Sport

Scrum-half Ben Youngs is among the senior players left out as England make five changes to their starting XV to face Scotland. Willi Heinz replaces Youngs at nine, with flanker Lewis Ludlam in for Courtney Lawes in the wake of defeat by France on the opening weekend. Prop Mako Vunipola and lock George Kruis return, with Jonathan Joseph replacing injured centre Manu Tuilagi. Saracens' Ben Earl is set for a debut as one of six forwards on the bench. Bath hooker Tom Dunn could also win his first cap as he joins Lawes and Joe Launchbury, who has recovered from a knee injury, among the replacements. https://www.unit-esports.com/

Claire Keohane says making her Six Nations debut against Scotland "was a fantastic day" after making the switch from sevens rugby. Keohane replaced fly-half Ellen Murphy with 12 minutes to play in Donnybrook as Ireland ran out 18-14 winners. The 28-year-old is also studying to become a doctor, and admits it is tough to balance exams and sport. "It is part of your every day life, everyone's day is different and that is what mine consists of," she said. Murphy is a doubt for Sunday's game in Dublin with a calf injury, which could offer Keohane the chance to make her first start in the green jersey. The Munster player feels that it is crucial Ireland build on their opening-day win when Wales visit Dublin on Sunday. https://www.unit-esports.com/

Ross Moriarty had something of a surprise when Nick Tompkins turned up in the Wales Six Nations squad. Before that, the 25-year-old Dragons back rower did not know his former England Under-20s team-mate was qualified to do so. "I was very surprised when he was called to the squad because I didn't know that he was Welsh. I don't even think he'd been to Cardiff before," joked Moriarty, who was raised in Swansea but represented England's age-grade teams during his time with Gloucester's youth set-up. "But it's nice to have him here, he's a good boy and we have all welcomed him in." Moriarty and Tompkins were team-mates when England beat South Africa 21-20 to win the 2014 Junior World Championship, in a team led by Maro Itoje. https://www.unit-esports.com/

Head coach Gregor Townsend has given a guarded response to questions about Finn Russell's possible inclusion in Scotland's Six Nations campaign. The fly-half was dropped for the defeat by Ireland because of a breach of team protocol and is not in the squad for Saturday's home match against England. "I spoke to him on Sunday night to let him know we wouldn't be making changes to our squad," said Townsend. Asked if the conversation was positive, he replied: "It was a conversation." Townsend added: "Obviously it was telling somebody they weren't going to be in the squad this week and we'll look at things next week. "I'll reassess things after we get through this weekend." https://www.unit-esports.com/

Wales coach Wayne Pivac says the Six Nations trip to Ireland will prove the biggest test he has faced. He is preparing for his first Wales Test away from Cardiff following a 42-0 Six Nations win over Italy and an uncapped victory against Barbarians in November 2019. Wales have not defeated Ireland in the Six Nations in Dublin since 2012. When asked whether this was the biggest test of his coaching career, Pivac replied: "Yes definitely." Tompkins to make first Wales start against Ireland The former Fiji and Scarlets boss added: "It will be a massive step up in what we've had so far. "We've been very fortunate in we've had that Barbarians game which allowed us to iron a few things out. "We then went into a competition match against Italy and now we go up against a much sterner challenge in their backyard. https://www.unit-esports.com/

Rory McIlroy will replace Brooks Koepka as world number one despite not playing this week. The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland will leapfrog Koepka when the rankings are updated following this week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM. Koepka and world number three Jon Rahm are also missing the event and the two-year rolling format of the ranking system will see McIlroy go top. McIlroy will be back as world number one for the first time since 2015. McIlroy says he will play 'carefree' golf in 2020 Experience at Royal Portrush was a 'turning point' for McIlroy McIlroy says he is a victim of his own success The complicated nature of the ranking system will push the 30-year-old up from 0.2 points behind Koepka to three-hundredths of a point in front. McIlroy said last month that returning to world number one would "take care of itself". https://www.tonyfrancissports.com/

Graeme McDowell has said his best golf could still be ahead of him after claiming his first European Tour win since 2014 at the Saudi International. The Northern Ireland golfer finished 12 under on Sunday to win by two shots ahead of Dustin Johnson for his 11th European circuit victory. "It's 10 years since I played the best golf of my life," said McDowell, whose sole major success is the 2010 US Open. "I feel now like I'm moving back in the right direction." McDowell wins by two in Saudi Arabia He added: "I've got my head around what I'm trying to do with the golf ball again and what I'm trying to do with the swing thanks to Kevin Kirk, who I started working with last August. "Pete Cowen has been by my side for many years and I have Kenny [Comboy] on the bag. I have a solid team and life has settled down. https://www.tonyfrancissports.com/

There is much to celebrate in the wake of the first big event of the European Tour season, and not just the enduring winning touch of Lee Westwood. The 46-year-old Englishman's classy victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship capped a tournament played at an encouraging pace that suggests the scourge of slow play is finally being tackled effectively. This was the first event under the Tour's new protocols on pace of play. More draconian rules mean two bad times during the entire competition - not just a single round - can lead to penalty shots. They certainly seem to have grabbed the attention of the golfers. "The players who have traditionally been tardy looked to me like they were getting on with it," said the tour's senior referee Andy McFee. https://www.tonyfrancissports.com/

Open champion Shane Lowry will make his first appearance on home soil since claiming his maiden major title when he competes at this year's Irish Open. The County Offaly man, who won the Open Championship at Royal Portrush last July, has confirmed his entry for May's tournament at Mount Juliet. "I can't wait to tee it up in front of my home crowds," said Lowry. "It's always such an honour to play in front of the Irish fans and they have always been so supportive of me." The world number 16 added: "They played such a massive part in my win at Portrush, so teeing up as Open champion at the Irish Open will be a great moment." Lowry won the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 and he will be among the favourites to secure victory at the Kilkenny course. The event will be hosted by Graeme McDowell, who won the Saudi International at the weekend. https://www.tonyfrancissports.com/

These are turbulent times for golf and the waters could potentially become even more choppy as the game's governing bodies reveal measures are needed to limit the length balls travel off the tee. After signalling intent to put brakes on the distance players can smash their drives, the R&A and United States Golf Association (USGA), who set the sport's rules, now need more of the game's key stakeholders to buy into the project. With club and ball manufacturers, as well as leading professional tours, having expressed long-standing reluctance to embrace such moves, rules-makers can expect significant challenges in order to win them over. This comes at a time when organisations such as the PGA and European Tours are flexing their muscles to fight off the proposed Premier Golf League, with talk of a £183m prize fund in order to lure 48 of the world's best players. https://www.tonyfrancissports.com/

Novak Djokovic says queuing for bread in difficult times in Serbia gave him the inner steel needed to fight back to win an eighth Australian Open crown. Djokovic was struggling physically and mentally before he recovered to beat Austria's Dominic Thiem in five sets. "I came from literally nothing and difficult life circumstances together with my family and with my people," he said after his record-extending title. "That's why I managed to find that extra gear." Djokovic, 32, won his 17th Grand Slam title by beating Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4, moving him closing to Swiss Roger Federer's record of 20 and Spaniard Rafael Nadal's tally of 19. https://www.thetampasportsguys.com/

Britain's Jamie Murray reached another Grand Slam final alongside American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the Australian Open mixed doubles. In his regular BBC Sport column, the Scot talks about their three-set defeat, playing until his 40s and how eating meat in Colombia left him concerned about failing a drugs test. Losing the mixed doubles final and missing out on my eighth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open was very disappointing. Bethanie Mattek-Sands and I lost to Nikola Mektic and Barbora Krejcikova, but I know if we keep putting our games out there, then we will have more chances to win Grand Slam titles in the future. That's the same with Neal Skupski in the men's doubles, even though we had a disappointing tournament in Melbourne. My goals now, which will be my goals until I finish playing, are trying to win the French Open and Wimbledon. I would love to make a career Grand Slam. https://www.thetampasportsguys.com/

Serena Williams' coaching team are considering changing her strategy because she has not won a Grand Slam title since returning to tennis, says her coach Patrick Mouratoglou. The American 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, 38, has lost four major finals since giving birth to her daughter in September 2017. She was knocked out of the Australian Open in the  third round  last month. "We have to accept the fact that it is not working," said Mouratoglou. Speaking to BBC Sport, he added: "Maybe come back with a different angle, a different strategy and different goals so she can make it. "She does feel positive, she feels negative too because it is a failure when she doesn't win a Grand Slam. "We have to face reality, but she is positive that she can make it otherwise she probably wouldn't be on a tennis court anymore. https://www.thetampasportsguys.com/

British number two Heather Watson writes in her BBC Sport column about preparing to lead Great Britain's Fed Cup team for the match against Slovakia on 7-8 February. This time last year I was watching the Fed Cup from my bed - it was a really bad experience for me. It was such a shame - after playing Fed Cup for all those years I had never been part of a home tie. And then we were finally at home in Bath but I was literally bed-bound for the whole week with illness, even afterwards as well. I was live-streaming all the girls' matches every day, they just did so well. Then in April I was part of the team that won the tie against Kazakhstan at the Copper Box in London, and that was an amazing experience. A year on from Bath, I am coming into this week's tie against Slovakia feeling really happy. It will be my 32nd tie and if we win, we will get through to April's first ever Fed Cup Finals in Budapest. https://www.thetampasportsguys.com/

British number three Harriet Dart says it is her "time to step up" as Great Britain chase a place in the Fed Cup finals without top-ranked player Johanna Konta. Dart, 23, is part of the British squad who face Slovakia in a qualifier in Bratislava on Friday and Saturday. The winner will join 11 other nations at the new Fed Cup finals, taking place in Budapest on 14-19 April. World number 14 Konta has opted to sit out the Fed Cup to protect her body. The British team will also be without former British number two Katie Boulter, who was sidelined for six months with a back injury sustained in the play-off victory over Kazakhstan in April. https://www.thetampasportsguys.com/

What the papers say The ongoing saga of  Paul Pogba  at Manchester United continues with the Manchester Evening News reporting the 26-year-old has told his teammates he wants to leave the side at the end of the season. Ankle injuries have kept the France international to just six starts in the current campaign, with dressing room sources telling the paper that Pogba’s “head is not currently at the club”. In June the Frenchman said that he wanted a “new challenge” and former side Juventus, as well as Real Madrid, continue to circle the midfielder. Staying in the north and 25-year-old England defender  John Stones ‘ future with Manchester City is in doubt, according to the Times. City manager Pep Guardiola wants to sign two centre-backs at the end of a campaign, which will likely see his side hand over the Premier League title.  Pau Torres  of Villarreal, Inter Milan’s  Milan Skriniar  and Brighton’s  Lewis Dunk  are all considered fut...

Christian Eriksen says his decision to run down his contract made him a “black sheep” at Tottenham. The 27-year-old midfielder joined Inter Milan last month for a fee of £17million. The Dane would have been out of contract in the summer and had been linked with a move away from north London since last summer, when he revealed he was ready for a new challenge in the wake of Spurs’ Champions League final defeat. “England, for the last few years, was very hectic,” Eriksen told BBC Sport. “After what I said in the summer, it was just about, ‘when is he going to leave?’ “Every game it was, ‘Is he leaving? Is he not leaving?’ Of course a lot of people were speaking about it. “Even the fans you see on the street were like, ‘Thank you, goodbye and good luck’. But I was still there. It was a bit weird. In my head and for my body, it is good that I am in a new place and I can start again.” https://www.sportsmanpack.com/

Cork City are in the frame to secure the loan signing from Arsenal of Nigerian defender Joseph Olowu, according to reports. The 'All Nigeria Soccer' website claims City and Arsenal have an agreement for the loan, pending a medical and terms. It says that Olowu is preparing to fly into Cork to put pen to paper on deal which will see him remain with City until the end of this season. It adds Olowu wasn’t in Arsenal’s U23 squad to face Liverpool last weekend as the Gunners didn't want to jeopardise his opportunity to play senior football. Olowu is 20, with Arsenal fan site The Daily Cannon reporting: "(He) started the season well. He looked good in each of his appearances in August, but struggled for consistent starts after that. https://www.sportsmanpack.com/

Ireland lock Iain Henderson has praised Andy Farrell for creating an open forum for tactical discussions after suggesting some players feared speaking up during the reign of Joe Schmidt. Henderson has been promoted to a six-man leadership group under new head coach Farrell and is enjoying a less regimented approach behind the scenes. The 27-year-old Ulster captain believes sections of the Irish squad were perhaps reluctant to clarify instructions under the rule of former boss Schmidt due to concerns about appearing incompetent. https://www.sportsmanpack.com/

Irish star James Ryan has signed a new contract with the IRFU. The Leinster second-row has penned a new deal until the end of the 22/23 season. Ryan has been a consistent performer for both province and country over the last few seasons. Ryan said he is delighted to have signed a new contract. He said: "A lot has been packed into the start of my professional career with both Ireland and Leinster and there has been some great success and a few disappointments but I am involved in two very exciting squads that want to be challenging for trophies.” Ryan made his Leinster debut in 2017 and has helped the province claim two Pro14 titles and a Champions Cup. He has been ever-present for the national team over the last two season having made his debut in 2017. His first cap came at the age of 20 against the USA when he also touched down for his first try. https://www.sportsmanpack.com/

The Shanghai Sports Federation has increased the doubt surrounding April’s Chinese Grand Prix by recommending all sports events be cancelled until the coronavirus epidemic “is over”. The latest figures from the Chinese Health Commission on Wednesday reported that approaching 25,000 people have been infected, resulting in a death toll of near 500, while 15 sports events have so far been either cancelled or postponed. The most prominent has been the World Athletics Championships that were scheduled for Nanjing in mid-March; the Chinese Football Association has put on hold all domestic matches; while Formula E cancelled its race in Sanya that was due to take place on March 21. The spotlight is now on the fourth event of Formula One’s record-breaking 22-race calendar this year at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 17-19. https://www.sportsky88.com/

Footballers are still afraid to speak out about mental health concerns because of the impact it could have on their careers, according to former England Under-21 striker Marvin Sordell. The former Watford and Bolton player announced his retirement last summer at the age of 28, citing his own mental health problems as one of his reasons for quitting the game. Football will do its part to get people talking about their mental health over the course of the Heads Up weekends coming up this month, while Thursday is designated as Time To Talk Day. Since his retirement, Sordell has set up his own production company and has spent time interviewing current and former professionals about their experiences. In his view there is a long way to go before players feel comfortable opening up. https://www.sportsky88.com/

Niall Quinn has called for Irish sporting bodies to present a united front in the quest for increased government funding after Basketball Ireland called foul on the rescue package for the FAI. Yesterday, the Board of Basketball Ireland charged that “double standards may be at play for sports that fall outside what are considered the popular sports”. Referencing its own financial difficulties in 2008, the Board said in a statement: Speaking today at the launch event for the 2020 SSE Airtricity League Season, the FAI’s new interim Deputy CEO responded to the criticism. “We don’t want to go into rivalry with other sports,” said Quinn. “Basketball Ireland are unhappy and I understand that. But I want to be part of something with Basketball Ireland where we all go and show government how important sport is. So that Basketball Ireland get their funding and we get far more funding. “I will remonstrate with anybody who gives out about the money we got – because we’re handing €30 milli...