IT'S ALWAYS nice to be wanted. It must be a strange feeling for referees, though. In an age where the men in the middle are as professional as players and…
Argentina
Rugby Championship: Minimal changes for Round 2
By Alan Dymock AS INEVITABLE as the front of the newspapers showing flaxen-haired teenage girls jumping for joy on school-results day, the big guns have made almost no changes for…
Rugby Championship: What the locals are saying before Round 1
By Alan Dymock AS OUTSIDERS we can analyse and chirp and break down what we can of the Rugby Championship from our cosy hemisphere, perhaps tainted by a little bit…
Take That Rugby Championship!: Four returnees
LIKE NIGHT-OUT stories, some rugby players just will not go away. Sure, tales of their exploits may become greatly exaggerated in the re-telling. However, in this upcoming Rugby Championship there…
Rugby Championship: How will Argentina fare in their difficult second season?
ROCK STARS often talk of the difficult second album, where all the natural vim and creative chaos that bore out a fantastical and well-received first piece of work is hard…
Summer tours: England’s crib could be better than Argentina’s…
WINNING TESTS is one thing, but to do it with young, exciting players is another. For the second Test against Argentina, Stuart Lancaster has selected an explosive and sprightly backline…
RWC qualifying: the South American battle
URUGUAY SET out in pursuit of the holy grail of World Cup 2015 qualification this weekend, having missed out on a place at the last two World Cup finals tournaments…
Hong Kong celebrates record Sevens series audience
FIJI WON the on-field plaudits by sneaking past first-time Cup finalists Wales 26-19, to successfully defend their HSBC Sevens title. In a thrilling final, the South Sea Islanders scored four…
Ireland 46-24 Argentina: The Verdict
IRELAND WERE superior up front and absolutely ruthless about taking their scoring chances. This record win against the Pumas guarantees Ireland a top-eight seeding for the 2015 World Cup when…
Accent on youth reinvigorates Ireland
ON 31st July 2010 a young Ulsterman scored the first try in a challenge match to mark the opening of the Aviva Stadium. Another reporter turned to me and said…