Elliot “Briefcase” Daly has come a long way since arriving at Wasps in school uniform and he’s ready to impress for England, disciplinary issues permitting November 28, 2016 When Elliot Daly turned up at Wasps’ Acton training ground in sixth form school uniform, few moments passed before he was assigned the same nickname as one particular "Inbetweeners" character who took a briefcase to class on the first day of the new term. His peers knew he had talent and were keen to keep [...]
Blow for England as No8 Billy Vunipola set to miss Six Nations with knee injury November 27, 2016 England's autumn celebrations have been tempered after No8 powerhouse Billy Vunipola emerged as a major doubt for next year’s Six Nations due to the knee injury he picked up during Saturday’s victory over Argentina. World player of the year nominee Vunipola tore cartilage during England’s 27-14 triumph over Argentina and after undergoing surgery on Sunday the 24-year-old [...]
Eddie Jones cites Argentina as biggest threat to England’s unbeaten run, more so than Australia November 24, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones has warned his side that Argentina will provide the most venomous threat to their unbeaten run this autumn when battle commences at Twickenham on Saturday. Jones has made four changes to the XV which started last week’s 58-15 demolition of Fiji with second row George Kruis replacing the suspended Joe Launchbury [...]
England coaches forced to explain surprise decision to drop in-form wing Semesa Rokoduguni for Argentina match November 23, 2016 Wing Semesa Rokoduguni’s surprise England axing is because he is less suited to facing Argentina than Gloucester’s Jonny May, says defence coach Paul Gustard. Bath flyer Rokoduguni has been left out of the squad to face the Pumas on Saturday at Twickenham despite scoring two tries in a man-of-the-match display against Fiji last weekend. May, [...]
Axe falls on Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni despite his try-scoring antics for England against Fiji November 22, 2016 Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni has been omitted from England’s squad to face Argentina in the latest instalment of their autumn programme despite his man of the match showing against Fiji on Saturday. Rokoduguni marked his international recall and first England appearance since his debut against New Zealand during the autumn of 2014 with two tries as [...]
Supporting a Pacific Islands Super Rugby franchise – not simply handouts – is a better way of thanking Fiji November 21, 2016 Much has been made of the disparity in earnings between the England players’ £22,000 match fee and the £400 with which the Fijians were remunerated following their meeting at Twickenham on Saturday, which the hosts won 58-15. The Rugby Football Union will be making a £75,000 token payment to the Islanders and should not feel [...]
Eddie Jones insists England fly-half George Ford can be better than New Zealand’s world player of the year Beauden Barrett November 20, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones has tipped fly-half George Ford to prove himself a classier operator than newly-crowned world player of the year Beauden Barrett, while at the same time issuing a withering put down to the New Zealand No10. Ford was an inspirational presence for England as they inflicted a nine-try demolition on Pacific [...]
Rugby is still missing a trick in way it engages with commercial partners if it is to become more relevant to the next generation November 17, 2016 Rugby is a great sport at a critical point in its development. The international game is very popular in a small number of countries, from the six and tri nations plus a few others, such as Japan and Fiji, who play at Twickenham on Saturday. The rugby economy is skewed toward a few major media [...]
Northern hemisphere success suggests tectonic shift in rugby’s balance of power could be in progress November 14, 2016 The last two weekends of international rugby might well have indicated that the prolonged period of southern hemisphere dominance is beginning to draw to an end, at least in the form to which we have become accustomed. With the Irish overpowering the All Blacks, England dismantling South Africa and an under-strength Scotland unlucky to have [...]
Eddie Jones tips Ben Youngs to have same inspirational effect on England as South Africa great did for Springboks November 14, 2016 Head coach Eddie Jones has tipped scrum-half Ben Youngs to have the same influence on England as South Africa great Fourie du Preez had on the Springboks as his side bid to become the world’s No1-ranked team. Youngs sparkled at No9 on Saturday as England ended a 10-year hoodoo by running in four tries and [...]