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The Tight Five - Handpicked Stories From The World Of Rugby

(Photo: Getty Images)

Here’s five great rugby reads from around the globe.

Head to head: Are England worthy of claiming NZ record for consecutive wins? Read story.

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Will there still be room in 2018 for the Western Force, Southern Kings, and the Cheetahs when SANZAAR meet to decide the future of Super Rugby? Read story.

With an all-important SANZAAR meeting scheduled this week to determine the future of Super Rugby, we break down the pros and cons of cutting each Australian franchise. Read story.

England vs Scotland match-ups are key to Lions selection, says Warren Gatland. Read story.

The Championship has become a “naughty boys corner” for relegated Premiership sides, according to the Cornish Pirates chairman, after the scrapping of play-offs from the second tier. Read story.

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N
Nickers 35 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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