Ireland v England stats preview: Have Eddie Jones’s men been less impressive Six Nations winners than last year? March 16, 2017 Eddie Jones demanded improvement from his England side ahead of this year's Six Nations — a tough ask of reigning Grand Slam champions. Until last weekend's demolition of Scotland at Twickenham, there were few signs his calls had been heeded. England have been accused of only playing well in spurts, of struggling to consistently match some of [...]
Wales’s Six Nations resurgence against Ireland defers debate over Rob Howley’s tactical rigidity March 13, 2017 In the build-up to Friday's fixture in Cardiff, when Wales overcame Ireland 22-9, their former flanker Martyn Williams pointed to the "stubborn" management team as a factor in explaining their patchy form of late. Coaches are often caught in a dilemma between whether to stick with the status quo or delve deeper into the squad [...]
Dylan Hartley, Jonathan Joseph and George Ford urge England not to allow chance to make history slip through their fingers March 12, 2017 England skipper Dylan Hartley has led a chorus of assertions that his record-equalling side will not allow history to slip from their grasp during their crunch Six Nations clash against Ireland on Saturday. Victory in Dublin would not only see England become the first team since the inception of the Six Nations in 2000 to [...]
Owen Farrell injury clouds England’s plan for Six Nations showdown with Scotland March 9, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has attempted to allay concerns that Owen Farrell could miss Saturday’s Six Nations showdown with rivals Scotland after he was forced to abandon training due to a leg injury. Farrell, who was set to start the Calcutta Cup clash at inside centre, limped off during the session at England’s Pennyhill [...]
Betting: England to down old foe Scotland in Calcutta Cup March 9, 2017 England will be searching for a world-record equalling 18th straight win when they renew their historic rivalry with Scotland at Twickenham this weekend. Despite three middling performances in the Six Nations thus far, the Red Rose remain on course for back-to-back Grand Slams; a feat which no team has reached since 1998. They’ll have to [...]
This is the best Scotland side for more than a decade, but they’ve no chance of beating England March 9, 2017 This is the best Scotland side we’ve seen for well over a decade, yet I don’t give them any chance of beating England on Saturday and recording their first victory at Twickenham since 1983. Scotland are playing some good rugby, will pose stern questions and I don’t think for a second that it’ll be a cricket [...]
Six Nations 2017 England v Scotland stats preview: How electric Stuart Hogg has outperformed his British and Irish Lions full-back rivals March 9, 2017 Rarely have England lined up against Scotland at Twickenham knowing that the opposition line-up includes perhaps Europe’s — if not the world’s — best players in his position. Stuart Hogg, arrives at the home of English rugby on Saturday afternoon widely regarded as the northern hemisphere’s best full-back with ball in hand and the star [...]
Billy Vunipola set to go straight into England XV to face Scotland in Six Nations March 7, 2017 Saracens powerhouse Billy Vunipola is set to earn an immediate international recall during England’s crunch Six Nations showdown with Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday. Whiteboards positioned at the side of the pitch at England’s Pennyhill Park training base yesterday appeared to suggest Vunipola is pencilled in to replace Nathan Hughes at No8. Scrum-half Ben Youngs, [...]
Helter-skelter Premiership action is wire brush for rusty stars as England grow in strength for Six Nations climax March 6, 2017 For a club’s fringe players, the Six Nations provides opportunities to accrue a run of games that can build coaches’ confidence in the consistency and repeatability of favourable performances. International stars will normally only appear at their clubs in order to receive treatment from physiotherapists who are most familiar with the imperfections of their physical [...]
Billy Vunipola included in England squad for Six Nations showdown with Scotland – but not before his fish and chips March 5, 2017 Powerhouse forward Billy Vunipola has been included in England’s training squad for Saturday’s Six Nations tussle with Scotland after making his return to action in Saracens’ victory at Newcastle. Vunipola, 24, played 72 minutes, his first appearance since November following a knee ligament injury, as Saracens defeated Newcastle 35-27 at Kingston Park to move within six [...]