The Ones That Got Away - Rugby World Cup Edition
With the 10th RWC about to get underway in France, a look at how I've sought to cover the event only to be bundled into touch with the line at my mercy!
Continental Drift - How Europe Fairs Against The Southern Hemisphere Behemoths On The Biggest Stage Of All
A look at how European countries have fared in the competition since its inception in 1987. The truth of the matter is that, England and France aside, European nations have hugely under-performed in the Rugby World Cup. Take Ireland, who despite having produced some of the modern era's greatest players, have never reached the semi-finals. As for Scotland and Wales, they've reached the final four once and twice respectively and have regularly crashed out at the first stage. Meanwhile, on the continent, Italy and Romania have played in every tournament to date without once looking capable of reaching phase two, Spain showed up in 1999 and failed to score a single try, and Russia and Portugal have each attended one tournament and been sent home before the business end of the competition. There has, however, been one major European minnow success story. Georgia broke their RWC duck in 2003 and won their first game in 2007. Come 2011 they bashed-up England en route to a credible defeat then chalked up a victory against Romania. And then we come to 2015 where 'The Lelos' out-muscled Tonga and Namibia, so ensuring automatic qualification for the 2019 RWC. Speaking of Japan 2019, it was hoped that playing in 'neutral' territory might improve the continent's risible record. Outshone in the Southern Hemisphere, stifled by expectation when competing at home, the Land of the Rising Sun sparked something of a European rugby renaissance, with Wales reaching the semis and England losing to South Africa in the final.
Allez! - The Day French Flare Extinguished The All Blacks
Twenty-four years ago, Twickenham hosted one of the greatest games in rugby union history. The World Cup semi-final between New Zealand and France felt like a foregone conclusion. While the French looked out of sorts in all four of their previous games, the All Blacks fielded a team comprising such legends of the game as Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson, Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga and Josh Kronfeld. Having lost the previous final in controversial circumstances, the New Zealanders were determined to right a wrong. Come the 50-minute mark, the Kiwis were 24-10 up, with Lomu having twice romped over the whitewash. And then something funny happened - the France of old turned up. For 20 incredible minutes, Les Bleus threw the ball around with mad abandon, scoring three tries and transforming the All Blacks from dead certs to also-rans. When the final whistle sounded, France were celebrating a 43-31 win the likes of which neither the competition nor the game itself has often seen before. With another RWC around the corner, now would seem a great time to remind readers of the afternoon European flair proved too much for the very biggest of big beasts.
Maurice Colclough - Rugby's Least Likely Trailblazer
Born in Oxford on September 2nd 1953, Maurice John Colclough was the epitome of old skool rugby union. A 6'5'', 20 stoner, Colcough possessed none of the gifts of the modern-day second row forward. At the time, however, he was considered one of the best locks in the game, winning over 30 caps for his country and playing eight tests for the British Lions in 1980 and 1983. What really made Maurice stand out from the crowd was the fact that, rather than plying his trade, at home, he headed to France. Setting up home in Angouleme, he played for the unfashionable local team by day and ran a popular drinking hole by night. Fluent in French within months of joining the team, he became a beloved member of the local community. When he died in 2006 following a long battle with brain cancer, the most heartfelt tributes came not from the RFU or the British clubs he represented (Liverpool St Helens, Wasps, Swansea) but from the good people of the Charente department.