5 h. ago England keep sights on rugby’s Everest in relentless climb to game’s summit | Robert Kitson

Beating the All Blacks shows how far Steve Borthwick’s men have come – but there remains yet more room for improvementAfter finally scaling Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953 the first person Edmund Hillary encountered on his descent was his longtime climbing friend, George Lowe. “Well, George,” Hillary said, “we knocked the bastard off.” Which is basically how England’s captain, Maro Itoje, and his team felt on Saturday having lifted the Hillary Shield, named in honour of the indomitable New Zealander who conquered the world’s most famous summit.English rugby’s ultimate Everest is still up ahead of them, of course, in the form of the 2027 World Cup, but this was their South Col moment. And while a first home win against the All Blacks since 2012 and their second‑highest margin of victory in this 120-year-old fixture will both be sources of satisfaction there was also a powerful sense that their upwardly mobile trek is far from complete. Continue reading...

Politics

63 h. ago Eberechi Eze makes Arsenal transfer admission and sets sight on next England goal

Arsenal and England attacker Eberechi Eze reckons he has become a better player since his £60m transfer from Crystal Palace as he seeks trophies for club and country

Sport

7 d. ago Erasmus’s coaching scholarship takes South Africa to a higher plain | Robert Kitson

Victory in Paris with 14 men showed what the world champions can still do, leaving New Zealand and others playing catchupSome wins count double in terms of the message they send. And amid the blizzard of weekend Test matches it was Saturday night’s result in Paris that will resonate the longest in both hemispheres. Not only the outcome, either, but the manner of it. To say South Africa exploded a few cosy theories would be the understatement of the rugby year.So much for the idea, for example, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Springboks. That entering the final quarter with a narrow lead and an extra man would translate into inevitable glory. That even without their talisman Antoine Dupont they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to keep the big beasts safely at bay. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Henry Pollock can be the spark England need to become World Cup contenders | Robert Kitson

Exuberant back-row’s confidence in win over Australia gave a glimpse of how compelling England could becomeThe sporting gods can sometimes be mischievous. Steve Borthwick’s vision of rugby heaven is a cohesive team that consistently delivers without huge amounts of fuss and squeezes the life out of opponents like a white-shirted python. Control, physicality, tactical acumen and work rate will forever be more central to his vision of Test match success than individual front-page razzle-dazzle.And what happens? With almost comic timing the door to the England dressing room has been flung off its hinges by a 20-year-old rock star forward with the ability to transform games on his own. Henry Pollock has now scored three tries in 61 minutes of international rugby, is all over social media and already has half the rugby world itching to punch his lights out. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Henry Pollock can be spark England need but maybe someone should have a word | Robert Kitson

Back-row scored stunning try against Australia but perhaps he can be advised to rein in fractionally some of his anticsThe sporting gods can sometimes be mischievous. Steve Borthwick’s vision of rugby heaven is a cohesive team that consistently delivers without huge amounts of fuss and squeezes the life out of opponents like a white-shirted python. Control, physicality, tactical acumen and work rate will forever be more central to his vision of Test match success than individual front-page razzle-dazzle.And what happens? With almost comic timing the door to the England dressing room has been flung off its hinges by a 20-year-old rock star forward with the ability to transform games on his own. Henry Pollock has now scored three tries in 61 minutes of international rugby, is all over social media and already has half the rugby world itching to punch his lights out. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Henry Pollock claims pivotal try as England pull away to beat Australia

Tries from Alex Mitchell and Luke Cowan-Dickie propelled England out of sight late on.

Politics

2 w. ago Full list of people eligible for free NHS sight tests in England explained

Eye tests can be expensive, but some people can get them for free through the NHS

Politics