Launchbury and Marler start in England’s win

TWO former Worthing Raiders Rugby Club players both started in England’s 38-18 win over Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Joe Launchbury earned his fifth cap and Joe Marler his sixth as England retained the Calcutta Cup with the win at Twickenham, in front of a 81,347 crowd.

Another rugby player from Sussex, Billy Twelvetrees, who has played at Horsham and Pulborough and now plays for Gloucester, touched down a try on his England debut.

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England coach Stuart Lancaster said: “I’m really pleased with the scoreline.

“I’d have taken that at the start of the day. We knew that if we kept the pressure on Scotland they would struggle to cope with it in the last 20 minutes.

“We were a little loose on occasions but, overall, I’m pleased with the start.”

In the other matches, Ireland won 30-22 at Wales and Italy beat France 23-18.

Marler, Launchbury and Twelvetrees all remain in the 31-man England squad, who reported back for training on Monday.

England are at Ireland on Sunday in their next Six Nations match (3pm).