Six Nations 2017 predictions: Ireland will give England serious competition for the championship, Ben Youngs set for a big year February 3, 2017 It will be a grand finale at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin when England take on Ireland for the final game of the Six Nations next month. England have gained momentum since their 2015 World Cup humiliation, and will have some tricky games in the shape of Wales in Cardiff in particular. But all eyes [...]
Six Nations 2017: England heavy favourites to retain championship according to expert actuaries at QBE February 3, 2017 UK voters will choose to remain in the EU. Hillary Clinton will crush Donald Trump to become US President. England will win the 2017 Six Nations. Expert forecasters haven't had a vintage last 12 months, so perhaps England should be wary that they've been marked overwhelming favourites to retain the Six Nations Championship by expert actuaries [...]
England coach Eddie Jones puts faith in Maro Itoje to bruise Les Bleus in Six Nations opener February 2, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has tipped Maro Itoje to flourish on his first Test start as a back-row forward in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against France. Itoje – usually a lock – has been tasked with replacing Chris Robshaw, a key figure in England’s renaissance under Jones, at blindside flanker for the showdown with [...]
Betting: England look to extend unbeaten run against old enemy France February 2, 2017 England will be looking to make it fifteen consecutive wins when they take on France in their Six Nations opener tomorrow. The Red Rose are yet to lose a game under coach Eddie Jones, and another five victories would both give them a second Grand Slam in a row and the record for the most [...]
Simon Shaw interview: Lions tours are pinnacle but this year’s could deny England a Grand Slam February 2, 2017 England's chances of securing a second successive Six Nations Grand Slam will be impaired by the summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, insists former international powerhouse Simon Shaw. An unblemished championship would also see England, who remain unbeaten during the 13-match reign of head coach Eddie Jones, surpass the All Blacks’ record of 18 [...]
Leicester’s refreshing youth policy is a reminder that size isn’t everything in rugby January 30, 2017 Harry Thacker, the 22-year-old Leicester hooker, is not unfamiliar with crossing the whitewash, and scored his 10th club try in a dynamic display as the Tigers bounced back from an embarrassing Champions Cup defeat last weekend to beat Northampton Saints 27-20 on Saturday. Thacker is continuing the trend of outstanding Welford Road hookers who are [...]
Loosehead prop Joe Marler set to defy injury prognosis and line up for England in Six Nations opener against France January 30, 2017 England forwards coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed that loosehead prop Joe Marler is poised to complete a remarkable recovery and line up during Saturday’s Six Nations opener against France. Harlequins powerhouse Marler was expected to be sidelined for five weeks, which would have included the opening two rounds of the championship, after suffering a fracture [...]
Eddie Jones backs wing Anthony Watson to make impact in latter stages of Six Nations after being sidelined with hamstring injury January 29, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has backed injured wing Anthony Watson to force his way into his side’s plans during the latter stages of the Six Nations despite being ruled out for up to four weeks. A medical assessment confirmed that Watson has a slight muscular strain to his hamstring which will require rehabilitation and [...]
Eddie Jones confident of Dylan Hartley’s match fitness to face France after confirming hooker as his Six Nations skipper January 25, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones insists Dylan Hartley is match-ready for his side’s Six Nations opener against France after confirming the Northampton hooker as his captain for the championship. Hartley’s six-week suspension for striking Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien in December only expired on Monday, and the 30-year-old will not have played for nine weeks by [...]
End of the road for London Welsh as professional club January 24, 2017 Crisis-stricken London Welsh have ceased to exist as a professional club after being denied permission to continue playing in English rugby’s second tier for the remainder of the season and beyond. The Richmond-based Exiles were granted a temporary licence by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to continue as a Championship side on 22 December after [...]