England vs Wales - Preview - 6 Nations 2016

In what will likely prove to be this year's crucial game, England host Wales for the first time since the Welsh dragon burned Twickenham to the ground in the World Cup. It goes without saying that both sides will be up for this one. So, to dissect the game we will be looking at the match-ups between the two sides and seeing where each team has the advantage and what they can do to win this match, starting with the back 3.

6 Nations 2016 - Team of the Week - Round 3

Good victories for Wales, Scotland and England at the weekend have put those players in good stead to claim a coveted spot in Four Balls's Team of the Week. if you haven't seen last week's, here it is. Now; let's crack on.

Talking Rugby In French - English to French Rugby Dictionary

Whether you're learning French, just moved there, on holiday during a game or even lucky enough to make the visit over for a 6 Nations match, it's always useful to know what the commentators or other fans are saying, so here are a few words/phrases you may want to learn before you head off.

6 Nations 2016 - Team of the Week - Round 2

In what was a relatively underwhelming week in terms of the quality of rugby that was played, we have endeavored to pick our best team. The Southern Hemisphere boys may well be shaking their heads in disgust at what they saw at the weekend, and rightly so, but we've selected a group of players that didn't destroy all hope for Nothern Hemisphere rugby, although the first two players we will mention played in one of the worst games to have graced television...

6 Nations 2016 - Key Men and Predictions

England:

With a change in head coach, how can England bounce back from a horribly disappointing World Cup campaign? Well, it starts with the right team selection, something Stuart Lancaster got so drastically wrong against Wales in the RWC. The future of English rugby is knocking on Eddie Jones’s door and he’d be foolish to ignore it. This isn’t suggesting that every youngster should start, but Beaumont will certainly be ready to play his part, and the likes of Itoje, Daly, Kvesic should all start given their form and the solutions they provide to England’s weaknesses in the World Cup. Our suggested starting lineup for the Scotland match suggests the direction Jones should go in, and if it wasn’t for Hartley being named captain we would very likely have seen Jamie George in that hooker spot. However, because the infamous New Zealand born Dylan Hartley is England’s captain, he will need to rise to the occasion and will be a key man for the men in white throughout this campaign. Any stupid penalties or any cards and the world gets to laugh at him and the England management. Good discipline will be so vital throughout this tournament.

Four Balls Reviews - The Complete Rugby Union Compendium

When they say complete, boy do they mean it.

This book details every Test match ever played by the top 10 international sides, alongside the histories and statistics of the second and third tier nations. There is no better source of information out there about the game we know and love.

England vs France - More Than A Football Match

This is no normal football match. After the travesty on Friday night, this is a show of solidarity, a unity against terrorism, all forms, not just the disaster in Paris, but also to pay respects to those who perished in the horrifying events in Beirut which saw over 40 people die, and also the ongoing conflict in Syria, as well as everywhere else in the world thats has been on the receiving end of this barbarism. Yes, Wembley will be sporting the French colours and the motto "Liberté Egalité Fraternité", but the message is not uniquely in support of Paris, but for every nation that has suffered at the hands of terrorists.

RWC 2015 - Quarter-Final Previews and Predictions

Now, our prediction of England to win the World Cup may have gone slightly terribly wrong, but the rest of it looked OK in the grand scheme of things, including the Georgia victory over Tonga, although punting for France to top their group was another misjudgement. Still, onwards and upwards, let's have a look at what lies ahead in the Rugby World Cup.

 

New Zealand vs France - RWC Quarter-Final Prediction

Eight years on, same fixture, same location, surely it can't happen again, can it? Well, something needs to change from the the match against Ireland in order for Les Bleus to stand a chance. They were comprehensively beaten by a good Ireland side, and Saint-Andre has a lot on his plate if he is to turn this around.

Rugby World Cup 2015 - Pool D Preview and Predictions