2 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

9 h. ago Heartbreaking new lives of England's most famous rugby team leave fans upset

It's been 22 years since England beat Australia to become world champions - but some members of that famous squad have endured heartbreaking setbacks in the years that have followed

Sport

9 h. ago England vs Australia LIVE: Autumn Nations Series match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

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

Culture

26 h. ago No mountain too high for Itoje and England with Australia first up in autumn series

England captain stresses team must display their full power in Saturday’s first of four home internationals in NovemberJust occasionally even the world’s best rugby players are genuinely taken aback. In mid-September, Maro Itoje, recuperating from his British & Irish Lions exertions, stood and watched an England training session and could not believe the pace, intensity and all-round zip on view. “I was thinking: ‘Wow, I need to get back in the gym, I need to make sure I come back quickly,’” he admitted this week.Itoje says his former teammate Mako Vunipola was just as impressed – “He didn’t remember it being that fast” – on a visit to England’s base in Bagshot the other day. Another recent retiree, the England scrum-half Danny Care, felt similarly. All of which has been fuelling Itoje’s growing belief, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, that “there’s no mountain we can’t climb”. Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago Mary Earps extract: ‘I felt sick and anxious. Then came the words I’d waited 12 months to hear’

In an exclusive extract from her autobiography, goalkeeper reveals the painful road to her shock England exitEngland felt like such a safe space for me. It was usual to have a team review after a big tournament and after the Euros in 2022 we came together in the Club England meeting room at St George’s Park, the team’s headquarters.The emotional security that I felt within England was bolstered by the culture and values that had underpinned and contributed to our success. Non-collegiate behaviour was not tolerated. We came back together to the news that Hannah Hampton had been dropped from the squad: her behaviour behind the scenes at the Euros had frequently risked derailing training sessions and team resources. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Joe Marler refuses to give away his Traitors secrets to England stars

Joe Marler has stayed tight-lipped over who has won The Traitors despite being grilled for clues by his former team-mates in the England camp.

Politics

32 h. ago Marcus Rashford flies back to Manchester to train ahead of birthday bash as Barcelona pal says: ‘You can’t stop him’

MARCUS RASHFORD returned to Manchester this week to train in Salford ahead of his 28th birthday. And while Rashford was away, one of his Barcelona team-mates heaped praise on the England star’s “unstoppable” work ethic. Rashford has made a promising start to life at Barca, providing 12 goal contributions since joining on a season-long loan...

Politics

34 h. ago I stayed in the same hotel as the England team just 2 hours from Manchester

The 'Stay Like the England Teams' room was recently opened at the Hilton hotel at St George's Park and I was fortunate enough to experience what it's like to live like a national team player

Politics

35 h. ago I stayed in the same hotel as the England football team and trained on the pitch

Football supporters up and down the country have the opportunity to spend the night exactly like their England heroes - the stay is something I've never experienced before

Politics

39 h. ago England's 3 into 1 leaves Marcus Smith out as last minute revenge eyed at Twickenham

England's team was always going to be dominated by the calls at fly-half and George Ford will start against Australia leaving Fin Smith on the bench as Marcus Smith misses out on this occasion

Politics

56 h. ago AJ Brimson to make England debut as changes made for second Rugby League Ashes clash

The full-back represented Australia earlier in his career but bolsters Shaun Wane’s side for the clash at Everton’s ground

Sport

57 h. ago Tane Edmed starts at fly half as Australia reveal team for England clash

Taniela Tupou returns to the starting side on the tighthead

Politics

3 d. ago Dingwall backed to plot course through the midfield maze for England

Steve Borthwick has opted for the Northampton centre, his ‘glue’ player, over an array of talented England backsEven Steve Borthwick admits that picking his team to face Australia on Saturday was tricky. And even after he had made his mind up, there was a training ground snapshot which underlined the slim margins involved. “There was a piece of play where the skill showed by the team not starting was absolutely incredible,” said Borthwick. “I couldn’t praise them highly enough for the way they tested the team that is starting.”Which neatly sums up England’s intensifying backline debate. Ollie Lawrence, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell, Henry Slade, Cadan Murley and Max Ojomoh are all fit and can’t even make the matchday 23. Not to mention the up-and-coming Noah Caluori. Nor Owen Farrell. Let alone the injured Elliot Daly, George Furbank, Seb Atkinson, Ollie Sleightholme and Will Muir. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago England chasing 320 to beat South Africa: Women’s Cricket World Cup semi

England face ominous target after Wolvaardt’s 169 The Spin: celebrating Sophie Devine | Email Rob4th over: South Africa 21-0 (Wolvaardt 13, Brits 6) Neat and tidy from Smith. That Bell semi-drop not withstanding, the BBC report that – stats wise - England are the best fielding team in the competition.3rd over: South Africa 19-0 (Wolvaardt 12, Brits 5) A half-chance not held. Brits flays Bell back back with fire, through the left hand of her follow through and down to the rope. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Why Henry Pollock could feature on the wing for England this autumn

Steve Borthwick is keen to increase England’s positional flexibility

Politics

4 d. ago Borthwick rips up script with move to hybrids that could lead to Pollock on wing

Head coach may also consider playing Ben Earl at centreMarcus Smith left out of matchday 23 to face AustraliaSteve Borthwick is considering playing his fast rising back-rower Henry Pollock on the wing at some stage this autumn as he seeks fresh impetus in all areas before the looming November Tests. The England head coach says he wants his side to hit the ground running against Australia this weekend and may also start Ben Earl at centre this season.England’s team to face the Wallabies has already had a significant makeover with Tommy Freeman starting in midfield and no place for either Marcus Smith or Ollie Lawrence in the matchday 23. No fewer than six British & Irish Lions players, including Pollock, have been named on the bench with Bath’s 22-year-old flanker Guy Pepper, the Leicester prop Joe Heyes and the Sale wing Tom Roebuck all starting. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Tommy Freeman starts in new position as England name team for Australia test

Freeman will shift from the wing to outside centre to face the Wallabies as George Ford wins the fly-half race

Politics

4 d. ago Marcus Smith left out of England 23 to face Australia with Lions made to wait

George Ford at fly-half, Itoje leads side at TwickenhamPepper gets nod with Curry among six Lions on benchEngland have omitted Marcus Smith completely from their matchday squad to face Australia on Saturday and confirmed George Ford as their starting fly-half. Head coach Steve Borthwick has also named six British & Irish Lions on his bench with Tom Curry, Ellis Genge and Henry Pollock all named among the replacements.Instead Borthwick has preferred to put his faith in lower-profile players such as Bath’s Guy Pepper, Sale’s Tom Roebuck and Leicester’s Joe Heyes in a side which also has no place for Bath’s Ollie Lawrence or Exeter’s Henry Slade, both midfield regulars last season. Tommy Freeman will wear 13 having been shifted inside from the wing to form a centre pairing with his Northampton clubmate Fraser Dingwall. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Australia star Alex Carey responds to Stuart Broad’s ‘worst team since 2010 Ashes’ jibe

David Warner predicted a 4-0 home win in the Ashes, leading Broad to call the current squad the worst Australia team for 15 years and now wicketkeeper Carey has had his say

Transport

7 d. ago Eberechi Eze urged to focus on Arsenal targets during Crystal Palace reunion

The England international is set to face his former team for the first time.

Sport