Six Nations 2017: England Player Ratings Versus Ireland

- March 20, 2017March 20, 2017

Well England’s run had to end sometime but I didn’t expect such an anti-climax of a game. 18 wins out of the last 19 and a second consecutive Six Nations is still a great accomplishment, but England were distinctly ordinary in this potentially record-breaking game. In particular, they came second

Eddie Jones’ Management Masterclass

- March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

England equalled New Zealand’s record 18 game winning streak with their victory over Scotland. With the 2017 Six Nations trophy already secured, they can beat the All Blacks’ run if they go to Dublin and secure a second consecutive grand slam (the first team to do so in Six Nations

Six Nations 2017: England Player Ratings Versus Scotland

- March 13, 2017March 13, 2017

Well I didn’t see that coming… A record Calcutta Cup victory for the Red Rose as a confident Scotland team were dissected with worrying ease by an aggressive and calculated England side, led by the imperious Jonathan Joseph. Here’s how the players rated.1 Joe Marler – 7.5 Had the edge on

Six Nations 2017: Have Scotland made a mistake ditching Vern Cotter?

- March 8, 2017March 8, 2017

Embed from Getty Images Scotland head to Twickenham on Saturday with their best shot at beating England in a very long time. They have already upset the perceived hierarchy of the Six Nations by defeating Ireland and Wales, and coming close to an away win in France, and are playing with

Six Nations 2017: The Fox deserves credit

- March 1, 2017March 1, 2017

Italy frustrated England with a no-ruck tactic, nicknamed ‘the fox’, on Sunday. It involved the Italian players refusing to engage at the tackle and form a ruck, which meant there was no offside line and they could stand in the English backline, challenging the half backs.It would have been even

Six Nations 2017: England Player Ratings Versus Italy

- February 27, 2017February 27, 2017

A frankly bizarre, and at times farcical, match between England and Italy – one which Eddie Jones deemed not fit to even be called ‘rugby’ and likened to Trevor Chappell bowling underarm in cricket. Was the first half England’s worst under Jones? Yes. Were Conor O’Shea and Brendan Venter’s tactics

Aviva Premiership benefits from our chaotic calendar

- February 22, 2017February 22, 2017

There has been a lot of talk this season about rugby’s messy schedule. Concerns over a lack of alignment between the hemispheres, internationals in the middle of the season, the sheer number of games players are involved in and the length of the Six Nations tournament are all concerns for

Time for England’s ‘finishers’ to start?

- February 16, 2017February 15, 2017

Whatever you think of Eddie Jones’ decision to refer to his bench as ‘finishers’, there can be do doubting they have made a huge contribution when called upon in England’s opening two Six Nations games.As we enter the fallow week before next Sunday’s game against Italy, a lot of people

Six Nations 2017: England Player Ratings Versus Wales

- February 13, 2017February 13, 2017

England have surely used up all their good luck and fortune with that narrow escape. A brilliantly physical and enthralling test match, here is how the England players rated.1 Joe Marler – 7 A much-improved performance by Marler, who has responded well to the impending return of Mako Vunipola. Tackled well,

Big selection decisions for Eddie Jones

- February 8, 2017February 8, 2017

England’s underwhelming victory over France featured probably England’s poorest 40 minutes for over a year. Although Eddie Jones called the performance ‘awful’, he also took responsibility, saying ‘I did not prepare the team well enough. I got some things wrong … I will make sure the team plays much better