2021/02/27 00:35 Italy s Stephen Varney is tackled by England s Courtney Lawes during the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Italy at Twic. Italy s Stephen Varney is tackled by England s Courtney Lawes during the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Italy at Twickenham Stadium in London, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) LONDON (AP) Flanker Courtney Lawes has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations by a chest injury in a setback to England s title defense. Lawes hurt a pectoral muscle in training on Wednesday and was a late change to the starting XV facing Wales on Saturday in Cardiff.
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A freezing cold, wet weekend in the UK meant some tricky conditions for rugby, but that didn’t stop the Six Nations from providing three more cracking games to enjoy.
Red cards, wingers flying through the air to score, horror injuries, youngsters setting the game on fire and the oldies of the international game picking up another win for the record books – there was lots going on and lots to talk about.
SCRUM-HALF Stephen Varney, who is a former pupil at Ysgol y Preseli in Crymych, took centre stage in Italy’s starting side to face England in the Guinness Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday. Italy head coach Franco Smith is building for the future, with a youthful team centred around talented young number nine Varney - but on the day England came through for a six-try 41-18 victory. Originally from Rhoshill, near Cardigan, Varney won the Welsh Schools U16s Cup for Ysgol y Preseli in 2017, and came through the junior ranks Crymych RFC, before becoming a professional player. The Welsh-speaking 19 year-old, who is the son of former Neath and Aberavon flanker Adrian Varney, had kept his place in the side that lost to France in their opener in Rome last weekend.
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Stuff Sports
14 February, 2021, 4:30 pm
England s Jonny May scores a specular try during the Six Nations victory over Italy Picture; STUFF SPORTS.
With an NFL-style leap and a spectacular one-handed grounding, Jonny May scored the pick of England’s six tries against Italy in a 41-18 bonus-point win that kickstarted their Six Nations title defence.
A 28th straight victory over the Azzurri was not without its faults for the champions, however, with sloppy passing and loose defence giving the Italians some joy in an open match inside an empty Twickenham.
Returning to their home stadium a week after a chastening 11-6 loss to Scotland, the English predictably collected their first points of the championship after recovering from conceding a third-minute try. Tries came from lock Jonny Hill, Anthony Watson (2), fellow winger May, replacement flanker Jack Willis, and fullback Elliot Daly.