Jonathan Sexton’s return has given visitors to Principality Stadium a further boost with Wales in the rare position of being out of title contentionIt is a measure of Ireland’s confidence that they have agreed to the roof of the Principality Stadium being shut for a match they have to win to maintain their ambition of seizing back the title they lost last year to England, their opponents in the final match of the Six Nations in Dublin next week.Ireland should be upbeat after a season in which they ended New Zealand’s long winning run and defeated Australia, and since 1983 they have lost only three times in the championship in Cardiff with both Munster and Leinster winning the European Cup...
The defending champions have flattered to deceive in this year’s Six Nations but Youngs believes Mako and Billy’s ‘raw strength’ can make the difference against Scotland and IrelandEngland may be one win away from equalling New Zealand’s record of 18 straight victories from a tier one nation, but they have yet to enjoy an interval lead in this year’s Six Nations, slow starters against France and Wales and non-starters against Italy when their opponents’ cunning exploitation of the offside rule befuddled the champions, whose late blizzard of tries did not mask the earlier shambles. Related: Scotland coach Matt Taylor scents big chance against England in Six Nations Related: Billy Vunipola could be back for England’s Six Nations match with Scotland...
With two weeks left to impress the coach, which players have put their hands up in the Six Nations and who might miss out on the tour to New Zealand?Leigh Halfpenny looked the Test full-back from the start in 2013, not least because of his goal-kicking, but with Owen Farrell able to fill that role it is more open this year. Stuart Hogg offers the most in attack but his defence is suspect while the reverse is true of Halfpenny, whose threat with the ball in hand seems to diminish every year. Mike Brown’s “they don’t like it up ’em” approach is not likely to be enough in New Zealand while pace is an issue for Rob Kearney. Full-back may...
The England coach tried to divert attention from the tactical bafflement shown against Italy and this week’s relocation of Six Nations squad training to Oxford will see an attempt to make brains match brawn• World Rugby backs referee Poite over England v Italy ruck debateWhen Eddie Jones decided to relocate squad training to Oxford this week he was unaware how appropriate his choice would turn out to be. The old university city is full of brilliant thinkers and, boy, could England do with a mind-expanding seminar or two. Rugby will forever demand physicality but if Jones’s team wish to win another Six Nations grand slam they will need to exhibit more brainpower than they did against Italy.It was not simply...
The Six Nations champions were confounded by a legitimate plan to avoid rucks by not committing to the breakdown after tacklesBack when Eddie Jones was coaching in Japan he complained that his players spent too much time learning to play the game by rote, running through the same old drills without trying anything new. Always ready with a quote, he said that “everyone drives 10,000 hours but few of us become better drivers”.A good rugby player, Jones explained, has to be able think on his feet. “A lack of creativity,” he said, “means we have fewer players with the decision-making skills needed to win games of rugby.” Well, against England Italy showed plenty of creativity and Jones’s players were presented...