France 22-16 Scotland: Scots only have themselves to blame, admits try-scorer Stuart Hogg February 12, 2017 Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg admitted his side were the architects of their own downfall after two Camille Lopez penalties inside the final 10 minutes proved decisive for France. Hogg’s 15th Test try was cancelled out by Les Bleus centre Gael Fickou, while Tim Swinson’s touchdown regained the lead for the visitors before Lopez’s boot came [...]
Dai Young satisfied as Wasps move five points clear at Premiership summit following thrilling 35-35 draw at Exeter February 12, 2017 Wasps boss Dai Young declared himself satisfied after his table-topping side scored late to level a pulsating 10-try 35-35 clash with top-four rivals Exeter at Sandy Park. Exeter rallied after lock Johnny Hill was sent off in the early stages of the second period, while the game’s topsy-turvy nature continued until replacement Joe Simpson restored [...]
Eddie Jones backs rookie flanker Jack Clifford to thrive under Six Nations pressure February 9, 2017 Rookie flanker Jack Clifford has been tipped to thrive under the pressure of a crunch Six Nations showdown after head coach Eddie Jones named him in his side’s starting XV for Saturday’s clash with Wales. Clifford has only started one previous match for England, coincidentally against Wales last year, while the 23-year-old has not featured internationally [...]
Eddie Jones spoils Welsh plans by U-turning on Principality Stadium roof issue February 9, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has fanned flames of hostility after he reneged on his previous assertion and insisted the Principality Stadium’s roof for tomorrow’s crunch Six Nations showdown with Wales be kept open. Jones had previously professed indifference to whether the retractable roof for the Cardiff clash would stay open or not, claiming the defending [...]
Betting: England to edge a tight Six Nations affair in Cardiff February 9, 2017 DESPITE victory last week, a much-improved performance is needed by England when they travel to Cardiff to face Wales on Saturday. The Red Rose ran out 19-16 winners against France last week thanks to a late Ben Te’o try, extending their streak to 15 games. However, that unbeaten run will be put to the test [...]
Six Nations 2017 stats preview: Why England’s back row needs an improved performance against Wales February 9, 2017 Even Eddie Jones admitted that England weren’t at their best in a sluggish, narrow victory over France on Saturday. England displayed little of the vigour and verve that swept them to a grand slam last year and it was in an inexperienced new-look back row of Maro Itoje, Tom Wood and Nathan Hughes that was [...]
England head coach Eddie Jones is like Brian Clough, says Wales defence chief Shaun Edwards February 8, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has been likened to colourful former football manager Brian Clough by Wales defence chief Shaun Edwards ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations showdown in Cardiff. Edwards shrugged off Jones’s references to England’s “horrendous” record in Wales as mind games designed to spur on his players, but praised the Australian’s approach and [...]
Tom Wood injury presents question of inexperienced England back-row for Six Nations clash with Wales February 7, 2017 England could be forced into fielding a rookie back-row during their Six Nations showdown with Wales after flanker Tom Wood missed training on Tuesday due to the shoulder injury he suffered against France. Wood was last night retained in a 24-man squad for the clash at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday despite having his arm in a [...]
Why England players will have shuddered at Eddie Jones’s assessment of the France win February 6, 2017 As bruised England players pored over the Sunday papers while tackling a breakfast of serving bowls of cereal and kilos of back bacon, they would have been unnerved digesting Eddie Jones’s post-match remarks. The head coach blamed himself for the dull performance in England’s narrow 19-16 win over France on Saturday, saying that he didn't [...]
Winning streak is giving England the confidence to be calm under extreme pressure, insists fly-half George Ford February 6, 2017 Fly-half George Ford insists that England’s record-breaking winning streak has infused the players with a sense of clarity during the most challenging moments of matches. England set a national record of 15 successive victories on Saturday when they began the defence of their Six Nations crown with a 19-16 triumph over rivals France at Twickenham. [...]