Nation

So England have come to the end of another disappointing Six Nations during which they have shown promise but ultimately lost three of their five matches. With the campaign now over, and with just under 18 months until the World Cup, Will Greenwood runs the rule over how the England players fared this campaign . Backs Freddie Steward Give him the No 15 shirt and he should say 'out of my dead hands do you take this off me'. You build teams around security in the air - so put him at full-back and leave him there. 8/10 George Furbank Gets a 10 for volleying, after two against France. Stepping into touch gave France a lineout and then points. So good at Northampton but tough gig in Paris behind a beaten team. 6/10 Max Malins Suffered from the playing style, but he will be nervous about selection for the summer tour to Australia as well as a result. There weren't enough special moments, as with most of the wingers. 6/10 Jack Nowell If he gets back to his best … [Read more...] about England’s Six Nations winners and losers: Maro Itoje and Ellis Genge stand tall

France won their first Grand Slam for 12 years and large sections of the England fanbase continue to grumble over Eddie Jones, but what else did we learn over the last six weeks? Who were the stars and disappointments? How safe are the six coaches and what do their World Cup prospects now look like? Telegraph Sport marks their cards. England Star of the tournament No one gave more to the cause than Ellis Genge. His scrummaging has come on leaps and bounds. Not many looseheads tie Tadhg Furlong up in as many knots as he did in the Ireland contest. His reward for such exertions was to be deployed as an NFL running back against France. Whatever the merits of that particular tactical ploy, Genge has enjoyed a coming out party in this Championship with Freddie Steward invited as his guest of honour. Disappointment of the tournament This is cow’s backside with banjo territory but when an attack has scored just three tries in its four games against opponents not called Italy it … [Read more...] about Six Nations report cards: How poor were England, are France unbeatable and could Wales be in trouble?

Tom Curry has been backed to become England’s youngest Test captain since Will Carling, with Eddie Jones poised to announce his most inexperienced Six Nations team on Thursday. Curry, the Sale Sharks flanker, is widely expected to be unveiled as England’s captain for the Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland on Saturday in the absence of the injured Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes, who is recovering from concussion . At 23, Curry would be England’s youngest captain since 22-year-old Carling was appointed captain in 1988 and would lead a side missing many of their senior campaigners heading to Murrayfield. According to Alex Sanderson, the Sale director of rugby, Curry’s leadership qualities bear a striking resemblance to Farrell . He also believes they are ideally suited to the international environment because Curry’s intensity levels can burn out his team-mates at club level. “The depths of his energy are fathomless,” Sanderson said. “That is his biggest … [Read more...] about Tom Curry backed to fill Owen Farrell’s shoes in Eddie Jones’ least experienced Six Nations side

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Thursday approved the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, formulating a post-retirement procedure for its chairman. The bill was presented in the house by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar for making changes to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO). Following amendments were made to the ordinance: NAB’s deputy chairman will be the acting head of the watchdog when its chairman retires If the deputy chairman is absent then any senior officer will be given charge of the top post Tax-related matters have been excluded from NAB’s jurisdiction Provincial and federal cabinets' decisions for enjoying financial benefits will not be under NAB's ambit NAB will not probe irregularities in any development scheme or project NAB cannot take action over the decision of any regularity institution Judges’ appointments in accountability courts will be for a maximum three-year term Consultation with the concerned high … [Read more...] about National Assembly approves amendments to NAB law

STUFF Police believe a man found dead in Auckland's Mt Albert was walking home when he was killed. Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man’s body was found near a walkway in a central Auckland suburb. Detective inspector Chris Barry fronted a police press conference on Thursday afternoon. The man’s body was found by members of the public on Tuesday evening near Roy Clements Treeway in Mt Albert. He was a local resident. READ MORE: Man's death near Auckland walkway being treated as unexplained Person found dead on suburban Auckland street, police on scene “We believe the victim was walking along the pathway and was on his way home,” Barry said. Officers were searching the area and conducting a forensic scene examination. It was expected a scene guard will remain in place over the coming days. The man had been identified and next of kin had been notified, Barry said. They were “understandably devastated”. However, … [Read more...] about Mt Albert homicide: Man was walking home when he was killed, police believe

Nine staff at Wellington’s Rimutaka Prison, including the deputy director and two other senior managers, have been suspended for alleged misconduct. Corrections placed the staff on “special leave” on Thursday as a result of information gathered by police involved in a long-running corruption investigation, dubbed Operation Portia . In a statement, the department’s chief custodial officer Neil Beales said information provided by police since November 2020 had led to an internal inquiry into the actions of 10 prison staff. Do you know more? Email [email protected] One of those people had previously resigned, and a further nine were placed on “special leave” on Thursday, Beales said. READ MORE: Corrections officer 'tried to smuggle drugs' into Rimutaka Prison A dozen prison staff under scrutiny as long-running corruption probe nears end Charity working at prison forced to make security changes after contraband bust Rimutaka Prison corruption … [Read more...] about Deputy director among nine Rimutaka Prison staff suspended amid corruption probe

With the knives out for Eddie Jones and England widely criticised after a poor tournament, Owen Farrell has ended up having a great Six Nations without even spending a minute on the field. The announcement of Farrell's championship-ending ankle injury back in January posed an interesting dilemma. What would happen if England set the tournament alight with an all-conquering display and Farrell, the captain since Dylan Hartley's injury and viewed by Eddie Jones as absolutely vital to the side from a leadership and playmaking perspective, was no longer required in order for England to be one of the world's best sides? England might have come third in the tournament but that was only an improvement due to the mediocrity of Scotland and Wales, with England's record reading exactly the same as last year: two wins, three losses, 10 table points. There was no attacking revolution, no massive suggestion that Farrell - often cheaply targeted as a deadweight in England's backline, yet … [Read more...] about England’s biggest winner from a dismal Six Nations? Owen Farrell

The Government is copping criticism over a lack of transparency around deployment of New Zealand troops to Iraq, amid reports the first group left Australia on Wednesday afternoon. New Zealand is sending up to 143 troops to train the Iraqi military as part of an international coalition to defeat Islamic State (Isil) - but the Government has refused to confirm whether they are deploying immediately alongside their Australian counterparts. Twenty-six New Zealand troops and 59 Australians left Brisbane airport bound for the Middle East on Wednesday, Channel 7 reported. The Australian Federal Cabinet on Tuesday signed off on that country deploying about 330 additional troops to Iraq, starting from Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters in Canberra the force was expected to be operational by the middle of May. The troops would work alongside the New Zealand military personnel, and be stationed at the Taji military base about 40 kilometres from Baghdad. … [Read more...] about First New Zealand troops set to deploy to Iraq

M1 traffic latest: There has been a 'multi-vehicle collision' on a stretch of the busy motorway (Image: HIGHWAYS ENGLAND) Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Two of the three lanes on the northbound motorway between Junction 12 (Toddington) and Junction 13 (Brogborough) had been closed. Highways England earlier warned there was just under three miles of traffic on approach to the crash. Following the collision, traffic had been stopped between the two junctions. Related articles State pension payments set to change next month 'Whole life’s savings' Single mum shocked after losing £60,000 in scam Debris also spread across the impacted … [Read more...] about M1 traffic latest: M1 lane CLOSED as multi-vehicle crash triggers four-mile rush-hour hell

STUFF Kaiapoi builder John Adair has debt collectors after him after failing to pay several Canterbury suppliers. On a quiet, riverside road in Christchurch, suppliers come to hunt down the elusive John Adair. But at 229 Waimea Tce, they find only a half-built house and debris. Often they will knock on neighbour Ken Horlor’s door, wanting to know where they can find the Kaiapoi, North Canterbury, builder. One was Secure Scaffold manager Nathan Applegarth. Enraged after battling to be paid $3000, he took the matter into his own hands. READ MORE: A dearth of dwangs: Four-by-twos run dry, cost of building supplies soar Land Homes saga: Christchurch's 'worst builder' won't let go Platinum Homes client waits a third Christmas for home completion He erected a large sign on his scaffolding at the site. “I don’t pay my bills” it said in fluorescent pink. Originally Adair hired the scaffolding for “a couple of weeks”, but months later and without payment … [Read more...] about The ‘ghost’ builder: Tradie buys then flies, suppliers say