"Getting feisty" - Tempers flare in England training as squad ups intensity

Marcus Smith and captain Owen Farrell are set to make their first starts to the tournament, according to reports.

Ahead of the Chile clash, where reports suggest training has been intense, Borthwick said: "They compete really hard at the breakdown. They go for the ball and challenge you in line speed and defence," he said.

"They want you to make errors and with the ball they attack hard, particularly from 15. They are going to move you around and if you are not right on it, they can cause you problems."

Borthwick admitted his team can improve their attacking and isn't concerned about boos from the crowd.

"We are not happy with where we are attack-wise. We are striving to improve. But that is not to do with the kicking game. It's not separate from it either," he added.

"It's all part of the same stuff. We want to kick the ball brilliantly, so that we can either get it back in a better position, or kick to score. All parts of the games we are working on.

"As far as the booing goes, it's part and parcel of what you do in international sport. You are in the biggest arenas with the fans who are entitled to do what they feel right. From my point of view, the fans have been exceptional. We will strive to improve and make sure, with the ball, we can be as efficient as we can be."

O'Connell lost his nerve with the Ulster second-row in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup. The Munster legend threw a punch and he went down, unconscious with a tooth bursting his cheek. Caldwell swallowed a lot of blood and an ambulance had to rush him to the hospital. The team doctor later told O'Connell: "The story is, you nearly killed him.”

The Ireland legend, who would often involved in training ground scraps, would never be involved in another after he learned from this incident that a single punch could hurt someone badly.

Martin Corry tells this story perfectly.

"It was all kicking off . . . Backy doing his streetfighter thing and getting in close and Whitey throwing these haymakers. There was blood all over the place and I'm thinking: 'Bloody hell, that looks a bit fierce.' Eventually it all calmed down, at which point Julian says: 'That's a shame, I was just getting him where I wanted him.'"

In October 2008, Cipriani was knocked out in a training ground bust-up with club and international team-mate Josh Lewsey. The row is said to have blown up after Lewsey criticised the 20-year-old Cipriani for missing a couple of tackles – and the dispute quickly spiralled into a brutal confrontation. 

When England's Healey began poking fun at a swollen and bruised Ronan O'Gara during the Lions tour, a young O'Driscoll snapped and beat the lard out of him.

Here is Legend Keith Wood's version of events.

"Austin came in and he was being an unbelievable pain in the a**e. I mean beyond all belief. He was touching ROG's face and saying 'c'mom Rog, let's have a little boxing match.,, c'mon c'mon'.

"ROG just said 'p**s off, just leave me alone, get away from me' and then suddenly this little voice peeps in... 'I'll have a bit of that,' says Drico and they put on a pair of boxing gloves and Drico beat the living crap out of him.

Former England captain Martin Johnson laid out Leicester teammate Moody. They were playing touch, Alex Tuilagi broke through to score and Lewis clattered him. Johnno took exception and quickly laid him out.

"It was my first session and I was extra keen, trying to do everything and hit everything," Moody told The Sun.

"Tempers flared and 'Johnno' and I had a little coming together. He gave me a little dink and I gave him a little dink - but his hurt a lot more!

"It's just typical training ground stuff. You need that friendly rivalry."