Independent.ie - Peter Bills RSS Feed

Peter Bills: New approach closing in on 'perfect game'

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The news this week that the northern hemisphere, like its southern hemisphere rivals, will have to learn to adapt to the new law interpretations in the 16 months leading up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, presents rugby in this part of the world with its greatest challenge for years.

Peter Bills: Resilient performance helps put Wilkinson and English in shade

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:56:35 +0000

HOW did Ireland handle Jonny Wilkinson at Twickenham on Saturday?

Adventurous Irish can banish 'vulnerable' England - Elsom

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Ireland could end up getting great benefit even out of so comprehensive a defeat as the Paris loss, ex-Leinster man Rocky Elsom said last night.

Peter Bills: Sanzar's new approach a welcome move

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The damage done to the image of southern hemisphere rugby by two scorelines from last weekend's Super 14 is incalculable.

Peter Bills: Inconsistent justice doing game no good

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The disciplinary hearing concerning Irish hooker Jerry Flannery in Dublin yesterday for his alleged kick on French wing Alexis Palisson during the Six Nations match in Paris last weekend put the spotlight firmly back on referees, rugby's courts and some of the judgements handed down in recent times.

Peter Bills: Bast's a bad boy who has made so good

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:42:40 +0000

He's a hulking 1.83m, 110 kgs brute and the bad boy of world rugby. He once catapulted his own country into a major diplomatic row with New Zealand after he'd lied to police in Wellington to cover up getting drunk.

Peter Bills: French idiotic to guillotine natural flair

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

In days gone by, France invested a particularly cruel punishment upon those who acted like control freaks, as Citizen Robespierre would doubtless testify.

Peter Bills: Italian fury at 'insult' after Magners League snub

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The Celtic League countries were last night accused of greed and insulting Italy after details finally emerged of the financial demands they made for the Italians to participate in the Magners League.

Peter Bills: French to get physical

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:40:05 +0000

Home comforts will be crucial for France says Peter Bills, as they base campaign on physical might

Peter Bills: Focused O'Driscoll remains cool as Slam talk hots up

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The belief that hallmarked Ireland's progress through 2009, their year of great rugby triumph, was underlined yesterday as Brian O'Driscoll willingly contemplated the holiest of Holy Grails.

Peter Bills: 'Boks schedule from hell to kill golden goose

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

What was that about killing the golden goose? Well, down in South Africa, the chiefs who run SA Rugby have the tired old bird stuffed, basted and ready for the oven. No thought there for the poor creature's suffering.

Peter Bills: Living in life's aftershocks

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

He knew the terror it foretold and understood that death was probably inevitable. But that wasn't the hardest part of the nightmare for Italian rugby man Marco Molina.

Peter Bills: Scrum in tight spot

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

THE drop-kick over the busy Boulevard Saint Germain in early afternoon might have been a touch madcap. Parisien shoppers stopped and gawped as loyal members of the Irish rugby supporters army weaved between cars, taxis and trucks in pursuit of the loose ball on the other side of the street.

Peter Bills: Coghlan and co embody true spirit of game

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Clattering boots on tarmac, the warm-up moves in the dressing-room; the scene is familiar but for one thing -- not a single cauliflower ear is in sight.

Peter Bills: Manawatu on cloud nine in Italian bubble

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

His name won't strike a ready chord with you, but then, that won't surprise him. Tim Manawatu knows he doesn't exactly have a name as familiar as Dan Carter or Richie McCaw.

Peter Bills: Fawlty Treviso no match for Red blitz

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

You had to look twice, blink hard and admire the man's style.

Peter Bills: Six Nations a joy to behold for ref Lewis

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

HE made his Six Nations refereeing debut in a lovely, low-key way. For sure, he was nervous but that didn't mean Alan Lewis would abandon the habits of a lifetime.

Peter Bills: Kidney's ethos a beacon in fog of dismay

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Perhaps it is the sense of optimism that arises naturally in rugby at this time of the year.

Peter Bills: Dark elements must not spoil the good game

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Rugby union has always produced people with outstanding leadership credentials. Men and women from all social backgrounds have underpinned this great game and the social forum it has offered for much of its history.

Peter Bills: Kidney: Boks scalp signals progress

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The fog that swirled around Croke Park yesterday perfectly mirrored the state of Irish rugby 12 months ago. Heavily beaten by New Zealand last November, Ireland were confronting a cold, grey future, bereft of brightness or cheer.