Warren Gatland has had his say on the Rugby World Cup in France in his recent UK Daily Telegraph article. Wales failed to progress beyond the last eight not because they were outfought and outthought. Rather that there is something wrong with the rules of the game, and how it is played at the highest […] READ MORE
Author: Thomas Booth
“Being Louis Rees-Zammit” – The reveal
“Being Louis Rees-Zammit” is a BBC One Wales documentary, edited and directed by Huw Crowley, with Steffan Morgan executive producing. A previous BBC One Wales documentary, “Slammed” is reviewed here. This writer was prepared for a cringe-fest, and although there are some cringe moments, Rees-Zammit comes across relatively unscathed. This is typical. We just can't […] READ MORE
AWJ, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi call time on their careers
With this year’s Rugby World Cup now less than a 100 days away, the curtain has come down on the illustrious careers of three international Welsh forwards. First Josh Navidi called time on his career. An injury to his neck meaning he retired from all forms of rugby in April. Then, hot on the heels […] READ MORE
Triple Crown decider as the Scots look to halt Irish progress
Triple Crown deciders don’t come much bigger than this as Scotland look to halt Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes. Thomas Booth looks ahead to the weekend’s premiere clash. We’re now past the halfway stage and have arrived at the penultimate round of this year’s Six Nations. On offer are the usual tasty early spring games. Italy […] READ MORE
Rugby perspectives (or lack of it)
Did you see Rassie Erasmus’ social media posts about Wayne Barnes after the recent game between France and South Africa? (a game the Boks narrowly lost) Did you feel compelled afterward to send death threats to him and his family, or threaten sexual violence to his partner? No, me neither. True I’m not a South […] READ MORE
What is more difficult? A series win in NZ, or a Grand Slam?
There is a lot of noise around men’s international coaching in the Northern Hemisphere right now. Wayne Pivac has been replaced by the returning Warren Gatland. Eddie Jones has been sacked, and we await with bated breath news of his successor. Click on that link for the views of LWOSRugby writer Charlie Inglefield on England’s […] READ MORE
Russell and Townsend, “Strange bedfellows?”
Russell and Townsend, “Strange bedfellows?” At the time of writing this, Finn Russell is tearing it up at Murrayfield against Argentina. Admittedly, Los Pumas are depleted in numbers due to ill-discipline. Having said that, the players (Russell included) can only play against what they are presented with on the day. Darcy's at the double 🤩 […] READ MORE
Jamie Roberts’ rugby career comes to an end; a stellar one at that
Jamie Roberts’ rugby career; one that spans over a decade, has come to a close – no surprise to the majority, yet it is with fondness that many International and Welsh fans will look back on his stellar time as part of Warren Gatland’s Welsh team. Jamie Roberts’ rugby career in numbers Roberts honed his […] READ MORE
Wales tour of South Africa: What Welsh fans can expect in 2022
Wales men’s rugby team arrived in beautiful but turbulent South Africa this week. The South African nation isn’t alone in experiencing tumult. Truth be told it is a current global phenomenon. Will the men’s XVs rugby provide an entertaining diversion from our perplexing and worrying news cycle? Something that the Lions tour of last year […] READ MORE
Men’s rugby’s best International Captains – part two. ‘Best of the best’
Thomas Booth (@tboothy) of Last Word on Rugby looks at the Best International Captains through the history of the game and presents to you part two of our overview of the World Rugby ranked top ten international men’s sides in 2022. With the listed six sides, from number 10 down to no. five already published, […] READ MORE