Stuart Hogg looked tortured by what might have been while the French greeted victory with a chilling shrug of the shouldersWas this the day to herald French brilliance or to bemoan the same old faultlines that persist so stubbornly in Scotland’s constitution? The temptation, if the bearing of the two camps afterwards is anything to go by, is to opt for the latter. Certainly, Scotland seemed more traumatised by the defeat than France were euphoric about a resounding victory at one of their less favoured grounds of late.Then again, the shrug of the French shoulders, so often a symptom of their own faultline, on this occasion seemed quite ominous. Their travelling fans were raucous and numerous in equal measure, but...
Thoughts may have been elsewhere but after a slow start Eddie Jones’s men produced something to remember to see off WalesThere is no official smoking area at Twickenham. The organisers are very clear on this point. Smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited in all areas of the ground, enforced by hundreds of stern-looking signs with a handy reminder on the back of your ticket. Unofficially, of course, everyone knows that the smokers congregate near Gates D and F by the green perimeter fence, and no lackey in an orange bib is going to offer a word of demurral. And so it is that at half-time in this taut, gripping game the corners of the ground are thick with the fug...
The England scrum-half came on for his 115th cap against Wales at Twickenham and with the emergence of Harry Randall it may be a role he has to get used toIn the end, Ben Youngs’s big moment got a little lost in all the excitement. The match was an hour old, and just beginning to slip from England’s grip, when he finally came on for his 115th cap and beat the record set by Jason Leonard back in 2004.England had been 17-0 up not so very long ago, but Wales, who, for all their flaws, absolutely did not stop coming, had scored two tries, and 12 points, in the last seven minutes. Twickenham was rocking, and England were reeling. The...
Writer Richard Beard believes killing off lazy stereotypes and emphasising huge possibilities within the game is way forwardPromoting rugby union should be the simplest of games in weeks like this. The Six Nations is in full flow, Wales are due at Twickenham and the passion and intensity is self evident. Who could possibly need persuading to watch on television or, having taken out the required mortgage, to buy a ticket?The answer is millions of people. There is no shortage of non-believers and latterly the big Cs – Covid and concussion – have not helped either. Adult male participation rates have fallen and rugby is not a priority in many inner-city schools. Which makes this a timely moment to ponder how...
England’s new No 10 displayed attacking flair and confidence over Italy to show head coach why he must be given total trustNot the knockout blow Eddie Jones was seeking when urging his side to channel Muhammad Ali but mercifully it is always a safe bet Marcus Smith will float like a butterfly when afforded this much time and space. Italy’s 34th consecutive Six Nations defeat will not live long in the memory but this could yet prove to be a seminal moment in Smith’s England career.The 22-year-old is destined for a long and prosperous run in the No 10 jersey and already you sense England’s World Cup hopes next year will largely hinge on Smith’s form. His performance here is...