All news by author: Alex Spink

There are special memories but the lasting impression is of a World Cup disjointed, over-controlled, at times officiously, poorly marketed and too often lacking in charm

“Every team has a soul or a DNA, a style or a way of playing. Every nation and every country has something. The goal is finding out how to make that more tangible. The best teams tap into that”

South Africa had to deal with racism accusations levelled at Bongi Mbonambi in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup final before World Rugby dismissed the allegation

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa: Boks reclaim world title with thrilling win over arch-rival All Blacks at Stade de France

The last Englishman to take charge of rugby union's biggest match reveals concerns he had in 2007 that Wayne Barnes would quit refereeing

ENGLAND 26-23 ARGENTINA: Steve Borthwick's side secured a hard-fought third-place finish at the World Cup less a week after their agonising semi-final defeat to South Africa

“I’m so honoured and privileged to have done it for this long, to end it on my terms then get to walk away. It feels like absolutely the right time”

World Rugby has been unable to find sufficient evidence to pursue Tom Curry's claim that he was racially abused during England's semi-final loss to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup

Curry’s club Sale today hit out at the “disgusting abuse” to which he has been subjected since alleging he was racially abused in the semi-final loss to South Africa

Changes announced to World Cup and Six Nations, with a new bi-annual Nations Championship on. the way from 2026 - but Steve Borthwick's men still struggling to come to terms with semi-final heartbreak

England 15-16 South Africa: Redemption for Cole but prop insists he would glad swap personal absolution for place in Rugby World Cup final

Tom Curry could be heard speaking to the referee about the incident involving Bongi Mbonambi as England were knocked out in heartbreaking circumstances

Argentina 6-44 New Zealand: Seven unanswered tries send Sam Cane's men in black through to next Saturday's showpiece

“We want them to absolutely rip into it, give it everything you’ve got - otherwise you end up with a load of regrets for the rest of your life”

South Africa scrum-half Cobus Reinach has been subjected to death threats following their win over France with World Cup bosses determined to hunt down those involved

Freddie Steward, Joe Marler and George Martin given World Cup semi-final starts as England spread experience across their 23 to counter Boks' 'so-called Bomb Squad'

Rugby World Cup semi-final: England v South Africa, Stade de France, Paris, Saturday 8pm

Steve Borthwick has recalled Freddie Steward to the England starting XV for the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa with Marcus Smith dropped from the squad

Borthwick is set to give Freddie Steward the nod against South Africa this weekend after Smith suffered a head-on-head collision against Fiji

Handre Pollard played under Steve Borthwick at Leicester Tigers and knows England will be out to avenge their 2019 final defeat to the Springboks

“He’s a brave guy and not just because he’s physically tough. Brave because to be put in like that on a world stage in a quarter-final and deliver what he delivered was an absolute credit to him”

England's strategy to circle wagions ahead of Saturday's World Cup semi-final against South Africa has divided opinion

It is undeniable the tactic is working, contrived or otherwise. England came to France on the back of six losses in nine. Five games later they are the tournament’s only unbeaten side

Argentina won through to Rugby World Cup semi-finals with 29-17 victory over Wales and will now face New Zealand, conquerors of Ireland

"We don’t forget there’s a fair number of people who said we won’t make it out of group and a fair number who said we would lose tonight. Many people wrote that"