Corry’s Corner predicts the starting XV for the 2020 Six Nations opener with one huge call thrown in. ___ With his first Six Nations campaign as Ireland head coach just eight weeks away, Andy Farrell has a lot to think about ahead of Scotland’s visit to Dublin. With Rory Best’s retirement now officially official, a new captain must be selected …
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Exploring The Top Half-Back Pairings In World Rugby Today
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The rugby world has been in mourning this past week following the sad passing of South Africa rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen on February 6th following a six year battle with motor neurone disease. Aged only 45, the former scrum-half leaves behind a wife and two children, Jordan and Kylie. While his passing was the inevitable conclusion to the …
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As we mourn the loss of our dear rugby friend Joost van der Westhuizen, we can look back at this documentary that shows the great things he did in his life, on and off the pitch. Joost played his first game for the Springboks on November 6, 1993, when South Africa took on Argentina in Buenos Aires. He went on to …
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Bath Rugby have signed Australia international centre Ben Tapuai from Western Force. The 27 year-old has amassed seven caps for the Wallabies, and will join up with the Premiership outfit in the coming weeks. Primarily an inside centre, Tapuai can also play at 13, and is an all-round footballer. Speaking to the Bath official website, he outlined his excitement at the …
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Munster scrum-half Tomás O’Leary has signed with Top 14 side Montpellier for four months, according to reports in France. Midi Olimpique are reporting that the 2009 Grand Slam winning number nine is set to fill a gap for the southern French outfit, with Benoit Paillaugue set for another spell on the sidelines. Since returning from London Irish after three seasons with …
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According to reports today in France, Montpellier are sizing up the aquisition of Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar. The South African international is out of contract with the Irish province in June. Rugbyrama.fr are suggesting that the southern French side are keen to find a new number nine, and Pienaar tops their list. With 135 points in 88 tests for the …
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Gareth Edwards is pretty much universally regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever graced a rugby pitch. However, it wasn’t just for his beloved Wales that he sparkled, he is also a Lions legend. Edwards played on three Lions tours: 1968, 1971 and 1974. The latter two are probably the most famous tours of all featuring the …
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Sale Sharks already boast one veteran scrum-half in their ranks, having awarded Ireland and Munster legend Peter Stringer the accolade of Player of the Season. However, it has been announced this morning that Stringer will be joined at the Premiership club next season by former Wales and Lions star Mike Phillips. BREAKING NEWS:@mikephillips009 signs for Sale Sharks! #JoinTheHunt pic.twitter.com/K3lZeaWcnp — …
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Worcester Warriors’ Francois Hougaard has been named Aviva Premiership Play of the Month for March. Scrum-half Francois Hougaard was instrumental in the Warriors becoming the only side in Aviva Premiership Rugby to win all four matches in the month, setting a new club Premiership record. “I don’t think there has been a better mid-season signing than Francois,” said BT Sport’s Austin …
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World Cup winner Fourie du Preez announced his retirement from rugby on Thursday – his 34th birthday. The scrum-half was an integral part of South Africa’s 2007 World Cup winning side and captained the Springboks in four matches during last year’s tournament in England. The 34-year-old Du Preez represented South Africa in 76 Tests between 2004 and 2015, captaining the …
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For years Conor Murray has been a cornerstone of the Irish team. But with the way Ireland have been playing, is it maybe time to replace the scrum half? Murray has great vision and awareness, especially close to the try line. He has skills which a lot of players around the world will be envious of. There can be no …
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Ireland lost out to England in Twickenham on Saturday evening, and while the Red Rose were deserving winners, there were several positives from an Irish perspective, not least the introduction of Stuart McCloskey, Josh Van Der Flier and Ultan Dillane. However, there were other worrying signs. Ireland were under pressure for most of the game as they were on the …
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The accuracy of a rugby player, in particular a scrum-half, to pass a ball is often an under-appreciated art. To land the oval-shaped ball perfectly into the hands of a teammate who is running at full speed is a skill in its own right. To show us all just how difficult it could be, BMW decided to take it up a …
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Much has been made of Wales’ injury plight this season. Warren Gatland’s side reached the World Cup quarter-finals last Autumn, despite missing a host of big names. Among the biggest losses was Rhys Webb. The Ospreys scrum-half was superb in last year’s Six Nations, and was slowly working his way into the picture of the planet’s best number nines. Webb …
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