PURPLE PATCH: The English rugby team can crown a brilliant 2020 by lifting the Autumn Nations Cup this weekend and so we look back on their impressive run of form over the last 12 months.


How 2020 has seen the Red Rose bloom

Having suffered the disappointment of losing to South Africa in the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, many might have expected England’s performances to drop in the aftermath, but it’s been quite the different story.

Eddie Jones’ team have been in superb form in 2020, winning seven of their eight matches.

Their only defeat came to France in their opening Six Nations match and since then, they have conquered all before them.

They won their next five in the Six Nations which saw them lift the trophy and they’ve continued their Purple Patch by beating Georgia, Ireland and Wales in the newly established Autumn Nations Cup.

Those three victories mean it’s just France who stand between them and another trophy with the two nations locking horns in the final at Twickenham on Sunday.

And it’s not like it’s been a one man effort. No less than a dozen of England’s players have crossed the whitewash this year, with flying winger Jonny May and hooker Jamie George leading the way with four tries apiece.

The plethora of different try scorers as well as the boot of Owen Farrell have seen them accrue 196 points this year as opposition defences continue to struggle to handle the variety of attacking talent England have at their disposal.

Jones’ men are currently ranked second in the world and if they continue their rich vein of form, they could soon be the world’s best side.