SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I was expecting a torrid dogfight against an Ireland team with their tails up and nothing to lose. But what transpired was a strong and disciplined England performance.

The Six Nations is in danger of being disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, with England's last-day match against Italy in Rome now the subject of hasty contingency planning.

The 24-year-old winger, who was the top try-scorer at the recent World Cup with seven, suffered a nasty ankle injury in the 65th minute against France. He will now have surgery.

The deadly epidemic has swept through northern parts of Italy, and in a bid to prevent the disease reaching their shores, the Irish government have taken the step to postpone the game on March 7.

Officials at the RFU and the Italian Rugby Federation have expressed confidence that Eddie Jones’ side will be able to finish their campaign as planned at the Stadio Olimpico on March 14. 

Anthony Watson has yet to make an appearance in the Championship because of a calf problem but his presence in the group attending a three-day camp in Oxford points to his improving fitness.

Premiership Rugby could end up in a standoff with the Six Nations over the release of players for Tests affected by Coronavirus.

With the virus continuing to spread across the continent, threatening a host of major sporting events, UEFA have accepted that 'football must follow the orders of the individual countries'.

CHRIS FOY'S WORLD OF RUGBY: Sky Sports are reportedly leading the race for broadcast rights to the Six Nations from 2022. Prepare for rugby to become a low-profile, niche sport.

Sam Underhill has lived and played on both sides of the Anglo-Welsh rugby divide and the England flanker believes it is vital to shut out the emotion as the neighbours prepare to renew their rivalry.

Prop Vunipola had returned with injured brother Billy to Tonga for a family emergency, but was on Monday included in a 34-man group for the Welsh match. Vunipola's return is a timely boost.

The match, to be staged in Rome's Stadio Olimpico, was thought to be under serious threat after the rapid spreading of the virus. But Six Nations chiefs say they expect the fixture to go ahead.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: England's World Cup winning captain Johnson shoots down the prospect of Sky Sports taking over the Six Nations broadcast rights in an instant.

England prop Mako Vunipola is set to miss the rest of the Six Nations after going into self-isolation because of coronavirus fears. 

Mako Vunipola has been cleared to train with Saracens despite being stood down by England due to fears surrounding the coronavirus. 

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Coronavirus fears have prompted ITV to abandon plans to send commentators and pundits out to Rome for England's game against Italy on March 14.

In a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the country, there was an announcement that all sporting events in Italy will be suspended for 30 days, unless played behind closed doors. 

Ross Moriarty needs no second invitation to rip into a Six Nations contest and despite England versus Wales becoming a friendlier he is always out to settle scores.

It has been officially confirmed by the Six Nations that Italy's home match against England next Saturday has been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.

Mako Vunipola has been named in the Saracens starting side to face Leicester Tigers this weekend despite being stood down from England duty over coronavirus fears.

WILL KELLEHER: Bristol have pulled off another transfer coup by signing young Saracens duo Ben Earl and Max Malins on loan for a year from next season.

England flanker Ben Earl has extended his Saracens stay until 2023 but will spend next season on loan at Bristol.

The Six Nations hierarchy have been ordered to provide urgent assurances about plans for its next TV rights deal, amid 'great concern' at Westminster that the tournament will go behind a paywall.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: It has been a disjointed Six Nations full of bad weather and postponed matches. England have spluttered a little but, I'm hoping and expecting to see an all-court performance,

The match between Scotland and France in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday has been postponed as a player has contracted coronavirus. The identity of the player has not been revealed.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: England are likely to face a seven-month wait to finish their Six Nations campaign - with plans taking shape for the postponed match against Italy in Rome.

The couple were seen in the stands during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium this afternoon.

NIK SIMON AT TWICKENHAM: To be continued. England's Six Nations hopes are still alive but, like any good cliff-hanger, no one quite knows what will happen next.

Eddie Jones launched a scathing attack on the decision to send off Manu Tuilagi for a high tackle during England's 33-30 Six Nations victory against Wales at Twickenham. 

Player's union chief executive Damian Hopley has urged rugby authorities to apply 'common sense' to the process of re-scheduling matches postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Fans have flocked in their droves to the few sporting events on show this Saturday as punters head to Uttoxeter racing while football fans go to non-League games amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy flanker Maxime Mbanda has swapped rugby for driving an ambulance 13 hours a day in a bid to help his nation's fight against coronavirus as they try to halt the spread of the virus.

Without the state-of-the-art medical equipment he is used to at Leicester Tigers and the England camp, Jonny May has installed a hyperbaric chamber at his home to help him bounce back from injury.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has warned his organisation will need financial support from the government if the 2021 Six Nations cannot go ahead due to the coronavirus crisis.

Tyrrell Hatton is hoping to rekindle an old flame in the 148th Open Championship after admitting he has struggled for motivation since his successful Ryder Cup debut.

Blackpool fan Simon Sadler has completed a 96.2 per cent acquisition of the club following approval of the purchase by the English Football League.

Free agent striker Nicky Ajose is weighing up a number of offers after attracting interest from Blackpool, Exeter City and Lincoln City following his release by Charlton.

Terry McPhillips has resigned from his position as Blackpool manager. McPhillips took over as permanent manager in September 2018 having had a successful spell as caretaker.

Mansfield have suspended midfielders Dion Donohue and Jacob Mellis following an alleged serious breach of club discipline.Neither player was included in the matchday squad in Saturday's win at Carlisle.

ON THE ROAD: The joke wasn't lost on the home fans as they gathered at the Happy Abode. Supping on pre-match lager from plastic pint pots and surrounded by the wrong shade of blue.

Michael Appleton is in talks to become the new manager of Lincoln City. The West Brom U23s coach has held initial discussions and has emerged as favourite to succeed Danny Cowley.

IAN HERBERT AT THE GLOBE ARENA: In Morecambe, they have grown accustomed to making the best of relatively little. West End seems like an ironic commentary.

The former Celtic and Aston Villa striker had been talking to Southend United about becoming part of their management team with Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby until Johnson pulled out.

Tommy Johnson has joined Blackpool's recruitment staff in a move which led to the collapse last week of Southend's bid to appoint Henrik Larsson as manager at Roots Hall.

A shocking video has shown the moment a football fan was punched in the face by an 'aggressive' and 'out of control' steward during Blackpool's EFL Trophy clash with Scunthorpe.

Legendary Blackburn Rovers coach Tony Parkes broke down in tears during a revealing interview with his daughter about his struggles with Alzheimers.   

Blackpool have sacked manager Simon Grayson after a dreadful run of just one win in 12 games. The League One club were fourth in December but are now down in 15th.

JACK GAUGHAN AT THE HIGHBURY STADIUM: Neil Critchley started coaching at Crewe's academy in his teens but taking charge of his first Blackpool fixture did not figure in the grand plan.

The 32-year-old singer, who hosted the ceremony, referred to the outlandish theory in a pre-taped segment with comedian Billy Eichner, who asked her to 'blink twice' if she is the murdered girl.

Miley Cyrus gave fans a rather tame MTV VMA performance on Sunday night, except for a bizarre moment when she groped an elderly woman onstage.