Player welfare is a clarion call of long standing for rugby’s constituents – the governing body World Rugby, unions, federations, clubs and tournament organisers. The IRFU’s model had long been the envy of its global peers, and sport’s hierarchy in several countries have followed suit to varying degrees in adopting a version of a central … Read more
When will we ever learn? As in learn not to rush to judgment after just one round. Recall way back in time – well, a mere four weeks ago – when all three Celtic nations lost on the opening day for the first time since 2000. Warnings followed about the championship being on the road … Read more
After a weekend of number crunching, and based upon the combination of our selections and our player ratings, here’s our Six Nations Team of the Championship so far. Backs 15 Thomas Ramos (France): An absolute shoo-in. France‘s back three strategy has been defined by the madcap laughing in the faces of any defence he’s encountered. … Read more
Six Nations: France 33 Italy 8 France pulled clear at the top of the Six Nations table and kept their grand slam ambitions on track with a hard-fought victory against Italy on Sunday. The Azzurri had unfinished business in Lille. It was two years ago in the northern city that Les Bleus, still amid a … Read more
John Boyd, the American military strategist, developed what he called the OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. The idea was simple but profound. In any conflict, the side that can cycle through those four steps fastest gains a decisive advantage, as they react in real time while their opponent works from an outdated picture of … Read more
Once upon a time, Matthieu Jalibert made his debut for France. He played alongside Antoine Dupont at the Stade de France on that February day in 2018. Ireland players and supporters have fond memories of the occasion, especially one of Andy Farrell’s current coaching cadre, Johnny Sexton. Sexton, Ireland’s captain, outhalf and, briefly, Jalibert’s counterpart … Read more
A few weeks back, I wrote about the benefit to Ireland of Ciarán Frawley’s move to Connacht next season. More outhalves wearing the 10 jersey can only be a positive. Less stockpiling of genuinely good players. Now, less than a week out from the Six Nations opener in Paris, Michael Milne’s decision last April to … Read more
France captain Antoine Dupont has said he bears no ill will for the incident that his coach, Fabien Galthié, described as “reprehensible” during last season’s 27-42 Six Nations Championship win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Dupont was speaking as both teams prepare for Thursday week’s Six Nations opener between the countries at the Stade … Read more
Toulouse have made a decision over whether to sign a medical joker for club captain Antoine Dupont following his season-ending injury. The world-class number nine sustained an ACL injury in France’s Six Nations victory over Ireland, and ever since that day in Dublin, his club have been scouring the market to find a replacement. However, … Read more
Andrew Porter has dismissed suggestions of foul play and explained that Antoine Dupont’s knee injury in last Saturday’s game against Ireland was simply an accident. The Irish prop also sent a well-wishing message on Instagram to the French captain who limped off the pitch in Aviva Stadium. Porter was reacting to French coach Fabien Galthié, … Read more