Person: Scott Spedding

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Leinster face old European royalty as Munster pitted against France’s finest

Rugby’s Champions Cup draw has always had a tendency to slip under the radar and the absence of anything that could be confidently construed as the definitive ‘pool of death’ won’t have done anything to bump the latest edition up the list of sports news headlines.

rugby

Late penalty gives Clermont win over Saracens

rugby

Saracens suffer record defeat to Clermont 26 hours after match is postponed

rugby

Jono Gibbes praying Clermont can lay cup ‘curse’ to rest

rugby

Tributes no use to Leinster

Super Johnny Sexton shows why he’s Joe Schmidt’s man

Raphael Lakafia and Racing pair boost French squad

France have called up Stade Français back-row Raphael Lakafia to replace Damien Chouly ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland.

Tue, 21 Feb, 2017

Joe Schmidt expects remaining Six Nations battles to go down to the wire

The medical update from the Scotland squad following their battle with France on Sunday will have given Ireland’s management plenty of pause for thought as they look ahead to their next Six Nations encounter in 11 days.

Tue, 14 Feb, 2017

Finn Russell rues luck as Scotland fall to France's fightback

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter could not explain what went wrong with Finn Russell’s bizarre missed conversion after his side lost 22-16 to France in Paris.

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017

Ulster v ASM Clermont Auvergne - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5 Round 3

Ulster take the fight to Clermont

Ulster 39 Clermont 32: Ulster has enjoyed some spectacular victories in Europe but, surely, none can have matched this lunchtime encounter for excitement, unpredictability and high-class rugby.

Mon, 12 Dec, 2016

Peter Jackson: ‘Project’ players an unfair ploy

For a small town, Enniskillen has given birth to more than its share of international sportsmen, amongst them Olympic gold medal sprinter Robert Kerr, champion heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

Mon, 14 Mar, 2016

Ospreys v ASM Clermont Auvergne - European Champions Cup - Pool Two - Liberty Stadium

Supersub Sam Davies inspires stunning Ospreys fightback

Champions Cup - Ospreys 21 Clermont Auvergne 13: Substitute Sam Davies delivered a commanding performance as the Ospreys fought back superbly to floor French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne in stunning fashion at the Liberty Stadium.

Sat, 16 Jan, 2016

Scott Spedding: Both sides will start at zero

Unbeaten records, recent meetings: forget about them.

Sat, 10 Oct, 2015

Duncan Casey: The benefits of kicking away possession

We’re all familiar with it. That collective groan that surrounds you at a stadium or pub when Conor Murray launches another box kick into the sky.

Sat, 10 Oct, 2015

Ponderous French crack Canucks as Ireland loom

France 41 Canada 18: Another comfortable margin on the scoreboard for France, but doubts hang over Philippe Saint-Andre’s side ahead of their final Pool D encounter with Ireland on Sunday week after a workmanlike defeat of Canada in stadium:mk last night.

Fri, 02 Oct, 2015

Philippe Saint-Andre keeps stars on their toes

Pool D: France v Canada

Thu, 01 Oct, 2015

Frederic Michalak: ‘I was the only one who believed that I could be here’

France 32 Italy 10: There were just four minutes to go on Saturday night when Frederic Michalak’s number came up.

Mon, 21 Sep, 2015

French leave out Francois Trinh-Duc for Rugby World Cup squad

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

Mon, 24 Aug, 2015

France back on track

Italy 0 France 29

Mon, 16 Mar, 2015

France ring changes for 6 Nations clash

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made eight changes for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

Fri, 13 Mar, 2015

George North praises Welsh medical staff

France v Wales

Sat, 28 Feb, 2015

Bastareaud on the bench as Saint-Andre rings the changes

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relegated powerful centre Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

Thu, 26 Feb, 2015

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relegated powerful centre Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

Wed, 25 Feb, 2015

Size and scale of Ireland’s next challenge self-evident

After only two rounds of action, this year’s Six Nations championship has already taken on the appearance of a two-horse race — notwithstanding Wales’ right to dispute that.

Mon, 16 Feb, 2015

Rugby’s urge to ‘shake it off’ remains as strong as ever

Another weekend of bumper fare for the Six Nations.

Mon, 16 Feb, 2015

Ireland with nail-biting win over France

Ireland’s Championship and Grand Slam ambitions remain alive, but only just after Joe Schmidt’s side clung on to claim victory against France in their Six Nations meeting at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

Sat, 14 Feb, 2015

Mathieu Bastareaud will search for Johnny Sexton early and often

RBS Six Nations

Sat, 14 Feb, 2015

French panache a thing of the past

After France’s rather unimpressive, tryless win over Scotland, Philippe Saint-Andre was at pains to claim there is still flair in the team — but that concept is dead and buried, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Fri, 13 Feb, 2015

France announce team to face Ireland on Saturday

France have named their starting XV for the Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday evening.

Wed, 11 Feb, 2015

French wary of Johnny Sexton’s return to fold

A week ago it was the return to France of Vern Cotter that was taxing French minds ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland. 

Wed, 11 Feb, 2015

No flair but France prevail over Scotland

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

Mon, 09 Feb, 2015

Highland fling is worrying France

RBS Six Nations: France v Scotland: The start of a new Six Nations campaign is usually destined to throw Frenchmen of every age, shape and political persuasion into a tizzy. As former captain Fabien Pelous once said: "It is like the start of a new romance. You see a girl across the room, your eyes meet and you both know that everything is possible."

Sat, 07 Feb, 2015