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- Alex Lozowski recalled by England after six-year exile
- Mark Telea – New Zealand – Winger
- Regular season
- Elsewhere in Sport
- From township fear to inspiring South Africa: meet the Springbok following Siya Kolisi’s golden example
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- Newcastle’s ‘most achievable thing’ as Steve Diamond sets ‘big ask’ target after bleak season
- Scotland reach all-time high in World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini
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- Crusaders sign ‘legend of international rugby’ to bolster fly-half stocks
- Defeat costs Wales in World Rugby Women’s Rankings
Wing Duhan van der Merwe is lethal with ball in hand and some space. Arguably his best try scored was against England in the 2023 Six Nations, where he beat five defenders and ran 55m. He backed up his good performance against the old enemy in the 2024 Six Nations, scoring a hat-trick – with each try coming from some individual brilliance. However, New Zealand are the last team to beat the Red Roses, with a dramatic comeback win in the Rugby World Cup final in 2022. Morwenna Talling, who can also play at second row, keeps her place at blindside flanker with Maddie Feaunati on bench. Ford is also coming to the end of his deal at Sale Sharks but director of rugby Alex Sanderson is confident the North West native will remain at the club.
Alex Lozowski recalled by England after six-year exile
Sinned when he went early on another scrum when Wales had the feed on England’s line. 15 – Cameron Winnett – 8Didn’t merely catch high balls and hoof them back. He showed maturity and composure, looking up with the intent to impact the game. And when fielding under pressure he demonstrated the strength to keep https://becric.co.in/ the ball alive. Gets extra points for a one-on-one tackle on the much larger Tommy Freeman that saved a try early in the second half. An effective kicker, dangerous in broken play and a strong finisher, the decision to re-sign him for two years is a strong indication of his potential as an attacking weapon.
Mark Telea – New Zealand – Winger
The Irish «romped» to the Grand Slam in as «dominant a fashion as the championship has ever seen,» said Sky News, beating each side by at least 13 points. They will open this year’s tournament against favourites France, with the winner opening up the path to another perfect championship. The England No 8 has been nominated for @SixNationsRugby’s player of the championship award. Stephen Varney was brought up in Wales but opted to represent Italy to honour his grandparents.
Regular season
Men’s and Women’s World Rugby Rankings are calculated using a ‘Points Exchange’ system, where sides gain or lose points based on the match result. Other criteria include the relative strength of each team, the margin of victory, and an allowance for home advantage. McReight looked very good against the ABs but I think that’s the first time I’ve seen him excel against top opposition. A decent side to be sure, but you shouldn’t be blaming them for getting your ar$e handed to you the next week. Sexton’s actions to Peyper was misconduct, and for the exact same reason Ioane’s actions to Irish supporters are citable as misconduct.
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Clear yellow card and the latest in a long line of dumb plays by the All Blacks who, let us not forget, collected two red cards for dangerous head contact in the last four games they played against the Boks. Antoine Dupont needs no introduction, and few would disagree that he is the best player in the world right now. Not only can he display his skills on a 15s stage, but he has also started his 7s career with a bang, scoring a try on his debut for France. So far in his career, he has won the Six Nations with France and three top 14 titles with Toulouse. Eben Etzebeth is one of the first players that comes to mind when fans think of the Springboks jersey.
From township fear to inspiring South Africa: meet the Springbok following Siya Kolisi’s golden example
She then made the subsequent conversion to stun medal-favorite Australia and give the United States its first-ever rugby medal. The final handful of medal triumphs that pushed the U.S. to the Olympic milestone came across gymnastics, rugby and swimming, with Simone Biles, Bobby Finke and Ilona Maher among the Team USA stars making the podium. Far and away the most experienced option on this list, the 91 times capped George Ford likely would have been in a shootout with Farrell for the 10 shirt, had the England captain not stepped down. The biggest obstacle he is facing is a lack of consistent game time in the 10 shirt for Leinster, which has both Byrne brothers (Harry and Ross), as well as the next man on this list, Sam Prendergast. Jack Crowley took full control of the backup position at the 2023 Rugby World Cup; the uber-talented Munster star already has shown all of the hallmarks required of a top-quality international.
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- Seemingly unstoppable, Italian fans have high hopes that he will soon become one of their best Six Nations players of all-time.
- George has been picked by the England head coach for his tactical nous, ability to build relationships, and emotional intelligence.
- The fastest player ever to reach 40 tries in Super Rugby, Sevu Reece, in partnership with former Crusader Leicester Fainga’anuku, was a major reason behind their team’s insane ability to score tries.
- For me, the award is a bonus on a day when our goal was to win the Rugby Championship,” he said.
- A mountain of a man who has long been a vital component of Ireland’s recent successes, Tadhg Furlong is among the few players who is a guaranteed selection in any given World XV.
- The back rower has made a breathtaking 55 tackles after three rounds of play – he also tops the dominant tackles list, with six – with Wales’ Tommy Reffell nine behind.
He made his international debut at the 2022 tournament, where he scored a brace against Scotland. In the next game, he set up Edoardo Padovani’s winning try against Wales. Nicknamed the ‘Italian wonder kid’, Ange Capuozzo will compete at his third Six Nations in 2024.
Newcastle’s ‘most achievable thing’ as Steve Diamond sets ‘big ask’ target after bleak season
His 73 was a No1 effort, and he wielded nuisance without the ball as well as his 46 defensive rucks were fifth best behind Reffell. His impact has changed England’s thinking away from having a Billy Vunipola-like hulk at No8. Planet Rugby have been going through the ‘Top 50’ over the last few weeks and they’ve finally named their all-important ‘Top 10’ with one Irish player making the cut. Born in France, Capuozzo qualified for Italy through his paternal grandparents.
Scotland reach all-time high in World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini
Lowe has «rapidly become one of the most exciting wings in international rugby», said Rugby All Star. His performances for Ireland have been marked by «blistering pace, deft handling, and an uncanny ability to find the try line». And, as his impressive attacking stats prove, he is a player who can «turn a game on its head with a single moment of brilliance». Usually, the best rugby players in the world only gather in one place every four years when the Rugby World Cup tournament begins, but as the international rugby season is underway, it’s good time to get them together. Dragons wing Rio Dyer is proving himself to be a favourite with Wales head coach Warren Garland, and it’s not hard to see why, when he plays every game like it could be his last.
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The once-intimidating aura of the All Blacks seems to have faded.They are by no means in crisis like the Wallabies, but at the moment, they aren’t performing at a level that puts them among the elite. The emergence of young loose forwards like Carlo Tizzano and Fraser McReight was a huge plus, while the growth of Harry Wilson was impressive. The return of Len Ikitau also provided much-needed defensive strength and attacking creativity. The Wallabies finished last, with only a last-minute win against Argentina in South America to their name.
- A kicker without a game is like going to a great restaurant and having nothing but a slice of white bread.
- «There are no better matches than the Red Roses against the Black Ferns and they will be wanting to put a few things right.»
- Welsh fans may also be heartened by the precocious presence of fullback Cameron Winnett, who for many will have come from nowhere and sits third with 37 carries (see below for another impressive Winnett-related feat).
- Pieter-Steph du Toit was central to South Africa’s 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup campaigns.
- A decent side to be sure, but you shouldn’t be blaming them for getting your ar$e handed to you the next week.
SA United Rugby Championship Team of the Week – Round 2
We continue our countdown of the the 50 best players set to have a significant impact this year, based on previous form, talent and the potential impact they can have on their team’s season. Scott Robertson won’t be disheartened, though, as there were many positives. However, his Achilles’ heel was the bench’s inability to close out games as well as they started. The wing is truly prolific personified and a dangerous threat whether he crosses for a try or sets one up.
Certainly, there were moments of good, but in reality, Farrell’s presence as both the alpha and leader for England meant Ford was more of a distributor than a decision-maker. Like his clubmate, Costelow, Ioan Lloyd possesses a strong running game and a clever short- to mid-range kicking game that could work a treat with the dangerous Welsh backs. Historically, Ireland has steered clear of rushing players onto the international stage, but the 6’4” Prendergast is an exception. Taking to the international stage like a duck to water, Crowley already has featured in several significant test matches. The back-row bruiser also expressed his satisfaction with his evolving role as a ball-carrier in the wider channels, a tactic that has proven effective for the Boks this season.
His ability to play fullback, wing, or center, coupled with his goal-kicking prowess, makes him a valuable asset to the New Zealand squad. Japan’s Rugby League One and France’s Top 14 have two players each among the top five highest-paid rugby players. Hopefully NZ will respect us enough to do likelwise without abusing Irish players or abusing our amazing supporters again. «They also are producing a steady stream of positive drug tests.» No ‘They’ are not. A few players outside the Bok squad like Jantjies and Nkosi have tested positive and often players are testing positive once they’ve moved to another country to play club rugby. Meanwhile, the ABs seem to have no problem turning a blind eye to wife beaters.
Jamaica celebrate winning return to test rugby
Eight players started in all five matches with two – Maro Itoje and Ben Earl – playing in all 400 minutes. Nineteen had featured at Rugby World Cup 2023, seven were previously capped players who were recalled after being overlooked for that campaign in France, while there were five new caps. Following his recent move to Lyon, Monty Ioane is also one of this year’s Six Nations players to watch. The same goes for Lorenzo Cannone, another up-and-coming player whose powerful tackles have cemented his place in the Italian squad. In contrast with the other Six Nations teams, Ireland’s squad contains more experienced players and fewer new talents.
- Eight players started in all five matches with two – Maro Itoje and Ben Earl – playing in all 400 minutes.
- Owen Farrell, fly-half of Racing 92, tops the list as the highest-paid rugby player in the world for 2024.
- A shoo-in for the Blues starting XV, he looms as one of their most dangerous attacking weapons and one of the best finishers in the competition.
- Most noteworthy is loosehead prop Alec Hepburn, who earned six caps for England in 2018.
- His significant size in the backrow opens up a whole world of possibilities at set piece for Los Pumas – in particular, his explosive power getting off the ground quickly for lineouts and kickoff receipts.
- When England played to his style at the latter end of the World Cup it worked wonders and his kicking game could be pivotal in the Six Nations.
- Dafydd Jenkins will make history in 2024 by becoming the second youngest player to captain the Wales rugby team.
Other Wales players to watch
The 25-year-old was England’s starting fly-half on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand and will have an opportunity to retain the No 10 shirt for the autumn campaign that George Ford is likely to miss with a torn quad. The Wallaroos are hoping to celebrate Ashley Marsters becoming the equal most-capped Australian women’s Test player with a victory in the WXV2 tournament against South Africa. Cam Winnett for Wales, Johnny Matthews for Scotland, Ciaran Frawley or Calvin Nash for Ireland, Nocolas Depootare for France and Feyi-Waboso or Cunningham-South for England. Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team was on the brink on winning bronze. The 21-year-old arguably is Borthwick’s most viable long-term option, given his ability to combine what the England coach traditionally has favored with a strong running game. Forced to play in a dual playmaker role for an extended period under former coach Eddie Jones, the two players somewhat stifled each other on many occasions.
Italy climb World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini
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- 12 – Nick Tompkins – 4Struggled to provide any strike force through midfield.
- The All Blacks are rarely second-best, let alone third-best, but this year they finished third in the tournament.
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He reportedly earns $1.2 million as a key position player in sparking attacks. The high-profile Englishman had spent his entire career at Saracens in the English Premiership. Ben Earl is far and away England’s main man when it comes to carries. So much so, in fact, that he’s the only Englishman in the top ten here, and is the overall leader with 42. Fellow back rower Aaron Wainwright for Wales has also underlined his exceptional Championship – in an otherwise disappointing year for his country – with 38.
- Ford is also coming to the end of his deal at Sale Sharks but director of rugby Alex Sanderson is confident the North West native will remain at the club.
- Historically, Ireland has steered clear of rushing players onto the international stage, but the 6’4” Prendergast is an exception.
- Sinned when he went early on another scrum when Wales had the feed on England’s line.
- His form is always consistent, and some may have thought he could not get any better, then his performances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup happened and he proved there is no limitation to his talents.
- His darting runs – like the one where he reached the safe ty of his 22 after collecting a pass under his own poles – weren’t just brave, they were calculated.
- Born in Auckland and raised in Australia, Meafou has lived in France since 2018.
- After going 2-1 in group play, the Americans will square off against Morocco in the quarterfinals on Friday.
- Making his senior debut for Leinster last season in the URC, he has begun to get more first-team opportunities this season.
The ‘stark evidence’ which shows Rassie Erasmus’ Bok evolution as Springboks dominate Rugby Championship stats
Kevin Paredes then added a pair of insurance goals as the U.S. secured a second straight lopsided victory. The USMNT snapped a two-decade-plus drought by reaching the knockout rounds of the 2024 Olympics. The Americans used a 3-0 victory over Guinea to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games, where they finished fourth. Lee earned the fourth medal of her career, while Carey and Chiles each made the podium for a second time. Like Ford, Smith is a sharpshooting kicker, both with his tactical and goal kicking, and like Ford, he is a great passer of the ball. His wonderful performance against Argentina at the World Cup will go down in English Rugby history as one of the best individual performances in a white shirt.
In the USA, FloRugby will broadcast some of the best international rugby fixtures of 2024. «There are no better matches than the Red Roses against the Black Ferns and they will be wanting to put a few things right.» «It is great that we have the opportunity to play the world champions again within a few weeks. England won 2023’s inaugural WXV title with victory over New Zealand, as well as their most recent meeting with the Black Ferns, at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium last month.