Robert Taylor

The paperback edition of my book ‘Tears for England’ is out next April. You can pre-order now via Waterstones and save 25%.   Use the code enter “OCTOBER25” at the checkout to redeem the 25% discount from Tue 14 to Fri 16 Oct 2025.

Tears for England: Obsession, Hope and Heartbreak with the England Football Team. Pre-order here: waterstones.com/book/tears-for…

Never forget, Russia’s involvement Today, we mark 2nd anniversary of worst mass murder of Jews since Holocaust. But no one wants to talk about Russia’s role. Oh & 7 Oct is Putin’s birthday! I remain grateful to @Iromg for giving me opportunity last year youtu.be/-gB3j5Fxxw4

@stephenjones9 V depressing, Stephen, that Borthwick’s reign will gain breathing space from this shocking, undeserved win. He’s had nearly three years, now, but England going backwards. Do we struggle on with this excuse for rugby till 2027 RWC? Or lance the boil now.

And very sorry but I don’t buy this stuff about England finding a way to win it. It’s rubbish. Scotland found far more ways to fail to win it. Not just Russell’s conversion that he would normally have put over in his sleep.

@stephenjones9 @TimesSport So pleased to read your piece this morning, Stephen. Sunday mornings in winter just wouldn’t be the same without you. And last line sums it up beautifully: “it is [welcome] step one.” But we are still a long way off

@stephenjones9 @TimesSport Can’t wait to read it tomorrow morning, Stephen. It’s been a whole blooming year since England fans have had anything to cheer. Fin def the future. Borthwick needed that, even if I remain sceptical. One swallow, and all that.

The inquest at Twickenham. Saints backs lead England home, France give their worst performance for years. Now England must crack on. And stop talking up the Two Smiths attack. The future is Fin. Only Fin @TimesSport

@stephenjones9 @TimesSport Thx for another year of fab 6N reports, analysis and commentary, Stephen. I still buy the paper mainly because of your writing. Here’s hoping for a few more seasons yet. Onto 2025!

Fantastic occasion and great match in Lyon. France had a little more in key phases but George Ford -inspired England came so close. Report very soon @TimesSport

@stephenjones9 @TimesSport @ST_Sport @dallaglio8 @DavidWalshST @MarkPalmerST @petersuntimes @SBarnesRugby Lovely coverage as always, and as expected you kept a level head about a fly half who played for just 20 mins and capitalised on a performance that was already Eng’s best since 2019. Your article about France’s mentality was bang on. I love the French, and really felt for them.

Very proud of our expert line-up today @TimesSport & @ST_Sport newspaper. @dallaglio8 @DavidWalshST @MarkPalmerST @petersuntimes @SBarnesRugby and two massive games

@stephenjones9 @TimesSport And play one they did Stephen. Can’t wait to read you tomorrow. Best win since RWC 2019. Most dramatic since Cardiff 2017. Finally, England looked like they wanted it. Could have settled for a brave defeat at 20:22. Didn’t. Went for it. Made all us mad Eng fans VERY happy!!

Sensational scenes in Rome, and media centre seemed to be 100% Italian on the final whistle. Now for England. Time to stop talking a good game. Twickers would love them to play one. @timessport later.

@stephenjones9 @TimesSport I agree it was totally deserved for Scotland, Stephen. Apart from the opening 10 mins, we were awful. Unforced error after unforced error. And Borthwick’s changes backfired. So depressing! Still, I’ll read you tomorrow.

Duhan has his day. Totally deserved for Scotland, and vastly superior bench. England tried to get their attack in gear but limited success. Full coverage @TimesSport

@stephenjones9 My goodness, Stephen, I can recall few occasions where England have had such an appalling first halves but still, somehow, won. Certainly against Wales. As ever, licking my lips to read your analysis tomorrow!

Packed media centre at Twickenham as writers pull out all the stops to bring news of England-Wales to a waiting universe.

@stephenjones9 That quote from Woodward on Baron (“It was someone else’s turn”) says it all. I’ve often thought that the fundamental reason we underperform at rugby, cricket and football, as well as tennis, is because we don’t want it enough. It’s always someone else’s turn.

Always love trips to Kingsholm even for only average game and below-average Glos. What’s not so good is waiting hour after hour for breakdown help. At least phone works so can cancel useless AA membership while I wait - possibly for posthumous repair

@stephenjones9 Omg, so close. Thx for a wonderful read this morning, which makes me feel considerably better! If only we could always play with such courage. Too often, it’s fear of losing. But not yesterday. And four more years of writing, Stephen? I do hope so!

Absolutely on the button my dear friend. All-time indeed

@stephenjones9 My head says we’ll lose comfortably. But rugby is a game of heart so, as you say, you never know for sure. I just hope we give it our very, very best. Whatever the outcome, I’ll be devouring your thoughts next Sunday morning!

@RT_MediaTrainer Well there’s always hope. I have a feeling that they aren’t going to win but it might not be too horrible. What do you think?

Easy to be critical - difficult to be a pundit and put opinions out there

@TimesSport @stephenjones9 What a fab column, Stephen. My view (and I wish this was my own line and not someone else’s) is that Ireland “merely believed, but didn’t know”. That’s the added burden a team faces when trying to do something that no Irish team has done before.

Ireland 24 New Zealand 28 Ireland's quarter-final jinx goes on. After winning 17 matches in a row, Andy Farrell's team came out on the wrong side of a classic in the Stade de France. Read @stephenjones9's report 🔽 thetimes.co.uk/article/irelan…

@stephenjones9 Great column as usual today Stephen. How refreshing to read you after a great, unexpected, England performance. Best since 2019 RWC in my view.

All the anthems in RWC have been ambushed by Pinky and Perky tribute band. Awful

@stephenjones9 Stephen, it is of course a joy to see Fiji play so well. Anyone who’s been to those lovely islands as I did many moons ago will be thrilled for them. But surely England have actually gone backwards under Borthwick. Is it time to ask if he’s been over-promoted?

Absolutely correct Steve _ a joy to see

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