The Secret Diary of Jack Nowell’s Barnet #2

Hi there. Jack Nowell’s hair here again.

Have to say I really enjoyed my day out in Edinburgh.
For once I was quite pleased to hide inside Jack’s horrible yellow scrumcap - otherwise I’d have ended up all wet and muddy and smelling of garlic and my glorious magnificence would have been utterly ruined. And no one wants that, do they, especially my legions of fans.

As things turned out was I managed to stay dry and my radiant splendour was there for all to see at the end. Some say the crowd were cheering at the sight of the Calcutta Cup being raised. You and I know otherwise, don’t we?

Next up those pesky Irish and my long awaited meeting with Gordon D’Arcy’s beard…

Six Nations: Burning Issue of the Week #2

This week’s Burning Issue:

SCOTT JOHNSON:

International rugby coach? Court jester? Incompetent buffoon? Fiendishly clever con-artist?

You decide.

Sometimes a blog post just writes itself...

Twickenham, we have a problem

Encouraging win for England at Murrayfield. But if England are going to beat Ireland at HQ in a fortnight then Stuart Lancaster is going to have to tinker with his bench...

• Rob Webber in for Tom Youngs
• Davy Wilson (if fit) in for Henry Thomas
• George Ford in for Brad Barritt
• Anthony Watson in for Alex Goode

Six Nations 2014: Behind the Scenes at England Rugby #3

More guff and nonsense during the build up to another Six Nations weekend.

England enter The Matrix

It appears that the RFU and O2 are launching a “Wear the Rose” 360-degree virtual reality headset that recreates England rugby squad training experience.

According to the blurb the headset allows the wearer to participate in drills directed by Mike Catt and team talks from Chris Robshaw, as well feel what it is like to be tackled by Tom Youngs or receive a pass from Mike Brown.

Unfortunately the technology is unable to replicate what it feels like to be tackled by Alex Goode owing to a shortage of data.

Six Nations: SRU claim criticism of Murrayfield pitch is unfounded

Conversion?

 It is being widely reported that England Rugby League star Sam Burgess is "on the verge" of making a switch to Ruby Union with a view to playing for England in the 2015 World Cup.

There’s no doubt that the South Sydney Rabbitohs loose forward is a fine rugby player. The question is, where on earth would England play him?

Expecting him to pick up sufficient skills and nous to play in the England pack in such a short timeframe is surely a non-starter.

However, if (as is being rumoured) he is expected to occupy the number 12 shirt, we need only to look at the phenomenal success of the last English Rugby League forward who was selected to play inside centre for England – Andy Farrell.

Oh wait…