France coach Galthie cocksure ahead of Rugby World Cup: 'We're certainly the team to beat'
France head coach Fabien Galthie said Saturday his side will be "the team to beat" at this year's Rugby World Cup on home soil.
Jacques Brunel Sport News
England’s succession plans flawed given rugby’s ever shifting landscape
It may be a touch unfair – albeit good fun – to imagine the Succession screenwriters are overseeing the Rugby Football Union’s transition to life after Eddie Jones. No prizes for guessing who fulfils the Logan Roy role and there seem parallels too, between Kendall and Steve Borthwick, someone who has at times appeared the natural successor but about whom doubts over his suitability to be top dog have lingered.
Jones’s claims of England progress ring hollow as France highlight gulf
You could measure the gap between England and France by the 12 points difference on the scoreboard. Or you could measure it by the inches between Ben Youngs’ outstretched hand and Antoine Dupont’s shorts as Youngs launched himself headfirst into a futile dive after the best player in the world and tried to drag him back as he cut England apart. You could measure it in the feet England were shoved backwards at the scrum just before half-time where they conceded yet another set-piece penalty, or you could measure it by the acres of space France found out on the right wing when they created the three-on-one overlap that led to their first try.
'It's an exciting time, it's a frustrating time' - As Italy continue to improve, so does everyone else
Italy are uniquely positioned in international rugby, although not in a good way.