The head coach’s left-field choices and maximum use of resources is allowing England to show off their versatility and highlight intensity levels that rival the All Blacks’ Related: England register record win against Fiji but defence is cause for concern Related: Malakai Fekitoa ensures All Blacks get their revenge against Ireland Continue reading...
Rokoduguni scores two tries and is named man of the match on his England recall – but the Nausori-born winger’s career is typical of Fiji’s talent drainAlways quick with a quip, Eddie Jones promised “fish and chip” rugby – traditionally English. “Stick it up your jumper, kick and clap,” Jones said, “I love fish and chips”. There was just a sprinkling of vinegar on the team too, to make things more interesting. Semesa Rokoduguni started on the wing, his first game since his one match against New Zealand back in 2014. Rokoduguni has scored 27 tries in 48 Premiership games in the last three years, and has gained more metres, made more clean breaks, and beaten more defenders than any...
Fijians are on display for and against England, Ireland are looking to make history (again), Scotland have a Six Nations point to prove and Emily Scarratt returnsWith Billy Vunipola declared fit to start against Fiji, it is little surprise that Eddie Jones delayed naming his starting XV by 24 hours. Leaving the Wales match – the day after the Premiership final – aside, Vunipola has started in every game under Jones and while he is not the only player to do so, he is the most important. A leaner, meaner Vunipola, making carries in areas that hurt the opposition, has been the bedrock of Jones’s side and without him England would have needed to find other means of breaking the...
England have put their World Cup travails firmly behind them, Australia have a mountain to climb and Wales coach Rob Howley faces some tough decisions It is remarkable how quickly sporting fortunes can swing. A year ago, England were failing to escape their World Cup pool on home soil while South Africa were just two semi-final points away from reaching the final. Twelve months on, the Springbok team is a very different, more vulnerable animal. The simultaneous loss of several long-time stalwarts has coincided with a continuing player exodus to Europe and Japan, while the politics of transformation further complicate Allister Coetzee’s task. The Boks should overcome Italy this weekend but, longer-term, the outlook looks highly uncertain. England, on the...
One year on from the Rugby World Cup, Robert Kitson ranks the top tier sides, with the All Blacks showing no sign of losing their dominanceEighteen wins on the spin and counting. The All Blacks will not stay unbeaten forever but sometimes it feels that way. Over the next month they will face Ireland (twice), Italy and France and, barring accidents, it should be 22 straight victories by the time they fly home. The head coach, Steve Hansen, and his lieutenants deserve credit for the impressive manner in which the team has refocused and developed since retaining the Webb Ellis Cup last year. Who said Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu et al were irreplaceable? In the shape of Aaron...