Six Nations 2016: Eddie Jones is a brand man who will benefit from Stuart Lancaster’s work, says former England lock Ben Kay February 4, 2016 England's recent form may not suggest they are about to improve on four consecutive second-place finishes in the Six Nations, but World Cup-winner Ben Kay sees no reason why it cannot click into place this year. Kay believes that before a dismal autumn in which they suffered humiliation as World Cup hosts, England had been [...]
Liverpool fans plan mass Anfield walkout during Sunderland game in protest at £1,029 season tickets February 4, 2016 Liverpool fans are planning to stage a mass walkout at Anfield this Saturday in protest at new £77 ticket prices. The walkout – the first protest of its kind in the club's history – is being called for the 77th minute of Liverpool's next home match against Sunderland after ticket price increases for next season were unveiled [...]
Billy Zane talks Zoolander 2, the future of Hollywood and having the ghosts of Picasso and Hemingway hanging over him February 4, 2016 Billy Zane is drawing me a diagram of his Theory of Everything. He’s on his fourth draft and a little pile of crumpled sheets of paper are piling up beside his Bloody Mary. It’s a kind of business model for the creative industries, a way to bring together media, advertising, luxury goods and philanthropy, dotted [...]
Six Nations 2016: Ireland will win according to complex mathematical formula from insurance group QBE February 4, 2016 Ireland have the best chance of winning this year's Six Nations to claim a record third title in a row, according to a complex mathematical formula devised by insurance firm QBE. Actuaries usually tasked with predicting the impact of catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods have devised a mathematical formula to predict the outcome of [...]
Tyson Fury: World heavyweight champion considers boxing retirement despite £80m offer from Middle East February 4, 2016 World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has revealed he may quit boxing instead of fighting Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch – despite an £80m offer from the Gulf. The pair have agreed to fight again in May or June following Fury's dethroning of Ukrainian Klitschko on points last November. However, no venue for the rematch has yet [...]
Watford 0, Chelsea 0: Provoked Costa has my backing, insists Guus Hiddink February 4, 2016 Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink jumped to the defence of striker Diego Costa and accused Watford’s players of provoking the antagonistic frontman during last night’s goalless draw at Vicarage Road. Neither attack could permeate the defence of their rivals during an attritional contest, although the stalemate extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions. [...]
England and Buttler’s batting brilliance hailed by skipper Morgan racking up second-highest ODI tally in victory against South Africa February 3, 2016 England skipper Eoin Morgan hailed the batting brilliance of his side after they racked up the country’s second-highest one-day international total to beat South Africa by 39 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in Bloemfontein last night. The tourists’ 399-5 was underpinned by a hundred from wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler as opener Alex Hales, batsman Joe Root [...]
Six Nations 2016: England head coach Eddie Jones is charismatic but tough and robotic, say players past and present February 3, 2016 A daring new appointment as skipper, seven uncapped rookies in his maiden squad and wisecrack-laden press conferences have all suggested that English rugby is set for a thrilling and unpredictable ride under its new, wily Australian head coach Eddie Jones. Off the pitch, perhaps. But opinion is divided among some in the game about whether [...]
Jones has blundered by failing to pick Itoje or Daly, says Armitage February 3, 2016 Exiled flanker Steffon Armitage has criticised the decision of England head coach Eddie Jones to omit uncapped duo Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly from his maiden matchday squad to face Scotland on Saturday. Saracens lock Itoje and Wasps centre Daly will head to Edinburgh as travelling reserves for England’s Six Nations opener and first competitive [...]
Oscar Wilde’s grandson Merlin Holland on Dorian Gray, censorship and posthumous pardons February 3, 2016 After years in the back room, Oscar has finally found his way onto the Oxford English syllabus,” says Merlin Holland, with both pride and indignation. Most of us in this noisy cafe off Carnaby Street wouldn’t be on first name terms with Oscar Wilde, but as his only living grandson and the sole executor of [...]