Matt Williams: Scotland will test the mental strength of a wounded teamAgainst England we saw that the Irish attack is not designed to chase down a leadSat Feb 09 2019 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Improving England a dangerous proposition but Ireland should prevailVictors will have a massive psychological advantage going into the World CupSat Feb 02 2019 - 06:30
Matt Williams: New Zealand myth shattered foreverWinning the World Cup is not just a dream, it can become a realityFri Nov 23 2018 - 20:30
Matt Williams: New Zealand are in Dublin to crush a Celtic uprisingKiwis want to wipe the memory of Ireland’s win in Chicago from the face of the earthSat Nov 17 2018 - 07:58
Munster’s brave and faithful better have learnt some lessonsMatt Williams: Racing 92 defeat was the worst Munster performance I have witnessedSat May 19 2018 - 08:30
Matt Williams: Leinster deserve the ultimate praiseThe demons must be slayed. The last five years of European failure must be revengedSat May 12 2018 - 01:00
Matt Williams: Leinster have become masters of offloadingCullen’s men and opponents Scarlets boast brilliant attacks that can breach any defenceSat Apr 21 2018 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Only way to triumph at Thomond Park is to out-Munster MunsterToulon need to develop the type of team DNA that Munster and Leinster have achievedSat Mar 31 2018 - 06:00
Matt Williams: This generation of Ireland players can win the World CupThe ambition Ireland showed in sealing the Grand Slam can spur team to further glorySat Mar 24 2018 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Ireland have a rare and beautiful opportunityIreland can defeat an ancient foe in London on St Patrick’s Day after being labelled as scumSat Mar 17 2018 - 08:00
Matt Williams: Pack can ensure Irish victory but don’t underestimate ScotlandIf Ireland repeat their impressive possession stats it will set the platform for a home winSat Mar 10 2018 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Ireland relying on attack as best form of defenceEveryone in the Six Nations is playing running rugby but Ireland need to get their defence rightSat Mar 03 2018 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Chris Farrell needs to be a stinky Roquefort to Bundee Aki’s silky ShirazOutside centre is one of the toughest positions so Ireland need a smooth combinationSat Feb 24 2018 - 01:00
Matt Williams: Gendarme was right – Ireland stole win in ParisIreland will expect to convert ample possession into scores against struggling ItalySat Feb 10 2018 - 08:00
Matt Williams: This is the worst France team I have ever seenFrench rugby was a beacon, but with a lack of world-class players, the light has gone outSat Feb 03 2018 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland’s inconsistency stems from lack of trustIf Joe Schmidt’s team don’t improve, this powerful England side will demolish themSat Mar 18 2017 - 05:00
Matt Williams: Glorious singing of Welsh fans is powerful and intimidatingAt home, in the midst of song and passion, the red dragon is a very different animalFri Mar 10 2017 - 06:00
Matt Williams: What’s rare is wonderfulA Six Nations so exciting that I can scarcely believe it’s northern hemisphere rugbySat Mar 04 2017 - 10:00
Matt Williams: Dan Vickerman’s death highlights dangers of silenceEnding of a professional’s playing days can be a difficult transition that must be monitoredFri Feb 24 2017 - 15:00
Matt Williams: Chastened Ireland must focus on Italian jobIn Rome only a bonus point win will provide Ireland with the required outcomeSat Feb 11 2017 - 11:59
Matt Williams: Too much focus on game with England – Scots can’t be dismissedSix Nations promises to see a return to attacking rugby – and hallelujah for thatSat Feb 04 2017 - 08:01
Matt Williams: Australia’s old style leaves opposition in wakeIreland need to stop Wallabies’ traditional running game as Michael Cheika makes his markSat Nov 26 2016 - 05:00
Matt Williams: We will see Ireland’s worth against a pissed-off New Zealand teamKiwis seek revenge, hoping to inspire those back home affected by the earthquakeSat Nov 19 2016 - 10:00
Matt Williams: Schmidt’s return to attacking roots was joyous to beholdIreland’s obsessive kicking for territory and working for penalties is hopefully goneSat Nov 12 2016 - 09:00
Matt Williams: Long-term plan required to catch New ZealandIreland have all basic tools needed to challenge the best rugby nation but it will take timeSat Nov 05 2016 - 08:00
Matt Williams: Breathless Irish left to rue one that got awayJoe Schmidt has to lift weary team after blowing lifetime opportunity in JohannesburgMon Jun 20 2016 - 13:19
Matt Williams: Ireland’s green dynamos prove impossible is nothingDefence won game but signs of more expansive attack is the real cause for optimismMon Jun 13 2016 - 08:03
Matt Williams: Winning teams have two choices – evolve or dieIreland thrived for two seasons under Joe Schmidt but have stood still in this campaignSat Mar 19 2016 - 01:02
Matt Williams: Northern Hemisphere game has lost its lustreFurther decline looks inevitable unless there is a change of attitude and styleSat Mar 12 2016 - 07:15
Matt Williams: Home truths and convenient lies about Irish rugbyNobody wants to see Ireland score tries when they can see a variety of kicks being usedSat Feb 27 2016 - 10:48
Matt Williams: Joe Schmidt can make the most of lossWith proper evaluation losing games can benefit Ireland going forwardSat Feb 20 2016 - 07:00
Matt Williams: France will have set hearts on revengeLes Bleus attacking display against Italy last weekend does not bode well for IrelandSat Feb 13 2016 - 06:04
Matt Williams: Time for bowing at the altar of Joe Schmidt is overSix Nations has lost its international relevance as Southern Hemisphere loses interestSat Feb 06 2016 - 03:00
World Cup review: Blossoms set tone for feast of rugby‘Irish Times’ team looks back at an eventful tournament and pick their highs and lowsMon Nov 02 2015 - 12:56
Matt Williams: Wallaby win will save rugby in AustraliaAussies and Kiwis are the best of friends – but all affection vanishes on the field of playSat Oct 31 2015 - 08:30
Matt Williams: Ireland’s attacking system fails big test against one of the bestConstant box-kicking from the scrumhalf not going to trouble Southern Hemisphere teamsSat Oct 24 2015 - 07:45
Matt Williams: Argentina deserve huge credit for altering their attacking mindsetWithout changing to a running game, any hope of defeating the top nations was a follySat Oct 17 2015 - 04:00
Ireland’s conservative game plan will not be enough against the best teamsIt’s not unpatriotic to question the lack of a cutting edge in Joe Schmidt’s side’s attackSat Oct 10 2015 - 01:00
Matt Williams: Ireland and Italy share problem – the centres keep running in to peopleIreland can win the World Cup if the backs can start using their footwork and run straightSun Oct 04 2015 - 12:55
Matt Williams: Offloading game both effective and thrillingRugby league converts Williams, Folau and Burgess have been best exponents of skillSat Sept 26 2015 - 15:04
Matt Williams: Ireland may struggle to earn luck that winners always needJoe Schmidt has done a wonderful job but team are lacking creativity in midfieldSat Sept 19 2015 - 08:05
Matt Williams: New Zealand still the best, but not by muchNew Zealand are team in decline, while Springboks are sleeping giants of tournamentMon Sept 14 2015 - 04:00
Matt Williams: It’s time to reward rugby risk-takers with bonus pointsChange mindset from conservatism to entrepreneurial adventureMon Mar 23 2015 - 11:42
Lack of an attacking system continues to stymie Ireland’s ambitionJoe Schmidt needs to instil a solid attacking structure to win the really important gamesSat Mar 21 2015 - 08:58
Ireland will win playing Schmidt rugby as ‘Wazza ball’ won’t save WalesI want Ireland to win and be successful but I find their style of play uninspiringSat Mar 14 2015 - 12:01
Joe Schmidt’s ultra-conservative game plan may be working but it’s not good to watchThe laws are being manipulated so running rugby is penalised and a kicking game is rewardedMon Mar 09 2015 - 15:46
Ireland must adopt a more expansive game plan if they are to prevailEngland’s set-piece must be targeted and a high-tempo running game employedSat Feb 28 2015 - 05:45
Matt Williams: Balance needs to be restored to reward creative, positive rugbyIreland won ugly against France because the game’s laws favour that kind of negative playSat Feb 21 2015 - 09:00
Matt Williams: Scrum will be key and that should simply sadden usIreland should win with France a shadow of the great creative power they once wereFri Feb 13 2015 - 21:53
Ireland need to improve running game to avoid banana skin in RomeSeán O’Brien will help with the forwards’ ball carrying but he cannot be aloneSat Feb 07 2015 - 09:27
