Jones urges fans to get in seats early ahead of England v Wales February 25, 2022 England head coach Eddie Jones has urged fans to take their seats early at Twickenham for tomorrow’s Six Nations match against Wales as his side, boosted by the return of key players, look to burst out of the blocks. “The first 20 minutes of a Test match is always the quickest,” said Jones. “I think [...]
Ollie Phillips: Super Six Nations could be bettered by Boks February 18, 2022 This really is a belting Six Nations Championship. We may only be two weeks in but what a set of performances we have seen across the opening six games. France are just massive. They’re a group of juggernauts ripping balls, rucking hard, carrying everywhere. They’re just so good to watch. They might just be one [...]
Hard not to love France as they keep Grand Slam hopes alive February 14, 2022 As the Six Nations rolled on into round two on Valentine’s weekend, of course it was an evening in French capital Paris that stole the show. France and Ireland served up an absolute peach of a Test match which provided the 80,000 onlookers at the Stade de France a showcase of skill, power, perseverance and, [...]
Smith proved himself as England get Six Nations campaign back on track February 14, 2022 It wasn’t brilliant and it wasn’t woeful, but the result stuck to type: another England win against Italy in the Six Nations and a yet another loss – their 99th in the competition – for the Azzurri. While England’s 33-0 victory was expected, however, there were moments of magic in Rome that signalled a brighter [...]
Rugby’s domestic derbies should not be played in the international window February 8, 2022 The East Midlands derby between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints is one of the fixtures fans look for when the schedule is released. Saracens against Harlequins, Bath against Gloucester, Tigers against Saints – these are the staples of English domestic rugby, the bitter rivalries decades, if not centuries, in the making. So its beggars belief [...]
Six Nations: England cannot dip favourites tag two weeks running February 7, 2022 England’s first round Six Nations defeat at the hands of Scotland on Saturday was one which initially played into Eddie Jones’s well-worn line of the Calcutta Cup rivals being “red hot favourites”. But in a 20-17 loss which sent England back south of the border with their tails between their legs, Jones’s side looked a [...]
Six Nations: France start with win but there’s room for growth February 7, 2022 France’s opening round victory over Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday wasn’t dripping with a special je ne sais quoi, but it was a hard earned result to get their promising quest for a Grand Slam underway. Flying wing Gabin Villiere had three career tries prior to kick-off in Paris but doubled that tally [...]
Mako Vunipola interview: ‘England can win the Grand Slam’ February 3, 2022 He may currently not be part of Eddie Jones’s Six Nations squad, but Mako Vunipola still thinks England will go undefeated this year. The experienced loosehead prop concedes that France “look strong” but believes key absences will make it hard for Wales to defend their title. “England can get the Grand Slam, yes,” Vunipola told [...]
Six Nations 2021 recap: Covid-19, Grand Slam hopes and fierce rivalries February 3, 2022 The 2021 Six Nations was fought in front of empty seats and in silent stadiums. But it was still a tournament full of passion, intensity and edge-of-your-seat finishes – and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. So before we immerse ourselves in the historic rivalries once more, we’d be foolish not to look [...]
Marco Bortolami: ‘Italy and Six Nations need each other but we must win more’ February 3, 2022 It’s been said before but I really think Italy are building for the future. New head coach Kieran Crowley has picked a squad with some exciting young players – my Benetton side are providing 23 members of Crowley’s party for this Six Nations. The main goal for Italy is to stay competitive in each match [...]