Leinster will target a weakness in the Toulouse armoury, which is at outside centreRacing have successfully harnessed the unpredictability of their creative individuals and have produced some spectacular winsSat May 14 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Toulouse’s refusal to follow the mob paying dividendsFrench side have taken a leaf out of Leinster’s book by creating locally produced talentSat May 7 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: The cult of copy and paste coaching is flourishingOnly a handful of top teams rising above repetitive and predictable game plansSat Apr 30 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Here’s how rugby league can save shambles at scrum time in unionTsunami of scrum penalties creates a situation that discriminates against backline playSun Apr 24 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Blind luck if the eight best teams reach Champions Cup quartersPlenty of teams that under normal circumstances would be dumped out could qualifyFri Apr 15 2022 - 15:30
Matt Williams: Round of 16 destroys Champions Cup integrityEPCR bean-counters have facilitated a blatant cash grab that rewards unsuccessful clubsSat Apr 9 2022 - 01:00
Matt Williams: Ireland’s player supply chain is overly dependent on LeinsterCautionary tale of Australian rugby should be heard with trepidationSat Apr 2 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Italy’s youth programme being dismantled just as it bears fruitYears of graft from Ireland’s Stephen Aboud created a world class elite player pathwaySat Mar 26 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Twickenham momentum likely to yield Ireland Triple Crown gloryStrong running game of Andy Farrell’s side will pose challenges for inconsistent ScotlandFri Mar 18 2022 - 13:00
Matt Williams: Ireland’s strong running game can yield Twickenham triumphIreland can become a top-four team if they learn to perform on foreign soilFri Mar 11 2022 - 15:00
Matt Williams: Scrum turkeys won’t vote for Christmas and reform the lawOnly two teams benefit from the importance placed on scrums while the rest run the ballSat Mar 5 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Lack of any real plan could kill Ireland’s 2023 World Cup hopesShort-sighted strategy leaves Andy Farrell’s side trailing in wake of well-prepared rivalsSat Feb 26 2022 - 09:00
Matt Williams: Overlooked Joey Carbery deserves chance to realise his potentialOuthalf grew into his role in Paris where Ireland proved they are on the right pathSat Feb 19 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: France match at the mercy of the mischievous rugby godsAttack god has looked kindly on Andy Farrell on his path down rugby’s road to DamascusSat Feb 12 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Every great outhalf requires a proper consigliere to really shineThe role of the inside centre is letting the No 10 flourish is one of the game’s key combinationsSat Feb 5 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland are on the brink of something special - but they need a Plan BGain line theory has put Andy Farrell’s side in a good place - this time, can they deliver?Sat Jan 29 2022 - 08:00
Matt Williams: EPCR would do well to heed lesson of Super Rugby’s demiseRugby supporters don’t like their competitions tinkered with once they have grown to love themSat Jan 22 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Rugby should learn from the NFL and align the global gameIt’s time for all nations to sing from the same hymn sheet if the game is going to surviveSat Jan 15 2022 - 10:00
Matt Williams: Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water!Two close encounters with Great Whites had me spooked - but you can’t let the fear winSat Jan 8 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: If Ireland stick to new philosophy then a big 2022 awaitsAt long last there’s a clear pattern of play that comes from provinces into national teamSat Jan 1 2022 - 09:30
Matt Williams: A coffee with a mate made me realise how thankful I am for rugbyDespite everything going on in the world, life is still a beautiful thing to be savouredFri Dec 24 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland women can help enforce change by performing on the pitchIn the lead up to the Six Nations the players must separate themselves from IRFU politicsSat Dec 18 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Walk in the park brings back the joy of being part of a rugby teamThe wonderful life-affirming feeling of being part of a team, whatever size, never leaves youSat Dec 11 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Attacking teams bringing rugby out of the dark agesToo many laws reward negative sides who focus on penalties rather than ball in handSat Dec 4 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ryan Baird’s infectious belief can inspire Ireland to RWC successAs 2023 nears ‘if the truth be told, deep down in our hearts, we all want you to be right’Sat Nov 27 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland must learn from successful teams that beat the All BlacksLeinster philosophy ringing true as players developed in the province show skillsetSun Nov 21 2021 - 06:52
Matt Williams: Ireland must be perfect in every department to conquer All BlacksGreatest test in world rugby awaits and Ireland have a chance to prove themselvesSat Nov 13 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Japan’s rise owes a lot to Weary Dunlop’s rejection of cruelty and hateFormer Wallaby endured torture as a POW but then brought the countries togetherSat Nov 6 2021 - 08:00
Matt Williams: Confidence, momentum and belief are vital this NovemberIreland do not have enough quality playmakers on the pitch to match the All BlacksSat Oct 30 2021 - 07:00
Matt Williams: I'm ashamed I missed warning signs that Bressie needed my helpLikes of my former Leinster backrower and Keith Earls can be an inspiration to manySat Oct 23 2021 - 08:43
Matt Williams: Johann van Graan’s reign bearing sweet fruit at MunsterHis side are displaying a level of team skill that I haven’t witnessed in 25 years watching themSat Oct 16 2021 - 09:00
Matt Williams: World Rugby asleep at the wheel as game continues to driftOthers will fill the void if the governing body won’t deliver the reform rugby players and supporters alike demandSun Oct 10 2021 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Ireland must build on positive rugby of the provincesUlster, Munster and Connacht are all following Leinster’s lead in the way they playSat Oct 2 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Time for players to rediscover the lost art of the torpedo puntThe 50-22 law empowers attacking teams to exploit some of that crucial empty space to telling effectSun Sep 26 2021 - 08:00
Matt Williams: Wallabies win was one for the good guys in the battle for rugby’s soulSpringboks are butchering our beautiful game but running rugby is fighting backSat Sep 18 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Lions and Springboks have done rugby a grave disserviceThe rugby on offer has been ugly and the off the field behaviour uglier still in South AfricaSat Aug 7 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Rugby in desperate need of a major overhaul to its antiquated lawsFirst Lions Test the perfect example of the negative blight now ruining the gameSat Jul 31 2021 - 01:00
Matt Williams: Powerful managers alone will not save football from rampant thuggeryViolent ‘fans’ must be treated as the criminals they areSat Jul 17 2021 - 08:00
Matt Williams: We did not achieve our mission in boycotting apartheid South AfricaLions squad waiting in a biosecure bubble to play hosts raises some serious questionsSat Jul 3 2021 - 08:00
Matt Williams: Lions spin can’t simply gloss over Covid reality in South AfricaQuestions must be asked over the validity and morality of this tourSat Jun 19 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Johnny O’Hagan is a Leinster institution and a legendHago has faithfully prepared Leinster teams on every day the club has ever lifted a trophySat Jun 5 2021 - 09:30
Matt Williams: Ronan O’Gara’s intellect can unlock Toulouse’s few weaknessesBrilliantly-coached La Rochelle could cause another upset and win first Champions CupSat May 22 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Learning to flex your resilience muscle is a vital life lessonIf the other team win on the scoreboard that does not equate to failure for your teamSun May 9 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Rugby is getting in the way of its own successArcane laws and increasingly complex officiating need to be urgently addressedSat Apr 24 2021 - 01:00
Matt Williams: In the Champions Cup it’s use it or lose it, attack or perishFailure to develop skills means some sides are declining rapidly – proof is on the scoreboardsSat Apr 10 2021 - 08:30
Matt Williams: One win over England doesn’t mean Ireland’s problems are solvedThis was Ireland’s best performance since March 2018 - it needs to become habitualSat Mar 27 2021 - 07:00
Matt Williams: England beast is driven by a hunger for rugby’s ultimate prizeEddie Jones’s obsession with winning the World Cup puts his team into a different classSat Mar 20 2021 - 08:21
Matt Williams: Inadequate attacking plan costing Ireland dearlyCoaches must change tactics against Scots or a banquet of consequences is inevitableSat Mar 13 2021 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Offloading skill has been obliterated from this Ireland attackStrategies must be changed as Ireland aren’t getting the most out of talented backlineSat Feb 27 2021 - 07:00
Matt Williams: France leaving nothing to chance in quest for World Cup gloryFrench team that will run out in Dublin the product of a decade of planning primed to peak in 2023Sat Feb 13 2021 - 06:30
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