AIG and the All Blacks brand: How New Zealand dominates rugby on and off the pitch September 25, 2015 New Zealand’s opening two wins over Argentina and Namibia at the World Cup will not rank particularly high in the annals of the country’s proud rugby history. Yet even in what was a tense and at times ill-disciplined 26-16 victory over Argentina on Sunday, there was enough in the All Blacks’ opening performance to understand [...]
Rugby Comment: Question marks remain but Sam can be the man September 25, 2015 I’M not surprised that Stuart Lancaster has gone with Owen Farrell and Sam Burgess at 10 and 12 for England against Wales on Saturday. The most important thing for this match is to have a very, very strong defensive line. Wales will want to get over the gainline and those two probably won’t let them. [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Wales have not broken rules, fumes Warren Gatland September 25, 2015 Wales coach Warren Gatland has issued a robust rebuttal to suggestions of cheating after England’s Pool A rivals became embroiled in a row involving the use of non-World Cup squad players. Governing body World Rugby slapped Wales with an official warning for using players outside of their nominated 31-man party during a training session on [...]
Max Mosley: F1’s closed cockpits safety plan is nonsense September 25, 2015 Former motorsport chief Max Mosley has rubbished proposals to introduce closed cockpits after a run of recent accidents. Mosley’s comments come ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, which marks the first anniversary of Marussia driver Jules Bianchi’s fatal accident. “A closed cockpit is a nonsense because there are so many downsides,” Mosley said. “The [...]
Mark Lawrenson: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers’ time could be up September 24, 2015 Under-fire Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers could face the axe should his side lose any of their next three matches, according to former Reds defender Mark Lawrenson. The Anfield club were winless in five games before needing penalties to scrape past League Two side Carlisle in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday. This bleak run of [...]
Jerome Valcke: Swiss authorities get access to Fifa secretary’s emails September 24, 2015 Swiss investigators were granted access to the e-mails of suspended general secretary Jerome Valcke by embattled world governing body Fifa yesterday. Valcke, outgoing president Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, was last week relieved of his duties at Fifa pending an investigation into his involvement in a World Cup tickets scheme. It has been alleged that Valcke, [...]
Japanese Grand Prix: Money concerns scourge of Lotus September 24, 2015 British-based constructor Lotus endured less than ideal preparation for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka after their freight arrived late and they were locked out of their own hospitality tent. Some of the freight, including the pool of Mercedes engines, only arrived in the paddock yesterday afternoon, while cash-flow problems have been cited as [...]
Kevin Pietersen concedes Andrew Strauss was right to snub Test recall hope September 24, 2015 England exile Kevin Pietersen has conceded that director of cricket Andrew Strauss was right to dash his hopes of a Test recall this summer and effectively close the door on his international career. Pietersen was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board in February 2014 but appeared to be given encouragement by incoming chairman [...]
Rugby World Cup: New Zealand cruise past plucky Namibia September 24, 2015 Defending champions New Zealand ran in nine tries to dispatch a truculent Namibia and maintain their winning start to the Rugby World Cup at the Olympic Stadium last night. Full-back Nehe Milner-Skudder dotted down twice as the All Blacks crossed the line five times before the break, while No8 Victor Vito, centre Malakai Fekitoa [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Once bitten twice try for South Africa in open Samoan encounter September 24, 2015 Last Saturday afternoon, South Africa were on the wrong end of arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history, losing 34-32 to minnows Japan. Tomorrow’s opponents, Samoa, played the part of underdogs in another contender for that crown when, as Western Samoa in 1991, they overturned Wales to stun the sport. They’re much more competitive [...]