The two most impressive teams this past week in European Professional Rugby Club (EPRC) competition were perhaps the Harlequin F.C. and the Exeter Chiefs. And in those games, Marcus Smith and Will Joseph were superb in Harlequins’ scintillating win over Racing 92 in Paris. On Saturday afternoon, the Chiefs were equally impressive in downing mighty […] READ MORE
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England rugby’s starting team for the 2024 Six Nations
The 2024 Six Nations is just around the corner and so starts the four-year cycle for all teams. For England and Steve Borthwick, the foundations have been laid by an encouraging semi-final performance at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Charlie Inglefield asks what might this team look like through the eyes of Borthwick? And whether […] READ MORE
Sale win ugly over Bath but fail to convince
As Alex Sanderson, Sale’s coach said after his team’s ugly 11-9 win over Bath – they found a way to win. Sale are definitely in the mix to go one better this year and win the Gallagher Premiership. On Friday’s evidence, they need to be a lot better. They played a second-string Bath outfit who […] READ MORE
Saracens reassert title credentials
Saracens were back to their brutal best on Saturday. They suffocated the life out of a high-flying Harlequins outfit with consummate ease. This despite losing Ben Earl, and Elliot Daly in the warm-up and Alex Lozowski a couple of minutes into the game. No problem, up stepped the likes of Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell […] READ MORE
England Rugby duo of Alex Mitchell and George Martin could get them to the top
Any way you want to break it down, Steve Borthwick has got England rugby believing again. And it is with the potential England Rugby duo of Alex Mitchell and George Martin hinting a more time near to the top of the Test arena. A semi-final spot which could and should have been a final shoot-out […] READ MORE
‘Revenge of The Rugby Championship’ in 2023 RWC semi-finals contention
It certainly was contradictory to the common belief of your everyday rugby fan. And after the ‘revenge of The Rugby Championship’ nations to put themselves into 2023 RWC semi-finals contention, many Northern Hemisphere teams have found themselves left wondering how? Any Rugby World Cup (RWC) will throw-up the odd upset, a match maybe lost when […] READ MORE
England needs to play the game of their lives
England will not lack any motivation on Saturday evening when they come up against the Springboks. The 2019 World Cup final defeat to South Africa still stings for many in this squad and that is motivation enough. The challenge for England is that the 2023 version of the Springboks is better than the 2019 vintage. […] READ MORE
England scraped through in a thrilling quarter-final
Elton John’s classic hit, ‘I’m Still Standing’ rang out as England’s players triumphantly walked around Marseille’s fantastic Stade Velodrome stadium. They had just seen off Fiji 30-24 in a breathless quarter-final. It was an apt tune because seven weeks ago England was trudging off the Twickenham turf after a disastrous loss to Fiji. England scraped […] READ MORE
Steve Borthwick has given England the tools to unleash
England’s management have made two huge selection calls for the quarter-final clash against Fiji on Saturday. The traditionally conservative Steve Borthwick has picked Marcus Smith over Freddie Steward at full-back. Secondly, the Ford/Farrell partnership has gone with Farrell being entrusted with the fly-half duties. Borthwick has given England the tools to unleash now the team […] READ MORE
England’s win over Samoa must not cover up serious problems
Western Samoa were rightly devastated having lost a game they should have won. England were woeful for most of this match but somehow found a way to win. That is the positive that everyone associated with England Rugby needs to hold onto as they stumble into the quarter-finals. The reality is that Steve Borthwick and […] READ MORE