18 h. ago Mark Wood: ‘We’re going to the Ashes with an Australia blueprint to put their batters under pressure’

Fast bowler says England have confidence and belief as he prepares for what could be his final series against the old foe“My dad would be Australia and I’d be England,” Mark Wood says with a wry smile when remembering his first Ashes Tests as a boy in his back garden in Ashington, Northumberland. “I’d try to copy Darren Gough, Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard and, later, Jimmy Anderson, who I’d go on and play with. My dad, who didn’t do the actions so well, had to be Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne. He was most proud of his Gillespie but his Warne wasn’t great.”Wood snorts at the idea that his dad, Derek, might have let him win most of those matches. “No, no, no. It was proper cricket. You had to give each other lbw and every time I hit my dad in the leg he’d be going: ‘No, that’s going over’ or ‘That’s down the leg side.’ I was like: ‘Dad, that was plumb.’ I had to get my DRS right.” Continue reading...

Events

21 h. ago Welsh referee leaves viewers stunned after embarrassing England players in Australia match

The Welsh official has been tipped for big things and left fans saying the same thing after England's win over the Wallabies

Sport

38 h. ago Blond bombshell Henry Pollock shows England’s new edge – as Steve Borthwick considers bold Fiji selection

England blew away Australia in the final quarter to start their autumn in style as Pollock continued his explosive introduction to Test rugby

Politics

38 h. 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

38 h. 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

38 h. ago Henry Pollock can be spark England need but should rein in on

Back-row made a big impact with stunning try against Australia but might do well to let his rugby do the talkingThe 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

43 h. ago Guy Pepper – Energy off the bench can be potent weapon for England

Five British and Irish Lions forwards were brought on in the 52nd minute.

Events

43 h. ago Guy Pepper reveals the key to England’s dominant defensive performance against Australia

England conceded just seven points to an intercept try in a strong showing to start their November

Events

45 h. ago Strength in depth key for England: What we learned from win over Australia

Henry Pollock again put his talents on display.

Politics

59 h. ago ‘Great blend’: Borthwick praises England’s character after beating Australia

Coach says team were composed in difficult conditionsBench forwards help England to 25-7 victorySteve Borthwick praised his team’s resilience and composure as England secured their eighth Test win in a row, beating Australia 25-7 in a soggy contest. England bossed the match, scoring four tries to one, and dominated the skies as both teams reverted to a kicking battle.Even though Borthwick lamented a lack of accuracy in the wide channels, citing numerous line-breaks that were left unconverted, he was pleased with the control his players maintained. “There was a period where the game was tight in very difficult conditions against an Australian side that are tough and really well drilled,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Steve Borthwick hails energy and impact of Henry Pollock against Australia

The Wallabies were dispatched 25-7 at Allianz Stadium with the introduction of England’s heavyweight bench.

Politics

60 h. ago Steve Borthwick hails ‘ball of energy’ Henry Pollock after try

Pollock scored soon after coming on as part of an impactful showing from England’s bench

Politics

60 h. ago Australia too strong for fading England to seal another Rugby League Ashes win

England 4-14 Australia: The Kangaroos pulled away int he second half to wrap up a 2-0 series victory in front of a packed crowd at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium

Sport

60 h. ago Australia coach Joe Schmidt accuses England of ‘gamesmanship’ over breakdown row

The build-up to England’s win over the Wallabies was overshadowed by an allegation of illegality reported

Sport

61 h. ago England vs Australia live: Result and reaction as Henry Pollock lights up Twickenham in autumn international

Can Steve Borthwick’s side begin an intriguing November with a win over a dangerous Australia?

Society

61 h. ago Pollock proves the key before England cavalry seal victory over Australia

England 25-7 AustraliaEarl, Mitchell and Cowan-Dickie also cross for hostsThere will be higher octane games than this one in the coming weeks but for England the primary objective has been safely ticked off. An eighth successive Test victory is in the bag and Steve Borthwick’s team have also gone one better than the corresponding fixture last year when the Wallabies took the spoils in the dying moments.While this encounter was not nearly as thrilling, the final scoreline – shining brightly on the big screen in the gathering evening gloom – was what really counted for Borthwick and his players. Defeat to a weakened Wallaby side would have prompted some uncomfortable questions and cast a nagging shadow over the remainder of their November schedule. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. 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

61 h. ago Tonight's rugby news as Saracens move for third Wales star and England crush Australia

The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond

Sport

61 h. ago England vs Australia LIVE: Result, match stream and latest updates from Autumn Nations Series clash

Steve Borthwick’s side chasing eighth successive win against the Wallabies at Twickenham

Politics

62 h. ago England vs Australia live: Score updates as Wallabies hit back with stunning Potter try at Twickenham

Can Steve Borthwick’s side begin an intriguing November with a win over a dangerous Australia?

Events