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…
Category: Rugby
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…
World Rugby backs decision to disallow England’s late try against All Blacks
World Rugby believes the controversial decision to disallow Sam Underhill’s late try in England’s one-point defeat by New Zealand was correct and the governing body is satisfied the referee Jérôme Garcès did not contravene its new TMO law trial during the incident. Underhill scored what looked like being the match-winning try after 76 minutes, having…
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…
Eddie Jones says Jack Nowell can become a forward for England
Eddie Jones has made the remarkable claim he may break from convention and select nine forwards in his England side. Jack Nowell is also now seen as an option at openside flanker for the Six Nations as Jones considers ripping up the traditional playbook, predicting the emergence of a “new breed of player” equally adept…
Eddie Jones: I won’t try to talk Manu Tuilagi out of leaving for France
Manu Tuilagi will bring a premature end to his England career with Eddie Jones’s blessing if he makes a lucrative move to Racing 92. Tuilagi was spotted at the Paris club last week and has been heavily linked with a three‑year deal at Racing worth upwards of £800,000 a year. Tuilagi would be turning his…
Michael Cheika puts faith in Wallabies rookie Jordan Petaia for Italy Test
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has backed 18-year-old rookie Jordan Petaia to successfully make the transition to Test rugby. The Queensland Reds flyer has been named on the wing for the weekend’s clash with Italy in Padua – one of six changes to the side that lost 9-6 in Cardiff to Wales last week. Wales angry…
All Blacks unveil mammoth squad for Japan and Europe tours
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has mined the depth of New Zealand rugby to name 51 players for their tour of Japan and Europe. A 32-strong group, at close to full strength, will head to Yokohama for the third Bledisloe Cup Test on 27 October before an additional 19 players join them for a Test…