Eddie Jones in furious row after Australia rugby fans call him a traitor

  • Videos emerge of two incidents during England series decider
  • Rugby Australia condemns fans as ‘totally unacceptable”

Eddie Jones was embroiled in angry exchanges with Australian supporters, who accused the England head coach of being “a traitor”, following the series decider in Sydney on Saturday. Rugby Australia has condemned the behaviour as “totally unacceptable” after videos emerged on social media in which Jones reacted furiously to the insults.

Videos of two incidents came to light after England’s 21-17 win in Sydney to clinch the series. In one of the incidents, a supporter, who is seen holding a beer, can be heard being urged to “spray” Australia-born Jones before pointing at the former Wallabies head coach and saying: “You’re a traitor.”

Continue reading...

Australia 17-21 England: third rugby union Test – as it happened

Michael Hooper has won the toss (for the first time this series I think) and Australia will kick-off.

Gerard Meagher has more on England’s injury situation.

Continue reading...

Australia 17-25 England: second rugby union Test – as it happened

Pretty much what you’d expect from Australia’s players and staff in front of the press.

England did the media rounds during the week, and I am full of admiration for Ellis Genge’s straightforward contribution. “We’ve got to be better everywhere,” he said. “We’ve got to be better because we lost.” Brilliant. More of this please media officers.

Continue reading...

BBC’s Sonja McLaughlan reveals online abuse over Owen Farrell interview

  • Six Nations reporter targeted after Wales v England
  • McLaughlan: ‘In my car crying ... Hope you’re happy’

Sonja McLaughlan, the BBC rugby reporter, was the target of online abuse following the live broadcast of England’s 40-24 Six Nations defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

Related: Sheedy holds nerve as Wales make England pay in Six Nations thriller

Continue reading...

Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson reveals he has dementia and joins landmark legal case

Steve Thompson, who won the Rugby World Cup with England in 2003, has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and is joining a group of former players in a potentially landmark legal action for the sport.

The eight former players, who are all under the age of 45, are proposing to bring legal proceedings against World Rugby – the game’s governing body – the Rugby Football Union in England and the Welsh Rugby Union over what they claim is their failure to protect them from the risks caused by concussions.

Continue reading...

England win 2020 Six Nations title as Ireland fall to defeat in France

  • France’s narrow win against Ireland not enough
  • Owen Farrell pays tribute to Eddie Jones and Ben Youngs

England have won the 2020 Six Nations title after Ireland fell to a 35-27 defeat to France in Paris. The result meant Eddie Jones’ side edged France on points difference after their 34-5 win over Italy in Rome.

England’s win had left the situation delicately poised, with Ireland needing to win with a bonus point to be sure of claiming the title or by six points to claim it on points difference. France needed to win by 31 points, with a bonus point.

Continue reading...

England’s Manu Tuilagi a saint and sinner in narrow defeat of Wales

• England 33-30 Wales
• Try-scorer Tuilagi sent off late in Twickenham match

Manu Tuilagi’s late red card for a dangerous tackle on George North was the one blemish for England on an afternoon when they won the triple crown after systematically destroying the defending champions, who went down to a third successive defeat in a Six Nations campaign for the first time since 2007. The scoreline suggested a close contest but two late tries by Wales when England were down to 13 players did not mask the deep divide between the sides.

Wales are in transition after 12 years under the relentless regime of Warren Gatland. If there is a sense of liberation in the way they are playing under Wayne Pivac, they have lost their pragmatism and become careless and disjointed. They were willing but wanting here, not just overpowered by opponents who base their game on forcing opponents into physical submission but outplayed.

Continue reading...

France onslaught leaves England licking their wounds in Six Nations opener

• France 24-17 England
• Hosts race into 17-0 half-time lead before May leads fightback

When Eddie Jones talked recently about England looking to become the greatest team the world has ever seen, this was not the start point he was envisaging. The World Cup finalists were about as irresistibly brutal as a damp paper bag for the first hour of a wet Sunday afternoon in Paris and were joyfully ripped apart by a French team not so much revitalised as reborn.

Related: France 24-17 England: Six Nations 2020 – as it happened

Continue reading...

‘No problem at all’: New Zealanders praise England’s response to All Blacks haka

Māori commentators lament that more rugby teams don’t come up with ways to challenge the traditional dance

New Zealanders have expressed disappointment at the decision to fine England for their v-shaped formation for the All Blacks haka in their Rugby World Cup semi-final, with many fans praising them for their dignity and dramatic flair.

On Saturday night, England delighted fans in both camps when players arranged themselves to face the All Blacks. The V – which many inside New Zealand took to stand for “victory” – was widely praised by New Zealanders, many of whom commented on the dignified and low-key response of the English side to what can be a confronting and emotional experience.

Continue reading...

Gutted but gracious: stunned New Zealanders concede ‘better team won’ rugby

World Cup loss to England disappointing but not devastating as Eddie Jones praised for tactical masterclass

As New Zealand woke up on Sunday morning, the long weekend had lost its lustre.

On Saturday night, the All Blacks had crashed out of the Rugby World Cup in an underwhelming show against England, and the tantalising sweetness of a possible three-time World Cup victory was gone.

Continue reading...

‘Immense’: England fans celebrate defeat of All Blacks

Supporters around country and overseas post videos of fans celebrating in pubs and rugby clubs

When Manu Tuilagi swan-dived over the line within two minutes of the end of England’s World Cup semi-final with New Zealand, their dejected opponents briefly regrouped.

But the All Blacks, who had not lost in 18 consecutive World Cup matches since the 2007 quarter-finals, were unable to find a way past an imperious England side who marched into the final. Rugby fans at the Cabbage Patch pub near Twickenham roared with delight.

Continue reading...