Italian job sees Ireland scrape into last eight October 4, 2015 RELIEVED Ireland coach Joe Schmidt admitted that his side made life difficult for themselves despite sealing their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 16-9 victory over Italy at the Olympic Stadium yesterday. Centre Keith Earls dotted down to set a new national record of eight World Cup tries although Ireland were pegged [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England chief Ian Ritchie rules out “knee-jerk” sacking of under-fire coach Stuart Lancaster following Australia defeat October 4, 2015 England will take their time before deciding whether to end Stuart Lancaster’s reign as head coach five years earlier than planned, says Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Ian Ritchie. Ritchie, who appointed Lancaster in one of his first major decisions after moving from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the RFU’s response would [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England coach Stuart Lancaster accepts blame for tournament humiliation but isn’t ready to quit October 4, 2015 Crestfallen head coach Stuart Lancaster admits he should carry the can for England’s World Cup humiliation but insists he will not quit before next week’s Pool A swansong against Uruguay. Lancaster has a contract until 2020 but Saturday’s 33-13 defeat by Australia, which made England the first World Cup hosts to fail to make it [...]
Louis Saha: Football should follow rugby’s lead and introduce TV replays for the benefit of fans, referees and players October 2, 2015 As always when rugby’s in the news, conversations about its difference to football dominate sporting debate. A key contrast that’s been discussed a lot during the World Cup is the way rugby has widely embraced video technology while football just relies upon goal-line incidents. Why can't football simply re-play video of disputed incidents, then and [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015 England v Australia preview: Six stats that could decide this Saturday’s Pool A clash October 2, 2015 This wasn't part of the plan. Little more than a fortnight into their home World Cup and already England are already playing what is effectively knock-out rugby against Australia. Anything less than a win will realistically obliterate England's hopes of progressing into the World Cup knockout stage, making them the first tournament hosts to fail [...]
Fifa Ballon d’Or 2015: 40pc of all nominations have gone to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid players October 2, 2015 Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2015 Fifa Ballon d’Or, naming him as the world’s best footballer for the second year in a row. The Portuguese superstar beat competition from Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer to secure the award the accolade he has won twice before. It was a familiar winner in what was in [...]
The Walk movie review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt flies high in this vertigo-inducing IMAX 3D spectacle October 2, 2015 Cert PG | ★★★★☆ Joseph Gordon-Levitt puts on a wig and smiles enigmatically in this film about Phillipe Petit, the Frenchman who stunned onlookers and the world by walking a wire between New York’s Twin Towers in 1974. Director Robert Zemeckis tells the story of Petit’s training, and the plan that saw him and a [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England to keep the dream alive against Australia October 2, 2015 England move from one old foe to another when they take on Australia tomorrow night in a make-or-break Rugby World Cup encounter. A sole host nation has never been eliminated at the group stage but, in the strongest pool, England are struggling to keep their heads above water following the bizarre defeat to Wales. [...]
Mauricio Pochettino rues late Tottenham lapse after draw with Monaco in the Europa League October 2, 2015 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino refused to hide his frustration after the concession of a late goal ruined his side’s perfect start to their Europa League campaign against Monaco last night. Club record signing Erik Lamela, who Spurs paid £30m for in 2013, continued his White Hart Lane renaissance with a first-half opener before on-loan [...]
Wuhan Open 2015: Johanna Konta earns Venus admiration after Williams sees off Britain’s new No1 to reach semi-finals October 2, 2015 Britain’s new women’s No1 Johanna Konta hailed “incredible champion” Venus Williams after the seven-time grand slam winner inflicted only her second defeat in 23 matches yesterday. Konta pushed Williams, 35, all the way with a gutsy display before succumbing 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open in China. It was a rare [...]