Rugby World Cup 2015: Why Nehe Milner-Skudder Will Be New Zealand’s X-Factor

New Zealand’s World Cup squad carries a huge amount of experience into the defence of the trophy they won in 2011. The likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Kieran Read have all tasted World Cup glory before, and many of these players are still the outstanding names in their positions in world rugby. Any one of those men could prove the decisive element to a second... 

Rugby World Cup 2015: Why Bismarck du Plessis Will Be South Africa’s X-Factor

The role of the hooker has been under the spotlight in the northern hemisphere during the Rugby World Cup warm-up phase before the tournament starts 18 September. Both England and Scotland have a first-choice man in the role whose work around the field is outstanding, but Tom Youngs and Ross Ford have major issues with their throwing into the lineout for their respective teams. With Dylan Hartley... 

Rugby World Cup 2015: Why Kurtley Beale Will Be Australia’s X-Factor

Australia arrive at the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the tag as perhaps the most dangerous side in the tournament. An unimpressive few years in the Rugby Championship was ended in style this summer when Michael Cheika’s men took the crown, beating the All Blacks along the way. They got stuffed by the New Zealanders a week later in a Bledisloe Cup rubber, but they did enough with wins over South... 

Rugby World Cup 2015: Why Jonny May Will Be England’s X Factor

England finished the last World Cup with Chris Ashton and Mark Cueto as their first-choice wings. It was a fair bet that, given the wreckage of that adventure under Martin Johnson, there would be wholesale changes to the setup. The team manager was one of the first casualties, replaced in an interim capacity for the start of the 2012 Six Nations by Stuart Lancaster, who set about securing the job... 

France vs. Scotland: Winners and Losers from International Match

Scotland nearly ended a 16-year wait for a win in Paris but were denied by a late Noa Nakaitaci try as France squeaked home 19-16. It means Vern Cotter’s men round off their series of warm-ups with a defeat, but the Scotsman still saw enough that would have satisfied the New Zealander, his side having “matched a team considered one of the tournament favourites on their own patch.” The... 

Wales vs. Italy: Winners and Losers from International Match

Wales labored to a 23-19 win over Italy in their final World Cup warm-up match, but the average performance has been overshadowed by injuries suffered by Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb. The full-back and scrum-half are now major questions marks for the tournament, per espn.co.uk. After a display that was only just good enough to down the unfancied Italians, a huge cloud now hangs over Warren Gatland’s... 

England vs. Ireland: Winners and Losers from International Match

England put in an impressive first-half display against a lacklustre Irish side to finalise their World Cup preparations in confident fashion. Stuart Lancaster’s men were far better in front of a packed Twickenham crowd than they had been in defeat to France in Paris two weekends ago, and the coach will have been encouraged by several high-calibre displays from members of what was a near to full-strength... 

Wales vs. Italy: 5 Key Battles in International Match

Wales round off their World Cup preparations when they host Italy in Cardiff on Saturday Warren Gatland’s men slaughtered the Azzurri in Rome at the end of the 2015 Six Nations in a 61-20 thumping that almost snatched the championship. A home defeat and away win against Ireland has provided a mixed bag in their summer schedule so far, while Italy have lost twice to Scotland. With the final squads... 

Picking an Omitted Rugby World Cup XV

The die has been cast by the 20 coaches choosing their squads for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The final squads of 31 have been named, with those last few difficult decisions made and players told whether they are on the plane or on the sofa. As usual, there is a host of high-profile players who have been omitted from the squads. The reasons range from form and fitness to family problems and, in some... 

Scotland vs. Italy: Winners and Losers from International Match

Scotland demolished Italy with a 48-7 thumping to send them into their final World Cup warm-up match full of confidence. Having gone winless through 2015 until back-to-back fixtures with their Six Nations rivals, Vern Cotter’s side have now beaten the Azzurri twice in seven days. It was a sobering defeat for the Italians, who will not approach a group containing France and Ireland with much optimism. Let’s... 

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