Author Archives: Sam Roberts

So, another week; more fun and games from Eddie Jones’ circus. Much like a consummate showman, few opportunities go by without the Tasmanian pulling out a few tricks. He is so much what Lancaster wasn’t. If Lancaster spoke in prose, … Continue reading →

Me for The Rugby Blog again Oh, you again? I thought you’d come back. Your sort always does. Wanted to see what me and my poison pen nib made of this weekend’s Six Nations? Come on then, let’s have a … Continue reading →

I wrote a review on the opening weekend of the Six Nations for The Rugby Blog; all a little daft but quite good fun. The Rugby Blog had gotten in touch. It had been a while; we hadn’t spoken since … Continue reading →

Vulpeculated v. to be stolen by a fox, as in ‘my footballing heart is being vulpeculated’ I don’t tend to write about football. Not because I don’t like it, I do. But it’s a crowded market place and you’ve got to … Continue reading →

The sporting comeback. How glorious. The dip and rise of conquest. From impossible to possible; from broken to fixed; lost to found; we all love a good sporting comeback. Well, I say all of us. There are those whom it … Continue reading →

So, Dylan Hartley, despite a poor disciplinary record, despite not being able to hold down a starting position in his own club side, despite many other (more aligned) options being available, has been given the England captain’s armband. It is, at … Continue reading →

I was at the Rugby Writers’ Awards a couple of weeks ago. Dan Carter picked up the top prize. Unable to be in the room, he spoke via recorded video message. He had already done some joint hosting with Alastair … Continue reading →

Ah yes, here we are, an England squad. Pull up a chair, let’s peruse it together. There’s him and him; mm-hh, and oh look he’s back; good, good, yes I like him; and I haven’t heard of him; yes and … Continue reading →

Nobody said this was going to be easy. And if Eddie Jones is finding the plush surroundings of English Rugby’s headquarters to his liking, what’s happening on the field will have the Australian squirming in his seat. Not in a … Continue reading →

Eddie Jones has been sworn in. With a double quick march, (highlighting the haste with which some things can be done) a ‘foreign’ coach takes control of England for the first time in English rugby history. Jones’ CV includes words like … Continue reading →