Lancaster burning with desire for England to land Six Nations title February 2, 2015 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster admits banishing the burden of a four-year wait for a Six Nations crown is the principal objective as his side prepare for Friday’s championship curtain-raiser against Wales. Lancaster has presided over three successive runners-up finishes since taking the reins from Martin Johnson in 2012, and last year England agonisingly missed [...]
Gatland urges substandard North to prove international credentials February 2, 2015 WALES head coach Warren Gatland has thrown down the gauntlet to wing George North ahead of the Six Nations opener with England by insisting his recent international performances have been substandard. The 22-year-old has scored 19 tries in 45 Tests and is set to return to the Wales side against England after Gatland yesterday named [...]
Sakho no-show investigation is unfounded, say angry Hammers February 2, 2015 WEST Ham have strenuously denied claims that they broke rules by fielding Senegal striker Diafra Sakho after world governing body Fifa yesterday confirmed that it is investigating the Hammers. Sakho is at the centre of a dispute between national team chiefs and West Ham due to the club declaring him unable to take part in [...]
Stokes smashes 15 sixes as Lions romp to victory February 2, 2015 ALL-ROUNDER Ben Stokes admitted he rode his luck after conducting a brutal assault on the opposition bowling attack and blasting an unbeaten century as England Lions demolished South Africa A in the Pretoria township of Mamelodi yesterday. The Durham star cracked 15 sixes, including nine from the final 15 legal deliveries he faced, while posting [...]
Red Bull camouflage car design causes a stir February 2, 2015 RED BULL team boss Christian Horner has hailed the benefits of running their 2015 car with a so-called camouflaged livery during pre-season testing in Spain. Horner believes the vehicle’s distinctive black and white design has made it more difficult for rivals to detect design modifications during the four-day session in Jerez. “To see a Red [...]
Stewart backs veteran Batty to restore Surrey’s former glories February 2, 2015 FORMER England skipper Alec Stewart believes veteran off-spinner Gareth Batty has earned the right to lead his county after yesterday being appointed Surrey captain. The 37-year-old signed a new two-year deal with Surrey at the end of last season after snaring 39 Championship wickets at an average of 23.46, and takes over the captaincy from [...]
Records tumble as Patriots win super bowl February 2, 2015 STAR quarterback Tom Brady made Super Bowl history as New England Patriots claimed their first title for 10 years against Seattle Seahawks in Arizona early on Monday morning. Brady threw four touchdowns to eclipse Joe Montana’s career tally of 11 as the Patriots won a thrilling contest 28-24, becoming the first team to win the [...]
Murray blasts failure to blot out distraction February 1, 2015 A DEFLATED Andy Murray admitted the mid-match fitness problems endured by opponent and world No1 Novak Djokovic caused him to lose focus after succumbing to a fourth Australian Open defeat in Melbourne yesterday. Murray, ranked sixth at the tournament, collapsed to a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-0 loss after levelling at one-set apiece, losing [...]
Premier League: Wenger harbours title hope as Gunners smash five past Villa February 1, 2015 ARSENAL 5 ASTON VILLA 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger refused to rule the Gunners out of the Premier League title race after an emphatic five-star showing dispatched struggling Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium yesterday. Strikes from Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, a Santi Cazorla penalty and Hector Bellerin gave Arsenal victory, while Villa have [...]
Morgan targets revenge after tri-series collapse February 1, 2015 ENGLAND one-day skipper Eoin Morgan has urged his side to cast aside the disappointment of their 112-run thrashing to Australia in yesterday’s tri-series final and channel their energies into exacting World Cup revenge. Australia recovered from 60-4 to amass 278-8, thanks largely to Glenn Maxwell’s 95 and half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner. England [...]