Joe Cokanasiga and Tommy Freeman might just be the sparks that can ignite the England attack. They were the two clear positives that came out of that embarrassing defeat to the Barbarians two weeks ago. Importantly Joe Cokanasiga and Tommy Freeman worked well off Marcus Smith’s running game. The likes of Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, […] READ MORE
Tag: Rugby Australia
England’s rugby team has daunting trip to Australia after Barbarians thrashing
The Barbarians thrashing of England’s rugby team on Sunday has heaped more pressure on Eddie Jones. With Australia eagerly awaiting a three-test match series on their home turf, it won’t get any easier for Jones or the national side. This was a chastening weekend for England rugby. Last Sunday, the Barbarians put 50 points playing […] READ MORE
NRL converts: Australia looking to boost chances of home RWC success
Australia has been awarded the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup and the women’s tournament two years later. This has kickstarted talk about whether Rugby Australia will look to a few NRL converts to boost their chances? In the past, NRL converts have had mixed success. For every Sonny Bill Williams, there is a Sam Burgess. […] READ MORE
Freshly appointed Rugby World Cup hosts the right choices: Opinion
World Rugby gets plenty of stick yet deserves praise for its decisions over the last 12 months with the freshly appointed Rugby World Cup hosts being one of them. Other policies and decisions include; the change in eligibility laws will that allow Pacific Island teams to compete and encourage their qualified national representatives to continue […] READ MORE
2029 Rugby World Cup preferred host candidate is Australia (includes 2027)
Announced in early April, the 2029 Rugby World Cup preferred host candidate is Australia. And World Rugby reinforces Australia as their preference for who hosts the 2027 tournament for men’s rugby too. The announcement means Australia is now preferred candidate to host the greatest events in men’s and women’s fifteens rugby in 2027 and 2029 […] READ MORE
Women’s 2022 Super W draw to include Fijiana side/NZ Aupiki sides training
As the training intensifies, the Women’s 2022 Super W competition in Australia has been boosted with the addition of a Fijiana Drua side. This adds a fresh women’s component to match the incoming men’s Fijian Drua teams’ debut season. They are due to be a new part of the full 2022 Super Rugby Pacific draw […] READ MORE
World Rugby misconduct outcomes on a finely balanced edge; Erasmus/Rennie
After two World Rugby misconduct investigations, the governing bodies’ findings and the outcomes are on a finely balanced edge. Desperately wanting to hold on to the values and dignity built on an amateur history, it is being pushed now more so by professionalism and by closer examination. The scrutiny that both the complainant (World Rugby) […] READ MORE
How might scars over World Rugby laws be healed? Wales vs Australia report
The Wales versus Australia match resulted in a narrow win for the hosts. Yet the fallout from ‘scars’ on World Rugby laws and interpretations will take a mild winter to heal. Wales hand in a ‘two wins from four’ scorecard for the Autumn Nations Series, which is probably about par. Due to player unavailability and […] READ MORE
Eddie Jones faces Farrell selection headache; England v Australia
England’s emphatic win over Tonga has given Eddie Jones a number of selection headaches ahead of England v Australia on Saturday. Every coach wants options but for Jones, he may have to make the biggest selection call of his England coaching tenure. Does he relegate Owen Farell now and promote Marcus Smith? The clamour to […] READ MORE
Golden opportunity; Moana Pasifika to play at Mt Smart Stadium until 2028
Back in April of this year, news came out that two Pacific Island teams (Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika) had been granted conditional licenses to play in the proposed Super Rugby tournament of 2022. Assured of competition of the highest levels, it was received with great enthusiasm from Apia, to Nukilofa, and as far as […] READ MORE