News about Jason Leonard

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: At the 2003 World Cup, the England team I was coaching took a lot of criticism from the rugby media for our performance in the quarter-final victory over Wales. It wasn't our best game by any stretch and the Welsh gave us a real scare. But the most important thing was we won the game. I remember after that Wales match, the decorated journalist Jeff Powell of Mail Sport - who is now an MBE - came up to me. Jeff couldn't believe the flak I and the team had got.

When Fin Baxter was born, Dan Cole would have been preparing for his GCSEs. Now, this unlikely double-act is set to be charged with giving England a platform to level this series against the All Blacks. The age gap between the novice Test prop and the veteran is 15 years, give or take. Baxter has just made his debut, while Cole made his 114th appearance in Dunedin - to match Jason Leonard's record as the country's most-capped male forward. They are at opposite ends of the career spectrum, but they are in contention to form a crucial alliance at Eden Park on Saturday, as England seek to solve the scrum problems which contributed to their agonising, one-point defeat last weekend.

SIR CLIVE WOORDWARD: England may have lost their World Cup semi-final with South Africa by the narrowest of margins, but it was their best result since 2019 bar none. Not since the national team beat New Zealand in the last four years in Japan, four years ago, do we come close to seeing Steve Borthwick's team against the Springboks on display. We should all agree that this was a limited game plan. It was what the circumstances required, but the simple truth is that it was England's only hope of defeating South Africa. It was also England's most cohesive, united, and enthralling display for a long time.

Jason Leonard curated the tributes to former England and Lions back David Duckham, who died at the age of 76. Leonard - the World Cup-winning England prop who went on to become RFU president and Lions chairman, was so sad to hear the news about the death of one of England's finest players and great characters.' "I spent many an hour with David at meetings, and it was a real pleasure to be in his company.' Duckham appeared on almost 200 appearances for Coventry between 1967 and 1979 as a homegrown hero with a desire to conquer his sport's peak.

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Dan Carter has been on tour, rubbing shoulders with Prince Harry in the United States, and his next stop is Twickenham to welcome Owen Farrell into rugby's royal century club. Farrell is expected to win his 100th England cap against the All Blacks on Saturday, becoming the third male player to reach the landmark following Jason Leonard and Ben Youngs. The England captain has polarized opinion throughout his career, but iconic Kiwi No. 10 Carter paid a laudatory tribute on the eve of his career's milestone.