5 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

1 A morning with Eddie Jones

EDDIE was on fire when he invited me for a chat at Japan’s hotel. It was a wonderfully energising experience. Eddie has wit and wisdom and a team of humble warriors. ‘We play ruck-and-run rugby, it’s the new rock and roll,’ said Eddie and for the first time in a while I wished I was still coaching.

2 Aussie grit at Twickenham

AUSTRALIA’S heroic defence against Wales provides my indelible impression of Michael Cheika’s team. Down to 13 men, they vowed that Wales weren’t going to cross the line. And they didn’t. The Aussies went very deep but rode out the storm to keep their World Cup challenge on course.

3 New Zealand masterclass

IT WASN’T a vintage France team that faced New Zealand but the world champions were imperious. Every man was on top of his game and their 62-13 win was a definitive All Blacks display, with Julian Savea’s hat-trick the icing on the cake. ‘Road kill’, as Andrew Mehrtens described the carnage.

4 Pumas on the prowl in Cardiff

ARGENTINA’S crowning glory was that 43-20 win over Ireland. Underpinning it all was the ‘footballing’ combination at 10 and 12 of Nicolas Sanchez and Juan Martin Hernandez. It’s the only way you can succeed at the elite level. England must abandon thoughts of ‘ball carriers. in midfield. Ban the term immediately.

5 Farrell’s selection against Wales

I WAS surprised England went with Owen Farrell ahead of George Ford at fly-half and dumbstruck Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt were in midfield. Farrell’s a fine player but the brave new world we’d seen in the Six Nations with Ford leading an inventive backline was being abandoned. Suddenly I wasn’t hungry any more.