Wednesday 16 December 2015

Best and worst of Japan (2012-2015)

The best and worst matches for Japan over the last 4 year World Cup cycle under coach Eddie Jones.


Thursday 10 December 2015

Failure of Mike Tolkin regime obvious before doomed RWC

Despite the pre-RWC optimism, it had been clear for at least 2 years beforehand that a win at the tournament would be unlikely and that the Mike Tolkin era was destined to fail.

Friday 4 December 2015

Players from 'Tier 2' nations playing in Europe (2015/2016)

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For the 2015/16 season there are right now around 354 players from 31 nations outside Tier 1 playing for clubs in the 5 fully professional leagues in Europe (Premiership, Championship, Top 14, Pro D2 and Pro12), plus at least another 50+ in Espoirs squads in France. Here is a breakdown country by country of those players.

Friday 23 October 2015

Canada's trouble in managing both 15's and 7's

The major problems behind Canada's failure to win at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, were not necessarily coaching ones as reaction would suggest. But what the tournament possibly showed was the need to find a better relationship between the 15's and 7's programs.

Thursday 24 September 2015

A look at the collision dominance of Vito Kolelishvili

A look at the dominant gainline winning tackling of Georgia's flanker Vito Kolelishvili who had a huge impact in the World Cup win over Tonga last Saturday.

Thursday 17 September 2015

RWC Preview: Namibia

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A short look at Namibia's preparation and build up and squad for the tournament, as they hope just to limit the heaviness of defeat they suffer.


Wednesday 16 September 2015

RWC Preview: Georgia

Talismanic Mamuka Gorgodze is 'key to Georgia’s RWC 2019 campaign'A short look at Georgia's preparation and build up and squad for the tournament, as they hope to trump Tonga and qualify automatically for 2019.

RWC Preview: Japan

We want to inject fear into Springboks, says Japan's Hitoshi OnoA short look at Japan's preparation, build up and squad for the tournament, as they hope to improve their damaged reputation, and win a World Cup game for the first time in 24 years.


RWC Preview: Romania


A short look at Romania's preparation, build up and squad for the tournament, as they hope to continue their success against Canada, and finally beat Italy.

RWC Preview: Tonga

All Blacks fan Telusa Veainu embraces his Tongan rootsA short look at Tonga's preparation, build up and squad for the tournament, as they look to repeat another major upset achieved in 2011.

RWC Preview: Fiji

European experience gives Flying Fijians confidence

A short look at Fiji's preparation, build up and squad for the tournament, as they head into a pool of death with three of the world's top 6 sides.

RWC Preview: Samoa

Samoa's Tim Nanai-Williams confident his gamble will pay offA short look at Samoa's preparation and build up and squad for the tournament, as they look to reach the quarter finals for the first time in the professional era.

Friday 11 September 2015

The issues of the 20 team World Cup format

A question as to whether the scheduling, that has often made it difficult particularly for Tier 2 sides with less depth, detracts from the Rugby World Cup, and whether fans may feel ripped off if they knew that some games had teams not picking their strongest XV.

Try in Romania vs Tonga match a reminder of why TMO is important

Recent internationals in the PNC and RWC warm ups have lacked a TMO, and it's resulted in match deciding calls going wrong. Most recently last weekend in a close game, Romania unluckily conceding a try in the corner that shouldn't have stood.

Thursday 10 September 2015

The improvement of the Japan lineout

A look at the improvement in Japan's lineout over the past couple of years under the coaching of former England lock Steve Borthwick, which has become easily the most efficient of any Tier 2 nations.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

The concerning basic errors behind Canada's collapse to Fiji

A look at some of the concerning basic errors in what was a miserable Sunday for Canada, who suffered their worst defeat for three years against Fiji.


Sunday 30 August 2015

The awfulness of the Japanese rugby system

Explaining some of the major faults of the player development system in Japan, a system which their coach says leaves their young players progress 'retarded', but it's a system aged JRFU leaders stubbornly refuse to modernise and reform.

Thursday 20 August 2015

A brief look at Uruguayan rugby

As Uruguay enter the toughest pool in RWC history, with four top 10 ranked opponents. All they tell the media is how they are amateur, so here is an attempt at a slightly different look at the team.


Wednesday 12 August 2015

The new scrum engagement laws: 2 years on

We are now 2 years on from the first match under the new scrum engagement laws, brought in after tolerance of the mess the scrum had descended into reached its limit in 2013 and WR were forced to make changes. Here is a look at how those changes disappeared.

Thursday 6 August 2015

Key factors behind Canada's lack of form

After easily securing top spot beating USA in RWC qualifying, Canada have gone a torrid run of form, with 11 straight losses to top 18 ranked nations. Here is a look at some of the factors behind that.


Wednesday 29 July 2015

Pacific Island internationals in Super Rugby

A brief look at how in 20 seasons of Super Rugby, the amount of Pacific Island internationals fell dramatically, followed by a rise in the past 5 years of players moving to Europe and playing international rugby.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Signs of improvement for the Fijian scrum

The Fijian scrum has long been one of the most derided in world rugby. Over three tests vs Italy, Romania and Italy again between 2013 & 2014, it conceded four penalty tries. But there are signs it may be improving.

Saturday 18 July 2015

The global trend of referees ignoring players not supporting weight

Worldwide referees are failing to police the breakdown properly, creating a free for all that is regularly going to the benefit of defending teams allowing them to spoil possession, and also bringing in some other unwanted consequences.

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Preview: Pacific Nations Cup 2015

As the 10th edition of the Pacific Nations Cup kicks off this weekend, here is a summary on how each of the six nations involved are approaching this tournament that will serve as preparation for the upcoming World Cup.

Sunday 5 July 2015

Georgia embark on urgent fitness mission prior to World Cup

Despite the many positives that come from Georgia exporting so many players to France, there's also the negative of a few clubs shoddy conditioning. With a once in four year chance to get the squad together for months, reports suggest coach Milton Haig is putting a major emphasis on rectifying fitness levels.

Saturday 4 July 2015

A statistical look at the Romanian scrum

The Romanian scrum has been best amongst Tier 2 nations in recent times. A hugely dominant force which along with the maul has won games almost single handedly on occasions, although they have also become hugely dependant on it. Here is a statistical look at how it has fared in recent times.

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Uruguay and their fixation with amateurism

Uruguay are fixated on telling the world about how amateur they are, often evenexaggerating. But the Teros clinging to that amateurism as a badge of pride is what will prevent any significant progression in the future.

Sunday 21 June 2015

Indiscipline levels becoming a major issue for Georgia

Indiscipline continues to be an issue for Georgian rugby, and under coach Milton Haig they've been a side that's received more cards than any other often hampering them in matches. Haig has just a few months left to try and fix the issue, or risk a lapse of discipline potentially costing him his job.

Saturday 13 June 2015

Friday 5 June 2015

Brendan Gallagher's latest ill thought out attack on New Zealand

A rebuttal to those such as journalist Brendan Gallagher who have been all wrong when slamming New Zealand for their U20 selection.

Sunday 31 May 2015

Farcical non-banning exposes rugby's disciplinary process yet again

The citing system in rugby is an utter farce and has been for many years. The fact the system is ripe for abuse couldn't have been highlighted better than this week's incident in the Ireland vs Barbarians game.

Friday 29 May 2015

Joke rankings change cancels out another joke rankings change

Japan dropped down the rankings thanks merely to their washout in Hong Kong. That cancelled them rising up the rankings in similarly silly circumstances last year as well.

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Kingsley Jones memory evades him as recalls facing Georgia

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Former Russia head coach Kingsley Jones appeared to be struggling to remember the times he faced off against Georgia as he talked trash about them this on Scrum V this week.