In this issue

July 25, 2021

Gatland's Lions get ready for Bok-lash

WARREN Gatland warned his Lions of a major Bok-lash after the tourists savored first blood in a bruising and brutal Cape Town battle.

3 mins

All Blacks tell Wales: We're still coming OK

WALES’ money-spinning clash against the All Blacks will go ahead at the end of October after the New Zealand union said they would not be following the country’s Rugby League side which cited Covid fears when last week pulling out of the autumn World Cup in England along with Australia.

2 mins

Gatland the brave got his selections right again

JUST as Lukhanyo Am made a huge statement in the first minute with his bone-crunching hit on Elliot Daly, the Lions made their own mark with that unstoppable driving maul at the start of the second half which swung momentum.

4 mins

Farewell to Newlands, mecca of memories

Many of the things that have passed into rugby history are welcome to stay there: no one blessed with a beating heart and a functioning conscience misses the rebel tours of apartheid South Africa or England’s nocturnal depravities in Queenstown or Pablo Matera’s social media adventures circa 2012.

3 mins

Lions have blind spot for English flankers

When Carwyn James went to work on the All Blacks 50 summers ago, his assembly of a series-winning machine included two components of enduring reliability.

4 mins

Poisoned anchovies sabotaged my tour

I’M still convinced that the food poisoning myself and half-a-dozen others got on the flight to South Africa on the Lions tour in ’74 was intentional. Anyone who’d chosen the meal with an anchovy garnish fell ill. I’ve not eaten them to this day, I felt so rough. I never truly got back up to speed after that. Instead of running onto the training field, I was running to the toilet.

6 mins

ROG ends Ireland's long wait for Slam

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

4 mins

Incessant TMO calls become so annoying

With the first Test over, I can’t help thinking that the only way this series will be completed is if the result is different next week.

4 mins

Oundle was finishing school for Curry twins

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools

5 mins

Fighting talk from Galthie should put fear in rivals

It should come as precisely no surprise that France head coach Fabien Galthie reckons he knows 90 per cent of his squad for the next World Cup, two years before the first match kicks off.

4 mins

Read all stories from The Rugby Paper

The Rugby Paper Magazine Description:

The Rugby Paper, the UK's number 1 selling rugby title, brings you exclusive stories, reports and features on your device, published in exceptional clarity. It contains renowned journalists such as Nick Cain and Peter Jackson, and famous former players as columnists including Jeremy Guscott and Jeff Probyn. Published every Sunday, The Rugby Paper covers Rugby Union from national teams and Premiership / Rabo Direct down to grass roots.