FA Cup round-up: Blackburn Rovers rock Stoke as King reigns

Another Premier League side has bitten the dust in this season’s FA Cup as Blackburn Rovers knocked out Stoke City to reach the last eight.

And the Championship side had striker Joshua King to thank as he blasted in an excellent hat-trick at Ewood Park in the 4-1 victory.

It had looked like it would be business as usual when Gary Bowyer’s side went behind just ten minutes into the match; Peter Crouch finding the back of the net as the hosts failed to deal with a Potters corner.

But Rovers roared back nine minutes before the break as King nodded the ball home past Jack Butland.

And they grabbed the lead seven minutes into added time at the end of the first half when Rudy Gestede converted from the spot after Geoff Cameron was sent off for pulling back King.

From there, with their man advantage, the Championship side dominated and it was 3-1 on 50 minutes when the impressive King raced onto a long ball and fired beyond Butland.

And the ex-Manchester United forward’s pace told again just ten minutes into the second period as he powered past Steven N’Zonzi before guiding a shot into the bottom corner and put Rovers into the next round.

Elsewhere, Reading also progressed to the next stage of the competition as new signing Yakubu gave them a 2-1 win over high-flying Championship rivals Derby County.

Two first half cautions saw a red card flourished in the direction of debutant Stephen Warnock as the Rams got off to a shoddy start and their woes were compounded when Hal Robson-Kanu gave their opponents the lead after 53 minutes.

On-loan forward Darren Bent did equalise for Steve McLaren’s side but eight minutes from time veteran Nigerian striker Yakubu arrowed home to send Steve Clarke’s Royals through.

England thrashed by Australia in their World Cup opener.

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England suffered a crushing 111-run defeat to Australia to begin their World Cup campaign in Melbourne.

The Three Lions  were made to pay for dropping centurion Aaron Finch in the first over of the game, and before he had scored, as a side with seven World Cup debutants were powerfully cast aside in front of 84,336 fans at the MCG.

Australia plundered 342 for nine - the highest score England had ever conceded at a World Cup - and the reply could only muster 231 in 41.5 overs.

To add to England's woes, out-of-sorts skipper Eoin Morgan made his third successive duck against Australia and has now managed just two runs from his past five innings.

James Taylor offered some solace with an unbeaten 98 and Steven Finn claimed a hat-trick, from the final three balls of Australia's innings, but even that was overshadowed by a Valentine's Day to forget. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh did most of the damage with a career-best five for 33.

With an equally-difficult looking clash with the other tournament co-hosts New Zealand next up in Wellington, England will have plenty to ponder.

Most significantly Morgan's men will head across the Tasman Sea with the knowledge that there is a sizeable gap - powerfully illustrated by Australia - between them and the tournament favourites.

The issue of their captain's chronic lack of runs will also follow them while a sloppy display in the field allowed Finch to lay the foundation for the one-sided result as he hit 135 from 128 balls on his home ground.

Even after he departed Australia were able to take 105 runs from the final 10 overs.

Chris Woakes spilled the straightforward chance to offer Finch his reprieve, when he allowed a pull shot to burst through his hands at square-leg.

While England then did have Australia in some strife, at 70 for three after Stuart Broad struck with successive balls, Finch combined with stand-in captain George Bailey in a 146-run partnership that paved the way for a late explosion of hitting.

Glenn Maxwell crunched 66 from 40 balls and Australia found the rope 41 times before Finn became the first Englishman to take a World Cup hat-trick at the end.

Maxwell and Brad Haddin were both caught in the deep before Mitchell Johnson slapped the hat-trick ball to James Anderson, who was the first England player to claim the rare feat in ODIs at the Oval in 2003.

Finn therefore returned figures of five for 71 but his celebrations were understandably muted.

England's reply never got off the ground as Moeen Ali was caught in the ring trying to heave Mitchell Starc.

Marsh, who would not have even been in Australia's team if fellow all-rounder James Faulkner was fit, then took the next five wickets to effectively end the contest and leave the Mitchell England had feared most, Johnson, to cool his heels.

Marsh struck first when Gary Ballance, called-up in place of Ravi Bopara, picked out Finch at short midwicket.

Ian Bell and Joe Root fell to successive balls before Morgan was out to a poor-looking shot for the second successive game. The left-hander reached for a short ball and when he got an edge Haddin dived away to hold it.

Steve Smith then pulled off a stunning diving catch close in to remove Jos Buttler and England were 92 for six.

Taylor added some respectability as he profited on a rare Finch error, dropping him in the deep, to bring up his fifty with a six off Marsh and added 92 with Woakes for the seventh wicket.

The end came in farcical circumstances when Taylor correctly reviewed an lbw decision, but after Anderson was caught short of his ground at the other end, he was unusually given out to leave his partner agonisingly short of his century.

After sending Australia in England should have removed both openers cheaply but after Woakes' drop Ali failed to react quickly enough when David Warner drove aerially.

Broad checked Australia's early progress with back-to-back wickets. He bowled Warner with a cross-seam delivery and then produced a peach of an outswinger to catch Shane Watson's edge.

When Woakes then removed the in-form Smith, dragging onto his stumps, England were silencing the huge crowd only for the local boy Finch and Bailey to ease Australia into control.

Finch brought up his century from 102 balls, when he flicked Finn to the fine-leg rope, and he celebrated by leaping into the air and pumping his fist.

After watching his team flounder in the field, skipper Morgan produced a moment of brilliance in the field to finally remove Finch with a direct-hit run out.

Bailey then dragged Finn on, after a steady 55, but that only brought Maxwell to the crease and he shared quickfire half-century stands with Marsh and Haddin to reinforce Australia's position.

l Palace 1-2 Liverpool: Reds battle back to seal FA Cup quarter-final spot

Liverpool battled through to the last eight of the FA Cup after coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

Reds fans were fearing another upset against what has become their bogey team in recent seasons, and it went to script when Fraizer Campbell put the hosts in front in the first-half.

Brendan Rodgers’ side gathered themselves, though, and looked the more likely team to score ahead of the break, and fit-again Daniel Sturridge finally had the visitors level shortly after the re-start with a neat volley.

The Reds boss called on striker Mario Balotelli at half-time to add attacking potency to his side, and the Italian proved his worth once again by playing a hand in the winning goal.

His powerful free-kick was well saved by Julian Speroni, but the rebound was pounced on by Adam Lallana, whose first-time finish sealed Liverpool’s progression as they held on for the win.

Right from the very start there was a sense there would be goals, as fans witnessed an end-to-end opening at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool mustered the first shots on target but it was Palace who scored the first goal, the ever-dangerous Dwight Gale causing problems for goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, whose punched clearance only went as far as Campbell, who took advantage of a defensive mix-up to slot home into an empty net.

The Redmen responded well, controlling possession and forcing the Eagles back with some neat, patient approach play, which concluded with Lallana seeing a snap shot well saved by Speroni, who was on hand again to deny Philippe Coutinho moments later.

Liverpool were really heaping the pressure on Palace at it seemed they had got their break when Sturridge was tripped in the box, though the referee waved away claims for a penalty.

Lazar Markovic was a livewire for the visitors and he was next to go close to the equaliser, beating three defenders in an electric run but lashing his shot over the crossbar from 20 yards.

But Palace had a livewire of their own in Gayle, who was denied by a brilliant save from Mignolet, after the attacker did well to control a bobbling pass to go one-on-one with the Reds goalkeeper.

Palace seemed content to sit back on their lead and hit Liverpool on the counter, and with pacey attacking duo Gayle and Yannick Bolasie it was an effective strategy, and frustration grew for Liverpool as they repeatedly saw their attacking moves break down.

After the break, though, it took little time for Brendan Rodgers’ side to finally find the back of the net, Daniel Sturridge slotting a volley through the legs of Speroni to deservedly level from Jordan Henderson’s ball into the box

The half-time introduction of Balotelli gave the Reds another dimension up front, and – following his game-winning heroics against Tottenham – the Italian was involved again to put his side in front.

The Merseysiders failed to keep the momentum in their favour, however, as Alan Pardew’s Palace began to push on for their second, and the hosts had their own shouts for a spot-kick turned down after the ball pinged up onto the hand of full-back Alberto Moreno in the penalty area, though it would have been a harsh decision against the Spaniard.

Palace’s superiority didn’t last long though, as the Reds managed to close out the win to take a step closer to Wembley.

England 47-17 Italy: Joseph double inspires Red Rose to Twickenha

England bounced back from conceding a fourth minute try to claim a commanding 47-17 victory over wooden spoon regulars Italy at Twickenham.

In their first match of 2015 in front of home fans, Stuart Lancaster’s men were hoping to kick start this World Cup year with a win and they delivered in fine style, though they had to first ride out a nervy start.

Still revelling in the opening success over Wales, England retained the starting XV that reigned victorious in Cardiff, but that rock-steady line-up were shaken in the opening quarter as Sergio Parisse gave the Italians a shock lead.

After intercepting a Red Rose line-out, the ball found its way out to Parisse who surged down the left wing, sold Mike Brown a dummy and wandered past Anthony Watson to score, though the conversion was missed.

There was further bad news for the hosts when Mike Brown was knocked out after a collision with Italy centre Andrea Masi and replaced by Billy Twelvetrees after 13 minutes.

The visitors were punching holes through England's defence in a impressive start and Lancaster’s men were fortunate not to be punished further following a number of routine errors, though they soon took control of proceedings, with tries from Billy Vunipola and Jonathan Joseph and five points from the boot of fly-half George Ford opening up a 15-5 lead at the break.

Vunipola needed TMO to confirm his try which put England ahead, the number eight getting help from James Haskell as he barged over the line, but there was no need for the video referee for Joseph’s try, as he showed blistering pace from Chris Robshaw’s successful turnover to blaze over, with George Ford missing the first but converting the second.

Two missed penalty attempts in quick succession from Kelly Haimona ensured Englad had a healthy half-time lead, which they increased shortly after the restart through a Ford penalty, but the battling Italians reduced the deficit with their second try of the match on 48 minutes.

It was brilliant attacking play from the visitors, with Leonardo Sarto collecting his own chip down the right to release Luca Morisi, via passes from Luke McLean and Haimona, with the centre gliding past Dave Attwood and Haskell, and a tap-tackle from Watson unable to stop him from touching down.

Haimona, however, missed his fourth shot at goal and his profligacy proved costly as the Azzurri would have been ahead had he converted the two conversions and two penalties.

And England took advantage with a strong response, Ben Youngs sauntering over from five metres after taking a quick tap and Ford first kicking the hosts further ahead before providing the pop pass for Joseph to burst through and score his second try.

It was his final act as Danny Cipriani came on for the Bath fly-half, and the substitute wasted no time in adding to the score, speeding over the line less than a minute later to cap off his first Six Nationsappearance since 2008.

Nick Easter was next to touch down and conclude England’s scoring, with Cipriani missing a difficult conversion chance, and while Morisi popped up with his second try two minutes from time, shrugging off a challenge from Jonny May with ease, a tired Italy were well beaten as England’s perfect start to their campaign continues

Diego Costa: 'Chelsea have to fight and battle for the title'

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Diego Costa confounds our expectations. Waiting for him to arrive for our interview, we are half expecting a giant crane to rumble into view and lower down a Jurassic Park-style crate with Costa inside, snarling and growling.

Then we can roll up our questions on tiny pieces of paper and poke them through the slats to be consumed by The Beast within.

You see, Costa is a lot like a dinosaur. He’s fearsome, strong and – crucially – really, really, old. He’s the world’s most ancient 26-year-old man! He’s a velociraptor with the wizened face of an aged crone. 

So it’s a surprise when the Chelsea striker arrives with an infectious grin, a firm handshake and a warm demeanour – then proceeds to give us one of the more honest interviews you can expect from a Premier League superstar.

Speaking in Spanish, shot through with occasional Portuguese slang (a heritage of his being Brazilian-born but a naturalised Spanish international), Costa is thoughtful in his replies. He doesn’t even look old, disappointingly. A rough and ready type, sure, but his thick mop of dark curls gives him a youthful air. Who is this innocent, young, latin Oliver Twist – and why is he so misunderstood?

Not quite. Costa plays on the edge, as he admits. Yet it strikes us as a contradiction. If you’re Eric Cantona or Zinedine Zidane fly-kicking fans or head-butting defenders, you’re an enfant terrible – a tortured French genius. If you’re Alan Shearer physically battling with defenders (or accidentally mistaking Neil Lennon’s head for a football), you’re a hard-man centre forward in the old English tradition. Yet if you’re a rugged-looking Hispanic sort, you’re a thug and a brutish villain.

Costa is no angel, but he hasn’t nutted or bitten anyone. He hasn’t broken any heads or legs or roamed the plains of the Cretaceous era world, snacking on herbivores. So, as Sport unrolls its tiny scrolls of questions, we get to know the man – not the monster.

What’s Jose Mourinho’s style like compared with other managers you’ve played for?
“Jose Mourinho and [Atletico Madrid manager] ‘Cholo’ Simeone have plenty of things in common, such as the passion for the game or the levels of commitment they demand from players. They ask the player to give everything he has inside. However, when it comes to tactics, Mourinho and Simeone have a different vision of the game.”

Given that, what have you learned from having Jose as a boss at Chelsea?
“Many things. We all know that he’s among the best managers in the world. When you arrive in a team with a manager like him, you try to spot every single thing you can learn from him. Every manager has a different way of reading the game. In regards to Jose Mourinho, he is a clever manager who spots very well the opponent’s virtues and weaknesses. Our training sessions are based on that.”You are named after Diego Maradona. Is this not a bit unusual in Brazil?

“I know my father called my brother Jair as a tribute to Jairzinho. When I asked him about the origin of my name, he said that when I was born, Diego Armando Maradona was the big thing. I guess my father just loves football!”

What’s the biggest challenge that you have had to overcome in your football career?
“My biggest challenge was leaving home in Lagarto [in Brazil]. I left my parents in tears as I crossed the doorstep on my own.”

You were a teenager when that happened [Costa signed for Portuguese club Braga in 2006]. How did you find it adjusting to a new life in Europe at that age? 

“As you can imagine, it was hard. I was very bonded to the small village I am from. In my village, we all are very close to our families and it’s unusual to end up living in a different way to your relatives. However, I love them more than anything else. I always knew that I wanted to change my family’s life.”

Did that feeling put extra pressure on your shoulders?
“No – in fact, my determination suppressed any feeling of loneliness. Determination gave me the strength I needed. If it weren’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. If you want to achieve something, you must have a goal in life. In my case, being a football player was a dream; my real obsession was to give my family a better life, no matter what.”

How did it feel to break the Barcelona/Real Madrid stranglehold and win La Liga with Atletico Madrid?
“We did it little by little, game by game… Obviously, you might get nervous as tension and expectations amalgamate. However, everyone knows his role on the pitch, and on top of that there’s a common target, which is winning each game. Pressure, past or memories disappear as soon as the ball rolls.”

On the flip side: how hard was it not being fully fit for last season’s Champions League final?
“I think that it was harder for Simeone. He is aiming to trigger a change in Spanish football. It was a shame not to win the title after the great job we all did throughout the entire season. Personally, I felt well and fit the day before the Champions League final. It was a shame to lose the final the way we did. The goal we conceded in the last minute tore apart our great work.”

Does that make you even more determined to have an impact on the competition this season with Chelsea?
“I am going to be honest: I want to be a champion with Chelsea, either a Premier League champion or a Champions League winner. I presume that winning the Champions League must be an amazing experience. I reached the final of this beautiful tournament once, but I couldn’t win it. We know that our manager is a multiple Champions League winner with loads of experience, and that will help. I also hope we are a bit lucky. There are great teams yet to be faced.”

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You’ve had a superb start to your Chelsea career: 17 goals in just 19 league games. What do you put this down to?
“Hard work. Also, Jose Mourinho is a very clever man. He knows exactly the kind of team he wants to build and the way he wants to play. The likes of Cesc Fabregas and Oscar have eased my adaptation [off the pitch] as well as helping me score, too.”

Have your Chelsea teammates taught you any interesting phrases in English?
“I try to learn words here and there, but I find it very complicated. I am a bit lazy for that! Let’s do the things step by step: I will adapt to London and win a title first. Meanwhile, I will try to grab the language.”

You must have a way of communicating on the pitch...
“I call John Terry ‘Capi’ [Spanish slang for skipper]. I think my teammates understand me better than I understand them! Our communication is getting better as time goes by.”

Have you had to adjust the way you play at all to suit the Premier League?
“Yes, I am getting used to getting kicked more than before. Premier League defenders are really strong and physical. In England, the referees don’t call many fouls, as opposed to Spanish football. Consequently, you must be really strong all through the 90 minutes.”

What is the quality that has taken you most to where you are now in your career?
“My fighting spirit and my resilience. I approach every game with the same energy. I always think: ‘I must score next game, I must score next game.’ That’s the way I go into the games.”

Do you like drawing a defender into a one-on-one contest on the pitch?
“I like the challenge. My life wasn’t easy, neither are my games. Every time I see a good defender I cannot wait to play against him. He might beat me, but I will learn from the experience.”

Do you think you still have the mentality of a ‘street’ footballer, rather than an academy-trained one?
“It depends on the point of view. Some of the kicks I suffer in England would be punished with a red card in Spain. My challenges on the ball are strong but noble at the same time. If you check my records, you will find out that I’ve never caused a bad injury to any player.

"The bottom line is that sometimes the little things I do on the pitch provoke exaggerated reactions. But if you rewind a bit and go through what they did to me, you may have another point of view. I consider myself a player who fights and gives everything on the pitch. Those who know me and appreciate those values understand what I say.”

How much did it mean to you to hear the Chelsea fans sing your name during the recent Manchester City match, even though you weren’t involved?
“The fans sang my name because I know I was a bit down after receiving the ban, but I have a lot of gratitude to the Chelsea crowd. No one will stop my determination and my way of approaching the games. I am really grateful to the Chelsea fans. They have been very good to me.”

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Your next game could well be Paris St-Germain in the Champions League knockout stages. Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic a player that you admire?
“Zlatan is a beast. He is one of those players that I like because of his character and his quality. He is among the best strikers in football history. We all know how hard it is going to be playing against PSG. Most of their footballers play at international level… If we want to progress, we must do very well in both legs.”

Lastly, what constitutes a successful season for Chelsea this year?
“Winning titles. That’s exactly what a good season means for a club with this grandeur, players and trophy-winning manager. But we must keep on improving, which is what the manager demands for each game. If we put our game into practice, we are going to fight for every title. We must be ourselves. We have to fight and battle. The most difficult game is the next one to come.”

Read more at http://talksport.com/football/diego-costa-chelsea-have-fight-and-battle-title-150212136185#ttAVDh5jfi3jTZR6.99

Aviva Premiership round-up: Northampton extend lead at the top

Northampton Saints extended their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership with a scrappy 15-9 win against London Irish.

The Saints controlled an uninspiring first half, with Ken Pisi crossing for the only try, but the opening period ended on a sour note when both sides were reduced to 14 - Salesi Ma'afu for holding and Tom Court for stamping - enough for the pair to spend time in the sin-bin.

A Sam Dickinson score extended the hosts’ advantage, but lowly Irish were always in the contest thanks to the boot of Shane Geraghty.

However, Stephen Myler’s reliable kicking ensured the win, and a five point lead at the top for Northampton.

Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers clinched the points at Welford Road after a gripping 18-15 victory against Gloucester Rugby.

The mid-table clash was even throughout, with Freddie Burns and James Hook providing the only scores with accurate penalties.

But the Wales fly-half Hook was made to rue a wayward penalty five minutes from time as the Tigers held on for a slender three point victory. 

Ashton: Injury setback will be 'mentally destroying' for Carroll

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Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton told talkSPORT the news Andy Carroll will miss the rest of the seasonwith a knee injury will be “mentally destroying” for the former Liverpool striker.

Carroll has scored five goals in 14 appearances since November, when he returned from an ankle ligament injury sustained in pre-season, but is expected to be out for the remainder of the campaign.

The 26-year-old will undergo surgery on Tuesday.

The ex-Newcastle striker was sidelined for the majority of last season with an Achilles problem, and Ashton – who retired from football aged 26 – sympathised with the latest injury blow for the England international.

Speaking on the Players’ Lounge, Ashton said: “It’s terrible, it’s mentally destroying. You want to play because you love to play, you want to play to help your team-mates and you want to prove you’re worth the money being paid.

“When you’re sat watching it’s mentally destroying. The only thing he can take from it is that is not the same injury; its hamstring, knee etcetera. When you have the same injury then you’re thinking of the worst; how long can this go on for?”

And Ashton claimed Carroll may be have to get used to more injury set-backs due to his playing style, adding the towering forward is “unplayable” when fully fit.

“He’s a big bloke, he may be susceptible to more injuries being a big player, but I don’t think it is to do with his training,” Ashton added. “You look at his injuries, he is just all-out, puts everything on the line, flies into tackles and that’s probably why he has picked up the injuries he has.

“He is unplayable when he is at his best; he gives West Ham a different. Yes, not everyone wants that option, but it’s great to have that option whether it is on the bench or from the start.”

Ramsey confirmed as QPR new manager

Queens Park Rangershave announced Chris Ramsey will remain in charge until the end of the season.
The 52-year-old had taken temporary management of the Hoops after Harry Redknapp’s resignation in February.
Club chairman Tony Fernandes revealed he had landed his “dream” manager, with former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwoodthe overwhelming favourite to take over at Loftus Road.
But the club has decided to keep faith with Ramsey, who guided QPR to their first Premier League away win of the season against Sunderland on Tuesday.
Fernandes  told the club's official website: “In the wake of Harry Redknapp’s resignation, it was my desire to identify the right individual for the job and at this time, we believe Chris is the ideal candidate.
“He has impressed everyone here in his short time in charge and I firmly believe he is the right man – working closely with Les – to lead us until the end of the season.
“Chris has an opportunity now to stamp his authority and class on the position. He is part of our long-term plans at QPR.”
He added: “A lot has been written and said about the position, including by myself, but the decision has been taken to defer the permanent appointment until the end of the season.
“We spoke to many individuals who were interested in the role, one of whom I was quoted on as being a dream, but none of them were right to take the club forward at this time for a variety of reasons, whereas we firmly believe Chris is.
“We are keen for the position to be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of QPR. For that reason, it is vitally important that we get the right individual.
“As a Board of Directors, we are determined to make the right appointment in the best interests of the club.
“Premier League survival is our priority in the short term, but in the medium and long term we want to make sure everything is in place, from the Academy upwards, to create a lasting legacy and philosophy at QPR.”

Man United on red alert! Wolfsburg may be forced to sell Belgium ace

Kelvin De Bruyne

Manchester United have been put on red alert after Wolfsburg admitted they may be forced to sell Kevin De Bruyne if they do not secure Champions League

The Belgium international has been in stunning form for the Bundesliga outfit this season, scoring 11 goals and providing 14 assists.

The 23-year-old only joined Wolfsburg from Chelsea in January 2014, arriving at the Volkswagen Arena for £18m.

However, such has been the playmaker's performances that clubs across Europe are already battling for his signature.

Manchester United have reportedly shown an interest, while Atletico Madrid have also been touted as a possible destination.

And should the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League next season, Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs admits the club must maintain their second place position in the Bundesliga to keep De Bruyne.

"It is possible that we would have to part with him [De Bruyne] if we didn't have Champions Leaguefootball, but anyone who does want him would have to dig deep into their pockets to satisfy our demands," Allofs told Kicker.

Lamont and Cross return to Scotland starting XV for Wales clash

Sean Lamont and Geoff Cross return to the Scotland team for the visit of Wales as head coach Vern Cotter makes two enforced changes for the second Six Nations tie.
Lamont will make his 92nd Scotland appearance after shaking off a calf injury and he replaces fellow Glasgow wing Tommy Seymour, who suffered a hip injury in the 15-8 defeat by France.
London Irish tight-head prop Cross comes in for Euan Murray, who does not play on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
There is no place for Dougie Fife, who came off the bench to score Scotland's only try in Paris.
Edinburgh pair Greig Tonks and Matt Scott are named on the bench as reserve backs at the expense of Fife and Peter Horne.
Cotter said: "Last weekend's performance, in terms of line-breaks and heart, was encouraging. We defended well and our lineout, scrum and defence stood up to a very stern French assessment.
"I'm pleased we were in a situation to contest the match throughout, but we left the paddock very frustrated and disappointed that we didn't get more from the game - and I think that's a good measure of this squad.
"There's a huge amount of determination in this group to improve, with the challenge now to go one step further and deliver a winning performance for our home fans at a full BT Murrayfield."
Scotland team to play Wales:
15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby)
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Greig Laidlaw (c) (Gloucester)
1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby)
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
3 Geoff Cross (London Irish)
4 Richie Gray (Castres)
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish)
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres)
Substitutes
16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors)
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens)
20 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan)
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby)
22 Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby)
23 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)

Best named in Ireland's team to play Six Nations clash with France

By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Thursday, February 12, 2015 

Rory Best has passed concussion testing and will start Ireland's Six Nations clash with France on Saturday.

The Ulster hooker was removed as "a precaution" after a heavy bang to the head in Ireland's 26-3 victory in Italy last weekend, and missed training on Tuesday.

Best has completed all the return-to-play protocols, however, and will retain his place for Ireland's second-round clash with Les Bleus at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt usually demands all his players train the Tuesday before a Test in order to merit selection, but the Kiwi head coach has made an exception for trusted lieutenant Best.

Ireland's most-capped hooker will make his 80th Test appearance at the weekend, with fellow British and Irish Lions Johnny Sexton, Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip all returning from injury.

Sexton is back after completing his mandatory 12-week stand-down following four concussions in 12 months.

The Racing Metro fly-half replaces Ian Keatley at number 10, with France boss Philippe Saint-Andre's words ringing in his ears that Les Bleus will target him early on.

Leinster and Lions prop Cian Healy returns after hamstring trouble that has dogged him since September to take a seat on the bench.

Flanker O'Brien has his second chance to make his first Test appearance since November 2013 after a hamstring tweak forced him out in the warm-up in Italy last weekend.

The 27-year-old has made a quick recovery, however, and that following 14 months dealing with two consecutive shoulder reconstructions.

Number eight Heaslip returns to the starting line-up after shoulder and knee problems, while Isaac Boss retains his place on Ireland's bench despite Eoin Reddan's return to fitness.

Keatley drops out of the squad altogether despite starting at fly-half in Rome last weekend, with Ian Madigan covering all inside-back positions and full-back from the bench.

The medical assessment process around concussion has been central among the Six Nations news threads after the controversy surrounding George North's two knock-out episodes in Wales' 21-16 defeat to England last Friday night.

Wales claimed they missed North's second knock-out blow against England, with medics engaged with treating other injuries.

World Rugby has cleared the Welsh Rugby Union of wrongdoing but North has been stood down this week, with boss Warren Gatland admitting the Northampton wing was frustrated to miss out on the second-round clash against Scotland in Edinburgh.

Irish rugby bosses did not even hint that Best's removal against Italy was in any way driven by the furore surrounding North's situation the night before.

The implication was clear, however, that Ireland coaches and medics are not about to take any chances where concussion is concerned whatsoever.

While Best has been backed to make an immediate return then, Ireland will have been at pains to ensure he has comfortably progressed through all the appropriate testing before being cleared for action.

Best completed a full-contact session on Thursday and will be fully clear to play provided he suffers no concussions symptoms in the following 24 hours.

"He's totally asymptomatic, he did contact today," said head coach Schmidt.

"He's ticked all the boxes of the protocols of the return to play.

"As long as he remains asymptomatic for 24 hours after today's session he will be fully cleared to play.

"Rory was totally asymptomatic from post-game through to now.

"We just kept both Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss ready to go because that's the pertinent thing to do.

"With Rory passing all his markers and doing contact today we would predict and are confident he will be available to play."

France have made no secret of a desire to send juggernaut centre Mathieu Bastareaud down fit-again Sexton's channel right from the off at the Aviva Stadium.

Schmidt said Sexton and Ireland as a collective will not be fazed by any early bombardment.

"Their tactics will be whatever they will be and we will look to counter them - and the best place to do that will be Saturday," said Schmidt.

"I don't think they will deprive themselves of their wide talents, so I think they will mix their tactics up a bit.

"Johnny's very fit, he's done a lot of training with us, he's spent the last 12 weeks training; he just hasn't done any contact.

"He's done plenty of contact this week and he's primed and ready to go.

"I think he's feeling very fresh. Sometimes the reverse can happen when you do a lot of contact and you feel very beaten up."

Ireland tean to play France in the Six Nations: R Kearney (Leinster), T Bowe, J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), S Zebo (Munster), J Sexton (Racing Metro), C Murray (Munster), J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross, D Toner (both Leinster), P O'Connell (capt), P O'Mahony (both Munster), S O'Brien, J Heaslip (both Leinster)

Replacements: S Cronin, C Healy, M Moore (all Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), I Boss, I Madigan (both Leinster), F Jones (Munster)

Chelsea are not special! Man City star Nasri hits out at Premier League title rivals

Manchester City star Samir Nasri has spiced up the Premier League title race by insisting rivals Chelsea are "not special".

City face a fight to retain their league crown - having fallen seven points behind the Londoners at the top of the table.

However, Nasri said: "I'm a big fan of Mourinho, but I am not impressed with his team, not at all. We have played them twice, one time with 10 men, and we were better than them.

"Then we played them at the Bridge, we were better than them.

"When I have seen some of their games, I don't think they are that fantastic - they are just strong and have a good striker up front.

"For me they are not special at all, and I think they are going to make some mistakes. We just have to perform, to win our games, and see what's going to happen.

"This title will be like this until the end of the season. No-one will win the league 10 games before the end of the season."

City famously overturned deficits to win both of their Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014 by narrow margins.

They have also recovered from eight points behind to pull level with Chelsea once this season, only to fall back again in the past month.

Nasri believes history shows that opportunities will arise and City, who have 13 games to play, have to be ready to pounce.

He said: "We know that the two times we won the league, we were behind at this time of the year.

"Two months ago we were eight points behind Chelsea and came back and went level with them. Now we are seven points behind, but are not going to make big talk about it.

"We will just try to get as many points as possible and wait for the mistake.

"They won in the last minute against Everton, so maybe next time they will draw. We just have to win our games and see what will happen.

"The season is still long, they have the Champions League and the final of the Capital One Cup as well, so have a lot of games to play."

Hodgson hints at England call-up for Tottenham ace

England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed Tottenham's star striker Harry Kane is ready to play for the Three Lions.

The 21-year-old has scored 23 times in all competitions for Spurs this season, making him the most prolific Englishman in the Premier League.

And Hodgson admitted it would be difficult to overlook the striker when he selects his squad for the matches against Lithuania and Italy in March.

"Is he worth a place in the squad now? Of course he is," said Hodgson. "We bought a lot of young players in during my time, we had Saido Berahino in the last squad. He certainly deserves a place in the squad as much as say Saido did.

"Is he worthy of a place like Wayne Rooney, [Danny] Welbeck and [Daniel] Sturridge? That's something he'll have to prove.

"But unless I give him a chance in the squad he'll never get a chance to prove that anyway.

"I like to think I do show a certain degree of loyalty to players who have been playing for a while and who I know I can trust.

"But I also like to think that I'm prepared to give someone a chance when he's really showing with his current form that he's worthy of a place with us."