Wales are on course to mark Warren Gatland’s final year in charge with a grand slam after their first victory over England in the Six Nations since 2013 but Eddie Jones has not abandoned hope of a third title in four years. Wales moved above England by winning the clash between the two unbeaten sides…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
Alex Goode: ‘Everyone wants to knock Saracens off our perch’
It was hard not to feel sympathy for Alex Goode during England’s autumn internationals campaign. Not so much for his continued snub – the Saracens full-back is now well accustomed to life in Eddie Jones’s blind spot – but more for his role as guest pundit at Twickenham, inches from the pitch he so desperately…
Katy Daley-Mclean’s big night lit up as Red Roses overpower USA
England’s women celebrated the 100th cap of their fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean with an emphatic victory over the USA at Allianz Park last night in miserable, rainy conditions in north London. But Simon Middleton’s new-look team had unexpected help with the USA reduced to 14 players for 65 minutes of the game after the referee, Hollie…
Champions Cup pool-by-pool preview: Saracens’ Brad Barritt chases home tie
Pool One Jonathan Joseph makes his first appearance for Bath since April after recovering from a long-term foot injury. Joseph, who was left out of England’s squad for their Six Nations opener against Ireland, comes back into the side at outside-centre while Dave Attwood and Francois Louw return for the trip to Toulouse. Zack Holmes…
Champions Cup preview: Carbery to start for Munster, Kruis back at Saracens
Pool One Premiership clubs in danger of building mental block about Europe | Robert Kitson Wasps are without the injured back-rows Nathan Hughes and Brad Shields for their must-win encounter with pool leaders Toulouse. As a result, Ben Morris makes his European debut at blindside flanker while Billy Searle comes in a fly-half for Dai…
Rugby Championship: Wallabies produce 24-point comeback win
The Wallabies have produced a huge second half comeback to beat Argentina 45-34 and potentially save coach Michael Cheika’s skin. But it may not be enough to avoid change to his coaching panel after a listless first half in Salta left them staring down the barrel of a Rugby Championship catastrophe – and Cheika, potentially,…
Gary Gold’s US Eagles face stiff challenge against Māori All Blacks
For rugby union in America, nothing is ever simple. The Rugby Weekend in Chicago is no exception. Ireland v All Blacks is pick of autumn feast with strong World Cup flavour | The Breakdown On Saturday at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, the USA women kick off a fascinating triple-header against the New…
Japan plot fast route to ‘emotionally smash’ Eddie Jones’s England
If you are looking for a little hint of Eddie Jones’s lingering influence on Japanese rugby, have a read of what the flanker Masakatsu Nishikawa had to say about the England pack he will be playing against on Saturday. Nishikawa said he was not too familiar with the two rookie back-rowers, Mark Wilson and Zach…
England’s Underhill and Te’o opt not to wear ‘uncomfortable’ rainbow laces
Members of the England team have opted not to wear rainbow laces for the match against Australia amid claims they cause too much discomfort, after the Rugby Football Union left the decision to the discretion of the players. The RFU has selected Stonewall as the nominated charity for Saturday’s match and, as was the case…
England have the force to see off France and show Dublin was no fluke
France could not have picked a worse weekend to be heading for Twickenham. The weather forecast for Sunday is unsettled, England have not felt so jauntily confident for almost two years and the bookmakers foresee only one outcome. That makes the visitors potentially dangerous but there is even less Gallic optimism around than there is…