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France 24
05-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Van den Berg strikes twice as South Africa beat Italy
It was a game of two halves with the Springboks using their scrum power to score four tries and build a 28-3 lead by half-time in front of a near-capacity crowd at the 52,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld. But much-improved Italy outscored the record four-time World Cup winners by three tries to two in the second half despite fielding an experimental team with numerous first choices remaining in Europe. Victory continued the 100 percent record of South Africa when hosting Italy, but it was the second smallest winning margin in eight Tests since 1999. The other Springbok try scorers were captain and centre Jesse Kriel, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, replacement prop Vincent Koch and flanker Marco van Staden. It was a special moment for tighthead Koch when he barged over as he notched his first try for South Africa while winning his 62nd cap. The outstanding try came from Arendse, who raced through the Italian defence from midfield to score after Test debutant Vincent Tshituka won a lineout. Veteran fly-half Handre Pollard slotted all six conversions, raising his total for the Springboks to 784 points in 81 Tests. Flanker Manuel Zuliani, replacement hooker Pablo Dimcheff on debut and captain and lock Niccolo Cannone scored tries for the Azzurri. Fly-half Giacomo Da Re kicked three conversions and a penalty for Italy, whose starting line-up included only five of the team beaten by Ireland in their last 2025 Six Nations Championship match. When Da Re converted the Cannone try with 11 minutes remaining, there were only 11 points between the teams, raising the possibility of a stunning victory for the visitors. But the Springboks put the outcome beyond doubt on 74 minutes when Van Staden powered his way over the line and Pollard maintained his perfect record from the kicking tee. The second Test is scheduled for Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in eastern coastal city Gqeberha next Saturday.
Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
The British Lions who staked claims for a place Down Under in the Six Nations
The 2025 Six Nations was the final audition for many wannabe tourists, with some nailing their spot in Andy Farrell's squad for the upcoming summer tour The 2025 Six Nation s was one of the closest-fought Championships in recent times as France ended a three-year wait for the title. Fabien Galthié's men narrowly pipped England by a point, while Ireland were a further point back following a Super Saturday that started with all three teams in with a chance of victory. Scotland flattered to deceive once more in fourth, while Italy finished above a sorry Wales side who propped up the table for the second season in a row. A constant subplot was the battle to catch the eye of Andy Farrell and his Lions coaches in the last internationals before decisions were made in May. The opening night set the tone as Wales went down 43-0 to a ruthless France but Round 1 proved fruitful for Scotland's Huw Jones, whose hat-trick against Italy both helped his side to a 31-19 victory and further furnished his reputation as a try-scoring centre of international pedigree. The healthy Irish contingent of Lions hopefuls did their chances little harm with a 27-22 victory over England in Dublin, and they followed that up with a 32-18 win at Murrayfield. Wales' poor start continued with a 22-15 defeat to Italy in Rome - a result which saw the end of Warren Gatland's second stint as head coach - but England's came alive in stunning fashion with a 26-25 win over France. Elliot Daly underscored the versatility that has proved such an asset on previous Lions tours by coming off the bench to score a 79th-minute winning try and set Twickenham alight. Ireland's campaign for a third straight Six Nations title looked to be progressing nicely despite having to scrap for a 27-18 win against a much-improved Wales, energised by the Cardiff crowd in a backs against the wall display. The emergence of Sam Prendergast at fly-half looked set to not only solve Ireland's conundrum post-Johnny Sexton, but also complicate an already stacked selection headache for Farrell at No.10. Yet it was another young star that emerged as the Lions bolter, as Prendergast ultimately missed out on selection amidst a disappointing denouement to Ireland's campaign. A chastening 42-27 defeat to France in Dublin, partially at the hands of France's own starlet Louis Bielle-Biarrey, proved pivotal in deciding where the Championship trophy would end up. The stage was set for Les Bleus' delightfully talented generation to add a Six Nations title to their collection but they still faced pressure from England, who were waiting in the wings for any French slip-ups against Scotland. Steve Borthwick's men dug deep to get past the Auld Enemy 16-15 and end their Calcutta Cup hoodoo in dramatic fashion, Finn Russell's conversion attempt which would have won the game for Scotland sliding past the post after Duhan van der Merwe's late try, before powering past Italy 47-24. They were discovering talents of their own, with wing Tommy Freeman rising to the fore as he scored in all five matches – part of the sales pitch that earned him a first Lions call. Freeman was amongst four nominees for the Player of the Tournament award alongside Scotland's Blair Kingorn, Italy's Tommaso Menoncello and the winner, Bielle-Biarrey. Kinghorn was a bright spark of a Scotland campaign that ended with them in fourth, with the full-back proving his international class with a pair of tries in a 35-29 win over Wales. They were unable to spoil France's party on the final day, as a 35-16 win was enough to send the trophy back to Paris. It was not without nerves after Ireland and England both won on the final day, with England's 68-14 destruction of Wales featuring the emergence of Henry Pollock. The 20-year-old marked his international debut with two tries and his inexorable rise will continue with the Lions this summer. It capped a remarkable end to a Championship that saw players fight tooth and nail for the right to wear the famous red jersey this summer. Some stocks rose, other fell, and it all amounted to an enthralling few weeks that only whetted the appetite for the summer tour Down Under.
Telegraph
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Six Nations Super Saturday predictions: Who are our experts backing to win championship?
The 2025 Six Nations concludes this weekend with Ireland, England and France all capable of winning the title in three mouth-watering matches stretching from early afternoon to a late night in Paris. First Ireland take on Italy in Rome with the wooden spoon possibly looming for the hosts in a strange anomaly given that they have won a match. Next up is England's visit to the Cardiff cauldron. France, who finished round four with a one-point lead in the standings by virtue of a greater haul of bonus points, will then know exactly what they need to prevail in the 8pm kick-off at Stade de France. Telegraph Sport's rugby experts predict how the weekend will unfold. Italy 14 Ireland 52 How Simon Easterby would have loved to have fielded the side that is available to him in Rome against France last week. With James Lowe, Mack Hansen and Garry Ringrose restored to the back line, and a first appearance on the bench of Tadgh Furlong, expect Ireland to finish their campaign with a bang to ease the disappointment of their humbling by France and put some title pressure on England and Les Bleus. The fascinating subplot will be how Jack Crowley grabs hold of the game, with his first start of the championship. Wales 15 England 40 Wales will hope for a rousing finish to another tough campaign against the old enemy and it should make for a fantastic atmosphere, but I expect England to push on from their display against Italy and the specific target of needing four tries should sharpen minds and free up their attacking intent. France 28 Scotland 30 Gregor Townsend knows what it takes to win in Paris, and talk of France's procession to the Six Nations title will no doubt have fired up the Scotland players, as it famously did in 2021 when they needed a bonus-point win to pip Wales. Scotland won 27-23 and they should also have beaten France at Murrayfield last year only for the match officials somehow to rule that Sam Skinner had not scored with the final play of the game. It will take a monumental effort, but Scotland have the back line to cause France problems in the wide channels, in the scenario that France struggle to replicate the intensity of their display against Ireland. France hold on to pip England Italy 23 Ireland 45 It has been a disappointing campaign for Italy, with their defensive fragility nullifying moments of brilliance in attack. I expect that frustrating trend to continue to finish the tournament. The visitors are welcoming back important reinforcements and Jack Crowley has a point to prove at fly-half. All that should add up to Ireland spending at least a couple of hours as clubhouse leaders. Wales 24 England 35 Matt Sherratt can certainly cause a stir here. The Wales scrum has earned penalties since round three, while a back row of Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau is a classy unit. Injuries at centre or lock would throw Steve Borthwick into contingency mode quickly. All that said, England can rouse themselves to prevail in a loose, entertaining game, scoring four tries to clinch second. France 39 Scotland 30 This could be a cracker to cap a compelling couple of months and Scotland might have reflected on the lessons of their loss to South Africa in November. In that encounter, they created enough chances to oust the Springboks and countered their opponents' fearful power everywhere except the scrum. Even if France do not replicate the devastation of a 34-point surge in Dublin, a home crowd should carry them to the Championship. France win in style Italy 17 Ireland 53 The virtue for Ireland of going first on 'Super Saturday' is that there is no specific points total to chase, merely the knowledge that they must win by as wide a margin as possible to have any chance of being crowned champions. Italy should prepare for another shellacking. After shipping 73 to France, they are at risk of a repeat humiliation against a side scalded by a heavy loss in Dublin. The problem for the Italians is that while they can flicker in bursts, courtesy of Ange Capuozzo, they lack the cohesion for a true 80-minute performance against opposition of this calibre. Wales 18 England 30 The danger for England is self-evident, with a wounded Wales desperate to avert a record-extending 17th consecutive Test defeat. But their commitment to all-out attack is promising, with Tom Roebuck making his first start on the wing and Tommy Freeman primed to round off his exceptional Six Nations with a switch to 13. I just cannot envisage Wales, for all their back-row heft, having enough to trouble England in the second half. France 48 Scotland 21 With Gaël Fickou's restoration at outside centre, France's attack is little short of terrifying. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored in his seventh straight Test against Ireland, breaking the record of a certain Damian Penaud, who achieved history of his own by equalling Serge Blanco's mark of 38 tries for his country – in 38 fewer games. Scotland, by contrast, remain a maddening study in thwarted promise. Their late toil last Saturday, where a succession of visits to the Welsh 22 yielded nothing, was an apt reflection of their tournament, full of expansive intent but ultimately lacking in composure. They will do well to keep title-chasing France from scoring 50 at home. France hold their nerve Italy 14 Ireland 54 Ireland are too professional and classy to allow a potential banana skin to blindside them. Despite defeating Wales, Italy have not managed to build fully on their impressive 2024 campaign and an Irish side looking to avenge that French humbling should have too much for them. Plus, there are Lions spots on the line; there might be a title to win, too. Wales 22 England 30 It is never easy for England in the Cardiffian Lion's den but this Welsh side, while resurgent, is still some way off the level required to trouble the better sides for 80 minutes. Expect it to be cagey for 50 minutes before the visitors achieve some daylight. England know, too, that a bonus-point victory puts pressure on France. France 42 Scotland 29 France might have thrown one match away this championship but their phenomenal victory in Dublin has granted them a reprieve. Lightning will not strike twice and although the Scottish challenge will be stern, the visitors just do not have the depth nor bench firepower to compete after 65 minutes, which is where France excelled against Ireland. France to win title, but draw with Scotland Italy 25 Ireland 30 The Irish have fallen off a cliff the last few games and it would be no surprise to see them run uncomfortably close by the Italians. Would then be a long wait for Simon Easterby's men. Wales 18 England 21 If this is indeed a Welsh revival then it will need more than a couple of losing points. England are not up to much, but if they can survive what is sure to be a monumental atmosphere they will be too strong. France 30 Scotland 30 The Tartan attack was electrifying in that first 50 minutes against Wales. Without Dupont and the pressure of silverware, the French will be vulnerable. I think it will be thrillingly close. And perhaps there will be no separating the two teams. Wales to upset England, France to win overall Italy 21 Ireland 40 Bounce-back performances are required from a lot of Ireland's Lions hopefuls but they should have enough here. Italy, while a delight to watch, just switch off for too many long periods in games and their regression in this year's championship has been frustrating. Wales 25 England 23 Admittedly, the fact that England have shown real progress – please do not revert back to kicking for victory, trust your skills – combined with Wales' losing run means this call is made with slightly less conviction than a few weeks ago. But Wales have shown flashes of progress in the past two games, and Wales-England can be a funny fixture where form does not matter. Since the end of the autumn, this fixture has stood out with flashing alarm signs. Imagine the noise if Wales pull it off. France 42 Scotland 33 There will be a point in this match where Scotland have France feeling very concerned, and another point where the crowd will breathe a sigh of relief as the home side pull away. Still seething at France for how wasteful they were at Allianz Stadium, but their bench feels too powerful for Scotland. Galthié's side are too good to have produced only one title – time to add to that. One final note: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, on seven tries, has a real chance to tie or surpass the record of eight tries in one Home, Five or Six Nations, held by Cyril Lowe (England, 1914) and Ian Smith (Scotland, 1925).
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Six Nations title permutations: What Ireland, France and England need to win the championship
There are just two rounds of the 2025 Six Nations remaining and the title race has taken shape with three teams still harbouring realistic ambitions of lifting the trophy on 15 March. Ireland are hunting history as they look to become the first team to win three straight Five or Six Nations outright titles and are still on track for a grand slam after downing a surprisingly feisty Wales side 27-18 in Cardiff in round three. France still appear to be their closest challengers, especially with a monumental game between the sides lined up for round four in Dublin, after Les Bleus took out their frustration over a surprise defeat to England in round two on a helpless Italy – crossing for 11 tries in a French record 73-24 rout. Speaking of England, the incredibly dramatic wins over France and then Scotland have ignited their hopes of a first Six Nations crown since the Covid-interrupted 2020 edition. Slightly 'friendlier' remaining fixtures against Italy and Wales will give Steve Borthwick's men belief that they can steal in and pinch the title away from their more-fancied foes. Here's what each team needs to win the title but first, a look at the current table and the remaining fixtures: Remaining 2025 Six Nations fixtures Round four Saturday 8 March: Ireland v France - Aviva Stadium, Dublin (2.15pm, ITV) Saturday 8 March: Scotland v Wales - Murrayfield, Edinburgh (4.45pm, BBC) Sunday 9 March: England v Italy - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (3pm, ITV) Round five Saturday 15 March: Italy v Ireland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome (2.15pm, ITV) Saturday 15 March: Wales v England - Principality Stadium, Cardiff (4.45pm, BBC) Saturday 15 March: France v Scotland - Stade de France, Paris (8pm, ITV) IRELAND As mentioned above, Ireland are the favourites to win this year's championship and are the only side with a 100 per cent record so far after victories against England, Scotland and Wales. The easiest route to the title for interim coach Simon Easterby's men is securing victories over France and Italy in the final two rounds to seal the grand slam. In fact, a draw with France and win over Italy would also be enough to lift the trophy providing it was either accompanied by at least one bonus point or their final points difference was better than England's if both teams ended on 20 tournament points. If Ireland lose to France (who they currently lead by three tournament points) in round four, then things would get complicated and the exact situation would depend on bonus points, final-day results and potentially points difference. Given France's mammoth points difference of +91 following big wins over Wales and Italy, realistically Ireland (currently +28 points difference) will need to finish at least one point above them in the final reckoning to take the title. That would require either getting multiple bonus points in a loss to France or Scotland doing them a favour by avoiding defeat to Les Bleus on the final day. France reignited their title hopes with a thrashing of Italy in round three which, combined with their 43-0 triumph over Wales on the opening day, means they will almost certainly have the advantage in points difference if they finish level on tournament points with another nation. Their title chances will be over if they fail to win either of their remaining two games but beat Ireland in Dublin and they are right in the hunt. They currently trail Ireland by three tournament points, so restricting them to no more than one bonus point in defeat would guarantee Fabien Galthie's troops finishing above the men in green providing they then score a bonus-point victory over Scotland on Super Saturday. They currently lead England by one tournament point and points difference, rather than head to head record, being the determining factor if teams finish level on points plays to their advantage. Two bonus-point wins would take England to 20 tournament points, meaning France would need nine from their last two matches to match them (and then beat them on points difference). Scoring four tries in one of their final two victories would achieve that goal. England have the trickiest route to the title and any realistic hope begins with them securing bonus-point wins over Italy and Wales in the final two rounds to move to 20 tournament points. Even then, Borthwick's men will be relying on results elsewhere, starting with France beating Ireland in round four. If Ireland don't get any bonus points while losing that contest, then England will be guaranteed to finish above them with two bonus-point wins. However, if Ireland get one bonus point in defeat to Les Bleus, then it would come down to points difference between the sides should the men in green secure a bonus-point win over Italy in round five and Ireland currently have a healthy advantage there (+28 to -3). While England need France to beat Ireland in round four, they could do with victory not being too convincing. Given France's uncatchably superior points difference (+91 to -3), England cannot afford them to end the Six Nations on more than 19 tournament points. That is eight more than their current total, meaning that two French wins without a four-try bonus point would still allow England to finish above them but a try bonus point in either victory would make that impossible. If France do secure a bonus-point win over Ireland, then England would be relying on a favour from Scotland on the final day by avoiding defeat.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World Rugby confirm Wales rankings disaster after defeat to Italy
Wales' defeat in Italy has condemned them to a new record low in the World Rugby rankings It has been confirmed Warren Gatland's side have now dropped below Georgia to 12th. The slump, which would have been unthinkable not so long ago, comes at a time when many are calling for the Rugby Europe Championship favourites to be given the chance to stake a claim for a Six Nations place. Even Wales legend Sam Warburton believes a Six Nations relegation match should be held between the bottom nation and the winners of the second tier competition, which has been dominated by the Georgians for years. You can read about that here. READ MORE: Wales player ratings as Warren Gatland gets selection wrong but Faletau still has it READ MORE: Wales are clueless as Gatland's experiment fails and leaves him on the brink After the game against Italy in Rome today which saw Wales lose 22-15, they have slumped further down the rankings. You can see how the game unfolded here. Dan Biggar and Jamie Roberts described the performance in Italy as one of the team's poorest performances in recent memory. Jamie Roberts said that we "cannot accept this is the level we should be playing at". Shane Williams, who was reporting on the game for ITV, said that the "gameplan was totally wrong!" Following the first weekend of the 2025 Six Nations, Wales were already in 11th - the country's worst ever ranking. They have now lost 14 consecutive matches over the past 15 months or so. Georgia beat the Netherlands 40-7 in the latest round of the Rugby Europe Men's Championship 2025 on Saturday, meaning they now move above Wales.
