So, How Did England Do Against Russia?

By Shane Thomas

This is something of an odd feeling for fans of the England men's team today. Not specifically having to reconcile a disappointing result, but that it dovetailed with a performance that was - if not as brilliant as some have claimed - on the encouraging side.

England's Children Taught Their Harshest Lesson

By Shane Thomas

I imagine it's always a thorny issue for a parent when their child hits a stage of near adulthood. One has to take care not to stifle their path to independence, but must also be cognisant of not giving them so much autonomy that they're not yet ready to handle.

It's a difficult balancing act[1], and is a task that Stuart Lancaster can probably relate too. When he goes through the futile but inevitable process of recounting what went wrong against Australia, and this entire World Cup campaign, he'll wonder if his players were the sporting equivalent of a group of adolescents, unable to be trusted to stay home on their own.

Where's Your Swagger, England?

By Shane Thomas

England's 30-3 defeat to Wales in the Six Nations was a savage and dizzying one. Suffering their worst ever loss to their near neighbours, it left many pondering what's missing with this England team. Personally, I think the key ingredient is... well, a bit of swagger.

Shane Williams: Rugby's Little Engine That Could

By Shane Thomas


Last Saturday, Wales played Australia in a post-World Cup encounter. However the near 62,000 people inside the Millennium Stadium were not there to watch a rugby union match. They were there to honour for the final time, winger Shane Williams.

Since making his international debut 12 years ago, Williams has been a legend of Welsh rugby. He is his country's record try scorer, the third highest try scorer of all time, and was awarded the IRB's award for World's Best Player in 2008.

Clinical England Put The Ritalin Kids In Their Place

By Shane Thomas

WALES 19-26 ENGLAND

England walked through the cauldron of the Millennium Stadium to start their Six Nations campaign off with a victory. The Welsh crowd were predictably raucous. But while their fervour was the equivalent of a fire-breathing dragon, England were St.George, bringing the dragon to its knees.