Page 77 - Sam Simmonds News Today

England last faced the US in the World Cup in Japan in 2019, coming out 45-7 victors. An England ‘A’ side will take on Scotland ‘A’ at Welford Road on June 27. Jones said: “The summer series will give us the chance to look at a lot of players and see how they step up, and it’s an important part of our World Cup preparation. “For younger players, it’s a chance to show what they can do at international level and how they are in the team environment. “There aren’t too many opp...

The comments that may have cost Billy Vunipola his Lions place 5:55am, 08 May 2021 By Ian Cameron Trending on RugbyPass 5:55am, 08 May 2021 Former Wales prop Adam Jones has posited that comments made by England No.8 Billy Vunipola in 2017 may have cost him a place on Warren Gatland’s 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. ADVERTISEMENT Vunipola was one of a number of big-name omissions from the 37-man squad that was named on Thursday. A lacklustre Six Nations aside, many conside...

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British and Irish Lions 2021: Owen Farrell can find confidence on tour - Warren Gatland Last updated on Owen Farrell led England to a fifth-place finish in the 2021 Six Nations Players such as England captain Owen Farrell can return to "playing with some confidence" on this summers British and Irish Lions tour, hopes head coach Warren Gatland. On Thursday, Gatland named a 37-man squad for the South Africa tour which featured 10 of the England players who finished fifth in the 2021 Six Nations....

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Updated / Thursday, 6 May 2021 14:23 Johnny Sexton will not tour this summer barring injuries Johnny Sexton has not been named in the 2021 Lions squad, with Warren Gatland including eight Irish players in his squad of 37 to travel to South Africa. Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Conor Murray are the three Irish backs, with Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson and Andrew Porter making up the forward contingent. James Ryan is another notable Irish exclusion, with Henderson and ...

New Zealand-born centre Aki, who qualifies for Ireland on residency, was among the surprise selections in Gatland’s squad. He was not expected by many to challenge for a midfield berth, given the congested selection picture, but he has come through on the rails. The Connacht player offers a considerable physical presence and a direct running ability that the Lions will require when they take on not only the Springboks, but their other tour opponents. Expect him to make the most of his opportu...

It is Sinckler’s omission that has caused the greatest stir, however, with the 2017 Test Lion and cornerstone of the England pack losing out to Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter and Zander Fagerson of Scotland. “That was a tough call. Tadhg Furlong had an outstanding Six Nations and Zander Fagerson has really come on from a Scottish perspective,” Gatland said. “From a penalty perspective, Scotland probably came out on top of all the teams during the Six Nations at scrum time a...

Eddie Jones has ignored the clamour to select the Gallagher Premiership’s highest try-scorer this season, but Gatland views his pace and power as providing a unique threat this summer. “For the Springboks you’ve got to have players in your forward pack who don’t just put the ball under their arm and run hard and straight,” Gatland said. “It’s not about just matching them physically, you have to be able to bring some variation in your attacking options and Simmonds has that variati...

Lions boss Gatland says durability fears key to Sextons omission Issued on: 06/05/2021 - 23:01 Lions cull - Irelands Johnny Sexton been left out of the squad for the combined sides South Africa tour STU FORSTER POOL/AFP/File 3 min London (AFP) Warren Gatland said concerns over Johnny Sextons "durability" lay behind one of his "toughest decisions" in omitting the veteran fly-half from the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. Ireland ...