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. [...]
Eddie Jones demands England lose fear of playing Wales in Cardiff as Six Nations showdown beckons February 5, 2017 Head coach Eddie Jones has demanded his England players conquer any inhibitions they may harbour over facing Wales in the cauldron of Cardiff’s Principality Stadium during Saturday’s crunch Six Nations battle. England, grand slam winners 12 months ago, began their championship defence with a narrow 19-16 victory over France at Twickenham at the weekend, setting [...]
England lock George Kruis ruled out of Six Nations and set for surgery on knee ligament injury February 5, 2017 England second row George Kruis has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations after being sidelined for three months with the knee ligament injury he suffered during training last week. Saracens lock Kruis, 26, missed England’s championship opener against France at the weekend and is set to undergo surgery on tuesday, following [...]
Interim boss Rob Howley urges Wales to be relentless during Six Nations showdown with England in Cardiff February 5, 2017 Interim Wales head coach Rob Howley shrugged off the significance of failing to secure a late bonus point after his side began their Six Nations campaign by overcoming a stubborn Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. Wing Liam Williams looked to have scored the fourth try necessary to gain an additional point during the final move [...]
Six Nations 2017: Selling jersey sponsorship for the first time is a controversial but lucrative move for France February 4, 2017 The end to a 98-year tradition was signalled last week when the French Rugby Federation (FFR) quietly slipped out that it was finally going to sell the front of the French national rugby team’s shirt to a sponsor – the last major rugby-playing nation to do so. When rugby union turned pro in the mid-1990s, [...]
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 [...]