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Continue reading...Tuilagi could face England with Samoa while Marchant return is boon for Borthwick
Tuilagi free to switch allegiances for 2027 World Cup
Marchant available for England after signing for Sale
Manu Tuilagi has refused to rule out playing for Samoa at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, leaving open the possibility of him facing Steve Borthwick’s England in Australia.
The 34-year-old, who spearheaded the Red Rose midfield for more than a decade, would qualify for the Pacific Island nation in 2027 under eligibility rules introduced four years ago.
Continue reading...England have no plans to reward Borthwick with new deal despite winning run
Head coach’s current deal runs until 2027
RFU annual report shows net loss of £1.9m
The Rugby Football Union has no plans to begin talks with Steve Borthwick over extending his contract beyond 2027 “for the foreseeable future” despite England’s 11-match winning streak and autumn clean sweep.
Borthwick’s contract runs until the end of 2027 but with England halfway through the current World Cup cycle and currently third in the world rankings, the RFU chief executive, Bill Sweeney, has no immediate intention of discussing an extension in a sea change from the union’s previous approach.
Continue reading...The Breakdown | A November to remember: let’s celebrate the good in international rugby
We turn the dial towards whimsy and revisit some of the moments that made the autumn internationals irresistible
South Africa and Ireland played out a slugfest for the ages and the discourse has been dominated by yellow cards and flying shoulders to the head. England held off a spirited Argentina to claim their 11th consecutive Test win and it seems all anyone can talk about is some alleged after-the-whistle shoving. Wales and New Zealand traded 11 tries in a ding-dong encounter and yet the narrative is weighed down by caveats concerning fading empires.
What, exactly, is the point of Test rugby? Beyond winning World Cups and regional crowns, does this chaotic sport hold any value? A bit of spice elevates almost every dish, sure, but it has felt as if this autumn’s brilliant rugby fare has been smothered in a sauce with a needlessly high Scoville count.
Continue reading...England know how to win under Borthwick – now to handle great expectations | Gerard Meagher
After 11 successive victories, England will go into next year’s Six Nations as the team to beat
A Six Nations grand slam, plus Nations Championship victories against South Africa and Fiji and England would head to Argentina next July having equalled their record run of 18 wins, in pursuit of a ground-breaking No 19. Sounds simple put like that, but there’s more chance of Steve Borthwick busting his best moves in England’s next viral TikTok video than him entertaining any thought of record runs.
That is not to criticise, because even though Borthwick is allergic to looking too far ahead, doing so would be to get drastically carried away. The point here is that the more England keep winning, and they will enter the Six Nations next year as the team to beat after 11 on the trot, the more expectation increases.
Continue reading...England asked for CCTV footage of Tom Curry’s alleged tunnel scuffle
Argentina lodge complaint and demand investigation
Post-match incident follows anger over Curry tackle
England have been told to provide CCTV footage of the alleged tunnel bust-up between Tom Curry and Felipe Contepomi after Argentina lodged a formal complaint and demanded an investigation into the incident.
It is understood that Six Nations Rugby – which organises the autumn Tests – has asked for England to provide footage as well as a formal statement before deciding whether to begin disciplinary proceedings. The Rugby Football Union is also expected to provide any other relevant video captured of the incident.
Continue reading...England 27-23 Argentina: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened
Max Ojomoh scored one try and and set up two more as England held off a late comeback from Argentina.
This is Argentina’s third and final game of the autumn.
They spanked Wales by a record score and, as we’ve said multiple times, did the business as they came from behind to stun Scotland.
Wales 26-52 New Zealand
Ireland 13-24 South Africa
France 48-33 Australia
Italy 34-19 Chile
Continue reading...Van der Merwe becomes Scotland’s record try-scorer in thrashing of Tonga
Scotland 56-0 Tonga
Visitors given three yellow cards and one red
Duhan van der Merwe moved in front of Darcy Graham at the top of Scotland’s all-time try-scoring charts as Gregor Townsend’s side rounded off a disappointing autumn with an eight-try 56-0 win over indisciplined Tonga at Murrayfield.
The Scots’ series was always going to be defined by results against New Zealand and Argentina, so back-to-back losses in those two Tests meant the visit of a Tonga side ranked 19th in the world would be largely irrelevant in the final analysis – unless Townsend’s men were beaten again.
Continue reading...Wallabies fans are entitled to be frustrated but it’s not all grim for this tired, talented side
There were enough sparks and signs of intent in Europe to suggest Australia are a team at the beginning of something, not the end
At the end of a frenetic first half, where Angus Bell ran in one of the great tries by a Wallaby prop, where Matt Faessler powered over for a brace, where Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored a solo stunner and Thomas Ramos and Nicolas Depoortère dotted down as well, Tane Edmed gathered a pass at first receiver.
The young fly-half, playing in his seventh Test, was having a decent game. He’d slotted two of his three shots at goal. He was brave to the line, carrying with zip, stitching moves together as he tried to spark a backline short on fluency. But with the clock in the red, he attempted a raking kick to the corner. Either he didn’t realise the 40 minutes had elapsed, or he thought he was in his own half and a 50-22 was on. Either way, after watching the ball skid into touch to end the half, he stood still, hands on head, stunned by his own misread.
Continue reading...France triumph in topsy-turvy match to leave Australia winless on autumn tour
France 48-33 Australia
Les Bleus run in seven tries to end autumn series in style
France beat Australia in a see-saw match to end the Wallabies’ first winless tour of Europe in 67 years, spoiling Joe Schmidt’s farewell Test as both teams closed their autumn series at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Les Bleus, whose November campaign produced mixed results, alternated moments of attacking flair and periods of costly indiscipline, repeatedly allowing Australia back into a match that fluctuated throughout.
Continue reading...Wallabies condemned to winless Europe tour in loss to France as pressure mounts on Joe Schmidt
Despite improved showing, Australia fall 48-33 to Les Bleus in Paris
Wallabies make unwanted history with first winless Europe tour in 67 years
Pressure continues to mount on the beleaguered coach Joe Schmidt after the Wallabies ended a disastrous spring tour with a damaging 48-33 loss to France in Paris.
Despite a vastly improved showing after insipid displays against England, Italy and Ireland, the Wallabies have now endured a winless four-Test tour of Europe for the first time since 1958.
Continue reading...Wales 26-52 New Zealand: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened
The All Blacks claimed a 34th win in a row against Wales after an entertaining game in Cardiff. Daniel Gallan was watching
Alrighty, here we go! Nothing to lose for Wales. Just go out there and give it to the All Blacks! A proper chance to make a name.
Hollie Davidson becomes the first female referee to take charge of an All Blacks game.
Continue reading...Ireland 13-24 South Africa: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened
Ireland lose five men to the sin-bin – including one red card – a South Africa’s power game secures Rassie Erasmus’ first win in Dublin.
Sam Prendergasr gets the nod at fly-half as an otherwise settled side takes aim at the world champions.
Experience duo Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier return with gnarled veterans joining them across the park.
Continue reading...Beating Pumas could open pivotal chapter in England’s 2027 World Cup story
Defeat of Argentina in 2000 was important stepping stone for Clive Woodward’s side on way to winning ultimate prize
It is exactly 25 years since the most fraught pre-match buildup in the history of English international rugby union. In this same week in November 2000 a pay row led to the entire national side walking out on strike, prompting Clive Woodward to threaten that an alternative team of lower-league amateurs would be chosen if his players did not return to training by 11am the following morning.
After a tense standoff they duly did so, a grudging truce was agreed and the weekend game against Argentina went ahead with England winning 19-0. Three years later all but two of that matchday squad (the exceptions were David Flatman and Matt Perry) were lifting the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The moral of the “strike” story? The darkest hour can be the springboard to a spectacular golden dawn.
Continue reading...Maro Itoje backs late call-up Max Ojomoh to shine against Argentina
Bath centre replaces Fraser Dingwall
Itoje: ‘He has a bit of a swagger the way he plays’
Max Ojomoh has been backed to bring his swagger to England’s pursuit of an autumn internationals clean sweep after he was a late call-up following more disruption to Steve Borthwick’s side. Ojomoh has been thrust into the No 12 jersey for a first Twickenham start in place of the injured Fraser Dingwall but Maro Itoje believes the Bath centre will flourish against Argentina.
Dingwall’s withdrawal with a side strain sustained last weekend is further upheaval for Borthwick, who has already lost Ollie Lawrence, Jamie George and Tom Roebuck since the 33-19 triumph over the All Blacks. With Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum also injury casualties of the autumn, Borthwick’s ranks have been depleted but Ojomoh has been in fine fettle for Bath this season and impressed on his debut against the USA last summer.
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