Duhan van der Merwe ensured Steve Borthwick’s England reign was launched with an agonising defeat after the Scotland wing crossed twice in a Calcutta Cup classic at Twickenham. Van der Merwe plundered his decisive second try in the 74th minute as Scotland came from behind to record a dramatic victory in their Guinness Six Nations opener.
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Warren Gatland’s return was spoiled by Ireland as the world’s number one side humbled Wales in the opening Six Nations match in Cardiff. Ireland’s storming start saw tries from Caelan Doris, James Ryan and James Lowe – and 12 points from Johnny Sexton – establish a 27-3 half-time lead that Wales would never manage to surmount.
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Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Ireland’s 2023 Six Nations opener vs Wales in Cardiff, in a major blow for Andy Farrell’s side. Furlong, who has only played 36 minutes of rugby since the autumn internationals, has failed to recover from a calf injury, leaving Connacht’s Finlay Bealham to start at tighthead prop.
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Munster’s Joey Carbery has been left out of Andy Farrell’s 6 Nations squad in favour of Ross Byrne and Jack Crowley. Carbery has been blighted by injury through-out his career while his teammate Crowley is seen as a successor to Sexton in the 10 jersey.
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Andy Farrell has signed a two-year contract extension to stay as Ireland head coach until 2025. Irish chiefs have moved to tie down Farrell beyond the 2023 World Cup, with the former dual-code international’s stock having shot up after the summer’s historic Test series win in New Zealand.
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