Imagine Rugby - Blog RSS (Opinion)

Fly Half Position Up for Grabs

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:01:49 +0000

With Jonny Wilkinson having retired from international rugby last week, he has left behind a spot in the England squad for a young fly half to come along and take their chance. But with so many promising fly halves in the Aviva Premiership, and abroad, at present, who should be given the opportunity when...

By Chris White

Stade and Brive Maintain 100% Records

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:38:03 +0000

Stade Francais and Brive maintained their 100% winning records in the Amlin Challenge Cup with their fourth victories of the season. Elsewhere, there was another win for a French club, with Toulon taking the spoils against Newcastle as Jonny Wilkinson returned to haunt his former side.

Stade thumped Crociati Parma 45-3 to keep the top spot in Pool One with a bonus...

By Chris White

Harlequins Stun Toulouse Saints Thump Castres

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:29:45 +0000

It was a fantastic weekend for the Aviva Premiership clubs in round four of this season’s Heineken Cup, with Harlequins, Northampton and Leicester all beating French opposition, with Quins’ victory on French soil possibly the standout result of the season so far.

Having lost at home to Toulouse la...

By Chris White

Quins Unbeaten Run Comes to an Abrupt End

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:04:24 +0000

With their unbeaten run still intact, Harlequins welcomed Toulouse to the Twickenham Stoop, with the French side departing with the points, bringing that outstanding run of victories to an end. It was a similar story for Leicester against French opposition, with their recent revival also halted in the latest round of Heineken Cup fixtures.

14 successive...

By Chris White

Tigers Maul Saints in Midlands Derby

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:59:29 +0000

In the Midlands derby at Welford Road it was Leicester Tigers who came out on top, showing signs of continuing their revival after a disappointing start. The morale boosting victory against Northampton Saints is likely to give the Tigers the confidence to make a later than planned title push, although Harlequins are going to take some catching after extending their outstanding unbeaten start to the season.

The Tigers are now unbeaten in...

By Chris White

Moore "Worse to Come" Quote Proved Right

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:26:16 +0000

Last week, former England hooker Brian Moore, who now commentates on the game for English television, predicted that there would be “worse to come” for English rugby, despite the views of Rob Andrew, who claimed that the game had hit “rock bottom.”

The Elite Director of Rugby at the RFU, Andrew said that he “ac...

By Chris White

Quins Thrash Falcons to Extend Run

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:31:55 +0000

Harlequins have continued their unbeaten start to the season with yet another victory, while Northampton and Leicester are finally finding their form this season. It’s not great news for Bath, however, as they’re getting dragged closer to the foot of the Premiership table after their second successive domestic defeat.

It’s lucky 13 from 13 ...

By Chris White

Woodward Critical of RFU

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:56:34 +0000

Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward has accused the RFU of letting Marin Johnson down, and has called for more heads to roll, with “someone made accountable for that.” Johnson stepped down after England’s disappointing World Cup campaign, which ended at the quarterfinal stage, but was bl...

By Chris White

Sean Fitzpatrick views on the RWC Final

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:58:10 +0100

Auckland was a very special place to be on Sunday as we celebrated the crowning of the new world champions New Zealand, after the 8-7 win over France.

I don't think I have ever experienced an atmosphere in a stadium anywhere in the world like that.

And it was just the same throughout the entire country. The whole nation wore black to support their team.

When the team coach left the team hotel for Eden Park for the final, the streets were lined for the four-and-a-half kilometres...

By Sean Fitzpatrick

Sean Fitzpatrick on the RWC Semi Finals

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:42:06 +0100

The relief around New Zealand is amazing after the semi-final victory over Australia in the Rugby World Cup. Most people feel we are in a wonderful place now.

The rest of the world may have seen the All Blacks as comfortable favourites before the competition started, but believe me there was plenty of nervousness here.

It was a great weekend for the All Blacks, but in rugby terms it was tainted by the sending-off of Wales captain Sam Warburton in the other semi-final against France....

By Sean Fitzpatrick

Showtime

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:12:56 +0100

The dream of winning the World Cup will live on for two nations this weekend, but for two others, that dreams will remain just that, with the heart-breaking situation of the semi finals in Auckland.

With two northern hemisphere sides playing each other, and two from the south contesting the other semi, we’re all set for a terrific final, but before we get to the pinnacle of international rugby, we have the little task of the semi final...

By Chris White

Sean Fitzpatrick views on the Quarter Finals

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:18:46 +0100

I have just arrived in New Zealand for the second phase of the Rugby World Cup and I have never experienced anything like it. The country has gone RUGBY crazy! The atmosphere is just unbelievable. I didn't know there were so many flags in the world.

People here generally don't show their emotions, they get quietly on with their business, but the country seems to have lost its shyness.
After the quarter-final weekend, we are now down to the last four teams, any one of whom could win...

By Sean Fitzpatrick

England Antics Need Addressing

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:27:20 +0100

In my article last week, I wrote about how the media need to leave the England rugby team alone so they can just get on with their World Cup campaign, as opposed to trying to knock them down so they can spend the next two weeks criticising them.

While I stand by what I wrote then, I must say that the England players...

By Chris White

Sean Fitzpatrick on the 2011 RWC

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:55:55 +0100

The question of the moment is undoubtedly what will the fallout be for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup after the injury to Dan Carter.

Frankly, I think it is also a massive loss to the tournament and to rugby lovers. We are not going to see the best rugby player in the world performing on the biggest stage. He must be devastated and our thoughts are with him at this moment.
There has been concern for years about what would happen if we lost Carter or Richie McCaw. Richie has...

By Sean Fitzpatrick

Work To Do For World Cup Minnows

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:56:25 +0100

The World Cup is the pinnacle of a rugby player’s career, and representing your country is a true honour, but in some cases of this year’s competition, the difference in quality between the minnows and the big boys has looked farcical. I’m fully for giving the ‘smaller’ nations their chance at the biggest stage, but they have to improve – and fast.

Teams such as Japan, Canada, Romania, R...

By Chris White

Do or die for Scotland

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:53:19 +0100

Scotland have only themselves to blame for the predicament they’re in with one game left in the Pool phase of this year’s World Cup, with the equation simple – beat England, or go home. The Scots suffered a 13-12 defeat to Argentina in a match dubbed “the fight for second” in Pool B, meaning they must beat their rivals in order to progress.

The team coached by Andy Robinson now have to not ...
By Chris White

Are the favourites cranking up their acts?

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:14:08 +0100

If the first part of the Rugby World Cup was marked by a few surprises and some questions being asked about the top teams, I think the last few days has shown that the favourites - New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England and Ireland- are beginning to crank up their acts.

Obviously as a Kiwi, I was delighted to see the All Blacks beat France 37-17 and to do it in some style. It's been a long, four-year wait since that French victory over the All Blacks in Cardiff in the last World...
By Sean Fitzpatrick

Johnson Tells Players "Improve or Go Home"

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:54:37 +0100

After two disappointing performances in their opening games, against Argentina and Georgia, the England players have been made fully aware that they need to raise their games, or start packing their bags for the long flight back to London.

Martin Johnson’s side held on to beat Argentina 13-9 in their opening game in what was a very scrap...
By Chris White

Sean Fitzpatrick 3rd Blog on the RWC

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:56:54 +0100

What a weekend! Ireland's brilliant 15-6 win over Australia has set the Rugby World Cup alight.
One of the favourites has been taken down for now! And more significantly, because of the way the draw works, it has virtually guaranteed a northern hemisphere team will be in the final which will make for a wonderful north v south battle.

Despite all the nice words that were said about Australia before the World Cup, Ireland brutally exposed them. They exposed Quade Cooper and they exposed...
By Sean Fitzpatrick

Ireland vs The Wallabies

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 07:25:46 +0100

It would have been great to have been in my native Auckland last night, but a bar just off Grafton Street in Dublin, opening early and packed with the Irish going crazy, and kissing each other, was a brilliant second best vantage point. Good timing by my daughter, to be beginning her student career in the city.

And brilliant timing by Ireland. They set the World Cup alight, they exposed the Wallabies, they exposed Quade Cooper, they exposed Tatafu Polota-Nau, the hooker. Neither could tak...
By Sean Fitzpatrick

Johnson Defends England Team Night Out

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:23:19 +0100

After the team came in for a great deal of media criticism for going out in Queenstown following the 13-9 World Cup win against Argentina, England coach Martin Johnson defended the actions of his players, saying that they “needed to let off steam.”

The England performance against the Pumas in their openi...
By Chris White

The Second Series of Matches

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:30:11 +0100

We started the second series of matches with our first look at Samoa, Georgia, Canada and Russia. And although I expected I would be building up Samoa as a team from whom we might expect a few surprises, it's actually Canada who get my vote as team of the day.

They beat Tonga 25-20 which is as near to a surprise as we have had so far in the World Cup. A special word of praise for Kieran Crowley, the Canadian coach, who I played with in the 1987 World Cup winning All Blacks team.

He...
By Sean Fitzpatrick

First Phase of the RWC

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:43:57 +0100

The first phase of games in the Rugby World Cup is over and I think everyone should be very happy. We have had some exciting, combative matches, big crowds and a very passionate atmosphere. Maybe the games haven't all been the greatest spectacles with flowing moves and stunning tries, but I don't think you are going to get that at this stage of the competition as everyone feels their way.

All the fancied teams have played now, so what have we learned?

I think the stand-out team...
By Sean Fitzpatrick

Game One RWC 2011

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:19:10 +0100

A 41-10 win for the All Blacks against Tonga was a good start. I had felt before the game a victory by around 30 points would be just about right in an opening match.

The All Blacks have really been building up to this for four long years since they lost to France in Cardiff in the last World Cup - and you could sense just what it meant to the country to be off and running at last.

The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing and outside it as well. It was ‘blackout day’ in New Zea...
By Sean Fitzpatrick

Rugby World Cup 2011 For Xbox Reviewed

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:11:14 +0100

This week as I’ve geared myself up for the Rugby World Cup, I’ve been spending my free time sitting in front of the Xbox (to the delight of my girlfriend) playing the official video game for the tournament in New Zealand and I’ve definitely not been wasting my time!

It’s been four years since the last World Cup and the creators of the game, HB Studios, have obviously spent that time wisely because this game is fantastic. They could h...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Wasps

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:39:52 +0100

One of the most successful teams in the English Premiership, Wasps currently play their home matches at Adams Park, the ground owned by Wycombe Wanderers Football Club in Buckinghamshire.

The team, lead by new...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Saracens

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:17:40 +0100

Like many other English rugby clubs, Saracens do not own their own ground; instead, they play their home matches at Vicarage Road, the home ground of Watford Football Club.

Vicarage Road is a 17,500-capacity stadium that was opened back in 1922, in time for the new football season. Saracens moved to the ground in 1997 and won their first Premiership...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Sale Sharks

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:44:03 +0100

Sale Sharks are one of the founding members of Premiership rugby in England, winning the 2006 Championship, and they are currently based at Stockport’s Edgeley Park Stadium.

The 10,852 capacity stadium was in fact built for rugby league back in 1901, to be the home of Stockport, but the club were forced to fold before they could play in it, allowing Stockport County Football Club to move into the bigger stadi...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Northampton Saints

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:30:52 +0100

Formerly known as Melbourne Gardens, Northampton Saints moved into their ground, now known as Franklin’s Gardens, in time for the 1888 season. The ground was built by John Collier, and after his death in 1886, they were bought by a successful local hotelier, John Franklin, who renamed the ground just a year later.

‘The Gardens’ were sold in 1888...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Newcastle Falcons

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:23:31 +0100

When Newcastle Falcons moved into Kingston Park back in 1990, they had a dream of making the big time, reaching the bright lights of Premiership rugby. Since making that dream a reality, the club and the stadium look as though they have been part of top-flight rugby for decades.

Previously, and under the name of Newcastle Gosforth, the club played their home...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: London Irish

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:40:05 +0100

The Madejski Stadium in Reading plays home to not just Reading Football Club, but London Irish too, and is one of the finest new stadiums in the country, having opened in August 1998. The bowl stadium is an all-seater and can host up to 24,161 supporters.

London Irish made the £50million ground their home in 2000 and have since seen their average attendance rise to more than 11,000, holding the Premiership’s attendance record until 2009, having had 23,709 people through the gates f...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Leicester Tigers

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:27:06 +0100

Welford Road has seen some of the most successful moments in English rugby, as it is the home of the most decorated side in the country, Leicester Tigers. The club moved into the ground, located just outside the city centre, back in 1892, when it seated just 1,100 spectators.

Over the years, there have been several talks about sharing a ground with the other main sports club in the city – Leicester City FC – but...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Harlequins

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:44:37 +0100

Harlequins began life playing at the new national stadium, built in Twickenham in time for the 1906/07 season, where initially there would only be a handful of international games each year, and it wasn’t long until the Rugby Football Union (RFU) handed the ground over to Harlequins to use it as their own stadium.

By 1963, the club had bought a 14-acre athletics ground within a stones throw from the original ground. This new ground would become the home of Harlequins and was By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Gloucester

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:58:49 +0100

Following recent renovations, Kingsholm is now a 16,000-seater stadium, which is the home of Gloucester Rugby, and formerly the England national team before their move to Twickenham. The ground hosted it’s first ever match in October 1891, between Gloucester and Burton, with the home side coming out victorious.

Before this, Gloucester played at the Spa Ground. Kingsholm is sometimes nicknamed ‘Castle Grim’ after...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Exeter Chiefs

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:19:15 +0100

From the West Country, I take a trip a little bit further south this week on my journey around the Premiership rugby grounds of England, down to Sandy Park, the home of Exeter Chiefs.

The Chiefs moved into their current ground at Sandy Park in September 2006, having built the stadium at a cost of £15million. Phase one of the project involved creating an 8,000-seater stadium, with planning permission already secured for future generation to bring it up to the requirements set out by th...
By Chris White

Steele Steps Down From RFU Role

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:49:38 +0100

After an emergency board meeting at the end of last week, John Steele, the Chief Executive of the Rugby Football Union, stood down from his position following more disagreements over the proposed performance director position within the organisation.

Steele made the decision to alter the job description regarding the role of the performance director, ensuring that they had no influence on the England squad or team selection, leaving Martin Johnson in sole charge of the team. Former...
By Chris White

Around the Grounds: Bath Rugby

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:51:46 +0100

Situated on the banks of the River Avon, “The Rec” is built on an open space in the middle of the picturesque city in the west midlands.

The 11,700-capacity stadium is preparing to be developed under the ambitious new owner. During the summer, the temporary East Stand is removed to make way for cricket on a larger pitch. The cricket pitch is then used by local teams, and also by Somerset County Cricket Club once a year as an outground.

The club began looking for alterna...
By Chris White

5 Biggest Shocks

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:22:16 +0100

People regularly say “it’s a funny old game” when it comes to sport, and rugby is another one of those that can go either way. Depending on how the ball bounces, you can win a game or lose a game in the blink of eye, with the swing of a boot or a gust of the breeze.

It’s also one of those sports where, on their day, anybody can beat anybody. It was only a couple of years ago that Scotland did the unthinkable at Murrayfield and beat the Australians. So this got me thinking, since the ...
By Chris White

Is Indiscipline Rising In English Rugby?

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:39:23 +0100

With the number of players being banned in recent weeks, it poses the question – are rugby players in England becoming more indisciplined? In recent weeks, Delon Armitage has been banned for the second time in 2011, and Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi punched Northampton’s Chris Ashton in the face in Sunday’s Premiership Semi-Final clash at Welford Road.

The youngest of the Tuilagi brother’s was given a yellow card for the punch on Ashton, who was also shown yellow in the incident just b...
By Chris White

Can Saints Beat Leinster in Cardiff?

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:56:14 +0100

With Leinster the hot favourites to win this year's Heineken Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff later this month, are Northampton actually able to pull off a surprise victory?
The Irish side won the competition back in 2009 and are full of experience and international quality, but Saints have won the competition before also, and have got themselves this far, why can't they keep going? As the underdogs in this final, they have nothing to lose.
This final could...
By Chris White

Worcester and Leeds Face Anxious Wait

Wed, 11 May 2011 17:01:41 +0100

With Leeds Carnegie finishing bottom of the Aviva Premiership, their fate will be decided in the relegation/promotion play-off between Worcester and Cornish Pirates in the Championship.
Worcester will be promoted to the Premiership if they can overcome the Pirates in a two-legged final, which would relegate Leeds, but neither Leeds nor Newcastle will be relegated if the Pirates win
Due to the size of the Pirates' Mennaye stadium, they cannot be promoted even if they win the play-off,...
By Chris White

Premiership Award Nominees Announced

Fri, 06 May 2011 12:52:48 +0100

With the Premiership season getting ever closer, the nominations for the individual awards have been announced and we take a look at who could be walking away with the awards.
PREMIERSHIP PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints). Ashton has had a fantastic season, scoring 10 tries in 16 appearances, and starring in England's Six Nations campaign.
Schalk Brits (Saracens). The South African hooker has been in stunning form this season, chipping...
By Chris White

Leinster Make Double Transfer Swoop

Thu, 05 May 2011 16:20:05 +0100

Heineken Cup finalists Leinster have already started planning for the 2011/12 season, and have snapped up two new signings to bolster their squad.
Winger Fionn Carr and lock Damian Brown will make the move to Donnybrook as Leinster look to regain their Magners League title. Carr, a former member of the Leinster Academy makes the move back from Connact where his performances have put him in the Magners League Dream Team this season, while the experienced Brown signs from French side Brive.
Leinster...
By Chris White

Named and Shamed

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:58:23 +0100
Sport and controversy seem to go hand-in-hand today, and rugby is no exception. Here we have a look at five of the most controversial rugby players of recent times, renowned for both their on and off field indiscretions.

At number 5, we have a young man who just doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes. London Irish full-back Delon Armitage is a real talent and has a bright future ahead of him with England, with 19 caps already, but has just been banned for the second time in 2011....
By Chris White

Moody Return

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:01:49 +0100

Having sat out an entire Six Nations campaign where he would have been captaining his country, you can certainly understand Lewis Moody having a bit of luck. That his first game returning after injury should occur at Twickenham on St George’s day is certainly a suitable slice of it, and more than fitting for a real patriot in the mould of his national coach, if not in position then certainly in mentality.

However, there is little doubt he will have to be somewhat concerned for his po...
By Shaun Edwards

Henson Is A Badboy From A Bygone Era

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:56:08 +0100
With all his boyish good looks and a physique that he exhibited for fun on Strictly Come Dancing, you forget that Gavin Henson actually made his debut for his country way back in 2001, and had an immediate positive impact. However, his self-imposed sabbatical from rugby in 2009 had led many to believe that he would not play for his country again. Then, at the end of last year, Henson returned, with many expecting him to once again return to being the excellent player he had been for his country p...
By Shaun Edwards

Mallett Struck

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:51:07 +0100

In a move that won’t shock many involved in the rugby world, the Italian rugby federation have officially confirmed that they will not renew the contract of their current coach Nick Mallett following the conclusion of the autumn’s World Cup. With a record of six wins in thirty six games, it is not hard to see why many felt the change was needed.

The RIF released a statement stating that ‘[The decision is] due to previous experience of how a relationship between a coach and the nation...
By Shaun Edwards

The Champion's League?

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:26:04 +0100
I’ve heard a fair few rumblings over the last couple of weeks regarding the potential for a rugby equivalent of football’s Champion’s League. Whilst the talking has primarily come as a result of the potential Aviva Premiership salary cap that has been rumoured, there is little doubt that it is an idea well worth exploring.
In one sense, you can certainly see the reasons that clubs might be interested in such a tournament. Out of the 12 clubs in the Premiership, only a small minority actually m...
By Shaun Edwards

Rulebreakers?

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:42:45 +0100
I read an intriguing article in the Independent the other by the excellent Peter Bills that raised the question of the discipline of modern professional rugby players, and their apparent inability to abide by the rules. One of the most favourable features of the modern game on TV is the fact that the referee is mic’d up – as such it means that those unsure about the game are able to learn more by seeing why penalities and fouls are called. However, is this really the reason, or is it sim...
By Shaun Edwards

Foden To Face RFU

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:52:45 +0100
In news that will come as unsurprising those who have recently been criticising the rugby world for an apparent lack of discipline (not least of which has been us here at Imagine), it has been announced that the English rugby star Ben Foden will face the disciplinary chief of the Rugby Football Union following his caution from the police for the causation of criminal damage.
Whilst the meeting has been listed as exactly that rather than a full hearing, the disciplinary officer will still nonetheless...
By Shaun Edwards