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Bring on Bordeaux-Begles monsters – Bristol Bears back rower Fitz Harding
Bristol Bears were the talk of the Champions Cup last weekend after sticking 61 points on the Bulls at altitude in Pretoria, but Fitz Harding reckons their defining display this season was the nuggety home victory over Exeter Chiefs. The post Bring on Bordeaux-Begles monsters – Bristol Bears back rower Fitz Harding appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Eastmond keen to make his mark as a coach
■By ROSS HEPPENSTALL KYLE Eastmond says the lessons he learned in rugby union will hold him in good stead as he bids to reach the top in coaching. The former Bath, Wasps and Leicester star, who represented England in both codes, is currently in charge of league outfit Halifax Panthers. They play part-time in the […] The post Eastmond keen to make his mark as a coach appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Edoardo Todaro is quick to find his feet at Northampton Saints
Edoardo Todaro was not on many one-to-watch lists at the start of the season, but five months in, the 19-year-old has become a regular starter for Northampton Saints and been capped by Italy. The post Edoardo Todaro is quick to find his feet at Northampton Saints appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Jeremy Guscott: It’s time for Bristol Bears to stand up and deliver
When you’re shipping 49 points, as Bristol Bears did against the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend in the European Cup, you’ve got to score a lot of tries – and that’s exactly what Pat Lam’s side did. The post Jeremy Guscott: It’s time for Bristol Bears to stand up and deliver appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Eight-try Sharks get back in the mood to leave Clermont on the floor
■ By SAM JACKSON Sharks ...............50pts Tries: Fassi 2, 65; Hendrikse 17, Koch 45, Sobahle 50, Masuku 73, Buthelezi 79, Julius 81 Conversions: Hendrikse 3, 18, 46, 51; Masuku 65 Clermont ...........12pts Tries: Jurand 12, Hamdaoui 33 Conversion: Zamora 34 THE Sharks kept their Champions Cup knockout hopes alive by thumping Clermont at Kings Park, […] The post Eight-try Sharks get back in the mood to leave Clermont on the floor appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Heartbreak for Munster as Castres take their chances
By BEN JAYCOCK Tries: Casey 17, 34; Abrahams 46, Edogbo 59, 78 Conversions: Crowley 18, 79 Munster ............29pts Castres ..............31pts Tries: Karawalevu 10, Chabouni 38, Palis 67, Ambadiang 72 Conversions: Fernandez 11, 39; Herve 68, 73 Penalty: Fernandez 2 MUNSTER’S Champions Cup campaign ended in heartbreak at Thomond Park as Castres stunned the hosts in […] The post Heartbreak for Munster as Castres take their chances appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nick Cain: Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson fails to produce a cutting-edge strategy
Scott Robertson’s ‘windmill’ spin breakdancing celebrations were shelved during his tenure as All Blacks head coach. The post Nick Cain: Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson fails to produce a cutting-edge strategy appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Bordeaux beef wins the day
NO scrum, no-win! That was the message rammed home at the Stade Chaban-Delmas as European champions Bordeaux-Begles brought last season’s runners-up, Northampton, down to earth with a 50-28 thud in the first meeting between the two clubs since last season’s final in Cardiff. No matter how talented the Saints backline, or how defiantly brilliant Henry […] The post Bordeaux beef wins the day appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Weak Edinburgh don’t deserve their place
IF Edinburgh fail to qualify for the last-16 in the European Cup, good riddance. By putting out a severely weakened team against Bath on Friday at The Rec, and taking a nine-try 63-10 battering, they don’t deserve to be there. The European Cup is being devalued as the premium club competition in the world by […] The post Weak Edinburgh don’t deserve their place appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Chris Hewett: Junior Kpoku on course to power up Red Roses
On the basis that Junior Kpoku is 6ft 8ins and 120kgs, his opponents must be dreading the day they run into Senior Kpoku. The post Chris Hewett: Junior Kpoku on course to power up Red Roses appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Now the All Blacks need to crack on
THERE is something of the Clive Woodward about Scott Robertson, whose coaching career at international level has just disappeared off a cliff. Both could reasonably be described as energetic, imaginative, communicative and a little on the random side. Both were happy to ruffle feathers and stick it to the governing classes. Both were so animated […] The post Now the All Blacks need to crack on appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Bulls put in a late run to keep out battling Pau
■By BEN JAYCOCK Pau ..................... 24pts Tries: Delhommel 10, 41; Maximin 33 Conversions: Mondinat 11; Souverbie 34, 42 Penalty: Souverbie 49 Bulls ....................26pts Tries: Gumede 4; van der Merwe 30, Jooste 58, Carr 73 Conversions: Pollard 30, 59, 74 THE Bulls kept their Champions Cup campaign alive by finally snapping a seven-match losing streak in […] The post Bulls put in a late run to keep out battling Pau appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Peter Jackson: Blizzard of points is obscuring the view
The Champions Cup, a misnomer if ever there was one, gorged itself last weekend on a feast of tries: 107 at an average of almost exactly nine per match, the redefinition of gluttony. The post Peter Jackson: Blizzard of points is obscuring the view appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
A frozen farce with no hint of an apology
THE credibility of European Professional Club Rugby Ltd took another bashing last weekend over a botched attempt to stage the Cheetahs-Ulster fixture on neutral ground in Amsterdam. South Africa’s sole contender in the Challenge Cup thought so much of Europe’s secondary competition that they gave up home advantage, two opening defeats having left them with […] The post A frozen farce with no hint of an apology appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Baxter sets sights on a home draw in last 16
■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Exeter Cardiff Chiefs v Today. Kick-off 1pm, Sandy Park EXETER Chiefs head into today’s final pool fixture against Cardiff looking to secure a home round of 16 tie at Sandy Park. Both sides are already through to the knockouts, but finishing position remains critical, with the top seeds earning home […] The post Baxter sets sights on a home draw in last 16 appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Montpellier claim top spot as Ospreys comeback falls short
■ By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys .............26pts Tries: Watkin 11, Lloyd 40, 52; Moriarty 58 Conversions: Walsh 12, 41, 53 Montpellier .....31pts Tries: Masibaka 6, 35; Ducros 21, Hounkpatin 66 Conversions: Hogg 7, 22, 36, 67 Penalty: Coly 80 THE Ospreys missed out on a home tie in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup as […] The post Montpellier claim top spot as Ospreys comeback falls short appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Stade go close but Ulster hold on
■ By JIM STEVENS Ulster ................26 Stade .................19 RELIEF poured out of Ravenhill at full-time after the hosts’ 26-0 half-time lead, which appeared insurmountable, was threatened until the very end. Ulster just about held on to a bonus point victory despite failing to register a point in the second half. Player of the match Bryn […] The post Stade go close but Ulster hold on appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
11-try Connacht secure home tie
Connacht .......75 Montauban ...14 ■ By MARK WILLIAMS CONNACHT produced a ruthless display to book a home tie in the last 16, running in 11 tries in a one-sided Galway rout. The western province were in control from the off, combining tempo, physicality and accuracy to overwhelm a Montauban side that struggled to live with […] The post 11-try Connacht secure home tie appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
PREVIEW…Lyon v Benetton
Today. Kick-off 1pm, Matmut Stadium de Gerland LAST season’s finalists Lyon face a do or die clash against pool leaders Benetton knowing only a win will keep their knockout hopes alive. Lyon, languishing down in 12th in the Top 14, have endured an underwhelming Challenge Cup campaign, having suffered three defeats from three against the […] The post PREVIEW…Lyon v Benetton appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
PREVIEW…Racing v Cheetahs
Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, La Defense Arena ONLY pride is at stake in this matchup with both Racing 92 and Cheetahs out of play-off contention. Cheetahs were forced to surrender a five-point loss to Ulster last Sunday after the sold-out fixture in the Netherlands was cancelled due to a frozen pitch. The South African invitational side […] The post PREVIEW…Racing v Cheetahs appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Perpignan through but Lions are sent packing
Round-up ■ By SAM JACKSON A DRAMATIC Challenge Cup clash at Stade Aimé Giral ended all square as Perpignan and the Lions shared the spoils in a 20–20 draw as the South African visitors were eliminated from the knockout stages. Perpignan have now qualified for the knockout stages but will be away from home in […] The post Perpignan through but Lions are sent packing appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Nick Cain’s column should be hung in Sweeney’s office
NICK Cain’s column last week should be cut out, framed and hung on the wall of Bill Sweeney’s office as it perfectly encapsulates the nonsense of the way the game is being taken. Sweeney, and Premiership club owners are hell-bent on splitting the game in two and it is very sad to see that Tony […] The post Nick Cain’s column should be hung in Sweeney’s office appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Worrying direction of travel
A SUCCESSFUL enterprise is usually built on firm foundations. I wish that I could see this in rugby union with a leadership at the top which cares about the grass roots of the game. Regrettably the answer is I do not. I am sorry to say that the current league set-up puts tremendous financial strain […] The post Worrying direction of travel appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Classy Chinnor stun Bedford
The Champ ■ By WILLIAM BULL Chinnor ..............27pts Tries: Smith 15, Rukhadze 22, Hanks 58 Conversions: Chamberlain 16, 23, 59 Penalties: Chamberlain 63, 74 Bedford Blues ..17pts Tries: Pasco 18, Tuilagi 32, Hutler 48 Conversion: Maisey 49 CHINNOR continued their remarkable run of form with an emphatic win over Bedford in the only Champ game […] The post Classy Chinnor stun Bedford appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Reduce numbers to raise standard
THE European Cup still throws up some fantastic matches – Bulls against Bristol last week was crazy – but too many times this season the tournament has been cheapened by weakened teams with less riding on certain pool matches than in the past. There are too many teams in the competition for starters. It is […] The post Reduce numbers to raise standard appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
DREAM TEAM
JACOB ATKINS, FORMER LONDON IRISH AND ROVIGO CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH TAILORED NOT FOR PACKED STADIUMS, BUT FOR COLD, WET MONDAY NIGHTS IN THE PREMIERSHIP A-LEAGUE... 1. Harry Elrington – The ultimate Monday-night loosehead. Championship and National League warrior who never shirked work. Loved playing with him. Always delivered in […] The post DREAM TEAM appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Brendan Gallagher: European Champions Cup is still in dire need of an overhaul
The European Champions Cup which, after this weekend, goes back into hibernation for the best part of three months, remains in dire need of revamp or simply a return to its old tried and tested format. The post Brendan Gallagher: European Champions Cup is still in dire need of an overhaul appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
100 years ago when Scots missed the Slam
THE one that got away is a staple in sport – indeed life – and for Scotland the one that got away was 100 years ago when they should have won their second Grand Slam on the trot. Given that they have famously – infamously – only ever won three Slams in total that would […] The post 100 years ago when Scots missed the Slam appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
McCrae enjoyed hitting heights
NOT many senior careers span four decades but that was the longevity displayed by former Scotland scrum-half Ian McCrae who died aged 84 last week. McCrae made his First XV debut for Gordonians in Aberdeen in 1959 and was still a considerable performer for their First XV 25 years later when he bowed out in […] The post McCrae enjoyed hitting heights appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
Paul Rees: Rampaging Baby Rhino Ellis Genge in the form of his life
Paul Rees on how Ellis Genge is driving Bristol Bears - and England - in the right direction. The post Paul Rees: Rampaging Baby Rhino Ellis Genge in the form of his life appeared first on The Rugby Paper.