Rugby Union Today: Dallaglio discusses England form
ITV Sport commentator Lawrence Dallaglio during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final match at Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan.
Another busy day in the rugby union game as Lawrence Dallaglio spoke to Planet Rugby about England’s recent Autumn Nations Cup campaign.
What’s on the site
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio says that he can understand the frustration surrounding the current team. The Red Rose won the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup but there has been criticism over their style of play.
Elsewhere, the discussion continued over the recent story about dementia in rugby. A doctor had his say, while Alix Popham talked about his heartbreaking diagnosis and the lawyer representing the players suing the sport’s authorities says that rugby risks a dementia ‘epidemic.’
Finally, Sale Sharks’ interim head coach Paul Deacon admits that he and some members of the squad felt ‘numb’ after learning that Steve Diamond had departed the club.
What’s in the news
Bristol are going to complain to World Rugby after Semi Radradra was injured while playing for Fiji in the Autumn Nations Cup. Boss Pat Lam was unhappy that the centre played the whole 80 minutes against Georgia, despite suffering a leg issue in the opening stages.
Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Stuart Townsend has been handed a five-week ban for dangerous play at a ruck. Andre Esterhuizen has also been suspended for his red card against Gloucester on Sunday.
What’s on social media
There was an interesting thread from former Saracens and Springboks second-row Alistair Hargreaves, who was forced to retire from the game due to concussion.
1. This is a highly emotive subject and although I would never seek to diminish anyone’s experience: context is key. I believe each case is different and that dealing with this in broad strokes is not the right way to go about it.
— Alistair Hargreaves (@Al_Hargreaves) December 9, 2020
What’s on TV
After the Autumn Nations Cup action, the focus turns to European matters and the start of the Champions Cup pool stages. The matches will be shown on BT Sport, with Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Begles kicking things off at Franklin’s Gardens this Friday.
Meanwhile, with the seasons in New Zealand and Australia over following the denouement of the Tri Nations, the attention has switched to South Africa where the Currie Cup continues on Sky Sports. That begins on Friday with Western Province versus the Pumas.