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| Leeds United grateful for return home of Richard Naylor ON THE short drive from Wetherby to the training ground at Thorp Arch, landmarks on the road recall memories that make you wince. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Owen Coyle welcomed home as returning hero at Bolton Wanderers Owen Coyle has completed his move from Burnley to Bolton Wanderers after the clubs agreed a compensation package of about £1.5 million. The Scot has signed a contract to keep him at the Reebok Stadium until 2012. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Martin Johnson should be given time, says Wales coach Warren Gatland • Gatland concerned over Welsh results in Heineken Cup• Martin Roberts likely to start as Wales scrum-halfThe Wales coach, Warren Gatland, has said his England counterpart Martin Johnson should be given time to build a successful team. "I hope England give him some time," he said. "Clive Woodward was given a lot of time, with some ups and downs. It has been tough for Martin. Everyone knows what a great player he has been. He was given an opportunity to coach international rugby and he probably thought it was a chance he thought he could not turn down."England face Wales in their opening Six nations fixture on 6 February at Twickenham with Gatland's side seeking a third successive victory over England, something they last achieved more than 20 years ago. "This is a huge game for both sides," Gatland said. "A victory for either team will give a huge amount of confidence and give you a chance to win the Six Nations."Gatland wants his players to start coping with being favourites – as and when that tag is pinned on them this season. "The Welsh love to be underdogs," he added. "At times, we still struggle to cope with the favourites' tag and sometimes we struggle under the expectation of winning."While Wales will be without either of their injured Lions scrum-halves, Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel, Gatland's 35-man squad may still have enough firepower to make life painful for Johnson. But he admitted this season's Heineken Cup results – England and Wales are struggling to have significant quarter-final representation – are a concern for both countries ahead of the Six Nations campaign."There are two countries going into the Six Nations at the moment a little bit concerned about where their teams are," he said. "Potentially, you have four French pool winners and two Irish winners in the Heineken Cup, although Leicester, Northampton and the Ospreys and London Irish have a chance. That is not just a concern for England, it has to be a concern for Wales as well."Peel, meanwhile, was due to undergo a scan today after suffering a groin injury playing for Sale in Saturday's Heineken Cup defeat against Cardiff Blues. Peel missed out on Gatland's squad and, with Phillips not due back from an ankle injury until late next month, the 23-year-old Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts is likely to make a first Six Nations start at Twickenham."We are not 100% sure how long Dwayne is going to be out for," Gatland said. "We are just going to assess him over the next few weeks and, when he is back fully fit, we will make a decision on him."Gatland's squad also shows a glimpse of the future, with the young Ospreys backs Tom Prydie and Kristian Phillips both selected, together with the 23-year-old Saracens prop Rhys Gill and in-form Blues scrum-half Richie Rees.But the rookies are backed up by returning key personnel such as the Lions Lee Byrne and Adam Jones, who both missed the autumn Tests through injury, while Ospreys' experienced lock Ian Gough also features.Gatland has also found places for the unheralded Blues forwards Gareth Williams and Deiniol Jones, together with the Sale prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts, under the continued captaincy of Ryan Jones.The Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, will be involved in the Six Nations but is set to miss Wales' summer tour of New Zealand as he faces shoulder surgery.Wales rugby union teamEngland rugby union teamMartin JohnsonWarren GatlandSix Nations rugbyRugby unionguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Live chat: Discuss college hoops scene with our experts Game On! blogger Reid Cherner and USA TODAY online college basketball editor Tim Gardner check in to chat about college basketball. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
By staring down Kong, Andy Murray can be king This is not a monkey, it is a gorilla. A huge, unsightly ape. King Kong after 70 years gorging on KFC. That is what Andy Murray has his sights set on after a conquest of Rafael Nadal that left spectators breathless with admiration. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |