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Six Nations: Owen Farrell happy to play anywhere in ‘balanced’ England side as Scotland await in Twickenham opener | Rugby Union News

Published

2 months ago

February 1, 2023

The Real Preneur

Ahead of England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham, Owen Farrell told Sky Sports that he is “excited about getting back out there” after a disappointing 2022 which saw Eddie Jones get sacked.

By Amar Mehta

Last Updated: 01/02/23 11:23am

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England captain Owen Farrell says his playing position will come down to the ‘balance of the team’ as they prepare to take on Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Owen Farrell has told Sky Sports he is happy to play at 10 or 12 for England in the Six Nations, as long as the balance of the side is right.

England face Scotland on Saturday at Twickenham in their tournament opener, with Steve Borthwick taking charge for the first time since being appointed as head coach.

Ahead of the Calcutta Cup tie, captain Farrell spoke about his position in the England side after moving between fly-half and outside centre in recent times.

“The only thing that matters is the balance of the team,” he said. “I am excited about getting out there back at home.”

England have won just one of their past five Six Nations games against the Scots, and Farrell acknowledged: “We are playing a tough, tough team, who have been on the right side of results for five years.

“We are looking forward to challenging ourselves against a good team.

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England’s new defence coach Kevin Sinfield has backed the new head coach, Steve Borthwick to succeed in his new role and says his team will only look forward and not back.

“I’ve been a fly-half for most of my career but it’s whatever fits into the team. There was a lot made out of this in the autumn, but the key thing for me is how the team runs. People like to focus on partnerships and who is played where, but for us it’s how we prepare and make sure we get the best of ourselves as a team.”

England have suffered injuries ahead of this year’s tournament, with Leicester Tigers’ Dan Kelly joining Henry Slade and vice-captain Courtney Lawes on the sidelines, although Jamie George will be fit after originally withdrawing from the side.

But Farrell backed England’s wider group of players and said: “We want to show our crowd at Twickenham how hard we are willing to work and how much we are willing to fight playing in the England shirt. The lads have taken to it brilliantly.

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Sky Sports News’ James Cole analyses Steve Borthwick’s selection decisions for his first Six Nations squad as England head coach, and a surprise move for his predecessor Eddie Jones.

“We put in some good work last week. We are aware of how much more work we need to do. We are lucky we have some very talented players in England.

“There are a lot of people who are only a phone call away that come in and get to work straight away. That’s what we have had so far. We have had a competitive build up.”

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England captain Owen Farrell says the squad are hurting after defeat to South Africa at Twickenham but says the players will put the good work they have done to use as they prepare for the Six Nations in February.

‘We have to give the crowd something to cheer about’

England return to Twickenham after a disappointing 2022, which saw the home crowd boo the team after November’s defeat to South Africa.

The loss against the Springboks ended a poor year for England and resulted in the sack for Eddie Jones, with Borthwick replacing him in December, and Farrell is ready to embrace the new era.

He said: “I made my debut against Scotland in 2012 at Murrayfield and you think you realise how big a game it is and then you get to play in it. When I played in hat first game and all the build up to it was unbelievable. We are very excited,” he said.

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Former England captain Chris Robshaw has backed the appointment of Steve Borthwick as head coach and says Owen Farrell is the right choice for captain.

“I think we have won one in the last five years. That’s where we are at and that’s why we understand we have a lot more work today.

“Scotland have been playing fantastic rugby for a long time. They are a pretty settled group of players and that shows with the way they’re playing.

“We want to give this crowd something to cheer about and show them how willing we are to fight for each other. I’ve been lucky enough to play at Twickenham a fair amount of times, and they have been times when it’s defening. The feeling and momentum you get from that is a different level.”

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Super League: Team of the week from Round 6 of the 2023 regular season | Rugby League News

Published

22 mins ago

March 27, 2023

The Real Preneur

Four Warrington Wolves players make our latest Betfred Super League team of the week after they stayed unbeaten so far in 2023, with three each from Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos included as well; Wigan Warriors and St Helens are also represented

Last Updated: 27/03/23 10:22am

Josh Charnley's hat-trick for Leigh earned him a place in our team of the week

We go through the statistics and put together our combined XIII of the standout performers from the latest round of matches in the Betfred Super League…

1. Matt Dufty (Warrington Wolves)

The full-back was heavily involved as the Wolves maintained their unbeaten start to the Super League season with a 38-0 win away to Castleford Tigers.

Dufty scored a try, assisted another, broke four tackles and assisted a linebreak. He gained 128 metres with the ball in hand as well.

2. Bevan French (Wigan Warriors)

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Highlights of the Super League match between Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils

Two tries from the 2022 Super League Dream Team selection helped Wigan overcome Salford Red Devils in a thrilling 20-16 win on Friday.

French’s tries came on the back of him gaining 185 metres and making 58 post-contact metres. He broke the line three times and bust 11 tackles as well.

3. Tom Opacic (Hull Kingston Rovers)

The Australian led the way for the Robins as they got back to winning ways and inflicted more misery on Wakefield Trinity in a 34-6 triumph at Be Well Support Stadium.

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Highlights from the Super League match between Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR

Opacic provided an assist for a try and a linebreak too, along with breaking the line twice himself and busting seven tackles. He gained 52 metres with the ball in hand as well.

4. Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)

The centre atoned for his second-half sin-binning by completing Leeds Rhinos’ comeback win over Catalans Dragons as the hosts triumphed 32-22 on Saturday.

That was Newman’s second try of the game, having assisted a linebreak, broken the line twice and bust one tackle. He gained 104 metres with 42 post-contact metres as well.

5. Josh Charnley (Leigh Leopards)

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Highlights of the Super League match between Hull FC and Leigh Leopards

A hat-trick from the winger helped set Leigh on their way to an impressive 24-16 win away to Hull FC in Saturday’s Super League match.

Charnley’s treble came in a game where he gained 116 metres and made 47 post-contact metres, breaking the line three times and busting six tackles.

6. Blake Austin (Leeds Rhinos)

The former Great Britain international was at the heart of the Rhinos’ comeback win against Catalans at Headingley.

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Highlights of the Super League match between Leeds Rhinos and Catalans Dragons

Austin assisted two tries and two linebreaks, along with breaking the line twice and busting four tackles. He was a strong running threat too, gaining 129 metres and gaining 46 post-contact metres.

7. Lachlan Lam (Leigh Leopards)

The scrum-half earned the praises of his father and Leigh head coach Adrian Lam for his role in helping the Leopards to victory away at Hull FC.

Lam assisted a try and a linebreak and was a constant running threat. He gained 66 metres, breaking the line once and busting five tackles, along with controlling things with his in-play kicking.

8. Paul Vaughan (Warrington Wolves)

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Highlights of the Super League match between Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves

The former Australia international again showed why Warrington brought him over from the NRL by laying the groundwork for their victory over Castleford.

Vaughan gained 171 metres and made 101 post-contact metres with the ball in hand, breaking the line once and busting six tackles. He came up with 23 tackles in defence too.

9. Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves)

The hooker made his presence felt off the interchange bench after Daryl Clarke played just 15 minutes due to injury in Friday’s win for Warrington at Castleford.

Walker provided an assist for a try and assisted two linebreaks as well, along with gaining 117 metres and busting two tackles. He made 21 tackles in defence too.

10. Matty Lees (St Helens)

The prop was named player of the match in St Helens’ 14-12 win away to Huddersfield Giants for his defensive effort which saw him make 58 tackles in a full 80-minute stint in the front row.

England international Lees gained 58 metres with the ball in hand too, with one tackle break.

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Highlights of the Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and St Helens

11. Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)

Another strong showing in the back row from the Wolves’ testimonial man proved key as they made it six wins from six in Super League in 2023.

Currie gained 85 metres with 43 post-contact metres, assisting a try and assisting a line break too. In defence, he came up with 29 tackles.

12. Kai O’Donnell (Leigh Leopards)

The former Canberra Raiders second row put in a fine display on both sides of the ball to help the Leopards triumph at the MKM Stadium.

O’Donnell scored a try on the back of gaining 120 metres with 62 post-contact metres, making one linebreak and busting five tackles. He made 33 tackles with a 100 per cent completion rate too.

13. Cameron Smith (Leeds Rhinos)

The loose forward put in another impressive performance in both attack and defence to help Leeds hand Catalans their first defeat of the year in Super League.

Smith assisted one try and one linebreak, along with gaining 60 metres, making 41 post-contact metres, and busting five tackles. He came up with 42 tackles in defence as well.

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Aintree Grand National meeting: Clan Des Obeaux ruled out of return after fresh setback in build-up | Racing News

Published

29 mins ago

March 27, 2023

The Real Preneur

Paul Nicholls has lost a race against time to get Clan Des Obeaux ready for Aintree.

The dual King George VI Chase winner had been making good progress from a suspensory injury ahead of a planned return to action at the Grand National meeting, where he was set to defend his Aintree Bowl title.

The 11-year-old, owned by Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen finishing second to Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

Clan Des Obeaux had been making strides in his rehabilitation, but Nicholls has decided he will not attempt a hat-trick in the race he won in 2021 and 2022 and wait until next term with the five-times Grade One winner instead.

He said: “We have run out of time to get him ready, so we will just have to wait until next season.

“He had a little bit of a suspensory problem and has been doing everything and coming along well.

“He did a strong piece of work last week away and it has just flared up again.

“The warning light is flashing and we’ve just not had enough time to get him right, so we’ve had to pull stumps for the season.

“Unfortunately, much as we and everyone has tried to get him ready, we’re not going to get there.”

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Burnley: How do Vincent Kompany’s Clarets compare to the best teams in Championship history? | Football News

Published

46 mins ago

March 27, 2023

The Real Preneur

The 2022/23 season has been one of incredible transformation for Burnley.

The Clarets’ six-year stint in the Premier League came to an end on the final day of the previous campaign and, with Sean Dyche having left the club over a month beforehand – following just shy of a decade in charge – relegation brought a new dawn for the Lancashire club.

Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany left his job at Anderlecht to take over at Turf Moor and has turned Burnley from a team synonymous with a 4-4-2 formation into a slick, free-scoring, possession-loving powerhouse, who are now just three wins from a return to the top flight at the very first time of asking.

As the inevitable draws closer, here’s how their numbers compare to the records that have been set since the Championship was re-branded at the start of the 2004/05 season and the ones Kompany’s Clarets could still break themselves…

Most points

What’s the current record? Reading posted the highest record points tally since the Championship was rebranded in 2004/05 when they won the 2005/06 title with 106 points.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Burnley have taken 83 points from their 37 Championship matches so far, which equates to an average of 2.24 points per game.

There are 27 points available across the final nine matches of the season and, if the Clarets take every single one, they will end on 110 points, which would set a new divisional record. Based on their current point-per-game average, however, they will end with 103 points.

Most wins

What’s the current record? Reading and Leicester share this record, having won 31 games each during their respective Championship title wins in 2005/06 and 2013/14.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Kompany’s men have won 24 of their 37 matches so far and, to set a new record, they would have to win eight of their remaining nine matches, which allows for them to only drop points once more this season.

Most wins in succession

What’s the current record? Burnley have already equalled the Championship record of 10 – achieved by Reading in 2005/06 and Aston Villa in 2018/19 – this season by winning every single league match between November 13 and February 11.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. The Clarets have won their last two games in succession and, if they win every single one of their remaining nine, they will set a new record of 11 straight league wins.

Most home wins

What’s the current record? Reading and Watford share this record, having won 19 of their 23 home games in the 2005/06 and 2020/21 seasons respectively.

Can Burnley break it? No. Burnley have won 14 of their 19 home games so far. With four games left, they can only win a maximum of 18.

Most away wins

What’s the current record? West Ham and Norwich share this record, having won 15 of their 23 away games in the 2011/12 and 2020/21 seasons respectively.

Can Burnley break it? No, but they can equal it. Kompany’s side have won 10 of their 18 away games so far and can reach 15 if they win every single one of their remaining fixtures on the road.

Fewest games lost in a season

What’s the current record? Reading lost just two games – against Plymouth and Luton – on their way to the 2005/06 Championship title.

Can Burnley break it? No, but they are on course to match the record if they avoid defeat in each of their final nine matches.

Longest unbeaten run

What’s the current record? Reading set the current record by going 33 league games unbeaten between August 2005 and February 2006.

Can Burnley break it? No. Burnley are currently unbeaten in 17 league matches and have lost just once since a 1-0 defeat to Watford on August 12.

That defeat, which came against Sheffield United on November 5 2022, means the longest unbeaten run the Clarets can muster is 26, should they avoid defeat in their final nine matches.

Unbeaten season at home

What’s the current record? There isn’t one. No team has gone unbeaten at home in a season since the Championship rebrand in 2004/05.

Can Burnley break it? They can set one. If they avoid defeat in their final four league matches at Turf Moor, Kompany’s men will become the first team to complete the season unbeaten at home.

Most goals scored

What’s the current record? Fulham set a new record last season, scoring 106 goals – 43 of which were netted by Aleksandar Mitrovic – on their way to the Championship title.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Burnley have scored 74 goals in 37 games so far, which comes in at an average of two goals per game. However, if they continue that rate until the end of the season, they will score 92 goals, which is 14 short of Fulham’s benchmark.

Most home goals scored

What’s the current record? Reading scored 58 goals in 23 matches at the Madejski Stadium throughout their title-winning 2005/06 season.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Burnley have scored 43 home goals in 19 matches this season, at an average of 2.26 goals per game. However, if they continue at this rate, they will finish the campaign with 52 goals scored at Turf Moor, six short of the record.

Most away goals scored

What’s the current record? Fulham scored 50 goals on the road last season, which matched Bournemouth’s record set in the 2014/15 season.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Burnley have scored 31 away goals in 18 matches so far, at an average of 1.72 goals per game. However, if they continue at this rate, they will score 40 away from home, 10 short of the record.

Fewest goals conceded

What’s the current record? Watford conceded only 30 goals in 46 games during their 2020/21 promotion season, which equates to just 0.65 goals per game. Preston did the same in 2005/06, when they eventually lost to Leeds in the play-off semi-finals.

Can Burnley break it? Yes, but they would have to not concede a single goal across their final nine games to set a new record and concede just one more to match the current record. They are currently on course to concede 36 based on their current average of 0.78 goals conceded per game.

Fewest home goals conceded

What’s the current record? Middlesbrough, amazingly, shipped just eight goals on their way to finishing second behind Burnley in the 2015/16 campaign.

Can Burnley break it? No. The Clarets have already conceded 13 in 19 games at Turf Moor with five fixtures left to play.

Fewest away goals conceded

What’s the current record? This record is shared by Sheffield United, QPR and Newcastle, who conceded 17 each in 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2016/17 respectively.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Burnley have conceded 16 goals in their 18 Championship away matches so far this term, but they will need to keep clean sheets in each of their final five matches on the road to set a new record.

Biggest positive goal difference

What’s the current record? Reading posted a goal difference of +67 at the end of their historic 2005/06 season, having scored 99 goals and conceded 32.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. Burnley currently boast a goal difference of +45 with nine games left to play this season.

Most points ahead of second

What’s the current record? Reading finished 16 points ahead of Sheffield United on their way to the title in the 2005/06 campaign.

Can Burnley break it? Yes. The Clarets currently lead second-placed side, incidentally, Sheffield United by 13 points. The teams play one another at Turf Moor on Easter Monday at 8pm, live on Sky Sports.

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