}

15 Nov 2012

A difficult season lies ahead for Welsh rugby



The first of the widely anticipated autumn internationals proved to be a rather underwhelming experience for those of us with a staunchly Welsh disposition.

From the kick off it was evident that Wales lacked the killer bite to pierce the Argentinean line, and as the cut and thrust of the early encounters settled and the game found some flow, it became glaringly obvious that, it was the Pumas rather than the Red Dragons, who possessed the necessary bite to win the game. Ultimately, it took just 80 minutes for the promise garnered by a stunning world cup performance and a third Grand Slam in eight years to be largely diminished.

From the evidence provided by last Saturday’s performance, it seems there are some glaring flaws in the current Welsh setup. Does the blame lie at the door of interim head coach Rob Howley? Are the team suffering from a lack of leadership given the absence of their commander-in-chief Warren Gatland? Perhaps it was a case of poor preparation or player focus? Or could it be that the much lauded Polish training camps were scheduled too closely to the first test?

5 Nov 2012

How to Guarantee your RBS Six Nations 2013 Tickets




The RBS Six Nations Championship is the highlight of the rugby union calendar in the northern hemisphere. Getting tickets can sometimes be a hit or miss activity, but there are ways in which to ensure your place in the stadium.

The Six Nations is arguably the greatest annual rugby tournament on earth. This feast of rugby brings together the passionate fans of six determined nations, each willing their country on to glory. Many fans are happy to watch their team from the comfort of their own home, or going with a group of supporters at the local pub to watch on the big screen. However, there is nothing like actually being there in the stadium, feeling every ripple of excitement, hearing the roar of the crowd. Being able to buy the match shirt will ensure that you have a lasting memory to show off to your green-eyed friends at home.

29 Oct 2012

Evolution of Rugby - A look at the quirky history of the game.


Dumptackle Rugby Blog brings you its' take on the evolution of rugby, spanning almost 200 years rich in sporting history, with the odd quirky fact thrown in you may not have known before!

10 Oct 2012

Team of the Rugby Championship 2012


With the inaugural Rugby Championship coming to an end on Saturday night, Dumptackle Rugby Blog decided to take a look at whose star shone brightest, as NZ continued it's international dominance with an unbeaten campaign, Argentina caused more than a few scares and the Wallabies/Springboks largely disappointed.

 So without further adieu, here are the selections for our 'Team of the Tournament':

28 Sept 2012

Can Argentina overturn the All Blacks in La Plata?

Most respected pundits suggest that Argentina's best chance of securing a first Rugby Championship victory will arrive in the final round of this year's tournament, when the Pumas host Australia in Rosario.

So what are the chances then, of Santiago Phelan's men upsetting the odds and turning over the current World Champions, New Zealand, in La Plata one week earlier?

Today Dumptackle Rugby Blog takes a look at the key areas which will define the historic contest at the beautiful Estadio Ciudad de La Plata this weekend, nicknamed the 'City of Diagonals' and how Argentina will look to conduce an error prone performance from the All Blacks.

26 Sept 2012

Richie McCaw rated best captain of all time



With the recently announced news that (Sir) Richie McCaw will take a well earned sabbatical in 2013, missing the Crusaders' Super 15 challenge (as well as the All Blacks' June Internationals) before his triumphant Rugby Championship return, Dumptackle Rugby Blog decided to take a look at the most successful international captains in rugby union history.

But how do you judge an international captain? Is it by World Cups won? The number of test matches won? Or is it continued success over time?

Well it seems (Sir) Richie McCaw has all bases covered, leading the rugby union pile in almost all areas according to data compiled from ESPN Scrum.....