Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
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
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
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
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
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
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
England eventually found a way through a determined but under-par Japanese outfit on Sunday evening. England won ugly yet momentum is growing, with two wins over the pool’s two toughest opponents, Argentina and Japan. It was not pretty but, successful World Cup campaigns rarely are, and England ultimately might have one foot in the quarter-finals. […] READ MORE
England somehow beat Wales but massive concerns remain around their game plan and attack. In an extraordinary match at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, England somehow found a way to win against Wales. They did it whilst playing with 12 men thanks to two yellow cards and a red card to captain Owen Farrell. Given how […] READ MORE
Steve Borthwick has made four changes to his line-up as he takes his battered and bruised team to face the Ireland Grand Slam assault. Injuries to Ollie Chessum and Ollie Lawrence mean recalls for Dave Ribbans and Manu Tuilagi. As well, Henry Arundell is finally given his chance on the wing in place of Max […] READ MORE
All the headlines this week are around Marcus Smith taking Owen Farrell’s jersey. Rightly so, as it is a brave call made by England coach, Steve Borthwick. International coaches, particularly England’s, are paid the big bucks to make these selection decisions. For a traditionally risk-averse coach, this is a significant change in direction for Borthwick. […] READ MORE
Charlie has been writing rugby features for the last 20 years and has covered World Cups, Six Nations, and Lions' tours. My aim has always been to provide opinion and analysis which hopefully adds to the conversations that we all enjoy over a pint or two in the pub.