If Scotland’s front row needed any extra motivation for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations match against Wales, they needn’t look far to find it. For Colin Deans, Scotland’s 1984 Grand Slam…
Blogs
Six Nations analysis: Scotland’s slick back-play
It may not come as consolation to Scotland fans – in fact, most fiercely nationalistic ones will probably refuse to entertain the notion – but Vern Cotter’s side can be…
The February letter from South Africa
SA player drain continues South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer’s penchant for picking players based in Europe and Japan appears to have hastened the rush of promising players to lucrative foreign…
Six Nations: Five things we learnt – France v Scotland
Okay, trusting in youth has its problems On these pages, in the autumn, I banged on about youth being given its head and flourishing as a result. Yes, back then…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Putting the boot in England led 18-16 in Cardiff as the last two minutes of their RBS Six Nations clash with Wales began. Despite England’s second-half dominance, the…
Six Nations analysis: Five reasons England beat Wales
“If you look at the first ten minutes as we went 10-0 down, a lesser side would probably have crumbled. The crowd got pretty crazy at that point, but we…
Six Nations: The famous comebacks from years gone by
Momentum. It’s a buzzword of this and any other Six Nations championship. Win your opening game and you’re set fair for the tournament, with every prize within your grasp. Lose…
Wales versus England key clash: Jonathan Davies against Jonathan Joseph
Deep down, Stuart Lancaster must be pretty excited about Saturday lunchtime. By then, England’s head coach will be back over the Severn Bridge, his mind already turned to hosting Italy.…
Rugby statistics: Comparing No 8s from the Premiership, Pro12 and Top 14
In 2013, then Scotland head coach Scott Johnson received a few laughs for his “statistics are a bit like bikinis – it shows a lot but not the whole thing”…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Saxon spirit Facing an Ireland Wolfhounds team with just under 300 Test caps between them, and not to mention a smattering of Lions players, the England Saxons had…