Billy Vunipola needs Farrell’s ruthless focus, Cipriani’s patience boosts Gloucester and Saints reaping rewards of faith in youthOne topic did rather dominate the conversation at Ashton Gate. And the booing. This looks as if it will be a new reality for Billy Vunipola, which may or may not come to affect his game over the coming weeks. He has always come across as something of a happy-go-lucky guy but the No 8 will need the ruthless focus of his England teammate Owen Farrell if recent events and any future repercussions are not to distract him from his day job. One other point did muscle its way into the talking – and that was the kicking. As if chastened by their...
Bath’s Jonathan Joseph did his England chances no harm at all, Exeter had the look of Premiership champions against Leicester and things are starting to get serious at the bottomJonathan Joseph has been back from his long injury layoff for a while but judging by his performance against Bristol, and in his previous outing against Exeter, he is nearing a return to his best form. In the past it has been a criticism that, because he is so naturally talented, Joseph has a tendency to coast because things come so easy. He has a World Cup place to chase, however, and he is clearly in Eddie Jones’s thoughts considering he was called into the wider England squad just 50-odd minutes...
The hooker chose a good time to impress the watching England coach, Eddie Jones, at Allianz ParkOn afternoons like this it is easy to forget just how long Jamie George had to wait for his first England start – that he was named as a replacement 19 times before getting hold of the England No 2 jersey, more than two years after his debut, and that he made three starts for the Lions before he did so once for his country. For here was further evidence that, if Dylan Hartley ends up being part of Eddie Jones’s World Cup squad, he will not do so as England’s first-choice hooker. Related: Liam Williams bags two tries as Saracens storm to semi-final...
Talk of circumventing the salary cap is nothing new and what top-flight rugby union needs is opennessThis is a timely week for the salary cap controversy to erupt because it brings back memories of what happened when England last played Italy at Twickenham. Italy exploited loopholes in the law book – to great uproar from, among others, Eddie Jones – and is finding ways around the salary cap, as Saracens are alleged to have done through business tie-ups, really that different? It is not illegal, but is it immoral? World Rugby amended the relevant law after Italy’s no-ruck tactic to end the argument on that point whereas all these grey areas around the salary cap remain.I was aware of clubs...
How long can Worcester allow Ben Te’o to twiddle his thumbs in the stand, could a rare defeat now galvanise Saracens and Sale would surely love Robert du Preez to stay onWorcester’s marquee player, Ben Te’o, got no closer to the pitch than the stand despite the importance of the match against rivals in the bottom half of the table. The England centre has played only 29 minutes in a Warriors’ jersey this season because of injury and the autumn internationals, and was given the previous two Challenge Cup weekends off. The club’s director of rugby, Alan Solomons, said that a lack of training time was the reason for Te’o’s omission and that he would be considered for selection at...