Ahead of Saturday’s fixture between England and France, O2 have released the next episode of their online series Inside Line, offering another behind the scenes look at England’s camp ahead of the game, a tactical look back at the Ireland game with Dylan Hartley and Joe Launchbury, and interviews with some key England men.
Ben Youngs takes ownership of player cam and Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola get chatty in team mates.
England will be looking to capitalise on their first two victories in this year’s tournament, as well as following up last year’s victory over Les Bleus in Paris. France have enjoyed less than impressive form in this year’s Six Nations and wil no doubt see the opportunity to scalp England in their own home
You can see the full video below…
Look out for more from O2′s Inside Line throughout the Six Nations on WhatCulture.
Ben Youngs takes ownership of player cam and Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola get chatty in team mates.
England will be looking to capitalise on their first two victories in this year’s tournament, as well as following up last year’s victory over Les Bleus in Paris. France have enjoyed less than impressive form in this year’s Six Nations and wil no doubt see the opportunity to scalp England in their own home
You can see the full video below…
Look out for more from O2′s Inside Line throughout the Six Nations on WhatCulture.
- 2/22/2013
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
England faces South Africa in the second test of this three game series. After losing last week in Durban, Stuart Lancaster’s men must win on Saturday to draw the series and take it to a winner takes all game next week. Leave your predictions or comments either in the comments below or as always on Twitter @ballintouch
England’s best chance of beating South Africa on this tour was probably last week, at sea level against a side with barely a week’s preparation together and several new caps. The result if you missed it was a narrow 22-17 loss for Stuart Lancaster’s men that showed some encouraging stuff that ultimately fell short.
The next game this Saturday is in Johannesburg at Ellis Park, a stadium renowned for being at altitude and a happy hunting ground for South Africans, especially in 1995. Besides the extra week of getting-to-know-you time...
England’s best chance of beating South Africa on this tour was probably last week, at sea level against a side with barely a week’s preparation together and several new caps. The result if you missed it was a narrow 22-17 loss for Stuart Lancaster’s men that showed some encouraging stuff that ultimately fell short.
The next game this Saturday is in Johannesburg at Ellis Park, a stadium renowned for being at altitude and a happy hunting ground for South Africans, especially in 1995. Besides the extra week of getting-to-know-you time...
- 6/15/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
Having ridden a wave of support since taking charge as caretaker and then full time, the honeymoon period will be well and truly over on Saturday for Stuart Lancaster as he unleashes his young guns on South Africa in Durban for the first Test of the three match series. Let us know your thoughts on the team or predictions for Saturday either in the messages below or on Twitter @ballintouch
For all their hospitality off the pitch,South Africa will be far from welcoming on it. Any fresh faced men in white who pause to take in the moment, be it their first cap or trip to the Southern Hemisphere, will find themselves flattened by a tsunami of South African aggression. If you ain’t local, you’re in trouble.
Counting in England’s favour is that this is Heyneke Meyer’s first game in charge and there are also...
For all their hospitality off the pitch,South Africa will be far from welcoming on it. Any fresh faced men in white who pause to take in the moment, be it their first cap or trip to the Southern Hemisphere, will find themselves flattened by a tsunami of South African aggression. If you ain’t local, you’re in trouble.
Counting in England’s favour is that this is Heyneke Meyer’s first game in charge and there are also...
- 6/7/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
Continuing our new regular feature, our rugby columnist Jeff Ball makes his predictions for this weekend’s round of matches, including Newcastle Falcons vs Sale Sharks and London Wasps vs Gloucester. Let us know your predictions either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch
After last week’s fairly successful start, we are back again with our latest set of predictions for this week’s fixtures. The highlight of last week was Saracens’ demolition of Sale Sharks, while the admirable efforts of Tom Homer against Leicester went cruelly unrewarded. Exeter surprised us, and most of the Shed, with their last minute win against Gloucester and the Falcons failed to take any points despite the best wishes of a certain rugby columnist.
Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors
Leicester are without the cited Ben Youngs and Worcester have lost Jake Abbott to an ankle injury, creating opportunities for James Grindal and Matt Kvesic respectively.
After last week’s fairly successful start, we are back again with our latest set of predictions for this week’s fixtures. The highlight of last week was Saracens’ demolition of Sale Sharks, while the admirable efforts of Tom Homer against Leicester went cruelly unrewarded. Exeter surprised us, and most of the Shed, with their last minute win against Gloucester and the Falcons failed to take any points despite the best wishes of a certain rugby columnist.
Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors
Leicester are without the cited Ben Youngs and Worcester have lost Jake Abbott to an ankle injury, creating opportunities for James Grindal and Matt Kvesic respectively.
- 3/29/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
Our rugby columnist Jeff Ball discusses who impressed during this year’s competition and selects his team of the tournament. Let us know your team either in the comments below or on Twitter at @Ballintouch
With the hangovers of Cardiff now dulled and replaced with warm glow of satisfaction, now is a good time to have a look back at who impressed in this year’s Six nations and can justifiable bask in the public’s admiration as the rose tinted glasses of history beckon.
One paper this week said this was a Six Nations that left more questions than answers and it would be right. Where does Andy Robinson go from here? Will Italy ever have decent half backs again? How good can England be? Can Wales go on and beat the Southern Hemisphere sides? Why do France still go from fabulous to farce? And are there any more tighthead props in Ireland?...
With the hangovers of Cardiff now dulled and replaced with warm glow of satisfaction, now is a good time to have a look back at who impressed in this year’s Six nations and can justifiable bask in the public’s admiration as the rose tinted glasses of history beckon.
One paper this week said this was a Six Nations that left more questions than answers and it would be right. Where does Andy Robinson go from here? Will Italy ever have decent half backs again? How good can England be? Can Wales go on and beat the Southern Hemisphere sides? Why do France still go from fabulous to farce? And are there any more tighthead props in Ireland?...
- 3/23/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
Ireland travelled to a damp Twickenham as England looked to secure an previously unthinkable runners-up medal with their young and inexperienced side. Let us know your thoughts on the game either in the comments below or on Twitter @BallinTouch
With the destination of the Six Nations Trophy already decided, this was a battle for second place. Like in Cardiff the weather was a bit grim, a sheen of rain lying on the pitch.
The first scrum of the game yielded an immediate penalty for England which Farrell slid over for the three points. It was to be a telling omen for the afternoon.
Ireland’s first chance came after a series of turnovers for both sides ended up in the mitts of Keith Earls, the centre causing the Twickenham crowd to catch their breath with his speed before ignoring the man outside and ending up enveloped in the arms of the covering Ben Foden.
With the destination of the Six Nations Trophy already decided, this was a battle for second place. Like in Cardiff the weather was a bit grim, a sheen of rain lying on the pitch.
The first scrum of the game yielded an immediate penalty for England which Farrell slid over for the three points. It was to be a telling omen for the afternoon.
Ireland’s first chance came after a series of turnovers for both sides ended up in the mitts of Keith Earls, the centre causing the Twickenham crowd to catch their breath with his speed before ignoring the man outside and ending up enveloped in the arms of the covering Ben Foden.
- 3/17/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
With France on course for a Grand Slam, England travelled to Paris looking to make amends for a narrow loss against Wales in the last round.
With England having made steady progress this tournament, the trip to Paris had been highlighted as the most difficult challenge for Stuart Lancaster’s men in this year’s Six Nations. England started brightly with a break by Lee Dickson, much like Chris Ashton was making last year off the inside shoulder, but there wasn’t the support and the move broke down. An early high, wide and short drop goal from Beauxis when nothing was on gave an indication of what we could expect from the French half backs.
The sight of Dylan Hartley popping up at the first scrum would have worried England scrum coach Graham Rowntree and amissed penalty kick quickly followed by a conceded penalty on the England try line did nothing for English nerves.
With England having made steady progress this tournament, the trip to Paris had been highlighted as the most difficult challenge for Stuart Lancaster’s men in this year’s Six Nations. England started brightly with a break by Lee Dickson, much like Chris Ashton was making last year off the inside shoulder, but there wasn’t the support and the move broke down. An early high, wide and short drop goal from Beauxis when nothing was on gave an indication of what we could expect from the French half backs.
The sight of Dylan Hartley popping up at the first scrum would have worried England scrum coach Graham Rowntree and amissed penalty kick quickly followed by a conceded penalty on the England try line did nothing for English nerves.
- 3/11/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
England cross the Channel for their fifth game of the tournament as they take on France at the Stade Francais this Sunday at 3pm.
Despite the constant media buzz of speculation over the future of his role as England manager, Stuart Lancaster has insisted it is business as normal and picked the same side that just lost to Wales in the last round as he continued to show faith in a side that sees Lee Dickson, Ben Morgan and Geoff Parling make their second starts, while Farrell continues at fly half.
The loyalty to those players who had served him so well so far this tournament meant that Charlie Hodgson returns to the bench after a hand injury meaning Toby Flood was sent back to his club, much to the consternation of the Tigers coaching staff.
Despite their criticisms, Flood has yet to show sparkling form that could justify a place in the starting xv,...
Despite the constant media buzz of speculation over the future of his role as England manager, Stuart Lancaster has insisted it is business as normal and picked the same side that just lost to Wales in the last round as he continued to show faith in a side that sees Lee Dickson, Ben Morgan and Geoff Parling make their second starts, while Farrell continues at fly half.
The loyalty to those players who had served him so well so far this tournament meant that Charlie Hodgson returns to the bench after a hand injury meaning Toby Flood was sent back to his club, much to the consternation of the Tigers coaching staff.
Despite their criticisms, Flood has yet to show sparkling form that could justify a place in the starting xv,...
- 3/10/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
After two games, both sides were at risk of losing their unbeaten streak, as an inexperienced England took on a mountainous Wales at Twickenham. Let us know what you thought of the game either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch and remember to use our handy beginners A-z guide to rugby, here.
With Wales in the unique position of favourites for this match at Twickenham, all the talk was about the callowness of the starting England side and the size of the Welsh backline.
It was the gigantic George North who almost drew first blood, two scything runs cutting the England defence to pieces and taking the Welsh into the English 22. Unlike the Irish in the earlier game of the day, Wales were in no mood to start slowly.
The sound of Swing Low reverberated around Twickenham early on, the crowd clearly keen to encourage their team and...
With Wales in the unique position of favourites for this match at Twickenham, all the talk was about the callowness of the starting England side and the size of the Welsh backline.
It was the gigantic George North who almost drew first blood, two scything runs cutting the England defence to pieces and taking the Welsh into the English 22. Unlike the Irish in the earlier game of the day, Wales were in no mood to start slowly.
The sound of Swing Low reverberated around Twickenham early on, the crowd clearly keen to encourage their team and...
- 2/25/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
England vs Wales in the Six Nations has always been regarded as a blood and thunder tie. With over a ton of muscle mass in the two sides’ back five alone, plus Leigh Halfpenny, you can add ‘titanic’ to the list of words to describe it. ‘Guile’ may not be applicable to this Welsh backline when compared to those of 70s folklore (and distinctly absent from English rugby history in its entirety), but ‘dynamism’ certainly is – and that is what separates these two teams coming into the game.
Six tries and a devastating display of attacking prowess, in particular from George North, have launched Wales into the position of favourites; not just for this game, but for the whole tournament. Everything has been done at pace and to devastating effect and for all their power, speed and brute strength, the marshalling abilities of Rhys Priestland and Halfpenny have seen the...
Six tries and a devastating display of attacking prowess, in particular from George North, have launched Wales into the position of favourites; not just for this game, but for the whole tournament. Everything has been done at pace and to devastating effect and for all their power, speed and brute strength, the marshalling abilities of Rhys Priestland and Halfpenny have seen the...
- 2/25/2012
- by Tom Roberts
- Obsessed with Film
Ball In Touch: England travelled to a snowy Rome as Italy looked to win for the first time in 18 attempts against the English. Let us know what you thought of the game or anything else either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch and remember to use our handy beginners A-z guide to rugby, here.
England 2.0’s journey continued in deepest Rome as they came back from behind against Italy on a patchwork quilt of a pitch, as evidence of heavy snows across Europe remained across two thirds of the field.
The cold was no hardship for the home fans filling the Stadio Olimpico. England seemed keen to attack after having seemingly spent 80 minutes defending in Edinburgh last week, a promising early drive failing at the hands of some forwards hanging out on the wing.
Neither side was in any mood to spend too much time standing still, but...
England 2.0’s journey continued in deepest Rome as they came back from behind against Italy on a patchwork quilt of a pitch, as evidence of heavy snows across Europe remained across two thirds of the field.
The cold was no hardship for the home fans filling the Stadio Olimpico. England seemed keen to attack after having seemingly spent 80 minutes defending in Edinburgh last week, a promising early drive failing at the hands of some forwards hanging out on the wing.
Neither side was in any mood to spend too much time standing still, but...
- 2/11/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
Ball In Touch: Scotland took on England in Murrayfield, as the English looked to win in Scotland for the first time since 2004. Let us know what you thought of the game or anything else either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch and remember to use our handy beginners A-z guide to rugby
England travelled North of the border with 233 caps between the starting Xv compared to 499 caps shared amongst their Scottish cousins, a telling statistic. The media has been fixated with the youth on this England side, brimming with debutants, that makes them such a mystery.
The atmosphere and the start was electric, thumping hits flying in as both sides looked to put down a marker. An early scrum saw the English show signs of strain, before a penalty for holding on by Scottish winger Jones saw Owen Farrell, one of several making their debut, turndown a kickable...
England travelled North of the border with 233 caps between the starting Xv compared to 499 caps shared amongst their Scottish cousins, a telling statistic. The media has been fixated with the youth on this England side, brimming with debutants, that makes them such a mystery.
The atmosphere and the start was electric, thumping hits flying in as both sides looked to put down a marker. An early scrum saw the English show signs of strain, before a penalty for holding on by Scottish winger Jones saw Owen Farrell, one of several making their debut, turndown a kickable...
- 2/4/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
Ball In Touch: The latest edition of WhatCulture’s first regular rugby column by our rugby correspondent, Jeff Ball. With the new England Elite Performance Squad to be announced on Wednesday, we discuss who is likely to be picked.
England Reborn
A new year traditionally is seen as a fresh start, an opportunity to clear out the clutter and begin again. Therefore is it particularly apt England will be naming a new Elite Performance Squad (Eps) for the forthcoming Six Nations with 2012 barely two weeks old.
With what has went before dissipating into the haze of 2011, a wave of mid-season optimism is washing over the England set-up, a curious sensation given it is a feeling normally only seen around clubhouses in the middle of summer as boots are dusted down for the start of pre-season.
The man at the middle of this mood is Stuart Lancaster, king-in-waiting whilst the king...
England Reborn
A new year traditionally is seen as a fresh start, an opportunity to clear out the clutter and begin again. Therefore is it particularly apt England will be naming a new Elite Performance Squad (Eps) for the forthcoming Six Nations with 2012 barely two weeks old.
With what has went before dissipating into the haze of 2011, a wave of mid-season optimism is washing over the England set-up, a curious sensation given it is a feeling normally only seen around clubhouses in the middle of summer as boots are dusted down for the start of pre-season.
The man at the middle of this mood is Stuart Lancaster, king-in-waiting whilst the king...
- 1/10/2012
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
To celebrate the launch of our first regular rugby column we have decided to release a special second edition this week to give you a further taster of what to expect from our man in rugby, Jeff Ball. If you want to get involved either leave a comment or send him a tweet @jeffreyball
Time for King Jim?
With Martin Johnson’s grip on the throne looking increasingly fragile as the countless reviews into the failings of England’s World Cup gather speed, Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder is one of the first to throw his hat in the ring to succeed him should the opportunity arise.
With the Rfu in turmoil, the future of Martin Johnson seems to rest on the flipping of a coin, and more importantly who is doing the flipping.
With such uncertainty inevitably comes speculation, and the possibility of the Saints man taking the reins...
Time for King Jim?
With Martin Johnson’s grip on the throne looking increasingly fragile as the countless reviews into the failings of England’s World Cup gather speed, Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder is one of the first to throw his hat in the ring to succeed him should the opportunity arise.
With the Rfu in turmoil, the future of Martin Johnson seems to rest on the flipping of a coin, and more importantly who is doing the flipping.
With such uncertainty inevitably comes speculation, and the possibility of the Saints man taking the reins...
- 11/4/2011
- by Jeff Ball
- Obsessed with Film
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