'Tells you everything about England'

Surprise package: Steve Borthwick guided England to the World Cup semi-finals Steve Borthwick is hoping to make a real impact in his second campaign at the helm having had preciously little time to work with his players after being hired to replace the sacked Eddie Jones last year. England underwhelmed massively during the Six Nations once again 12…

OPINION: Rugbypass writer Finn Morton makes some bold predictions for 2024. New Year, new me' is a phrase that we all hear every 12 months. The start of a new year presents us all with an opportunity to take a step back and start again if we need to. Fireworks, cheers and a general sense of optimism filled the air at midnight on the morning of…

It would have been a brave punter who'd bet big on the All Blacks back in early September. As the World Cup kicked off, the bookies had New Zealand at longer odds to win thanIreland, France and the Springboks. Then they lost to France in their opening match. And yet, just six weeks later, the All Blacks are days away from a chance at a sporting…

Rugby World Cup: England train at France base ahead of Japan clash Winger Henry Arundell scored five tries as England tore up the safety-first playbook from their first two matches at the Rugby World Cup in a crushing 71-0 defeat of Chile on Saturday to hand coach Steve Borthwick a selection quandary. England, who made 12 changes from the starting…

This one matters. The Auld Enemy, a teatime full house and a World Cup send-off. There are friendlies and then there are Ireland-England friendlies which, even in a game of tiddlywinks could probably be deemed a contradiction in terms. History also tells us that Ireland-England encounters can often be of huge significance, and this looks no…

England are certainly favourites at home, but Scotland have won their last two against the English. I am backing the visitors to get within the seven point handicap with another upset on the cards. England vs Scotland Predictions Head to Head England Form England Injuries & Team News Scotland Form Scotland Injuries & Team News England have lost 2…

As the curtain comes down on the pool stages of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup. Rugby fans were once again reminded of the razor-thin margins in club rugby's toughest competition. Coming into the final round of this season's competition just three teams were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Now bidding adieu to eight teams,…

Joanah Ngan-Woo's heroics in the dying stages of this year's World Cup final at Eden Park will go down in history as one of the greatest moments in New Zealand rugby history. The Black Ferns dared to dream of a seemingly unlikely World Cup triumph on home soil, less than a year after a disastrous end-of-season tour to England and France. But New…

Eddie Jones has urged Marcus Smith to maintain an "aggressive" mind-set with England and wants his team to aim to pierce defences on every phase. Smith's searing break was the catalyst for a remarkable fightback that saw the hosts salvage a 25-25 draw. With just 10 minutes to go, they had been trailing 25-6 and were staring down the barrel of a…

The All Blacks have had a famous win against England at Twickenham snatched from them in the final, controversial, eight minutes this morning after the hosts scored three quick tries in a 25-all draw. In what was a strange match dominated by the whistle of referee Mathieu Raynal, who awarded 28 penalties and two free-kicks - split evenly between…

Capitalising on Beauden Barrett being in the sin bin, the hosts roared back with three late tries, then opted to kick the ball out instead of chancing their arm for victory, to cap a mad end to the contest. Here's how the UK press reacted to the dramatic draw in London. Stephen Jones - The Times Whatever England's plans were for this astonishing…

2022 Autumn Nations Series, Twickenham, London 19/11/2022 England vs New ZealandNew Zealand's Rieko Ioane and New Zealand's Caleb Clarke Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie/ www.photosport.nz How the UK media reacted to the All Blacks' 25-25 draw with England at Twickenham. By Robert Kitson, Guardian Beneath a dark forbidding November sky came a…

As Owen Farrell lolloped out into a Twickenham cauldron on Sunday evening, the normally phlegmatic England captain allowed himself an uncharacteristic wave to the crowd. This was Farrell's 100th England cap and a landmark evening for him. At one stage it looked like his night would end in nightmare fashion. In the end, Farrell probably wouldn't…

Marcus Smith finally lit the blue touch paper for England but they will be kicking themselves for a dozy start. England's attacking game was nowhere for over an hour as the Kiwis sprinted into a 22-6 lead before the hosts pegged them back. The Twickenham crowd left wondering where the razzle dazzle England of the last 10 minutes had been for the…

The 2022 end-of-year Tests continue to up the ante as New Zealand travel to Twickenham for a salivating match that could prove to be the best of the lot. England haven't faced the All Blacks since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in an all-time classic of a semi-final. In the three years since, the two sides have been through their fair share of ups and…

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…

New Zealand survived an almighty effort from Japan to win 38-31 in Tokyo, scoring five tries to win their first match of the 2022 end-of-year tests by a slender margin. The first half started in scrappy fashion, with neither side able to keep possession for long and the only points coming from the boot of Takuya Yamasawa following a penalty.…

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Catch all the action from England's tour of Australia, Scotland's tour of Argentina, Wales' tour of South Africa and Ireland's tour of New Zealand - live on Sky Sports England captain Courtney Lawes believes that anyone found to have been the source of the racism directed at Luther…

Ireland kept their Six Nations titles hopes alive with a bonus point victory over a 14-man England at Twickenham. The home side had to play nearly all of the match a man down after Charlie Ewels saw red for a high tackle that saw James Ryan leave the field. Ireland were quick to take advantage of the extra man. In the the sixth minute an…

The greatest rivalry in rugby adds another chapter on Saturday as New Zealand faces off against South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final at Stade de France. Both nations have won the World Cup a record three times, with the Springboks claiming the Web Ellis Cup at the previous tournament in 2019. Oddsmakers expect a close match, with rugby…

Saturday's Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa promises to be a classic but it is almost too close to call. England reached the Yokohama showpiece after beating the All Blacks 19-7 in the semi-finals while South Africa were 19-16 winners over Wales. According to Oddschecker Eddie Jones's England are slight favourites to lift the…

YOKOHAMA, Japan - One of the first questions put to England Coach Eddie Jones after his team dominated the near-unanimous favorite to win a third Rugby World Cup semifinal in succession was where England's victory over New Zealand ranked in its rugby history. "We're no historians," Jones said before heaping praise on the All Blacks, which England…

Winger Louis Lynagh has made himself an instant hero with a try on debut as Italy rallied to beat Scotland 31-29 in a dramatic Six Nations clash to put a huge dent in their opponents' championship hopes. The son of former Australia great Michael Lynagh was born in Italy and his try, along with scores from centre Ignacio Brex and replacement…

Eddie Jones backed Marcus Smith's decision to settle for a draw after England fought back from 25-6 down with nine minutes left to avoid defeat in stunning fashion against New Zealand at Twickenham. The hosts looked to be heading for a second Autumn Nations Series loss with tries from Dalton Papali'i, Codie Taylor and Rieko Ioane putting the All…

There is plenty of interest around Randwick-man Eddie Jones' situation with England after his worst season in terms of results: five wins, one draw and six defeats in 12 matches. Sir Clive Woodward, who has not coached an international rugby side since the disastrous British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005, seldom misses a chance to put…