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Wallabies spoil Jonny Wilkinson's return

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:01:35 GMT

The concept of rugby as a dynamic sport died a death in English hands yesterday, though thank goodness, not in the hands of Australia.

How the England and Australia players rated

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:58 GMT

England:

Marc Lievremont hopes to find turning point against South Africa

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:53 GMT

France face South Africa in Toulouse, the nation's rugby epicentre, on Friday. A rugby nation who have been plotting their course towards the next World Cup in 2011 against the world champions, who remain the best side in the world; halfway between the previous and the next World Cup this is "the turning point", as the French coach, Marc Lievremont, describes the match.

Stroke of Will Genia shows up Martin Johnson’s failings

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:50 GMT

WILL GENIA is 21 years old and already capped eight times as a scrum-half for Australia. Yesterday, he delivered a man-of-the-match performance against England and in the process taught not only his opposing players but the opposition management a brutal lesson in the art of international rugby.

England should name Ian McGeechan coach today

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:45 GMT

INTERNATIONAL rugby is said to be a brutal world. So here is a brutal question. England’s players are together for long tranches of the season and the question is this: Are they improving when they are together with Martin Johnson and his coaching group, or are they declining? Yesterday at Twickenham, to me, there was very little evidence that some of the England players had actually met before, let alone that they had been training together for the past two weeks.

Excuses come thick and fast

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:38 GMT

MARTIN JOHNSON tried to deflect the pressure off his misfiring England team last night by talking up the Australians and claiming that his men would be better for the beating.

Dan Carter helps stretch All Blacks domination

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:08 GMT

THE wait goes on, and so does the hurt, the angst and the frustration. Still Wales must delay the anointment of the next Ken Jones, still they look for the man who will end this horribly enduring torment. This was far from the most convincing of New Zealand’s 21 straight victories in the fixture, a run that spans some 56 years, but for Wales it will be all the more hard to take because of that very fact.

Vision is vital as Ireland seek the prizes

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:18:00 GMT

Two strange, wonderful and not altogether unconnected thoughts: Ireland have it in their compass to become the first-ever country in the professional era to complete a calendar year with a 100% winning record. And Brian O’Driscoll, their captain and still their best player, can now see properly.

Dan Carter helps stretch All Blacks domination

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:17:01 GMT

New Zealand's sticking power carried them to yet another success over Wales, as Dan Carter's boot helped them to an ultimately comfortable margin of victory.

South Africans forced to bow to Leicester’s youth rally

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

If England were looking for a boost before today’s opening international of the season, they received it last night from their champion club.

Matt Banahan’s Spitfire tattoo is drawn from fierce pride in his heritage

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

In this day and age, when we are told that rugby players are morphing into gym monkeys, we mention tentatively the fact that the highest scorer in power testing on a weights circuit in the England camp this week was Matt Banahan. Banahan by a significant margin from James Haskell, with Ayoola Erinle and Dave Wilson not far behind.

Martin Johnson adamant senior players must lighten Jonny Wilkinson’s load

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Twickenham will be waiting this afternoon, if not for Godot then to see whether England or Australia, or both, turn up.

Wales must control breakdown area if they are to banish All Blacks’ hoodoo

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Victory for Wales on Saturday against New Zealand would not only bring to an end a 56-year drought, it could also herald the beginning of a third golden age of rugby in the Principality, with their legion of Lions players at its heart.

Jonny Wilkinson: I’m back at Twickenham at last and not just for kicks

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

It feels absolutely fabulous to be back and playing for England at Twickenham today. I can’t really say exactly how I will be feeling in those last few hours before the game but I can say for sure that the old anxiety will be back, the nerves, the anticipation. And I’ll be aware, after the injuries and experiences of the past few years, of how much it means to me and that I must embrace it and make the most of it.

England hoping for Simon Shaw thing against London Irish

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

While England’s focus will be firmly on events at Twickenham this afternoon, they will take more than a passing interest in Simon Shaw’s first start of the season for London Wasps on Sunday.

Jonah Lomu offers wise words to any budding ‘next big wing’

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Tuesday evening, the night before Matt Banahan was named for his first England start at Twickenham, a plane touched down in France carrying another wing of similarly unusual dimensions. Banahan is 6ft 7in and 17½st, Jonah Lomu is 6ft 5in, tops 18st and hopes to make his debut for Marseilles Vitrolles in the French third division in a fortnight’s time.

Leicester teenagers given their chance against South Africa

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

There are few sights that Welford Road has not seen in the 117 years Leicester have played there but a game between the club and South Africa is one of them. So the arrival of the world champions for the official opening tonight of the Caterpillar Stand in front of a capacity 24,000 crowd has a special local resonance, while, for the Springboks, it kicks off the final phase of an exceptional year.

Steve Black takes pride in Jonny Wilkinson’s return

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

“Who’s this Geordie fella with the beard? Why should I listen to him?” The fella asking the rhetorical questions is a Geordie. With a beard. Over the years, sportsmen in a variety of disciplines have testified that it is well worth listening to Steve Black.

Warren Gatland seeks to turn screw on All Blacks over Dan Carter

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Warren Gatland has maintained his battle of words with New Zealand by raising doubts about the selection of Dan Carter for the match against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow.

Gritty Rocky Elsom leads new Australia order against England

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

The similarities are remarkable. Australia, like England, are a side looking to become a world force once more and the midfield combinations confirm it: Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane will play centre for the Wallabies and they have won 12 caps between them, just like their opposite numbers at Twickenham tomorrow, Dan Hipkiss and Shane Geraghty.

Jonny Wilkinson is back in an England rugby shirt at last

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Keeping the faith. That’s what counts. Holding true to what matters is the key to a decent and meaningful life. And we can all keep the faith — as long as things go our way.

Stuart Barnes video analysis: England v Australia

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:37:08 GMT

England v Australia

Stuart Barnes video analysis: Martyn Williams is the key to Wales ending 56 years of hurt

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:32:31 GMT

Wales v New Zealand

Dan Carter named in All Blacks team to face Wales

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Although Dan Carter was named in the New Zealand team last night to face Wales on Saturday, Graham Henry, the coach of the All Blacks, admitted that doubts remain as to whether the talismanic fly half will be fit.

Luke Watson turns away from South Africa ambitions to join Bath

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

A southern-hemisphere player coming north to play as he approaches the end of his career is hardly news.