Ireland’s quest for the sporting immortality that would come with a first Grand Slam since 1948 continues when they face Scotland in today’s Six Nations international at Murrayfield.
And as if the weight of history didn’t weigh heavily enough on Ireland’s shoulders, there is also the unwelcome knowledge that the Six Nations usually produces at least one shock result a Championship — and it hasn’t happened yet.
Ireland will certainly be huge favorites this weekend, but Declan Kidney, their coach, has been warning against the perils of complacency ever since the side kept their bid for a clean sweep on course with a 14-13 win over England.
Almost as additional insurance against those dangers, the former Munster boss has freshened up his starting side for the first time this tournament by making four changes.
Gordon D’Arcy, who a year ago broke his arm in the Six Nations, comes in at inside center for Paddy Wallace, while veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer has ousted Tomas O’Leary after impressing off the bench against England.
In the pack, Denis Leamy takes over from Jamie Heaslip at No. 8, while at hooker, Rory Best starts instead of Jerry Flannery.
Having been out in the cold, or at least among the replacements, the quartet will all be keen to prove their worth. Talk of a Championship decider away to reigning champions Wales in Cardiff the following week can wait.
Stringer, axed during the 2007 World Cup, said: “I suppose it’s fair to say my whole world was rocked when I was dropped. The fear of not being involved in this team is devastating.”
The decision of Kidney, in his first Six Nations as Ireland coach, to change things around for this match has also had a salutary effect on those who’ve retained their places, as lock Donncha O’Callaghan explained.
“When you look at your teammates, you see four guys got bad news, so you know how lucky you are to be involved in it,” O’Callaghan said. “Look at the quality of the players coming in and going out — it shows what a strong squad we have. You know when you’re given a chance to perform you have to take it.”
Scotland went a long way to staving off the threat of the wooden spoon with a 26-6 victory over fellow strugglers Italy at Murrayfield in the third round.
Frank Hadden, their coach, has restored world-class goal kicker Chris Paterson to his starting line-up at fullback, while in the second row recalled lock Jim Hamilton will hope to make his presence felt after returning from a shoulder injury sustained against France last month.
Hamilton had a bruising one-on-one battle with fellow lock Nathan Hines just to get selected and the Edinburgh second-row said: “It all happened out on the training pitch and even people out walking their dogs were stopping to give their opinion. For him, it was a case of running as fast as he could to test his knee — and for me, it was then hitting him full-on to test the shoulder. The collisions were fairly big — about as tough as it gets, in fact.”
Man-for-man, an Ireland back division with captain Brian O’Driscoll at its heart appears to have more quality than Scotland possess behind the scrum. However, Ireland’s backs rarely shone against England, although they and their supporters at Croke Park would have relaxed far more if outside-half Ronan O’Gara had not had such a bad day with the boot.
Fear of failure can lead to success, but, against a Scotland side with nothing to fear, such an emotion could inhibit Ireland. They would not be the first team with big ambitions to come unstuck at Murrayfield — as prop John Hayes, who will become Ireland’s most-capped player when he makes his 93rd Test appearance today, could doubtless tell some of his less experienced colleagues.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or