Rugby Comment: Wales are the benchmark, it’s time to step up March 6, 2014 WALES pride themselves on their rugby. For them, playing against England on Sunday is a huge game, their biggest. They’ve become a top team over the last three years and have probably become the benchmark, so for us, it’s a massive test. There are other teams at the top that can still win the Six [...]
Sarries must end last-four hoodoo March 6, 2014 SARACENS prop Petrus du Plessis admits he is desperate for his team’s semi-final hoodoo to end as they travel to Franklin’s Gardens for another fierce encounter with bitter rivals Northampton Saints tomorrow. The last of Saracens’ three semi-final defeats last term came against Saints in the Aviva Premiership, following losses to Toulon in the Heineken [...]
Torrance given key Ryder Cup role March 6, 2014 RYDER Cup winning captain Sam Torrance has been handpicked by Paul McGinley to help mastermind a third consecutive victory of the biennial event at Gleneagles in September. The 60-year-old has been named as one of four vice captains, along with Irishman Des Smyth, by captain McGinley, who credits Torrance as the “most influential person in [...]
7 March on this day… March 6, 2014 THIS image from 22 years ago today will cheer England fans as they prepare for Sunday’s Six Nations battle against Wales. Hooker Brian Moore, nicknamed Pitbull, is chaired off after England’s 24-0 victory had given the home side back-to-back grand slams for the first time since 1924. Skipper Will Carling, Mick Skinner and Wade Dooley, [...]
Pardew admits headbutt charge March 6, 2014 FOOTBALL: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct yesterday, after headbutting Hull midfielder David Meyler last Saturday. Pardew was fined £100,000 by his club and has requested a personal hearing.
Jagielka out of cup quarter-final March 6, 2014 FOOTBALL: Everton boss Roberto Martinez admits central defender Phil Jagielka is “very unlikely” to play in tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final at Arsenal due to a hamstring injury. Antolin Alcaraz stands by as his replacement.
Ireland choose Henderson for Italy March 6, 2014 RUGBY UNION: Ireland have replaced flanker Peter O’Mahony with back-row forward Iain Henderson for tomorrow’s Six Nations match with Italy in Dublin. Ireland are otherwise unchanged, so Brian O’Driscoll is set to make his world record 140th Test appearance.
Duff to miss Fulham’s survival bid March 6, 2014 FOOTBALL: Fulham manager Felix Magath revealed winger Damien Duff is likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. The Premier League’s bottom club travel to 19th-placed Cardiff tomorrow and are also without midfielder Scott Parker.
Twickenham battle set to be a close affair March 6, 2014 WILLIAM CHRIMES AND BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEW THE BEST OF THIS WEEKEND’S SPORTING ACTION REWIND a year and England went to Cardiff knowing victory would hand them the Six Nations title and a first Grand Slam since 2003. But Wales absolutely destroyed them 30-3 to land successive championships for the first time since 1979 and inflict [...]
Bogeymen to leave Spurs beaten at the Bridge again March 6, 2014 SINEAD O’Connor was top of the charts with Nothing Compares 2 U the last time Tottenham won at Stamford Bridge and, just like the Irish popstar in the song’s famous video, Spurs fans have often been reduced to tears in the intervening years. A winner from Gary Lineker secured the points that day, on Saturday [...]