Sport Comment: Hoddle is right, Friday fixtures can reverse English teams’ Champions League struggles March 19, 2015 SKY Sports turned their cameras on one of their own last weekend with a revealing profile of Glenn Hoddle, a fabulously talented footballer who was mistrusted by England managers and then mistreated by the Football Association when he took charge of the national team himself. Hoddle never quite got over the shock of being forced [...]
Whole country is excited about Kane, says Roy March 19, 2015 TOTTENHAM striker Harry Kane has been elevated to the England senior squad for the first time because he excited the whole country, manager Roy Hodgson said yesterday. Kane’s 26 goals in 42 games this season have earned him a place in Hodgson’s squad for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly with Italy [...]
Lancaster desperate to confirm England Six Nations coronation March 19, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster insists it is time to wrestle the demons of previous Six Nations disappointment and claim the first major trophy of his tenure in tomorrow’s championship decider against France at Twickenham. Despite being widely credited with stabilising the England ship since his appointment in 2012, a catalogue of Six Nations near [...]
France fly-half Plisson intent on crashing party March 19, 2015 RECALLED France fly-half Jules Plisson has vowed to crash England’s Six Nations party at Twickenham tomorrow as Les Bleus plot an unlikely title assault. Stade Francais No10 Plisson is set to replace the injured Camille Lopez, who suffered a badly bruised knee during last Sunday’s 29-0 victory over Italy, having impressed with 10 points off [...]
Bitter Cook needs to lose attitude and focus on form, says Vaughan March 19, 2015 FORMER England skipper Michael Vaughan believes sacked one-day captain Alastair Cook needs to ditch any grudges he holds regarding his demotion and concentrate on finding red-ball form. Cook this week suggested that England’s dismal World Cup performance proved the decision to oust him in favour of Eoin Morgan in December, just two months before the [...]
Poulter hits form at Arnold Palmer March 19, 2015 ENGLAND’S Ian Poulter fired himself into contention for victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitation after a flawless first round of 67 yesterday. Poulter tied for second on five under with American quartet Jason Kakrak, Kevin Na, Ken Duke and John Petersen, one shot behind leader Morgan Hoffmann. Honda Classic winner Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson [...]
Schmidt expects backlash from friend Cotter March 19, 2015 IRELAND head coach Joe Schmidt expects fellow countryman Vern Cotter to ensure winless Scotland present a major threat to their Six Nations title aspirations tomorrow. Reigning champions Ireland head into the Murrayfield clash bidding to claim back-to-back championship crowns for the first time since 1949, although leaders England hold a slender points difference advantage at [...]
Kick-off times to stifle title drama, insists Howley March 19, 2015 WALES assistant coach Rob Howley believes the final day drama in the battle for Six Nations glory would be intensified had all fixtures been scheduled to kick off simultaneously. Leaders England will play France in the championship’s final clash at Twickenham tomorrow evening knowing exactly what is required to be crowned Six Nations champions, while [...]
Rising star Hannah’s Princess can land Newbury feature March 19, 2015 CITY A.M. TIPSTER BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST HORSE RACING AT NEWBURY TODAY AND TOMORROW TRYING to pick a Saturday winner on a Thursday isn’t easy. Trying to pick a Saturday winner on a Thursday, before the runners have even been declared, is nigh on impossible. At the time of writing there are 27 runners [...]
20 March on this day… March 19, 2015 1999: Lawrence Dallaglio led England to a 20-10 victory over France in the last ever Five Nations clash at Twickenham and made it three wins out of three in the championship. Future World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson kicked a record seven penalties that day, but England’s anticipated Grand Slam evaporated in injury-time at Wembley three [...]