4:53 PM BST Huw Richards Close • FT’s rugby writer from 1995 to 2009• Also writes for the International Herald Tribune and the Sunday Herald Some of the Rugby World Cup’s greatest games have been played in the step before its showcase conclusion. Finals are often tense, cagey affairs, with both sides too close to the Webb
Rugby
7:43 AM BST Scott Barrett has been handed a surprise start at blindside flanker for New Zealand in their Rugby World Cup semifinal against England on Saturday, with Ardie Savea shifting to the openside of the scrum. Sam Cane, who had operated in a twin-openside combination with Savea since the All Blacks’ match against Australia
9:00 AM BST England have made one change for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, with George Ford returning to the starting lineup. Ford starts at fly-half, with captain Owen Farrell shifted to inside centre and Manu Tuilagi outside. 1 Related Henry Slade drops to the bench, where Mark Wilson replaces Lewis Ludlam.
9:33 PM BST Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika got in a public spat at a function at the Australian embassy in Tokyo during the World Cup. Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui intervened to stop an escalating argument between Cheika and Castle in front of guests at the cocktail function, according
12:52 PM BST TOKYO — It was four days out from the Rugby World Cup semifinal and in a 20-minute press conference, England coach Eddie Jones displayed every trait of how he has turned around their prospects. From the depths of despair in 2015 and a plan in tatters to now, regarded as one of
3:07 PM BST TOKYO — The mighty South African pack has all the tools needed to end a four-year losing streak against Wales when the two rugby giants meet in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal, Springboks forwards coach Matt Proudfoot told reporters on Tuesday. The Welsh have won the last four meetings between the two,
12:33 PM BST Only four are left as the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan nears closer to its pulsating finale. Defending champions New Zealand entered the tournament as favourites and have showed why in every game that they have played so far. England will be their foe on Saturday, as they hope to make
7:42 AM BST TOKYO — England coach Eddie Jones said his team were spied on at training Tuesday ahead of their Rugby World Cup semifinal against New Zealand and also turned up the heat on the All Blacks saying all the pressure is on the current champions. Jones said an individual was spotted in one
10:29 PM BST TOKYO — As Australian rugby begins to pick up the pieces from a first Rugby World Cup quarterfinal exit since 2007 and starts to plot a path forward, there is at least one name to be genuinely excited about: Jordan Petaia. The calls for change have come thick and fast since the
11:39 AM BST Wales flanker Josh Navidi will miss the remainder of the Rugby World Cup with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Warren Gatland. Navidi, 28, was substituted in the first half of the 20-19 quarterfinal victory against France on Sunday. “He’ll be ruled out,” Gatland told a news conference on Monday. “He’s