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The two tries Jonny May scored against France last weekend saw him move into the top five on the all-time England list.
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May’s pair of touchdowns came during a disheartening Guinness Six Nations opener for Eddie Jones’ men, who trailed 24-0 prior to the Leicester wing’s intervention – ultimately losing 24-17.
Having overtaken Jason Robinson to go fifth in terms of England try scorers, May could continue to soar up that list if he maintains his form over the course of the championship.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the men who have registered the most tries in an England jersey.
Continue reading below…
WATCH: Goodey’s eating humble pie after talking up England’s chances of a Grand Slam and is admitting his concern ahead of the coming weekend and we look ahead to this year’s Calcutta Cup clash.
1. Rory Underwood – 49 tries
Underwood stands head and shoulders above his closest challengers, holding an 18-try cushion at the top of the all-time list. The former Leicester wing racked up his total in an 85-cap England career from 1984 to 1996. Underwood’s figures were boosted in 1989 by a five-try showing in a 58-23 victory over Fiji at Twickenham and he scored his last for England at the same venue against Wales in the 1996 Five Nations.
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=2. Will Greenwood – 31 tries
Greenwood won 55 caps and contributed key tries during England’s triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign. The centre scored the only try as his side beat South Africa to effectively secure top spot in their pool and was also the only Englishman to go over in the quarter-final win over Wales. Greenwood finished the tournament as England’s joint-leading try scorer, alongside Josh Lewsey, who also crossed the whitewash on five occasions.
=2. Ben Cohen – 31 tries
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Another man whose international career took in England’s crowning moment in Sydney, Cohen made a big impression on debut by scoring two tries against Ireland in the 2000 Six Nations. He scored his last try for England in a defeat to the All Blacks during the 2006 autumn internationals, which proved to be the wing’s final series with the national team.
4. Jeremy Guscott – 30 tries
Guscott’s England bow produced even more tries than Cohen’s, albeit against lesser opposition in Romania – a performance that earned him a late call-up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. The former Bath centre went on to make try-scoring contributions in six of his first seven England outings. A groin injury forced Guscott to retire from international rugby in 1999, although he scored two tries on his final appearance against Tonga at the World Cup.
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5. Jonny May – 29 tries
Having pulled within one try of Guscott and two of the second-placed pairing of Greenwood and Cohen, it seems likely that 53-cap May – who scored six tries in last season’s championship – will pick off the men ahead of him during the Six Nations. Unlike some of the others on this list, May had to be patient early in his England career, waiting eight Tests to open his account, but he heads to Murrayfield on Saturday with five tries from his past five matches.
6. Jason Robinson – 28 tries
The man ousted from the top five by May, Robinson can still cling to having scored one of the most memorable tries in English rugby history, crossing for his side’s only touchdown as they won the 2003 World Cup final. Robinson retired in 2005 but returned to add six more tries to his tally in 2007, finishing with 28 from 51 caps.
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Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments