Warren Gatland will be free to lead the 2017 Lions if asked

Gatland praises New Zealand's last gasp victories in both rugby union and rugby league last week and challenges his Wales team to do the same

The Kiwis staged a miraculous comeback to steal the win with the final play of the game thanks to a Ryan Crotty try which was converted by Aaron Cruden

The only surprise with Jonathan Trott’s decision to withdraw from England’s Ashes tour of Australia with a stress-related illness is that instances like this do not occur more often. The scrutiny top sportsmen and women are now exposed to and the expectation that is placed on their sometimes fragile bodies is immense. It should, therefore, come as no surprise when an individual is forced to remove themselves from the limelight because they are unable to cope.

The Joes, Launchbury and Marler, left disappointed by defeat but both showed England’s competitive hunger

The Red Roses came close to a second successive victory over the All Blacks

England coach Stuart Lancaster hails young team's progress towards next World Cup

His eye an egg, Chris Robshaw convinced as the vanquished captain, but looking around the pitch at the close, having briefly led the best team in the world, there was vindication as well as the scars.

If there’s a crumb of  comfort, New Zealand  don’t like Twickenham

Steve Hansen may have brushed it aside as the “silliest word in rugby” but there has undoubtedly been something in the air around the All Blacks this week.

The Northampton Saints player had already been ruled out of this weekend's clash with New Zealand

A look at the side which will line-up against the 2011 World Cup winners at Twickenham on Saturday

Forget the scrummaging machine and the midfield playbook; make way for the stethoscope, the thermometer and the neurocognitive assessment kit. This weekend’s “vengeance match” between England and New Zealand already has the makings of a medical drama as well as a sporting one, with the home camp expressing concern over the concussion suffered by the loose-head prop Joe Marler during the victory over Argentina three days ago and the tourists taking every anti-virus precaution under the sun.

Despite suffering a concussion, Joe Marler may be fit to face the All Blacks

The current World Cup holders are out for revenge after losing this fixture a year ago but Robshaw wants to turn home stadium into a place to fear for opposition

England's coach needs a settled spine to his team for the coming challenge but questions remain over the No 9