England and Leicester Tigers’ Jack van Poortvliet has been studying a French scrum-half’s game for tips – and for once it is not Antoine Dupont.

The No.9 has been working to improve his defence and has had Bordeaux-Begles Maxime Lucu’s performances under a microscope.
Lucu, below, and his European champions might be the kings of running rugby but it his work on the back foot that van Poortvliet has been looking at ahead of England’s Nations Championship campaign.
The 25-year-said: “It’s a big area now for nines, you’re defending in the line at lot more.”

Inspiration
He continued: “You’re...