Antonio Conte on turning Chelsea from ugly ducklings into beautiful swans February 6, 2017 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed that he relied on his single-mindedness during a mixed start to his task of reviving the club's fortunes. The Blues seem set to sweep to the Premier League title in Conte's first season, but the Italian admits a stuttering start at Stamford Bridge tested his self-belief. “The start of [...]
Why England players will have shuddered at Eddie Jones’s assessment of the France win February 6, 2017 As bruised England players pored over the Sunday papers while tackling a breakfast of serving bowls of cereal and kilos of back bacon, they would have been unnerved digesting Eddie Jones’s post-match remarks. The head coach blamed himself for the dull performance in England’s narrow 19-16 win over France on Saturday, saying that he didn't [...]
This curious series of matchbook prints pays homage to a lost Japanese advertising artform February 6, 2017 Today, the chances are you don’t even own a box of matches, let alone appreciate the lost artform that used to adorn them. But in the early to mid-20th century, Japanese advertisers created tiny wonders of graphic art on these pocket-sized canvases. As urban centres began to proliferate and the population was drawn away from [...]
Sergio Garcia and Hideki Matsuyama underline their Masters credentials February 6, 2017 The Masters may still be a couple of months away but we got a glimpse of two possible contenders over the last few days as they swept to wins on the European and PGA Tours. Sergio Garcia produced his usual magnificent golf to claim a commanding wire-to-wire victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, his first [...]
Alastair Cook steps down as England Test cricket captain after almost five years February 6, 2017 England opening batsman Alastair Cook has ended speculation over his future by stepping down as captain of the Test team. Cook, 32, was appointed in August 2012 and led the side for a record 59 Tests, including Ashes series wins in 2013 and 2015. His departure comes after a 4-0 series defeat in India late [...]
Winning streak is giving England the confidence to be calm under extreme pressure, insists fly-half George Ford February 6, 2017 Fly-half George Ford insists that England’s record-breaking winning streak has infused the players with a sense of clarity during the most challenging moments of matches. England set a national record of 15 successive victories on Saturday when they began the defence of their Six Nations crown with a 19-16 triumph over rivals France at Twickenham. [...]
Davis Cup drama as Great Britain progress after umpire struck in face by Canada’s Denis Shapovalov February 5, 2017 Great Britain reached the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup in bizarre fashion after Canada teenager Denis Shapovalov was defaulted from the decisive match for smashing the ball into the umpire’s face in temper. British No2 Kyle Edmund had just broken serve and was leading 3-6, 4-6, 1-2 when Shapovalov lost his cool and in a [...]
Eddie Jones demands England lose fear of playing Wales in Cardiff as Six Nations showdown beckons February 5, 2017 Head coach Eddie Jones has demanded his England players conquer any inhibitions they may harbour over facing Wales in the cauldron of Cardiff’s Principality Stadium during Saturday’s crunch Six Nations battle. England, grand slam winners 12 months ago, began their championship defence with a narrow 19-16 victory over France at Twickenham at the weekend, setting [...]
England lock George Kruis ruled out of Six Nations and set for surgery on knee ligament injury February 5, 2017 England second row George Kruis has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations after being sidelined for three months with the knee ligament injury he suffered during training last week. Saracens lock Kruis, 26, missed England’s championship opener against France at the weekend and is set to undergo surgery on tuesday, following [...]
Leicester City 0, Manchester United 3: Claudio Ranieri denies mutiny claims after champions’ relegation fears worsen February 5, 2017 Leicester City 0, Manchester United 3 Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri dismissed suggestions of a dressing-room mutiny after a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat deepened the champions’ relegation fears. Man-of-the-match Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata struck as Manchester United won comfortbaly at the King Power Stadium to boost their Champions League qualification hopes. Read [...]