England need to channel spirit of 2007 at Rugby World Cup September 1, 2023 England could, realistically, be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in France by 10pm on 17 September. The car crash that is the national team head across the Channel in the coming days to play Argentina and Japan in their opening two matches. After that they take on Chile and Samoa, but by then [...]
As Denzel Washington leads The Equalizer 3 we ask: Why are all the action heroes so old? August 31, 2023 Liam Neeson disarming two cops, cuffing them together and knocking them unconscious in Taken 3; Denzel Washington smashing a mobster over the head with a teapot in The Equalizer 2; Tom Cruise jumping off a cliff on a motorbike in MI7. What do these men all have in common, apart from being the kind of [...]
Spotlight falls on Steve Borthwick coaching after Fiji set off more England alarm bells August 28, 2023 Steve Borthwick declared himself “deeply honoured” and “excited” upon being named the successor to old mentor Eddie Jones as England rugby coach in December. “The English game is full of talent and I want to build a winning team which makes the most of our huge potential and inspires young people to fall in love [...]
Courtney Lawes to captain England on 100th cap as Jonny May gets surprise call August 24, 2023 Courtney Lawes will win his 100th cap when he captains England in their final warm-up match before the Rugby World Cup against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday. With Owen Farrell serving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle, Lawes is retained as skipper to become the fifth England player to amass a century of Test [...]
Ollie Phillips: Farrell and Vunipola bans are almighty World Cup headache for England August 23, 2023 The banning of England pair Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola for the start of the Rugby World Cup has thrust tackling into the spotlight, and on that topic I share the view of Shaun Edwards. As the France defence coach says, it is a contact sport so accidental collisions are inevitable. That is made more [...]
Ford Ranger Raptor review: Truck yeah! August 21, 2023 Tim Pitt drives the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor: a go-anywhere tough truck that is a fun alternative to a family SUV.
Rugby’s disciplinary process betrays the very reason tough rules are in place August 17, 2023 Utterly ridiculous. Hugely embarrassing. Total disaster. These are some of the thoughts that have crossed my mind this week when I should instead be getting excited for the Rugby World Cup next month. Why? Because with the overturning of Owen Farrell’s red card from last Saturday, all of the sport’s decision makers have put the [...]
Farrell idiocy leaves door open for Ford to lead Bothwick’s England at 10 August 15, 2023 England’s World Cup risks being scuppered before it even gets underway in France after captain Owen Farrell was handed a red card on Saturday, but Ford could come in and save the day. It is already starting to feel like the Rugby World Cup of absentees. First it was the exclusion of the reigning champions [...]
Owen Farrell is the only world class player in England’s Rugby World Cup squad August 11, 2023 Let’s address the fact staring us in the face that there’s only one current world class player in the England World Cup squad named by Steve Borthwick on Monday. The 33-man squad is largely experienced and capable, but it’s not a side I see lifting the William Webb Ellis Trophy come the end of autumn. [...]
Who’s in England’s Rugby World Cup squad? August 7, 2023 England head coach Steve Borthwick named his 33-man Rugby World Cup this morning ahead of next month’s showpiece event. The former Leicester Tiger has been trimming his squad over the last two months and has made a number of eyebrow raising decisions as he looks to turn an England side he inherited last December into [...]