Rugby

Heineken Cup Final Odds

May 2, 2012

I am sometimes surprised by the enduring appeal and excellence of the Heineken Cup, not because it is a bad idea, or poorly executed, but because one of the biggest markets at which it is aimed, France, bans advertising alcohol. You’d think this would put the main sponsors off, but the continued brilliance of the play and incredibly intensity has meant the beer men come back and call it the ‘H Cup’ across the channel. Last season saw an epic comeback and victory for Leinster, as they overcame the largest half-time deficit ever to overturned in a final to beat [...]

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Six Nations Preview

March 10, 2012

A pivotal weekend in the Six Nations kicks off in a few hours as Wales take on Italy at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Some have suggested the dropping of captain Sam Warburton is to protect him for more important games, but both the camp and the player have been keen to emphasise that he really is hurt, and would not be playing were this France in Dunedin. The bookies don’t give the Italians much hope, installing Wales as crushing favourites (1/33, SkyBet) to win the match and take another step towards the Grand Slam. This is probably justified given the [...]

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Next England Coach

March 9, 2012

Today the news broke that Jake White, the former South Africa and current ACT Brumbies coach, wished not to be considered for the England manager/head coach position, leaving the Rugby Football Union with an ever-decreasing pool of candidates to pick from. Part of the problem, for me, is that current incumbent Stuart Lancaster has essentially been given a five game audition where others haven’t, and English performances have led to some short odds on Stuart Lancaster (7/4) being given the job full-time. The favourite remains Nick Mallett (2/5), former South Africa and Italy coach, and with White ruled out he [...]

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France v Ireland and the 6 Nations Champions

March 4, 2012

After the French national stadium was shut down by some cold weather rugby fans get a nice bonus this week in the shape of Ireland taking on the French in Paris. At only 20/1 with SkyBet to win the tournament outright the Irish have been somewhat superseded by the Welsh, and the loss of Brian O’Driscoll didn’t help either. The French are 7/4 with SkyBet to win the tournament outright, and 4/11 with BlueSquare to come out victorious today, but there is a lot of noise around the fact this is the best chance in a while for Ireland to [...]

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Six Nations Preview

January 10, 2012

Every sport has it – that annual event that everyone can look forward to. You do not have to be the biggest fan of the game that is being played to suddenly become fixated by a certain event. In tennis it is Wimbledon, in golf it is The Masters in horse racing it is the Grand National. In rugby, it is the RBS Six Nations. Admittedly, the World Cup is the biggest event in the sport when it comes around once every four years, but as far as having something to look forward to each and every year, this is [...]

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Guscott – Johnson didn’t have the CV

November 18, 2011

Following the news that Martin Johnson has stepped down from his position as England team manager, former player Jeremy Guscott has said that the former captain was never cut out for the job. After a poor World Cup campaign, littered with below par performances and off the field problems, Johnson’s position was under review and he has now taking matters into his own hands by stepping down. Referring to Johnson’s reign, Guscott said: “Johnno didn’t have the CV to do the job but the RFU backed him and he backed himself and unfortunately and regrettably he came up short.” “The [...]

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Cockerill rules himself out of England job

November 1, 2011

Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill has ruled himself out of the running for the England job already, despite former Tigers player and current England head coach Martin Johnson yet to step down or be sacked from his role. Johnson’s position came under question following a disastrous World Cup campaign which ended in defeat at the quarter final stage against France amidst a wave of controversy surrounding his players off the field antics. Mike Tindall, Dylan Hartley, Chris Ashton and James Haskell were all in the headlines during the tournament while Jonny Wilkinson and two of Johnson’s backroom staff were [...]

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O’Driscoll: I’m not retiring

October 31, 2011

Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll insists he has no plans to retire from international rugby after Ireland tumbled out of the World Cup at the hands of Wales earlier this month. O’Driscoll, who has won 123 caps, captained the side that came undone against Wales at the Quarter Final stage while also wearing the armband in Ireland’s shock victory over Australia in the pool stage, and despite the disappointment of their early exit insists he has no plans to hang up his boots just yet. “People are very quick to write individuals off. If you still feel fit and up to [...]

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