While England kicked off their Autumn Internationals last week with a win against Australia, it is this weekend which sees all the top teams in rugby in action.
For their second game England welcome Argentina to Twickenham, while Australia head over to Rome. A repeat of the 2011 World Cup sees France hosting the All Blacks while Wales host South Africa at the Millennium Stadium.
Ireland v Samoa, Scotland v Japan, Romania v Tonga, Portugal v Fiji and Georgia v Canada and USA v New Zealand Maori complete the fixtures list.
Friday, 8 November 2013
Monday, 11 February 2013
Andy Schleck: Born to cycle, failing to thrive.
Cycling, a world crippled by recent scandals of doping, where the content of your blood is tweaked, manipulated to threshold limits, to find the numbers capable of winning. Where haematocrit is just as important as hours on the bike, and testosterone comes in small red pills to give a much needed boost. It is as much a part of cycling as arguably a pair of correctly fitting shoes, or even a domestique bringing you new water bottles from the team car; without paying attention to it, you can still race, but it will hurt a lot more!
Andy Schleck, in some ways was destined to race bikes. At 6ft 1” and weighing just 150Ib, he’s got the body of a cyclist, capable of effortlessly ascending the switchback climbs of the high Alps and Pyrenees. Schleck was born with cycling pedigree in his blood, both his grandfather and father raced bikes for a living and his brother Fränk Schleck rides alongside him for the same professional team; Radioshack-Leopard. Gustav Schleck, his grandfather, rode in the 1930s and his father Johny Schleck was a professional from 1965-1974, helping Jan Jansson and Luis Ocaña to their Tour de France victories, as well taking his own stage win in the 1970’s Vuelta a España and winning the Luxembourg National Championships.
Andy Schleck, in some ways was destined to race bikes. At 6ft 1” and weighing just 150Ib, he’s got the body of a cyclist, capable of effortlessly ascending the switchback climbs of the high Alps and Pyrenees. Schleck was born with cycling pedigree in his blood, both his grandfather and father raced bikes for a living and his brother Fränk Schleck rides alongside him for the same professional team; Radioshack-Leopard. Gustav Schleck, his grandfather, rode in the 1930s and his father Johny Schleck was a professional from 1965-1974, helping Jan Jansson and Luis Ocaña to their Tour de France victories, as well taking his own stage win in the 1970’s Vuelta a España and winning the Luxembourg National Championships.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Review: RBS Six Nations- Round 2
Scotland 34 - 10 Italy
Man of the Match Greig Laidlaw played a fundamental part in Scotland’s victory over Italy kicking four from four conversions and two penalties. Scotland secured their first Six Nations win in the tournament for two years, whilst at the same time recording a record win, their previous record being 32 -10, again against the Italians.
Italy had the first chance to put points on the board after Scotland conceded a penalty, unfortunately Luciano Orquera’s attempt hit the post. Laidlaw is successful with his first kick ten minutes later giving Scotland the lead.
Another penalty in the 24th minute allowed Scotland to extend their lead, minutes before Tim Visser goes over for the first try of the game. Laidlaw adds the extras and suddenly Scotland are 13-0 up. Italy’s only compensation is a penalty in the 39th minute which see’s them finally on the scoreboard.
Two minutes after the restart Matt Scott finds a gaps and sprints across the line, Laidlaw once again converts extending the Scots lead. Stuart Hogg then scored a spectacular solo try in the 47th minute. He intercepts a pass from Orquera and finds his way through the Azzurri defence before sprinting 60m to touch down.
Sean Lamont makes it four tries for the home side in the 68th minute; Lamont kicked a loose ball through a ruck and then ran 50m unchallenged to put the ball down between the posts. Laidlaw makes it four conversions from four.
Alessandro Zanni scored a consolation try for Italy seven minutes from the end after a clever pass from Sergio but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Scotland
Tries: Visser, Scott, Hogg, Lamont
Conversions: Laidlaw (4)
Penalties: Laidlaw (2)
Italy
Try: Zanni
Conversions: Burton
Penalties: Orquera
Man of the Match: Greig Laidlaw
Man of the Match Greig Laidlaw played a fundamental part in Scotland’s victory over Italy kicking four from four conversions and two penalties. Scotland secured their first Six Nations win in the tournament for two years, whilst at the same time recording a record win, their previous record being 32 -10, again against the Italians.
Italy had the first chance to put points on the board after Scotland conceded a penalty, unfortunately Luciano Orquera’s attempt hit the post. Laidlaw is successful with his first kick ten minutes later giving Scotland the lead.
Another penalty in the 24th minute allowed Scotland to extend their lead, minutes before Tim Visser goes over for the first try of the game. Laidlaw adds the extras and suddenly Scotland are 13-0 up. Italy’s only compensation is a penalty in the 39th minute which see’s them finally on the scoreboard.
Two minutes after the restart Matt Scott finds a gaps and sprints across the line, Laidlaw once again converts extending the Scots lead. Stuart Hogg then scored a spectacular solo try in the 47th minute. He intercepts a pass from Orquera and finds his way through the Azzurri defence before sprinting 60m to touch down.
Sean Lamont makes it four tries for the home side in the 68th minute; Lamont kicked a loose ball through a ruck and then ran 50m unchallenged to put the ball down between the posts. Laidlaw makes it four conversions from four.
Alessandro Zanni scored a consolation try for Italy seven minutes from the end after a clever pass from Sergio but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Scotland
Tries: Visser, Scott, Hogg, Lamont
Conversions: Laidlaw (4)
Penalties: Laidlaw (2)
Italy
Try: Zanni
Conversions: Burton
Penalties: Orquera
Man of the Match: Greig Laidlaw
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