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Posted 55 days ago
FIJI WON the on-field plaudits by sneaking past first-time Cup finalists Wales 26-19, to successfully defend their HSBC Sevens title. In a thrilling final, the South Sea Islanders scored four unopposed second-half tries to come back from a half-time deficit of 19-0.
However, the entertainment wasn’t just limited to the field of play, the fans made sure they got noticed in…
Posted 124 days ago
NO DOUBT the hope was, during the moments where we all jumped up and shouted about the harsh brilliance of the Heineken Cup and the layout of the Six Nations squads, that a few signings could be squeezed in without us noticing.
Posted 169 days ago
WITH THE flash of a mischievous smile, Bryan Habana reclines. “There is no greater feeling than drinking a beer out of a trophy,” he says. Habana is both open and philosophical about success. He is in a South London hotel, but you could be sitting at the bar in his house, looking at the shirts on the wall and the trophies on his mantel.
Posted 174 days ago
AN INTENSELY frustrating day for England, who on the balance of play did enough to earn a first win over the Springboks in 11 meetings. They had an edge in most areas and carved out what few try-scoring opportunities there were – but squandered every one. In addition, Toby Flood chose a bad day to miss a couple of straightforward penalty kicks.
Posted 175 days ago
TEST MATCHES are won by inches. The top two inches. Robshaw misread the situation.
Posted 177 days ago
MALCOLM PREEDY was part of the first one-club front row to play for England. In 1984, the former Gloucester captain packed down with club-mates Steve Mills and Phil Blakeway against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
Posted 181 days ago
SOMETHING WAS wrong. It did not sit right. Scotland were heading into a game off the back of a colossal All Black drubbing and they were…confident. While South Africa sent the walls shuddering, as they marched into Murrayfield, the fans in tartan were jovial, nay optimistic, and all at once setting themselves up for a fall.
Posted 181 days ago
Two things counted against Scotland in the final analysis. They allowed South Africa to build up a 21-3 lead in the first 45 minutes thanks to a few crucial errors and acts of indiscipline, and when they did summon a sustained head of steam in the last half-hour they were thwarted by a truly outstanding Springbok defence.
Posted 184 days ago
TWO YEARS ago, Scotland went into a Murrayfield Test against South Africa on the back of a 46-point defeat by New Zealand and upset the odds to win 21-17. Last Sunday the Scots lost 51-22 to the All Blacks, so they need to show similar character and resilience to defeat the Springboks in Edinburgh this Saturday.
Posted 187 days ago
I CAN’T begin to imagine the impact on Ireland’s pysche having come so close to beating the World Champions on their own turf, and then suffering a record defeat the following week and being nilled in the process. But I’m guessing it comes pretty close to complete demoralisation.
