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Matt Williams: England have lost their moral compass under Eddie Jones

Matt Williams: England have lost their moral compass under Eddie Jones

Time for World Rugby to finally take serious action and put an end to flood of foul play

Sat Mar 14 2020 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Rugby must not suck on the poison of Pay TV

Matt Williams: Rugby must not suck on the poison of Pay TV

Australian rugby went behind a paywall 25 years ago, and is now reaping the whirlwind

Sat Mar 07 2020 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Like on my Ryanair flight, Ireland were suffocated by England

Matt Williams: Like on my Ryanair flight, Ireland were suffocated by England

This Ireland side hasn’t progressed in a year and I’m unconvinced they can change

Sat Feb 29 2020 - 05:30
Matt Williams: Ireland will need to step up on Wales display to prevail at Twickers

Matt Williams: Ireland will need to step up on Wales display to prevail at Twickers

Winning away is never easy and World Cup runners-up will relish home advantage

Sat Feb 22 2020 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland must keep feeding the good wolf inside their heads

Matt Williams: Ireland must keep feeding the good wolf inside their heads

The positivity and self-belief is beginning to come back – but it needs to be nurtured

Sat Feb 15 2020 - 06:00
Matt Williams: I am prepared to give Andy Farrell time but the early signs are not positive

Matt Williams: I am prepared to give Andy Farrell time but the early signs are not positive

If Ireland perform at the same level as last week, the Welsh will return to Cardiff with a winning bonus point

Fri Feb 07 2020 - 12:13
Matt Williams: There will be nothing new in how Ireland will dominate Scotland

Matt Williams: There will be nothing new in how Ireland will dominate Scotland

Andy Farrell knows tight-five domination will lay platform for more expansive game

Sat Feb 01 2020 - 13:52
Matt Williams: Expect the unexpected in rugby’s greatest tournament

Matt Williams: Expect the unexpected in rugby’s greatest tournament

With new coaches at Ireland, France, Italy and Wales, the winner will be hard to predict

Fri Jan 24 2020 - 16:00
Matt Williams: No easy way to earn your spurs as a top coach

Matt Williams: No easy way to earn your spurs as a top coach

The coaching fable of master coach and ‘Grasshopper’ conveys a universal truth

Fri Jan 17 2020 - 07:01
Matt Williams: Entitled young athletes could learn from attitude of Irish provinces

Matt Williams: Entitled young athletes could learn from attitude of Irish provinces

Encounter in Sydney coffee shop recently got me thinking about key to success

Fri Jan 10 2020 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Scale of the catastrophe in Australia is like nothing I have ever seen

Matt Williams: Scale of the catastrophe in Australia is like nothing I have ever seen

Death, destruction and polluted air the byproducts of unprecedented bushfires

Fri Jan 03 2020 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Surf, drought and Irish traditions at Christmas in Australia

Matt Williams: Surf, drought and Irish traditions at Christmas in Australia

Sydney Letter: While fires burn inside Irish homes, in Australia they are raging outside

Mon Dec 23 2019 - 17:00
Matt Williams: Beautiful obsession starts with children falling in love with the game

Matt Williams: Beautiful obsession starts with children falling in love with the game

As a boy in Sydney my hot Christmas morning had a strange ritual – rugby practice

Fri Dec 20 2019 - 06:34
Matt Williams: An open letter to Ross Byrne and Conor Murray

Matt Williams: An open letter to Ross Byrne and Conor Murray

With minor tweaks to their game, the pair can be Ireland’s halfbacks for the Six Nations

Fri Dec 13 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: intriguing European tests for Leinster and Munster

Matt Williams: intriguing European tests for Leinster and Munster

Franklins Gardens is always a tough trip and Saracens could be fully locked and loaded

Fri Dec 06 2019 - 07:36
Matt Williams: Where has all the creativity gone in rugby coaching?

Matt Williams: Where has all the creativity gone in rugby coaching?

Precious little original thinking apparent as coaches embrace the herd mentality

Fri Nov 29 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Champions Cup awash with sheep, wolves and crass jerseys

Matt Williams: Champions Cup awash with sheep, wolves and crass jerseys

Irish provinces must beware of the Champions Cup wolves disguised as sheep

Fri Nov 22 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Leinster are like Keyser Söze, in command of all Europe

Matt Williams: Leinster are like Keyser Söze, in command of all Europe

Blues in box seat with Sarries’ troubles set to exclude them from usual suspects for glory

Fri Nov 15 2019 - 06:30
Matt Williams: National coaching plan must address recurrent World Cup failure

Matt Williams: National coaching plan must address recurrent World Cup failure

Farrell needs to be brave and embrace what is a daunting challenge

Fri Nov 08 2019 - 07:10
Matt Williams: First Rugby World Cup in Asia has been an outstanding success

Matt Williams: First Rugby World Cup in Asia has been an outstanding success

New Zealand’s character revealed by their exemplary sportsmanship after defeat

Fri Nov 01 2019 - 19:05
Matt Williams: Eddie Jones’ masterclass a sight to behold

Matt Williams: Eddie Jones’ masterclass a sight to behold

England coach is in total control of his environment and having fun in doing so

Fri Oct 25 2019 - 12:31
Matt Williams: All Blacks about to blow Ireland’s house down

Matt Williams: All Blacks about to blow Ireland’s house down

Schmidt’s side are blunt in attack but New Zealand could fall foul of new tackle laws

Fri Oct 18 2019 - 15:11
Matt Williams: Rugby falls foul of poor lawmaking, to the delight of jealous hordes

Matt Williams: Rugby falls foul of poor lawmaking, to the delight of jealous hordes

The terrible refereeing at World Cup will hopefully lead to an officiating overhaul

Sat Oct 12 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Ireland’s Japan defeat a victory for rugby

Matt Williams: Ireland’s Japan defeat a victory for rugby

Ireland’s attacking philosophy is outdated as they fail to evolve from the highs of 2018

Sat Oct 05 2019 - 08:30
Matt Williams: If the Wallabies fail, rugby in Australia will fail

Matt Williams: If the Wallabies fail, rugby in Australia will fail

Across the globe rugby is booming however in Australia the game is in decline

Sat Sept 28 2019 - 07:01
Matt Williams: Momentum is king when it comes to Ireland’s World Cup ambitions

Matt Williams: Momentum is king when it comes to Ireland’s World Cup ambitions

One strong 80-minute performance can put Joe Schmidt’s men back on track

Sat Sept 21 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: New Zealand's cynical play must be punished at World Cup

Matt Williams: New Zealand's cynical play must be punished at World Cup

With the world watching, I hope our officials have the courage to punish all cynical play

Sat Sept 14 2019 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Residency rule endangers credibility of international game

Matt Williams: Residency rule endangers credibility of international game

World Rugby complicit in allowing the game to be debased and vulnerable players exploited

Sat Sept 07 2019 - 06:05
Matt Williams: Getting rid of Devin Toner beggars belief

Matt Williams: Getting rid of Devin Toner beggars belief

His ability to call and manage the set piece should have been an integral part of Ireland’s game plan

Tue Sept 03 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Rediscovering physicality and aggression must be Ireland’s priority

Matt Williams: Rediscovering physicality and aggression must be Ireland’s priority

Joe Schmidt’s men have to lay down a serious marker against Wales in Cardiff

Sat Aug 31 2019 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Irish plan dictates that there is no ‘peak’ for the English match

Matt Williams: Irish plan dictates that there is no ‘peak’ for the English match

We need to see if Ireland have changed their attacking plan to nullify England

Sat Aug 24 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: How Australia went back to the future to show New Zealand fallibility

Matt Williams: How Australia went back to the future to show New Zealand fallibility

Gainline theory has been knocking around for 90 years, but done right it’s still mighty effective

Fri Aug 16 2019 - 19:00
Matt Williams: Warm-ups vital for Ireland to recover form and confidence

Matt Williams: Warm-ups vital for Ireland to recover form and confidence

Ireland need another playmaker: opposition know if you can stop Sexton, you stop Ireland

Sat Aug 10 2019 - 05:00
Matt Williams: Leinster can look to Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle for victory template

Matt Williams: Leinster can look to Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle for victory template

Province must frustrate Glasgow and land punches when opportunities arise

Fri May 24 2019 - 07:07
Matt Williams: Leinster and Munster is a battle of pride after European heartbreak

Matt Williams: Leinster and Munster is a battle of pride after European heartbreak

Pro14 semi-final winner can move on from crushing Saracens Champions Cup losses

Fri May 17 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Leinster need massive physicality to beat Saracens

Matt Williams: Leinster need massive physicality to beat Saracens

Champions Cup final: Leinster standard in Toulouse win won’t cut it against Saracens

Fri May 10 2019 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Why does rugby defy mathematical logic?

Matt Williams: Why does rugby defy mathematical logic?

From team lists to six teams in quarter-finals, the rugby numbers game is too complicated

Fri May 03 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Rugby snared answering hate with hate

Matt Williams: Rugby snared answering hate with hate

Folau and Vunipola do not represent community’s views but abusing them no use

Fri Apr 26 2019 - 06:30
Matt Williams: Irish rugby clubs are in an unsustainable mess

Matt Williams: Irish rugby clubs are in an unsustainable mess

Pressing need to strengthen ties between four provinces and their AIL clubs

Fri Apr 19 2019 - 06:39
Matt Williams: Ireland finally up to speed with World Rugby Sevens

Matt Williams: Ireland finally up to speed with World Rugby Sevens

After years of neglect, our men’s and women’s teams now ready to compete at the top flight

Fri Apr 12 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Time to outlaw the cheats and save our game

Matt Williams: Time to outlaw the cheats and save our game

Space and creativity are being squeezed out of rugby as offside rules are blithely ignored

Fri Apr 05 2019 - 05:45
Matt Williams: Irish teams must follow golden rules of knock-out rugby

Matt Williams: Irish teams must follow golden rules of knock-out rugby

Champions Cup quarter-finals likely to be decided by defences and who makes fewest mistakes

Fri Mar 29 2019 - 05:30
Matt Williams: Ireland need to win at all costs

Matt Williams: Ireland need to win at all costs

Result of Six Nations decider in Wales could set course for team’s chances at World Cup

Sat Mar 16 2019 - 04:00
Matt Williams: There is still hope for French rugby to return to glory

Matt Williams: There is still hope for French rugby to return to glory

The French team is on an upward curve, but the rich seam of local talent must be mined

Sat Mar 09 2019 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Lack of leadership is the reason for Ireland’s on-field crisis

Matt Williams: Lack of leadership is the reason for Ireland’s on-field crisis

Schmidt’s exit and the slump in form of Sexton, Murray and Best has changed something

Fri Mar 01 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: The numbers are not adding up for Ireland’s attack

Matt Williams: The numbers are not adding up for Ireland’s attack

Ireland must utilise the attacking kick to play the game in their opponents’ half

Sat Feb 23 2019 - 06:00
Matt Williams: Scotland will test the mental strength of a wounded team

Matt Williams: Scotland will test the mental strength of a wounded team

Against England we saw that the Irish attack is not designed to chase down a lead

Sat Feb 09 2019 - 07:00
Matt Williams: Improving England a dangerous proposition but Ireland should prevail

Matt Williams: Improving England a dangerous proposition but Ireland should prevail

Victors will have a massive psychological advantage going into the World Cup

Sat Feb 02 2019 - 06:30
Matt Williams: New Zealand myth shattered forever

Matt Williams: New Zealand myth shattered forever

Winning the World Cup is not just a dream, it can become a reality

Fri Nov 23 2018 - 20:30
Matt Williams: New Zealand are in Dublin to crush a Celtic uprising

Matt Williams: New Zealand are in Dublin to crush a Celtic uprising

Kiwis want to wipe the memory of Ireland’s win in Chicago from the face of the earth

Sat Nov 17 2018 - 07:58
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