Set Move - Rugby Chat

The first weekend of the 2026 Six Nations felt like the wettest weekend of any Six Nations. The last weekend felt like watching the Harlem Globetrotters in Paris. This year’s competition was the best in years – ultra-competitive, attack beating defence and some real changes across teams. Or was there? We look at all the teams on a statistical basis to see what the numbers tell us. Have Scotland shed their all-out attack image? Are England still tough and rugged? Did France play champagne rugby? Quite often our feelings on a game or team dictate our attitude towards the eventual outcome, but using the stats (from RugbyPass unless stated otherwise) can often reveal a different story. France Damien who? In the end France didn’t need Penaud. The French are probably the best current exponents of total rugby that keeps the ball alive among forwards and backs, a proactive second and back row with wingers who work incredibly hard within the 15 metre channel. Their offload game was phen...

This weekend felt momentous. History was made twice in the same afternoon. But how was it made and do we have a proper 3 horse race heading into the final weekend? How Scotland beat France Was this the best match of the 6 Nations in over a decade? 90 points scored in what must be Scotland’s best ever performance. While the Scots may take beating England for granted, it's not every day that they put 50 points on a team who have not had to get out of third gear this championship. So how did they do it? (All stats and figures are from RugbyPass unless otherwise stated). The percentages Scotland have a reputation for playing an attacking brand of rugby, but they are probably the best team in the 6 Nations at playing the percentages. They have averaged 55% of territory and have had most of their possession between the halfway line and the opposition’s 22. This forced France to have 40% of their possession between their own 22 and the halfway. If you’re trying to play rugby in that...

Defence vs attack. Flair vs grit. The haves vs the have nots. Perhaps this is an oversimplification. This may be the closest World Cup final in years. Canada possess the widest range of attacking talent at this tournament. They are truly unique in the way that they attack and play the game. But in England , they face the most well backed team in the history of the women’s game, with home advantage and the best strength in depth of any team in world. How Canada can win Attack Canada’s biggest strength has been their ability to attack at will, with devastating speed and accuracy. They blew Australia and then New Zealand aside with early tries and incredible handling. They will need to do this again and silence what will be the most partisan crowd imaginable. And this is where England are vulnerable – Canada possess 3 playmakers enhancing their unpredictability. In Perry , they have the most consistent fly half in the tournament. When comparing her stats to Zoe Harrison , she has ...

In a few hours the first Rugby World Cup Quarter Final of the weekend will kick off between the Black Ferns and South Africa. Is this the best Women’s World Cup ever? The standard has definitely been high and while its closing slowly, the gap between the emerging nations and the four established ones is narrowing.  This has been helped with many players from across the world playing in strengthening domestic leagues in France and England, but the general ‘discovery’ of the new kids on the block in the likes of South Africa and the US has laid the foundations for the next nation to emerge. QF 1 - New Zealand v South Africa South Africa have probably been my favourite team of the World Cup. From the iconic scene of them emptying their bench in their first game to the colour and vibrancy they bring off the pitch, has made them the favourite of many neutrals. They also have power and pace – similar to England – and a young squad that will develop over time. Symbolised around the power...

The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicked off last night with a thumping 69-7 win for England against the USA. But who are the players to watch over the next few weeks? We look at some familiar and not so  familiar names. Meg Jones | England | Ealing Trailfinders | Centre Meg Jones is the first of two England players on this list. England’s Vice Captain could have played for Wales (sob) but turns out for the Red Roses. She is the complete player and a nightmare centre to play against. Jones has pace, can tackle, has flair, can kick and is central to England’s attacking threat. Expect to her to get on the outside shoulder of Asda players and put in some huge tackles in the process. Maud Muir | England | Gloucester Hartpury | Prop Ok there are two England players on this list, but I genuinely could not choose between Muir and Jones, so hear me out. At only twenty-four, Muir has played forty-three times for England. Muir started her rugby as a back rower, with her mobility around the park a ...

Tomorrow’s second test at the MCG in Melbourne is the crucial game of the series. Lose and Australian rugby will find itself at yet another nadir, giving the Lions the chance of a whitewash. Win, and they live to fight another day in Sydney. Here I break down how the Australia can beat the Lions tomorrow, where they need to target and the intangibles that could get them over the line in front of 90,000 spectators. Be more physical A South African friend once told me that while playing in a schoolboy game, they were being physically outmatched by the opposition. He recounted that at half time the coach’s only words to the team were ‘Be more f****** physical eh!’ In the second half they turned up and made the game a contest. The Australians need to do the same on Saturday. Last weekend the Lions’ sheer power won the game in the first 20 minutes. At back row, Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne showed why Farrell had shown faith in them almost instantly, combining well with the former ...