The Breakdown | Five big takeaways from the first half of the Rugby World Cup

From the right way to play to how to continue the minnows’ progress, there have been many talking points in France so far1) France 2023 will shape the game’s future At Lyon’s Part-Dieu station late on Sunday night, a lone youth in a hoodie sat down at a piano tucked away to the side of the main concourse and began to play. He was extraordinarily good, to the point where people started looking around for hidden television cameras. As the strains of his mini‑concerto drifted skywards, it reminded me of Ian Foster’s thought‑provoking remark after New Zealand’s coruscating 96‑17 win against Italy.Foster could have made his point slightly more clearly but, to some degree, he was speculating how rugby might look in five, 10 or 20 years’ time given the current backdrop of player welfare issues. Will it mirror Ireland v South Africa, so physical it made the stands shake? Or bear a closer resemblance to the evasive, running game in which the All Blacks clearly specialise? Continue reading...