November Internationals – Europe It’s another exciting weekend ahead for Test Rugby as the November Internationals continue and we look at four upcoming fixtures: Italy vs Argentina – Genoa England vs South Africa – Twickenham Scotland vs New Zealand – Edinburgh France vs Australia – Paris First up we’ll review the previous weekend’s action byContinue reading “The openining matches in November’s Internationals see heartbreak for Wales and England while Irish and Scottish eyes are smiling!”
Author Archives: Neil Olsen
The Northern Hemisphere prepares for their annual wake up call from the Southern Hemisphere!
November Internationals – Europe It’s an exciting weekend ahead for Test Rugby as the November Internationals get into full swing with four great encounters to get us started this Saturday: Wales vs Australia – Cardiff England vs New Zealand – Twickenham Ireland vs South Africa – Dublin Scotland vs Argentina – Edinburgh Expect full throttleContinue reading “The Northern Hemisphere prepares for their annual wake up call from the Southern Hemisphere!”
Plenty of French Flair but how much of it is homebrew?
European Champions Cup As mentioned last week, this week we will be looking at the top three French sides performances in the second round of the European Champions Cup and see how this might have a bearing on the French squad selection for the forthcoming November series of Tests against the Southern Hemisphere nations. Looking atContinue reading “Plenty of French Flair but how much of it is homebrew?”
England where art thou?
European Champions Cup As mentioned last week, this week we will be looking at the top three English sides performances in the opening round of the European Champions Cup and see how this might have a bearing on the England squad selection for the forthcoming November series of Tests against the Southern Hemisphere nations. BasedContinue reading “England where art thou?”
Wallabies have another hard lesson at the All Blacks Finishing School
Bledisloe Cup 3 Australia vs New Zealand Final Score – NZ 29/Aus 28 Brisbane One thing this match was not was a dead rubber match. Despite the media circus surrounding the Wallaby camp, Australia came into this game guns blazing. For three quarters of the game they outplayed a competitive but slightly under par AllContinue reading “Wallabies have another hard lesson at the All Blacks Finishing School”
European Champions Cup – The Old Heineken Cup gets a new lease of life!
European Champions Cup Although the purpose of The Lineout is to focus on International Test Rugby, there are two annual competitions that set the tone for the composition and selection of national squads for International Test Rugby. In the Southern Hemisphere it is Super Rugby, comprising 15 of the best club sides from South Africa,Continue reading “European Champions Cup – The Old Heineken Cup gets a new lease of life!”
Australia and New Zealand – unfinished business!
Bledisloe Cup 3 Australia vs New Zealand – Brisbane Saturday, October 18 You could be forgiven for thinking that this is potentially a dead rubber match. The Rugby Championship is well and truly dusted with New Zealand deserved champions. Australia has emerged from the whole process in tatters surrounded by various off field media circuses.Continue reading “Australia and New Zealand – unfinished business!”
Rugby Championship 2014 – Round 6 – Give the people what they want – at last!
Rugby Championship 2014 South Africa vs New Zealand Final Score – SA 27/NZ 25 Johannesburg As expected this match proved to be the classic end of tournament showdown between the two best sides in the world that everyone predicted. No quarter given and none taken as this game went down to the wire for theContinue reading “Rugby Championship 2014 – Round 6 – Give the people what they want – at last!”
Rugby Championship 2014 – Round 5 – The Mighty Springbok returns!
South Africa vs Australia Final Score – SA 28/Aus 10 Cape Town For me this game was definitely one of the highlights of the Championship this year. The last ten minutes of the game and the Springboks breathtaking performance will go down as a vintage rugby classic. The whole game was good and kept everyoneContinue reading “Rugby Championship 2014 – Round 5 – The Mighty Springbok returns!”
Rugby Championship – Round 5 Preview
Fixtures this weekend South Africa vs Australia – Cape Town Undoubtedly the fixture of the weekend, as these two sides slug it out to see who really is the second best team in the world after the All Blacks. With the All Blacks most likely clinching the Championship this weekend in Argentina, this match isContinue reading “Rugby Championship – Round 5 Preview”
The Lineout 