Matt Williams

Matt Williams

Contributor

Matt Williams, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a professional rugby coach, writer, TV presenter and broadcaster.

Springboks’ new approach is great news for the game of rugby

Encounter with Springboks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, will be daunting task for Joe Schmidt’s squad


Matt Williams: Never mind the naysayers, the Lions tour of Australia was a big success

This Lions tour is subject to a false narrative, but the numbers don’t lie


Matt Williams: Lions’ incessant moaning has helped Australian rugby but it’s hard to see a home win in Sydney

Officiating errors have denied us the drama of a series decider in the third Test


Lions’ classless act had the hallmark of imperialists touring their convict colony

Stance on Pete Samu and unwillingness to give back to host nation makes touring party unpopular with locals


Matt Williams: Charmless Lions have put on a masterclass in how not to win friends since landing in Australia

Lions are overwhelming favourites to win test series, but a nation is willing them to fail


Matt Williams: Owen Farrell could prove a clever pick for the Lions

Australia must try something abominable against Andy Farrell’s team


Matt Williams: Lions’ insulting attitude is nicely stoking Australian pride

There’s been a whiff of rugby imperialism from the so-called home nations. Joe Schmidt may yet teach them a lesson


Matt Williams: It’s vital for Australia that the Lions play with style

It’s galling that some commentators portray the British and Irish Lions as brave underdogs


Matt Williams: Lions can’t afford to be infected by Irish rugby’s sense of entitlement against resurgent Australia

Wallabies have made significant progress since the disaster of World Cup 2023


Matt Williams: Bulls have a simple, winning game plan, and Leinster must simply smash it

Like Genghis Khan, the South African game is not very likeable, but bloody effective. Leinster need to hit hard and put the pressure back on the Bulls


Matt Williams: Unless Leinster’s defence wake up they will be left dreaming of what might have been

Deeper commitment to physical processes of defending is needed if they are to lift this year’s URC title


Matt Williams: Irish rugby should value the URC above the faltering Champions Cup

Many cling to memories of an era that has now passed, wrongly obsessed with the bisected remains of a once-great competition


Matt Williams: Decision to abandon men’s Sevens programme has shattered the dreams of generations of players

Irish rugby administrators wasted years resisting the eyecatching format and now they have dashed the hopes of another generation


Matt Williams: Lions would do well to remember that in rugby, as in war, past difficulties often repeat themselves

Andy Farrell’s men will have their work cut out in Australia


Ugly sense of entitlement has seeped into Irish rugby fan culture

Leinster’s Champions Cup exit has led to mob-like criticism of the team and their coach


Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands