England scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall hopes he can navigate his way around the Stade de la Beaujoire in a manner reminiscent of a chess grandmaster when the struggling world champions face Samoa in Nantes today.
While it is still possible for the holders to lose this weekend and qualify for the quarter-finals, a win would provide a massive confidence boost after last week's 36-0 thrashing by South Africa at the Stade de France -- England's record World Cup defeat.
Even better for the morale of Brian Ashton's men would be a victory accompanied by a fluency in attack that didn't see England squander tries through poor passing and a failure to exploit overlaps -- features of their play during a run of just 17 wins in 42 Tests since they won the World Cup in 2003.
PHOTO: AP
"I play the game for space, putting the great runners we have within England into space," Gomarsall, whose stop-start Test career has seen him make just 28 international appearances since his debut in 1996.
Now with Harlequins, his sixth senior club, the 33-year-old playmaker added at England's hotel on Thursday: "I see the game as a chessboard, putting the pieces into place."
"But generally, with defenses being so well-organized now, running an attack is much more difficult. We've certainly struggled in that department. I like the game to be played fast and with that opportunity, everywhere on the pitch, to attack," he said. "Just previously, we weren't seeing that and hopefully on Saturday we will see that."
Gomarsall, who came on at halftime against the Springboks, said playing alongside flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, making his tournament debut after being sidelined with an ankle injury, wouldn't be a problem.
"I've played enough and trained with him inordinate amounts so there are no issues there whatsoever. It's the same as always for me, get my service going and provide the backs with enough time on the ball to break the line," he said.
Gomarsall, who went 31 months between playing for England against Australia in 2004 and appearing against the 'Boks in Bloemfontein in May, has only previously featured in two World Cup matches.
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