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Catch the latest rugby news,
Read blogs by rugby celebs and Watch the biggest games LIVE -
including the 2009 Lions Tour, Tri-Nations, Super 14, NPC and Heineken Cup.
http://www.rugbyzone.com
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RugbyZone In exactly two hours time we will have a live chat going with Bob Skinstad about the upcoming match between the Boks and France... log onto rugbyzone.com and click on the " Live Chat: France test "
RugbyZone
Hodgson looked lively when coming on as a replacement during
last weekend's 18-9 loss to Australia at Twickenham, as did No 8
James Haskell and hooker Dylan Hartley, who've also forced their
way into Martin Johnson's starting side to face the Pumas.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson will make his first Test start against Argentina on Saturday after being given the job of reviving England's faltering back division.
RugbyZone Check out what the Pumas have to say...
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
The shift in mentality in Argentinian rugby will see the Pumas head to Twickenham on Saturday more in expectation than hope as they look to add to beleaguered England's woes.
RugbyZone
Carter felled a Welsh attack with a head-high tackle on Martin
Roberts, but went unpunished for what seemed an instantly
punishable offence.
However, the situation changed dramatically later on Sunday when
the golden boy of New Zealand was cited for the tackle.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
Dan Carter was made out to be villain and hero of the All Blacks victory over Wales after an "X-rated" tackle overshadowed a sublime performance that was the cornerstone of the win.
RugbyZone
A study that took place in Italy, called “Behaviour Under Social
Pressure: Empty Stadiums and Referee Bias”, looked at perceived bias
towards home teams. They were given control groups in the form of clubs
“A” and “B” that had been punished by having to play in front of empty
stadiums. The outcome showed that referees (sub...consciously or not)
referee against a visiting team because it creates an environment
whereby the Referee wants to reward the home crowd by awarding
penalties and free kicks. Statistically the bigger the crowd, the
greater the bias.Read More
Pressure: Empty Stadiums and Referee Bias”, looked at perceived bias
towards home teams. They were given control groups in the form of clubs
“A” and “B” that had been punished by having to play in front of empty
stadiums. The outcome showed that referees (sub...consciously or not)
referee against a visiting team because it creates an environment
whereby the Referee wants to reward the home crowd by awarding
penalties and free kicks. Statistically the bigger the crowd, the
greater the bias.Read More
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
I would not be a referee for quids nor would I cast aspersions on those who are; it is an often-thankless task that, to me, often only seems to have a negative side.
RugbyZone
The Wallabies did not reach any great heights in their 18-9 victory
over the English on Saturday but after losing six of their seven tests
against South Africa and New Zealand this season, any win was always
going to be welcome.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
Australia's hard-fought win over England at Twickenham has given coach Robbie Deans renewed confidence that he can still salvage something from an otherwise disappointing season.
RugbyZone
The All Blacks bade their time in a match where defence ruled to
score ten points in a purple patch in the second-half when they
deprived Wales of any real possession or territory.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
New Zealand extended their crushing rugby dominance of Wales with a hard-fought 19-12 win in Cardiff on Saturday to stretch their winning streak to 21 games dating back 56 years.
RugbyZone
Leicester clinched a 22-17 win before a record crowd at Welford
Road on Friday night as the mighty Springboks suffered a dismal
start to their northern hemisphere tour.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
South Africa assistant coach Dick Muir admitted he had never seen such a poor performance from a Springbok front five as the world champions went down to a shock defeat to Leicester.
RugbyZone
Even though Pierre Spies has now been ruled out of the Springbok end of
year tour, Brüssow looks to have been moved aside for the Incredible
Hulk. While I do like Burger.....
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
I almost fell off my chair when I heard that Peter de Villiers had dropped Springbok flanker Heinrich Brüssow! It was not only out of the blue, but in my opinion an absolute shocker, one you could only expect from the walking book of proverbs.
RugbyZone
New Zealand have also come under intense scrutiny from their own
fans in the rugby-obsessed country after losing three times in this
season's Tri-Nations, albeit on all occasions to world champions
South Africa.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
Wales great Neil Jenkins has dismissed talk that now is the perfect time to end his country's decades-long losing streak against New Zealand.
RugbyZone
Injuries have left England without nearly two teams' worth of
players, including a first-choice front-row, and Johnson delayed
Tuesday's scheduled team announcement by 24 hours to give New
Zealand-born hooker Dylan Hartley more time to recover from a
hamstring problem.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
Injury-hit England are set to field an especially raw side against Australia this weekend despite the return to test duty of World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson.
RugbyZone
There are no mitigating factors for England, Ireland or Wales. There
never used to be under Clive Woodward and it was no surprise in that
sort of unforgiving culture that England saw off the southern
hemisphere Big Three 12 times in succession up to that night of Sydney
glory in 2003.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
Are we already looking to make excuses up this end of planet rugby for what might be about to unfold ? Too many injuries for England to be fairly judged, too soon for this Welsh team to overturn 56 years of mishap
RugbyZone Well done Du Preez...
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
Fourie du Preez was on Monday named as the SA Rugby Player of the Year for the second time.
Source: www.rugbyzone.com
The All Blacks end of season tour is off to a winning start, although they have paid a price for their comfortable win over Australia in Tokyo.
