3 hours ago England feel need for speed as Steve Borthwick gambles with Ireland selection calls

Under-pressure boss has taken risks in bid to throw defending Six Nations champions off their rhythm in Dublin showdown

Politics

4 hours ago How to watch Ireland vs England FOR FREE: TV channel and live stream for Six Nations rugby today

Daunting start to campaign for Steve Borthwick’s side

Sport

3 hours ago Some games are bigger than others so pressure is on Ireland and England

Visitors can forge a winning new identity under Maro Itoje but the experienced Irish remain marginal favouritesEvery Six Nations fixture is a grand occasion but some games are bigger than others. Ireland and England both know how crucial today’s Dublin eliminator will be in terms of establishing early championship momentum. Listening to the upbeat pre-match tone of the visitors’ new captain, Maro Itoje – “I think we have a team that’s ready to write our own stories” – this also feels like a pivotal moment for Steve Borthwick’s whole England project.A lot has already been said and written since last March’s corresponding match when Marcus Smith drilled a last-gasp drop-goal through the sticks amid ecstatic Twickenham scenes reminiscent of Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. England have subsequently played eight Test matches and lost six, beating only Japan twice. The majority of those losses have been tight but close doesn’t win any cigars at the elite level. Continue reading...

Events

33 hours ago Sir Clive Woodward's Six Nations ultimate guide: Why it's time for Steve Borthwick and England to deliver, the reason Italy will finish above Scotland ...and who I'm backing to win it all

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: After he missed last year's Six Nations, Antoine Dupont's return for the 2025 Championship is brilliant news not only for France, but for all rugby fans.

Events

5 hours ago Campaigners hail ‘important victory’ in protection of England’s national parks

Minister says there was error when Manningtree station car park extension was approved under last governmentCampaigners have celebrated an “important victory” in a closely watched case that will determine whether the government will enforce new legislation aimed at protecting national parks and landscapes in England.Dedham Vale is a designated “national landscape” on the border of Essex and Suffolk, home to increasingly rare species including hazel dormice and hedgehogs. Within it is Manningtree station, where the train operator Greater Anglia built an extension to the car park to cope with increased traffic. Continue reading...

Politics

13 hours ago Marcus Smith needs more to work with from England than his own magic moments | Ugo Monye

If England can tighten up and not rely on individual brilliance, they’ll have a chance in their Six Nations clash with IrelandNot long ago you wouldn’t have thought of England as a team who produce many magic moments. Their approach at the 2023 World Cup was certainly different but, as we saw in the autumn, England can produce something from nothing. My worry is that they can be too reliant on those moments. Marcus Smith is a magician, capable of some spellbinding stuff, but there are only so many rabbits he can pull out of a hat.Put simply, England have some room for improvement in terms of precision from their launch plays. To win in Dublin for the first time since 2019 they need to show better shape and patterns, which in turn give Marcus more opportunities to do his stuff. In the autumn most of what Marcus showcased wasn’t as a result of shape or patterns, it was instinct – darting down the blindside, leading counterattacks or picking off an intercept against New Zealand. Contin...

Politics

19 hours ago Maro Itoje: Is new captain the right man to lead England's Six Nations reboot?

The forward has split opinions over whether he is leadership material - but he must now help reverse the country’s dreadful run of form

Politics

23 hours ago Talking points as Scotland begin their Six Nations challenge against Italy

The Scots are looking to win their opening fixture for the fifth successive campaign.

Politics

27 hours ago It’s time for Steve Borthwick to deliver and this England decision will decide Six Nations fate

A trip to the champions in Dublin to begin a pivotal Six Nations campaign, Harry Latham-Coyle examines how Steve Borthwick hopes to spark a reaction against Ireland following a dismal 2024

Politics