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When it comes to makeup, we’ve all pretty much got our routines down, right? We mostly know the products that work best for us.

However, there is one key step that you might be missing that will take your look from everyday to pure glam, and that is blush.

Of course, you’ve got the icons of blushers, such as Benefit’s Benetint, Milk Makeup

Cooling Water Jelly Tint, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand, but if you’re a complete novice to the product, how do you go about finding the right one for you? How do you know if there is a better shade match than the one you have? Blusher can completely transform a look, so we’ve spoken to Professional Makeup Artist for over 30 years, Kate Hughes, to dive into all that there is to know.

‘When it comes to blushers, the goal is to mimic a natural flush. A classic trick is to look at the colour of your cheeks after a workout or a brisk walk.’

‘For fair skin: look for soft pinks, peaches, or light lilacs. Anything too dark can look like a bruise; sheer is your friend. Medium/olive skin tones can handle richer pigments like rosy pinks, warm ambers, and bright corals. Olive undertones look incredible in warm berry shades.

Then, for deeper skin shades, go bold. High pigment terracotta, deep berries, and bright oranges show up beautifully. Don’t be afraid of colours that look scary in the pan, they melt into deep skin tones for a natural glow.’

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Merit’s Flush Balms, £26, are one of our top recommended blushers. They come available in over 12 shades, so if you’re following Kate’s advice, you will be able to find a suitable shade for yourself. ‘It’s a great product for beginners to effectively build up coverage without overdoing it. Just swipe and blend with either your finger or a brush.’ It’s also a great size to pop in your bag in case you need a little reapply throughout the day.

Another excellent lightweight option is Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cheek Flush, £22. The brand combines skin-loving ingredients such as evening primrose and mulberry extract with their formulas to create an overall seamless look. This will leave a more dewy, wet-look whilst appearing natural. Follow Kate’s advice and go bold with their Hottie shade.

e.l.f Primer-Infused Matte Blush is an affordable powder alternative. This 2-in-1 long-wear blush is infused with Vitamin E and jojoba seed oil and has a primer formula to minimize shine, leave a smooth, matte finish and works to boost its staying powder. 

When it comes to where to place your blush, Kate suggests ‘To lift, apply to the high points of the cheekbones and blend upward toward your temples. This gives a snatched, fresh look. For a sun-kissed look, apply across the bridge of your nose and the apples of your cheeks. This mimics where the sun naturally hits. If you want fullness, apply directly to the apples (the fleshy part when you smile) for a soft, rounded look.

The golden rule: start with a tiny amount. You can always add more, but it’s much harder to take it off once it’s there.’

‘If you’re a complete novice, start with a cream or liquid formula. They are much more forgiving than powders because you can blend them out with your fingers if you accidentally apply too much. Powders are best for oily skin or a matte finish. It can last a long time, but it can sometimes look chalky on dry skin. 

Whereas creams are best for a dewy, lit-from-within look. Great for dry or mature skin. Then, liquid/gels are very lightweight and usually give a watercolour-like transparency. Stains dry almost instantly, so if you’re confident with placement and blending, they do last all day.’

Kate’s go-to blushers that she loves are ‘My favourite inexpensive option is Collection Cosmetics Duo Blush, as it has both cream and powder blush in seeing double (great for layering), and it’s only £4.99. Whereas a more expensive option I always reach for is Hourglass’s Ambient Lightning Blush in Sublime Flush, which costs £46. It’s such a great colour that suits almost everyone.’

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans may be willing to stick with President Donald Trump through almost anything, but his recent push to seize control of Greenland has turned off many in his own party, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults disapprove of how Trump is handling the issue of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. That’s higher than the share who dislike how he’s handling foreign policy generally, suggesting that Trump’s Greenland approach has created a weak spot for the administration. About 24% of American adults approve of Trump’s Greenland approach.

Even Republicans aren’t thrilled. About half disapprove of his attempt to turn the icebound landmass into American territory, something that Trump has insisted is critical for national security in the Arctic, while about half approve.

The poll was conducted Feb. 5-8, which is after Trump had made the decision to scrap tariffs designed to pressure European countries into supporting U.S. control of Greenland, but after his weekslong push for American intervention over the island.

About half of Republicans disapprove of Trump on Greenland

Trump’s base is normally unwavering behind him, so Greenland stands out as an exception.

The marks represent Trump’s lowest ratings among Republicans on a list of key issues in the poll, including the economy and immigration — where about 8 in 10 approve — and foreign policy generally. About 7 in 10 Republicans approve of his overall foreign policy approach.

Trump has argued that the U.S. needs Greenland to counter threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region, despite America already having a military presence there.

Other recent polls, including a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January, found that Republicans were largely divided on whether the U.S. should take over Greenland, while Americans overall were opposed.

Ayman Amir, a 46-year-old Trump supporter from Houston, Texas, said he agrees that Greenland holds strategic importance for the United States’ military. But that doesn’t mean he thinks Trump should claim it.

“We can’t take it by force. We don’t have a right to do that,” Amir said. “You can’t blame Russia for what they do in Ukraine and then do the same thing. You can’t do this.”

Trump’s overall foreign policy approval remains steady

The president dropped his threats to seize the territory by force late last month after saying a framework for a deal over access to Greenland was reached with help from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The clash represents just one of the moves Trump has made to strain relationships with key allies over the last year. Western leaders are focusing on trans-Atlantic tensions this week at the Munich Security Conference.

On Greenland, Trump has few vocal supporters at home or abroad.

Even as Trump made significant moves to obtain control of Greenland, his overall approval on the issue of foreign policy has remained steady. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump’s approach to foreign policy, a measure that’s been unchanged in recent months.

Young Republicans especially disapprove of Greenland approach

Younger Republicans are especially likely to disapprove of how Trump is handling the situation.

About 6 in 10 Republicans under 45 say they disapprove of his leadership on Greenland, compared to about 4 in 10 older Republicans.

That 4 in 10 who approve of Trump’s Greenland actions is much lower than young Republicans’ approval on issues of foreign policy, the economy, or immigration.

Independent voter Aaron Gunnoe, 29, an engineer from Marion, Ohio, was baffled by Trump’s aggressive posture on the NATO ally.

“It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” he said. “It’s owned by somebody else. That should be the end of it.”

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,156 adults was conducted Feb. 5-8 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. The margin of sampling error for Republicans overall is plus or minus 6.1 percentage points.

Multiple popular snack bars have been recalled after it was found that they contain two ingredients that were not included on the label, resulting in a customer’s allergic reaction.

Juniper Granola, LLC, based in Rochester, New York, has recalled its Chocolate Cherry and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Junebars because they may contain undeclared milk and soy, according to a press release shared Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Since the two ingredients aren’t listed on the snacks’ label, customers who are allergic to soy or milk “run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction” if they consume the products, per the press release.

Juniper Granola became aware of the undeclared allergens and opened an investigation after a customer reported having an allergic reaction to milk after consuming one of the bars. During the investigation, the company discovered that the issue was caused by an oversight in the company’s evaluation process, which resulted in a box of non-vegan chocolate chips, containing milk and soy, being used during production.

Junebars, high-fiber snack bars made with whole foods, are usually made with dairy-free and soy-free chocolate chips, prompting the recall immediately after the error was discovered.

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The recall affects Chocolate Cherry and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Junebars that are stamped with the label L1300, L1300A, L1300B, or L1301A.

Recalled bars were available to order on Juniper Granola’s website and distributed to various retailers in January 2026.

Consumers with the snack bars should throw them away immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Milk and soy are identified as one of the nine major food allergies in the U.S., along with wheat, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame, according to the FDA. Allergic reactions to these nine foods vary but can involve “hives and lip swelling to severe, life-threatening symptoms, often called anaphylaxis, that may involve fatal respiratory problems and shock.”

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Many snacks and sweet treats have been pulled from shelves due to serious allergy risks. Last month, thousands of units of M&M’s products were recalled across 20 states because their packaging did not include proper allergen warnings.

The recall was announced by the FDA after it emerged that more than 6,000 units had been repackaged by Beacon Promotions Inc. without advisories that they may contain milk, soy and peanuts.

In December, 50-pound multi-wall bags of cake mixes, distributed by B.C. Williams Bakery Service, were recalled due to an undeclared milk allergen that was not listed on the label. It is not yet known where the mixes were sold or distributed.

However, the recall was recently elevated to Class I by the FDA, meaning there is a serious health risk associated with consuming the products.

Nearly 23,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled because they may have been contaminated with E. coli O145, a bacterium that could cause a severe foodborne illness.

CS Beef Packers, LLC, based in Kuna, Idaho, announced the recall of approximately 22,912 pounds of its raw ground beef products in a report shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Wednesday (February 11).

According to the FSIS announcement, the issue was discovered during routine testing, and results showed the presence of E. coli O145, a “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.” Customers exposed to that strain of E. coli can get sick within only two to eight days.

The USDA has identified the recall risk level as high or medium (Class I), which is when there is a probability that there can be serious or adverse health consequences, including death, from consuming the products.

The recall affects three different ground beef items, which were all produced on January 14, 2026. One product recalled is eight 10-lb. chubs of “BEEF, COARSE GROUND, 73 L” with the case code 18601.

In addition, four 10-lb. chubs of “FIRE RIVER FARMS CLASSIC BEEF FINE GROUND 73L,” with the case code 19583, and four 10-lb. chubs of “FIRE RIVER FARMS CLASSIC BEEF FINE GROUND 81L,” with the case code 19563, are being recalled.

The packaging of all three beef products has the use/freeze by date of February 4, 2026, and two stickers with time stamps between 07:03 and 08:32, indicating when, on January 14, it was produced.

All the products also bear the establishment number “EST. 630,” printed directly onto the clear packaging of the chub, according to the FSIS announcement.

The recalled items were shipped to distributors in California, Idaho and Oregon “for further distribution to foodservice locations.”

While there haven’t been any reported illnesses due to the consumption of the products, consumers should throw the ground beef away immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

People who are infected with E. coli O145 can develop symptoms like diarrhea, which is often bloody, and vomiting, per the FSIS report. While some illnesses can be severe and last up to a week, vigorous rehydration and rest are the typical treatments for the infection.

This isn’t the first time that multiple beef products in the U.S. have sparked E. coli concerns. In December, Mountain West Food Group, LLC, recalled approximately 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O26, another variation of “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.”

The recalled raw ground beef was in 16-ounce, vacuum-sealed packages containing the label “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF,” with the “USE OR FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083” on the side of the packaging. It was also sent to distributors who sold to six states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Other food-borne illnesses were a huge cause of concern last year. In September, Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California, recalled nearly 245,000 pounds of various pasta products after they were linked to a listeria outbreak, which began in August 2024.

The listeria outbreak resulted in six deaths and 27 illnesses across 18 states, as of November 2025.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate many foods, with infections caused by eating food with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Although symptoms can vary, a listeria infection can “cause invasive illness and intestinal illness.”

Elliott Patrick from Well Pharmacy is urging anyone with suspicions to meticulously check for evidence of bed bugs, which jump from person to person through clothes and furniture.

Elliott’s warning comes after recent reports of a rise in the nighttime blood suckers with pest control call outs increasing by 62% since April last year.

While bed bug bites can be itchy, they rarely cause any other health problems, however they are a huge nuisance and once they get into your home, can spread easily.

Travelling at speeds of up to 100 feet per hour and able to hide in any tiny crevices across your bed, the bugs can prove to be hard to spot.

Below are the tell-tale signs that you have got an unwelcome visitor in your bed that needs to be dealt with.

Raised and itchy bites

Bed bugs feast on exposed skin while people sleep – arms, neck and face are all ideal spots to draw blood.

A day or two after first contact, the skin will become raised and itchy – but it is important not to scratch as that could potentially cause an infection.

Instead, use a cold, wet cloth to soothe any itching sensation on raised bites which usually clear up on their own over a week or two.

Spots of blood on your bedding

When making your bed in the morning, look for little patches of blood on the bedding, these could be signs of bedbugs.

When the bed bugs bite, they break the skin leaving small amounts of blood on the skin, which brushes off in the night.

It is also possible that the blood is actually a deceased bedbug that has been killed in the night by a person rolling onto them and squashing them.

Blood spots on bedding means acting fast – stripping the bedding to put on a hot wash of at least 60C before being tumbled dried for half an hour on a hot setting.

Small brown spots on furniture or bedding

Brown spots on furniture and bedding suggests a high chance of bed bugs – this is their poo.

The same advice applies about washing bedding – it is crucial to act fast and wash on high heat.

Clean and vacuum regularly to take care of any hiding spots that bed bugs are using.

Once you have dealt with the bed bugs in your home, head to your local Well Pharmacy to speak to an expert under the Pharmacy First service.

Anyone aged at least one year old can be treated by a pharmacist in-store from diagnosis to treatment including infected bed bug bites.

Often, antihistamines will be the over-the-counter solution offered – but for those over the age of 10, a mild steroid cream might also be the best way to deal with the bed bug bites.

Elliott Patrick from Well Pharmacy said: “While not a life threatening issue, bed bugs are often itchy and uncomfortable but perhaps worse they can leave people with feelings of despair at something they may feel is beyond their control.

“If you suspect you or close friend or family member has bed bugs, I would urge you to seek out a pharmacist who can quickly identify the tell-tale signs and act swiftly.

“At Well, we want patients to know that in just 10 minutes, we can have the solution to your medical issue.

“A quick assessment by one of our trained pharmacy colleagues will see you both diagnosed and then treated in the same place without the need for a GP appointment.

“In-store from door to door you will get the advice and treatments required to ensure that you can go about your day with the treatment required to treat the irritating bites in the quickest time.”

Netflix’s Regency period drama has gone through some highs and lows during its run, but which is the best season of Bridgerton?

Bridgerton fans are eagerly awaiting the second half of season four to arrive on Netflix.

The upcoming new episodes will finally reveal what happens between Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) after he asks her to be his mistress.

While viewers wait with bated breath, some have been rewatching the Netflix show. Here’s our ranking of all the seasons of Bridgerton from the worst to the best – and be warned, there will be spoilers.

Which is the best season of Bridgerton?

5. Bridgerton season 3

Despite pulling viewers in and bringing plenty of drama with the unmasking of Penelope Featherington as Lady Whistledown (played by Nicola Coughlan), season three’s friends-to-lovers romance didn’t quite land between the central leads.

There was also considerable time spent with the rest of the ton, which detracted from the main couple, making the season less impactful than it otherwise could have been.

If anything, Cressida Cowper’s (Jess Madsen) increasingly extravagant puff sleeves and Mama Featherington’s (Polly Walker) sex advice to a miffed Philippa Featherington (Harriet Cains) were highlights of season three.

In fact, they were even more memorable than Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope’s steamy carriage scene soundtracked to Lord Worldwide himself, Pittbull’s Give Me Everything.

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4. Brigderton season 2

Season two might had one of Bridgerton’s favourite couples – Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Ashley Simone) – however, the unnecessary love triangle involving an unwitting Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) put a considerable damper on the otherwise lovely slowburn enemies-to-lovers romance.

Bridgerton really did Edwina dirty and depicted her as a naive girl who failed to clock her husband-to-be making eyes at her older sister. The wedding episode was a painful, protracted watch and added drama for the sake of it.

Season two was adapted from Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me, which had a far more solid plot without a love triangle and a savvy Edwina, who was far more self-aware than her onscreen iteration.

3. Bridgerton season 4

While it’s early days, season four of Bridgeton is shaping up to be one of the strongest, if not the best, seasons of the show to date.

The sizzling chemistry between leads Thompson and Ha makes them captivating and the show’s focus on the primary couple strengthens the season.

There’s also the upstairs-downstairs drama with the Maid Wars, which brings much-needed grit to Bridgerton and elevates it above just a frothy, sexy period fantasy.

This author is out until part two drops; however, depending on how season four concludes.

2. Bridgerton season 1

Season one is where it all started. The world was catapulted into Shondaland’s glossy, glamorous take on Quinn’s Regency romance novels in all its glory. From its diverse casting and dashing leads to its instrumental covers of pop bangers and steamy scenes, the world would never be the same again. Bridgerton single-handedly revolutionised the staid period drama genre for the better.

Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) and Daphne Bridgerton’s (Phoebe Dynevor) romance, involving the fake-courting-to-falling-in-love trope, certainly hit hard.

Then there was the grit. Simon’s heartbreaking childhood, including overcoming his stammer, and his relationship with his cruel father. Daphne’s lack of sexual education, which reflected the time period, strengthened the narrative and made it stand out.

1. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

Falling between seasons two and three, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story serves as a prequel to the show rather than a full season.

Nonetheless, the limited series is very much part of the Bridgerton universe and brought a lot of context to the world presented, specifically the multicultural nature of the ton.

Penned by Shonda Rhimes herself and not an adaptation of one of Quinn’s novels, the series more than delivered when it came to telling a nuanced story of romance that drew on real-life elements.

The initially rocky romance between King George III (Corey Mylchreest) and Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio), due to his mental health issues, was fascinating and rarely depicted in period dramas.

Then there was the new queen’s race and the speculative fiction element of the story, with a young Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas) warning Charlotte that she needed to ensure the Great Experiment was an undeniable success.

Not only were the three main stars Amarteifio, Thomas and Mylchreest fabulous as younger iterations of Bridgerton characters that fans have come to know and love, but there were also some brilliant scenes from the present timeline involving Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel).

It appears that Shonda’s magic has ensured Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story wears the crown when it comes to Bridgerton.

Bridgerton season 4, part 2 will be released on Netflix on February 26

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Donald Trump says regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen” as a second US aircraft carrier is deployed to the Middle East.

The US president made the remarks after visiting troops at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Friday, where he was pressed by reporters on whether he wanted to see a change in government in Iran.

“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Mr Trump said.

“For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking.

“In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs ‌blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off. We’ve been going on for a long time.”

Mr Trump declined to name who he hoped would assume control from the clerical regime, saying only “there are people”.

He said the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, was being sent to the Middle East in case talks between the US and Iran fail to produce an agreement.

“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” he said.

“It’ll be leaving very soon.”

The USS Gerald R Ford reallocation forms part of a build-up of US military assets in the Middle East amid deepening tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying guided-missile destroyers were deployed last month.

Last week, US forces shot down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln on the same day that Iran tried to stop a US-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian and American officials met in Oman last week for talks, but an agreement has not been reached.

Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to take military action against Iran if the government uses force to suppress anti-regime protests.

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On Friday, Mr Trump suggested that a deal could still be struck with Iran to avoid US military action.

“Give us the deal that they should have given us the first time,” he said. “If they give us the right deal, we won’t do that.”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that any US military action against the country would plunge the entire region into war.

Read more:
The price of speaking out against the Iranian regime
Trial date set for Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against BBC

More talks between Washington and Tehran are anticipated, with a US delegation including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner due to meet with the Iranians on Tuesday, sources have told Reuters.

Iran’s nuclear programme has also been a repeated source of tension, with Mr Trump suggesting that one of his top priorities was for Tehran to scale back its atomic programme.

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But on Friday he suggested that was only one aspect of the concessions the US expected from Iran.

“If we do it, that would be the least of the mission,” Mr Trump said about targeting Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met with Mr Trump in Washington this week for talks, has pushed for any deal to include steps to neutralise Iran’s ballistic missile programme.

The US targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities ⁠in strikes in June in the culmination of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

There are two Six Nations matches on today, with another taking place on Sunday

We are into Six Nations round two weekend following an opening set of fixtures which whetted the appetite.

Last week saw France sweep aside Ireland in Paris, Italy edge past Scotland in a soaking wet Rome and England demolish Wales at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.

Those results have set the tone for another fascinating weekend of rugby, which kicks off with two games on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Here is all the information you need to know about this weekend’s games and how to watch.

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What Six Nations games are on this weekend?

TV channels are listed alongside each game.

ROUND TWO

Saturday, February 14

• Ireland v Italy – KO 2.10pm – ITV1
• Scotland v England – KO 4.40pm – ITV

Sunday, February 15

• Wales v France – KO 3.10pm – BBC1 and S4C

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Quotes corner

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: “It is the best Italian side coming to Dublin. As far as respect, you would be mad not to,” Farrell said of the challenge ahead.

“We have all watched the games of what has happened of the last year, six months, and the job that everyone is doing in Italy is fantastic and the respect is right at the forefront.

“Honestly, it is about us having more respect for ourselves this week.”

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada: “Nacho is a player of great value to the group both on and off the field, but in managing this team, the human side and family – from my point of view – will always be considered a priority.

“We discussed it with him, and the decision made is for the best. To be focused on your work, it is important to have peace of mind: in every area, with players and staff, we work with the people first and the professionals second.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “It’s huge. It’s our biggest game of the season and it always has been.

“It’s even more important on the back of a disappointing defeat.

“We know our supporters are behind us, as they always are, and we’ll need their energy.”

England head coach Steve Borthwick: “I think Gregor Townsend is a wonderful coach. I was told recently that he has the best win record of any Scotland coach in the professional era. Sir Ian McGeechan had two spells and I think Gregor sits above that. The way he has coached the attack they have, and the way they move the ball, when they do that, they look terrific.

“I have immense respect for him as a coach and I find it surprising that people are not spending more time talking about Scotland rather than not supporting their coach. I think he’s a phenomenal coach and they should spend more time supporting him.”