2015 Rugby World Cup: Power Ranking Teams After Autumn Internationals

The final salvos between north and south have been fired ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Between now and then we’ll see a Six Nations sort-out and a truncated Rugby Championship—but as a marker of where they stand right now, the autumn internationals gave things an intriguing shake-up New Zealand retained their status, but behind them there were some movers. Strong form and good results accounted for some sides’ rise up the rankings, while the reverse sent others down the pecking order. Let’s see where they stand. Begin Slideshow  Read More →

La Rochelle vs. Exeter Chiefs Live Blog: Instant Updates and Analysis

Exeter Chiefs extended their lead at the top of Pool 2 with a 36-10 win over La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre in Round 3 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup. The exciting first half saw Tom James and Brett Sturgess score two tries in quick succession for the Chiefs, before Stade Rochelais hit back. A delightful chip from Jules Lebail over Exeter’s line allowed Jean-Pascal Barraque to set up a delicately-poised second half. La Rochelle struggled to make an impact after the break however, and late tries from Byron McGuigan and Fetu’u Vainikolo secured not only the win but a bonus... 

Ranking 6 Best Tries in the Autumn Internationals

We were not starved of entertainment this autumn. A year out from the Rugby World Cup, teams were looking for the right combinations and winning formulas to take them into the global showpiece. And far from a fear of failure, we saw sides ready to take gambles to score tries, often with spectacular results. From rehearsed ploys to exploit weaknesses identified in the video room to sheer instinct and skill, the autumn’s five-pointers came in a variety of shapes and sizes. The following six have been picked for various reasons, some on the merits of the individual skill involved, others because... 

10 Biggest Winners and Losers from Autumn Internationals

The autumn international series provides a learning opportunity for each of the world’s rugby giants, and with a Rugby World Cup on the horizon, it was particularly essential that notes be taken this year. Results are assuredly a key indicator of who’s evolving best, but the November schedule is more about performance than anything else, where poor victories and gutsy defeats often hold different positives. Here, we examine which teams have emerged from the autumn onslaught smelling like roses, player prospects ahead of a crucial international year and much more. Begin Slideshow  Read More →

Biggest Hits in World Rugby for Weekend of November 28-30

Brad Barritt left nothing on the pitch, helping England register a tense 26-17 win over Australia on Saturday, and it showed in the centre’s appearance as he left the Twickenham field. That was largely thanks to an unfortunate clash of heads with the Wallabies’ Quade Cooper, which features as the biggest knock in this week’s biggest hits. The London clash was rife with hefty challenges, and the Australian pack showed no remorse in ensuring their English counterparts at least felt an impact en route to victory. Will Skelton did his best to close the gap on the hosts after coming... 

Best XV from Autumn Internationals on November 29

Autumn’s international window was slammed shut with a couple of lusty blows from northern hemisphere teams most in need of landing some telling shots. England relied on the traditional weapons of brute force and strong kicking to squeeze the life out of the Wallabies, while Wales finally found the spell to break the curse of the southern hemisphere, beating South Africa in Cardiff. It tees up perfectly the clash between Wales and England that will lift the curtain on the 2015 RBS Six Nations while, at the same time, carrying the significant carrot of gaining the psychological edge ahead of... 

Wales vs. South Africa: Winners and Losers from Millennium Stadium

Six years of hurt were finally brought to an end in Cardiff as Wales recorded a long-overdue win over one of the big three Southern Hemisphere nations. This 12-6 win, per Wales Online, was an absorbing, try-less encounter that featured brutal defence from both teams. The unerring boot of Leigh Halfpenny was responsible for Wales’ points, but there were heroes in red all over the field as coach Warren Gatland finally got this monkey off his back. Here are the winners and losers from a red-letter day at the Millennium Stadium. Tackle stats come courtesy of ESPNScrum.com Begin Slideshow  Read More →

England vs Australia: Top 4 Performances from Twickenham

England and Australia conjured up a thrilling test match to end the 2014 Autumn Internationals. The English pack were dominant throughout, whereas Australia looked very dangerous in the backs and secured quick ruck ball time and again. The top four performers this week reflect those realities, but one England back does merit inclusion. Begin Slideshow  Read More →

England vs. Australia: Winners and Losers

England saw off the challenge of Australia to emerge from Twickenham as 26-17 victors on Saturday, bringing an end to their autumn international series with a flourish. Ben Morgan scored two tries as part of what will be seen as England’s best performance this month—a big improvement on the defeats to New Zealand and South Africa. Again, the Wallabies will have to take their lessons from a losing result, but each side will hope to learn from the drama that unfolded on Saturday. Overall, it was Stuart Lancaster’s team that unsurprisingly took the bigger share of positives. Begin... 

England vs. Australia: Score and Report from Autumn Rugby International

A Ben Morgan brace helped steer England to a 26-17 win over Australia on Saturday as the Twickenham hosts ended their autumn international series with back-to-back victories. The Wallabies presented a close challenge for Stuart Lancaster’s men, but a heavy change of the English pack late on helped the hosts seal their win, confirmed by the official England Rugby Twitter account: It started off as a frosty encounter in London, with George Ford and Bernard Foley exchanging kicks to provide the first additions on the scoreboard. The hosts’ fly-half saw the better opportunities under a... 

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