http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/chris-rattue-twickenham-fixture-was-a-snore-draw-1826295.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/chris-rattue-twickenham-fixture-was-a-snore-draw-1826295.html <p> England were so bad they almost made the All Blacks look good, but Martin Johnson's clunky robots failed in that as well. The All Blacks took the spoils on the scoreboard on Saturday, but as a spectacle this rugby international was a snore draw. </p> News & Comment Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:15:45 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-henrys-men-dragged-down-to-englands-level-1826294.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-henrys-men-dragged-down-to-englands-level-1826294.html ]]> <p> A regulation day at the office... </p> News & Comment Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:11:30 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/james-lawton-wilkinsons-wobble-conclusive-proof-the-game-is-up-1825973.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/james-lawton-wilkinsons-wobble-conclusive-proof-the-game-is-up-1825973.html ]]> <p>Of all people, it was Jonny Wilkinson, the hero of all English rugby heroes, who defined most starkly how far his team had regressed, how pressing is the need for an injection of wit, some sense that the nation who contested the last two World Cup finals remember how to play the game at the highest level.</p> News & Comment Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/robin-scottelliot-aussies-vie-with-merson-in-tache-dash-for-growth-1825987.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/robin-scottelliot-aussies-vie-with-merson-in-tache-dash-for-growth-1825987.html <p>Paul Merson's tussle with the English language on Soccer Saturday has become one of the consistent highlights of any sporting weekend, not least because the man himself seems to enjoy the contest so much. He knows he is up against it but the competitive spirit is strong; he will never lie down and let himself be buried beneath the relentless assault of vowels, consonants and any player not called Smith, Jones, or Merson. He will fight them on the pitches, on the London grounds (in particular the Emirates, but not so bothered about the Lane), in the playing fields, anything to pay the bills. He will never remember exactly how to say Altidore. </p> News & Comment Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-concussion-claims-could-be-pushing-the-bounds-of-credibility-1825468.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-concussion-claims-could-be-pushing-the-bounds-of-credibility-1825468.html <p>It's been a while since Bloodgate, so high time for another episode of CSI: European Rugby Cup. The latest case file belongs to Northampton's Springbok prop Brian Mujati, who will be available to play against Bath on Saturday after completing a six-week ban for pushing a referee in the back. The maximum sentence for "physical abuse of match officials" is a life ban, and the "low-end entry point" is six months. So why the leniency? Mujati admitted shoving Nigel Owens 62 minutes into a Heineken Cup match in Perpignan, but successfully argued he was suffering concussion and "confused, disorientated and unwell" when he mistook the referee's green shirt for Perpignan maroon. A few minutes after the push, Mujati vomited on the pitch and, complaining of nausea, was examined by David Cleal, the Northampton doctor, who suspected concussion but allowed him to complete the rest of the game. Mujati recalled Dr Cleal telling him the team "already had a prop off the field and there was no one else to play prop amongst their replacements". Dr Cleal testified he had said no such thing. Hang on, so when Mujati pushed Owens, was he concussed or not? "Concussive episodes often show changing symptoms over a relatively brief period of time," Dr Cleal said. OK, we'll go along with that. So the only mystery is why Owens didn't send him off in the first place.</p> News & Comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-having-a-baby-beats-facing-the-all-blacks-1825469.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-having-a-baby-beats-facing-the-all-blacks-1825469.html <p>Are you going to be playing against the All Blacks, darling?" my wife asked me on Monday. "Unlikely, I'm afraid," I replied, a bit sulkily. "Right then, get yourself back to Bath to have this baby." Standard post-training phone call from the missus.</p> News & Comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/rugby-roundup-williams-and-quins-get-a-bloody-nose-1825472.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/rugby-roundup-williams-and-quins-get-a-bloody-nose-1825472.html <p>Northampton went third in the Guinness Premiership with a 26-17 win against Harlequins at Franklin's Gardens yesterday. The game saw the return from suspension of Tom Williams, the player who was at the centre of the summer's "Bloodgate" fake-injury scandal. The Quins winger suffered a genuine blood injury this time and required extensive treatment.</p> News & Comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-all-blacks-show-how-to-nurture-smarter-players-1824832.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-all-blacks-show-how-to-nurture-smarter-players-1824832.html ]]> <p> Some of the rugby I've seen played in the British Isles of late, including major international contests, has set me thinking anew about what I consider to be one of the burning topics in the modern game: the relationship between coaches and players, both before a match and during it. </p> News & Comment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/dylan-hartley-haka-will-make-hairs-on-my-neck-stand-up-1824834.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/dylan-hartley-haka-will-make-hairs-on-my-neck-stand-up-1824834.html ]]> <p>Dylan Hartley usually gives newspapers a wide berth, but as he spent last week at the England team headquarters in Surrey rather than on the dark side of Planet Zog, he could not help detecting just a whiff of pessimism concerning the immediate survival prospects of the red-rose pack. "Everyone thought we were going to be bullied by the Argentines," he says, grinning from ear to ear. "But we weren't bullied, were we? We won 80 per cent of the hits against a scrum rated the best in the world. I bet none of you saw that statistic coming."</p> News & Comment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/england-v-new-zealand-match-preview-1824582.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/england-v-new-zealand-match-preview-1824582.html ]]> <p> England entertain the All Blacks at Twickenham this Saturday in what some are calling a make-or-break Test for coach Martin Johnson. </p> News & Comment Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:14:03 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-englands-mediocrity-should-come-as-no-surprise-1822210.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-englands-mediocrity-should-come-as-no-surprise-1822210.html ]]> <p> England play rugby like constipated diners and people express surprise. But why? </p> News & Comment Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:47:17 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/gregor-paul-new-zealand-must-humiliate-england-1822172.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/gregor-paul-new-zealand-must-humiliate-england-1822172.html ]]> <p> The important thing for the All Blacks to remember when they play England this week is to leave no room for ambiguity. </p> News & Comment Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:56:02 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/odriscoll-heads-player-of-the-year-nominees-1821584.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/odriscoll-heads-player-of-the-year-nominees-1821584.html ]]> <p> Brian O'Driscoll leads the nominations for the International Rugby Board player of the year as one of two Irish players on the shortlist. </p> News & Comment Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:08:08 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/rugbys-test-centurions-odriscoll-joins-the-club-1820227.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/rugbys-test-centurions-odriscoll-joins-the-club-1820227.html ]]> <p> Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll joined the ranks of rugby's Test centurions on Sunday when he turned out against Australia at Croke Park. </p> News & Comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:14:52 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-england-come-calling-but-then-so-do-bath-1820877.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-england-come-calling-but-then-so-do-bath-1820877.html <p>Surprisingly, not all of my friends at school finished their A-Levels and went on to careers in professional sport. Most of them continued to one university or another before climbing into ill-fitting suits and heading into glass-walled offices equipped with extra-strength air conditioning, a thousand computers and no clocks, where they remain to this day. These are the people, the drones I call mates, who delight in ribbing me via text messages from the country's financial coalface about the paltry number of hours we rugby types actually have to spend at the "office". </p> News & Comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/matt-damon-mandela-and-me-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow-1820882.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/matt-damon-mandela-and-me-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow-1820882.html ]]> <p>A movie directed by Clint Eastwood, telling the story of South Africa's 1995 World Cup triumph and Nelson Mandela's hope that it might unite a nation, has its premiere in the United States next month. In it, a muscled-up Matt Damon plays the role of Francois Pienaar, the Springbok captain. The star of the Bourne trilogy can be relied upon to get the acting right, but at 5ft 10in to Pienaar's 6ft 3in he has one obvious shortcoming. </p> News & Comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-odriscoll-still-feeling-hungry-as-big-round-figure-approaches-1820884.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-odriscoll-still-feeling-hungry-as-big-round-figure-approaches-1820884.html <p>The magnificent Brian O'Driscoll will win his 100th Test cap when he captains Ireland in their opening autumn international against Australia at Croke Park today: the reigning Grand Slam champions hosting the Wallabies, who are on the second leg of their own Slam hunt after defeating England 18-9 at Twickenham. "Australia are a very smart team, the smartest in world rugby," said O'Driscoll. "They think about how to break down defences, they're able to adapt on the pitch, changing from Plan A if they need to. That makes them dangerous, but also a great challenge. I have great hunger for the game at the moment and hopefully we'll pick up where we left off in March." Australia have lost twice on their last three visits to Dublin, which is but one example of the men in green's resurgence, while O'Driscoll – who made his debut in 1999 and has a respectable record of 39 wins in 56 matches as captain – has been around. "Keith Wood was the last Irish captain I played under and that feels like an eternity ago," he said. As he becomes rugby's 11th Test centurion, the 30-year-old centre has indicated his intention to play until the next World Cup in 2011 at least, but he would have to go on beyond that to reach former Australia scrum-half George Gregan's record of 139 caps. Second-placed Jason Leonard is a more feasible target on 119. Those queueing up behind O'Driscoll in the 90s include John Hayes and Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Martyn Williams (Wales), Chris Paterson (Scotland) and South Africa's John Smit.</p> News & Comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-england-need-to-get-on-the-aussies-wavelength-1820457.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-england-need-to-get-on-the-aussies-wavelength-1820457.html <p>Argentina secured a famous victory when they last visited Twickenham in 2006 – I remember it distinctly, having been part of the England coaching team at the time – and when they make their return visit this afternoon, they will again pose certain dangers. Most of the perils will be concentrated in their forward pack, which is rightly considered to be one of the most formidable in the international game – but to my way of thinking, the most intriguing thing about the South Americans will be their approach away from the more static phases of play.</p> News & Comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/england-v-argentina-match-preview-1820277.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/england-v-argentina-match-preview-1820277.html ]]> <p> England face Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday looking to step up their autumn internationals campaign after last week's lacklustre defeat by Australia. </p> News & Comment Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:29:47 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/rfu-chief-rocked-by-bloodgate-1818561.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/rfu-chief-rocked-by-bloodgate-1818561.html ]]> <p> 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. </p> News & Comment Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:42:22 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-leicester-epitomise-the-meaning-of-a-rugby-club-1817965.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-leicester-epitomise-the-meaning-of-a-rugby-club-1817965.html ]]> <p> England have still to play the All Blacks, France have tasty looking encounters lined up against South Africa in Toulouse this Friday and New Zealand, in Marseille, at the end of the month. </p> News & Comment Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:40:48 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/gregor-paul-are-refs-in-awe-of-the-all-blacks-1817591.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/gregor-paul-are-refs-in-awe-of-the-all-blacks-1817591.html ]]> <p> 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. </p> News & Comment Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:33:52 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/james-lawton-wilkinson-the-forlorn-symbol-of-a-culture-that-has-lost-its-way-1817313.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/james-lawton-wilkinson-the-forlorn-symbol-of-a-culture-that-has-lost-its-way-1817313.html ]]> <p>However profound a defeat, it rarely provokes the sense of a sports version of Doomsday. England's did in a way that had to include the wholly admirable Jonny Wilkinson among its casualties.</p> News & Comment Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-green-and-gold-giants-finally-pack-a-punch-1816917.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-green-and-gold-giants-finally-pack-a-punch-1816917.html ]]> <p>Much to my disappointment, the scrummage did not quite develop into the headline-grabbing, tone-setting confrontation I had hoped for yesterday at Twickenham. Inevitably there was the odd penalty either way, but not the violent, passionate, 2005-esque flare-up we all so desired.</p> News & Comment Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-family-ties-family-tries-as-identical-twins-line-up-for-baabaas-1816918.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-family-ties-family-tries-as-identical-twins-line-up-for-baabaas-1816918.html <p>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.</p> News & Comment Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-weaker-wallabies-must-rediscover-killer-instinct-1816604.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-weaker-wallabies-must-rediscover-killer-instinct-1816604.html ]]> <p>It goes without saying that this afternoon's Twickenham international between England and Australia is an important one for both countries as they seek to build confidence and continuity ahead of the next World Cup, but I have to confess that it's more difficult than usual to take a firm view on how things will turn out. A big part of me struggles to see the Wallabies winning, for reasons I will explain. There again, there is always something perilous about writing off any Australian team ahead of the event.</p> News & Comment Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/shane-geraghty-i-know-wallabies-are-out-to-get-me-1816605.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/shane-geraghty-i-know-wallabies-are-out-to-get-me-1816605.html ]]> <p>An awful lot has happened to England's rugby team since Shane Geraghty suddenly materialised at Twickenham in the spring of 2007 and ran Saturn-like rings round a high-rolling French back division containing such luminaries as Christophe Dominici, Vincent Clerc and Yannick Jauzion. A good deal has happened to Geraghty too, precious little of it a cause for celebration, but when he takes the field against the Wallabies today, it will be as if the last two and a half years never happened. That's the thing about supernovas: they always appear to be shining for the first time.</p> News & Comment Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/james-lawton-england-rugby-may-soon-have-to-face-hard-truth-that-johnson-is-not-fit-to-rule-1816608.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/james-lawton-england-rugby-may-soon-have-to-face-hard-truth-that-johnson-is-not-fit-to-rule-1816608.html <p>Six years after achieving one of the most stunning moments in the history of English sport Jonny Wilkinson might have been wise to take his sainted, miraculously resurrected bones for a flying visit to Lourdes before coming home for today's assignment against Australia at Twickenham.</p> News & Comment Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/the-ten-best-england-v-australia-rugby-matches-1815472.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/the-ten-best-england-v-australia-rugby-matches-1815472.html ]]> <p> England and Australia renew hostilities at Twickenham this weekend in their latest Cook Cup clash. </p> News & Comment Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:06 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/win-england-tickets-and-meet-lawrence-dallaglio-1815378.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/win-england-tickets-and-meet-lawrence-dallaglio-1815378.html ]]> <p> Fancy having a pint with rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio to discuss the second of England's Investec Challenge Series games against Argentina? </p> News & Comment Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:17:10 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/wales-v-new-zealand-ten-to-watch-1815294.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/wales-v-new-zealand-ten-to-watch-1815294.html ]]> <p> Wales are hoping to end one of sport's longest running hoodoos when they take on the All Blacks in Cardiff this weekend. </p> News & Comment Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:35:49 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/thompson-returns-rugbys-greatest-comebacks-1814579.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/thompson-returns-rugbys-greatest-comebacks-1814579.html ]]> <p> Steve Thompson's inclusion in the England side to face Australia this weekend completes a remarkable comeback. </p> News & Comment Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:20:28 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ireland-star-odriscoll-plans-huge-wedding-1814557.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ireland-star-odriscoll-plans-huge-wedding-1814557.html ]]> <p> Amy Huberman and Brian O'Driscoll will throw Ireland’s celebrity wedding of the summer after block-booking an entire five-star hotel for five days. </p> News & Comment Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:16:47 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/the-big-question-why-has-rugby-union-become-so-dangerous-and-what-should-be-done-1814152.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/the-big-question-why-has-rugby-union-become-so-dangerous-and-what-should-be-done-1814152.html News & Comment Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/irelands-ogara-sued-over-property-deal-1813785.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/irelands-ogara-sued-over-property-deal-1813785.html ]]> <p> Ronan O'Gara was named in a court action yesterday in which a property company sought to force him and other investors to complete pre-recession deals for apartments. </p> News & Comment Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:43:03 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/win-tickets-to-watch-england-against-australia-and-argentina-at-twickenham-1813607.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/win-tickets-to-watch-england-against-australia-and-argentina-at-twickenham-1813607.html ]]> <p> Emirates, the award-winning international airline and partner of the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) referees and match officials, is offering England rugby fans the chance to see their team in action in their eagerly anticipated Investec Challenge Series games against Australia and Argentina. </p> News & Comment Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:18 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/chris-hewett-ban-on-gangtackling-would-curb-rising-casualties-1813662.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/chris-hewett-ban-on-gangtackling-would-curb-rising-casualties-1813662.html ]]> <p>Increasingly concerned by the ever rising number of injuries affecting top-flight professional players – of the 32-man England squad selected by Martin Johnson in July, only 20 were still standing this time last week – Twickenham officials are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the International Rugby Board's latest medical conference, which begins in nine days' time. In particular, they want to see whether the experts can come up with workable methods of depowering the tackle and making life just a little safer at the ruck.</p> News & Comment Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-gatlands-right-the-premiership-is-weak-1813498.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-gatlands-right-the-premiership-is-weak-1813498.html ]]> <p> Perhaps the most revealing quote of the past 10 days was that of England's Premier Rugby Chief Executive Mark McCafferty. It confirmed the old adage that, it's not what they say but what they don't say... </p> News & Comment Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:56:04 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-firedup-front-three-can-handle-weight-of-nation-1812842.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-firedup-front-three-can-handle-weight-of-nation-1812842.html ]]> <p>When the Wallabies arrive at Twickenham to take on England next week, a few points of tradition will be challenged. Whatever the competition, year or venue, some things have always been assumed in the build-up to this most enticing of fixtures: England's scrum will annihilate the prop-weak Aussies; and the Wallaby back line will be too athletic, thick-thighed and naturally elusive for the straight-up-and-down English.</p> News & Comment Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-lions-entry-in-hall-of-fame-is-dominated-by-pride-of-celtic-tigers-1812844.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-lions-entry-in-hall-of-fame-is-dominated-by-pride-of-celtic-tigers-1812844.html <p>The Temple Speech Room at Rugby School was the venue on Tuesday for the fourth annual induction into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame, accompanied by the inaugural IRB lecture given by the former Wales centre and wing Gerald Davies, manager of this year's Lions squad. Nine inductees on a theme of the Lions in South Africa included 1955 tourists and great friends Cliff Morgan and Sir Anthony O'Reilly, alongside Syd Millar, Willie John McBride and Ian McGeechan. A Celtic gathering, to be sure, but the English may get a look-in next year, which will celebrate 100 years of the Five Nations.</p> News & Comment Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-wasps-abuzz-with-ideas-for-breaching-defences-1812154.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/brian-ashton-wasps-abuzz-with-ideas-for-breaching-defences-1812154.html ]]> <p> The Guinness Premiership has taken its share of criticism over the last few days, not least from the Wales coach, Warren Gatland, who went for the jugular by describing this season's tournament as the worst he'd seen since first coming to these parts from New Zealand. </p> News & Comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/martin-johnson-time-to-deliver-1812155.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/martin-johnson-time-to-deliver-1812155.html ]]> <p> No one ever called Martin Johnson a soppy romantic and lived to tell the tale, but it is well nigh impossible to think of a more accomplished honeymooner. </p> News & Comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/mcgeechan-and-oreilly-enter-hall-of-fame-1810527.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/mcgeechan-and-oreilly-enter-hall-of-fame-1810527.html ]]> <p> Ian McGeechan, a winning player and coach with the Lions in South Africa, and Sir Anthony O'Reilly, the most prolific try scorer for the British Isles side, were among the inductees to the International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame at Rugby School yesterday. The nine new entrants were all recognised for distinguished service on either side in Test series between the Lions and South Africa. </p> News & Comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/premiership-hits-back-at-gatland-comments-1810324.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/premiership-hits-back-at-gatland-comments-1810324.html ]]> <p> Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty today dismissed Warren Gatland's criticism of the Guinness Premiership as a "cheap shot". </p> News & Comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:16:03 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-france-must-unite-in-order-to-win-world-cup-1810269.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-france-must-unite-in-order-to-win-world-cup-1810269.html ]]> <p> Former French President Charles de Gaulle knew his onions from his garlic. "How can you unite a country that produces 263 kinds of cheese" he once asked ? </p> News & Comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:55:22 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/gatland-slams-standard-of-premiership-1809804.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/gatland-slams-standard-of-premiership-1809804.html ]]> <p> Wales boss Warren Gatland has condemned the standard of this season's Guinness Premiership. </p> News & Comment Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:44:35 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-ripley-dodged-the-bullets-but-mckinneys-book-hits-the-mark-1809038.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/ruck-and-maul-ripley-dodged-the-bullets-but-mckinneys-book-hits-the-mark-1809038.html <p>A book of rugby recollections, 'Voices from the Back of the Bus', has been brought together by Stewart McKinney, the Dungannon and Ireland flanker who toured with the 1974 Lions. What began as a hobby, prompted by an epiphanous moment at the memorial service for former Ireland coach Jimmy Davidson in 2007, has turned into 250 pages of contributions from more than 100 players: half of them Lions and almost all of them contemporaries of McKinney from the amateur days. There are wistful reminiscences and laugh-out-loud anecdotes of adventure and ribald misadventure. McKinney's own favourite? David Duckham's description of England's 1973 trip to Dublin at the height of the Troubles. Those England players who would have preferred to slip into Ireland quietly were dumbfounded by the large sign on the windscreen of their coach – "England Rugby Team" – not to mention the armed police outriders. "For the entire journey to the Shelbourne Hotel," Duckham writes, "Andy Ripley rocked back and forth in his window seat. Asked why, he replied, 'I'm trying to make it more difficult for the snipers'." The British Heart Foundation will receive 50 per cent of royalties from the book, and Ruck and Maul heartily recommends it.</p> News & Comment Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-the-risks-will-only-get-worse-but-theres-no-simple-answer-1809040.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/david-flatman-the-risks-will-only-get-worse-but-theres-no-simple-answer-1809040.html <p>Contrary to what the armchair cynic might assume, seeing Andrew Sheridan dislocate his shoulder last week made me feel horrible. Of course, an injury to any man with whom one is in direct competition can only improve one's chances of a call-up, but in this instance I felt nothing but sympathy for my old friend.</p> News & Comment Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100