Category: Rugby Union

The former England scrum-half’s depiction of the Australian’s ‘dictatorship’ raises serious questions for RFU

It has taken a while to trickle out but the full and frank verdict of the players is finally in. “It was like living in a dictatorship,” writes Danny Care in his new autobiography, Everything Happens for a Reason, serialised in the Sunday Times. “Remember what it felt like when someone was being bullied at school and you were just glad it wasn’t you? That was the vibe.”

The England regime to which he was referring – shock, horror – was that of Eddie Jones. According to Care, Jones’s players felt “like characters in a dystopian novel” at times. “Everything’s a test,” they would whisper to each other, trying to steel themselves for whatever was about to follow. “Did Eddie rule by fear?” asks Care rhetorically, at one point. “Of course he did, everyone was bloody terrified of him.”

Leicester prop was first to find out about Marler’s retirement and is backing Borthwick after loss to All Blacks

As his close confidant and the first person to find out, Dan Cole was not entirely surprised when Joe Marler told him of his international retirement. Indeed Marler’s decision provoked an altogether different reaction. “He explained his reasons and all that, and I thought: ‘Who the fuck am I going to room with, Joe!? You’ve stitched me up here!’”

It turns out George Ford is the lucky recipient of Marler’s bed but more significantly, it is Sale’s 20-year-old prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour who takes his place in the squad. As Cole says, he will miss Marler, but the world keeps turning. He questions whether, at 37, he still belongs at the highest level almost on a daily basis and Steve Borthwick’s decision to hand the highly-rated Opoku-Fordjour a first call-up is symbolic of the changing of the guard.

After losing another game they should have won, England need fresh impetus if they are to avoid a dismal autumn

Let’s kick off with some good news. The Twickenham experience has been a slightly variable one in recent years but the vibe inside the now-retitled stadium on Saturday was a considerable improvement. A deep rumbling bass shook the concrete stands, adding to the thunderous feel of the whole occasion. And broadcasting the referee’s musings over the public address – why has that taken so long? – was unquestionably a welcome development, too.

The positives do not stop there. What a dramatic endgame it was. And how skilfully New Zealand prised open the coffin lid having seemed all but dead and buried. If the match-turning try by Mark Tele’a with four minutes left was a stunning intervention, what about the towering touchline conversion from Damian McKenzie which ended up separating the two teams? How good was Wallace Sititi? This was not a match defined wholly by missed opportunities.

• Prop calls time on England career after 95 caps
• ‘I don’t want to leave my house with my kids crying’

Joe Marler has retired from international rugby and will play no part in the rest of England’s autumn nations campaign, citing the need to prioritise his family saying: “I can’t do what I used to do as well as I once could”.

As exclusively revealed by the Guardian, Marler left the England camp at the start of last week, citing personal reasons, and made himself unavailable for Saturday’s agonising defeat by the All Blacks. It is understood the prop arrived in camp last Sunday but informed Steve Borthwick and a group of senior players of his decision and returned to his family home. While he was keen to stress that he was taking a “day-by-day” approach last week, the writing was on the wall and he brings the curtain down on his England career with 95 caps.

Victory for New Zealand following two late missed kicks from George Ford at Twickenham

4 mins. The home side are working some phases before Martin can’t grasp a pass in his massive lock mitts. The ball is forward, but the advantage was still rolling meaning Smith can call for the tee and put three points on the board.

2 mins. Beauden Barrett attempts to find Clarke with a kick pass on the NZ 22, but Feyi-Waboso is up in his face to spoil possessions. The ball squirts loose and it puts England on the attack with an advantage

After potential shown on summer tour, England start four-Test home series with every reason for excitement

England stand on the verge of a thrilling month of Test rugby. The traditional big three from the southern hemisphere are due at Twickenham as well as a Japan side who are always entertaining. It’s an exciting time for Steve Borthwick’s side and what they get out of four fixtures against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan is going to be a genuine representation of where they truly are.

We’ve seen highs and lows in the last year. It was a difficult period going into the Six Nations with the defeat by Scotland and then a huge bounce with a victory over Ireland and promise in defeats by France and New Zealand. Borthwick was given a grace period in the first year or so of his tenure – something that wouldn’t be afforded to his opposite number on Saturday, Scott Robertson – but this November series feels definitive for the England head coach’s tenure.