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By Jeremy Blackmore for LastWordOnCricket It was perhaps fitting that Lord’s was the setting for Toby Roland-Jones’ long-awaited England debut against South Africa on Monday. The Ashford-born paceman has a special affinity for the famous old venue in NW8. And not just because, as a Middlesex player, it’s his home ground. Lord’s was where Roland-Jones wrote himself […] READ MORE
Last Word on Rugby, by Aaron Tillyer. The World Rugby U20 Championships kicked off today in Georgia, with all 12 teams in action for the opening round of the pool stages. The reigning world champions England faced Samoa in a first-ever-meeting between the two sides. New Zealand, fresh from their recent Oceania U20 Championship win, were up […] READ MORE
After a superb display in the first Test match against New Zealand, Dean Elgar is now fast becoming one of South Africa's most important performers READ MORE
Over the last 53 Test matches, there has been a regression in the quality of Test match catching. And the revealing stats show why READ MORE
South Africa's Hashim Amla has been in a miserable run of form for the past six months: is it finally time for him to be dropped? READ MORE
From Last Word on Rugby, Robert Rees Wales stumbled past Japan in Cardiff, 33-30 thanks to a last minute drop goal courtesy of Sam Davies, but the performance was very unsatisfactory. Howley and his men put on a display that most in the stadium would want to forget and hope not to see again soon. […] READ MORE
There was widespread amusement when Jackson Bird was left out the Australia Test squad to face South Africa due to his batting. It was a widely-derided decision when you consider that Bird is a bowler and a very good one at that. He took seven wickets in his last Test match, against New Zealand in February, and […] READ MORE
Jos Buttler played his last First-Class game on 22nd October in a test match for England against Pakistan in Dubai – making just seven runs. A modest Ashes series and the re-emergence of Jonny Bairstow led to Buttler being dropped for the last match of the Pakistan series, and the tour of South Africa later […] READ MORE
A vociferous Port Elizabeth crowd witnessed the Springboks defeat Ireland to clinch the series two Tests to one. South Africa 19 Ireland 13 South Africa (JP Pietersen try; Elton Jantjies conversion, 3 penalties, Ruan Combrinck penalty) Ireland (Luke Marshall try; Paddy Jackson conversion, 2 penalties) The three Test series was level at one each going into […] READ MORE
Whatever happens on Saturday in the final Test, the Irish series has raised more questions than answers for South African Rugby. Even if the Springboks secure a series win in Port Elizabeth, the depth of uncertainty has never been greater, but I believe the Springboks inside centre is the missing link to success. The incoming tours are […] READ MORE