England have made only one change against France as they bid to avoid their worst ever finish in the Guinness Six Nations by selecting Ollie Chessum at blindside flanker.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has remained loyal to the overhauled backline that misfired in the 23-18 defeat by Italy in Rome with Fin Smith continuing at fly-half for Saturday’s visit to Paris.

Instead, Borthwick has tinkered with his back row by installing Chessum at six and moving Guy Pepper to openside at the expense of Sam Underhill, who drops to the bench for the climax to the Championship.

Underhill was propelled to the starting XV at the Stadio Olimpico when Tom Curry suffered a tournament-ending calf injury during the warm up, but against France he will act as a replacement as part of a six-two split between forwards and backs.

By starting Chessum, Borthwick is strengthening England’s line-out and giving his pack greater ballast to take on France’s giant forwards.

The 25-year-old Leicester captain has played the bulk of his rugby for club and country in the second row and his most recent international appearance at blindside was in the 2024 Six Nations.

Underhill and Marcus Smith will win their 50th caps for England if they appear off the bench.

Nine changes in personnel and a further three positional switches were made against Italy, but gutting the team failed to have the desire effect as England crashed to an historic first defeat by the Azzurri in 33 encounters.

An 18-10 lead was established in the third quarter but the hosts scored 13 unanswered points to pile pressure on to Borthwick, who received a vote of confidence from the Rugby Football Union on Sunday.

However, chief executive Bill Sweeney’s statement made no mention of Borthwick being safe until the 2027 World Cup, when his contract ends, instead suggesting he has the summer tour to save his job.

The 46-year-old head coach will remain in place after the Six Nations, when an investigation will be launched into another disappointing Championship which they are likely to finish in fifth place.

If they lose to France, they will have completed the tournament with only one victory – against Wales in the opener – in what will be their worst Six Nations performance.

“It’s a huge challenge under the lights in Paris against a very strong France side,” Borthwick said.

“England versus France is one of the great rivalries in international rugby and we’re looking forward to the occasion.”

England team: E Daly (Saracens); T Roebuck (Sale), T Freeman (Northampton), S Atkinson (Gloucester), C Murley (Harlequins); F Smith (Northampton), B Spencer (Bath); E Genge (Bristol), J George (Saracens), J Heyes (Leicester), M Itoje (Saracens, capt), A Coles (Northampton), O Chessum (Leicester), G Pepper (Bath), B Earl (Saracens).

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Sale), B Rodd (Sale), T Davison (Northampton), C Cunningham-South (Harlequins), S Underhill (Bath), H Pollock (Northampton), J van Poortvliet (Leicester), M Smith (Harlequins).

Ollie Chessum will shift position as England head coach Steve Borthwick changes strategy in an attempt to conclude a collapsing Six Nations campaign on a high against title-chasing France.

Chessum, who began on the bench in the historic defeat to Italy, but had started in the second row in the other games this championship, has been moved into the back row and will start in the No 6 jersey.

By having the 25-year-old as a flanker, Borthwick adds heft, carrying power and a lineout option to the back row, while also allowing captain Maro Itoje and the improving Alex Coles to be lock partners once again.

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The England coach has preferred a ‘three sevens’ philosophy in the make-up of his back row to this point, with some combination of Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock starting as the flankers either side of Ben Earl – playing as a No 8 but with the profile of a more traditional No 7.

Pepper has been given the nod to start at openside flanker against France, with Underhill and Pollock as options on the bench after Curry suffered a calf injury in the warm-up before the Italy game.

The selection of Chessum is only the second time since the start of 2025 that Borthwick has opted for a “big six”, with the other being Chandler Cunningham-South’s presence in that jersey against the USA last summer.

The coach has resisted the temptation to rip up the entire starting XV once again, having made a record nine changes between the losses to Ireland and Italy, despite not getting the result he would have hoped against the Azzurri – instead watching his side fall to a first ever defeat to the Italians.

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England now face the daunting task of trying to beat a wounded France side in Paris to avoid a first-ever one-win campaign in the Six Nations. Les Bleus looked to be cruising towards a grand slam until they ran into a mesmerising Scotland outfit in Edinburgh last week and suffered a 50-40 defeat where the scoreline distinctly flattered Fabien Galthie’s side.

The English backline is unchanged from Rome, given a shot at redemption, meaning Ben Spencer and Fin Smith resume their half-back partnership, Seb Atkinson and Tommy Freeman will have a chance to build their link-up in the centres and the back three will consist of Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck and Elliot Daly.

Up front, Chessum is the only alteration to the starting XV, so Jamie George starts at hooker once more with Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes flanking him. Two-time British and Irish Lion Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd and Trevor Davison are the front-row replacements, with Underhill and Marcus Smith in line to win their 50th caps when they come on.

“It’s a huge challenge under the lights in Paris against a very strong France side,” said Borthwick. “England versus France is one of the great rivalries in international rugby and we’re looking forward to the occasion.”

Of the two 50-cappers, Borthwick added: “Reaching 50 caps is a special achievement and a reflection of the consistency both Sam and Marcus have shown in an England shirt. They have both worked extremely hard for this milestone and it’s a credit to them and the people who have supported them along the way.”

France will be hoping to bounce back from their Scotland disappointment and can still win the Six Nations title, knowing that a bonus-point win in Le Crunch will be enough to seal the crown.

England XV to face France (Saturday 14 March, 8.10pm GMT): 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 Alex Coles; 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Cadan Murley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Tommy Freeman, 14 Tom Roebuck; 15 Elliot Daly.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Henry Pollock; 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith.

A popular Man Utd X account dedicated to the club’s academy is fearing closure after being reported for a breach of copyright.

A social media account dedicated to covering Manchester United’s academy fears it could be closed down after videos of the Under-18s’ win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday were removed for copyright breaches.

The Academy Arena account has more than 68,000 followers on X and keeps people up to date on developments across United’s age-group sides. On Saturday, the account posted videos from the 5-2 win against Nottingham Forest, including both of JJ Gabriel’s goals, taken directly from MUTV.

They have since been taken down and the owner of the account has received communication from the club that they believe will lead to its closure.

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Posting a message on X, the account said: “Today [Monday], I received communication from the club that leads me to believe that my account may be taken down due to DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) strikes.

“The correspondence also contained other comments unrelated to copyright, which I will not be sharing.”

A DMCA strike is a formal penalty issued by an online platform, in this case X, when a user violates copyright law by using material they do not own. Many social media platforms have policies which mean three strikes in 90 days can lead to an account being permanently terminated.

A United source said the issue was a standard process related to the use of the club’s intellectual property, which in this case was the match footage. The videos of Gabriel’s goals were taken directly from MUTV coverage of the fixture at Carrington.

It is understood United are looking to take a stronger approach to such breaches, but insist it is not specifically related to a crackdown on academy footage or social media accounts focusing on the club’s academy.

In the message posted on X, the owner of the Academy Arena account said, “I didn’t want to disappear without saying thank you. The support I’ve received since creating this account in 2022 has been overwhelming. Thinking back to the start makes me feel very nostalgic and brings back good memories. Over the years, I think we’ve managed to build a positive community together and I am proud of that.

“To this day, covering the academy remains a hobby of mine because I’m passionate about it. Hopefully I can continue doing so. This isn’t necessarily a goodbye, just a chance to show my gratitude to all of you.”

The 2026 Horizon League Final takes place on Tuesday as the Detroit Mercy Titans face the Wright State Raiders. The Titans (17-14, 12-8 Horizon) are riding a three-game winning streak, most recently knocking off Robert Morris, 70-64, on Monday. The Raiders (22-11, 15-5 Horizon) have won four in a row, including a 103-90 Monday win over Northern Kentucky. Wright State leads the all-time series 27-10.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET from the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis. The teams split their two regular season matchups, with the road team winning each. The Raiders are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Detroit Mercy vs. Wright State odds, while the over/under is 151.5. Before making any Wright State vs. Detroit Mercy picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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Now, the model has simulated Wright State vs. Detroit Mercy 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men’s college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for Detroit Mercy vs. Wright State:

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Top Detroit Mercy vs. Wright State predictions

SportsLine’s model has simulated Wright State vs. Detroit Mercy 10,000 times and is going Over on the total (151.5 points). The two regular season matchups between these two averaged 158.5 combined points. Over their last nine meetings overall, seven have gone over 151.5 points. Additionally, both teams’ offenses are far ahead of their respective defenses.

Detroit Mercy is 131st in the nation in scoring but just 300th in terms of points allowed per game. As for Wright State, it is 77th nationally in points per game but only 162nd in points allowed. Both teams are forecasted to both score more and allow more points in this contest than their season averages. That allows the Over to hit 61.5% of the time.

How to make Wright State vs. Detroit Mercy picks

The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Detroit Mercy vs. Wright State, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Wright State vs. Detroit Mercy spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

As the 2026 Cheltenham Festival gets underway this afternoon, the birthplace of steeplechasing is in the process of commemorating the race that created a sport.

The people of Doneraile in County Cork, where steeplechasing began, is erecting a monument to honour the steeplechase.

Commemorate the origins and heritage of chasing

A dedicated committee was established in June 2024 with the specific goal of creating a lasting monument to commemorate the origins and heritage of the first steeplechase. The committee brings together individuals passionate about preserving this important aspect of Ireland’s sporting culture.

The monument aims to serve as a tribute not only to the athletes who have participated in racing over the years but also to the community that has kept the tradition alive through events, storytelling and media.

Limestone Monument

A limestone monument is set to be erected near St Mary’s Church in Doneraile, marking the historic site where the race finished in 1752.

The monument, designed to be of almost full scale will feature two horses and riders in period costume actively jumping a fence, mounted on a plinth. The total estimated cost for this ambitious project is €170,000

The chosen site for the monument is strategically placed on the approach to Doneraile, ensuring it is prominently visible to visitors entering the town, those frequenting Doneraile Park, as well as local residents and passers-by.

The committee has engaged Matthew Thompson, a renowned sculptor from East Cork, to take on this project. His expertise and artistic vision will ensure the monument is both historically accurate and visually striking.

The project received planning permission from Cork County Council last year. Prior to obtaining planning approval, funding for the monument was sourced through private donations and proceeds from a successful golf classic.

Have your name inscribed on the monument

As a gesture of gratitude, those who donated €500 or more will have their names inscribed on the plinth beneath the monument, commemorating their support for generations to come.

Contact Details

For more information about the fundraising initiatives or to make a donation, the Doneraile Steeplechase Committee can be contacted on Doneraile Steeplechase Facebook page, or email jmcronin683@yahoo.ie.

India’s Lakshya Sen (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: When Lakshya Sen took on Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the 2022 All England Open final, he could only take 10 and 15 points from the Dane, respectively. In 2024, after securing a long-lasting UK visa, the Indian shuttler joked he would win the title there 3-4 times and reach the finals at least eight times. Last Sunday, the 24-year-old added to the finals tally, but the titles column remained at nought as he went down 15-21, 20-22 to Lin Chun-Yi of Taiwan.A foot blister played a role, as did the fatigue of playing a 97-minute semi-final hours ago. In all, he had occupied the court for 91 minutes more than his vanquisher, Lin. Shoulder fatigue made it a physically one-sided affair even before the feather met the strings.

“The semi-final I played took a toll on my body, with the cramps I had. I did everything I could to recover well and come back fresh for the final, but it was tough to get back to 100%,” Lakshya said on Tuesday during a media interaction.“The whole week had been demanding with long matches from the very first day, and the muscles got tired. Even during the semi-final, I was cramping a lot, and the fatigue was still there in the final,” Lakshya added. “Of course, my opponent was also playing his fifth match of the week, but I just tried to give it my all and do my best.”The 24-year-old repeated feeling “disheartened” to not walk away with the title while acknowledging the physical duress on his body. Yet, he did what any athlete does: accept that both players started on an even footing, having played five matches in the week.Sen’s week included wins over top seed and World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi; former World No. 6 Angus Ng Ka Long, and sixth seed Li Shi Feng with only one match, barring the final, finishing in two sets.The difference between the Lakshya Sen of 2022 and that of 2026 is in the level of expectations that he attaches to himself. The heartbreak of missing out on the 2024 Paris Olympics medal has made him a more resolute player, too.“I feel the first time when I played the finals of the All England, I was probably still dreaming that whole week that I am playing in such a big event and I have reached the finals. I was enjoying and playing without any expectation, but here when I could reach the closing of the tournament, the semi-finals, the quarter-finals. I was better prepared in certain ways to know what’s coming and how to play in these pressure matches where I have played big events now and was just trying to focus on playing my best.