Away wins are likely to be rare, drop goals less so and the women’s competition looks to be between England and FranceDiscounting matches against Italy, there were two away wins last year, both by Ireland. Twelve months before that just one, by England. On both occasions the side best equipped to win on their travels took the title so expect away victories to be at a premium again. Related: England set to start Manu Tuilagi in Dublin after Ben Te'o injury Continue reading...
Injuries muddy the selection waters for Ireland game as Eddie Jones looks to resolve questions over England’s best teamWhat had been looking like the toughest selection of Eddie Jones’s three-year England tenure has once again been hijacked by events. The unavailability of Ben Te’o for the opening Six Nations Test has not merely blown a sizeable hole in the coach’s midfield strategy but dispelled any notion that, at last, England have uncovered the secret of keeping their best players fit.With Brad Shields and Joe Cokanasiga also unavailable to feature, the first England team announcement of the calendar year on Thursday is no longer quite as hard to predict as it might have been. That said, Jones still has some major...
With three of the four top-ranked teams in action and Japan 2019 looming, focus and intrigue will be at fever pitchIn January spring still feels far away, never mind the summer beyond it. But the start of the Six Nations, like the first green shoots, is a sign they are on their way. The tournament starts with the first snowdrops and finishes with the first swallows. When this year’s edition is over, the World Cup will be only six months and six days away, and the six teams, their players and coaches, will have a handful of August warm-ups left to finish getting ready for the tournament they have been working towards these last four years and which, if they...
Rory Best held Ireland together, England’s Chris Robshaw worked tirelessly and Sergio Parisse’s experience helped ItalyThe Ireland captain was asked after the grand slam victory whether Eddie Jones’s derogatory remarks about the country revealed a few days before had been motivation for the champions. Best showed class in his reply that was to the effect: who had not found themselves in a position like that? The most-capped player in the team is not among the most celebrated, but every side needs a Best to hold it together, selfless to the point where the team comes first, second and third. He has been on two Lions tours and did not make a Test appearance, but there was never any moaning or...
Joe Schmidt’s attention to detail underpinned Irish success but Eddie Jones needs a Plan BI’ve read about how it was meant to be for Ireland on St Patrick’s Day – but make no mistake, they earned their grand slam. They fully deserved it. The players, coaches and all the backroom staff are extremely comfortable with the game-plan, they have the best tactical half-backs in the world, a strong set-piece and a defensive system that Andy Farrell has improved no end. The thing that strikes me most is that their established players really get up for the big games, and on top of that, their youngsters – players like Jacob Stockdale – have flourished. My only question would be what happens...