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South Africa have organised an extra game for their squad to prepare for the British and Irish Lions Test series, ensuring back-to-back matches at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday in yet another tweak to the tour schedule. A South Africa A line-up will play domestic team the Bulls before the British and Irish Lions face the Stormers in what’s also their last warm-up for the first Test a week later. The Springboks are in dire need of match practice after playing just one Test – against Georgia this month – in two years since winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Some players did get a second game in South Africa A’s victory over the Lions in a scheduled tour match on Wednesday night. But a long lay-off because of the coronavirus pandemic, and a cancelled second Test against Georgia this month because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Springboks’ squad, has left coaching staff fretting over a lack of match fitness for the world champions. “We want to be as well prepared as possible when we mee...

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie made eight changes for the decisive Test against France, including a huge gamble on youth at the base of the scrum, but played down suggestions his team would be affected by the short turn around from Melbourne’s close defeat. Australia went with a settled 23 in the opening two matches, including just one starting team change, but head to Brisbane with a revamped line up. Rennie, speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s third Test in Brisbane, said he and Wallabies staff had a plan in place to cope with the challenges of the short turnaround. Saturday’s decider is a third Test in 11 days. He also seemed to shrug off the relative intensity of Test match rugby to Wallabies training camp in saying: “Some of our trainings are actually tougher than the games we’ve played so far, around the running metrics and physicality. “We knew we would need to manage certain players and we’ve done that.” The biggest talking points come around the base of the scrum. Tate...

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times. And that might not be as big an exaggeration as it looks. Even just last week and again in Tuesday’s two-up panel, plenty of us in numerous discussions were highlighting the breakdown speed and accuracy as being an ongoing concern for the Wallabies. Here’s a quick cut and paste from my offering, which in itself was pointing to the chaotic final moments of the first Test in Brisbane last week. “The attacking cleanout needs to be the focus for the second Test. I mentioned last week that it was outstanding to see Angus Bell and Lachie Lonergan first on the scene when Tate McDermott went to ground with the fatally loose French ball last week, and with Rob Valetini, Darcy Swain, and Taniela Tupou not far behind. “And as I mentioned, this was great to see in the 81st minute, because there had been way too many occasions in the preceding eighty minutes where the attacking clean out was either too slow, too ineffective, or too non-exist...

Well, the Wallabies got it done last week against France, even if they did need a bit of overtime to do it. And though most rugby fans know that a win is a win, and that you don’t have to draw a picture on the scoreboard, there’s no denying there was a fair bit of rust in the Wallabies performance. But is that just a by-product of the professional game these days? That players are now so entrenched in domestic/club/provincial programs that national coaches have to spend time ‘un-stating’ them, to put them back on the national program? Was there perhaps some merit in the South African need for 500 hours after all? Which they might yet get again, the way the Lions Series is looking at the moment… Question 1: Why do you think some teams look rustier that others in their first Test of the year? And what is the biggest lesson from Brisbane that the Wallabies must get right for the 2nd Test in Melbourne? Harry It’s not rust, per se. It’s about depth and style. Australia lacks depth at...

Everything is so serious nowadays. COVID vaccinations! Death from sugar! Contact sport! The risk of living is suddenly so real and so great, there just isn’t enough cotton wool in the world to go round, and global warming has caused the shortage. The fact that Lachlan Swinton has been so harshly judged and branded before turning 24 years old says more about society today than about him. Virtue signalling has become such a trendy pastime that we have lost perspective when it comes to concussion in sport, and we have vilified players like Swinton when the game these days needs more of them. Let’s be clear. Swinton is not a thug or mindless and uncontrollable perpetrator of violence. He’s a young man trying to forge a reputation who has made a few stupid mistakes. Swinton hasn’t dropped an elbow into the nose of a defenceless Paul Carozza like Richard Loe did. He didn’t try to eat All Black ears like Johan le Roux either. Sure, Loe and Le Roux are pretty nasty acts to follow, but br...

The British and Irish Lions tour faces more upheaval after coach Warren Gatland revealed that next week’s opponents could swap places to give South Africa more time to overcome their coronavirus outbreak. Fresh from seeing the Bulls replaced by the Sharks for Saturday’s fixture at Loftus Versfeld, plans are having to be revised for matches five and six of their tour. Instead of facing South Africa A on Wednesday and the Stormers three days later, they are set to trade slots as the Springboks look to halt the spread of coronavirus through their camp. The Lions depart for Cape Town on Sunday and Gatland also indicated that the final two Tests are highly likely to be moved from Johannesburg to the coastal city that hosts the series opener on July 24. “We’re not 100 per cent sure who the opposition is going to be next week, so it’s a little bit difficult to plan too far ahead,” Gatland said. “It’ll either be the Springboks A or the Stormers. They might switch those games around. “Tha...

Zander Fagerson becomes the second Scotland player to pull out of the British and Irish Lions side to face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57595699 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-v-japan-zander-fagerson-replaced-by-tadhg-furlong/

Wallabies halfback Nic White is out of next month’s Test series against France, while fellow veterans Matt Toomua and James O’Connor are also battling injuries, potentially robbing the side of almost 150 Test caps. White has returned home to Canberra after suffering a MCL injury at training during their Gold Coast camp, and Toomua is already there with his injury being checked by Rugby Australia’s chief medical officer, Warren McDonald. Toomua is expected to rejoin the squad on Sunday with the Wallabies hopeful the playmaker will be available for the first Test on July 7. O’Connor, who has carried the injury from Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, is being managed through training but the five-eighth is expected to play. With White out, Queensland’s Tate McDermott is now set for his first Test start after two matches off the bench, while Brumbies No.9 Ryan Lonergan is likely to make his debut. Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon is in camp but is also recovering from a MCL injury and remains an ...

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric comes into the British and Irish Lions side to play Japan on Saturday after Scotland's Hamish Watson is ruled out by a training-ground concussion. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57582450 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-v-japan-justin-tipuric-replaces-hamish-watson-in-line-up/

The British and Irish Lions will have eight debutants in their team to face Japan on Saturday. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57567198 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-eight-debutants-to-face-japan/

Any enigma about the physical preparation and the evolution of the Springboks’ game will be revealed when they face the British and Irish Lions. Given the Springboks have not participated in any competitions since the end of 2019, and with most of their key players playing abroad, it is difficult to analyze the medium-term prospects that would deposit them at the gates of the Rugby Championship 2021. In principle, one of the keys to dismantling the South African defensive game lies in avoiding or controlling the rapid pressure they exert through no’s. 6-8 and no. 9: fast and direct through the shortest channel until crashing into the opponent’s attack. Physicality on the occasion of contact is the central axis of the South African strategy, with almost 98 per cent effectiveness in ruck and 85 per cent in positive tackles. At the last Rugby World Cup in 2019, the Springboks left their qualifying group behind by playing good rugby but mostly focused on the potential to score points....

What used to be one of the most anticipated moments of my life has now evolved into a modicum of enthusiasm. It may be because I am now a New Zealander living in Australia where the media attention for rugby is so much less than NZ, but I feel that the naming of the All Blacks squad is less of a big deal than previously. And no, I have not become an AFL fan, I have tried hard to like it and know enough to fake a conversation, but still do not get the enthusiasm for it. I remember the heated debates with mates and fellow workers as to who would make the team and there was always a “Pick the All Blacks” competition running somewhere. If the team named by the public could ever take the field who knows what the result would be. I would say that several Kiwis could pick a better team than what Ian Foster and co have just done. I believe I never ever managed to select the whole squad as named by selectors but did come close. There was always a bolter in there. Bolters usually do not wo...

Tom Youngs accepts a charge of disrespecting a match official during Leicester's game with Bristol in June. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57554547 https://therugbystore.com.au/tom-youngs-leicester-hooker-accepts-two-week-ban-for-disrespecting-match-official/

Manu Tuilagi is included in Eddie Jones' updated 36-player England squad for their summer Tests against the USA and Canada. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57547865 https://therugbystore.com.au/manu-tuilagi-england-coach-eddie-jones-adds-sale-centre-to-squad-for-july-tests/

Harlequins stage a thrilling fightback from 28-0 down to beat Bristol after extra time and reach the Premiership final. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57484199 https://therugbystore.com.au/premiership-semi-final-bristol-bears-36-43-harlequins-aet-quins-reach-twickenham-after-stunning-fightback/

This article is in response to the recent article by Brett McKay highlighting calls by various coaches and personalities to bring back the NRC. Apart from the obvious fact Rugby Australia doesn’t have the money to reprise the NRC – or ARC, for that matter – I’ve always disputed its legitimacy on the grounds it duplicated unnecessary resources. Southern hemisphere rugby, including Australian rugby, took a wrong turn back in 1995. Everything they’ve done since has created extra expenses, required extra funds, which in turn meant seeking out extra, impractical revenue streams that were unnecessary. How for example, is it a victory for South African Super Rugby teams to move offshore to Europe, to be soon followed presumedly by the Springboks? Back in 1995 the southern hemisphere had a structural set-up that was close to perfect. What it required was fleshing out and building upon the solid footings and foundations already long established, not displacing them, as occurred when the gam...

The inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season is done and dusted, so we’re counting down the days until the international fixtures kick off in this week’s edition of Coach’s Corner. Every Friday, our rugby analyst here on The Roar , Nick Bishop, answers your questions about the goings-on across the rugby world Miss the latest issue of Coach’s Corner? Catch up right here! With the first Test against France now just a fortnight away, all eyes turn to the Wallabies as they prepare to try and stun France at the SCG. The European powerhouse won’t be at full strength, thanks to results in the Top 14; Toulouse’s semi-final win meaning stars Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, among others, won’t make it through Australia’s overseas quarantine in time for the first Test at least. Do the Aussies have a chance of getting the jump on Les Bleus? Or will their All Blacks-esque squad depth hold the visitors in good stead? In other Wallabies news, captain Michael Hooper has issued a warning that ...

Former British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton backs Warren Gatland to cement his legacy in South Africa. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57505885 https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-sam-warburton-backs-warren-gatland-to-make-history/

It’s the question that just won’t go away: should Australian rugby’s overseas contingent be eligible to play for the Wallabies? The argument fired up again this week with the announcement of the first Test squad for 2021. Feelings run hot on both sides. Those championing head coach Dave Rennie’s ‘local only’ approach fear a stampede for the exit if eligibility restrictions end. On the other hand, after a run of less-than-stellar results over the past couple of decades, others believe the Wallabies simply can’t afford to exclude our overseas elite – particularly with players increasingly making the move abroad in their peak years. Imagine what Rory Arnold, Tolu Latu and Sean McMahon would bring to the Wallabies, they argue. South Africa picked players from wherever and won a World Cup. Why can’t that be us? Making a choice: Then and now 30 years ago, Wallabies fans lived in fear of the next headline announcing that this rugby star or that emerging talent had signed to play league. ...

Saracens take a huge step towards returning to the Premiership by thrashing Ealing 60-0 in the first leg of the Championship play-off final. Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57443588 https://therugbystore.com.au/championship-play-off-final-ealing-trailfinders-0-60-saracens-ruthless-sarries-close-in-on-premiership-return/