Matt Williams: Rugby’s grassroots begin a fight back for the game’s soul Queensland games to experiment with the badly needed law changes proposed by united Super Rugby coachesSat Oct 08 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Graham Rowntree must manage expectations at Munster, a long-term approach is vitalGraham Rowntree faces several challenges in his new role with Munster, including managing expectationsSat Oct 01 2022 - 10:00
Rugby’s referees have become detached from the spirit of the game We should be watching our great players in action, but instead we’re consumed by referees’ inexplicable decisionsSat Sept 24 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland should plan to be like New Zealand, or fail to plan and end up like AustraliaFollowing failed decision making and disastrous leadership, Australian rugby continues to fight for its existenceSat Sept 17 2022 - 09:00
Matt Williams: I tweeted about South Africa’s style of play. Then came the abuseSpringboks’ lack of ball carrying is not because of a lack of talent. It is a tactical decision that ruins the spectacleSat Sept 10 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Nic White’s dive does not justify horrific online abuseWallaby scrumhalf made an error of judgment against the Springboks and there are many lessons to be learned from that incidentFri Sept 02 2022 - 12:00
Matt Williams: Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby coaches showing signs of productive engagementIf the Kiwi leadership can reach out across the ‘Ditch’ that is the Tasman Sea, the long-term future of Super Rugby in the south can be securedSat Aug 27 2022 - 07:00
Matt Williams: A tragic end to a life of substantial sporting achievementPaul Green scaled the heights of sporting success both as player and coach but in the tragic end it was not enoughSat Aug 20 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Dangerous tactics will continue until we start to hit coaches where it hurtsRushing the defence and contesting high cross-field kicks should be prohibited to create a safer gameSat Aug 13 2022 - 05:00
Matt Williams: The story of Australian rugby’s decline, recovery and what’s nextLike Australian forests after a bush fire, miraculously Australian rugby has began to regrowSat Aug 06 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: South Africans plan an ambush to heap more woe on wounded All Blacks New Zealand Rugby and its team find themselves isolated and boxed into a corner created by their own self-serving actionsSun Jul 31 2022 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Ireland’s sexy running game sidelines the great New Zealand Green machine triumphed by ‘playing exciting, sexy, smart, uniquely Irish, running rugby’Sat Jul 23 2022 - 10:00
Matt Williams: Whatever happens in Wellington, this is Ireland’s most successful tourThe win in Dunedin saw the momentum swing from ancient champion to upstart contenderFri Jul 15 2022 - 12:00
Matt Williams: Irish side must find way to play best rugby of their lives if New Zealand are to be beatenIreland must ensure no rerun of cardinal first Test error — that defensive line is manipulatedFri Jul 08 2022 - 00:01
Matt Williams: Overreaction to Joe Schmidt news shows Ireland’s national inferiority complex New Zealanders believe victory at Eden park is guaranteed, this is where Ireland’s great opportunity has its genesisFri Jul 01 2022 - 13:00
Matt Williams: Ireland’s running game and physicality can unsettle New ZealandThe All Blacks are filthy, dirty and angry at Ireland for beating them in Dublin last NovemberSat Jun 25 2022 - 10:00
Matt Williams: La Rochelle and Leinster pay the price of victory and defeatLa Rochelle and Leinster were left emotionally busted by their very different experiences in a memorable Champions Cup finalSat Jun 18 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ronan O’Gara the lucky general as global club rugby enters Jurassic periodAuckland and Leinster are the teams to beat and All Blacks and Ireland will be playing like themSat Jun 11 2022 - 09:00
Matt Williams: Leinster left to rue the tiny margins that went against themLeo Cullen’s men were within 72 seconds of European glory; expect them to be there or thereabouts again next seasonSat Jun 04 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Leinster’s running game key to Champions Cup final hopesFrench contenders are the underdog, but to lift trophy it will be necessary to slow the men in blue downSat May 28 2022 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Who would be a coach? You would have to be madAs we say in Australia, you have to have a few roos loose in the top paddock take on jobSat May 21 2022 - 10:00
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 07 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 09 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 02 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 05 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 05 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 08 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 01 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 04 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 06 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
