WHILE the cat is away the mice can play. With all the attention on the World Cup there is an opportunity for one or two […]

RUMOURSof Ireland starting their own rock band while on tour are circulating after centre Bundee Aki was spotted with a guitar slung over his shoulder. […]

ENGLANDhave been stay- ing in the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district but fans were given strict warnings about approaching the squad. One sign […]

Retort: Andrew Conway IRELAND did not hold back in enjoying the local cuisine while staying in the world capital of prime beef, Kobe beef is […]

Samoa……………0 Scotland……………34 SCOTLAND revived their hopes of progressing from Pool A with a bonus-point victory over Samoa. Gregor Townsend’s side needed to recover from a […]

World Cup diary Wales size: But this Lake Biwa monster evaded the Welsh players WALES’ players claimed a big scalp with victory over Australia, but […]

By GARY FITZGERALD First blood: Timothy Lafaele beats the tackle of Alapati Leiua to score Japan’s opening try Big score: Matsushima scored the bonus point […]

THE English Press pack were not impressed when they turned up at Tokyo’s £500-a-night Conrad Hotel for a Japan media conference to find there were […]

FLANKER Pieter Labuschagne can feel- Japan’s belief growing with each game. The Brave Blossoms’ South African-born captain enthused: “We wanted to grab that try at […]

LAST YEAR’S Melbourne Cup was won by Cross Counter, trained in Newmarket by Charlie Appleby, and more Brits got their hands on the trophy this […]

From TOM BRADSHAW in Kobe Relief: Andrew Conway scores the bonus-point try A TYPHOON was threatening to blow into Kobe in the hours before kick-off […]

AUSTRALIAN flanker David Pocock is wellknown for his stance on environmental issues and he was flying the flag ag ain in the team hotel near […]

RUSSIA coach Lyn Jones heralded the performance as a leap forward for Tier 2 rugby. He said: “The whole occasion was enormous for our players. […]

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK ”Closing the roof of a stadium in a country with such high humidity is like putting a […]

New Zealand…63 Canada……………0 NEW Zealand scored nine tries to record their second convincing win. Brothers Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett all went over as the […]

FIJI’S road from bust to boom at the World Cup was illustrated by some superb attacking rugby in their 45-10 trouncing of Georgia, which showed […]

From ADAM HATHAWAY Quick feet: Cheslin Kolbe gets past Michele Campagnaro on his way to scoring South Africa’s third try SOUTH Africa head coach Rassie […]

ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones said: “The conditions were such it was like a wet weather game but we found our rhythm and tempo really well […]

By NICK CAIN Galloping in: Luke Cowan-Dickie scores England’s fourth try PICTURE: Getty Images THE telling yardstick in this England win over Tonga in their […]

By STEFFAN THOMAS CARDIFF Blues head coach John Mulvihill believes the weather conditions in Japan will suit Wales and is confident Warren Gatland’s men will […]

AUSTRALIAN mascot Wally has been on the missing list since being given to teenage fullback Jordan Petaia to look after but we can report he […]

By SAM JACKSON Last act: George North carries Georgia full-back Soso Matiashvili over the line to score the sixth try PICTURE: Getty Images WALES displayed […]

LAST week’s lead story about Sam Burgess featuring on World Cup promotional posters has had a follow-up. Chris Robshaw is the latest discard spotted on […]

By ADAM ELLIS FIJI’S World Cup appears to be as good as over after the Pacific Island nation was stunned by Uruguay. Seeking to rebound […]

Jamming: Jamie Roberts JAMIE Roberts showed off his musical talent once again as he took to the stage with the Manic Street Preachers in Tokyo […]

RUGBY MATTERS Leading the way: Santiago Arata breaks through to score Uruguay’s first try PICTURE: Getty Images My God, that wonderful Uruguay win over Fiji […]