genuine shocks. However, as all competitions enter the business end in a few months time, the increased impact of collisions and desperation in the faces of season-wearied professionals will ensure the edge of our seats will be as worn out as Emeli Sandé after her Olympics sing-athon.
Posted 173 days ago
Scotland’s wing on Rees, roundabouts and revenge. By Sarah Mockford
RUGBY WORLD: Who would play you in a film of your life?
TIM VISSER: The guy from The Hangover. Bradley Cooper. I think he’s brilliant and when I first arrived at Newcastle I had hair like him.
RW: Any nicknames?
TV: Vis. Scotland’s old defence coach Graham Steadman thought my name was Billy, so…
Posted 188 days ago
ALTHOUGH STERN faces will be talking about the benefits the Scottish pro sides can gain from the next three rounds of the Heineken Cup, it is safe to say that these are now extra games for Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors to build form for other competitions.
For both sides their season will not be defined by the remaining European matches, but by the two 1872 Cup matches between the rivals in the RaboDirect Pro12.
