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Wales boss Wayne Pivac believes the use of words like “hate” in pre-match rhetoric is unnecessary. England flanker Lewis Ludlam upped the ante ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland when he said: “They hate us and we hate them.” Ludlam bristled at a perception that Celtic nations play with more passion than England. “I disagree actually,” Ludlam said. “We are emotionally there. They hate us and we hate them. There is no difference. “It’s just another place to go. It’s a battle. It’s going to be a war and it’s something we are excited for and we will be ready for.” Ahead of England’s Guinness Six Nations opener against France last weekend – which they lost 24-17 – head coach Eddie Jones said Les Bleus would face “brutal physicality.” Jones has also described Scotland as “a niggly side” in the build-up to this weekend’s encounter at Murrayfield. Pivac, though, said: “Hate is a pretty strong word, isn’t it, and I don’t think there is any need for that. ...

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane offered no excuses after the LaLiga leaders were dumped out of the Copa del Rey following a 4-3 home defeat by Real Sociedad. Los Blancos had been on a 21-match unbeaten run across all competitions. However, a team showing seven changes from the win over Atletico Madrid came up short as Sociedad battled to a well-deserved triumph to book their place in the semi-finals. “This is football. Things have not gone as we wanted,” Zidane told a post-match press conference. “It was a complicated game, but we tried until the end and the reaction was good. “Despite losing 1-4, we have fought until the end, but it has not been possible. “We must congratulate the opponent and also accept losing.” https://www.zet-esports.org/

Inaki Williams’ stoppage-time header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win over Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. Barcelona had reached the final of the competition in each of the last six years, winning four of them, but were dumped out this year after some late drama at San Mames. With the five minutes of added time played, and the tie appearing set for extra-time and possibly a penalty shoot-out, Williams glanced the ball past Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to snatch a dramatic victory. Barcelona, winners of the competition a record 30 times, had just one change from their last LaLiga match as Sergi Roberto came in for Antoine Griezmann. It did not take long for Lionel Messi – whose row with director Eric Abidal had overshadowed the build-up to the match – to carve open the home defence as he set Ansu Fati clear, but the 17-year-old forward sliced his shot wide. Athletic, whose last of 23 Copa del Rey triumphs came in 1984, thought they had opened...

What the papers say The path appears to be opening up for Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United, with The Sun reporting the club have dropped his asking price by £30million. In June the Frenchman said that he wanted a “new challenge” while dressing room sources recently said Pogba’s “head is not currently at the club”. His former side Juventus and Real Madrid are among the European teams who could now hand over the required £150m for the 26-year-old midfielder, who the Daily Star says has been excluded from United’s warm weather camp in Spain. Adama Traore could leave Wolves for Barcelona at the end of the season, according to the Daily Mail. Wolves are preparing for a bidding war for the 24-year-old, who has impressed since signing at Molineux in August 2018. The Mail reports he is wanted back at the Nou Camp, having left to join Aston Villa in 2015. The Liverpool Echo reports Everton are not considering acquiring Brazil forward Everton Soares from Gremio. The 23-year-old had sai...

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton believes Wales counterpart Alun Wyn Jones “is a great example” of a player who is able to put pressure on referees. The experienced duo are set to go head to head when their teams meet for a compelling Guinness Six Nations clash in Dublin. Fly-half Sexton replaced retired hooker Rory Best as skipper ahead of the tournament and was frustrated his team were on the receiving end of some puzzling penalty calls from French referee Mathieu Raynal during the opening-weekend win over Scotland. <figcaption class='imgFCap'>Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is preparing to win his 136th international cap (Steven Paston/PA)</figcaption> Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is preparing to win his 136th international cap (Steven Paston/PA) The 34-year-old is keen to avoid a repeat and pointed to Welsh lock Wyn Jones as a prime example of someone who has the personality to pressurise match officials into reviewing decisions. “There were a few things I ...

Yorkshire head coach Andrew Gale says he is "hopeful" that England captain Joe Root could appear in five County Championship matches this season. The 29-year-old, who only played two four-day games in 2019, has no England commitments in April or May. "He wants to come back and he wants to play. He likes playing, he doesn't like time off," Gale told BBC Radio Leeds' Cricket Show. "He feels he's in good form now and he wants to continue that." Yorkshire start their 2020 campaign on 12 April against Gloucestershire, with a trip to champions Essex the following week. Root will be in Sri Lanka for the two-Test series, the second of which is scheduled to finish on 31 March. England's first Test match of the summer against West Indies at The Oval begins on 4 June. https://www.vinnande-online-casino.info/

Rain has delayed the start of England's second one-day international against South Africa in Durban. Prospects of play are looking slim at Kingsmead with more rain forecast and a minimum of 20 overs per side required to constitute a complete game. The hosts are 1-0 up in the three-match series after victory by seven wickets in the first ODI in Cape Town on Tuesday. The third ODI takes place in Johannesburg on Sunday at 08:00 GMT. England's previous two ODIs against South Africa in Durban in 2005 and 2009 were both abandoned because of rain. https://www.vinnande-online-casino.info/