Saracens’ relegation from the Premiership is a sad moment for English rugby and salary cap rules must change as a result January 23, 2020 Saracens are being relegated and, putting the specifics aside for a moment, I think that is a sad state of affairs for English rugby. Former chairman Nigel Wray has apologised for his actions in failing to comply with the Premiership salary cap, but I have sympathy for him. In many ways what he did – [...]
South Africa v England fourth Test preview: Home captain Faf du Plessis under pressure both on and off the field as series reaches its climax January 23, 2020 How quickly things can change. After the first Test of the series against England in Centurion, South Africa were left to reflect on a first victory in six attempts in which Kagiso Rabada had taken seven wickets to settle their nerves and given the new coaching team a near-perfect start. Just under a month later [...]
England should not rush Ollie Pope up the batting order – let him develop his game at No6 January 22, 2020 England’s win over South Africa in the third Test in Port Elizabeth came by a margin of an innings and 53 runs and gave them a 2-1 lead in the series and yet some people still were not happy. I saw some criticism of England’s top-order batting, with people saying openers Dom Sibley and Zak [...]
Tokyo 2020 six months to go: How Japan is looking to Olympic and Paralympic Games as a catalyst for modernisation and regeneration January 22, 2020 The contorted face of the godfather of sumo wrestling, Nomino Sukune, glowers from a mosaic at Tokyo’s New National Stadium. A few metres to the right, a Greek goddess with a laurel wreath is depicted in a similar monochrome mural. Both artworks were salvaged from the previous national stadium, centrepiece of the 1964 Olympics, and [...]
Monty Python star Terry Jones dies aged 77 January 22, 2020 Monty Python star Terry Jones has died at the age of 77, his agent has said. Jones, who founded the comedy group and directed three of its feature films, announced in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which restricted his speech. “We are deeply saddened to have to announce the passing [...]
Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal: Hector Bellerin’s late strike sees 10-man Gunners earn point and show heart at Stamford Bridge January 21, 2020 Mikel Arteta had attempted to rally his Arsenal side for tonight’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea by labelling it as a must-win if they were to have any chance of finishing in the top four. While they failed to come away with all three points, the 37-year-old would have been the happier of the two managers [...]
You can’t compare Jurgen Klopp’s side to great Liverpool teams but I prefer watching them to Manchester City January 21, 2020 Managers are a vital part of any club and certain conditions – money, clout – are necessary in a rebuilding job, but Jurgen Klopp really has proven to be the perfect fit for Liverpool that he was billed as. Since arriving in October 2015 he has improved the team each year and, having won the [...]
Dom Bess and Ollie Pope the stars as England thrash South Africa in third Test to take unassailable 2-1 series lead January 20, 2020 The back-slapping may have been delayed, and the winning moment may have come in an oddly subdued fashion against a worn-out side on their last legs, but England’s crushing victory over South Africa in the third Test was no less momentous. When Sam Curran threw down the stumps at the non-strikers’ end to run out [...]
Ryder Cup talk can wait – evergreen Lee Westwood should just enjoy his latest win January 20, 2020 Lee Westwood’s 25th career European Tour title at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday shows that, like the wine he drinks, the Englishman just gets better with age. They threw a lot of good scores at him – Tommy Fleetwood and Victor Perez shot 63s and Matthew Fitzpatrick 67 – but Westwood, 46, seems to [...]
South Africa v England: Joe Root’s wickets leave visitors on the brink of victory and series lead January 19, 2020 Only rain can stop them now. It’s not a statement which you would expect to be true about England playing an away Test match against South Africa, but after a nigh on perfect fourth day in Port Elizabeth the visitors are on the brink of taking a 2-1 series lead. England began Sunday needing 14 [...]