News & Comment
Brian Ashton: England need to get on the Aussies' wavelength
Tackling the issues: The really striking thing about the Wallabies was their ability to operate together
Inside News & Comment
Rugby's Test centurions: O'Driscoll set to join the club
Friday, 13 November 2009
Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll joins the ranks of rugby's Test centurions on Sunday when he turns out against Australia at Croke Park.
England v Argentina match preview
Friday, 13 November 2009
England face Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday looking to step up their autumn internationals campaign after last week's lacklustre defeat by Australia.
RFU chief rocked by 'Bloodgate'
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
The Rugby Football Union's disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett last night revealed the Bloodgate scandal at Harlequins shook his faith in the game more than any other incident.
Peter Bills: Leicester epitomise the meaning of a rugby club
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Talking Rugby... I would be surprised if any match in the remainder of this month or season reproduces the roaring emotion, the jagged edge-of-seats stuff and the sensational outcome that made Leicester against the South Africans the match of the season so far.
James Lawton: Wilkinson the forlorn symbol of a culture that has lost its way
Monday, 9 November 2009
In terms of wit and invention, this display was an announcement of bankruptcy
Gregor Paul: Are refs in awe of the All Blacks?
Monday, 9 November 2009
If this tour wasn't already hard enough, now the All Blacks will have to watch out for officials determined to show they are not intimidated by the touring side.
David Flatman: Green and gold giants finally pack a punch
Sunday, 8 November 2009
View from the front row with Bath & England prop
Ruck and Maul: Family ties, family tries as identical twins line up for Baa-Baas
Sunday, 8 November 2009
The Barbarians have picked their first set of twins, and identical ones at that, to face the Combined Services in the annual Remembrance Match at Aldershot on Wednesday evening. Rob and James Lewis – a scrum-half from London Welsh and a centre with Coventry respectively – have played together before with Wales Sevens and Ebbw Vale, and were opponents last Friday when their clubs met in the Championship. There is fun to be had with these chromosomal coincidences. In the 1950s, cricket's Alec and Eric Bedser were playing in an exhibition match at The Oval when Alec bowled the first three balls of an over to the great Frank Woolley medium-fast, and Eric sent the remaining three down as spinners. Woolley was clearly none the wiser, remarking to the wicketkeeper: "Wow, that young man's got a wonderful change of pace, hasn't he?" On the other (if identical) hand, Manchester United recently got into bother with their Brazilian twins Fabio and Rafael and a case of mistaken identity over a booking at Barnsley. The Lewis boys have been there, done that, as dad Steve, a former scrum-half and chief executive of the WRU, told Ruck and Maul: "They had an area final at school when Rob put in a high tackle but James was the one sent to the sin-bin. And it's happened more than once in Gwent age-group matches that Rob would be captain and the referee would turn to James to ask whether he wanted the kick or choice of ends." A proud spectator at Aldershot will be the twins' grandfather Ernie, 85, who was a touch judge at the Barbarians' famous 1973 meeting with New Zealand. Another family member will be there in spirit, the remembrance spirit – sister Abbie is an Army lieutenant who has just returned safely to Germany after a three-month tour in Afghanistan.
Shane Geraghty: 'I know Wallabies are out to get me'
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Shane Geraghty will take some hits against Australia – but the man hoping to fill his mentor Mike Catt's boots is not afraid of a challenge. He speaks to Chris Hewett
Brian Ashton: Weaker Wallabies must rediscover killer instinct
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Tackling the issues: Aussie teams will find a way to win unless you keep the lid on them for the entire 80 minutes
SPORT EDITOR'S CHOICE
Most popular in Sport
Read
1 The 50 best rugby players in the world
2 France shows encouraging signs during Boks win new
3 Rugby's Test centurions: O'Driscoll set to join the club
4 England v Argentina match preview
5 French fight back for famous win over ill-disciplined Springboks
6 Only victory can calm the storm for Johnson
7 Agustin Pichot: How the Pumas learnt to roar
8 Robinson wants flying start with Scots after red rose circus
Emailed
Commented
1Britain's Abu Ghraib: Did Britain collude with US in abuse of Iraqis?
2Leading article: The Prime Minister's black week suddenly turns rosy
3Britain the economic 'sick man of Europe'
4Howard Jacobson: Nick Griffin looks as if he'd be light on his feet. So here's what to do with him
5John Curtice: Labour's Glasgow victory is not all it seems
6Girls shouldn't expect to 'have it all' says school head
7Royal Navy witnessed Somali pirates kidnap British couple
Who are England's greatest rivals?
Martin Johnson's England face old enemies Argentina at Twickenham this weekend - but which country do you most like to see an England side get one over on?
Martin Johnson's England face old enemies Argentina at Twickenham this weekend - but which country do you most like to see an England side get one over on?
| Scotland |
|
| Germany |
|
| Argentina |
|
| France |
|
| Australia |
|
| Another nation |
|



Take a trip to the world's most interesting places with Simon Calder