Why Eddie Jones' England stand on the brink of Six Nations history

10:48 AM GMT

• John Griffiths

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  • Widely respected rugby historian
  • Contributor to the Daily Telegraph for 19 years
  • Written for Scrum.com since 1999
  • Author of several books and co-author of the IRB International Yearbook
  

What's the record winning run by a team in the history of the Five/Six Nations?

Eddie Jones's side will set an all-time championship record if they beat Scotland at Twickenham on March 11. England's recent win against Italy was their 10th on the trot in the Six Nations.

Their last defeat in the tournament was 19-9 by Ireland in Dublin on St David's Day, 2015.

The current winning sequence reads:

2015 - 25-13 vs Scotland, Twickenham

2015 - 55-35 vs France, Twickenham

2016 - 15-9 v Scotland, Murrayfield

2016 - 40-9 v Italy, Rome

2016 - 21-10 v Ireland, Twickenham

2016 - 25-21 v Wales, Twickenham

2016 - 31-21 v France, Paris

2017 - 19-16 v France, Twickenham

2017 - 21-16 v Wales, Cardiff

2017 - 36-15 v Italy, Twickenham

England also won 10 championship matches in a row between 1922 and 1925. That sequence included back-to-back Five Nations Grand Slams in 1923 and 1924.

England won 10 from December 1882 until March 1886, but Wales did not meet Ireland in 1883 or 1885, and Scotland and England did not meet in 1885.

Purists might argue, too, that Wales won 10 in a row between March 1907 and January 1910 at a time before Ireland and Scotland had fixtures with the French.

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Why Eddie Jones' England stand on the brink of Six Nations history

TOP 14 Wrap - La Rochelle go top

Faith kept Vunipola's England dream alive

British & Irish Lions team of the week

Youngs eager to see Billy back for England

10:30 AM GMT

Ben Youngs insists England will welcome back the best No. 8 in the world should Billy Vunipola prove his fitness when Saracens face Newcastle on Sunday.

Vunipola makes an earlier-than-expected return after three months out with a knee injury when the double-winners visit Kingston Park, raising the prospect that he will be available to play Scotland six days later.

The 24-year-old was expected to miss the entire Six Nations but England could now unleash their most devastating ball-carrier in a match that might see the champions retain their title with a round to spare.

It is a development Youngs believes will cause unease among Scottish and Irish ranks.

"Billy adds confidence to the side because he is absolutely world-class," the Leicester scrum-half said.

"It probably puts a dent in the opposition when they see his name on the team sheet. They'd be slightly annoyed that he's come back sooner than they thought.

"I've played with Bill and unfortunately I have to play against him twice a year, but I think on his day he is the best No. 8 in the world."

England have sorely missed their primary source of momentum since he was carried from the pitch on a stretcher against Argentina last autumn, with ligament damage robbing them of a battering ram capable of making yards from a standing start.

Nathan Hughes has deputised in his absence but the Wasps rookie has not had the same impact and Vunipola is sure to be involved at Twickenham on March 11 if he comes through the Aviva Premiership showdown at Newcastle.

"I don't think other players can do what Billy does," Youngs said.

"No. 8's can suck in players, but not many can carry two, three defenders and physically impose himself from minute one until 80.

"He's not a guy who waits for the game to come to him, he is just absolutely on it.

"So many times in tight games it's just about winning the gain line and it can become a bit of an arm wrestle when you get caught in that middle third.

"Billy has that unbelievable raw strength to make three or four yards when he's got no right to do so.

"We're very fortunate to have him and Nathan. Nathan has really grown and in each game you can see he has found his home at Test rugby, but Billy is a world-class operator."

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Youngs eager to see Billy back for England

Ospreys go top, wins for Connacht and Ulster

10:33 PM GMT

Ospreys went top of the PRO12 table with a battling 13-9 away victory against Edinburgh.

Josh Matavesi's try was the only highlight in a rain-soaked first half, which ended with Ospreys 10-3 ahead, before a further penalty after the break from the excellent Sam Davies extended the visitors' grip on match.

A pair of second-half penalties from Edinburgh's Duncan Weir brought the hosts to within four points, but they were unable to capitalise on excellent field position in the closing minutes and succumbed to their fifth consecutive league defeat.

Elsewhere, Connacht made it four PRO12 wins in a row with a 33-3 bonus point dismissal of Zebre at a very muddy Sportsground.

The cold, wet and windy conditions made a mess of general play, but a couple of well-taken tries from Niyi Adeolokun (seven) and Naulia Dawai (25) had Connacht ahead early.

Zebre finshed the game by leaking a fifth score five minutes from the end.

Craig Ronaldson provided the impetus with another quick tap and second row Stevenson bulldozed over to the right of the posts.

In the third PRO12 game of the night, Ulster's Jared Payne marked his first start for the province since October by scoring a first-half try, but Les Kiss's side failed to claim a bonus point against Treviso in equally atrocious conditions at the Kingspan Stadium.

Victory earned the hosts a fourth win in a row, but the failure to claim a bonus point saw the province remain in fifth place in the PRO12.

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Ospreys go top, wins for Connacht and Ulster

Exeter thrash Leicester away from home

Billy Vunipola handed first start since November

12:43 PM GMT

Billy Vunipola will step up his return from injury when he starts for Saracens at Newcastle in the Aviva Premiership on Sunday.

England No. 8 Vunipola has not played since suffering ligament damage against Argentina in the autumn but will attempt to prove his fitness at Kingston.

Should he come through it will be a significant lift for England ahead of their final two Six Nations games, against Scotland and Ireland respectively.

Older brother Mako continues his own recovery at loosehead prop, while there are starts for Scotland internationals Sean Maitland and Duncan Taylor.

Maitland started Scotland's opening two Six Nations matches, but missed the win over Wales with a rib injury.

Newcastle host Saracens with an eye on the Premiership top six, with director of rugby Dean Richards making four changes to the side that lost at Exeter last time out.

Mark Wilson, Juan Pablo Socino, Kyle Cooper and Jon Welsh all return to the starting XV.

Elsewhere, Worcester have made four changes to their starting lineup as they welcome Bristol to Sixways for a clash of the league's bottom two.

Chris Pennell is due to start at fullback for the first time since Boxing Day, while Val Rapava Ruskin, Chris Vui and Marco Mama all return to the pack.

Bristol go into the game on the back of a win over Bath and acting head coach Mark Tainton has made only one change as Gaston Cortes replaces Anthony Perenise at tighthead.

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Billy Vunipola handed first start since November

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Worcester's Phil Dowson avoids striking charge

10:01 PM GMT

Worcester flanker Phil Dowson is free to play on after a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel dismissed a striking charge.

Dowson was accused of elbowing Northampton's Ken Pisi in the head in the first half of last Saturday's Aviva Premiership loss to Saints.

A RFU statement read: "Following a review of the incident which occurred in the first half of the Aviva Premiership match between Worcester and Northampton Saints on Saturday, the disciplinary panel determined that the charge should be dismissed.

"Dowson is now free to play again with immediate effect."

Harlequins full-back Aaron Morris was given a three-week suspension for tackling Leicester's Adam Thompstone in the air.

Morris received a yellow card on the field and was cited following the match.

The RFU disciplinary panel said: "The panel found this was a reckless incident that warranted a red card.

"The Leicester Tigers player luckily sustained no serious injury and was able to play on. As such it was deemed a low end offence."

Morris will be free to play again March 21.

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Worcester's Phil Dowson avoids striking charge

Ireland fly-half Paddy Jackson re-signs with Ulster

3:24 PM GMT

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  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
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Ireland fly-half Paddy Jackson has committed his future to Ulster and the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Jackson, 25, was heavily linked with a move to Northampton Saints but has decided to prolong his stay with Ulster, signing a new deal which keeps him at the PRO12 province until 2019.

The news will come as a huge boost with Jackson regarded as one of Europe's premier fly-halves. He has won 22 caps for Ireland and is looking forward to continuing his career at Ulster.

"I'm delighted to be staying on at Ulster Rugby for at least another two years," Jackson said. "It is such a proud moment for myself and my family.

"Every time I pull on the Ulster jersey it is something that I don't want to take for granted and I hope to continue to grow as a player and contribute to this team in a positive way.

"I believe that the pillars for success are in place here at Ulster with a quality squad and management team. I am hugely excited by the challenges that lie ahead and I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me to this point in my career."

Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss said: "To have Paddy commit to Ulster for a further two seasons is a huge boost. He progressed through the academy structures here and has grown into a fantastic player and leader, who commands the respect of the entire squad.

"He is the type of player that we can build the team around and it's important that we have home-grown talent at the forefront of what we're trying to achieve here. His ability and leadership will be critical for us in the future.

"Paddy's form over the past few years has been widely acknowledged and it was no surprise that there was a lot of interest in him from other big European clubs."

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Ireland fly-half Paddy Jackson re-signs with Ulster