Rugby union has become harder to watch as more teams favour contact over creativity

Gerry Thornley looks at four key areas in need of improvement ahead of the Six Nations

England’s brilliant defensive performance secures fourth straight win over Ireland

How Ireland respond to intimidation and contend with bigger pack will be crucial

‘Ireland are a tenacious side and a side that never go away, so you have to fight to the end’

England flanker has many facets to his game - not forgetting murderous physicality

Wasps flanker earned memorable first cap but faces stiff competition in Jones’s backrow

Eddie Jones has named his XV to face Italy in Saturday’s final round of the Six Nations

Ireland lock made his international debut in memorable 2018 victory at Stade de France

Training groups have been increased from six to 12 and we’ve began passing the ball

All too predictably, the same pack that failed at the 2019 World Cup could not turn the page

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton heavily criticised in Monday morning’s newspapers

Concussion language needs to change, Ireland women need more jerseys and more

Curry and Underhill set the tone for home side as Ireland’s backrow overrun

Six Nations: England backrow feels incomplete without phenomenal Vunipola

If Ireland are to win at Twickenham then most likely it will be a white knuckle ride

John O’Sullivan has a look at Eddie Jones’s side for Sunday’s big clash at Twickenham

Injury to George Furbank forces England to reshuffle back three for Sunday’s clash

England have already lost Billy Vunipola to a broken arm

Doris likely to be named on the bench as coach Farrell assesses his options

Conditions rule out running rugby as England edge arm wrestle at Murrayfield

Six Nations organisers and SRU monitoring strongest storm since 2012

World Cup runners-up looking to bounce back from final defeat at the Stade de France

Eddie Jones has picked Northampton Saints fullback to start Six Nations opener

Eddie Jones heading into his fifth campaign with his side the World Cup runners-up

Province far from their best but Will Addison’s moments of magic see them through

Dan McFarland makes one change to side as Tom O’Toole replaces injured Marty Moore

Munster hoping for Houdini-like escape into knock-out stages, while Ulster seek home win

Ireland fullback fit as province look for win which will see them into quarter-finals

Ulster coach says his side must tighten up ahead of next week’s clash in Belfast

John Cooney and Rob Lyttle run in a try in each half in bruising encounter

Presence of out-half Billy Burns gives McFarland’s side a much greater attacking edge

Gavin Cummiskey looks at the contenders ahead of the first round of Champions Cup games

Ulster’s pack of Leinster exiles fail to cope after van Graan’s men turn up the heat

Andrew Conway’s moment of brilliance secures interpro victory at Thomond Park

Players from six countries are represented, with five of the XV from South Africa

England can have no complaint with Garces as South African pressure game prevails

Winger from a township in the rural Eastern Cape becomes first South African to score a try in a World Cup final

Rassie Erasmus’s side utterly dominant as they secure a third Rugby World Cup title

Gerry Thorney: England can match the Boks’ power game, allowing them to play their game