In 50 years of watching rugby, I have to be honest I can’t remember the last time the annual summer tours by the Northern Hemisphere have ended with all series needing to be decided in game 3. As a result we are in for a truly spectacular Saturday this weekend, akin to Super Saturday inContinue reading “This year’s Summer Tours look set to come to an unprecedented conclusion as across the board Game 3 is a series decider for all!!!”
Tag Archives: New Zealand
November Internationals – North vs South and what we’ve learned – Part 2
After a month of truly vintage North vs South International Test Rugby, we take a look at what the respective Coaches of the big Ten learnt about their charges. We also pick our player of the month from each of the teams as well as a starting XV for each of them and which weContinue reading “November Internationals – North vs South and what we’ve learned – Part 2”
Ireland attempt to prove they’ve turned a corner against New Zealand
As mentioned over on the TV page, I’m slightly slammed with work at the moment, but there are three genuinely tasty fixtures in this weekend’s second Round of the November Internationals that simply have to be acknowledged. So here are the things that struck me from each of the three, with this second instalment lookingContinue reading “Ireland attempt to prove they’ve turned a corner against New Zealand”
A Whirlwind Tour of this weekend’s Autumn International action – Part 1
As mentioned over on the TV page, work is dominating my life at the moment, so there is very little time to watch all the great rugby coming our way over the next three weeks, let alone write about it. However, with so much to talk about, felt I had to get something down onContinue reading “A Whirlwind Tour of this weekend’s Autumn International action – Part 1”
A Test too soon?
Wales take on New Zealand this weekend in a game that, similar to last weekend’s misguided matchup between the All Blacks and the USA, appears to be poorly timed and leaving one team with one hand tied behind its back. Wales are without a number of key players doing club duty in England’s domestic PremiershipContinue reading “A Test too soon?”
South Africa stick to their guns against an All Black side that rarely falters twice!
Despite the gloom and doom surrounding South Africa’s “conservative” or “boring” game plan, call it what you will – as rugby fans we were treated to one hell of a Test match last Saturday to mark the 100th encounter between New Zealand and South Africa. There is no denying that New Zealand had a ratherContinue reading “South Africa stick to their guns against an All Black side that rarely falters twice!”
As a foretaste to the Rugby Championship, the first Bledisloe Cup match is always one of the most anticipated fixtures of the year
As we move away from the controversy ridden Lions tour to South Africa, it’s hopefully time to get back to the good old fashioned basics of International Test Rugby. The first game of the annual Bledisloe Cup three match series between Australia and New Zealand is one that their supporters and neutrals alike eagerly lookContinue reading “As a foretaste to the Rugby Championship, the first Bledisloe Cup match is always one of the most anticipated fixtures of the year”
So what did the recently concluded Rugby Championship (aka Tri Nations this year) tell us about its competitors after one of the strangest years in terms of Test Rugby?
Let’s be honest in general 2020 is a year that most of us can’t wait to assign to the scrap heap of history. Our beloved sport was put on hold for several months and when it did return it was forced to play out in empty stadiums in the Northern Hemisphere. On that note ourContinue reading “So what did the recently concluded Rugby Championship (aka Tri Nations this year) tell us about its competitors after one of the strangest years in terms of Test Rugby?”
Argentina attempt what some say is the impossible – back to back wins over New Zealand
In a weekend, which serves up some rather dour Northern Hemisphere contests in the Autumn Nations Cup, there is no doubt whatsoever that the second Tri-Nations clash between New Zealand and Argentina is THE BIG TICKET item this Saturday. Can Argentina pull off the unthinkable and defeat the All Blacks twice in a row? CanContinue reading “Argentina attempt what some say is the impossible – back to back wins over New Zealand”
Simply put – what a weekend lies in store as the World Cup gets to the business end in Japan!
When we first looked at the pools draw for this World Cup, we felt that possibly the pool stages may have ended up being rather one-sided. In many ways they were, certainly in the case of Pool B. However, as always some of the Tier 2 nations packed some genuine punch. Uruguay were well worthContinue reading “Simply put – what a weekend lies in store as the World Cup gets to the business end in Japan!”
The Lineout 