#Billy Vunipola

All being well, Courtney Lawes will become a centurion this Saturday at Suncorp Stadium by winning a 95th England cap to go with his five Tests for the British and Irish Lions. His pedigree is unquestioned and there is more for him to achieve. But it is a curiosity of the 33-year-old's fantastic career that his best position has remained a matter…

England face their day with destiny as they take on South Africa with the title of being world champions on the line England are the bookmakers' favourites heading into the Rugby World Cup Final. South Africa stand in England's way of their second-ever world title - and already have a victory over the Red Rose in this fixture. Back in 2007, they…

No self-respecting tour would be complete without some frivolous awards, so without further ado, here are RW's Alternative Lions awards... At the end of an emotional, roller-coaster of six weeks on tour, it's time for Rugby World to hand out a few tongue-in-cheek gongs to a few individuals, highlights and lowlights that caught our…

Bath Rugby tighthead prop Will Stuart will start his fourth consecutive Test for England as the club's only representative in the matchday 23 to face Australia in the series decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. Bath's giant wing Joe Cokanasiga misses out on selection while Northampton captain Lewis Ludlam replaces the concussed Sam…

At a time when most players were wondering whether they would go to Japan for that year's Rugby World Cup, Kruis wanted to talk about something more long term. He wanted to know Jones' opinion on making Japan his home. "When you bring up the topic, you don't really know which way a coach is going to go," the former Saracens second row told BBC…

The Gallagher Premiership is back and now in full swing. Most of the internationals have made a return to their clubs after a busy summer period at Test level too. Eyes are coming around to the national team once more. The Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations are the last opportunities for Eddie Jones to whittle down the huge English player…

Ireland travel to Rome to face Italy in the Six Nations this weekend. This year's tournament has not gone to plan so far for Andy Farrell, with his side losing their opening two games against Wales and France. They face an Italian side who are also winless in the competition after defeats to France and England. Farrell has made seven changes to the…

With World Rugby currently fighting brush fires on multiple fronts - high contact laws and sanctions, TMO involvement, intentional knock-ons, concussion and global season just some of the main issues - it seems both crazy and inevitable the game is about to stumble into another morass of its own making. A combination of the introduction of private…

After succumbing to a highly disappointing opening day defeat to France in their Six Nations opener last year, Eddie Jones' England bounced back to claim the prestigious championships in an all-action final day consumed by drama. It marked an end to a tournament like no other, which lasted over nine months after the outbreak of the coronavirus…

Pieter-Steph du Toit says he was confident of victory in the last Rugby World Cup final after the first 10 minutes. In that opening spell in Yokohama two years ago, England's Owen Farrell chose to spin the ball wide from behind his own posts and team-mate Billy Vunipola, facing a fast-advancing South Africa defence, chucked a pass to ground deep in…

Given the short timescale England have to turn around their Barbarian mauling into lessons learned for both selection and tactics, Eddie Jones is likely to go with a team of tried and trusted but with a little seasoning from a couple of the more effective players from last weekend's match. Courtney Lawes is his biggest headache; Lawes professes he…

Eddie Jones has been keen to manage expectations and play down England's tag as favourites to win the 2020 Six Nations, pointing to how sides have "deteriorated" after playing in a World Cup final, but the state of the teams around England suggest he should be quietly confident. England were some way ahead the other northern-hemisphere sides in…

The ninth Rugby World Cup gets underway on Friday in the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, taking place in Asia for the first time as the Japanese hosts - still best known for delivering the biggest shock in the sport's history by beating South Africa in 2015 - look to inspire a nation where interest in rugby is growing at a rate of knots, albeit in a…

Courtney Lawes and Northampton are storming towards the end of the regular season Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's final round of the Premiership regular season. BT Sport 1, 3pm Northampton -19 2pts 10-11 general There's one playoff place up for grabs on the final day of the Premiership season and fourth-placed Northampton…

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's Autumn Nations Cup matches. Channel 4 & Amazon Prime, 3pm Saturday England to win by one to 12 points 1pt 2-1 Betfair England coach Eddie Jones says he has picked "the strongest team possible for the most important game of our season," and his charges may be made to work against an…

England head coach Eddie Jones has selected his England team to play Japan in the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday. The Aussies' side lost 30-29 to Argentina last Sunday, a sixth defeat in ten matches this year. "We've worked hard this week to improve on last week's performance. We've taken a good look at our preparation and we are happy with our…

England will go for the kill in the last match of their Summer Internationals tour of Australia. Eddie Jones' men produced a brilliant display last time out to run out 25-17 victors in Brisbane. Billy Vunipola was the only try-scorer for England, but Owen Farrell knocked six penalties through the posts to secure a big, equalising victory. The last…

Thirteen weeks on from the World Cup final England will walk out at the Stade de France on Feb 2 - here is the team I would pick to get the job done and start the 2020 Six Nation s with victory in Le Crunch in Paris. This is the first time in a long while I have had to think about this position. Saracens' issues, his brother's injury (Mako always…

South Africa's Autumn International Series 27-13 demolition of England on Saturday at Twickenham was a brutal reality check for English rugby. England were completely dominated in every department. To further compound what was one of the worst displays by an England rugby team in many a year, the Springboks were down to 14 men going into the final…

Japan came close to besting the All Blacks, and now they face another world powerhouse in England in a litmus test of their improvement. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 2:15am (AEDT). England coach Eddie Jones made five changes from the team beaten by Argentina last week. Leicester's Guy Porter, formerly of Sydney Uni, comes…

Wing Jonny May brings plenty of pace to the party for England Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's autumn international between England and Japan. Amazon Prime, 3.15pm Saturday England to win by 21 to 30 points 1pt 3-1 Coral, Ladbrokes England will be looking for a much improved performance following last week's Twickenham defeat…

England are out to put their disappointing defeat to Argentina behind them when they host Japan on Saturday. Having lost 30-29 to the Pumas last weekend, they'll need to show a significant reaction after a below-par performance from many of Eddie Jones' key performers, and will need to be very wary about the threat posed by his former side. Japan's…

3pts Scotland to score six or more tries at 8/11 (Paddy Power) 2pts Scotland (-27) to beat Italy on the handicap at evens (General) 1pt Scotland to win by 31-40 points at 7/2 (Paddy Power, Betfair) 1pt Chris Harris anytime try-scorer in Scotland v Italy at 5/2 (Paddy Power, Betfair) 1pt England try first scoring play v Ireland at 4/1 (Betfair,…

Hardcore rugby fans the world over will be licking their lips as the armada of Southern Hemisphere giants steams north to take on the old world powers of the Six Nations. New Zealand laid down a statement of intent last weekend when they stopped off in Washington DC to cuff around a callow United States Eagles team, shorn of their more experienced…

With the rugby transfer market flooded with Worcester Warriors players, and potentially soon Wasps players, the rugby transfer market has never been busier with clubs also locking down their key stars and targets ahead of the 2023/24 season. Here are all the latest transfer rumours, contract renewals and confirmed moves from around the Gallagher…

Under the new proposals, players will be able to represent the country of their or their ancestors' birth after a three-year stand-down period. The likes of All Blacks superstar Charles Piutau could represent Tonga as soon as next year in what would be a major boost to Pacific Island nations before the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The World Rugby council…

Billy Vunipola and Saracens are out to avenge October's loss to Leicester Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saracens v Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday. BT Sport 3, 3pm Saturday Saracens to win by one to 12 points 1pt 6-4 Betfred, Boyles Saracens have the chance to show they are still the yardstick to judge all…

We were treated to a stunning spectacle of rugby last weekend which saw all four Southern Hemisphere nations take the chocolates, while France was the only team from up north to collect a win. With several series on the line can England, Ireland or Wales fight their way to victory in Game 2? Read on for all the line-ups and key team news as it…