Louis Doré

1 month ago | inews.co.uk | Louis Doré

Last Saturday, during England’s 68-14 rout of Wales in the final round of the Six Nations, 20-year-old flanker Henry Pollock took to the Principality Stadium field in the 48th minute. The Northampton Saint scored two tries, celebrating his first senior cap with a flourish. Just over a month prior, he had turned out on a Friday night in the pouring rain in Bath for the Under 20s, as this reporter watched them beat France 27-10 in the U20s tournament.

2 months ago | inews.co.uk | Louis Doré

Dear England rugby fans, media and Steve Borthwick,Can we please not do with Fin Smith what we are in the process of doing with Marcus Smith? What we did with George Ford after his missed drop goal against New Zealand, with Owen Farrell before him, with Danny Cipriani and Shane Geraghty and Toby Flood before him. This is a lineage of ritualistic sacrifice stretching all the way back to Jonny Wilkinson – possibly the last time we were contented, and only then due to the Webb Ellis trophy.

2 months ago | inews.co.uk | Louis Doré

As Andy Farrell sat in the Murrayfield stands witnessing Sam Prendergast steer Ireland to a 32-18 Six Nations victory over Scotland, many a commentator will have been jotting down lines about whether the Leinster fly-half had done enough in his eyes to secure a spot as a British & Irish Lions bolter on the upcoming tour to Australia.

2 months ago | inews.co.uk | Louis Doré

It is testament to the strength in depth of France at present that such a rapacious finisher as Damian Penaud can be ruled out of the first Six Nations match against Wales with injury and the news be met with a collective shrug of the shoulders. A shame, sure, but they will have some young flyer more than capable to step up. That man to take the field at the Stade de France on Friday night is Theo Attissogbe, a 20 year old who plies his trade out wide for Pau in the Top 14.

Nov 8, 2024 | inews.co.uk | Louis Doré

If you are feeling a little underwhelmed at Steve Borthwick’s decision to name an unchanged England side against Australia from last weekend’s 24-22 loss to New Zealand, you aren’t the only one. It is not that wholesale changes are necessary – last weekend’s starting XV played well. By the time fly-half Marcus Smith was substituted from perhaps his best performance in a white shirt, England held a 22-14 lead over the All Blacks.