International
Any way you want to break it down, Steve Borthwick has got England rugby believing again. And it is with the potential England Rugby duo of Alex Mitchell and George Martin hinting a more time near to the top of the Test arena. A semi-final spot which could and should have been a final shoot-out […]
England will not lack any motivation on Saturday evening when they come up against the Springboks. The 2019 World Cup final defeat to South Africa still stings for many in this squad and that is motivation enough. The challenge for England is that the 2023 version of the Springboks is better than the 2019 vintage. […]
Elton John’s classic hit, ‘I’m Still Standing’ rang out as England’s players triumphantly walked around Marseille’s fantastic Stade Velodrome stadium. They had just seen off Fiji 30-24 in a breathless quarter-final. It was an apt tune because seven weeks ago England was trudging off the Twickenham turf after a disastrous loss to Fiji. England scraped […]
England’s management have made two huge selection calls for the quarter-final clash against Fiji on Saturday. The traditionally conservative Steve Borthwick has picked Marcus Smith over Freddie Steward at full-back. Secondly, the Ford/Farrell partnership has gone with Farrell being entrusted with the fly-half duties. Borthwick has given England the tools to unleash now the team […]
With a nod to the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage show, it is Frenchman Antoine Dupont who is the leading man who has returned to the main stage, weeks after succumbing to a nasty broken cheekbone. Now given permission to rejoin training, it is assumed he will play with a face protector; giving him the similar […]
Western Samoa were rightly devastated having lost a game they should have won. England were woeful for most of this match but somehow found a way to win. That is the positive that everyone associated with England Rugby needs to hold onto as they stumble into the quarter-finals. The reality is that Steve Borthwick and […]
We caught up with former South Africa Back-Rower, Joe van Niekerk, to look back on his time at the 2003 Rugby World Cup with the Springboks. He also opened up about his predictions for the national side this 2023 RWC. 2003 Rugby World Cup Anniversary: Joe van Niekerk Using the touchline as an extra defender, […]
The RWC 2023 fourth round sees teams tightly paired and will require the fifth round to decide the second spots for the quarterfinal. RWC 2023 fourth round: There are quarterfinal spots up for grabs Pool A The RWC 2023 fourth round sees quarterfinal second spots up for grabs with New Zealand and Italy still in […]
Grasping it with both hands is how the Flying Fijians must proceed in this Rugby World Cup. To grab every chance for their nation, to take the so-called ‘opportunity lost’ by a fumbling Eddie Jones’ Wallabies side, and go as far in this event as plausibly possible. Affectionately known as the ‘Flying Fijians’ the Fiji […]
England’s 71-0 rout of Chile on Saturday was predictable but nonetheless a big confidence booster to the squad. Henry Arundell and Marcus Smith in particular made the most of their opportunities. With respect to Chile; who never stopped trying, they were never going to match England’s power. Sterner tests await for England but it would […]
The [Rugby World Cup] RWC 2023 race for the quarterfinal is on in the fourth round after matches in game week three saw teams that topped their various pools solidify their positions winning all their three matches while the rest fought for the remaining spots. Race for the quarterfinals of the RWC 2023 4 poules […]
Saturday’s fixture Ireland v South Africa is a moc-Cup Final. It sees Johnny Sexton drive Irish hopes of a pinnacle World Title while defending title-holders the Springboks utilize their advanced 7-1 bench strategy. Ideally, fans could view this match-up later in the draw – your number one versus numbered teams two, three, or four should […]
It’s been 20 years since England were crowned 2003 Rugby World Cup champions, and Last Word on Rugby caught up with one of the successful squad members Simon Shaw. 2003 Rugby World Cup Anniversary: Simon Shaw Simon Shaw shared with Larissa Falls his favourite moments and memories from the 2003 triumph, and looked ahead to […]
The Rugby World Cup 2023 round two matches saw most teams solidify their position in their respective pools. The pools have teams that have the upper hand of featuring in the quarterfinals. Teams leading the pools have so far had two out of two wins in their respective pools. RWC 2023 round two matches overview […]
England eventually found a way through a determined but under-par Japanese outfit on Sunday evening. England won ugly yet momentum is growing, with two wins over the pool’s two toughest opponents, Argentina and Japan. It was not pretty but, successful World Cup campaigns rarely are, and England ultimately might have one foot in the quarter-finals. […]
Hard to fathom that this year’s Rugby World Cup brings up the 20-year anniversary since the 2003 RWC tournament in Australia. A contest where Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau would be involved in one of the more epic finales in all RWC folklore. The 40-year-old was then in his early career with the Australian national team, […]
(More Articles are available below this video.)
If you love a stat or fact, then you’ve come to the right place! After the French Top14 Round Eight concludes, LWOS adds to your weekend’s enjoyment. 14 Fun Facts from Top14 Round Eight Larissa Falls continues her popular series breaking down the names and numbers from Round Eight of the French Top14: Three teams […]
The 2024 Six Nations is just around the corner and so starts the four-year cycle for all teams. For England and Steve Borthwick, the foundations have been laid by an encouraging semi-final performance at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Charlie Inglefield asks what might this team look like through the eyes of Borthwick? And whether […]
As Alex Sanderson, Sale’s coach said after his team’s ugly 11-9 win over Bath – they found a way to win. Sale are definitely in the mix to go one better this year and win the Gallagher Premiership. On Friday’s evidence, they need to be a lot better. They played a second-string Bath outfit who […]
When Newcastle Falcons host Exeter Chiefs this Sunday at 3:00pm GMT, it will be an interesting match as the Chiefs look to win their first road game of the Premiership this season, against a team that has not won a single game in the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season, the Falcons. Newcastle Falcons host Exeter […]
If you love a stat or fact, then you’ve come to the right place! After the French Top14 Round Seven concludes, LWOS adds to your weekend’s enjoyment. 14 Fun Facts from Top14 Round Seven Larissa Falls continues her popular series breaking down the names and numbers from Round Seven of the French Top14. La Rochelle […]
Saracens were back to their brutal best on Saturday. They suffocated the life out of a high-flying Harlequins outfit with consummate ease. This despite losing Ben Earl, and Elliot Daly in the warm-up and Alex Lozowski a couple of minutes into the game. No problem, up stepped the likes of Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell […]
Exeter Chiefs hosts Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon, in Round . Both teams enter this game looking to rebound from a loss last weekend. Exeter Chiefs hosts Gloucester Rugby on Sunday ⏪ Our 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 game in the Premiership was against the Cherry & Whites! 🍒 Taking on @gloucesterrugby at Home will […]
If you love a stat or fact, then you’ve come to the right place! Larissa Falls has broken down the names and numbers ahead of the French Top14 Round Six, to bring you 14 fun and funky slithers of information. 14 Fun Facts from Top14 Round Six Pau recorded their fifth victory in a row. […]
About Author
Charlie Inglefield
Charlie has been writing rugby features for the last 20 years and has covered World Cups, Six Nations, and Lions' tours. My aim has always been to provide opinion and analysis which hopefully adds to the conversations that we all enjoy over a pint or two in the pub.