Lancaster: Ford has earned right to start Australia Test November 24, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed he is set to retain George Ford at fly-half when his side conclude their autumn programme against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday. Bath No10 Ford is now the man in possession after impressing on his first international start as England ended a deflating run of five successive defeats [...]
England set to face ghosts of Sri Lankan tours past as hosts name their armoury November 24, 2014 ENGLAND are set to face some familiar foes after Sri Lanka named their squad for the first one-day international, which gets underway at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium tomorrow. Batsman Mahela Jayawardene and the explosive Kumar Sangakkara are in the mix to face Peter Moores’ side in the day-night clash as the veteran duo prepare for their [...]
Premier League: Liverpool relive Palace nightmare as Rodgers suffers fourth defeat November 23, 2014 AT SELHURST PARK CRYSTAL PALACE 3 LIVERPOOL 1 UNDER-FIRE Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers concedes last year’s title charge will not spare him the axe should results fail to improve as the Reds’ season sank to new depths with another Selhurst Park horror show yesterday. Rodgers’ side infamously squandered a three-goal lead in south London in [...]
Lancaster: Ford has intensified fly-half debate November 23, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster admits the enterprising performance of George Ford against Samoa on Saturday has blown fly-half selection wide open ahead of the weekend’s final autumn clash with Australia at Twickenham. Saracens No10 Owen Farrell had been the man in possession but the 23-year-old was switched to inside-centre after successive uninspiring showings against [...]
First-half frailties dent Saracens title charge November 23, 2014 SARACENS boss Mark McCall cited an insipid first-half showing as the principal factor in his side’s 31-24 defeat to reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints at Allianz Park yesterday. New Zealander James Wilson crossed the line twice for the visitors – who were without international stars Tom Wood, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and George North – [...]
Washout leaves England lacking practice ahead of Sri Lanka bout November 23, 2014 ENGLAND are at risk of heading into the one-day series with Sri Lanka severely undercooked after their second warm-up game in Colombo was abandoned due to heavy rain without a ball being bowled. Peter Moores’ side face their opening clash on Wednesday with only one rain-affected match under their belts – the team’s sole exposure [...]
Giroud to return a month early for Arsenal but mixed news for United November 20, 2014 ARSENAL have received a timely boost for their crunch clash against old foes Manchester United tomorrow after France striker Olivier Giroud was declared fit – a month ahead of schedule. The 28-year-old broke his leg in August and was initially ruled out until the new year but is available for the sixth-placed Gunners along with [...]
Carroll primed for comeback November 20, 2014 WEST Ham record buy Andy Carroll could be set for his first start since May as leading scorer Diafra Sakho is a major doubt for the Hammers’ clash at Everton tomorrow. A back problem prevented six-goal Sakho featuring for Senegal on Wednesday, while Stewart Downing is also struggling with a knee injury, with the door [...]
Youngs: Orchestrator Ford will carry England fight November 20, 2014 RESURGENT England scrum-half Ben Youngs has dismissed any notion of having to take new boy George Ford under his wing when they reprise their half-back partnership against Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday. The duo were paired together at Leicester before Ford’s defection to Bath at the start of last season but England head coach Stuart [...]
Evans ties with Blades severed November 20, 2014 SHEFFIELD United yesterday bowed to relentless pressure and have reversed their controversial decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to use the club’s training facilities. The Blades accepted a request from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) on 11 November and consented to the ex-Wales international training at the club he represented before serving two and [...]
