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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.
History says Wales have more chance of a slump than a slamPaul Rees looks at Wales’s injuries, their bad record in recent fixtures against France, England and Ireland and sees no reason to make them second favourites in this year’s Six Nations.
