On connait le calendrier du WXV 2024

So that would be the same granny that looked after them both as kids living in Australia? The same one that the SRU flew across from oz to reunite and surprise him before the Australia game and present him with the Hopetoun cup after the match?

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

Healy moved because he could see the log jam in the Irish 10 pipeline, John Cooney attempted to make the same move pre wc, albeit at a different career stage, for similar selection based reasons. The interesting thing about Healy though is that he turned down glasgow for Edinburgh, presumably saw their style as closer to the Munster he was used to, and has suffered hugely from that call, to the extent that he’s not even in the match day squad on occasion these days.

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

Tom Jordan might have something to say about that…

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

Nope, he’s an entirely different player with quins and will never fit the England game plan in the same way. Fin Smith on the other hand…

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

Agree with your MS assessment but the thing about MS is that he’s a square peg in a round hole with England. It’s crystal clear how well the quins game plan suits him down to the ground but England never have been, and never will be, that team.

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

My understanding is that he was all but signed for Glasgow before $arrie$ came in with a bigger cheque, which probably illustrates the priorities involved. Possibly a shrewd move though because he has the opportunity to develop his skills, compete for trophies, get paid handsomely and still keep his three way eligibility hand open. What’s not to love…?

The future of rugby: Sale and Leinster mount the case for the defence

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

I’d say it was lost the day that SL headed over to France.

The future of rugby: Sale and Leinster mount the case for the defence

JD 2 hours ago

Are you suggesting a neutral would not have enjoyed that game?

Springboks dominate my team of 2024 – Andy Goode

bd 2 hours ago

Pretty goode Andy, but I'd squeeze Kwagga into the bench there. I don't think there's a coach out there that wouldn't.

2 Go to comments

Mitch 3 hours ago

The future of rugby: Sale and Leinster mount the case for the defence

I just worry that the edge Leinster and Ireland had "as global thought leaders in a possession-based attack" could be lost.

There was evidence of that during the November internationals.

The future of rugby: Sale and Leinster mount the case for the defence

Mitch 4 hours ago

I enjoyed watching Bristol toy with Leicester and enjoyed watching Sale suffocate Bristol. Sale's line speed was very impressive but do you have stats on Bristol's ruck speed on attack Nick? The Bears' ruck speed seemed slower than against Leicester.

Happy New Year.

Mzilikazi 4 hours ago

And HNY to you too, Nick.

The future of rugby: Sale and Leinster mount the case for the defence

Mzilikazi 4 hours ago

An excellent thought provoking article, Nick. I am just finishing watching "Chasing the Sun", and see Jacques Nienaber in a clearer light now. He is more forceful, more his own man, than I had thought. I do wonder though if the Nienaber defence revolution will be enough when Leinster are really tested by the big French teams. One very big difference between the Boks and Leinster is the size of forwards, and the power that goes with that size. In the front row especially, Leinster and Ireland do not have the scrum power to really dominate. I just worry that the edge Leinster and Ireland had "as global thought leaders in a possession-based attack" could be lost. The games against the French sides, club and 6N, will be acid tests.

The future of rugby: Sale and Leinster mount the case for the defence

Ed the Duck 5 hours ago

Happy New Year Nick, and looking forward already to your 6N predictions…!

The Leinster changes are interesting for sure and almost certainly the result of scars from the maulings dished out by the French in CC finals. Interesting too though to see how they fare in the business end of the URC taking the Bok teams on at their own game. That certainly wasn’t the m.o. of the kiwi teams when they dominated the Boks, most of the time, in SR. The URC version of your Prem split probably leaves Glasgow sitting in a class of their own then, perhaps with Cardiff for company if they can sustain their level? Even then, Franco Smith has shown the benefit of developing hybrid skills, whichever camp a team is in, with the increase in Glasgows forward power and an impressive maul defence and attack that hadn’t existed before his arrival.

As for Ireland, they are beginning to demonstrate the extent to which they are going to struggle to sustain their position right at the peak of WR, and whilst they aren’t going to fall off any cliffs anytime soon, they ain’t going to be collecting too many grand slams and probably not even clear favourites to lift the 6N this year either. I don’t envy SE having to take the helm at a time of simultaneous transition in game plan and key players through the team, presuming of course that faz follows suit and tucks in behind Leinster…

JW 5 hours ago

Yep, especially to say it when his opinions not even relevant. This is Fergus Burke's outlook were talking about, and to think having a player like Mo'unga infront of you is not somewhat intimidating is super naive.

I really hope Fergus has put himself in a position to show his full ability and game worth to Razor, and you never know, he could be the next person being hunted once Mo'unga returns

JW 5 hours ago

EPCR and those club teams deciding to turn one of their Champions Cup finals series every for years into a global Club Championship, could possibly do more for the game than the new Nations Cup that theyre playing imo.-0

JW 5 hours ago

Of course not, but were not going to base our reasoning on what is said in one comment in a particular scenario and time, are we?

Actually, you are? Seriously?

Although Burke readily admits “I am driven by international rugby”, his final destination is still unknown. He could be one day replacing Finn Russell in the navy blue of Scotland, or challenging Marcus Smith for the right to wear a red rose on his chest, or cycling all the way home to the silver fern. It is all ‘Professor Plum in the billiards room with the lead pipe’ type guesswork, as things stand.

You yourself suggested it? Just theoretically? Look I hope Burke does well, but he's not really a player that has got a lot of attention, you've probably read/heard more him in this last few months than we have in his 4 years. Your own comments also suggest going overseas is a good idea to push ones case for national selection, especially for a team like NZ being so isolated. So i'll ask again, as no of your quotes obviously say one thing or the other, why don't you think he might be trying to advance his case like Leicester did?

Also, you can look at Leicesters statements in a similar fashion, where no doubt you are referring to his comments made while in NZ (still playing a big part of the WC campaign in his case). You should be no means have taken them for granted, and I'd suggest any other coach or management and he might not have returned (been wanted back).