The Lineout

In this episode we look at today's clashes between Wales and South Africa along with France taking on Argentina.

In this episode we look at the first three key games of today's November Internationals featuring Italy, New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, England and Tonga.

Wales take on New Zealand this weekend in a game that, similar to last weekend's misguided matchup between the All Blacks and the USA, appears to be poorly timed and leaving one team with one hand tied behind its back. Wales are without a number of key players doing club duty in England's domestic Premiership this weekend, and while we don't doubt for a second the resolve of Welsh Coach Wayne Piva...

Despite our initial reservations about the new United Rugby Championship, the successor to the old PRO14 has really caught our attention. The addition of four South African teams to the mix, has proven to be an exciting development, despite their shaky start in the opening two rounds. Meanwhile last year's Rainbow Cup champions Italian side Benetton are proving that they are no flash in the pan an...

The headline news for us here in Canada is that for the first time since its inception in 1987, Canada has failed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. However, more to the point is the question concerning what has clearly gone so horribly wrong in the last six years. Remember that thrilling match against Italy in the 2015 tournament where we almost caused a major upset. The same tournament where wi...

A look ahead to Canada's absolutely critical second round of their qualifying bid for the World Cup against Chile. They secured an uncomfortably narrow victory last weekend, meaning that Chile only has to beat them at home this Saturday by two points to knock Canada out of contention. In short, tense times in the Andes this weekend.

This year's Rugby Championship after several false starts and plenty of hiccoughs along the way finished with an epic showdown last weekend between New Zealand and South Africa. While South Africa may have faltered a few times this Championship and their game plan has been under considerable scrutiny by supporters and media alike, they produced their best for last and with the All Blacks gave us a...

Despite the gloom and doom surrounding South Africa's "conservative" or "boring" game plan, call it what you will - as rugby fans we were treated to one hell of a Test match last Saturday to mark the 100th encounter between New Zealand and South Africa. There is no denying that New Zealand had a rather off day at the office and whether or not that was a direct result of South Africa's controversia...

Last weekend saw Argentina lose their fifth match in a row in this year's Rugby Championship, against a team that they probably fancied their chances against earlier this summer. Such hopes seem to have been well and truly dashed, as their campaign seems destined to stagger to a miserable end on Saturday against the Wallabies. It's very hard to recognize the Pumas side that stunned the world last...

We always look forward to the two fixtures between Australia and Argentina in the Rugby Championship. Invariably the teams are evenly matched and have everything to play for, especially pride as they seek to avoid a bottom spot on the standings table. Consequently, they are invariably tight tense affairs. Last year neither side could get the better of each other and both matches ended in a draw. &...

This weekend sees the 100th Test between South Africa and New Zealand as one of the sports oldest rivalries once more takes centre stage. However, put aside all the history and forgive us if we have concerns that there is the danger that this match may simply not live up to the hype surrounding it. Sure the Springboks are reigning World Champions, and let's face it few predicted them to win the Wo...

Argentina's 39-0 drubbing last Sunday at the hands of the All Blacks, had us looking away from our TV screens in horror for much of the eighty minutes. Where was the side that got their first victory over the All Blacks last year? We saw the first warnings when in their first match of 2021 against Romania, the Eastern Europeans (who themselves once had a proud tradition) almost wrote themselves in...

The most eagerly anticipated fixture of this weekend's Round 4 Rugby Championship games, sees Australia and South Africa do battle once more, after the Wallabies grabbed themselves a tight but impressive win over the Springboks last weekend. South Africa were well off the mark at times last weekend, particularly with the boot. They'll be back with a vengeance this weekend as they seek to lay down...

It's Round 2 of the Rugby Championship for Australia and New Zealand this Sunday, after much last minute shuffling on both sides of the Tasman. The match which was supposed to be played last weekend had to be postponed due to the two countries recent difficulties with the Delta variant of the pandemic which continues to put the world on hold. The rest of the Rugby Championship is now being played...

This weekend sees Canada take on the USA in St. John's for the first of two critical World Cup qualifiers against the Americans. Saturday's proceedings and the follow up in Denver a week later will determine whether Canada will be competing for the Americas 1 berth in Pool A. If Canada do not win the two game series on aggregate then they still have a chance at qualifying for the Americas 2 berth...

Canada take on the USA this weekend in the first of two critical World Cup Qualifiers, but you can be excused for not knowing anything about it, as Rugby Canada doesn't seem to know much more either, with the squad for the series only being announced today a mere five days away from kickoff. It all seems to smack of a serious lack of foresight and preparation, and we hope we are proven wrong on Sa...

Argentina field a completely changed set of backs after failing to get to grips with a less than full strength Springbok side last weekend in Port Elizabeth. After a comprehensive victory last Saturday over the Pumas, South Africa bring back their Lions Series All Stars. South Africa are clearly the favorites on Saturday, but although some of these Argentinian backs may lack experience they can pr...

After the highs and lows of the Lions Tour to South Africa, a victorious Springbok outfit host Argentina's Pumas in two back to back Tests which serve as the start to their first participation in the annual Rugby Championship since the World Cup, having elected not to participate last year. Argentina have also had a good summer of preparation after winning their two Test series against a Welsh sid...

Although New Zealand and Australia meet again, this match marks the start of their respective Rugby Championship campaigns as well as being the second game of the three match Bledisloe Cup series. Australia have it all to play for, and despite the daunting and seemingly impossible task of beating the All Blacks at their hallowed fortress of Eden Park, the Wallabies will take heart from their late...

And so it comes to this! A chance, despite all the controversy for the rugby to finally do the talking and all the off field sideshows to be put away once and for all. South Africa come into this match riding high from an impressive and emotionally charged win last weekend. The Lions are slightly shell shocked but looking to put in a performance that justifies the traditions and pedigree of the fa...

As a precursor to the forthcoming Rugby Championship, Australia and New Zealand revisit their age old rivalry in the first of three Bledisloe Cup matches at the All Blacks impregnable Fortress - Auckland's Eden Park.

In the opening Test between these two sides, there was plenty of on and off field drama. It was an edgy affair that perhaps lacked the quality we were hoping for and sadly was riddled with controversy particularly in how it was officiated. The second Test this weekend leaves the Springboks with it all to do, but they are at their most dangerous when their backs are against the wall. We look at som...

After all the controversy, drama and hype, Saturday sees the British and Irish Lions and South Africa's Springboks get down to business in Cape Town as they face off in the first of three eagerly anticipated Tests. We look at the lineups and where we think the key battles could be in terms of head to heads.

The recently concluded three Test series between France and the Wallabies in Australia was superb rugby entertainment. We enjoyed every minute of three incredibly hard fought Test matches. The rugby on display had everything. There was huge physicality, dynamic and silky running and some shrewd tactics put into play by both sides. It was way more than just a tasty appetizer for the Lions tour to S...

We look at the opening game of France and Australia's three Test series.