Cobus Reinach dans la liste des Springboks

You've missed the point. It's well documented that the All Blacks considered some of the Irish players to be particularly obnoxious in victory in 2022. Maybe you could argue that rising above it would have been better but it's human nature to use that sort of behaviour as motivation and to cash those receipts when the opportunity arises. And it's not as if the All Blacks have a bad relationship with any other team.

Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

RugCs 31 minutes ago

If RA and URA feel that they can include Fiji and Japan to their four team competition when the tours are on then they should do it. No one is stopping them just like no one is stopping SARU and NZR from organizing bi-lateral tours.

As for compensation Herbert should first try and get his $700,000 Euros from the FFR for some non existent deal and then he should read the fine print and realize that the Rugby Championship is actually ending in 2025, so there will be no compensation in 2026. Any 13 year old will be able to explain to Herbert the nuances of a non existent agreement.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Will Skelton headline Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad

Ardy 1 hour ago

Who else is there? 64 is a large contingent then add on injured and who's left?

4 Go to comments

liam 1 hour ago

Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

Fiji made the rwc quarter finals twice before 2023 in 1987 and 2007 along with the quarter final playoffs in 1999. Surely the writer can't forget one of the greatest ever games when fiji knocked out wales in 2007

Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Bob Salad II 1 hour ago

1. NZ has had time to play together and are likely more settled than England;

Coming off a recent Rugby Championship sure, but I'm not sure England have the selection problems the ABs have.

2. Especially after England's management problems - which must be disruptive (despite it being swept under the carpet or downplayed);

Or being overplayed. Bottom line is, Borthwick is still early in his England career as are his support staff. it's not as if the coaching team had been in place for 3 or 4 years.

3. NZ, despite their performances this year, have a very good pack which I think overall are better (but I guess this is subjective);

They do have a good pack and probably a better front 3, but England have great strength at lock and in the loose forwards, so I'm not sure I agree that the NZ 'pack' are better.

4. England won't have their 1st choice 9 & 10 available;

Marcus Smith is England's first choice 10 and he is available. Spencer - arguably England's #2 scrum half, will most likely start with Randall on the bench. Think there's more question marks over who's starting at 13 for England. Who's NZ first choice 10 these days?

5. On paper, the ABS have better and more experienced players across the squad.

In terms of caps, probably. But again, how long have this ABs team been playing together? Hasn't Robertson been trying new combinations out etc? Who's the starting 10/9 etc? Do the ABs have a settled lock pairing? This is hardly a vintage NZ squad and from what I've been reading, there seems to a fair amount of uncertainty within the NZ camp over who the best starting 15 currently are. In contrast, the bulk of Borthwick's side are - injuries aside, largely known.

One final point is tries scored. Across the last 6 games, NZ have scored 22 to England's 21. Pretty sure you'd have to trawl the record books pretty deeply to find a comparable data set.

And yeah, England are also at home.

38 Go to comments

dw 1 hour ago

Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

Glad you pointed out the absurdity of the Mclennan comments. After ruining 2023 for us all he still is at it.

Totally agree re giving Joseph time to find his position and relearn the game he played as a kid. Are you confident both Joe Schmidt and Dan Mackellar will.manage this well? The media here will likely just be reporting on Joseph's every move and ignoring the other players

22 Go to comments

JK 1 hour ago

Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

RG Snyman names 'unbelievable' difference between Leinster and Munster

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Sacks more cash than any other province in Ireland and they spend it on developing and acquiring players. Quel surprise…

2 Go to comments

Bob Salad II 1 hour ago

Mick Cleary: 'England need to knock over one of the Big Two this autumn, as a bare minimum'

Are these the same rankings that saw the 6th ranked team beat the 2nd and 3rd recently?

38 Go to comments

Cosmo 2 hours ago

POM (big angry lawn mowing bully) got paid back for his his big mouth spray on Sam Cane by first being outplayed by Sam Cane in the quarter final of last year's world cup, & then being on the losing side. BR comment was totally justified, insulting his captain was not a good idea after all 😂

Cosmo 2 hours ago

Well it's good news that Robbie's head grew back.! Also, you've a bit of a contradiction going on there, if Dane Coles reacted to Sexton's big petulant gob, that would suggest Sexton instigated it would it not.? Also, do you remember Heaslip getting red carded for kneeing Ritchie McCaw in the head 3 times back in 2010.? There's been bad blood between these 2 teams for some time really, long may it continue.!

Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

Derek Murray 2 hours ago

And LSL. He was excellent this season

22 Go to comments

Derek Murray 2 hours ago

Why Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i must not become Folau 2.0

I agree those two would have strengthened the squad. A lock squad over 4 tests of LSL, Skelton, Rodda and Frost is serious

22 Go to comments

frandinand 2 hours ago

Did you see any of his NPC games Nick. His form was very average. He was playing in a weaker pack and when the going got tough he went missing. That has been a consistent criticism of his game over the years. He looked very good for the Blues but they had the dominant pack in every game the only exception being the game against the Crusaders. And that was the game that Sotutu went missing.

frandinand 2 hours ago

Waiting for the comment from Forward Pass.

frandinand 2 hours ago

It's obvious. Queensland.

'No scrum, no win' - Why props could become rugby's new poster boys

DG 2 hours ago

You're right. That's really fair feedback.

Not that it makes up for the oversight here but I'll use this as a chance to give this a nudge: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/if-i-lose-my-position-if-i-lose-my-contract-my-family-wont-eat/

4 Go to comments

JWH 2 hours ago

Should Fiji and Japan be included in the rejigged Rugby Championship?

They would just be adding tests, not remov9ng any, so they would be making more money. Plus, they make a lot playing japan every time. That's why they do it so much

MC 3 hours ago

Agree regarding SA, now that the entire nation has taken to rugby. But also agree with TK regarding NZ. They are there or thereabout and only a few games into the new management system. It will be interesting to see if Ireland can sustain their recent performance, as an Irish fan I hope they can because they are bringing immense pleasure to supporters like me who remember the 70's, 80's etc. But we'll have to wait and see. SA could very well be the dominant force for some time. But hopefully we'll have a situation like it is today where any one of 5 or hopefully more are capable of winning.