Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, March 12.
Woodward backs England to score 60
Sir Clive Woodward says England are capable of putting 60 points on Wales in Saturday's Six Nations finale in Cardiff.
The World Cup-winning coach believes Steve Borthwick's side have the firepower to run riot as they chase an unlikely Six Nations title, saying they should have gone for the jugular against Italy in last weekend's 47-24 win.
READ MORE: Six Nations appeal to be launched after 'disturbing' actions of referee
Writing in his Daily Mail column, Woodward said: "There was one thing that frustrated me about the English performance. Were the team really chasing down the tries required to stay in the hunt for the Six Nations crown?
"Of course, it's going to be a long shot to catch France who, for me, were so impressive in their hammering of Ireland in Dublin. But to do that, England needed to score 60 or more points. They were capable of that against Italy. And they can do it in Cardiff.
"I've been happy with England's progression in this competition and this performance was another step forward. In all likelihood, they aren't going to win the Six Nations. I'm expecting France to beat Scotland to win the title and even if they don't, Ireland will down Italy in Rome.
"What England have to do is be even more ruthless against Wales. They have to put the hammer down. It won't be easy. And Ollie Lawrence will be absent. But if England can end their Six Nations with four wins from five matches, that would undoubtedly show the team are going the right way."
England prepared for abuse in Wales
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
England lock Ollie Chessum will embrace the hostility of his favourite Guinness Six Nations away fixture when England face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Chessum’s only previous appearance at the Principality Stadium came two years ago when England triumphed 20-10 – and the experience left a lasting impression on the Leicester second row.
Fast forward to 2025 and Wales are looking to destroy their fierce rivals’ title challenge and end their own 16-Test losing run, providing ample ammunition to cause an upset in the penultimate fixture of the Championship.
“It’s a tough place to go so to win there was memorable because it was the first time I’d played there. The hostility – there is nothing quite like it from an English perspective,” he said.
“We were there for two days prior to the game and everywhere the bus goes, abuse seems to follow.
“When you arrive in Cardiff on the day of the game, that last half-mile stretch is just packed with fans. There are a few English dotted around and you can hear them, but the abuse from the Welsh fans is something that will live long in the memory.
“You look out the bus window and you’ll see a young lad with his old man and he’ll give his dad a tap. His dad gives him the approval they turn around and they both give you the middle finger.
“Another one that sticks out in my memory was the day before game day. We’re driving through, we pull up at a roundabout, a few vans go by and you get the odd beep.
“A car pulls up next to us, mum and grandma are in the front seat and there’s a kid – he can’t have been more than five – his grandma winds down the back window and the kid just gives us the middle finger. I thought ‘that’s brilliant’.
“I enjoy it. It revs you up a little bit. For me, it’s probably the best away day as a player that you can have.”
Former England fly-half pinpoints Wales' weakness
Two former Test stars think England should target Wales in two weak areas on Saturday.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod, former England star Andy Goode and ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton said England could target Wales with the high ball and attempt to exploit the wide channels.
"I think Wales is going to be a really hard game for England because of the way they're set up, how they defend and the emotion," said Hamilton. "If it was me, I would go with Freddie Steward (at full-back) and I would play a kicking game.
"You're probably best to do that against Wales, whose back three aren't that big. If it's going to be a kicking game you bang Freddie Steward in, you bang some balls in the air and gather around 90% of the kicks. Or you go with Marcus (Smith) and try to rip them to shreds."
Wales are without a win in 16 Tests and will be facing their biggest rivals at home in Cardiff this weekend. And while they finished strongly against Scotland, Wales were exposed in the wide channels by Gregor Townsend's side in the opening 40 minutes.
"One thing I'll say," began Goode. "Scotland scored three tries in the first half, where did they score them all?"
"Out wide," answered the producer. "There we go," said Goode. "They got to width. First try Blair Kinghorn in the corner off Darcy Graham. Finn (Russell) sees a bit of space, goes to the space. Second try - Duhan van der Merwe makes a break down the outside, offload, bang, down the outside. They're flooding the wide channels.
"I'm not saying that you (England) just go to width. If you just go to box-kicking, you're going to be in an arm wrestle. There's times where England will use their power game up front. Curry boys smashing things and Tom Willis, lineout drives and all that good stuff.
"But if you haven't got the attacking mindset that we had against Italy... you can see how teams have shredded Wales open. Ireland got into a bit of a dogfight with them and didn't get a bonus point. You have to have that mental attacking edge to go after them when it's on. But you've got to go after it."
Steve Tandy convinced Scotland will have chances against France
By Gavin McCafferty, PA
Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy does not care if his side are written off ahead of facing Guinness Six Nations leaders France as he is convinced there will be chances for the visitors in Paris.
France lead the table ahead of the final weekend and a bonus-point victory on Saturday will guarantee them the title.
The French have racked up 26 tries in four matches – 11 more than Scotland and England, who are next in line.
A 42-27 win in Dublin last weekend ended Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes and put France on top after bouncing back in emphatic fashion from their opening one-point defeat by England.
Tandy said: “I don’t think it bothers me what other people are thinking. We’ve got our own internal standards of where we go, we’ve got our own internal belief of how we play the game and how we go after opposition.
“It’s an exciting one, France, but then you look at them, they probably could have blown England away, they’ve done an unbelievable job out in Ireland, so we know exactly what firepower they bring but we’ve got our own way of playing and how we’re going to go about it in France.
“So it’s just an exciting opportunity. Going there, it’s always an incredible atmosphere and in the past we’ve done pretty well against France.
“It’s just exciting, it’s unbelievable that you’re in a Six Nations game, the last game of the tournament, so it’s something we’re hopefully going to get out there and really enjoy.”
