:quality(70):focal(459x170:469x180)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/UCI247WQDBGVNFRC6UH5PNNQVY.jpg)
The All Blacks now know their quarter-final opponents – it’s Ireland after the men in green destroyed Scotland this morning – but there is still no definitive news on their injured tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax. Lomax strained a medial knee ligament early in New Zealand’s 73-0 demolition of Uruguay on Friday and remains a big … Read more
England’s Rugby World Cup pool stage campaign comes to a close in Lille today. Steve Borthwick’s rejuvenated side will be looking to make it four wins from four after a two-week break to head into the quarter-finals with real confidence and momentum, already guaranteed to progress as Pool D winners after bouncing back in impressive … Read more
Most fans are confident of Ireland’s triumph at tomorrow’s match at Stade de France. Tom Byrne (50) and Richard Lancaster (50) from Wicklow expect the outing to be “good craic”. “The Scottish and Irish always have been known to get on well together. And that’s what it’s all about,” said Tom. “When they come to … Read more
This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with the half-way report of the 2023 Rugby World Cup… Next Sunday it will have been a calendar month since that remarkable opening ceremony in Paris. We’ve had thrills and spills, we’ve had controversy and brilliance, we’ve had characters and songs, epic games, we’ve got permutations heading … Read more
With the final week off, the Springboks will be determined to provide as comfortable a weekend as possible by securing a bonus-point win in Marseille after Scotland’s win last night. Scotland and Ireland face off during their rest week, meaning a poor display here could make for a very nervy watch when the World Cup … Read more
The Wallabies, who have lost to Wales and Fiji, look to be heading out of the tournament after Fiji came from behind to claim a narrow win over Georgia on Saturday. There are major questions around the state of Australian rugby and there is little doubt Jones is fighting for his job. While minnows compared … Read more
Flanker Shannon Frizell and back Jordie Barrett have recovered from injuries to start for New Zealand against Italy in a must-win Rugby World Cup pool match on Friday. New Zealand’s two other injury concerns, squad captain Sam Cane and tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, will make their returns off the bench. Watch every game of the … Read more
:quality(70)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/55R6TMTXDFE7NNT4XCYXNISBRA.jpg)
Any lingering doubts about the strength of Northern Hemisphere rugby in comparison with the south have now presumably been swept away by the weekend’s World Cup results which were brought to a stunning conclusion by Australia’s 40-6 humiliation by Wales in Lyon this morning. It just so happens that the All Blacks have returned to … Read more
Gregor Townsend’s side have had plenty of time to stew on their tournament opener, a bruising 18-3 loss to reigning champions South Africa in Marseille that left the head coach smarting over a potential missed red card for Jesse Kriel early on. Now they head to Nice looking to live up to their tag as … Read more
This is now do-or-die territory for the Wallabies after their shock defeat to Fiji last weekend and they know defeat will be a huge blow to their chances of reaching the knockout stage. Under-fire Eddie Jones took full responsibility for the Fiji loss and Australia must beat Warren Gatland’s side, who are top of Pool … Read more