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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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered conference tournament week on a sizzling 14-2 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-21 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.    

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.

This year’s safety class has become all about Caleb Downs.

Rightfully so as the Ohio State product has all the tools to become a starter at the NFL level. However, there is another defensive back prospect out of Toledo who has begun catching the eyes of many as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. That player is Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

Background

Statistics

• 2022: 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble (13 games)
• 2023: 69 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles (14 games)
• 2024: 61 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble (8 games)
• 2025: 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered (13 games)

Measurables

• Height: 6′ 3 1/2″
• Weight: 201
• Hand Size: 9 1/4″
• Arm Length: 32 1/8″
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.52
• 10-Yard Split: 1.58
• 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
• Vertical: 35.5″
• Broad Jump: 10′ 2″
• 3-Cone: N/A
• Bench: N/A

Experience is not an issue for McNeil-Warren heading into the NFL. He began making starts during his sophomore season in 2023 before taking over the role fully during his junior year. While his 2024 season was cut short due to an undisclosed injury. That didn’t seem to hamper him in 2025 though as he bounced back and had another fantastic season for the Rockets.

Strengths

McNeil-Warren is an absolute demon at the safety position against the run. He is not afraid of contact and uses his size to deliver massive hits, hence why he forced nine fumbles over his four years in college, including a MAC-leading four during his sophomore year in 2023. His ability to drive downhill on running lanes in the box and bring some pop is a special trait that NFL defenses will crave.

The athletic ability should not be slept on either. McNeil-Warren has an innate ability to pick the right lane through blockers and turn his hips to make seamless direction changes, sniffing out the football along the way. His ability to make open field tackles is extremely impressive.

On top of that, among FBS safeties with at least 200 coverage snaps in 2025, he was PFF’s top graded player with a coverage grade of 92.0. He was targeted just 15 times this season, and he gave up just six receptions for 116 yards with five pass breakups.

Weaknesses

Much like Quinyon Mitchell a couple years ago, many of the concerns stem from the level of competition McNeil-Warren went up against in college. It’s easier to make plays when you’re one of the fastest players on the field, but that speed will become the norm at the NFL level.

While tackling has been a strong suit throughout his career, there seemed to be some lapses in focus during his senior season. He more than doubled his missed tackle numbers from six in 2024 to 13 in 2025. H0pefully, that won’t become a trend as a pro.

2026 NFL Draft Projection

• NFL Draft Projection: Day 1-Day 2 (Mid-Round 1 to Early Round 2)
• Team Fits: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers

McNeil-Warren may end up falling a bit further in the draft because of where he played his college football, but at some point, talent is talent. The man is an extremely fun football player to watch, brings tons of energy and physicality, and he has the potential to be a cornerstone for a defense in the NFL.

Editor’s Note: Statistics from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.

Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey

Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft is a unique mod that drastically increases the game’s difficulty to bizarre levels. The hardest vanilla difficulty is the hardcore mode. In hardcore mode, you will lose the world once you die. While the Impossible Difficulty datapack does not feature the hardcore mechanic, it adds all kinds of other dangers that you cannot even imagine.

Here are more details about the Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft.

Features and download guide for Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft

What does the Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft offer?

When you enter a Minecraft vanilla world, you start by punching a tree to get some wood and create a crafting table to make basic tools. However, in the Impossible Difficult datapack for Minecraft, you will not even be able to punch a tree without danger.

When you try to punch a tree, the entire tree will explode and kill you instantly. If you manage to get wood and create a crafting table, the block will terrifyingly convert into a killing machine, with a bazooka and two cutting discs. If you finally defeat all the hostile mobs in a structure and open chests to loot, a custom shulker mob will appear from it and kill you with a laser gun.

Villages will not be safe as well, as villagers will turn into masked serial killers, running towards you with chainsaws. Creepers can randomly multiply all around you, trapping you in a massive explosion, furnace block will become a flamethrower while smelting items, and much more.

In various other bizarre and hilarious ways, the Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft makes the game almost unplayable. Despite all this, the unique ways in which the modder has increased the game’s difficulty are worth checking out at least once.

Below are some of the settings you can change using commands. Make sure to go into creative mode in order to use these commands:

• /trigger difficulty set <1-3>
• /trigger dragon_difficulty set <1-3>
• /trigger toggle_armor_slowdown
• /trigger toggle_chest
• /trigger toggle_endermen
• /trigger toggle_flashbang
• /trigger count_features

How to download and install the Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft?

Here is a guide to download and install the Impossible Difficulty datapack for Minecraft:

1. Make sure you have Minecraft 1.21.1 installed from the official launcher. You can do so by going into Java Edition’s “Installations” tab, create new installation, and selecting 1.21.1.
2. Download both the Impossible Difficulty Resourcepack and Datapack. As of now, it is only compatible with 1.21.1. The modder might create updated versions in the future.
3. Once downloaded, open the Minecraft directory, which should be here for every player: C:\Users\{your username}\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft.
4. In this folder, find or create “datapacks” and “resourcepacks” folders, and transfer Impossible Difficulty files to both.
5. Open the Minecraft launcher again and open the 1.21.1 game version. Create a new world, and start enjoying the extra difficulty.

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