https://www.scmp.com/rss/316284/feed The 2014 Six Nations Championship was the 15th staging of the annual European competition between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It began on 1 February and concluded on 15 March 2014, when Ireland were crowned champions. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ireland won the Six Nations title on Saturday with a thrilling 22-20 victory over France to give iconic centre Brian O’Driscoll the perfect end to his stellar international career. Ireland scored three tries – Jonathan Sexton getting two – to France’s two in a pulsating encounter to see them to only their second win in Paris in 42 years. Fittingly, the last time in 2000 O’Driscoll was also in the side and scored a hat-trick. The emotions are starting to kick in now. It feels great to be a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1449948/ireland-clinch-six-nations-after-beating-france-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1449948/ireland-clinch-six-nations-after-beating-france-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Mar 2014 05:15:00 +0000 England scored seven tries in an emphatic 52-11 victory over Italy on Saturday, but their hopes of winning the Six Nations Championship depended on Ireland losing or drawing with France in a later match. England, looked to be chasing a big score from the start and led 24-6 at half-time after two tries from Mike Brown, named man of the match for the third time in the tournament, and one for Owen Farrell, who again was faultless with eight out of eight kicks at goal. Jack Nowell, with his first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1449687/england-crush-italy-wales-destroy-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1449687/england-crush-italy-wales-destroy-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Mar 2014 16:45:00 +0000 One of the recurring touchstones of this season’s Six Nations tournament has been the imminent retirement of Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll. But rather than give way to nostalgia, the 35-year-old’s farewell tour has turned out to be far more purposeful as the Irish travel to Paris on Saturday tied at the top of the standings with both France and England. Sealing the Six Nations title with only their second win over France in Paris in 42 years would be a fitting send-off indeed for O’Driscoll. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1448459/ireland-seek-perfect-send-odriscoll-championship-goes-down-wire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1448459/ireland-seek-perfect-send-odriscoll-championship-goes-down-wire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2014 04:25:14 +0000 England may recall Manu Tuilagi to their replacements bench as they plan one final attempt to take the Six Nations title this weekend. England need to beat bottom-of-the-table Italy - winless so far in the tournament - in Rome on Saturday, ideally by a huge margin to erode Ireland's massive points difference advantage before the Irish kick off against France, the third side in title contention, later in the day in the final match. Any sort of Ireland win is likely to see them crowned champions... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1446516/england-may-use-manu-tuilagi-wrecking-ball-against-italy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1446516/england-may-use-manu-tuilagi-wrecking-ball-against-italy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:00:45 +0000 France coach Philippe Saint-Andre backed his side to be a much-improved outfit when they face Ireland in a potential Six Nations title decider in Paris on Saturday. Replacement scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain's 79th minute penalty saw France to a fortunate 19-17 win away to Scotland on Saturday. "It will be a different game at home at the Stade de France in front of our crowd," Saint-Andre said. "We need to start well and accelerate during the 80 minutes but I am sure the guys can do this. I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1444675/coach-saint-andre-confident-france-rising-title-test-against-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1444675/coach-saint-andre-confident-france-rising-title-test-against-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:00:30 +0000 Brian O’Driscoll has called on his Ireland teammates to raise their game one last time as he bids to retire from international rugby on a high. The legendary 35-year-old centre was reduced to tears after his man of the match performance in the 46-7 victory over Italy at Lansdowne Road, a win that leaves Ireland on the verge of a second championship title in five years. I couldn't have asked for a better close to playing at home in an Irish jersey Brian O’Driscoll On the occasion of his last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1444672/ireland-great-odriscoll-calls-one-last-hurrah-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1444672/ireland-great-odriscoll-calls-one-last-hurrah-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:30:45 +0000 Stuart Lancaster was left looking for a favour from France after his side’s 29-18 win over Wales set-up a three-way fight for the Six Nations Championship. England secured a first Triple Crown since their World Cup-winning year of 2003 with a commanding display at Twickenham on Sunday that scuppered Welsh hopes of an unprecedented third successive outright Six Nations title. Victory left England level on points with Ireland and France, who play each other in Paris on Saturday’s final day of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1445112/england-victory-over-wales-sets-three-way-six-nations-fight-final-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1445112/england-victory-over-wales-sets-three-way-six-nations-fight-final-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Mar 2014 03:00:15 +0000 Ireland turned on the style to give a teary-eyed Brian O’Driscoll the perfect farewell present in his last test on home soil with a thumping 46-7 Six Nations victory over Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. O’Driscoll, 35, was instrumental in Ireland’s first three tries – two of which were scored by his former Leinster team-mate Jonathan Sexton – as victory also saw him join former England prop Jason Leonard with the most Five/Six Nations wins of 44. “A bit of a joke really to be man of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1444033/stylish-ireland-give-odriscoll-triumphant-home-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1444033/stylish-ireland-give-odriscoll-triumphant-home-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2014 19:30:30 +0000 England coach Stuart Lancaster has urged the Twickenham crowd to find its voice once more when two-time defending Six Nations champions Wales arrive at the London ground on Sunday. Often derided as lacking passion and intensity compared with other Six Nations venues despite regularly attracting crowds in excess of 80,000, Twickenham was at its most raucous in years as England beat Ireland 13-10 last time out to leave only Wales standing between them and the triple crown. "It's fantastic going... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1443962/crowd-can-roar-england-victory-says-stuart-lancaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1443962/crowd-can-roar-england-victory-says-stuart-lancaster?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:45:00 +0000 "In no time, no one will remember me." Of all the words that will be written and spoken about Ireland rugby great Brian O'Driscoll as the gifted centre enters the final stage of his test career, surely none will prove so wide of the mark as his own absurdly modest self-assessment delivered this week. Far more likely is that when O'Driscoll's youngest admirers are themselves old men they will reminisce fondly about having seen him in action just as their forebears talk of Jack Kyle, Ireland's... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1443027/odriscoll-home-straight-glittering-international-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1443027/odriscoll-home-straight-glittering-international-career?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:00:30 +0000 Even after their heaviest Six Nations defeat in five years, France are still in the title race. But with points differential likely to determine the champion, France have the worst of the four teams tied for the lead – plus one. Ireland, by contrast, are plus 42. Following the dismal 27-6 loss in Cardiff, it is a wounded France which face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, and a much-changed one. This is typically French; as soon as we start winning, you think you are someone important and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1442467/france-desperate-atone-dismal-display-cardiff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1442467/france-desperate-atone-dismal-display-cardiff?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:16:11 +0000 The latest stop on Brian O’Driscoll’s long goodbye to rugby is at Lansdowne Road on Saturday against Italy in the Six Nations, with the centre marking his final home match for Ireland with a record 140th test cap. It is bound to be an emotional occasion in Dublin as the Irish public bid farewell to one of the country’s greatest ever players, although O’Driscoll has tried his best not to join in the reminiscing. “He’s a quiet guy, an understated guy, he’s a bit embarrassed and he just wants to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1442465/brian-odriscoll-set-emotional-send-his-last-match-lansdowne-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1442465/brian-odriscoll-set-emotional-send-his-last-match-lansdowne-road?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:09:47 +0000 The Scottish scrum will have to produce their best performance of the Six Nations if they are to upset France in their match at Murrayfield on Saturday, former Scotland lock Nathan Hines said. The Scotland pack have proved the team's Achilles heel this season, providing little ball for their backs to do anything with, especially against England, when they were humiliated 20-0 at Murrayfield. However, Australia-born Hines, who was capped 77 times by his adopted country, said that based on the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1441282/scotland-have-hope-against-france-if-scrum-improves-says-nathan-hines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1441282/scotland-have-hope-against-france-if-scrum-improves-says-nathan-hines?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:00:15 +0000 Wales will be motivated by their hatred of England when the sides face off in Sunday's Six Nations showdown at Twickenham, said English wing Jack Nowell. England are bidding to avenge last year's 30-3 loss to Wales, which enabled Warren Gatland's side to secure the title, and defeat would likely be fatal to either team's hopes of winning this year's championship. Nowell played for the England team that beat Wales in last year's junior World Cup final and says he knows what to expect from the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1441278/england-prepared-welsh-hatred-twickenham-says-jack-nowell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1441278/england-prepared-welsh-hatred-twickenham-says-jack-nowell?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:45:30 +0000 Leigh Halfpenny has warned his Wales teammates that opposing fullback Mike Brown can hurt the Six Nations champions when they face England at Twickenham on Sunday. Brown's defensive excellence and counter-attacking skills, which led to a try for Harlequins teammate Danny Care, were key factors in England's 13-10 win over Ireland last time out. Fellow fullback Halfpenny - the player of last season's Six Nations tournament and subsequently the series when the British and Irish Lions triumphed in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1440365/leigh-halfpenny-warns-wales-beware-mike-brown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1440365/leigh-halfpenny-warns-wales-beware-mike-brown?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:00:45 +0000 Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi and London Irish wing Marland Yarde were recalled to the England squad after injury lay-offs ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations international against two-time defending champions Wales at Twickenham. The pair will now train with Stuart Lancaster’s side but it would be a major surprise if either of them were in the match-day 23 due to be announced by the England coach on Friday. “They’d have to go some in the next couple of days, it’s fair to say,” Lancaster said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1439941/england-call-manu-tuilagi-and-marland-yarde?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1439941/england-call-manu-tuilagi-and-marland-yarde?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:58:13 +0000 Former England centre Jeremy Guscott has hit out at the France rugby team, saying watching them is “like watching clowns at the circus”. “I sat in the Stade de France during the 30-10 win over Italy two weeks ago and I was gobsmacked at France’s tactics,” Guscott said. “It was a case of, ‘Let the forwards stick it up their jumpers and try to bully and smash their way through’. It was lacklustre and unimaginative in every single way. “The French attacking line was just so flat against Italy and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1435921/france-are-watching-clowns-circus-says-guscott?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1435921/france-are-watching-clowns-circus-says-guscott?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2014 15:00:30 +0000 France coach Philippe Saint-Andre dropped number eight Louis Picamoles from his squad to face Scotland next week because he showed a lack of respect towards referee Alain Rolland during last Friday’s loss to Wales. The Toulouse forward appeared to mockingly applaud Rolland after the Irish referee gave him a yellow card during the 27-6 Six Nations defeat, followed by a thumbs-up gesture. “After that defeat we have made a number of changes due to injuries and to cover problems we noticed in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1435317/france-drop-picamoles-over-lack-respect-referee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1435317/france-drop-picamoles-over-lack-respect-referee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:15:30 +0000 Scrum-half Morgan Parra faces an anxious wait after being recalled to the French Six Nations squad for their match with Scotland on March 8. The 25-year-old, 54-times capped Clermont star may still miss out – depending on the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. Parra has been charged with “brutality” after being sent off for headbutting Montpellier’s Rene Ranger on Saturday. And he has asked for the original March 12 hearing date – which would automatically have ruled him out of the Scottish... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1434717/france-include-morgan-parra-despite-impending-hearing-over-headbutt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1434717/france-include-morgan-parra-despite-impending-hearing-over-headbutt?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2014 03:45:00 +0000 England’s Billy Vunipola will miss the final two matches of this season’s Six Nations, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced. The 21-year-old number eight suffered a sprained right ankle that forced him off before half-time during England’s 13-10 win over Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, with Ben Morgan coming off the bench for the rest of the match. Vunipola had a scan on Monday which, the RFU said, revealed ligament damage that will make him unavailable for England’s remaining matches... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1434713/blow-england-billy-vunipola-miss-remaining-six-nations-matches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1434713/blow-england-billy-vunipola-miss-remaining-six-nations-matches?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2014 02:00:53 +0000 England fought back to spoil Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll’s record-equalling test appearance with a 13-10 Six Nations victory at Twickenham on Saturday. Ireland’s loss, their fourth in a row to England, dashed dreams of a grand slam for O’Driscoll, who equalled former Australia great George Gregan’s record of 139 test caps, in the centre’s final season before retirement. It also meant no team in this season’s Six Nations will complete a coveted clean sweep of victories. A breathless first half... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1433586/england-deny-odriscoll-landmark-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1433586/england-deny-odriscoll-landmark-win?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Feb 2014 18:15:30 +0000 A Duncan Weir drop goal in the final minute gave Scotland a stunning 21-20 victory over Italy at Rome's Olympic Stadium in an enthralling Six Nations clash on Saturday. The Scottish victory will ease fears of the dreaded wooden spoon while the reverse can be said for Italy, who have no points after three matches. Scotland, claiming their first win of the campaign after heavy defeats to Ireland and England, trailed 13-3 at half-time after an insipid half by both sides lit up only by the incisive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1433550/weir-drop-goal-gives-scotland-victory-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1433550/weir-drop-goal-gives-scotland-victory-death?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:45:45 +0000 Wales coach Warren Gatland was an unusually happy man on Friday after a try in each half earned a third successive win over France and put them back in the hunt to retain their Six Nations crown. Wales triumphed 27-6 after Irish referee Alain Rolland, in his last test, had sent three players to the sin-bin in the second half, two of them from the French pack, as the visitors were well beaten at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Gatland had warned his players he wouldn’t tolerate another performance... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1433179/wales-overwhelm-france-restore-title-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1433179/wales-overwhelm-france-restore-title-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Feb 2014 03:45:30 +0000 Nobody likes Scotland as much as Italy do. The Scots are the team Italy beat most often in Six Nations rugby – six times out of 14, the last three at home. And yet again, victory for either side at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday will make the difference between a so-so tournament and the embarrassment of the wooden spoon. Italy haven’t finished last since 2011, and Scotland not since 2012. Momentum, in addition to home advantage, is with Italy. The Azzurri have showed more of an all-round game in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432460/italy-confident-avoiding-wooden-spoon-against-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432460/italy-confident-avoiding-wooden-spoon-against-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:45:00 +0000 In a tasty Twickenham clash, the pressure will be keenest on Cian Healy and his fellow Ireland front-rowers Rory Best and Mike Ross. For it’s their job on Saturday to expose England’s enforced gamble on David Wilson, the tighthead prop who will bring only 47 minutes of action in the last two months into a rare Six Nations start. A win for Ireland secures the Triple Crown and they can then set their sights on the Grand Slam. A win for England keeps them in the title hunt. The odds favour the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432441/cian-healy-and-fellow-front-rowers-hold-triple-crown-key-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432441/cian-healy-and-fellow-front-rowers-hold-triple-crown-key-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:15:00 +0000 Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll is set to equal George Gregan’s world record for the most test appearances when he runs out against England in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday. The midfield maestro in his final season before retirement, has overcome a stomach bug and is now on course to tie former Australia scrum-half Gregan’s world record of 139 caps. All of Gregan’s test career was spent representing the Wallabies, whereas the record of O’Driscoll, on the brink of playing his 131st... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432258/brian-odriscoll-equal-george-gregan-caps-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432258/brian-odriscoll-equal-george-gregan-caps-record?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:30:00 +0000 England coach Stuart Lancaster made two changes to his squad for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham. Bath tight-head prop David Wilson replaces Dan Cole, who suffered a season-ending neck injury, while the uncapped fly-half George Ford comes in for Brad Barritt on the bench. Wilson, who picked up a calf injury last December and suffered back problems, has played only 47 minutes with his club over the past two months. David Wilson is an experienced international with 31... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432238/england-coach-lancaster-makes-two-changes-ireland-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1432238/england-coach-lancaster-makes-two-changes-ireland-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:00:00 +0000 Wales half back Mike Phillips has been dropped to the bench for Friday’s must-win Six Nations match with France in Cardiff, while wing George North has moved into midfield in the absence of Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies. Holders Wales are chasing a third consecutive crown, but after last weekend’s disappointing 26-3 defeat by Ireland, a win is crucial if they want keep their title ambitions on track. Phillips, capped 82 times by Wales and with five test appearances for the British and Irish... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1431404/wales-drop-scrum-half-phillips-must-win-match-against-france?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1431404/wales-drop-scrum-half-phillips-must-win-match-against-france?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:30:00 +0000 Racing Metro flanker Wenceslas Lauret returns to the French line-up for the Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Friday night. Lauret was named on Wednesday to take over from Bernard Le Roux in the back row as the only change to the side that defeated Italy 30-10 in Paris in the last round of games. He last played for France in the November tests against world champions New Zealand and South Africa, but sustained a groin muscle injury late last year that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1431377/france-make-one-change-clash-wales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1431377/france-make-one-change-clash-wales?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:15:00 +0000 Uncapped fly-half George Ford was included in England’s 23 for their Six Nations international against Ireland at Twickenham this weekend when coach Stuart Lancaster announced his match-day squad on Tuesday. England, who beat Scotland 20-0 last time out after losing 26-24 to France in Paris in their tournament opener, have so far got through this Six Nations without specialist bench cover for fly-half Owen Farrell. But, ahead of what is set to be a bruising encounter against unbeaten Ireland at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430918/england-hand-call-uncapped-fly-half-george-ford?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430918/england-hand-call-uncapped-fly-half-george-ford?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2014 02:22:21 +0000 Scotland changed three forwards and retained the same backline for the Six Nations rugby match against Italy in Rome on Saturday. Hooker Scott Lawson, British Lions lock Richie Gray and No 8 Johnnie Beattie were recalled, and Ross Ford, Tim Swinson and David Denton dropped to the reserves. Gray wasn’t even in the match day 23 during the dismal 20-0 loss to England at Murrayfield, when Denton was considered Scotland’s best performer. Openside flanker Chris Fusaro, who made a low-profile test... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430701/scotland-change-three-pack-clash-against-italy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430701/scotland-change-three-pack-clash-against-italy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2014 16:30:45 +0000 Wales power wing George North is set for an unfamiliar midfield role when the champions look to get their faltering Six Nations campaign back on track against France in Cardiff on Friday. The Lions star was moved to the centres when Scott Williams suffered a shoulder injury during Wales’ crushing 26-3 loss to Ireland in Dublin last time out. Williams remains out of action while Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies won’t play against "Les Bleus" after suffering a pectoral muscle injury against... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430285/george-north-ready-be-centre-attention-wales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430285/george-north-ready-be-centre-attention-wales?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:21:23 +0000 French hooker Brice Mach is renowned as a practical joker by his Castres team-mates but there was not much to laugh about when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer two years ago. On Friday, though, he has every chance of experiencing the high of representing his country for the first time in a test against two-time defending Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff after he deservedly earned a call-up to the squad when Benjamin Kayser withdrew because of injury. The 27-year-old – formerly with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430284/brice-mach-set-remarkable-recovery-cancer-france?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430284/brice-mach-set-remarkable-recovery-cancer-france?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:18:23 +0000 Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson is sticking by his target of World Cup glory next year despite the side’s awful start to this season’s Six Nations. Dodson unveiled a four year plan in 2012 that involved winning both a Six Nations Grand Slam and the World Cup, with each of those targets looking a long way off given Scotland’s current form. “Of course it’s the target or else we wouldn’t have stated it in the first place,” Dodson told BBC Scotland. “We realise many have been saying it’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430281/scotland-insist-grand-slam-and-world-cup-glory-are-still-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1430281/scotland-insist-grand-slam-and-world-cup-glory-are-still-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:11:37 +0000 England prop Dan Cole will miss the remainder of the Six Nations because of a neck injury, it was announced on Sunday. The Leicester front-row is suffering from a bulging disc in his neck which has trapped a nerve. His injury was diagnosed during a training session at St George’s Park, the England national football team’s Midlands training base, earlier this week. Cole will now miss England’s three remaining Six Nations matches, starting with the Twickenham clash against tournament leaders... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1429466/blow-england-dan-cole-ruled-out-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1429466/blow-england-dan-cole-ruled-out-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Feb 2014 02:29:04 +0000 Props Luc Ducalcon and Vincent Debaty were named on Wednesday in a 30-man French squad for their next Six Nations game against two-time defending champions Wales in Cardiff on Friday week. They replace prop Rabah Slimani, who has been suspended for two weeks after being sent off in last Sunday’s 30-10 win over Italy, and backrow forward Bernard Le Roux, who is compelled to take a two week rest after suffering concussion in the Italian game. Racing-Metro’s Ducalcon, 30, has been capped 17 times... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1426992/france-name-squad-wales-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1426992/france-name-squad-wales-showdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2014 03:01:44 +0000 Six Nations organisers will be praying France and Ireland remain unbeaten through to their showdown on March 15, but prior to that the only two remaining contenders for the grand slam face their biggest hurdles. The French will play two-time defending champions Wales in Cardiff a week on Friday, then a day later the Irish are at Twickenham to meet England. The last time France beat England and Italy at home, in 2010, they went on to land the grand slam. And Ireland have made their best start to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1426132/biggest-hurdles-next-grand-slam-contenders-france-and-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1426132/biggest-hurdles-next-grand-slam-contenders-france-and-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2014 09:00:45 +0000 A devastating burst of 21 points in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half saw France beat Italy 30-10 in their Six Nations clash at the Stade de France on Sunday and record back-to-back wins for the first time since November 2012. Tries by Louis Picamoles, Wesley Fofana and debutant Hugo Bonneval – all converted by Jean-Marc Doussain who scored 15 points in all – saw France pull away from Italy after a dull first-half had seen them lead only 9-3 at the break. The match descended into an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1425130/france-win-back-back-games-first-time-2012?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1425130/france-win-back-back-games-first-time-2012?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2014 02:29:56 +0000 England coach Stuart Lancaster refused to get carried away after watching his side revive their Six Nations Championship title hopes with a dominant 20-0 Calcutta Cup win away to Scotland on Saturday. And he warned England would need to improve when they faced Ireland, who’ve now won both their opening Championship matches, beating Scotland 28-6 and defending champions Wales 26-3, at Twickenham on February 22. The 132nd edition of rugby union’s oldest international fixture was also one of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1424491/coach-stuart-lancaster-unimpressed-englands-romp-past-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1424491/coach-stuart-lancaster-unimpressed-englands-romp-past-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Feb 2014 06:45:30 +0000 Ireland ended Welsh dreams of a record third Six Nations title in a row, with a clinical 26-3 home win at Dublin's Lansdowne Road. Warren Gatland's men simply never got close to the hosts, who tactically outmanoeuvred the men in red. Ireland have not begun a Six Nations with back-to-back victories since the Grand Slam year of 2009, but this convincing result, following on from their 28-6 opening win over Scotland, will have Joe Schmidt's side dreaming of emulating that campaign. It puts us in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1424363/irish-earn-right-dream-title-after-convincing-win-over-wales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1424363/irish-earn-right-dream-title-after-convincing-win-over-wales?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:30:15 +0000 England are preparing themselves for a pitch battle in more ways than one when they face Scotland for the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield on Saturday. It was in Edinburgh where England coach Stuart Lancaster began his time in charge of the national side with a hard-fought 13-6 win two years ago. They now head north on the back of an agonising 26-24 defeat away to France in the first round of the Six Nations. But Lancaster was sufficiently encouraged by the way England, who had been 16-3 down early... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1423333/england-ready-bounce-back-against-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1423333/england-ready-bounce-back-against-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2014 14:00:00 +0000 Bad weather would be good news for Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. The Scots need all the help they can get when they kick off against England in an already desperate Six Nations second round for both teams. And the forecast might deliver. Rain is expected in the hours beforehand. Add that to the parasites which have already turned Murrayfield into mush (forcing the union to choose hybrid grass similar to Twickenham’s in time for next season), and Scotland could have a boggy setting to lay... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422757/scotland-hope-bog-down-england-murrayfield-mush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422757/scotland-hope-bog-down-england-murrayfield-mush?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2014 02:41:48 +0000 Ireland and Wales have much in common. Their talismanic captains, Paul O’Connell and Sam Warburton, are back as starters. Their coaches are Kiwis. They tend more to win in each other’s backyards. And they were the biggest contributors to the Lions victory in Australia last summer, when a grudge was born that has been waiting to be settled in this Six Nations clash on Saturday at Lansdowne Road. Lions (and Wales) coach Warren Gatland drew a firestorm of criticism from Ireland when he dropped... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422756/extra-charge-air-wales-take-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422756/extra-charge-air-wales-take-ireland?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2014 02:37:09 +0000 Paul O’Connell will captain Ireland in Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales after illness ruled him out of last weekend’s opening win, while coach Joe Schmidt made only one more change with Gordon D’Arcy returning at centre. Ireland easily beat Scotland 28-6 last Sunday, finishing the match particularly strongly after their influential lock was struck down with a chest infection on the eve of the game. D’Arcy, who was rested after suffering illness earlier last week, comes in for Ulster’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422497/oconnell-back-lead-ireland-against-wales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422497/oconnell-back-lead-ireland-against-wales?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2014 16:00:15 +0000 Scotland dropped captain Kelly Brown in one of three changes to their side for the Six Nations match against England at Murrayfield on Saturday. Head coach Scott Johnson opted to give Chris Fusaro his first cap at openside flanker in place of Brown following last Sunday’s 28-6 loss to Ireland in Dublin. “I’m absolutely delighted. Being the Calcutta Cup, there’s no better game to get your first cap. I’m still pinching myself a bit,” Fusaro told the Scottish Rugby Football Union’s website. Being... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422492/scotland-drop-captain-kelly-brown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1422492/scotland-drop-captain-kelly-brown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:45:00 +0000 Scotland wing Sean Maitland is to miss the remainder of the Six Nations Championship. The 25-year-old New Zealand-born back limped off midway through the first half of Scotland’s tournament opening 28-6 defeat by Ireland in Dublin on Sunday, suffering both concussion and leg injuries. Following an examination at an Edinburgh hospital, Glasgow flyer Maitland has been ruled out for two months with damage to his knee and ankle. However, the injuries are not so serious as to require... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421904/scotland-wing-sean-maitland-miss-rest-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421904/scotland-wing-sean-maitland-miss-rest-six-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2014 02:59:57 +0000 France captain Pascal Pape is in doubt for their second Six Nations match against Italy on Sunday after he had to leave training early on Wednesday, the coaching staff announced in a statement. They said the 33-year-old lock – who didn’t appear to be injured when he left the session – had not fully recovered from the 26-24 opening victory over England last Saturday which saw him win his 50th cap. As a precaution they have retained four second row forwards in the 25-man squad, from which two... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421903/france-captain-pascal-pape-doubt-italy-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421903/france-captain-pascal-pape-doubt-italy-game?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2014 02:56:41 +0000 The French rugby team should no longer run onto the pitch fearing defeat after their 26-24 victory over England last weekend, said backs' coach Patrice Lagisquet. The 51-year-old former France wing - nicknamed in his prime as the "Bayonne Express" - said a second successive win in this year's Six Nations, at home to Italy on Sunday, would be key to the team's development. Lagisquet admitted that the performance against England - when a late converted try by Gael Fickou gave them victory - left... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421537/france-should-not-be-haunted-fear-defeat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421537/france-should-not-be-haunted-fear-defeat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2014 16:45:45 +0000 Billy Twelvetrees believes playing a "smart" game will be the key to getting England's Six Nations campaign back on track when they face Scotland in Edinburgh. Both teams will be even more desperate for victory than usual following first weekend defeats, with England losing out to a late try in a 26-24 defeat by France in Paris and Scotland well beaten 28-6 away to Ireland. However, form can often go out of the window in the Calcutta Cup, where raw passion and thundering physical effort are a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421534/england-must-play-smart-against-scotland-says-centre-twelvetrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421534/england-must-play-smart-against-scotland-says-centre-twelvetrees?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2014 16:45:30 +0000 England head coach Stuart Lancaster on Tuesday announced an unchanged 23-man squad for his side’s second Six Nations fixture against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. Lancaster has kept faith with the same players who were narrowly beaten 26-24 by France in their opening match in Paris last weekend. “We were disappointed by the result against France, but very proud of many aspects of the performance and we want to give the same 23 the opportunity to build on that against Scotland,” Lancaster... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421243/no-changes-england-ahead-scotland-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1421243/no-changes-england-ahead-scotland-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2014 02:02:13 +0000