England’s second title in a row said more about the weakness of the opposition in a tournament lacking the subtlety that will be needed by the LionsThe Six Nations is the envy of the southern hemisphere – for its licence to print money rather than the quality of the rugby it inspires. England retained the title but were written off in New Zealand as clunky musclemen who live in a cave, a view compromised by the praise then lavished on Ireland, whose record of two tries in their final three matches was hardly a testament to their perceived verve and guile.Bonus points were trialled this year in order to, in the words of the tournament’s chairman, Pat Whelan, “materially improve...
It was a tournament to savour, with the standard of play and level of ferocity increasing, but unfortunately the Italians are being left behindCome Monday morning the players will be back at work with their clubs, getting ready for the next round of league fixtures.Their schedules leave them precious little time to heal their wounds, even less to rest and reflect on what has gone on these past few weeks. Rugby has never been an easy living but in this Six Nations some of the Tests, especially the three between England, Ireland and Wales, were so ferocious that watching them felt a guilty pleasure. Related: New Zealand media on England loss: ‘Stuffed plastic bags in need of a trolley’ Related:...
England may have felt aggrieved at missing out on topping New Zealand’s 18 consecutive wins, but they would still have been five behind the mighty MouflonsThe report on the official website of the Cyprus Rugby Federation of the team’s resounding victory over Azerbaijan in 2008 makes for interesting reading. Among the indignities endured by the travelling team in Baku were “two hours at immigration awaiting entry visas, four hours’ sleep, poor accommodation and no real food”, singing their anthem “to the bemusement of the opposition”, who didn’t bother with their own, their flanker having “his cheekbone smashed by a stray elbow” – “his assailant went unnoticed”, it is noted, while the victim “will require surgery to correct his smashed face”...
Power, pace and skill desert Eddie Jones’s team in the Six Nations finale as Ireland rediscover the intensity that halted the All Blacks’ winning streak late last yearThe ceremony was bittersweet, the trophy heavy, England’s smiles thin and unconvincing. They won the title with a defeat, their first in a year, five months and 16 days. Their last loss was to Australia at Twickenham in October 2015. So it was an unfamiliar feeling and, judging by they way they looked and the words they spoke, the players did not find it had improved too much in the time since they last experienced it. For a chunk of the team it was a new sensation. Maro Itoje, Ben Te’o, Elliot Daly,...
Ireland can toast wins against Eddie Jones’s side and the All Blacks – the top two sides in the world – inside four months after a super-charged show of defianceSay what you like about Ireland’s rugby men but they keep everyone guessing. This season they have been up and down more often than an addicted bungee jumper, mixing huge adrenaline rushes with regular descents back to square one. Since the joy and incredulity of Soldier Field in Chicago last November, they have been short of comparable highlights – until now. Beating the English in Dublin will never lose its appeal. Related: England pursuit of grand slam and record foiled by defiant Ireland Continue reading...