Kyle Sinckler is adamant he does not have an anger problem. So adamant that he seems a bit angry about it. Take England’s last match against France. In the second half, Sinckler snapped and slapped the flanker Arthur Iturria on the top of his head. “There’s no need to do it, is there?” the referee,…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
Ben Morgan’s late try gives Gloucester space to see off Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester beat the league leaders, Exeter, at Kingsholm thanks to a Ben Morgan try three minutes from time on Friday night. Jason Woodward and Willi Heinz scored Gloucester’s other tries while Billy Twelvetrees converted all three and kicked a penalty. Exeter’s tries came from Nic White and Tom O’Flaherty. Joe Simmonds kicked a penalty and…
Ireland 20-32 England: Six Nations player ratings from Dublin
Ireland 15. ROBBIE HENSHAW 5/10 A first appearance at fullback for six years and it may be just as long until his next. England continued to apply the pressure on a difficult afternoon for Henshaw. 14. KEITH EARLS 5/10 Off at half-time after he was whacked twice in the first 40 minutes, firstly by Curry,…
Michael Cheika survives as Scott Johnson is named Wallabies’ director of rugby
Michael Cheika will lead the Wallabies to the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year, but the head coach will have to report to a director of rugby after Scott Johnson was installed above him in a newly created role. As part of several changes to the national setup announced on Monday, the pair will…
England power past Ireland in Women’s Six Nations opener
The Women’s Six Nations kicked off on a freezing Dublin evening but, as the mercury dropped, England’s performance rose to the occasion. A dominant pack, aggressive defence and clinical finishing by Simon Middleton’s newly-professional side overwhelmed Ireland. England know things will not be this straightforward against the grand slam champions France next weekend but, with…
France cannot roar away from their blocks, warns England’s Billy Vunipola
Billy Vunipola has urged England to fly out of the blocks at Twickenham on Sunday, warning his teammates they cannot afford to let France build up a head of steam. England are hot favourites for victory against France, who collapsed to a humiliating defeat by Wales last Friday and have not won a Six Nations…
Northampton’s Lewis Ludlam: ‘When England won the World Cup, playing rugby seemed the obvious option’
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…
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…