The reports of Ireland’s demise have clearly been greatly exaggerated. This was a performance reminiscent of their pomp that seemed to defy the circumstance, a record win over England at Twickenham that challenged so many of the assumptions made about both. No country for old men? There is life, and lots of it, left in this Irish band of brothers.

The verdant past of back-to-back Six Nations crowns may yet be beyond Ireland but here was a throwback showing of golden autumnal hue. Andy Farrell had backed his tried and trusted to hit the levels they had failed to of late and got what he had demanded. Ponderous? Plodding? Leggy after the Lions? Not so here: Jamison Gibson-Park fizzed with a vitality Ireland lacked in Paris on the opening night. Tadhg Beirne made mischief and menace and Stuart McCloskey stood tall to reduce English oak to acorns. For others, this was an international coming-of-age, wings Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien among them. An assured showing from Jack Crowley should make the No 10 shirt his for the foreseeable future. “It’s a special day, 100 per cent, to come here and perform like that,” Farrell said of his side. “We’re obviously delighted with that.”

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The only trouble for Farrell’s beaming team in green is that their title hopes may well rest on England beating France in Paris. It is a scenario that feels fanciful after this. For as good as Ireland were, the hosts simply wilted in the face of their pressure to raise deeper questions about their direction.

If their performance against Scotland could be dismissed as something of an aberration on a day luck did not go their way, there was no rub of the green, really, for Ireland here. Excepting the scrum – how was the play, Mrs Lincoln? – the visitors were better in every facet.

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“It was bitterly disappointing,” Steve Borthwick conceded after a chastening day. “Huge credit to Ireland, they took their chances, their kicking game was excellent. Unfortunately, for two weeks now, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb, given the opposition too many points and we have not got scoreboard presence. We will be looking closely at that and how I set the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

It had been Maro Itoje to lead England out, just the ninth man to reach a century of caps for his country, a great statesman and great player emerging with the understated calm and confidence that has defined him over a decade. A look to the heavens, perhaps in memory of his mother, and England’s captain was down to business.

Borthwick and his squad had expressed frustration about their lacking physicality in the opening Edinburgh skirmishes, and there was a real punch to their first few carries, Freddie Steward hurling himself into the Irish line and Joe Heyes soon after. But a poor kick from George Ford squandered possession, before the eagerness to atone manifested itself in three sloppy, hurried set-pieces. An offside penalty in the English 22 granted the recalled Crowley the chance to open the scoring and settle any nerves.

The hosts, meanwhile, carried a certain skittishness, a coltish feel they had seemed to shed during their long winning run. Ford, unbelievably, twice missed touch with punted penalties, while Steward and Ellis Genge fumbled within five metres of the line after sustained series deep in Irish territory.

When Ireland at last got a chance to attack, they seized their chance. It looked all too easy for Baloucoune and O’Brien – on early for an injured James Lowe – to make metres in open acreage down the right, and England didn’t appropriately reform when the visitors went away to the left. Tom Curry cynically came in at the side to stem the flow; Gibson-Park tapped the resultant penalty quickly and zipped into the corner.

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For a second week running, bad for England soon became worse. O’Brien took a steepling kick on the left and Stuart McCloskey strode away from Ollie Lawrence up the centre. A superb cover tackle from Steward was immediately cancelled out by his diving over the top of the ruck; off he went to the sin bin after Baloucoune finished it off. Like Irish thoroughbreds rounding the bend at Cheltenham, the wing pair were soon at it again, with O’Brien this time the scorer in the left corner.

It was all too much for some. Referee Andrea Piardi departed with an injury and neither Luke Cowan-Dickie nor Steward made it to half time, hooked as Borthwick sought emergency solutions – or perhaps locked the stable door. Even when England did finally register, through Fraser Dingwall on the stroke of the interval, it felt like heavy treading, a phase or five too many required to break Ireland apart.

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The visitors, by contrast, found plenty of pasture. Caelan Doris was next to have a gallop as the travelling support sang of the fields of Athenry. His break forced an infringement under the posts, for which Henry Pollock was shown yellow, and Dan Sheehan soon provided the finishing touches. England grew petulant: Itoje warned about his tone, Jack van Poortvliet conceding 10 metres with backchat.

Again, it appeared the game was long gone before the final quarter that England had come to command during their 12 consecutive wins. A neatly worked Ollie Lawrence try, and accompanying yellow card for Jamie Osborne, instilled some fading faith, but it did not last long, two strikes of Crowley’s right boot adding to the advantage and all but killing home hopes.

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When a returned Osborne punched over 10 minutes from time, there were sprouts of green all around, and Englishmen and women stumbled for the exit. Itoje – another off early even on his milestone day – wore a face of stone, like plenty of others. Even at the last, Ireland were scrambling back hard, McCloskey hauling down Marcus Smith to showcase his impressive speed, Baloucoune bundling Tommy Freeman towards touch. “It looked like we were hunting people down throughout the game,” Farrell said.

Sam Underhill’s late try varnished a home performance for the scrapheap, yet still a record margin of defeat to Ireland here remained. Itoje’s 100th Test would have been among the most painful. Where do England go next?

Wales: Rees-Zammit; Hamer-Webb, James, Hawkins, Adams; Costelow, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Francis, Jenkins, Carter, Plumtree, Mann, Wainwright.

Replacements: Elias, Smith, Griffin, F Thomas, Botham, Hardy, J Evans, Murray.

Scotland: Kinghorn; Steyn, H Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), van der Merwe; Russell, White; McBeth, Cherry, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Cummings, G Brown, Darge, M Fagerson.

Replacements: Turner, Schoeman, Mills, Gilchrist, Bayliss, G Horne, Jordan, Graham.

Referee: Matt Carley (RFU)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Adam Leal (RFU)

TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR).

By placing behind leading filly Tempted in his seasonal reappearance against stronger three-year-olds, Napoleonic highlighted his potential, with the next step being to confirm his ability over added ground.

The colt will have that shot at Rosehill this Saturday, attempting 1400 metres for the debut time in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.

Kept at 1200m in the spring campaign where he claimed three wins from four including stakes glory at Moonee Valley, co-trainer Tom Charlton now views him as suited to further and eyes a 1600m tilt in the Randwick Guineas next month.

“We feel confident about the 1400 and, in regards to a mile, it’s definitely a possibility,” Charlton said.

“This weekend will give us a more definitive answer to whether we press on (to the Randwick Guineas).

“We will get through the weekend but there are some nice options on the table.”

Rider Zac Lloyd shares Charlton’s enthusiasm, having guided Napoleonic first-up and set to continue in the Hobartville.

Lloyd considers the track firmness more detrimental than the step-up in trip, and anticipates a strong showing against Group 1 stars Autumn Boy and Attica.

“I think he’s a very good colt,” Lloyd said.

“I ride him a fair bit at home, so I’m very excited to see what he can do on Saturday.

“And even after Saturday, probably in Group One company, I think he’ll perform very well.

“He does appreciate a bit of give in the track, which he might not get at Rosehill, so that could be a little knock against him. But I think 1400, and in due time a mile, will suit him a lot.”

Journeyman, fresh off a brilliant midweek debut at Warwick Farm earlier this month, was removed from the field after being lame in his off-hind leg on Wednesday.

Co-trainer Will Freedman revealed the gelding is going for scans, the problem not seeming grave, but a cautious spell is probable.

Find the latest betting markets for the race ahead of the Hobartville Stakes.

In an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this year, “Miracle on Ice” goaltender Jim Craig said he hoped this year’s United States Olympic men’s hockey team would show “that same commitment” his 1980 squad had. Well, this team has won him over.

In an Instagram post showing the celebration from the U.S.’s overtime win over Sweden in the quarterfinals, Craig praised this year’s Olympic team as it geared up for a gold medal game against Canada on Sunday.

“You can feel it. The preparation. The poise. The response when it matters most,” Craig wrote.

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Jim Craig celebrates Team USA’s win over USSR on Feb. 22, 1980.  (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

“Great teams don’t chase history – they create it. The 1980 team proved what belief can do. This group has that same edge. Different names on the back. Same name on the front. That crest carries history. It carries sacrifice. It carries belief.

“Congratulations on the win, @usahockey. One more.”

When Craig played in the Olympics, NHL players were not allowed to participate. Craig was all for having the “best athletes in the world” compete, but on one condition.

“I just hope that they have that same commitment that the amateurs had, right? That what’s the most important thing isn’t their brand, or where they play. It’s about representing their country, and it’s not about themselves,” Craig said to Fox News Digital last month. 

Quinn Hughes of Team United States celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in overtime during the Men’s Quarterfinals Playoff match between the United States and Sweden on day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 18, 2026, in Milan, Italy.  (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

TEAM USA TO BATTLE CANADA FOR OLYMPIC GOLD AFTER DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AGAINST SLOVAKIA

“That’s what I’m really proud of our teammates that we were able to do. It wasn’t about who’s going to get the best contract, where are you going, how much money are you going to make? It was about what was really important, and that’s representing your country.”

For Craig, last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off proved as such, but clearly for Craig, this team has confirmed it.

“You can be politically correct all you want, but you can see how unpolitically correct those teams were,” Craig said about the 4 Nations squads. with a laugh. “Canada wanted to win, and the USA wanted to win, and you can even see the way that Canada has picked their team [this year]. I mean, their team now isn’t just the greatest athletes. It’s an ingredient of things that it’s going to take to beat the United States.

“They’re tougher, there’s players that, like Herb [Brooks] said, ‘I’m not looking for the best players, I’m looking for the right players.’ I really think now when they go into the Olympic Games, it isn’t who the highest scorer is. They’re really looking for something that’s going to be helping them win, and that’s something Herb did a long time ago.”

United States’ Tage Thompson, second right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during a preliminary round game of men’s ice hockey between the United States and Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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The puck will drop for gold at 8:10 a.m ET on Sunday — the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter

Despite the suboptimal barrier, trainer Clayton Douglas intends to travel to Adelaide with newcomer Mr Waterville.

Previously trained by Chris Waller after arriving from Ireland, the galloper lines up in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville this coming Saturday.

Saturday’s race serves Douglas as the ultimate tune-up for the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville scheduled for March 9.

In Saturday’s lineup, Mr Waterville has barrier 19, the widest, and the trainer indicated this outing is essential for the gelding’s path to the Adelaide Cup.

“Drawing 19 is not ideal but he’ll be in the middle to back-half of the field anyway and the 2600 (metres) should be ideal,” Douglas said.

“It’s a stepping stone to hopefully starting in the Adelaide Cup and he needs this grounding run to head there.

“The set-weights and penalties on Saturday makes it a suitable race.”

Douglas pointed out that another viable prep race for Mr Waterville ahead of the Adelaide Cup was the 2500m affair won by Berkeley Square at Flemington last Saturday, while the Listed Torney Cup (2500m) at Pakenham is only three days away.

Under Douglas for the first time, Mr Waterville achieved a closing third in the Colac Cup (2000m) on February 6.

From his Irish beginnings with Aidan O’Brien, where he notched two wins in seven starts, Mr Waterville endured a barren spell of 20 races without success for Waller, who continues as a part-owner of the gelding.

Douglas revealed Waller proposed seeking a fresh environment for the horse, leading to his transfer via Rod Lyons, owner of Nature Strip, into the current stable.

“He’s done some schooling down here and that seems to have helped,” Douglas said.

“Maybe if he doesn’t perform well in his next couple of flat runs, we might see him in a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool during the carnival.”

Mr Waterville is entered for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11.

Punters looking for value in the Lord Reims Stakes should review the leading betting sites and their racing odds.

Photo credit: X/@KeralaBlasters

KOCHI: Preparations for Kerala Blasters’ first home match of the new Indian Super League (ISL) season against Mumbai City FC were thrown into turmoil on the eve of the fixture on Saturday, following an unexpected standoff with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.GCDA denied permission for a pre-arranged pre-match press conference to be held inside the stadium, forcing the club to shift the interaction online at short notice.Tensions escalated later in the evening when GCDA officials reportedly asked All India Football Federation (AIFF) personnel, including match commissioner Arunava Bhattacharya, to vacate the premises. The authority also allegedly ordered the closure of the club’s administrative office operating within the stadium complex.Amid speculation that the match could be called off, the Blasters clarified in a late evening statement that the game would proceed as per schedule. “In the end, football is the winner. We will take to the field against Mumbai City FC tomorrow for our first home game of the season,” the club said.However, a source close to the management indicated that the understanding applies only for the opening fixture, with no clarity yet on arrangements for the remaining home games.The uncertainty stems from a dispute over stadium rent and pending payments.Last week, GCDA chairman K Chandran Pillai announced in a joint press conference with club officials that Rs 2 lakh would be charged as a one-time concession for this season, instead of Rs 8 lakh that was charged during the previous seasons.However, the authority’s executive committee, which met on Thursday, reportedly reversed the decision and fixed the rent at Rs 4.2 lakh per match.In addition to the revised match-day rent, GCDA is said to have demanded that the Blasters clear the full amount and settle an additional Rs 22 lakh as liability fees from the previous season within a week.According to a source within the club, the disputed sum relates to losses and additional expenses arising from a Bharatanatyam event held at the stadium in December last year.“Since the event happened in the middle of the season, they are asking us to pay that amount. Why should we pay the liability for an event that had no connection with us?” the source said.TOI reached out to GCDA officials, but they were not available for comment.The standoff played out publicly earlier in the day when GCDA security personnel asked journalists to vacate the hall designated for the pre-match press conference before locking up the venue. Blasters head coach David Catala and midfielder Rowllin Borges reportedly waited for over 30 minutes before leaving, once it became clear the interaction would not be allowed to proceed.The club subsequently conducted the media briefing online. During the session, Catala was asked pointedly by a reporter: “Which is your home ground?”The Spaniard kept his focus on football. His priority, he said, was preparing the squad and playing in front of their supporters at the stadium. He exuded confidence that the match would go ahead at the venue despite the uncertainty off the pitch.For now, the Blasters’ home opener will go ahead as per schedule, but the dispute on rent remains unresolved, casting a shadow over the rest of their ISL campaign.

Chad Johnson doesn’t seem pleased with how the Baltimore Ravens are treating Lamar Jackson. The team’s new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, apparently targeted the two-time NFL MVP while making his stance on players’ participation in voluntary offseason workouts clear.

“We would expect them to be here and certainly it is voluntary,” Doyle said during his introductory press conference. “But also, if you want to say that you’re going to win a championship, you want to say that you have championship standards.”

Johnson lashed out at Doyle during Thursday’s episode of the “Nightcap” show. He was furious at the Ravens OC for making a show out of it.

“You don’t do that coming in as a new coach! It’s dumb and it’s stupid! Why would you piss off your QB with a message like that! It’s stupid!” Johnson said. “If you want Lamar to show up, you text him [privately]. How is coming at your franchise QB publicly supposed to help anything?”

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Doyle has spoken and met with Jackson a few times. He also had an hour-long video call during his interview for the job in Baltimore. They have exchanged some texts as well. Johnson probably believes the former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator could have asked the four-time Pro Bowler to attend the voluntary OTAs then.

The Ravens hired Declan Doyle on Feb. 2 after Todd Monken left to become coach of the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 28.

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Ravens OC reveals his plan for Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens‘ newly hired head coach, Jesse Minter, brought Declan Doyle aboard to get the best out of the team’s franchise quarterback. The offensive coordinator shared his strategy for working with Lamar Jackson.

“You try to shape the offense around the player,” Doyles said on Saturday on Ari Meirov’s podcast. “We try to really give him a lot initially to see what he can handle, and from there it’s our job to shape it so he has success.

Doyle wants to focus on what the offense and the QB are good at. He plans to adapt to Jackson’s style. He does not want to mess it up by trying something that worked well with a different QB but might not be the right fit for the Ravens’ superstar.