England enlist Royal Marines for inspiration

ENGLAND’S players have been given a pep talk by former special forces soldier and Royal Marine Commando Jason Fox, ahead of their mission to beat France next week. Fox, the star of Channel 4 show SAS: Who Dares Wins addressed the squad at their Brighton training camp yesterday ahead of the clash with

France on Saturday week. Head coach Steve Borthwick has overseen two wins in three Six Nations games, with the world’s best sides to come, as England travel to Ireland in the final match. Prop Mako Vunipola said: ‘We have to have confidence. We can’t go into the game already accepting defeat. This is a great opportunity to test where we are as a squad.’ England flanker Jack Willis returned to France yesterday and will play for Toulouse against Racing 92 on Sunday. Les Bleus will be without prop Mohamed Haouas against England after he was banned for four matches last night after the flying headbutt on Scotland’s Ben White last weekend, for which he was shown a red card.

NEW ZEALAND head coach Ian Foster has confirmed he will not reapply for the role when his contract expires after this year’s World Cup.