England can compound Wallabies’ misery November 15, 2012 ENGLAND vs AUSTRALIA Tomorrow 2.30pm ENGLAND are under no illusions that hammering Fiji was anything other than a warm-up for their showdown with Australia. Putting 54 points on Fiji vindicated Stuart Lancaster’s selection choices, especially Alex Goode’s man-of-the-match performance. Lancaster admitted England started sluggishly last Saturday and he’ll know that they cannot make the same [...]
Ireland bring in new Ulster trio November 15, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Ireland have handed three uncapped players their debuts for the match against Fiji in Limerick tomorrow. The three players; Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy and Paddy Jackson, all play for Ulster as only Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip and Mike Ross have been retained from the side that lost 16-12 to South Africa on Saturday.
Webber warns Vettel over title November 15, 2012 FORMULA ONE: Red Bull driver Mark Webber believes team-mate Sebastian Vettel must win the title in Austin this weekend. “Brazil can be incredibly inconsistent with the weather, so that’s a bit more of a nervous venue,” said Webber. There are numerous permutations but Vettel can be crowned champion on Sunday if he wins the race [...]
Ibrahimovic schools Lion cubs November 14, 2012 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY SWEDEN 4 vs ENGLAND 2 MANAGER Roy Hodgson hailed four-goal Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 30-yard overhead kick as “really extraordinary” after the Sweden captain single-handedly dismantled England in last night’s friendly in Stockholm. Ibrahimovic overshadowed Steven Gerrard’s 100th England cap with a swaggering display of virtuoso brilliance, summed up by an instinctive 91st-minute goal that [...]
FA hits back at claims of institutional racism November 14, 2012 ENGLAND football chiefs reacted angrily last night after being termed “institutionally racist” by the Society of Black Lawyers, calling the accusation “ill-informed and unhelpful”. Football Association chairman David Bernstein responded to criticism that the governing body should have reported to police Chelsea’s complaints that referee Mark Clattenburg racially abused their player John Obi Mikel. “These [...]
Wage cap on agenda as clubs look to regulation November 14, 2012 A WAGE cap in the Premier League could move closer to reality today when club chiefs meet in London to firm up plans to prevent an estimated £5bn television revenue windfall going straight into players’ pockets. Other proposals up for discussion include adopting so-called financial fair play measures similar to those introduced by European bosses, [...]
Dettori’s positive test was not for a performance enhancer November 14, 2012 THREE-TIME Champion Jockey Frankie Dettori’s failed drug test at a meeting in France earlier this year was not for a performance enhancing substance, his solicitor said yesterday. Dettori, the biggest name in flat racing over the last 20 years, faces an inquiry next week over the positive test at a Longchamp meeting in September. “There [...]
Grand Slam winner Warburton dropped by struggling Wales November 14, 2012 WALES captain Sam Warburton has been dropped to the bench for the Test against Samoa in Cardiff tomorrow. Warburton, who led Wales to a Six Nations Grand Slam this year, has admitted struggling to find his top form in a Cardiff Blues side who have lost five of their Pro12 matches this season. Interim coach [...]
Cook mind games add spice to India series November 14, 2012 ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook has urged his team to capitalise on the weight of expectation burdening the hosts as he attempts to mastermind a first Test series win in India for 27 years today. Cook could hardly have wished for a more challenging start to his tenure as permanent skipper, while the task has been [...]
Aussies facing injury crisis for Twickenham November 14, 2012 AUSTRALIA have suffered a blow ahead of Saturday’s Test against England after forward Rob Simmons was handed an eight-week ban for a dangerous tackle during last week’s defeat in France. Simmons came on as a substitute during the Wallabies’ humiliating 33-6 loss in Paris and was reported to the International Rugby Board [IRB] for a [...]