STANDING IN front of the assembled press at Pennyhill Park last Thursday after being named in England’s match-day 23 to face New Zealand, Anthony Watson was asked what part of…
Charlie Morgan
Surviving the sin-bin: New Zealand’s 14-man masterclass
‘Game management’ is one of modern rugby’s buzz-phrases. It can often feel fluffy – as though the user has heard it in television commentary and fancies rolling out an intangible gem…
Autumn international player analysis: Brad Barritt, England’s Mr Fix-It
In terms of positives, there was very little to take from the British and Irish Lions’ midweek defeat to the Brumbies back in June 2013. On a rain-swept night in…
Autumn international player analysis: Sonny Bill Williams, New Zealand
You do not saunter back into a world champion team on the back of 70 minutes’ worth of on-field action in two years without being a very special player. To…
Badger’s Barbarians can make Australia a laughing stock
It was difficult not to feel sorry for Nick Phipps on Monday as the Wallaby scrum-half fielded questions on sexism and misogyny in sport. Understandably awkward and sheepish, he resembled…
European Champions Cup player analysis: George North, Northampton Saints
One thing about George North that never fails to astonish – more striking even than the staggering raw materials of pace, power and prodigious finishing ability – is his age.…
European Champions Cup player analysis: Henry Pyrgos, Glasgow Warriors
As Paul Ackford pointed out in his typically forthright column in Saturday’s Times, three of the five men to captain their country to a Rugby World Cup victory have been…
Guinness PRO12 player analysis: Dan Baker, Ospreys
September and October are two vital months for budding internationals on these shores. With encounters against southern hemisphere opposition on the horizon, it is a pivotal time to perform. Beginning…
Premiership player analysis: Jamie Gibson, Leicester Tigers
The concept of an injury crisis is relative. Leicester Tigers may be missing a very strong match-day squad’s worth of players due to various ailments, but their starting side on…
Premiership player watch: Semesa Rokoduguni, Bath
In May, we may well look back on this Aviva Premiership weekend as a watershed for Bath – three days that encapsulated a newfound edge and dogged durability. No longer…