Home side consistently doubled up on Ireland’s attackers and when it comes to executing a territorial game Eddie Jones’s side are the best in the worldThere was plenty to admire in England’s performance against Ireland but the most impressive aspect was that they looked back to their destructive and dominant best in defence. Manu Tuilagi gives them such a launchpad in attack and he gets them over the gain-line, but it was a victory based on their outstanding effort in defence.First, their decision-making at the breakdown was excellent. Very rarely were they competing at the wrong times and as a result they always seemed to have numbers on their feet. Related: Six Nations: talking points from a thrilling third round...
France showed no signs of travel sickness to quieten the Cardiff crowd and remain in the hunt for a grand slam triumphIt used to be a cliche to say that France do not travel well in this competition and always save their best to spring when the sun of Paris is on their backs. This season’s Six Nations has already turned the cliche on its head with Fabien Galthié’s side winning so impressively against England and not so impressively against Italy in foul February weather in the French capital. And now this. Related: France stay on grand slam trail as Romain Ntamack shatters Wales Related: Stuart Hogg’s solo effort leads Scotland to hard-fought victory against Italy Continue reading...
Coach needs his old instincts to regain sharpness as he pits Curry against Ireland’s outstanding CJ Stander at TwickenhamEddie Jones used his experience to full advantage in his first four years in charge of England but since the World Cup final he has veered from grumpy to irascible, no longer sure of touch. On the day that the former Ireland second-row Dan Tuohy marked his retirement by declaring that rugby union was starting to look rotten from the core, Jones embroiled himself in more controversy, with an offensive throwaway remark to a reporter that was swiftly followed by an apology and a clarifying statement from the Rugby Football Union.Defeat to Ireland at Twickenham on Sunday would all but end their...
Trip to Cardiff this weekend will be a test of Les Bleus’ fragility when they leave their home in Paris The French revolution this week moves beyond the skirmish stage. Home victories over England and Italy put Les Bleus on top of the Six Nations 10 years after they last finished a campaign in that position, but the test is whether they have found a cure for their travel problems.France’s decline in the 2010s was stark. When they won the grand slam in 2010, their record in the 11 seasons of the Six Nations was 41 victories and 14 defeats. In the nine campaigns since then, they have lost three more matches than they have won and their only away...
This week’s roundup also features Fury v Wilder highlights, Tony Hibbert scoring and a wind-assisted long-range kick1) Chelsea face Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week, a fixture which immediately recalls this classic final in 2012. Bayern got lukewarm revenge in the 2013 Super Cup, as Pep’s Bayern beat José’s Chelsea on penalties. Let’s not forget the brilliant quarter-final first leg in 2004-05, which ended up 4-2 to the Blues. Chelsea would go on to win the tie 6-5 on aggregate, before going out to Luis García and Liverpool’s “ghost goal” in the semis.2) Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury meet again in Vegas this weekend: here’s a quick refresh on what happened last time out. And why not revisit...