Faf de Klerk has played a significant role in South Africa’s revival this year, but the scrum-half will again be playing for Sale this weekend rather than lining up for his country. The Springboks have first call on him under World Rugby regulations, but they have allowed him to remain with the Sharks despite their…
Month: March 2019
England’s finest seek Champions Cup atonement at feet of Leinster
The pressing question in European rugby union as the Champions Cup starts is how do you stop Leinster winning it for a record fifth time. At the launch in Newcastle, where next May’s final will be played, Bath’s director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, suggested it is a tournament where cultures collide – and that the…
Mark Wilson set for ‘dream’ start at No 8 for England against Springboks
For a club sitting bottom of the Premiership this is proving a surprisingly satisfying few weeks for the coaches and players of Newcastle. In the past month in Europe they have beaten two French giants, Toulon and Montpellier, and on Saturday one of their favourite sons is finally set to run out at Twickenham as…
Dylan Hartley left out of England’s initial Six Nations squad with injury
Dylan Hartley has been omitted from England’s Six Nations squad due to injury and will miss their opening fixture against Ireland next month. Hartley has not played for Northampton since 21 December because of a knee problem and Eddie Jones has revealed he will not travel to England’s training camp in Portugal next week as…
England braced for bruising epic as they seek to storm Ireland’s citadel
James Joyce once wrote: “When I die Dublin will be written in my heart.” England’s players and coaches may yet feel similarly if they can fly home with perhaps the most satisfying victory of Eddie Jones’s tenure. Win or lose, the visitors’ first outing of 2019 will define more than just their immediate Six Nations…
Wales 21-13 England: talking points from the Six Nations game
1) England’s scrum-half options look unbalanced Two years ago England used their bench in the final quarter to come from behind to defeat France and Wales, but the half-backs Dan Robson and George Ford never left it on Saturday. Dan Biggar was the replacement who turned into a game finisher and it raised a question…
Australia’s Michael Cheika furious over ‘ridiculous’ Owen Farrell tackle
Australia found themselves at the wrong end of crucial refereeing decisions for the second successive year against England here at Twickenham, leaving their under-fire head coach, Michael Cheika, to lament Jaco Peyper’s refusal to award the Wallabies a penalty try at the end of the first-half after another Owen Farrell no-arms tackle. Farrell got away…
England must turn on style against Japan to slip into World Cup fast lane
England’s head coach called on his players this month to make their own movie rather than sit and watch one. If they take him up on it against a Japan side he advised to pray before their first full Test at Twickenham, Eddie Jones and the Temple of Doom will have its first release Japan…
When England beat Australia 30 years ago and kickstarted a rugby revival
England beat Australia in the Rugby World Cup final 15 years ago this week, but they were not in such great shape when the Wallabies arrived at Twickenham 30 years ago. England’s form in the mid-1980s was dire. In the five editions of the Five Nations between 1983 and 1987 they won just five matches…