Starters (for your main course, please scroll down) World Rugby didn’t have to seek out trouble. The revised title of the competition ‘World Cup 2021 played in 2022’ told its own story. But few imagined this last qualifier taking place against the background of war. Fortunately the show could go on. Bryan Easson went for
This Friday Scotland face their last challenge for a place in next autumn’s World Cup. Most sane people rate them racing certainties to beat Colombia, but Brian Easson and his squad aren’t letting such vain thoughts enter their heads. ‘Utmost respect’ is the order of the day. Colombia turned the tables on the higher rated
Easson announces his squad – BBC Alba turns up trumps Three weeks before they appear in Dubai, a Scottish squad of 30 players has been published. Alongside a host of familiar names comes one totally unexpected, Caity Mattinson. She is the second British player I have spotted taking advantage of World Rugby’s alteration to the
World Cup Qualifier – Round Three If the Rugby World Cup committee was hoping for some drama next year, they got it in bucket-loads in Parma today. For Ireland and Scotland it was all or nothing. For much of the game the Irish looked well on top, yet the half-time score read 5-8 against them.
You don’t often see a league table looking like this: Table after 2 Rounds W L Pts Ireland 1 1 5 Italy
This was the first of three sessions of double internationals to decide who goes through to the World Cup next year. Italy v Scotland The Azzurre began as they did against England in the Six Nations, dominating most phases of play. inside a minute Scotland were pinged for holding on. The well-controlled rolling maul that
England’s women overcome Scotland 3-1 to top Pool C and guarantee their place at the 2022 Women’s Hockey World Cup Lily Owsley scores twice, Izzy Petter adds the other; Laura Unsworth makes 150th England appearance England women ended their tournament on a high by beating Scotland 3-1 to secure their place at the 2022 Women’s
Italy v Ireland; Scotland v Wales The clash of the two I’s in Dublin is hard to predict. Both sides have match-winners; both have shown flashes of outstanding form. Italy are full of confidence as they reach No 5 in world rankings, three places above the hosts. They may pay the penalty of surrendering home
As Louise McMillan tumbled beneath the rumble in a desperate attempt to prevent England’s maul crossing for a third time, it would have been easy to view Scotland’s performance through a prism of negativity. The awarding of a penalty try took the Red Roses beyond 50 points; McMillan’s resultant yellow card the third time a
England duly beat Scotland at Doncaster to gain maximum reward, but the margin of victory, 42 points, marks the progress the visitors have made since their last raid south, an 80-0 drubbing. Eight tries to one looks like one-way traffic, but it wasn’t. Scottish resilience and English indiscipline meant several spells of backs-to-the-wall for the
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