Jeremy Guscott

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Jeremy Guscott news, views, opinion and other content.

Jeremy Guscott column: Maro Itoje can match Ireland’s energy in the back-row

24 February 2016 0 comments

If Joe Schmidt is under pressure in Ireland, that’s pretty unjust. It would be based only on the World Cup, and the first two games […]

Jeremy Guscott’s England verdict: A clean and clinical show in a hostile environment

10 February 2016 0 comments

The selection of Owen Farrell and George Ford was a stop-gap because Manu Tuilagi‘s not fit; Henry Slade is injured; and Luther Burrell is out […]

Jeremy Guscott column: It’s time for this England backline to really produce

3 February 2016 0 comments

When you look at the England backs ahead of the Six Nations my main feeling is that this is their time. Players like George Ford, […]

Jeremy Guscott: Honesty is the best policy to get Bath out of this mess

27 January 2016 0 comments

Bath have a playing roster that would be the envy of a lot of teams in Europe and yet they are struggling to produce the […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Eddie’s new high-energy England set up to attack

20 January 2016 0 comments

Eddie Jones has picked his first squad, and I’m encouraged. My gut feeling is that this is the era in which if players cannot deliver […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Danny Care can make my backline fire for new-look England

13 January 2016 0 comments

The return of Manu Tuilagi for Leicester yesterday is a huge boost for Eddie Jones before he names his Six Nations training squad this week. […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Eddie Jones needs smart, abrasive forwards to lead the charge

6 January 2016 0 comments

The forwards Eddie Jones selects will give us the first indication of what style England will adopt under his coaching. At first glance his selection […]

Jeremy Guscott: Elliot Daly has gas, he’s got the boot, now give him a chance!

30 December 2015 0 comments

Elliot Daly is becoming a recognised force both in the Premiership and the European Cup, and over the last two seasons he’s established himself not […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Taulupe Faletau can become best No.8 in the world at Bath

16 December 2015 0 comments

Taulupe Faletau’s decision to join Bath next season means that they have acquired a 25-year-old who is not only a world-class No.8, but who also […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Dan Carter can be a success like Jonny Wilkinson – if he learns French

9 December 2015 0 comments

Dan Carter is without doubt a sensational signing for Racing 92 – as big, or bigger, than Jonny Wilkinson was for Toulon – although he […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Eddie Jones should pick Wayne Smith, Shaun Edwards and Rob Baxter

2 December 2015 0 comments

What will Eddie Jones do with his assistant coaches? Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt have all had four years to make an impression […]

Jeremy Guscott column: I thought I had tackled Jonah Lomu – but like so many I was wrong!

25 November 2015 0 comments

Jonah Lomu was the most exciting rugby player I have ever had the privilege to watch, play against or play with. His rugby was inspirational, […]

Jeremy Guscott: England must rebuild their pack the way Michael Cheika rebuilt his Australians

19 November 2015 0 comments

My big concern from England’s World Cup is that we saw a decline in their core strengths at the scrum and line-out. Those elements have […]

Jeremy Guscott verdict: I’m delighted classy Dan Carter could savour his fitting finale

4 November 2015 0 comments

For a man who for four years has had a memory of not being involved in the match that won New Zealand the World Cup […]

Jeremy Guscott World Cup XV

4 November 2015 0 comments

15. Ben Smith (NZ) is one of my favourite players, his skillset is of the highest calibre, which affords him the luxury of time; he […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Central contracts and fewer games will help us build a far better future

14 October 2015 0 comments

The rugby world is envious of England‘s mammoth financial resources but they are laughing at us now, having seen how ineffectual the RFU have become […]

Jeremy Guscott column: Ireland’s big name players are enhancing reputations

8 October 2015 0 comments

My forecast for an England Ireland semi-final looks to be 50 per cent true at this stage, with Ireland pretty much assured of quarter-final qualification […]

Jeremy Guscott: Slammin’ Sam will deliver – I’d start him against Wales

23 September 2015 0 comments

The lack of big match international experience showed on Friday night and England cannot afford another performance like that in this Pool of Death. Wales […]

Jeremy Guscott’s Rugby World Cup Dream XV

17 September 2015 0 comments

Picking this team of World Cup winners from the seven tournaments that have been played was not an easy task, simply because there are so […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Wales won’t be weakened with Liam Williams and Mike Phillips

17 September 2015 0 comments

Injuries are a fact of Rugby Union life, and it’s always been a case of, ‘the King is dead, long live the King’, with one […]

Jeremy Guscott’s verdict: Muscleman Jonny May sums up England’s transformation

9 September 2015 0 comments

What a difference a fortnight makes. England were ten times better than the side that meekly went down to France and nowhere was that transformation […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Fortune will favour the brave in Ireland

27 August 2015 0 comments

The England-Ireland World Cup warm-up game on September 5 has huge significance for both sides. The managements can spin this however much they like but […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Size, skill and speed, the Wallaby backs have it all

19 August 2015 0 comments

Despite the heavy defeat the Wallabies just got from New Zealand, when it comes to backline talent, I believe the 14 or so contingent Michael […]

Jeremy Guscott: Jonny May must keep improving to make himself invaluable

13 August 2015 1 comment

There is always a dilemma for international coaches such as Stuart Lancaster when it comes to cutting players, because it is so important that they […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Still time for Sam Burgess to prove his vast potential

4 August 2015 1 comment

The big word is that Sam Burgess will get a place in Stuart Lancaster final World Cup squad. It’s big news given that Sam has […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Bok boys can do lot more than just bash

30 July 2015 0 comments

It would be a huge surprise if these sides continue to play this type of expansive rugby in the World Cup, but for now they […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Michael Cheika can bring best out of talented Wallabies

15 July 2015 1 comment

If we know one thing about Australia it’s that they frequently get it right for World Cups. A lot of their coaches have had an […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Treasure this camp, lads – time passes in a blink

8 July 2015 0 comments

The great upside of getting into England training camp early is that the excitement builds from the minute you arrive at the car park and […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: In-form Matt Banahan would be my first choice wing

1 July 2015 1 comment

Wingers are try-scorers first and foremost, as they always have been, but in the modern Test arena they’ve had to develop a much more rounded […]

Jeremy Guscott: You can bet Richie McCaw and Dan Carter will be ready

24 June 2015 0 comments

One of the big stories so far in the Super 15 is the Crusaders failing to make the play-offs for the first time in 14 […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Get the scrum sorted or risk damaging our great product

10 June 2015 0 comments

This season as a whole has been very positive, and the attitude of teams in the Premiership will, hopefully, help to inspire the younger generation […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: No Steffon Armitage means no exile will ever get in

27 May 2015 1 comment

The exclusion of Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon had been well documented before the selection of England’s 50 man World Cup training squad, and it’s […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: This Bath side has the ability, now they must finish the job

20 May 2015 1 comment

Bath have arrived as true Premiership contenders again, and with a home semi-final already secured I would bet on them at the Recreation Ground against […]

Jeremy Guscott: Marland Yarde and Christian Wade deserve another look by Stuart Lancaster

13 May 2015 0 comments

The England back three is still a work in progress, and with Manu Tuilagi not back from injury until just before the World Cup, finding […]

Jeremy Guscott: Stuart Lancaster must not bow to PRL double-standards

6 May 2015 3 comments

Stuart Lancaster should bring Steffon Armitage into the World Cup training squad he will announce later this month using the ‘exceptional circumstances’ ruling. If he […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Wallabies were always going to pick star names

29 April 2015 0 comments

New Zealand will not be panicking as much as Australia about the talent drain to Top 14, Premiership and Pro12 clubs just yet because there […]

Jeremy Guscott: How to beat the French? Capture good kids early

22 April 2015 0 comments

This has been a good season for the English teams in the inaugural European Champions Cup because they got four clubs in the quarter-finals, and […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Sam Burgess can be deadly force as Bath’s back-row destroyer

15 April 2015 2 comments

I’ve backed Sam Burgess to make England’s World Cup squad from the start because I think he is that talented – and committed to making […]

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Get your game-heads on, it will be intense from the off

25 February 2015 0 comments

If you match-up the English and Irish backs it appears on form that they are incredibly close, but four out of seven of the Irish […]

Jeremy Guscott’s verdict on England: Let’s make most of Jonathan Joseph’s Midas touch in Dublin

18 February 2015 0 comments

It was the win that was expected but not quite the performance or style that was anticipated after last week’s heroics in the Millennium Stadium. […]

Jeremy Guscott’s verdict: Fitness tells and so do Jonathan Joseph’s twinkle toes

11 February 2015 1 comment

England‘s victory over Wales in Cardiff was about energy, discipline and defence, and they proved that when those three elements come together it becomes a […]

Jeremy Guscott: Suddenly Danny Cipriani can tackle – shame about his kicking

28 January 2015 0 comments

The best thing that’s happened to Danny Cipriani this season is that we are talking about him being good rugby player showcasing his talents rather […]

Jeremy Guscott: Luther Burell must tackle his weight to be world class

21 January 2015 0 comments

Luther Burrell is playing well in a Northampton team that is sitting on top of the league with 48 points having played 13, won 10, […]

Jeremy Guscott: Bring back rucking and watch the game take off

14 January 2015 0 comments

My New Year’s rugby resolutions start with a return to rucking. To this day I don’t understand why rucking ever changed. I’ve never seen any […]

Jeremy Guscott: Yes, Henry Slade has England potential – but at fly-half

8 January 2015 1 comment

Henry Slade is one of those naturally talented, instinctive players who coaches will only get the best out of if they loosen the reins. You […]

Jeremy Guscott: Tyro tens are the big plusses of the autumn

17 December 2014 0 comments

These days it seems to be impossible to make a judgement on any of the Home Union teams without referring to the 2015 World Cup. […]

Jeremy Guscott: Joe Schmidt’s success lies in the simplicity of his method

10 December 2014 0 comments

Ireland have quietly moved into third place in the world rankings without any great fireworks or fanfare. Even their Kiwi coach, Joe Schmidt, is remaining […]

Jeremy Guscott’s verdict on England: Beating the Wallabies will keep RWC hopes alive

26 November 2014 0 comments

England being ranked fifth in the latest World Rugby (IRB) pecking order is about right. I wasn’t surprised by the adverse reaction to England’s results and […]