The thwack was perceptible through the cold Wellington air. In amongst a throng of All Blacks on the Westpac turf, Beauden Barrett was drilling the ball 40m across field into…
Scotland
Steve Hansen offers an olive branch to under-fire Warren Gatland
All tour, like two ageing prize fighters, Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland have kept each other at arm’s length, offering the odd verbal jab that, that has been seized upon…
Lions 2017: Hurricanes 31-31 British & Irish Lions
The Lions midweekers gave Warren Gatland both questions and answers after a few days in which the head coach has had to wear a tin hat to protect himself from…
Lions 2017: Five players with a realistic chance of making the Second Test squad
Super Rugby’s great entertainers, the Hurricanes lie in wait for the Lions this evening, with a power-packed side feature a smattering of All Blacks including Julian Savea, Nehe-Milner Skudder and…
New Zealand v British and Irish Lions – First Test analysis
The manner of defeat will concern Warren Gatland The British and Irish Lions’ 30-15 defeat in the first test will obviously concern Warren Gatland. But the manner of the defeat…
Lions name team to take on the Hurricanes
Warren Gatland has named his 23-man squad to face the Hurricanes on Tuesday night at the Westpac Stadium. He has named the experienced Rory Best as his skipper and was…
Saints and sinners: The weekend’s talking points
England win an epic in Argentina, a winning start for new Scotland coach Gregor Townsend and Israel Folau ends his try drought for Australia
Why there’s still hope for the Lions…
So far, it’s all been entirely predicable. The Lions have been written off from Invercargill in the South, to Auckland in the North. They’ve been castigated by local media as…
Let the tours begin: England, Scotland and Ireland launch their summer Tests
Rugby World looks at the new-look England, Scotland and Ireland teams ahead of their first 2017 summer Tests
Lions 2017: Twitter reacts to the British & Irish Lions versus the Blues
The British & Irish Lions’ loss to the Auckland Blues this morning will have left those stirring with a coffee reaching for the drinks cabinet. The performance of the men…