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BRAD BARRITT sums up the jubilant mood of the England team on the cover of the May edition of Rugby World. The Saracens centre is a guest columnist in an issue packed with quotes, pictures and analysis of the 2012 Six Nations. Our 14-page rundown is followed by Stuart Barnes’s verdict of the championship, in which he picks his Lions XV one year out from their tour to Australia.
Ben Morgan, Leigh Halfpenny and Rob Kearney, three stars of the Six Nations, all feature, while Scottish gloom following a wooden spoon campaign should be dispelled by reading about Edinburgh’s flying Dutchman, Tim Visser – soon to qualify for Scotland. Ireland’s problems also come under scrutiny as Paul Wallace explains what must be done in the wake of their scrum implosion at Twickenham.
With the Welsh exodus to France gathering momentum, Stephen Jones looks at what the newly crowned European champions can do to stop the drain of talent. And staying in the principality, Derek Quinnell remembers the legendary Mervyn Davies.
Elsewhere, we report on the remarkable Bumble Bees from Yorkshire – England’s only mixed-ability team – and take Sale and England Saxons forward James Gaskell back to his roots at Sandbach. We also visit Dublin to put your questions to the ERC, see how the Pumas are gearing up for the first Rugby Championship, and see what happens when Essex side Eton Manor have a coaching session with London Irish.
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The Front Row…
Six Nations 2012 – A round-up of the tournament
Derek Quinnell – The former Wales back-rower pays tribute to Mervyn Davies
Brad Barritt – The centre on the Six Nations and England’s summer tour
Paul Wallace – The ex-prop gives his solutions to Ireland’s front-row crisis
Spotlights…
Jonathan Davies – With the Grand Slam ticked off, the Wales centre wants a win Down Under. By Sarah Mockford
Geoff Parling – The England lock relished his first taste of Test rugby and is hungry for more. Owain Jones reports
Rory Best – Bea Asprey finds the Ulster hooker eager to right Ireland’s Six Nations wrongs by beating New Zealand
Greig Laidlaw – The Edinburgh half-back hopes to draw a line under Scotland’s wooden spoon. By Katie Field
The Centres…
Stuart Barnes – A look back at the Six Nations teams, plus his 2013 Lions XV
Ben Morgan – The rampaging England No 8 is living the dream on the Test stage. Here’s his story…
Leigh Halfpenny – The full-back has worked tirelessly to help get himself – and Wales – back on top form
Tim Visser – Will Scotland’s try drought end when Edinburgh’s scoring machine joins the side in June?
Rob Kearney – This man has been getting the fans cheering despite Ireland’s disappointing tournament
Technical Zone – Dan Cottrell’s tips on how to create gaps in defence
Minis Zone – Kicking, catching and your team’s first scrum session
Fitness Zone – Wales’ cold relief, plus how to perfect your gym technique
Save our Season – Eton Manor need our help. So we sent them to London Irish to take part in a skills session
Welsh Exodus – Stephen Jones on why Wales are haemorrhaging stars to France – and how to stop it happening
Mixed Ability – We visit Yorkshire to meet a team breaking down barriers – the remarkable Bumble Bees
European Rugby – Your questions are answered as we go to Dublin to meet the boss of Heineken Cup rugby
Argentina – How the influence of Agustín Pichot has helped the Pumas’ enter the Rugby Championship
It started here – James Gaskell’s rugby journey has taken him from Sandbach to Sale. And he’s not finished yet
Naked Truth – We get to know the real Will Genia
The Backs…
Club Guide – All your grass-roots news, plus Team of the Month and School Team of the Month
Naked Truth – Meet Wallaby Will Genia
Armchair Zone – The latest books and products
Tour Tale – A nasty wake-up call
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