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Tag: Mako Vunipola

‘I decided to work hard and Eddie Jones backed me’ – George Kruis

17 November 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby – George Kruis the former England, Saracens and Panasonic Wild Knights second row Man-mountain: George Kruis on the charge for England […]

Hard to find out the truth about Eddie’s ‘reign of fear’

10 November 2024 0 comments

ONE of the realities of rugby union in the pro era is that players who criticise a coach who kept them as part of his […]

Castres steal it in dramatic late show

8 September 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The big kick-off: Henry Arundell scored Racing’s first try of the season but it was not a debut to remember for […]

Catch this team of nations on camera

1 September 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER FLY on the wall sporting documentaries seem to be back in vogue […]

Vannes facing a tough early test

21 July 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Promoted ProD2 winners Vannes will kick off their first-ever season in the Top 14 at home against 23-time French champions Toulouse […]

Effort and enterprise the key for Saints

16 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SEES PLENTY OF HIGHLIGHTS BUT WARNS THE GAME MUST SHOW IT CAN PAY FOR ITSELF Northampton’s first Premiership title for 10 years was […]

We’ve just been too inconsistent, admits Farrell

2 June 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Owen Farrell succinctly summed up Saracens‘ season in two words before what turned out to be his final match for the club […]

McCall confident stunned Saracens will bounce back

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens have endured a tough campaign on and off the pitch as they head into the playoffs but director of rugby Mark […]

Bath and Saints to win – but only just

26 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK It’s hard to see Northampton changing the way they’ve played all season when they face Saracens in the […]

Fantastic four face final tests

26 May 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS: NORTHAMPTON v SARACENS AND BATH v SALE NORTHAMPTON The Saints finished at the top of the […]

DREAM TEAM

19 May 2024 0 comments

JAMIE ELLIOTT, THE BEDFORD BLUES AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON AND ZEBRE CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Mako Vunipola –Very […]

Sarries’ star exits generate extra fuel

19 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Saracens are the defending Premiership champions, and Mark McCall’s side are looking more and more capable as we […]

Mako reinvented job of loosehead

19 May 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Eddie Jones coached Mako Vunipola during a brief spell in charge of Saracens, and coached him again during a much longer […]

Young Guns: Loughborough prop Eric Nixon

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Venezuelan-born prop Eric Nixon is hoping to follow in the footsteps of a long list of Millfield School rugby captains who have […]

Saracens get back in the old routine

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 46pts Tries: Parton 7, 12, 20; McFarland 41, Willis 56, Hartley 62, Cinti 65 Conversions: Farrell 8, 13; Manu Vunipola […]

JIFF looks likely to play a vital role

21 April 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON – FRENCH COLUMN It’s logical – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard-fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in […]

Time for props to take their share of the glory

14 April 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED OVERMATCHED teams usually find themselves facing the music without having to listen to any. It was different for Lyon, who schlepped […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

Bordeaux put sorry Sarries to slaughter

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux …………………….. 45pts Try: Garcia 36, 48; Depoortere 61, 66; Bielle Biarrey 63, 75 Conversions: Lucu 27, 49, 61, 64; Garcia 67, […]

Lam: I understand Sinckler decision

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France next season. The 68-cap […]

All set for a race to the finish

17 March 2024 0 comments

With the Premiership resuming next weekend, Paul Rees looks at how the runners and riders are gearing up The Premiership resumes this week after an […]

Stars who followed in their father’s footsteps

10 March 2024 0 comments

Louis Lynagh’s debut for Italy, almost 30 years after his father Michael made his last stand for the Wallabies, completes the second family double of […]

Young Guns: England U20s and Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With an ageing front row, England are crying out for youthful props who can go toe to toe with the world’s best […]

Great to see jeopardy in battle to be champions

4 February 2024 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to former Harlequins and England winger Ugo Monye, below, now a pundit for TNT Sports, about the state of play in […]

“Those days are long gone” – Mapletoft not underestimating Italian job

1 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Preview: Italy U20s vs England U20s (Friday, 7:15pm) England U20s are chomping at the bit ahead of their clash with an Italy […]

Time for Borthwick to deliver

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Paul Rees says that, this time around, the fixture list has been kind to the World Cup semi-finalists IT IS […]

Dupont leads the otherwise engaged XV

21 January 2024 0 comments

As the countdown gets ever closer to the launch of the grand old championship in Marseille on Friday week, it is almost possible to pick […]

George to captain England as Feyi-Waboso named in squad

17 January 2024 0 comments

Jamie George has been named England captain as Steve Borthwick handed opportunities to seven uncapped players, including Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, in his 2024 Six Nations […]

Mako is the latest to quit England

14 January 2024 0 comments

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola has announced his retirement from international rugby. He made his Test debut against Fiji in November 2012 and won 79 England […]

Dream Team with Craig Willis

14 January 2024 0 comments

Craig Willis, the Ealing Trailfinders and former Newcastle fly-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Mako Vunipola – Played against […]

Mapletoft out to build next generation

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK As England’s U20s side prepare for the upcoming Six Nations, head coach Mark Mapletoft insists that the development of his players takes […]

Chessum and Martin were really ‘up for it’, says McKellar

7 January 2024 0 comments

Leicester boss Dan McKellar paid tribute to his young locks Ollie Chessum and George Martin. The Australian said they were “up for it” in a […]

Borthwick puts his foot on the accelerator

7 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at how England, without Owen Farrell at the helm, could turn into an attacking force Steve Borthwick’s England promise to look very […]

Vunipola to return in time for Six Nations

7 January 2024 0 comments

SARACENS prop Mako Vunipola has been banned for four games after his red card in last week’s win over Newcastle. The 32-year-old was sent off […]

Premiership previews: Round 11

5 January 2024 0 comments

Round 11 of the Premiership heralds the inaugural weekend of matches in 2024 with just three points separating the top six teams. Round ten smashed […]

Saracens pushed all the way by Falcons

31 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Saracens …………………….. 37pts Tries: Dan 10, van Zyl 30, Gonzalez 40, Penalty 63, Mako Vunipola 70 Conversions: Manu Vunipola 31, 40 Penalties: […]

Premiership previews: Round nine

22 December 2023 0 comments

After an enthralling fortnight of European rugby that showcased exceptional performances by English clubs, the Gallagher Premiership roars back into action. Round nine promises gripping […]

Hunt is on for next generation of props

17 December 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Five years ago there was a scrum feature in The Rugby Paper which forecast that unless England […]

Premiership Round Seven Preview

24 November 2023 0 comments

In the aftermath of an exhilarating round of derbies, where Bath narrowly triumphed over Bristol, Leicester Tigers revived their season by outplaying Northampton Saints, Saracens […]

Premiership Derby Weekend preview

17 November 2023 0 comments

Round six of the Gallagher Premiership ignites local pride and historic rivalries with three intense derbies set to take place. Bath face Bristol under the […]

Ambitious duo Salter and Nel focus on future at Bristol outfit

12 November 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON DESPITE being Bristol‘s most historic club, Clifton are resolutely focused on the future and are driven by a vision of becoming the […]

Bath fly high as Saracens sink again

22 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens ………………………16pts Tries: Christie 2 Conversions: Lozowski 3 Penalties: Lozowski 19, 37, 52 Bath ……………………………… 25pts Tries: de Glanville 4, Reid 8, […]

Premiership Rugby weekly previews: Round Two

20 October 2023 0 comments

While England‘s upcoming World Cup semi-final showdown with the Springboks holds a prominent place in the minds of English rugby fans, the second week of […]

Saracens keep eye on Carre

15 October 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Premiership Champions Saracens could re-sign out-of-favour Wales loosehead Rhys Carre for next season. Carre, 25, made eight appearances after joining Sarries following […]

Sanderson will know that better times are ahead

28 May 2023 0 comments

PAUL REES As Alex Sanderson reflected on what could have been after a Premiership final that yielded 60 points, Sale‘s director of rugby had been […]

55,000 see Saracens secure top-two finish

26 March 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Saracens …………………….. 36pts Tries: Lozowski 7, Tompkins 12, Christie 36, Maitland 56, Itoje 65 Conversions: Farrell 8, 13, 57, 66 Penalties: Farrell […]

Mako: French will still be strong

5 March 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD MAKO Vunipola does not believe England‘s chances of over-powering the French have been lifted by their rivals’ recent disciplinary problems. And the […]

Starting choices up front a surprise

12 February 2023 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME HOPE and expectation, two words that have the same goal which implies that people think or […]

Borthwick putting faith in his old dogs

22 January 2023 0 comments

The message coming loud and clear from Steve Borthwick‘s first England squad selection is that he and his coaching crew believe they can teach Eddie […]

Daly shows his class as Saracens run riot

15 January 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Saracens …………………….. 48pts Tries: Lozowski 10, Daly 16, 18, 23; Riccioni 32, Christie 35, Earl 80 Conversions: Goode 11, 17, 20, 35, […]

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