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Ireland World Cup seeding at stake against Argentina

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Brian O'Driscoll has compared Ireland's match with Argentina at Croke Park today to a World Cup qualifier. Ireland must end a three-match losing streak against the Pumas if they are to retain eighth place in the International Rugby Board rankings.

Walker finds his field of dreams in frozen north

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

With icy winds and snow showers expected to batter Aberdeen today, Canada are expecting Pittodrie to be something of a home from home for them this afternoon – and perhaps something of a deep freeze for the assets Scotland showed in their narrow defeat against the Springboks a week ago. The surroundings of the Aberdeen football ground, though, could hardly be any more familiar to the towering figure who will be on the left wing for the Scots.

Gatland invokes hoodoo spell

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

All week Warren Gatland has been busy trying to exorcise the ghouls that have terrorised Wales since they last beat New Zealand 55 years ago. But last night the crafty Kiwi set about turning the ouija board on his own country.

Eddie Jones: England have to learn from defeat – fast

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

I can't say I was surprised that Australia won at Twickenham last weekend, but I was certainly taken aback by the complete nature of their victory over England. Looking back on events from a few days distance, I still find it hard to see any area of the match that went the way of Martin Johnson's team. The scrums, the line-outs, the breakdown, the defensive game, the kicking game – the Wallabies were superior in all departments. The final margin of 14 points was decisive enough, but if anything, the score flattered the home side.

It's time to flex some muscle

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

It comes to something when playing 80 minutes of rugby against an opponent as aggressively accomplished as Otenili Langilangi – or Nili Latu, as the captain of Tonga likes to be known – is the least of a chap's problems, but Tom Rees knew right from the start of this autumn international series that the demands on his mind and body would increase game on game.

England must prove fit for purpose

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

The England management say all their players are fit and ready for this afternoon's tilt at the world champions of South Africa at Twickenham, but then, they said that about Andrew Sheridan earlier in the week.

Johnson looking for first big step

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:02:25 GMT

Martin Johnson believes victory over South Africa tomorrow would be a seminal moment in his quest to re-establish England as the dominant force in world rugby.

'Ironside' Noon provides England's steel

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:24:11 GMT

Picture the scene in the England changing room minutes after they had been humiliated 36-0 by South Africa in the group phase of the rugby World Cup last year.

Wilkinson no longer thinking of England

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:54:16 GMT

Jonny Wilkinson has admitted he is no longer motivated by a possible return to the England team - and believes Danny Cipriani will prove a worthy long-term successor.

Ireland can conquer depleted Pumas

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:20:09 GMT

As Declan Kidney said as emphatically this week as his soft Irish lilt allows, Ireland understands the significance of this weekend’s Test match against Argentina

Springboks have lost their swagger

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:54:19 GMT

England v South Africa at Twickenham: it ought to be pocket calculator time. The World Champions are in London and they confront an England side still at the embryonic stage. Australia reminded us of that last weekend, moving smoothly to a 28-14 victory that avenged England’s World Cup win over them just over 12 months ago.

Murphy back for crucial match with Argentina

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Geordan Murphy's turbulent Ireland career produced a fresh twist yesterday when the Leicester full-back was recalled for Saturday's crucial showdown with Argentina. An unused squad member so far this autumn, Murphy has been handed the No 15 jersey as one of three changes to the team toppled 22-3 by New Zealand.

Sheridan ruled out of Boks game

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

The long-running saga of Andrew Sheridan's bull neck finally drew to a close yesterday when Dr Mike Bundy, the England team's resident medic, confirmed that the loose-head prop from Sale would miss tomorrow's meeting with South Africa, the world champions, at Twickenham. Tim Payne, of Wasps, who last played for his country against the All Blacks in Christchurch during the summer – and played rather well, despite the story told on the scoreboard – will start the game, with Matt Stevens, of Bath, staying on the replacements' bench.

Peter the pioneer: At the helm of the Springboks

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

If there is any truth whatsoever in "a team being cast in the image of their coach", then England should not be bothering with any video analysis in preparation for tomorrow's confrontation with South Africa. An audience with Peter de Villiers is not what one would term "a predictable experience". Indeed, for the uninitiated there is the danger of being bamboozled to the point of inertia.

England lose Sheridan for South Africa clash

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:21:45 GMT

England prop Andrew Sheridan has been ruled out of Saturday's game against South Africa with a neck injury.

South Africa makes two changes to team

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:32:05 GMT

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made two changes to the team which beat Scotland last weekend for the season-ending Test against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Two changes for South Africa

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:32:05 GMT

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made two changes to the team which beat Scotland last weekend for the season-ending Test against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

White plays down impact of Cipriani

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Jake White, who guided South Africa to a second world title in France a little over a year ago, is not the first coach from the southern hemisphere to view the very English disease of Rampant Ciprianitis with a degree of suspicion – the successful Australian strategist Eddie Jones beat him to it by a good few weeks – but his words yesterday struck a chord all the same. "I read more about Danny Cipriani in the West End than I do about him on the rugby field," White remarked, adding that in his book, Jonny Wilkinson remained unchallenged as the finest red-rose outside-half around.

Shane Williams: World beater

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Such are the 24/7 demands on the modern rugby union international, with one season ending at 11.59pm and the next beginning all of one minute later, that players should not have the time, energy or inclination to indulge in any looking back. But forgive Shane Williams if he allows himself a few brief moments of nostalgia this weekend.

Oliver and Matfield turn their back on French bonanza

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:14:00 GMT

Two of rugby’s top stars have turned their backs on huge pay bonanzas with a leading French club, it has emerged.

Bristol make cash plea

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:24:49 GMT

Bristol have made a public plea for vital new investment as they attempt to raise an additional £2.5million a year.

Scotland pin hopes on experience

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

When Scotland sank to a shock defeat on their last meeting with Canada – a 36-22 reverse at the Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver in 2002 – they did so with inexperience on their side, Ian McGeechan choosing to field a quartet of debutants. Six years on, Frank Hadden, the present day Caledonian head coach, has plumped for experience for Saturday's re-match with the Canucks in Aberdeen, when a home win, coupled with some help from International Rescue, in the form of an Argentine win in Dublin, would put the Scots into the top eight in the world rankings and into the second seeds' pot for next month's World Cup draw. Injuries have accounted for four of the XV that came so close to taking the scalp of the Springboks at Murrayfield last Saturday – Chris Paterson, Thom Evans, Jason White and Ally Hogg – but all of their replacement are seasoned international stagers: Simon Webster, Nikki Walker, Alasdair Strokosch and Simon Taylor.

Same again for Wales as Gatland sends out warning

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Seeing as they have been on the bloody end of so many maulings against them in the last half-century, no Wales player can feel entirely safe when the All Blacks are in town, but that has apparently applied doubly so in the last few twitchy days at the Vale of Glamorgan hotel. In selecting the same starting XV which ran South Africa so close 10 days ago, coach Warren Gatland yesterday all but admitted that he seriously considered dropping his captain, Ryan Jones.

Ireland wait on Quinlan

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

The Ireland forwards Paul O'Connell, Rory Best and Alan Quinlan have been included in an extended squad for the side's vital match with Argentina at Croke Park. The Munster second row O'Connell and Ulster hooker Best suffered dead legs in the 22-3 defeat by New Zealand and are battling to prove their fitness.

Haskell is recalled to battle Boks

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:01 GMT

No one ever accused Martin Johnson of asking his playing colleagues to do something he was not prepared to do himself, and the ferocious old Leicester lock is sticking to his principles in his new role as England manager. Having reacted to last weekend's disappointing defeat by Australia by instructing his charges to "trust the system" put in place by the coaching staff, he showed some trust of his own by retaining all but one of his starting line-up for this weekend's contest with South Africa, the world champions, at Twickenham.