Articles
Latest Posts
Super Rugby 2012 OutlookPredicting who will fill the play-off spots in Super Rugby is more difficult than ever this year. The competition has become a marathon with the grand final not due to take place until early August.
Wayne Smith: Counter Attack TrailerCounter attack dominates try scoring in the modern game, it needs to be coached. In this video I will help you grow your players understanding of how to counter attack off kick receipts. What players should look for and how best to exploit the chasing defensive line.
The magic of match day was to make myself disappearGraham Henry reveals the priorities of a coach in preparing his side ahead of a big match.
England slow ball and slow thinking is learned at a young ageDo England’s young players spend too much time on fitness and skills and not enough time just finding out how to play the game of rugby?
What price rugby loyaltyThe Brumbies and Hurricanes face daunting prospects with new and inexperienced squads facing the established aristocracy of Super Rugby.
Dan Lydiate can D-rail England freight trainSam Warburton says he admires Jonny Wilkinson and Steve Redgrave and wants Wales to emulate their professionalism.
Andy Ellis was a huge part in our World Cup winWayne Smith looks at the huge influence the half back has on a modern rugby team and how the emphasis changes from country to country.
Wales have the mental steel to beat EnglandShane Williams says that Wales will dig out a rare Twickenham victory by exploiting England’s lack of a genuine openside.
Gatland tells Wales to hit and runPaul Rees looks at Wales’s history against England at Twickenham and believes they will run from anywhere if they spot a lack of defensive cover
My position on the England jobWayne Smith sets the record straight on his interest in the England job.
Richie McCaw: Set Piece Running Lines TrailerWatch one of the worlds best openside flankers, Richie McCaw, show you how to get from set piece to the breakdown as quickly as possibly. It is not about speed or knowing where to go, its about know how to get there efficiently and make the right decisions on what is happening next.
The Blue Bulls don’t look pretty in pinkMark Reason looks at the Bulls new pink jersey design and wonders if he is on a yellow submarine lost in the sixties.
How I beat the pain to play in the World Cup finalRichie McCaw talks about the injury he picked up in World Cup year and shares his inside thoughts on how best to manage the recovery period.
England’s robotic players need to think for themselvesBrian Ashton explores the different attitude of teams towards attacking the defence and thinks that England will have to sharpen up if they are to beat Wales
Richie McCaw: Dont forget your strengths...The worlds best openside flanker Richie McCaw explains why it is important for rugby players to spend time focusing on their strengths and not getting lost in their perceived weaknesses. He then identifies the 4 key skills of a loose forward; tackling, clearing out rucks, putting pressure on the opposition breakdown and running with the ball. Explaining how in times of need he goes back to the fundamentals to get back in the game.
Dull England ploughs on through the snowPaul Rees watches lucky England plod to victory despite creating very little except a midfield full of cumbersome forwards
Please, please read the IRB’s guide to concussion - it could save your lifeMark Reason says that the IRB has its head in the right place as it launches a new initiative to tackle concussion
Robinson and Kidney may soon be looking for a new jobPaul Rees wonders if defeat at the weekend would mean the end for a couple of Six Nations coaches… Is history about to repeat itself? Two Six Nations coaches who had taken their teams to the previous year’s World Cup found themselves looking for a new job within weeks of the end of the 2008 tournament.
Ireland's front row holds the key to victoryGraham Henry believes that Ireland can overturn history in Paris.
Foul PlayA rugby league style “on report” system is being trialled by SANZAR for this year’s Super XV. One of the reasons given for the changes is the rather questionable goal of making life easier for referees on the field. The more sensible and, one would hope, primary objective is to achieve greater fairness and consistency in the treatment of foul play. A referee will be able to place a player “on report” if he suspects foul play or if a player makes an allegation against an opponent which the referee feels warrants investigation by the judiciary.
Trinh-Duc is number one in the top ten chartFormer All Blacks fly-half Wayne Smith looks at what the number tens bring to their teams in the Six Nations.
Parks deserved betterThe sudden retirement from international rugby of Dan Parks has come as a surprise to most. The timing of the announcement and the comments made by Andy Robinson suggest that Parks has been told his international days are over. Admittedly, he had a shocker against England but most players have games where everything they attempt goes wrong. He has been held responsible for Scotland’s inability to score tries.
6 Nations Round 1 ReviewAbsolutely everyone is rebuilding either their squad, their confidence or their coaching, in some cases all three. It was a perfect storm for England and the only way was up. Stuart Lancaster has reminded the current group of players of some standards and values which 99% of all England Internationals believe anyway. That was how far they had lost sight of reality. In the light of that, any win would do.
Lions WatchWith the Lions due to tour Australia next year, the Rugby Site brings you the first in a regular Lions feature where we review the latest games for winners and losers and suggest a team if picked today.
Welsh RenaissanceThis Welsh side came of age on Sunday at the Aviva stadium. True, their RWC adventures placed them firmly on the radar screen of world rugby. But there were the doubters who claimed they had seen it all before only for the dragons to revert to type before long. There were those who said that Wales had in fact underperformed at the World Cup. How could the hype and excitement be justified when they won 4 games, but managed to lose 3?
Disciplined England now need better teamwork to challenge the big threeFormer England coach Brian Ashton says that the outside-halves were the difference in the opening matches of the Six Nations weekend.
England pulls together to win uglyPaul Rees sees Scotland fail to convert a staggering 70 per cent possession into victory
Wales have brought back the low tackle to stop IrelandShane Williams believes that the utter belief of men like Sam Warburton and George North will carry Wales to the Six Nations.
France is set to win the ugly Grand SlamWayne Smith takes a look at France and wonders if Phippe Saint-Andre is about to usher in an age of austerity
Ireland and Wales need to play the mind gameGraham Henry believes Ireland and Wales have the world before them, but they must get smarter.
