Zach Mercer winds up “massive” Paul Willemse before France face England

Zach Mercer has a confession to make and it is bad news for the England pack who are preparing to face a French forward onslaught at Twickenham on Saturday. At the heart of the French pack will be a fired up Paul Willemse, the giant South African born Montpellier lock, who has rediscovered his destructive Read More …

Castaigede backing Dupont to give England a shock in Paris

Thomas Castaignede believes England were the best team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but is backing “x-factor” scrum half Antoine Dupont to provide the magic to give France victory in their Six Nations opener at the Stade de France on Sunday.                 With Dupont threatening from scrum half, Castaignede is confident a young French Read More …

King predicts Saracens machine will nullify French World Cup threats

Alex King, the Montpellier backs coach, believes an England team based around the Saracens “machine” will nullify World Cup pool arch-rivals France despite the attacking firepower on show in Saturday’s Top 14 final between Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne in Paris. Both teams carry potent attacking options for French coach Jacques Brunel who has yet to Read More …

Mike Brown should be part of England’s World Cup armoury says All Black Evans

All Black Nick Evans believes Mike Brown has turned himself into an attacking force Eddie Jones must include in England’s World Cup squad in Japan despite the Harlequins full back having missed out on Six Nations action. Brown is stuck on 72 caps having been dropped for England’s November tests with Elliot Daly at No15 Read More …

Betsen wants France to give young rugby talent a chance to shine

Former captain Serge Betsen admits he has already ripped up his wish-list for France in this season’s Six Nations following losses to Wales and England and is urging coach Jacques Brunel to put his faith in the young players who refused to capitulate during the Twickenham debacle. France’s thumping 44-8 loss to England followed their Read More …

France suffer death by a thousand kicks at Twickenham

For 51 minutes England inflicted what must have felt like death by a thousands kicks for France. Every time England put boot to ball it exposed the French defence and brought yet more points in what was a clinical application of a simple but highly effective game plan. The French turned up at Twickenham with Read More …