Allons enfants de la Patrie (Arise, children of the Nation) and arise is what they did. What a brilliant statement from the French, holding hands like a well-heeled, orderly bunch of school children on a walking trip to church, as the world awaited their slaughter. (more…)
From Israel Dagg to Richie McCaw, New Zealand have all the key game-breakers (more…)
To change the players’ behaviour, those who lead – the IRB, the unions and the elite players – must remain at the forefront of the highest possible standards.
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So the All Blacks have made it into the semi-final, so too the Wallabies; predictable? Wales have travelled an unbelievable distance in a few short months, making their arrival slightly less so but that France have made it into the semi-final requires our attention. A team that is dysfunctional in its selection, struggling to know what it wants but can turn it on “periodically” when required demands us to take notice. Irish rugby should take notice. (more…)
HOWEVER BADLY and deflated I felt on Saturday morning, I can only imagine how this Irish team must have been feeling. Although it very much looks like it, the game was not won by the Welsh openside and outside centre and that is what will sicken Brian O’Driscoll so much. (more…)
In the 29th minute Samoa scored a try against Wales but referee Alain Rolland decreed a double movement and the try was not allowed. Samoa had battered for 17 phases close to the breakdown, going one way and rewinding another, all at will. Each Samoan ball carrier powered into contact refusing to go but one way, forward. (more…)
How little belief must Giovanni Trapattoni have in the bulk of his squad? Given the choice between playing one of two very capable central midfielders against Andorra tomorrow and opting to risk the suspension of Glenn Whelan for the Armenia game in Dublin on Tuesday, he chose the latter. (more…)
