Articles
Latest Posts
Whatever happened to Gallic flairBrian Ashton reflects on a Six Nations that failed to hit the heights and wonders if Wales and France have the imaginative will to develop their games.
Wales triumph is more Grind than Grand SlamWales will now find out if their pragmatic, physical, kicking style of rugby is enough to beat Australia in the southern hemisphere
Wales success built on their superb second half performancesThe most successful teams have made the fewest mistakes because they have risked little in what has been a poor quality Six Nations.
The perfect seven knows when to hold backThe breakdown used to be owned by the specialist opensides but now every player needs to be an expert in forcing turnovers.
Wales can dominate northern hemisphere rugby for yearsYouth and stamina should carry Wales to a Grand Slam despite their poor recent record at home to France.
Leading from the frontBuilding a team around good leaders is not a guarantee of success but it sure does help.
It's time to bring back the 'six o'clock' passThe spin pass was a great innovation, but coaches need to emphasise that other passes are more efficient in certain situations
England flatter to deceiveThe reaction to England’s win in Paris was utterly hysterical and completely ignored the rugby reality.
Size isn’t EverythingShane Williams reflects on the great players who made him want to run down to his local field and pretend he was side stepping for Wales.
Priestland key to Welsh SuccessRhys Priestland started playing at outside-half for Wales only last August, and then by accident. He had been picked at full-back against England at Twickenham in a pre-World Cup friendly, only to be told a few minutes for the start that he would be wearing the 10 jersey because Stephen Jones had suffered a calf injury in the warm-up.
Players will need time off from the Super 15 war zoneCoach John Plumtree should have a look in the Chiefs post match shed before he starts calling other conferences soft.
Kidney’s love affair with Earls is hurting IrelandSelecting the right team can be one of the hardest jobs in the world and it may be a while since Ireland have got it right.
Italy must keep Wales behind the Gain LineMartin Castrogiovanni on why this weekend’s battle in Cardiff is going to be their toughest game of the Six Nations.
Sam Warburton: Breakdown in Attack TrailerSam Warburton takes you through the skills of sealing, clearing a ruck and leeching, skills that every player needs in the modern game.Watch and learn from one of the world’s best loose forwards as he shares with you his tried and true techniques that help him win the shoulder battle at the breakdown. “I still do these exact same drills for 10-15mins at the end of each training session”
Martin Castrogiovanni: Scrum I Individual Power Position Trailer“Don’t try to be comfortable, because in the scrum you don’t need to be comfortable.” This is not just a module for front rowers, it’s for all players in the scrum, front, middle and back row. Martin Castrogiovanni one of the most respected scrummagers in rugby takes you through his power position checklist. Sharing with you THE most effective pushing position for every individual in the scrum to generate maximum force.
Brian Ashton: Game Based Team Attack Trailer“I’m a great believer that you gain and improve game understanding by actually playing games.” In this video Brian Ashton takes you through a variety of game specific activities.
Wales keep on getting stronger, fitter and betterShane Williams explains why a Wales Grand Slam this year would mean far more than when they last triumphed in 2005 and 2008.
Shane Williams: Side Stepping & Attack Skills TrailerShane Williams breaks the sidestep down, taking you through his skill checklist and showing you how the ball carrier and support runners can manipulate defenders and defensive lines to beat and unlock them. Watch and learn direct from one of the best attacking players the game of rugby has ever seen.
New England can be a big hit against FranceCourtney Lawes explains the value of the impact tackle and how it could help England beat France on Sunday.
Courtney Lawes: Tackle Technique Trailer“I love defending and putting in big hits, but you have to understand that the safest technique is also the best technique.” In this video Courtney Lawes takes you through the tackling technique that works for him. From the importance of foot placement in generate force through to being comfortable using both left and right shoulders and of course head placement for safety.
Five new stars join the team....Former England coach Brian Ashton; English lock Courtney Lawes; Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni; Welsh capitain and Openside flanker Sam Warburton; and former Welsh winger Shane Williams are joining Graham Henry, Wayne Smith, Gregor Townsend, Richie McCaw & Dan Carter.
Four things that made us see red this weekThe RFU task force, scrum-halves who never move the ball out of the ruck, refs who turn a blind eye to violent play, replacements by rote – it’s driving us crazy and we’re not going to take it any more.
Young Kiwi number tens show England the wayWhy England has a dearth of top international number 10’s compared to all the young New Zealanders who stood out in the first week of Super 15.
Players have a duty not to con the refSam Warburton says that the match against England was the hardest he has ever played in and he woke up the next morning feeling like he had been hit by a car
Mallett's international experience merits England job over rookie LancasterStuart Lancaster has restored respect and England’s commercial reputation, but they will need more than discipline if they are to win the 2015 World Cup.
Sometimes the players have to take the blameAndy Robinson has achieved a great deal in his time with Scotland even if employers don’t always look beyond results.
History points to another Wales Grand SlamEngland shut down Priestland but cannot break down a Wales team that is learning how to win tight matches.
Six Nations: a two-tone tournamentThe match of the round in the Six Nations this weekend may be Wales’s visit to Twickenham, but arguably more significant for the tournament itself is the meeting between Scotland and France at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Talented young Scots need to learn how to winNearly everything is against Scotland on Sunday, except for the fact that the Six Nations usually throws up one unexpected result.
The Reds remain the team to beatRichie McCaw previews the Super 15 season and predicts plenty of upsets but maybe a similar look to the semi-finals.
