Australia captain Harry Wilson has rejected claims the Wallabies use illegal and dangerous breakdown tactics as they prepare to face England.
No mountain too high for Itoje and England with Australia first up in autumn series
England captain stresses team must display their full power in Saturday’s first of four home internationals in November
Just occasionally even the world’s best rugby players are genuinely taken aback. In mid-September, Maro Itoje, recuperating from his British & Irish Lions exertions, stood and watched an England training session and could not believe the pace, intensity and all-round zip on view. “I was thinking: ‘Wow, I need to get back in the gym, I need to make sure I come back quickly,’” he admitted this week.
Itoje says his former teammate Mako Vunipola was just as impressed – “He didn’t remember it being that fast” – on a visit to England’s base in Bagshot the other day. Another recent retiree, the England scrum-half Danny Care, felt similarly. All of which has been fuelling Itoje’s growing belief, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, that “there’s no mountain we can’t climb”.
Continue reading...Wallabies firing again in time for England clash after return to free-running DNA
Victory over hosts at Twickenham 12 months ago proved a launchpad for Australia to begin climb back from nadir
If only Henry Slade had managed to stop Ben Donaldson getting that offload away, if only Ollie Sleightholme had been able to make that wrap-up tackle on Len Ikitau, if only Marcus Smith was able to catch Max Jorgensen. But Slade didn’t, Sleightholme couldn’t, Smith wasn’t, and Jorgensen scored in the corner. This time last year the Wallabies beat England 42-37, their first victory against them at Twickenham in nine years, and it was, the players will tell you themselves, the moment when everything changed. “This game last year was a big turning point for us as a group,” says the Australia captain, Harry Wilson. “It really made us believe that on our day we can beat anybody in the world.”
Twelve months ago England weren’t worried about the Wallabies so much as they were worried for the Wallabies. The one thing an Australian team doesn’t want is pity, but that’s what they got. They had won two Tests out of nine in 2023, when they embarrassed themselves at the World Cup, and, after a few months during which he seemed to spend most of his time bowling around in a cork hat and shouting at everyone about how rubbish Australian rugby was, their head coach Eddie Jones had defected to Japan. A couple of their better players had hopped codes to play in the NRL and they had dropped to ninth in the world rankings. It was all getting a bit existential.
Continue reading...Ireland and All Blacks back in Chicago with memories of 2016 on the mind
Ireland’s Caelan Doris making comeback from injury
World champions South Africa play Japan at Wembley
It is back to where it started for Ireland. And by “it” we mean any kind of success against the All Blacks. With that, of course, comes credibility on the world stage, a status they still enjoy.
On Saturday night, UK and Ireland time, afternoon in the United States, Ireland take on New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago. Before any considerations of team news and vibes, the words Ireland, New Zealand and Soldier Field will transport many a rugby fan back not quite nine years. On 5 November 2016, Ireland, at the 29th time of asking, finally prevailed over the All Blacks, 111 years after their first shot at them. And how. No ugly scrap by a plucky underdog here, but an exhilarating 40 points and five tries under a Chicago sun.
Continue reading...Australia’s Harry Wilson rejects claims Wallabies use illegal breakdown tactics
Borthwick has highlighted entering rucks from the side
Wilson denies Wallabies use dangerous or illegal tactics
Australia’s captain, Harry Wilson, has rejected a claim made on the eve of their clash with England that the Wallabies use illegal breakdown tactics.
The Daily Telegraph reported that England head coach, Steve Borthwick, has highlighted Australia’s alleged ploy of deliberately entering rucks from the side when he met referee Nika Amashukeli before Saturday’s Twickenham showdown. Player welfare concerns were also raised over the tourists’ approach to clear-outs.
Continue reading...Having a ball-player is important but England also need a bit of beef, and that’s Freeman | Ugo Monye
Centre pairing of Northampton duo Tommy Freeman and Fraser Dingwall is unconventional but exciting, as is the depth of England’s squad
Optimism is often manufactured at the start of a campaign. Everyone goes in believing they can win every game, but there is a mood of true optimism around England before the autumn series. Considering they have won their last seven matches, had their best finish to a Six Nations for five years, and then won a summer series in Argentina, I think it’s fair to have confidence. Argentina beat the British & Irish Lions and England won there despite having 13 players away in Australia, plus one of the coaches.
The amount of Prem players excelling and the level in that competition also makes me excited for what England can achieve in November, starting with Australia on Saturday. Steve Borthwick is growing into the job and is more confident in what he’s doing: turbulence may not be the right word for the early days of his tenure, but I think people expected more. As fans we want immediate results, but coaches tend to have a “helicopter” view and understand the direction of travel.
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: prizes, punches, persistence and set-piece perfection
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Continue reading...England accuses Wallabies of ‘illegal’ tactics as Australia reveals eight changes for first Test
The fuse has been lit for Saturday’s first autumn Test against England after reports emerged over in the UK that the Wallabies have been accused of “illegal” breakdown tactics.
Borthwick hopes England can emulate Bazball mentality for autumn series
Head coach and Wigglesworth meet Brendon McCullum
England face Australia on Saturday awaiting ‘Borthball’ era
England’s rugby players are seeking to emulate the Bazball ethos of their cricketing counterparts and strike a pre-emptive blow for the nation in the run-up to the forthcoming Ashes series. Steve Borthwick and members of his coaching staff have had discussions with Brendon McCullum and want their team to make a fast and furious start against Australia in the Quilter Nations Series on Saturday.
There is a collective desire within the England camp to make a statement over the coming month and Borthwick and his defence coach, Richard Wigglesworth, have been picking McCullum’s brain on the best ways to encourage a positive mindset. “We met Brendon McCullum and his coaching staff a few weeks ago,” said Wigglesworth. “We had a sit down and a coffee in Manchester which was very enjoyable.
Continue reading...Tane Edmed keeps Wallabies fly-half spot with Carter Gordon’s return put on hold
Gordon believed to be struggling with quad strain
Tighthead prop Tupou is back in the starting XV
Tane Edmed will take the Wallabies’ playmaking reins again against England as Carter Gordon’s eagerly awaited return to international rugby union has been put on hold.
Gordon, the eight-Test fly-half who played at the last World Cup for Australia before sensationally leaving the code to sign with the Titans, has secured a release from his NRL deal to join the Wallabies’ tour.
Continue reading...Dingwall backed to plot course through the midfield maze for England
Steve Borthwick has opted for the Northampton centre, his ‘glue’ player, over an array of talented England backs
Even Steve Borthwick admits that picking his team to face Australia on Saturday was tricky. And even after he had made his mind up, there was a training ground snapshot which underlined the slim margins involved. “There was a piece of play where the skill showed by the team not starting was absolutely incredible,” said Borthwick. “I couldn’t praise them highly enough for the way they tested the team that is starting.”
Which neatly sums up England’s intensifying backline debate. Ollie Lawrence, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell, Henry Slade, Cadan Murley and Max Ojomoh are all fit and can’t even make the matchday 23. Not to mention the up-and-coming Noah Caluori. Nor Owen Farrell. Let alone the injured Elliot Daly, George Furbank, Seb Atkinson, Ollie Sleightholme and Will Muir.
Continue reading...Australia will target Freeman at centre in England clash, George Gregan warns
Former captain says defensive questions will be asked
Freeman switching from more familiar role out wide
The former Australia captain George Gregan says they will target Tommy Freeman’s defending at outside-centre for England on Saturday.
Steve Borthwick’s side kick off their autumn campaign at Twickenham against opponents who consigned them to a dramatic late defeat last year, and the head coach has made some notable selectorial calls.
Continue reading...State of the Nations: form guide for November rugby internationals
The southern hemisphere big guns have touched down in Europe for the Quilter Nations Series and there is much to look forward to over the next five weekends
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Continue reading...Rugby union 2025: England team to face Wallabies at Twickenham, George Ford flyhalf as Marcus Smith omitted, news, video
George Ford has won the race to be England’s starting fly-half against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), with Fin Smith on the bench and Marcus Smith omitted from coach Steve Borthwick’s matchday 23 entirely.
Borthwick rips up script with move to hybrids that could lead to Pollock on wing
Head coach may also consider playing Ben Earl at centre
Marcus Smith left out of matchday 23 to face Australia
Steve Borthwick is considering playing his fast-rising back-row Henry Pollock on the wing at some stage this autumn as he seeks fresh impetus in all areas before the looming November Tests.
The England head coach says he wants his side to hit the ground running against Australia on Saturday and may also start Ben Earl at centre this season.
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