Stoke could prove tough nut to crack at Britannia January 21, 2010 STOKE CITY vs ARSENAL SUNDAY – 1.30PM, ITV1 ARSENAL did readers of this column a favour with their 2-0 win against Bolton at the Reebok last Sunday. It was a fairly comfortable victory for the Gunners, but they had to fight to come from two behind against the same opposition at the Emirates on Wednesday [...]
JANUARY SALES January 12, 2010 Agent: Chelsea lead Dzeko hunt CHELSEA are monitoring Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, according to the player’s agent. Bosnian Dzeko has been tipped to leave the Bundesliga side but the Blues have competition from AC Milan. But Dzeko’s Italian agent confirmed: “Milan really likes the player. At the time in Italy they are the club which [...]
BOD ALMIGHTY November 15, 2009 IRELAND captain Brian O’Driscoll scored a last-minute try on his 100th Test appearance to snatch a 20-20 draw in yesterday’s clash with Australia. Tries from former Leinster back-row Rocky Elsom and Drew Mitchell had put the visitors in front at Croke Park, despite Tommy Bowe crossing in the first half for Ireland. But O’Driscoll’s late [...]
LIONS THIRD TEST PREVIEW July 2, 2009 THE FURORE surrounding South Africa coach Peter De Villiers’ defence of the Schalk Burger eye-gouging incident has ensured that anticipation for tomorrow’s ‘dead-rubber’ is still high. Many thought that the chips would be down in the Lions camp after Morne Steyn clinched the series with a remarkable last-gasp penalty on Saturday, but the tourists will [...]
Lions coach blasts ‘pathetic’ De Villiers July 1, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions assistant coach Graham Rowntree has backed Brian O’Driscoll’s condemnation of South Africa boss Peter de Villiers. The Springboks coach infuriated the Lions by insisting flanker Schalk Burger had not deserved his yellow card for gouging Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the eyes during last weekend’s second Test. Burger was later cited [...]
O’Driscoll joins third Test absentee list June 30, 2009 CENTRE Brian O’Driscoll has become the latest British and Irish Lions player to be ruled out of Saturday’s third and final Test through injury. O’Driscoll suffered concussion in last weekend’s series-clinching defeat in Pretoria, and doctors have decided he will not recover in time to finish the tour. Prop Adam Jones joins O’Driscoll in returning [...]
Burger gets eight-week ban for eye gouging June 28, 2009 SOUTH AFRICA flanker Schalk Burger was last night hit with an eight-week ban for gouging British and Irish Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald’s eyes in Saturday’s brutal clash. Burger was cited after the Springboks clinched the series with a 28-25 victory in an incident-packed dramatic second Test in Pretoria. His team-mate Bakkies Botha was also banned [...]
Lions have a mountain to climb to top kicking kings in Second Test June 25, 2009 SOUTH AFRICA vs. BRITISH LIONS SECOND TEST – TOMORROW, 2PM – SKY SPORTS 1 THE CURRENT incarnation of the Lions squad may be the first to have gone unbeaten against provincial opposition on a tour since 1989, but that does not really tell the full story of a month of mixed success in South Africa. [...]
Wallace gets nod to renew family affair June 18, 2009 IRELAND flanker David Wallace has spoken of his delight at following in the family footsteps and taking his place in the British and Irish Lions Test side. Wallace’s elder brother Paul played in all three Tests against the South Africa in 1997 – the Lions’ last series success. Now, 12 years on, it’s David’s turn [...]
Geech keeps faith with his Golden pair June 8, 2009 STAR centres Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts will renew their dynamic partnership for the British and Irish Lions tomorrow as coach Ian McGeechan edges closer to deciding his Test side. The Irish and Welsh pair were outstanding in the 74-10 demolition of the Golden Lions last Wednesday and get the chance to show their class [...]