England rugby captain Phil Vickery has told the world champions to rediscover their pride when they launch their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in today's Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham.
The match marks England's first of a year that culminates with the defense of their World Cup title in France but few expect Vickery to be lifting the trophy in October given his side's recent run of eight defeats in nine Tests.
But a new year has, England hope, brought a new start.
Brian Ashton has replaced Andy Robinson as coach with Vickery taking over from Martin Corry as captain.
Ashton's decision to recall Jonny Wilkinson for his first Test in more than three years since he kicked the World Cup winning drop goal has reignited supporter interest.
However, England will have to do more than rely on the Newcastle star's boot if they are to return to winning ways.
Vickery has tried to turn the team's abysmal recent record into a positive.
"We have no reputation any more, so it is a good chance for everyone to go out and start the building blocks again. Let's go out and get a bit of pride back in the jersey," he said.
Former Bath and Ireland boss Ashton has a reputation as an attack-minded coach but Vickery insisted playing winning rugby was his main priority.
"Everyone has this perception of Brian as being a coach who wants free-flowing rugby and the ball being spread around everywhere all the time," said the skipper. "But when you actually train with him there is a lot more to him than that. I just think he wants us, as players, to go out there and take responsibility -- not try and be stupid, but at the same time enjoy ourselves and use what assets we have within the team."
However, there is no better side than Scotland when it comes to upsetting the best-laid plans. Last season Frank Hadden's men overturned the odds to beat both Six Nations champions France and England.
Scotland haven't won at Twickenham for 24 years but current captain Chris Paterson said: "These records are just periphery really. We have more than enough to concentrate on and we know what we have to do to change those records."
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was