Bledisloe mediator
One unusual moment from Liam Messam’s many matches against Australia stands out above the rest.
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Rugby’s most destructive runners
The XV investigates the game’s most influential ball carriers in the last 12 months
Trouble brewing
Andy Farrell needs to deliver a Six Nations title if he wants to be the toast of Ireland
Defence against the dark arts
The All Blacks are no strangers to filth and yet they have no love of the enforcer.
Closing time
English rugby needs to make sobering call for last orders on promotion and relegation
Selection battles
The wait for the call from your coach to inform you if you’re in or out is agonising
Rugby’s greatest mismatch
The man set to replace Warren Gatland almost produced one of the greatest upsets of the modern era.
Cowboy boots
Gopperth is the sheriff in town as Wasps prepare for final showdown
Man behind the mask
Unorthodox, scary, driven… everyone coached by Eddie Jones has a story to tell
Flash in the pan
The All Blacks are rightfully fearful expectation could limit Caleb Clarke’s potential.
Power transition
The All Blacks changed tack and used their ball carriers to overwhelm the Wallabies in Bledisloe II.
Patriot games
The question of eligibility is an emotive subject in the world of international rugby
Instant classic
Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 served up a match of thrilling intensity with the Devonians worthy champs
Long road to glory
A young, fearless Wallabies team is rebuilding the reputation of Australian rugby.
The pain game
Dave Ewers has overcome eviction, injuries and self-doubt to be on the cusp of glory
Family guy
Imhoff is a father figure for Racing’s band of brothers in Champions Cup showpiece
Same old All Blacks
Despite a new head coach, not much has changed for the All Blacks, tactically speaking.
Time to re-Joyce
Second row’s strong roots can help Bristol branch out in Challenge Cup final
Taking sides
On Sunday, for the first time in almost three decades, a Kiwi referee took charge of an All Blacks match.
Seeing red
A rash of Top 14 red cards, has seen many French commentators call for more flair and less flare
Flaw in the Death Star
The All Blacks can’t win games by dropping a goal and it’s a big problem for them.
Culture vulture
Townsend channels Fergie and Pep to get a team-first ethos with Scotland
It’s a knockout
Two heavyweights are ready to trade blows in a punchy Gallagher Premiership final
Bouncing back
Sam Cane’s reign began with a draw, but the new All Blacks captain won the respect of his nation.
The heat is on
Premiership Rugby has endured an annus horribilis and changes to their governance must be afoot
Powered by pain
Losing to England means the All Blacks start a new era with a pain that will fuel them for years.
Taking a stand
Ashton Hewitt has found his voice and is determined to call out racist bigots
The Doc’s wisdom
World Cup-winning coach believes a broken game can be fixed with a return to old school values
Breaking the age barrier
Ian Foster begins his All Blacks coaching era with a luxury not afforded to his predecessor.
Scratching the surface
Why the schools system in Leinster is both a blessing and a curse to Irish rugby
Right man for the job
Sam Cane has long been destined to be All Blacks captain.
A case of misplaced nostalgia
Is the unpalatable truth that rugby in days of yore was boorish and bedraggled?
The lost art
The homogenisation of loose forwards is killing a whole generation of would-be No 8s.
Mind games
Racing 92 attack coach Mike Prendergast explains Finn Russell’s modus operandi
Lost generation
Rugby Australia needs more initiatives to engage those with Indigenous heritage.
Money matters
Professional players face financial ruin if they don’t adapt to the new Covid world.
Father and son
What is it that makes the bond between a father and a son so special?
The Springboks pattern
Will the Springboks change up their tactics from the World Cup when the Lions come to SA?
French education
Gabriel Ibitoye left Harlequins for a new challenge and he’s making headlines at Agen
Hanging by a thread
Australia and New Zealand currently hate each other, but they desperately need each other.
The end of an affair
South African rugby is throwing its weight behind the PRO16 after stagnating down South
End of an era
Super Rugby Aotearoa engaged fans but broke the players and may not be the long term answer for NZ.
The forgotten man
Once heralded a superstar, Huw Jones saw his stock plummet but his self-belief has never waned
Tales of the unexpected
Tupou Vaa’i didn’t even have a Super Rugby contract at the start of the year. Now he’s an All Black.
Seeing the light
Rugby has protected its assets for too long, it needs to open up to survive and thrive
Man in the middle
The pressure to make the right decisions as a referee is at a tipping point
School of hard knocks
Anton Lienert-Brown has fought a long mental battle to become a regular All Black.
Race against time
Jacques Nienaber says his Springboks are playing catch-up but the Lions should be wary
Wow factor
Unorthodox but brilliant, Scott Robertson wants a job with the British and Irish Lions.
When forwards go rogue
It’s pretty easy…scrum, lineout, ruck. Yet some forwards have shown they can’t follow that simple brief
Seventh wonder
Sevens could be the tool to rebuild the Wallabies into the world force they once were.
Storm clouds gather
Bernard Laporte’s arrest has led to claim and counterclaim to further muddy French political waters
Chance of a lifetime
A Pacific Island Super Rugby team could change the power base of the global game.
The long and winding road
Mark Jones has travelled across the world to find a home away from home with the Crusaders
Against the odds
Emotionally and physically broken at 27, former All Black Richard Kahui is still playing at 35.
Reality check
Coronavirus has hurt rugby’s growth in Japan but a new club competition could see the sport thrive
Home run
New Zealand is confident it will host a record breaking World Cup next year.
Rugby’s next frontier
While physical skills were once the focus, mental skills are the future of professional improvement.
Dream ticket
Fiji have assembled a gifted coaching team. Is a world rankings rise on the cards?
Tough love
Eddie Jones tormented his pool of hookers when he was coach of the Wallabies.
Iron men of rugby
There are self-styled enforcers everywhere but South Africa produces the hardest men.
Embracing the chaos
The Scotland captaincy and domestic stability have left Stuart Hogg re-energised at Exeter
Concrete in the soul
The impossibly tough Jerome Kaino is proving hard to replace in the All Blacks No 6 jersey.
Rugby reborn
Covid brought the death of Super Rugby, but it also saw NZ fall back in love with the game.
Finding Mather
In 1997, Lee Mather, a 19-year-old developer, became the world’s greatest player
The privilege of error
Their error count is negligible, so isn’t it time we cut referees some slack?
The worst ideas in rugby history
In the hindsight Olympics, we’re all winners but sometimes, it goes, horribly, horribly wrong
Can this man make 2023?
Justin Marshall gives his thoughts on whether Aaron Smith can reach the next World Cup
Let the women play
Danielle Waterman makes an impassioned plea to free the women’s game from its shackles
The art of wing play
Chris Ashton discusses the precious ability to score tries, again and again
Last line of defence
The Wallabies changed rugby forever when they appointed John Muggleton as defence coach
Freak of nature
In a stellar career, Pieter-Steph du Toit has tasted agony and ecstasy in equal measure
Aerial battle
Why Gatland’s tactics for South Africa are ready-made for a Lions series win
The fall and rise of Rieko Ioane
Dropped by the All Blacks his world fell apart but Ioane has his mojo back
Vampires or saviours?
CVC have invested in the Pro14 but will they grow the game or bleed it dry?
Size matters
The onus in professional rugby is based purely on brawn, but at what cost?
A nation’s custodian
After five years at the WRU, departing CEO Martyn Phillips reflects on a rollercoaster journey
Speed of light
A leap of faith has seen Cheslin Kolbe’s renaissance as a World Cup winner
Bring back Buck
30 years after Buck Shelford was dropped there are some still perplexed by the decision
Rebuilding Dan Leavy
The Leinster back row is a princely asset to Ireland and his return is timely
Mentality monster
Maligned for a perceived lack of flair, Dan Biggar is proud to be dependable
No Regrets
Mike Brown isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the long-serving fullback makes no apologies