With Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw lurking menacingly on their front line, Toulon were never going to be scared of the wolf-pack. In the end though, the manner in which…
Charlie Morgan
Drew Mitchell on life with Toulon
There is a pause of almost five seconds before Drew Mitchell lets out a groan of frustration and throws in the towel. “No,” he admits after being asked if he…
Saracens: trips, cricketers and Henry Fraser
“No one likes us. No one likes us. No one likes us. We don’t care.” So goes the famous chant of Millwall Football Club’s fans who are, to put it…
The problems with the Amlin Challenge Cup
For all the excellent rugby and intriguing on-field plotlines, both of which have been abundant, 2013-14 will always be remembered for its ugly European saga. A very public process of…
Self-policing in rugby: Right or wrong?
As the second half of Harlequins’ thrilling win over Bath grew fractured and frantic on Saturday, BT Sport commentator Austin Healey indulged in a bit of a whine. Referee Wayne Barnes had…
Rugby fans’ double standards
The past week has subtly demonstrated a worrying rugby trend. To put it bluntly, two unconnected pieces of news exposed the horrible sense of self-entitled hypocrisy we must all guard…
Key clashes: The Heineken Cup semis
Saracens vs. Clermont, Twickenham – Saturday, April 26 Billy Vunipola v Fritz Lee Genuine wrecking-balls are worth their considerable weight in gold and at Twickenham, two of the most effective on…
Keeping Samoan-qualified players for Samoa
There are a lot of intangible aspects to Richie McCaw’s greatness. He exudes an aura that compels teammates to dig deeper than they ever believed possible. You only need to…
The Honey Badger: A gift to rugby
“Last year we were all sizzle, no steak. This year we had a horror start but now we are off like bride’s nightie” – Nick Cummins. Every so often, a…
Heineken Cup Quarters: Four to watch
This set of Heineken Cup quarter-finals is possibly the most enticing last eight ever assembled. Each of the four ties is jam-packed with stellar talent and most of the continent’s…