Leigh Halfpenny looks in the mood to give England a kicking, Italy’s discipline will be tested by Ireland and France know they must not lose to ScotlandThere were times during the autumn when one could not help but feel for Leigh Halfpenny. It used to be the case that anything in the opposition half was within his kicking range but it seemed his lengthy troubles might have changed that for good. And as an attacking threat he was a fair way below the level he showed with the Lions four years ago; all the while Liam Williams was continuing to shine. Against Italy, however, Halfpenny was one of Wales’s brightest players and his kicking was also on the money. Shaun...
Having won on two of their last three Six Nations visits to Cardiff, the champions are hardly going to be all aquiver when they cross the Severn BridgeEddie Jones said this week England were petrified of playing in Wales, citing what he described as their horrendous record in the country of 21 victories, four draws and 36 defeats in 135 years of travelling across the Severn. Related: Ben Te’o enjoys bumping around with England – next stop North Korea? Related: Sam Davies’ verve and vision evokes golden era of Wales fly-half wizards | Gerard Meagher Continue reading...
England were a rabble – but a winning one – Scotland’s pack has given them composure and Wales have injury worries aheadA 15th successive win is an all-time record for England and another undefeated grand slam campaign would enable them to overtake New Zealand’s world record for Tier One nations of 18 straight victories. They will have to improve significantly on this display to extend their unprecedented run but their fitness levels and bench reserves are making them a tough bunch to overcome in the final quarter of games. If they can start as well as they finish, they will fancy notching up victory number 16 in Cardiff on Saturday. Robert Kitson Related: England 19-16 France: how the players rated...
The fly-half was involved in all three tries after his second-half introduction, leaving Rob Howley with a dilemma over whether to start him against EnglandRob Howley’s dilemma before Saturday’s potentially tournament-defining encounter against England in Cardiff is whether to say Sam again, twice over. Related: Halfpenny impresses as Wales start Six Nations campaign with win over Italy Continue reading...
Eddie Jones’s players find a way to win 19-16 after France’s Guy Novès inspires a revival that almost forces a Six Nations major reversalEngland’s 15th win, the one that broke the record set by the squad that won the World Cup in 2003, was the tightest yet. There were only three points in it, though you would never have known that from the way the head coach, Eddie Jones, told it after the match was over. “I thought we were awful,” Jones said, “but I always thought we were going to win.”Sports journalists are usually a thirsty lot, but Jones’s press conferences leave people feeling particularly parched because you have to take so many pinches of salt with what he...