9:07 PM BST George Smith, the legendary Wallabies back-row, was in his suit and tie, talking about tackling to three former, experienced rugby players at a central Bristol hotel Tuesday evening. Tackling is a part of life that has become as familiar to him as putting clothes on, going to the supermarket or, probably, breathing.
Rugby
4:05 PM BST The All Blacks have been quite flattering towards the Springboks ahead of their Rugby Championship fixture in Wellington on Saturday. In fact, it’s bordered on patronising. Following gracious praise by backs Beauden Barrett and Sonny Bill Williams towards their South African counterparts earlier in the week, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen rather
8:56 AM BST Handre Pollard and Malcolm Marx have returned to the Springboks starting side for their must-win Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday. Flyhalf Pollard and hooker Marx were surprise omissions from coach Rassie Erasmus’s starting side last week against Australia, which the Wallabies won 23-18 in Brisbane. Pollard
8:41 PM BST Centres Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams, and winger Rieko Ioane have been recalled after injury to the All Blacks team for their Rugby Championship clash with South Africa in Wellington on Saturday. Crotty, who suffered a concussion after a sickening head clash with team mate Jack Goodhue in the opening match
10:53 AM BST New Zealand international Rebecca Mahoney is set to make history when she becomes the first woman to referee a first class men’s rugby fixture in her homeland. The former Black Fern has been selected to officiate the Heartland Championship match between Thames Valley and King Country on Saturday in the first of
9:04 AM BST Wallabies veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper will play at next year’s World Cup if he’s good enough. That’s the simple message from coach Michael Cheika, who has welcomed the prospect of a return to Australian rugby for Ashley-Cooper as he targets a fourth World Cup appearance. Cheika says there will be no promises for
12:01 PM BST The Gallagher Premiership’s clubs and London Irish will meet on Tuesday to discuss the multi-million pound takeover offer tabled by a private equity firm. CVC Capital Partners — the former owners of Formula One — have offered £275m for a 51 per cent holding stake in the English top flight but it
10:37 AM BST KweséESPN Staff Transformation is a priority for the Springboks’ coaching staff, says South African forwards coach Matt Proudfoot. Despite successive losses to Argentina and Australia, Proudfoot says he and the rest of the coaching staff are taking a long-term approach to the national team ahead of their crucial match against New Zealand
8:49 AM BST New Zealand could have a timely injection of fresh legs for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against South Africa with midfielders Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty cleared to play after recovering from injuries. Williams, who missed the opening three matches, was available after having a scan on his injured shoulder, said All
4:40 PM BST The biggest concern when Rassie Erasmus was appointed Springbok coach was whether he will be able to handle the pressure that goes hand in hand with the toughest job in South African sport. And, at the moment, it seems like he is about to crack. Erasmus was a wonderfully skillful loose forward,