At this time of year, fresh starts can quickly become false dawns, so Leicester’s bonus point win must be treated with caution, but we saw the Tigers at least bare their teeth. It was their second win in 11 matches and was fully deserved, with two tries from Jonny May against his former club proving…
Eddie Jones calls on England to ‘physically smash cheeky Japan’
Eddie Jones said England will look to “physically smash” his former side Japan at Twickenham on Saturday and advised them to “go to the temple and pray”. Jones declared England have got their mojo back after an agonising one-point defeat by New Zealand and vowed to prove it against Japan. In an effort to mimic…
Blair Kinghorn hat-trick sparks Scotland’s Six Nations victory over Italy
BLAIR Kinghorn scored Scotland’s first Championship hat-trick in 30 years as the home team got their Six Nations campaign off to a competent start against a limited Italian side. Stuart Hogg and Chris Harris also touched down as Gregor Townsend’s team had the bonus point wrapped up with 25 minutes to play, but some chaos…
Warren Gatland quick to look past Italy and towards England
The countdown now begins in earnest. Wales against England in Cardiff a week on Saturday will be some encounter. Warren Gatland insists the visitors will be the ones under pressure. A second-string Wales featuring 10 changes produced a disjointed display to edge past Italy in Rome. The result was predictable, the performance less so. Wales…
Women’s Six Nations: England’s Emily Scarratt warns of tough test in Ireland
England’s revolution begins in Dublin on Friday night, when the Women’s Six Nations kicks off in Dublin. Sarah Hunter, the England captain, will be anxious to show their Twickenham paymasters that awarding her and 27 other players full-time contracts will have the instant dividend of taking the grand slam title back from France. Ireland Women…
England pick Jack Nowell and Ben Moon to start against Wales
Jack Nowell and Ben Moon have been named to start for England against Wales on Saturday as Eddie Jones makes two changes to his side. Joe Cokanasiga, the 21-year-old winger who scored two tries in his first two England matches during the autumn, is also in line for a first Six Nations appearance having been…
The recipe for success – eating your way to Six Nations glory
If Eddie Jones is responsible for making sure England take the field for their first Six Nations fixture against Ireland with fire in their belly, a great deal of thought, science and dedication from a hidden team of experts goes into deciding what else ends up in there. Maro Itoje: England beating Ireland won’t be…
England’s Kyle Sinckler promises to keep his cool in white-hot Cardiff
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,…
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,…