Subscribe to my blogLeinster win a boost for Ireland
Mon Dec 20 01:18PM
The big freeze may have put paid to a number of Heineken Cup games at the weekend, but Leinster were able to lay down a significant European marker as their clash with Clermont survived the conditions.The 24-8 victory allowed Leinster to take a grip on pool two and put Clermont's…More
Mon Dec 13 02:57PM
There was a sense of déjà vu about the Heineken Cup last weekend as French clubs put their collective foot on the power pedal to suggest this year's champions will again hail from the Top 14.We are, of course, only halfway through the pool stage, but with French clubs winning...More
Mon Dec 06 02:45PM
Oval Talk recently caught a TV re-run of a 'classic' encounter between England and South Africa, and could not help but make some comparisons with Martin Johnson's current side.The match in question was the second Test of England's 2000 tour to South Africa. England had lost the first in Pretoria 18-13...More
Mon Nov 29 03:20PM
THE GOODNew ZealandThe All Blacks were never really required to play at their very best as they cruised to wins over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Yes, they were tested on occasion - by England, Ireland and Wales - but they were always able to find another gear when required,...More
Mon Nov 22 03:09PM
It is the want of the British media and public to indulge in hyperbole following an outstanding sporting success, so it was no surprise that there was a sense of anti-climax about England's victory over Samoa at Twickenham last weekend.England were good against Australia - actually, they were very good....More
Mon Nov 15 03:21PM
That England downed Australia at Twickenham on Saturday was not the biggest shock of the international season to date, rather it was the manner in which Martin Johnson's men achieved a victory that should now signal a new era for the red rose.Oval Talk was in the majority in thinking...More
Tue Nov 09 04:33PM
53,127 attended Wales v Australia - which left 20,998 empty seats at the Millennium Stadium. The same game drew a capacity crowd last year.For Ireland, the news was worse still - 35,157 fans saw their side push South Africa to the wire - meaning 14,843 rather lonely plastic chairs. To...More
Tue Nov 02 01:07PM
Oval Talk was heartened to see that New Zealand had been pipped by a last-gasp James O'Connor try and conversion in their Bledisloe Cup clash last Saturday.Don't get us wrong, OT doesn't have anything against the All Blacks - they are obviously a fantastically skilled team who play exciting rugby.But...More
Tue Oct 26 02:51PM
Roughly around the time of the final whistle at Headingley Carnegie on Friday night, something snapped in Oval Talk's mind.That particular exhibition of free-flowing rugby in Leeds finished 6-3 to the visitors Sale after a scoreless first half. For all the chatter you sometimes hear in football circles that "it...More
Tue Oct 19 02:43PM
The club versus country row continues to dog rugby this week with Wales lashing out at Premier Rugby over their "ridiculous" stance ahead of next year's World Cup in New Zealand.Wales head coach Warren Gatland and Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis have both voiced their displeasure after learning England-based players...More