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Rugby World Cup – England suffer Corbisiero blow

October 28, 2013 - 19:46 | Rugby

England prop Alex Corbisiero has been ruled out of their Rugby World Cup clash with Australia on Saturday having failed to recover from a knee injury.

Rugby World Cup - England suffer Corbisiero blow

The front-rower, who impressed on the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia over the summer, was a doubt for the encounter with the Wallabies at Twickenham this weekend and now head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed the Northampton Saints prop will miss the game.

There is hope that Corbisiero, who picked up the injury playing for Saints against Castres in the Heineken Cup earlier this month, will be fit for England’s encounter with Argentina on 9th November.

Lancaster has admitted it is a blow to lose the 25-year-old but feels he has good cover in the squad in the form of Saracens’ Mako Vunipola and Harlequins’ Joe Marler.

He told Sky Sports News: “He is making good progress and we’re hopeful another week’s recovery and rehab will see him up and running for the Argentina game.

“It’s a big blow but we’ve got two very good looseheads in Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler.

“Joe was one of the pick of our forwards in Argentina (during England’s summer tour) and Mako has been outstanding this season so it’s a good position for us.”

England are 4/9 to win, 20/1 to draw and 9/5 to lose to the Wallabies at Twickenham.

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Rugby World Cup – England fall short against favourites

October 26, 2013 - 17:40 | Rugby

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England showed plenty of promise as they suffered a 28-20 defeat at the hands of favourites Australia in the opening game of the World Cup.

Rugby World Cup - England fall short against favourites

The hosts got off to a flying start at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, as tries from Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall and Huddersfield Giants’ star Leroy Cudjoe gave England at 10-0 lead with a conversion from skipper Kevin Sinfield.

After a rusty start the Kangaroos started to find their rhythm and tries from Johnathan Thurston, Greg Bird and Billy Slater ensured the visitors had a 18-10 lead at the break.

Brett Morris extended Australia’s lead after half-time before England were given some hope as forward George Burgess crashed over the line.

A try from Darius Boyd really put the result beyond doubt following a penalty from Thurston.

Wigan Warriors winger Josh Charnley did make the most of an Australian error to cross the line with a few minutes remaining but England could not get another score and will now look to their next encounter against Ireland next Saturday.

England are 13/2 to win the Rugby League World Cup, with Australia 4/11 and holders New Zealand 7/2.

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Rugby World Cup – Sheens admits Burgess fears

October 25, 2013 - 12:00 | Football

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Sam Burgess is the man who needs to be stopped if Australia are to defeat England in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup 2013 opener, according to Kangaroos’ coach Tim Sheens.

Rugby World Cup - Sheens admits Burgess fears

Tim Sheens is wary of the threat posed by England’s Sam Burgess.

The tournament favourites are aiming to get their campaign off to a winning start against the co-hosts at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. And, while Sheens is impressed with the quality of the England squad at coach Steve McNamara’s disposal, he feels Burgess is the main man.

Burgess plies his trade in the NRL with South Sydney, along with his three brothers, so Sheens is well aware of his capabilities and likens his influence on the team to that of New Zealand star Sonny Bill Williams.

He is a certain starter against Australia, while his younger brother George is set to be on the bench and Tom is also in the squad, although there was no place for the oldest brother Luke in McNamara’s plans.

“I wouldn’t have been surprised if all of them had been in there,” said Sheens, who has kept tabs on the quartet in Australia this past season. “They’ve had a great season for Souths this year.

Burgess is to England what Sonny Bill is to New Zealand. He’s the class player. They provide the x factor for those teams.

Tim Sheens

“It’s been a major story over there when all four of them played against my old club, the Tigers.

“Sam is without doubt the quality player in that pack. He was all class the other day even in that loss (to Italy). You could see when he put the foot down, he was a handful.

“That’s not to say his brothers can’t play or that anyone else can’t play. But Burgess is to England what Sonny Bill is to New Zealand. He’s the class player. They provide the x factor for those teams.”

Australia, who are 4/11 to win the World Cup, can be backed at 1/6 to defeat England who are 4/1 to win the match, while Sam Burgess is 4/1 to score a try at anytime.

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McNamara promises better from England

October 20, 2013 - 20:00 | Rugby

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England head coach Steve McNamara has warned his side to be a ‘whole lot better’ when they open their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Australia.

McNamara was speaking after seeing his side fall to a stunning 15-14 loss to Italy in their final warm-up fixture, a result which sent out a major warning ahead of the clash with Kanagaroos.

I’m sure we will be a whole lot better for it next week.

Steve McNamara

“I’m really disappointed,” said a stunned McNamara. “We’ve certainly not played anywhere near what we are capable of. That’s quite clear to see.

“I just think our mentality was really wrong for this game. We were probably guilty of looking towards next week and we took our eye off this game. I don’t think we were fully focused.

“I’m glad it happened this week and not next, but this was unacceptable. I’m sure we will be a whole lot better for it next week.”

Hosts England open the World Cup against Australia in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff next Saturday.

England are 7/1 to win the World Cup, with Australia 1/3 and holders New Zealand 4/1.

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Cook eyes landmark Ashes win

August 21, 2013 - 10:00 | Cricket

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England skipper Alastair Cook believes his side are more than motivated to secure a fifth Test victory over Australia even with the Ashes series already won.

Cook eyes landmark Ashes win

The captain would become the first man to lead England to a 4-0 Ashes series victory on home soil in the history of the competition, having already claimed wins at Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Chester-le-street.

England are currently preparing for the final Test which gets underway on Wednesday at The Oval, with weather not expected to hinder play through the week.

Cook is excited by the prospect of entering the history books and feels that will be a factor in driving his team to further success against the Baggy Greens.

He told BBC Sport: “We’ve got the opportunity to do what no England side has done before, that’s our goal.

“We’re picking the side with the best chance of winning the game. Every time you beat Australia is a good feeling.”

Meanwhile Australia have made two changes from the side that was beaten at Chester-le-street in their last outing, with Jackson Bird and Usman Khawaja being replaced by Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner.

England are 21/20 to win the fifth Test and complete a 4-0 series victory, with the draw 12/5, while Australia are 11/4 to gain a consolation victory.

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McGrath fears England can improve in The Ashes

August 14, 2013 - 18:26 | Cricket

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Former Australia great Glenn McGrath has warned the current Baggy Greens that England have not yet played to their potential in the Ashes series.

McGrath fears England can improve in The Ashes

The hosts have wrapped up a series victory by taking a 3-0 lead after four of the five Tests, but McGrath fears that there is more to come from Alastair Cook’s side.

He told The Guardian: “The scary thing for Australia is that as a team England haven’t really produced a complete performance yet. It has been one or two players per Test that have done the business.

The scary thing for Australia is that as a team England haven’t really produced a complete performance yet.

Glenn McGrath

“Australia will try to find the positives, but you wonder where they can go from here. They’ve taken a massive blow and somehow they have to pick themselves up.”

Australia have one final chance to regain some pride in England and are 14/5 to win the fifth and final Test at The Oval, which starts on Wednesday 21st August.

The draw can be backed at 12/5, while England are 1/1 to secure another victory and take the series 4-0.

Meanwhile, another former Australia great, Steve Waugh, has called on the selectors to show some consistency, despite coach Darren Lehmann saying that careers could be on the line at The Oval.

Waugh cautioned: “The selectors have got to say ‘we’re going to go through some tough times, but these are the six or seven batsmen we believe in and we will back them even if they don’t succeed straight away’.”

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Cook’greedy’ to win the fifth and final Ashes Test

August 13, 2013 - 21:12 | Cricket

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England captain Alastair Cook says his side remain ‘greedy’ to win the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval, having sealed a series victory over Australia.

Cook 'greedy' for fifth Ashes Test victory

Stuart Broad inspired England to a 74-run victory at Durham to ensure a series triumph, with the hosts 3-0 up with one game to play.

There is a group in there who have won three Ashes series from three and there is a real hunger in there to achieve more.

Stuart Broad

However, Cook is adamant that his side will still be fully focused for the final Test of the summer, which starts at The Oval on Wednesday 21st August.

England are 20/21 to win at The Oval, with the draw 12/5, while Australia are 3/1 to gain a consolation victory.

A jubilant Cook said: “We are going to get greedy and try and repeat that at The Oval.”

“As a side in these last 12 months, and before that under Andrew Strauss as well, we have come through tough situations and we have learnt how not to get beaten when we are up against it.

“When we’ve got a chance, when it’s even stevens, we have the players to take the game by the scruff of the neck.”

England won the first Test at Trent Bridge by 14 runs, before a 347-run victory at Lord’s, with the third Test at Old Trafford ending in a rain-affected draw.

Hero of the hour Broad, who finished with 11 wickets in the match, also believes that England will come out all guns blazing at The Oval, having completed three successive Ashes series wins.

He added: “There is a group in there who have won three Ashes series from three and there is a real hunger in there to achieve more.”

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Rain helps England win The Ashes

August 5, 2013 - 19:02 | Cricket

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Play was cut short at Old Trafford on Monday to see England draw with Australia and retain the Ashes with two matches remaining.

Rain helps England win The Ashes

England were in danger of losing the third Test against the Baggy Greens after Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen were dismissed before lunch on the final day in Manchester.

And it could have been even worse for England as Michael Clarke dropped Joe Root in the slips. As it is was they were 35-3 at lunch.

The weather forecasters had been predicting that heavy rain in Manchester would lead to Monday’s play being a washout, but in reality only 30 minutes were lost as proceedings got underway at 11.30.

Australia, leading by 331 after declaring on their overnight total of 172-7, need to win the third Test to keep the series alive after England won the first two matches at Trent Bridge and Lord’s.

Before England had scored any runs captain Cook was lbw to Ryan Harris and the out-of-form Trott soon perished for 11, with the score on 15, when he feathered a Harris delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Root was then dropped by Clarke, but controversy soon followed, Pietersen being caught by Haddin off the bowling of Peter Siddle for eight.

Pietersen was convinced that he had not touched the ball and asked for a review, but the umpire’s decision was upheld.

Root was unbeaten on 13 and Ian Bell two not out at lunch as England continued to have one eye on the Manchester skies, which appeared to be brightening.

However the weather turned for the worse for the Australians as not a single ball was bowled after the break and before 5pm the game was officially abandoned to make sure England retain the Ashes this summer.

The hosts are 1/50 to outright win the Ashes series, with Australia at 12/1 to level things up at 2-2.

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Clarke eyes miracle Ashes Test recovery

July 31, 2013 - 18:05 | Cricket

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David Warner may earn a recall for the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Clarke eyes miracle Ashes recovery

Australia captain Michael Clarke still believes that his side can recover from 2-0 down to edge the Ashes series in England by winning the last three Test matches.

The Baggy Greens have suffered defeats at both Trent Bridge and Lord’s, but Clarke retains a positive mindset ahead of the third Test at Old Trafford, which Australia need to win to keep their hope of regaining the Ashes alive.

I honestly believe we can still win the series.

Michael Clarke

Australia are 4/1 to win the third Test, with the draw 5/2, while England are 4/5 to secure a victory and ensure a series triumph.

Clarke told reporters: “I honestly believe we can still win the series.

“I know a lot of people will laugh at that, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could. Without a doubt our backs are against the wall, but I think we can still shake up this series.”

Australia have a number of selection dilemmas ahead of the action in Manchester, with David Warner pushing for a recall after making 193 for Australia A against a South Africa A side.

Chris Rogers and Phil Hughes appear to be the men most under pressure from Warner, but Steve Smith’s back problems could mean that he is the man to miss out.

The Baggy Greens are also pondering playing two spinners, with off-spinner Nathan Lyon challenging for a first appearance in the series.

Australia will have to make one bowling change, with paceman James Pattinson missing the rest of the series after suffering a back injury during the 347-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s.

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McGrath tells Shane Watson to deliver

July 24, 2013 - 18:07 | Cricket

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Former Australia great Glenn McGrath has urged opener Shane Watson to step up to the plate in the remainder of the Ashes series in England.

McGrath tells Shane Watson to deliver

Watson, 32, has failed to reach 50 in the two Test matches already played and his place has been called into question in some quarters.

I think he needs to score at least a couple of hundreds in what is left of this series.

Glenn McGrath

However, McGrath has supported his former team-mate, while telling Watson that he needs to play some major innings in the remaining three Ashes Tests.

He told The Guardian: “He is great to watch because he has all the shots and scores at a real lick when he gets in, but he also has a sound defence. I’m getting a little tired of pointing all that out.

“He has always promised a lot and now he has to deliver. I think he needs to score at least a couple of hundreds in what is left of this series, because he is one of those guys who is, potentially, at crunch time in his Test career.

“Some wonder if Watson is the right man to open, but right now who have Australia got who will do a better job?”

Watson, who has made just two Test hundreds in 43 matches, is 9/2 to be his side’s leading 1st innings batsman in the third Test at Old Trafford, which starts on Thursday 1st August.

He is also 10/3 to be the top Australia batsman in the series, with Australia 50/1 to recover from 2-0 down to win the series 3-2.

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