England have now seen 16 players ruled out of the start of their title defence, a number that will climb to 18 if Robshaw and Brown fail to recover.

Harlequins’ hopes of progression in the Champions Cup were virtually extinguished as they crashed to a third-consecutive defeat in Europe, a 17-5 loss at home to Ulster.

Eddie Jones has criticised Australia for seeking to influence referee Ben O’Keeffe through the media.

Chris Robshaw will miss the entire RBS 6 Nations with a shoulder problem that further deepens England’s injury troubles.

England must launch their Grand Slam defence without three first-choice forwards – and face question marks over four more.

The game was littered with red cards.

Eddie Jones insists the key to defeating Fiji and extending England’s winning streak to 12 Tests is to “bore them to death”.

Eddie Jones believes England’s stunning series win in Australia could ignite the imaginations of children to become the next Owen Farrell rather than Harry Kane.

England 25 Wales 21: Eddie Jones has calmed England’s Six Nations title celebrations because an even greater prize is within reach as he targets a precious Grand Slam.

For a small town, Enniskillen has given birth to more than its share of international sportsmen, amongst them Olympic gold medal sprinter Robert Kerr, champion heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

Scotland 9 England 15: Eddie Jones has urged England to build momentum behind their RBS 6 Nations quest by giving Italy a “good hiding” in Rome.

Eddie Jones will hold talks with Chris Robshaw early in his reign as England head coach as he searches for a captain in the image of New Zealand great Richie McCaw to embody the values of his team.

Very few Irish players have the happiest memories of the Rugby World Cup and Munster coach Anthony Foley is no exception.

 

Ronan O’Gara analyses all the big issues at the Rugby World Cup.

However one-sided this World Cup match-up between Ireland and Canada appears there will be plenty to occupy Joe Schmidt’s thoughts during today’s Pool D opening encounter.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has left out fly-half Francois Trinh-Ducfrom his 31-man World Cup squad, in favour of Frederic Michalak.

A last-minute World Cup return by Steffon Armitage would have been “disruptive” for England, according to Jonny Wilkinson.

Check out our guide to the best of tonight's TV.

Stuart Lancaster is convinced England can win the World Cup despite presiding over a fourth successive runners-up finish in the RBS 6 Nations.

England 25 Scotland 13

Courtney Lawes will make his England return in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland emboldened by a glowing reference from forwards coach Graham Rowntree.

The three factors that swung the game Ireland’s way against England at the Aviva Stadium.

Peter O’Mahony is under no illusions about the size of the task facing the Ireland pack when England rumble into the Aviva Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Of all the pieces of advice Chris Robshaw has received as England captain, one from Conor O’Shea will have stuck with him.

Chris Robshaw has told his England side it is time they won some silverware and says the memory of watching Ireland lift the Six Nations trophy a year ago will spur his side on in Dublin.

RBS Six Nations: England 47 Italy 17: England full-back Mike Brown receives medical attention for a head injury.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has all but confirmed Chris Robshaw will be his captain at the 2015 World Cup with the intervention of injury the only threat to his position.

What happened in the tunnel?

England captain Chris Robshaw responded to Welsh mind games in the tunnel moments before Friday’s night’s 21-16 RBS 6 Nations victory in Cardiff by ordering his team-mates to stand their ground.

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has had his 12-week ban for using abusive language reduced to eight on appeal.

We got it wrong with our prediction in these pages last week, but then so did Leinster.

Conor O’Shea has told his Harlequins to prepare themselves for ‘war’ as they face Leinster in another crucial European encounter on Saturday.

England captain Chris Robshaw has been ruled out of Harlequins’ European Rugby Champions Cup match against Leinster on Saturday and will see a specialist to examine his shoulder injury.

Harlequins 24 Leinster 18

Conor O’Shea says the fact Leinster’s internationals have an extra week to prepare for Sunday’s European Rugby Champions Cup clash gives them an advantage over his Harlequins side.