Scotland Provide First Real Test For English Revival
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice. My first Six Nations weekend’s successful predictions were not replicated due to a disallowed last minute try at Murrayfield. My old playing colleague, Jeff Probyn, dredged up in his media column the ‘non-try’ by Tony Stanger which won the Grand Slam for Scotland in the infamous ‘Grudge’ match as […]
England’s Centres of Attention
Another wild weekend of high scoring Premiership rugby indicates, besides attacking intent, either a total lack of defence, pressure or an insatiable lust for losing bonus points! Either way the sizeable crowds are loving it although the defence coaches will be tearing their hair out. The clubs seem to be taunting Steve Borthwick who will […]
Triple helpings for a Rugby Super Saturday
The dysfunctional nature of our underperforming club game in England was never more obvious than at the weekend as two of the country’s best players in their position could not appear for the top of table clash between Sale and Saracens.
Chalk and Cheese in thrilling Six Nations weekend
We can safely say that the Rugby World Cup will be epic. Enough teams have worked out that high intensity attacking rugby will be the only way to win. Some sides are fine-tuning their approach and we saw that this weekend. One or two others are yet to start…
Dark Clouds in Cardiff overshadow Six Nations onfield dramas
There have been some truly great moments in the Six Nations to date but sadly overshadowed by the off-field mismanagement we have known for a while would come to hurt the game.
England’s Rugby Realities (2)
Just as we are all ruminating on the right structures to give England rugby success, some fascinating takes have appeared in the press on the England coaching job by Rob Baxter and then Mark McCall.
England’s Rugby Realities
I said it was complicated and in a whole generation of English rugby, only three groups have ever been really successful and all three had the same characteristics.
Six Nations – a (dis)passionate look back.
Rugby romance, drama and crass stupidity at the close in Cardiff was a stunning feature of an ultimately predictable Six Nations as France and Ireland were streets ahead of the rest. I am not one for shouting at the television, and hardly when Wales is playing Italy.
Ambition on show as a cold wind blows from North to South
This year of all years has been incredibly tough on professional rugby. All the touring teams from the Southern Hemisphere have been in ‘ bubbles ‘ for months and must be mentally and physically exhausted.
A Wine Ode To Doddie
I was driving back in my trusty, big but cumbersome Ford F250 that suits my big frame that was used to bumping people around. Mind you ask Chris Butcher the ex England player about that, and it also cocoons me against the lunacy of some of todays’ drivers.
