Rugby Supernova

Another weekend down, but another fascinating weekend of 6 Nations rugby! It was intense, entertaining and controversial, with a fair few surprises thrown in along the way. I was in Bristol on a stag weekend, but needless to say we found the time to watch all three international games, and even made a visit to Ashton Gate to watch the West Country derby. By Sunday evening I told my wife something that she thought she'd never hear me say, I was truly 'rugbyed out'!  As the dust has settled, I've now had the chance to take stock and reflect on what I'll describe as an 'interesting game' at Twickenham. Danny Care - surrounded by blue shirts, a common theme from Sunday's game! England were expected to win comfortably, to secure the bonus point early and increase their points difference going into the final two matches. Italy had already taken two batterings, courtesy of Wales and Ireland, and were now travelling to the world's number two side who ...

After a week's break, the RBS 6 Nations is back with some mouth watering games in prospect. England are looking to continue their winning run against Italy, and the Edinburgh and Dublin games are too tight to call! England v Italy (Twickenham) Debut start - Centre Ben Te'o Steady Eddie hinted there would be changes to the team that take on Italy, and he has kept to his word. Ben Te'o makes his first international start in the centre, with James Haskell taking over the number seven jersey, with Jack Clifford moving to the bench. Many had expected George Ford to be relegated from the starting XV, with the now seemingly irreplaceable Owen Farrell shifting to fly half - how wrong we were.  Eddie has stuck with George, as he has done from the outset of his tenure as England head coach - another vote of confidence for the Leicester bound playmaker. As was the case in last year's Parisian Grand Slam decider, Danny Care is given the task of upping the tempo from th...

Did you ever play? It's a question most men get asked at some point during their lives, either on a touchline supporting their children or in a pub with a pint in hand watching an international. The reply I've heard many times is something along the lines of "Yeah... I played at school... I was quite handy... but then it got a bit too physical for me/I got an injury... and I gave it up". But if you stop and really think hard, you'll often be surprised at who you actually played with or against during those cherished schoolboy years. Today's professional players are unlikely to remember your name, or even realise that they shared a pitch with you for 80 minutes. But there's something nostalgic about recounting the players you locked horns with back in the day. Perhaps it's just the rugby anorak that I am but there's a few that stick in the memory for me: Mike Brown (Harlequins & England) Growing up playing for my local side Chippenham RFC,...

Lions year - the excitement is already building! It comes around every four years and I for one cannot wait for the greatly anticipated British & Irish Lions tours. There really is something special about combining the best players from the four home unions and testing them away from home against the world's best international teams. It still remains the ultimate challenge for international players and this year's tour to New Zealand is about as tough as it can get! It's a classic pub conversation and clubhouse debate - choosing your starting Lions test XV, but here are my initial thoughts on who are the current front runners to make this gruelling tour. Front Row I can't claim that this is my specialist area by any means, but in the opening two rounds of 6 nations Dan Cole and Joe Marler have certainly put forward their claims. WP Nel of Scotland was a big favourite for many pundits before his injury, but will Warren Gatland still stick with him despite a...

From humble beginnings to an obsession I can still remember it as if it were yesterday, the day my Dad took me and my younger brother to our first mini rugby session. A cold Sunday morning on the wide open fields of Down Grange, the home of Basingstoke RFC. Here, hundreds of young lads (well it seemed like that at the time) assembled to release their energy and learn the game on the wet muddy fields. I loved to get my hands on the ball and run, to feel that rush of adrenaline, as the other lads chased you down in a race to reach the try line. I can vividly remember walking down the dark, damp and muddy corridors of the changing rooms to the showers afterwards. The smell of deep heat, mud and sweat filled the air. I'd then tip toe back down the corridor trying to avoid the clumps of mud on the floor, but inevitably coming back with my feet just as muddy as when I set off! This Sunday morning ritual would be completed with a post training refuel, which consisted of a polystyrene tr...

(18/02/17) Bath Rugby 22 Harlequins 12 - My thoughts So Bath managed to back up their last minute victory against the Saints last Friday with a hard earned win against Londoners Harlequins. It certainly wasn't pretty, in a game strewn with handling errors and mistakes. As a result the game never seemed to quite get going with neither side really stamping their authority in the first half. 9-7 to Bath at half time seemed a fair reflection, but not a half we will be talking about in years to come. However the standard of play wasn't surprising at the same time, with both sides missing key players to international duty and number of academy players having to step up to the mark. The new Bath centre combination of Max Clark and Rory Jennings had not started a premiership game together and at times this showed. Rhys Priestland was often too deep and static for my liking and I don't think that helped ignite any pace or go forward for the Bath backline. If you compare t...