Josh Navidi’s return will be vital to Wales’s hopes of stopping England at the breakdown, and the hosts will need to keep their cool if Wales try to rile themThe breakdownWales’s tactical approach is easily seen in their team selection. Taulupe Faletau is a world-class player but he is still feeling his way back at Test level after a long injury layoff whereas in Josh Navidi Wales have picked an absolute terrier at the breakdown. Ireland’s problems at Twickenham centred around the fact that they were not able to meet England at the gainline and stop their ball carriers, and they could not slow their opponents’ ball as a result. England were then able to play Manu Tuilagi into the...
Despite the congested rugby calendar there has to be a conclusion to this fated Six Nations tournament, to divvy up the cash if nothing elseRugby’s annus horribilis shows little obvious sign of easing. For the time being all roads no longer lead to Rome and the best-case scenario involves the Six Nations - both male and female - dribbling to a belated conclusion in the autumn. There are far more important things in life than a few postponed rugby matches but for the tournament organisers the real headaches are only just starting. Related: England's Six Nations game against Italy postponed due to coronavirus outbreak Related: The Breakdown | Wayne Pivac needs to shed Mr Nice Guy image if Wales are...
Taking live audiences for granted in return for £300m is a huge gamble for a sport with a thin link to the publicSometimes we overlook the fragility of the thread connecting rugby with the public. It is not a sport that necessarily appeals to everyone, even if they do have a vague grasp of the rules. For some it is too brutal and painful to watch in comfort; if you have never played there are plenty of reasons to doubt the sanity of those who do. You don’t get cauliflower ears playing badminton.It is also a sport heavily reliant on its heritage and history. England against Wales on Saturday would be just another game without its evocative past, its cross-border...
The spread of the coronavirus may mean the tournament’s end may be delayed until the autumnThe Six Nations organisers meet in Paris on Monday to discuss contingency plans after fears over the cross-border spread of the coronavirus forced the postponement of next Saturday’s match between Ireland and Italy in Dublin and put in doubt England’s trip to Rome on the final weekend. Ireland’s head coach, Andy Farrell, has an extra week to prepare for his side’s final match against the leaders, France, in Paris, but he is not sure if it will go ahead. “We don’t know,” he said. “All we can do is prepare properly for it.”Ireland’s match against Italy is unlikely to be rescheduled before October. The Aviva...
For decades coaches spoke about up-skilling players so shirt numbers don’t matter. It’s happening now in the Six NationsThere are plenty of visions of the future around at the moment. One has three initials – CVC – and is entwining itself, triffid-like, around the commercial rights of almost every significant rugby competition worldwide. Another is the standing water on numerous pitches in England and Wales, a portent of what may await lower-lying communities everywhere should global warming intensify.On Sunday at Twickenham it was more a case of joining the dots. There was George Kruis, a lock, aiming to kick the ball out of hand like a taller, gangly version of Owen Farrell. Charlie Ewels, another lock, could be seen packing...