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South Wales Argus
23-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Andy Goode says Fin Smith can win the day in Champions Cup
The Northampton Saints, England and now British & Irish Lions No.10 will be going head-to-head with one of the most exciting fly-halves on the planet in Bordeaux-Bègles star Jalibert in a match which will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. It will be their first meeting since the Guinness Six Nations, when Smith earned Player of the Match honours at Allianz Stadium in his first Test start as England got the better of eventual champions France. Goode will get the perfect spot to judge the battle between Smith and Jalibert in the Principality Stadium, as he is part of the 15-strong Premier Sports TV punditry team delivering the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup for Premier Sports, the new broadcasters of international club rugby's premier competitions. And Goode, a two-time Champions Cup-winning fly-half in his playing days, believes that Smith's vision and ability not to make mistakes could prove crucial as Saints look to follow up their stunning semi-final victory over Leinster by downing their French opponents in Cardiff. 'Man for man, I'd probably take Fin Smith. Jalibert is a wonderful player, he's got game-changing ability, he can turn a situation from his own 22 into a try-scoring opportunity at the other end,' said Goode. 'His highlights reel might be more entertaining on Instagram than Fin Smith, but for an appreciation of a rugby player, I'd back Fin Smith every time. 'Some players, we look at highlight clips and X-factor. You look at pace and footwork, and handling ability, offloading game and all that sort of stuff. But sometimes quickness of the brain is just as important. I talk about my own game, I didn't have any pace but as a 10, you find ways to be a difference maker. 'Fin Smith's quickness of thought and understanding of the game is something that stands him out above a lot of other players. His short kicking game is world class and that is part of the quickness of thought. Sometimes it's not all about the flash and making the line breaks, sometimes it's analysing the defence and seeing where there is an opportunity and acting upon it. 'Fin Smith has got every part of his game that you want without looking at a Jalibert, who can make breaks from 50 yards out, he's got great pace and great footwork. But he can be prone to the odd error here or there, which Fin Smith hasn't really got in his game. 'It's a mercurial fly-half in Jalibert coming up against a really classy, all-round fly-half in Fin Smith, who kicks well, tackles well, does the basics really well, has great vision. He wouldn't necessarily be someone that you would look at as a fly-half who is going to make scintillating breaks, but what he does is make holes for those around him, which works really well as a 10 in that Northampton.' Saints come into the game seeking to win the competition for the first time in 25 years, while Bordeaux have never reached the final before. One man who is familiar with this stage is Saints attack coach Sam Vesty, who reached two finals in his playing days with Leicester Tigers. And Goode believes his former teammate is one of the secret weapons that has allowed Northampton to reach this point. He added: 'I played with Sam a lot, he's a good mate of mine. His coaching rise has been remarkable really. He was at Worcester and then has moved to Northampton. He's done England bits as well, across the board he's one of the most highly thought of young coaches in the game now. 'He's a brilliant bloke and you hear how the Saints players react to him, in terms of wanting to try stuff. He encourages stuff and says mistakes will happen but they don't matter as long as you try to improve yourself. 'It shows with how they play and the skill level across the board of Saints boys, it's really stepped up over the last couple of years and Sam has been integral to that. 'He's always been an intelligent rugby player. He would probably say it himself, as a player, he probably wasn't blessed with speed or an X-factor in terms of beating players. But he certainly had an X-factor in terms of rugby IQ and knowledge and his brain in how to set up a team to find weaknesses in defence. 'He was really astute in that, whether he played 10, 12 or 15. His nickname was 'Square Wheels' at Leicester, amongst other things. He was such an integral player and you could tell he was going to be a coach of some decent level just because of his rugby brain.' Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup with 80 games live throughout the competition including this weekend's Finals on 23 and 24 May live from Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Visit: to sign-up for all the action from URC, Top 14, MLR, Japan League One and EPCR rugby at just £11.99 per month.
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Andy Goode says Fin Smith can win the day in Champions Cup
It will be their first meeting since the Guinness Six Nations, when Smith earned Player of the Match honours at Allianz Stadium in his first Test start as England got the better of eventual champions France. Goode will get the perfect spot to judge the battle between Smith and Jalibert in the Principality Stadium, as he is part of the 15-strong Premier Sports TV punditry team delivering the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup for Premier Sports, the new broadcasters of international club rugby's premier competitions. And Goode, a two-time Champions Cup-winning fly-half in his playing days, believes that Smith's vision and ability not to make mistakes could prove crucial as Saints look to follow up their stunning semi-final victory over Leinster by downing their French opponents in Cardiff. 'Man for man, I'd probably take Fin Smith. Jalibert is a wonderful player, he's got game-changing ability, he can turn a situation from his own 22 into a try-scoring opportunity at the other end,' said Goode. 'His highlights reel might be more entertaining on Instagram than Fin Smith, but for an appreciation of a rugby player, I'd back Fin Smith every time. 'Some players, we look at highlight clips and X-factor. You look at pace and footwork, and handling ability, offloading game and all that sort of stuff. But sometimes quickness of the brain is just as important. I talk about my own game, I didn't have any pace but as a 10, you find ways to be a difference maker. 'Fin Smith's quickness of thought and understanding of the game is something that stands him out above a lot of other players. His short kicking game is world class and that is part of the quickness of thought. Sometimes it's not all about the flash and making the line breaks, sometimes it's analysing the defence and seeing where there is an opportunity and acting upon it. 'Fin Smith has got every part of his game that you want without looking at a Jalibert, who can make breaks from 50 yards out, he's got great pace and great footwork. But he can be prone to the odd error here or there, which Fin Smith hasn't really got in his game. 'It's a mercurial fly-half in Jalibert coming up against a really classy, all-round fly-half in Fin Smith, who kicks well, tackles well, does the basics really well, has great vision. He wouldn't necessarily be someone that you would look at as a fly-half who is going to make scintillating breaks, but what he does is make holes for those around him, which works really well as a 10 in that Northampton.' Saints come into the game seeking to win the competition for the first time in 25 years, while Bordeaux have never reached the final before. One man who is familiar with this stage is Saints attack coach Sam Vesty, who reached two finals in his playing days with Leicester Tigers. And Goode believes his former teammate is one of the secret weapons that has allowed Northampton to reach this point. He added: 'I played with Sam a lot, he's a good mate of mine. His coaching rise has been remarkable really. He was at Worcester and then has moved to Northampton. He's done England bits as well, across the board he's one of the most highly thought of young coaches in the game now. 'He's a brilliant bloke and you hear how the Saints players react to him, in terms of wanting to try stuff. He encourages stuff and says mistakes will happen but they don't matter as long as you try to improve yourself. 'It shows with how they play and the skill level across the board of Saints boys, it's really stepped up over the last couple of years and Sam has been integral to that. 'He's always been an intelligent rugby player. He would probably say it himself, as a player, he probably wasn't blessed with speed or an X-factor in terms of beating players. But he certainly had an X-factor in terms of rugby IQ and knowledge and his brain in how to set up a team to find weaknesses in defence. 'He was really astute in that, whether he played 10, 12 or 15. His nickname was 'Square Wheels' at Leicester, amongst other things. He was such an integral player and you could tell he was going to be a coach of some decent level just because of his rugby brain.' Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup with 80 games live throughout the competition including this weekend's Finals on 23 and 24 May live from Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Visit: to sign-up for all the action from URC, Top 14, MLR, Japan League One and EPCR rugby at just £11.99 per month.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Champions France to host Ireland in opening match of truncated 2026 Six Nations
France's home fixture against Ireland will launch the 2026 Guinness Six Nations with the shortened tournament unfolding over just six weeks and opening on a Thursday for the first time. The clash between Antoine Dupont's champions and one of their main rivals for the title takes place on February 5, most likely at the Stade de France pending the conclusion of negotiations with the French Rugby Federation (FFR). The schedule for the 2026 Six Nations is the first to feature only one fallow week rather than the customary two. 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🗓️🏆#GuinnessM6N — Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) May 19, 2025 First announced in 2023, the removal of one break week is to assist with the alignment of the new global rugby calendar. The first three rounds will be played on consecutive weekends, there will be no games on Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1, before the competition closes with back-to-back matches. In another significant break with tradition, the Six Nations starts on a Thursday evening rather than the customary Friday or Saturday slots to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on February 6. England finished runners-up this year and their bid to go one better will begin against Wales at Allianz Stadium on February 7. They face a Valentine's Day appointment with Scotland at Murrayfield, collide with Ireland at home on February 21 and finish with away trips to Italy and France, with 'Le Crunch' closing out Super Saturday on March 14. All Six Nations matches will be shown free to air after a new rights deal lasting until 2029 was struck with ITV and BBC in March.
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Former Scotland and Lions great diagnosed with prostate cancer
78 y/o rugby icon undergoes radiotheraphy Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan has urged rugby players and all younger men to get themselves tested after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 78-year-old, who is currently consultant director of rugby at Doncaster, led Scotland to the Five Nations Grand Slam in 1990 and oversaw series victories as the Lions boss in 1989 and 1997. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leeds-born McGeechan told the Telegraph: 'I have prostate cancer. I have just completed a six-week course of radiotherapy. Sir Ian McGeechan during a Guinness Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, on February 04, 2023, in London, England. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I feel alright, really, just a bit more tired. I always sleep well anyway so it has probably just added to it. I have to wait six weeks then have scans and a review of how effective the treatment has been. 'I have told the players here (at Doncaster) before the treatment started because there would be times when I would not be around for meetings or on the training field with them. The players have asked me how it is going and have been very good. 'I don't want to make a big thing of it, but it is important to get the message out about urging people to go and get tested. I said that to our players here. I said to them that they make sure they get themselves tested. If you are younger, it is more important. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'When I had my last treatment, from the receptionist to the radiographer, they all said, 'Well done, good luck, have a happy time'. Everyone. That support and the environment is so positive. What will be, will be.'
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Former Scotland and Lions great diagnosed with prostate cancer
78 y/o rugby icon undergoes radiotheraphy Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan has urged rugby players and all younger men to get themselves tested after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 78-year-old, who is currently consultant director of rugby at Doncaster, led Scotland to the Five Nations Grand Slam in 1990 and oversaw series victories as the Lions boss in 1989 and 1997. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leeds-born McGeechan told the Telegraph: 'I have prostate cancer. I have just completed a six-week course of radiotherapy. Sir Ian McGeechan during a Guinness Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, on February 04, 2023, in London, England. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I feel alright, really, just a bit more tired. I always sleep well anyway so it has probably just added to it. I have to wait six weeks then have scans and a review of how effective the treatment has been. 'I have told the players here (at Doncaster) before the treatment started because there would be times when I would not be around for meetings or on the training field with them. The players have asked me how it is going and have been very good. 'I don't want to make a big thing of it, but it is important to get the message out about urging people to go and get tested. I said that to our players here. I said to them that they make sure they get themselves tested. If you are younger, it is more important. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'When I had my last treatment, from the receptionist to the radiographer, they all said, 'Well done, good luck, have a happy time'. Everyone. That support and the environment is so positive. What will be, will be.'
