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
Matt Williams: Australians approach the game with a different mindsetSix Nations drama largely exists outside Australian paradigmThu Feb 05 2015 - 09:04
Best chance for Ireland to beat WallabiesAustralia’s lack of game management may see Joe Schmidt’s side homeSat Nov 22 2014 - 08:00
Looking back on a time when rugby was dangerous and sex was safeReaction to win against Springboks a little over the top considering how poor Irish attack wasSun Nov 16 2014 - 07:00
Much more to the Springboks than ‘heads down, bums up, straight ahead’Matt Williams believes Heyneke Meyer has added flair to physicality and it is a masterstrokeSat Nov 08 2014 - 09:00
If Ireland can maintain their consistency, glory beckons in ParisFrench rugby not in a great current state but one lapse in concentration and they remain capable of stealing a matchSat Mar 15 2014 - 09:00
Ireland must take the fight to where the men in white want it leastThe Irish scrum has been superb thus far and must attack the English set-piece with real venomSat Feb 22 2014 - 07:00
Tactical savvy key to Irish hopesHome side must display character and true grit if they are to slay this impressive dragonSat Feb 08 2014 - 09:00
If Joe Schmidt can get the consistent Ireland to show up this could be the start of something specialNow is the time to end the team’s swings from excellence to mediocritySat Feb 01 2014 - 09:00
Unimpressive Ireland gazing into the abyss – and the abyss is All BlackIf the Irish pack are the same soft proposition in tomorrow’s game, they will be torn apartSat Nov 23 2013 - 12:01
The grassroots Down Under are in urgent need of some nourishmentAustralia may beat Ireland but their big task is saving the game at homeSat Nov 16 2013 - 09:00
It will be a learning process for Schmidt but Ireland’s problems run deeperThe new coach can’t expect to produce a magic bullet straight awaySat Nov 09 2013 - 12:00
Lions rewarded for what they have brought to Australian rugbyTour has been an outstanding success in every wayMon Jul 08 2013 - 09:00