Why Warren Gatland’s decision to hire Rob Howley could come back to haunt the British and Irish Lions on next summer’s tour to New Zealand December 12, 2016 The British and Irish Lions coaching set-up was finalised last week with the trio of Rob Howley, Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell appointed to assist Warren Gatland on next summer’s tour to New Zealand and there must have been an interesting conversation between Gatland and Howley, given that the latter was only recruited as “option [...]
Alastair Cook to consider future as England captain after talking up readiness of Joe Root to lead and India drubbing December 12, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook admits the severity of his side’s hammering during the fourth Test in Mumbai and series drubbing against India will force him to consider his future as captain. Cook, who has led England since 2012, plans to hold talks with director of cricket Andrew Strauss in the New Year and, should he [...]
Sam Brazel’s surprise win in Hong Kong is a heart-warming tale but defeat will hurt for Rafa Cabrera Bello December 12, 2016 For an illustration of the vagaries of golf you need look no further than the Hong Kong Open, where unheralded Australian Sam Brazel saw off some illustrious rivals to land the biggest win of his career on Sunday. Brazel, a 37-year-old journeyman who started the week ranked 480th in the world and had never finished [...]
Contrasting fortunes for Arsenal, Leicester City and Manchester City in today’s Champions League round of 16 draw December 12, 2016 The Champions League draw for 2016 was made just a few minutes ago, and there will be mixed feelings for the three remaining Premier League sides. Arsenal were rewarded for finishing top of their group by being paired with Bayern Munich, but they will at least benefit from a home second leg advantage. Arsenal played [...]
Branding a sports star: How Wasserman create social media prodigies December 12, 2016 Sports stars want to be rock stars, and rock stars want to be sports stars,” says Lenah Ueltzen-Gabell, executive vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Wasserman. We’re sitting in its newly refurbished headquarters at Aldwych House, an ultra-modern, open space of reductive design, coated with memorabilia gleaned from years of representing [...]
Liverpool 2-2 West Ham United: Anfield point has laid foundations for our surge up Premier League, says Slaven Bilic December 11, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic believes his relegation-threatened side have paved the way for a surge up the Premier League after preying on Liverpool’s defensive frailties to leave Anfield with a priceless point. A Dimitri Payet free-kick and smart Michail Antonio finish cancelled out an opener from England midfielder Adam Lallana, only for a Darren [...]
Manchester United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0: Mauricio Pochettino keeps faith in title challenge despite Spurs slipping 10 points behind leaders Chelsea December 11, 2016 Manchester United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his team can still catch runaway leaders Chelsea despite a second defeat in three Premier League matches leaving them 10 points off the pace. A ferocious first-half strike by Henrikh Mkhitaryan proved decisive on Sunday as Manchester United recorded a first top-flight victory at [...]
Chelsea 1, West Brom 0: Blues boss Antonio Conte labels threat of points deduction “a joke” December 11, 2016 Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists it would be laughable should his title-hunting side be slapped with a points deduction following the mass brawl which marred their victory at Manchester City last week. Both clubs have been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players – Chelsea’s fifth such indiscretion in 19 months [...]
Alastair Cook urged to stay as Test captain despite England slipping to brink of series drubbing December 11, 2016 England seamer James Anderson has called on Alastair Cook to remain as skipper despite leading his side to the brink of a series drubbing against India. The tourists slumped to 182-6 in their second innings of the fourth Test in Mumbai and still require another 49 runs in order to make their dominant hosts bat again [...]
London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged to help make Anthony Joshua super-fight with Wladimir Klitschko a record crowd December 11, 2016 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been urged to fulfil his pledge to make London a rival to Las Vegas for the biggest fights when Britain’s Anthony Joshua faces Wladimir Klitschko next year. IBF champion Joshua’s heavyweight blockbuster clash with Klitschko at Wembley in April was announced just moments after the 27-year-old’s victory over American [...]