Eddie Butler
Eddie Butler is a rugby union correspondent with the Observer. He can also be heard commentating on the BBC's rugby union coverage
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England and Wales’ Twickenham clash a good idea, whatever the weatherIt might not seem the most natural time for these two rivals to face off, but there is plenty for Eddie Jones’ and Warren Gatland’s teams to play for
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Rob Andrew: the rebel who became the establishment’s master of survivalThe RFU’s director of professional rugby left without fanfare after an unremarkable tenure. How different it might have been for this one-time pioneer
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Saracens beat Wasps to final as English rugby hits vibrant heightsMaro Itoje was named man of the match as an outstanding defensive effort saw Saracens beat Wasps 24-17 in the all-English semi-final in Reading
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Dan Carter’s Racing have the steel to survive deep in Leicester territoryRacing are the odd ones out in the English dominated European Champions Cup semi-finals but are well accustomed to playing in a hostile environment
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Wasps and Exeter deliver classic that leaves both sides asking: what next?Exeter will be wondering how they recover after playing so well in defeat in the European Champions Cup quarter-final while Wasps must build on victory to prepare for even greater challenges
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Six Nations 2016 verdict: Guardian writers give their highs and lowsThe players of the tournament, the outstanding matches, best and worst moments, the team of the season and what has to change for 2017
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Fast-finishing Celts serve up another feast on final day of Six NationsWith Wales ruthlessly putting Italy to the sword and Stuart Hogg’s try opening the floodgates in Dublin, the Celtic nations demonstrated they can play on the final day of the tournament. Why not do it from the off?
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England win the grand slam but now must aim for the next levelEddie Jones has made a massive impact in a short space of time but his team need to combine tighter discipline with a greater freedom of expression
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Eddie Jones’ revolution: how he led England to Six Nations grand slamFrom creating a happy camp to unleashing Billy Vunipola and identifying a fearsome second-row pairing, Eddie Jones has made his unmistakable mark in no time
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England’s Billy Vunipola thrashes his way through Ireland’s defenceBilly Vunipola, England’s No1 bulldozer, came close to perfection with his dummying and running although Ireland’s Johnny Sexton did get the ball off him once
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Wales and France show it’s not only the roof that has broken downFor Wales this was a chance to practise stopping what may well be coming their way at Twickenham next in the Six Nations but they will be unhappy about their resistance against the maul – and Dan Biggar should be the controller
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Wales and France show willing but Six Nations spark is already fading outIt was not for lack of effort but there was an overriding feeling that the All Blacks would have seized the opportunities that neither Wales nor France were able to capitalise on in a demonstration of the northern hemisphere’s limitations
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Familiarity of Six Nations at odds with Super Rugby’s willingness to experimentWhile the southern hemisphere is geared up for a new-look club competition, the Six Nations has yet to take fire but round three promises much – England and France face their sternest tests yet and Wales might just run free
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After World Cup pain isn’t it time you really were Scotland the brave?Give us a fight rather than a promise is the plea to Scotland, the Six Nations underdogs who have so often been backed to make a show and so often disappointed
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Six Nations preview: the bold will be rewarded in era of new beginningsIreland and Wales might be favourites but with England reborn and a resurgent Scotland, this post-World Cup Six Nations will reward positivity
Sportblog England’s sweeping statement: from grand slam to whitewash to beach party