By Alex Shaw The 2017 RBS Six Nations passed the halfway point this weekend, as the tournament whittled its title contenders down from five to three and set up a…
Italy
Saints and sinners: The weekend’s talking points
THE SAINTS Gav rolls back the years It’s 12 years since Gavin Henson famously dumped Mathew Tait on the Cardiff turf with what would now be deemed a tip tackle…
Six Nations: The XV Eddie Jones should pick for the Italian job
Eddie Jones has won everything since he took over with England but he is in a no-win situation ahead of the game against Italy next Sunday. England should win on…
Saints and sinners: The weekend’s talking points
THE SAINTS Club crackers Who needs the international stars? The two televised Aviva Premiership games at the weekend were belters. “A sensational game. The last 20, I could watch that…
Six Nations: Italy v Wales – Five things we’ve learnt
A win but an overly structured first-half Wales secured a comfortable 33-7 victory against an Italy team that ranks 13th in the world. Three tries, a perfect lineout completion (13…
Six Nations: Italy 7-33 Wales
Scotland shocked the Irish, France put the wind up the English. Italy, however, were unable to keep the surprises going on the opening weekend of the RBS 6 Nations as…
Six talking points ahead of the Six Nations
The Six Nations launch is usually a convivial get together, bordering on the mundane, but eyebrows were raised at Eddie Jones’ almighty shiner caused, we were told, by falling in…
Six Nations: Players to watch for the 2017 Championship
By Alex Shaw The Six Nations squads are all in. Conor O’Shea got the ball rolling last week, naming an experienced Italian squad for his debut campaign, followed by Rob…
Champions Cup: Clubs ready themselves for European adventure
The Champions Cup starts in earnest this month with enough high-profile clashes to whet the appetite of the most ardent Euro sceptic. The English leg of EPCR’s (European Professional Club…
Three countries, one league: how to bolster rugby in Portugal, Spain and Italy
Do you know who the Portuguese club champions are? Or the Spanish? Maybe the Italian? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Unsurprisingly, the average fan outside those countries…