This time last year England were fretting over the lack of options at openside flanker. Two came along almost at once – Sam Underhill and Tom Curry – and a third has emerged this season after a long pupation, Lewis Ludlam. The 23-year-old will make his 14th appearance of the campaign for Northampton at Wasps…
Month: March 2019
Rugby union: talking points from the European Champions Cup
Pool 1: Burns’s blunders leave Bath in hot water It seemed as if all talking points would have to revolve around the 52-3 destruction on Friday night of the former multiple champions Wasps by Leinster – or the Ireland team plus James Lowe, which means the Ireland team in a couple of years’ time. But…
Eddie Jones casts doubt on Australia’s concern over David Pocock injury
Australia are concerned about the fitness of David Pocock for Saturday’s encounter with England because of a neck injury he sustained over the weekend. The Wallabies’ influential back-row was unable to train on Monday and his chances of featuring at Twickenham remain in doubt – even if Eddie Jones says he has heard it all…
Eddie Jones’s England options a cause for joy but they bring problems too
Picking England’s team to face France this weekend should, on the face of it, be the easiest job in rugby. Identify the most suitable replacement for the injured Maro Itoje in the second row, rubber-stamp the other 14 members of the starting XV responsible for beating Ireland in Dublin and, for once, head out for…
Marika Koroibete double helps off-colour Wallabies to victory in Italy
Australia survived an early scare before easing past Italy 26-7 in Padua on Saturday. Italy, chasing their first win against the Wallabies, had two early tries ruled out before Australia broke away with two of their own, one from the late addition Marika Koroibete and one from Taniela Tupou. Mattia Bellini scored a converted try…
All Blacks’ Steve Hansen hails Ireland as best in world after defeat
The All Blacks may be top of the rankings but according to their head coach, Steve Hansen, Ireland have overtaken them and become the best team in the world. After Ireland’s 16-9 win in Dublin, Hansen explained: “What it does do is this: I said this at the beginning of the week that these are…
Eddie Jones addresses England breakdown with head of referees
Eddie Jones has held talks with the Rugby Football Union’s head of referees in an effort to solve England’s breakdown woes after a run of five defeats in six Test matches. Jones met Tony Spreadbury earlier this month to request the way the breakdown is refereed in the Premiership is brought closer into line with…
European Champions Cup news: Maro Itoje returns for Saracens
Pool One Bath welcome the four-times winners Toulouse to the Recreation Ground but do so without their 20-year-old winger Joe Cokanasiga who has presented symptoms of delayed concussion this week, in more bad news for England. Taulupe Faletau is also absent, after breaking his arm in last Friday’s defeat by Exeter, so Zach Mercer is…
Tackle laws make red cards likely in every game, says Shaun Edwards
Wales’s defence coach Shaun Edwards is encouraging his players to tackle lower to ensure they are not caught by the clampdown on tackles above shoulder height and sent off. Wales win over Australia would not be monkey off back, says Warren Gatland Edwards, who will become Wigan’s head coach after next year’s World Cup when…
David Pocock to start against England but Kurtley Beale out of Australia squad
David Pocock has been named in Australia’s starting XV against England after recovering from a neck problem – just as their opponents’ head coach, Eddie Jones, predicted. Dylan Hartley loses out to Jamie George in England XV for Australia Pocock sat out training on Monday and did only light non-contact work on Tuesday, putting a…