England

Wow, what a weekend of rugby that was!

This time last year, I was writing a piece on England's chances in their first Six Nations under the tutelage of Stuart Lancaster

It is almost the end of 2012 and I thought that I would name a World Rugby Team of 2012 to encourage debate

England coach Stuart Lancaster has been handed a number of injury concerns ahead of the Six Nations following a bruising weekend of European action.

The draw for the 2015 Rugby World Cup has been made

Money and sport is an emotive issue. Footballers, we are told, are obscenely overpaid for kicking a bit of air-filled plastic around, with their manicured mates.

Rugby in the northern hemisphere is power based. Fear of defeat outweighs ambition. This has been starkly proved in the Autumn Series.

Here is my Autumn International Test Rugby Review following the weekend, from a New Zealand perspective.

England have named Saracens prop Mako Vunipola in their squad for the autumn internationals with Tom Youngs, Ugo Monye and James Haskell also handed call ups.

England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015), the organiser of the next Rugby World Cup, has announced the long list of 17 potential match venues - and there is no room for the biggest club rugby stadium in the country.

"Rugby may have many problems but the gravest is undoubtedly that of the persistence of summer..."

Not many Englishmen can say that they have scored a try in a Rugby World Cup Final. In fact, only one can.

The June International Matches leaves me wondering if there should be a Northern vs Southern Hemisphere rugby series at the end of the year, so some players who are injured now would still be available.

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa each recorded their second wins of the summer against northern hemisphere tourists.

A powerful 50 minutes from South Africa was enough to seal a series victory over a spirited England side who were physically dominated at Ellis Park.

Stuart Lancaster and his England entered the first test in Durban quietly confident of upsetting an 'undercooked' South Africa and taking a 1-0 series lead to Johannesburg.

On a wet and very muddy Stellenbosch pitch England U20's made it two from two against a very tough Irish outfit.

England will be without centre Brad Barritt for the second Test with South Africa in Johannesburg next weekend.

The June International test matches between Southern and Northern Hemisphere teams looks set to be closer than expected in 2012.

England u20's got off to a winning start on Monday as we beat Italy U20's 64-5 in Cape Town.