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England’s rivals try to hijack 2015 World Cup

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:46 GMT

EUPHORIA that England will at last be chosen to stage a World Cup as sole hosts is in danger of evaporating with news that other nations are busy trying to secure the 2015 tournament.

Danny Cipriani vows to fight for England berth

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:39 GMT

ON FRIDAY, Danny Cipriani trained for the first time in well over a year when carrying no extra weight. Two weeks ago the plate and screws inserted to help recovery from the severe ankle injury he suffered at the end of season 2007-08 were finally removed and, typically, as soon as he could he was out training with Margot Wells, his fitness adviser.

Jonny Wilkinson prime candidate to return at No 10

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The fight for the England No 10 shirt swung back firmly in favour yesterday of Jonny Wilkinson, who has been fast-tracked into Martin Johnson's elite player squad for next season at the expense of Danny Cipriani.

Danny Cipriani remains in cold as Jonny Wilkinson is called up by England

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:27:20 GMT

Danny Cipriani has been left out of Martin Johnson's 32-man England squad for the autumn internationals but Jonny Wilkinson has been recalled.

Jamie Roberts sets the standard for future Lions to follow

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:42 GMT

The Lions have worried in recent seasons about their legacy. They need worry no more. Two generations of players have been inspired by the tour that ended here on Saturday and they will carry the message back to their clubs and provinces and infect others.

Ayr open Scottish rugby season against Heriot's

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:32 GMT

Scotland's domestic season will kick off with a clash between last season's Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership and Cup winners, Ayr and Heriot's. The growing influence of Edinburgh as the main driving force in the sport north of the Border is also emphasised as the fixture list, published yesterday, sees at least one capital city derby each weekend.

SA Rugby charged with misconduct over Bakkies Botha protest

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:02 GMT

The bitter tinge that pervaded the final week of the Lions tour, provoked by the suspensions of Schalk Burger for gouging and Bakkies Botha for a dangerous charge, was maintained yesterday when the IRB charged SA Rugby with misconduct.

Crushing defeat gives South Africa pause for thought

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:21:34 GMT

Three-zip it was. But not in quite the way predicted by an arrogant minority of boorish, uninformed one-eyes who tarnish the good name of South African rugby and do a disservice to the even-handed, knowledgeable majority who support the Springboks. So, to that minority, here it is: Yes boys, the try-count was three nil to the Lions at your Ellis Park stronghold in the third test, and, in the process, South Africa's world class strength-in-depth was laid bare as being more hype than substance, with Peter de Villiers rudderless outfit smashed by a side which equalled the Lions previous biggest win over the Springboks set by the 1974 "Invincibles".

The Lions Rolling Maul: Beaten but unbowed - the end of a glorious tour

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:33:41 GMT

And that was that. The Lions, who were judged in some quarters to be one of the weakest sides ever sent abroad and deemed easy prey for a South African team playing at their beloved Ellis Park, came through to run up a record score, playing the Springboks to a complete standstill when they should have been utterly exhausted. They trooped off with the twin emotions of joy and the most profound frustration that they did not take a series which was there for the taking.

Long injury list dominates Lions tour

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:51 GMT

The Lions will leave for home today asking how much more physical intensity rugby union can endure. They have also suggested that the size and strength of players involved at elite level may have reached a plateau and that sheer bulk should be scaled down in favour of athleticism and skill, not only so that the game can continue to attract new adherents, but also for the welfare of the competitors themselves.

Lions lay down impressive marker for future

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:17 GMT

No one was entitled to expect what the Lions offered at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday. A record-equalling win - the 1974 Invincibles beat the Springboks by the same scoreline - was much more than a face-saving exercise against a much-changed opponent and also a statement of how far the 2009 Lions have come in six short weeks.

Jamie Heaslip leads Lions who roared

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:16 GMT

Simon Shaw banned for two weeks for dangerous play

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:46:50 GMT

Simon Shaw, the British and Irish Lions lock, has received a two-week ban after being cited for dangerous play during the third Test victory over South Africa in Johannesburg, the South Africa Rugby Football Union have announced.

Paul O’Connell proves a rightful Lion king

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:40 GMT

Hatfield Square was heaving last Saturday night. Essentially an open-air drinking emporium in the heart of Pretoria, this was the place to be after the test at Loftus Versfeld — as long you were under the age of 30 and had a serious thirst on you. And as long as you weren’t in any way related to Ronan O’Gara.

How the South Africa and Lions players rated

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:29 GMT

South Africa

Lions win throwback to glorious times of old

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

STATISTICS lie, damn them; based purely on statistics, the 2009 Lions should have been the winners. South Africa scored 63 points to the Lions’ 74, the Springboks were outscored by seven tries to five, but the only statistic that history will remember is South Africa 2, the British & Irish Lions 1.

Victory will last four years, says Ian McGeechan

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:02:04 GMT

IAN McGEECHAN, in his last post-match press conference as Lions coach, expressed the sheer exhilaration and relief that his team would not be going home completely empty-handed. He also rated this series against the Springboks as among his best memories.

Lions restore pride with record-equalling win

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:12:03 GMT

South Africa v Lions - how the match unfolded

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:40:56 GMT

South Africa 9-28 Lions FT

Ian McGeechan sees bright future for Lions despite series defeat by Springboks

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:57 GMT

When the final whistle blows at Coca-Cola Park this afternoon, when the final press conference to consider the 2009 series between South Africa and the Lions is over, Ian McGeechan will take his first decent holiday for 37 years. The Lion king will lie down and reflect a while.

Warren Gatland offers Lions support for banned Bakkies Botha

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:37 GMT

South Africa's anger at the perceived “victimisation” of Bakkies Botha, the lock suspended for two weeks after a dangerous charge on Adam Jones during the second international in Pretoria, won support from the Lions yesterday.

The Lions Rolling Maul: Bakkies Botha, the pantomime villain

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:04:28 GMT

Phil Vickery returns to Lions starting line-up for third Test against South Africa

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:12 GMT

The contrast between South Africa and the Lions going into tomorrow’s final international at Ellis Park could not be more marked. The Springboks, series won, cheerfully make ten changes and come up with a side which is arguably stronger than the ones who won the first two games; the Lions make eight, four of them forced by injury and at least two more by sheer exhaustion.

I could not get Andy Murray out of my head at Glastonbury

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:07 GMT

I went to Glastonbury for the first time last weekend. I thought those days had passed me by at 36, with two young children, and my previous disastrous experiences with camping (involving birds' mess and a religious cult) were considerable barriers for raving in fields.

Wounded Phil Vickery gets chance to make amends with Lions

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:39:17 GMT

It's payback time for Phil Vickery, the "Raging Bull" who was neutered by Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira so completely in Durban a fortnight ago that it looked as if not just his Lions days, but his international days as whole, were over for good. And if it is stand tall time for Vickery, the same is true for Joe Worsley, Riki Flutey, and Simon Shaw, the other Wasps veterans selected for the third and final international of this fascinating, ferocious, and increasingly bitter series between the 2009 Lions and South Africa.