Archive November 2, 2025

‘Borthwick played a blinder with bench selection’

BBB Sport

Steve Borthwick and his players have never touched on it, but the Australian Rugby World Cup is just two years away.

Given England’s impressive strength and depth, a small number of players will play a lot of rugby over the next two years and still won’t be chosen.

Borthwick, who gave a nod to the stars of the successful summer tour to Argentina, was the starting choice for Saturday’s 25-7 victory over Australia.

When you have benches like England’s, which featured six tourists from the British and Irish Lions, you are talking about the highest echelons of international team sports.

England hasn’t had a bench like that for a very long time.

Borthwick consistently plays with that much power on the bench because you need that skill, experience, and finesse from the beginning of the game when you play against better opponents.

If you are Australia and witness a Lions front row of Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Will Stuart, you are thinking, “oh, goodness,” after all that graft in the first 60 minutes.

You also possess Henry Pollock’s individual skill and ability to grab a ball with one hand and be in the right place at the right moment to score a crucial try.

It is a fantastic tool, and it is now being used with such a clever and effective strategy.

There is just something a little bit different about the make-up, the talent, the willingness to be a part of the extended squad, and the culture within it when you look at this England squad, which we have been saying for a while.

Everyone is eager to see and take pleasure in England’s current success.

To be very successful at World Cups, the hooker, number eight, scrum-half, fly-half, inside center, and full-back are frequently very key positions.

It will be interesting to see how Borthwick plays it this autumn if those positions consistently indicate that they are prepared to advance to the World Cup.

Tommy Freeman has had a really good start to his Test career at age 13 despite the fact that the fly-half and full-back positions are still very much up for grabs and a little in the middle.

Perhaps the best course of action would be to have two or three fly-halves for various oppositions and styles. The back row can be compared to the front row.

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Leadership that is “softer” and “quieter” may have helped.

Maro Itoje celebrating against Australia Getty Images

During this eight-game winning run, something clicked, perhaps due to senior leadership.

It might be something Maro Itoje, who was only appointed captain in January, is referring to as skipper.

Jamie George and George Ford’s presence has also helped that.

Although I don’t mean to insult Owen Farrell, Ford and George both have very different leadership styles from Farrell.

Maybe Itoje, George, and Ford’s softer, more composed leadership is allowing the players to learn more?

The coaches and management team will take into account so many variables to determine what this squad’s best performance will be.

England is now able to “apply pressure” on the best players in the world.

The team’s and its players’ confidence will depend on the outcome of the next three games against Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina.

As players become more confident in expressing themselves in different ways over the course of the next two years and the Allianz Stadium becomes a fortress, that confidence will naturally translate into their performances away from home.

Will you know that you can defeat France in a Grand Slam match in Paris?

If England’s players are successful in advancing up the world rankings after winning the following three games, there might be an opportunity for the England management to use some pressure on them.

In contrast to previous years filled with doubts about leadership or a lack of confidence in some areas, the team could be moved forward in a different way given that the team would have won 11 games in a row.

To help them advance in the world game, the focus will be on teamwork and top-notch performance rather than just excuses.

Quietly, it is important to know where England would be in the eyes of Scotland, Wales, Italy, Ireland, and France if they won the next three games.

It might change how people perceive and interpret playing England, something that other teams haven’t done for a while.

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Strictly’s Lewis Cope shares girlfriend’s reaction to dance partner Katya Jones and his on-screen kisses

Lewis Cope, the star of Strictly Come Dancing, claims Raschel Maya Lopez, his girlfriend of seven years, has never been in conversation about the “Strictly curse.”

Strictly Come Dancing star Lewis Cope left both viewers and the judges in awe following his recent performance, which saw him score a perfect 40 points from all four judges. And while the contestants’ dancing ability is a major talking point every series, so too is the subject of the “Strictly curse”, which has seen his dance professional dance partner Katya Jones fall victim to.

But in a recent interview, the Emmerdale actor has claimed that has not been a conversation he has had to have with his girlfriend, Rachel Maya Lopez.

He claimed that Katya has met her numerous times on the show and that she is his greatest supporter. The couple has seven years of dating.

He continued, “She’s used to kiss me kissing boys, but it hasn’t been a problem, because over the years I’ve had to kiss a lot of people on stage or onscreen, as an actor. Since Kate and Rachel have both met, we have never had a conversation.

As a result of her efforts to give Lewis his “biggest supporter,” Rachel, who also works as a pilates instructor, has provided him with a packed lunch for rehearsals.

Lewis scored 10 points from all four judges including Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse.

At the age of 10, Lewis left Hartlepool and moved to London to pursue his acting career.

Many people demanded that he be removed from the show because they thought he had an unfair advantage when it became clear that he had a background in performing arts. However, Lewis has refuted this assertion.

Despite being cast in the musical Billy Elliot, Lewis is unwavering about his lack of formal training in dance.

He claimed to be an actor and that he had studied dance as a teenager but hasn’t since since.

He continued, “To call me a professional dancer or professional trainer seems a little strange, especially now that I’m working with these pros on the show. They should be ashamed to admit that I’m on their level when they have lived their entire lives to strive to be as brilliant as they are.

Pro dancer Katya said in a conversation with Radio Times: “I think everyone is aware that Lewis can move and I’m looking forward to turning him into a ballroom dancer.” However, his musical theater training might be a hindrance. It’s harder to learn new habits than to learn blank canvas.

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Wolves sack Pereira after winless league start

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After losing any of their ten Premier League games this season, Wolves fired head coach Vitor Pereira.

Wolves’ eighth top-flight victory came on Saturday against Fulham, who defeated them 3-3.

Eight points off safety, they are at the bottom of the table.

In September, Pereira assumed control of the company and signed a new three-year contract in December 2024.

All eight of Pereira’s backroom staff have also left, according to a club statement that stated “results and performances this term have fallen below acceptable standards, and as a result a change in leadership was deemed necessary.”

Vice President and his team “worked tirelessly for Wolves and assisted us through a challenging period last season, for which we are grateful,” according to executive chairman Jeff Shi.

“Unfortunately, the start of this season has been a disappointment, and we have reached a point where we must make a change,” the head coach said. “We have reached a point where we must make a change.

This year, Wolves defeated West Ham and Everton in the Carabao Cup, but Chelsea knocked them out on Wednesday in the last 16.

Pereira’s dismissal was announced on Sunday morning, according to BBC Sport, and he will not be paid in full under the new contract he signed in September.

He is said to regret not leaving before the season’s debut.

When Pereira took Gary O’Neil’s place in December, they finished 19th, and he led them to safety by placing them 16th.

In the summer, Pereira lost a number of important players, including Nelson Semedo’s departure from Fenerbahce after his contract expired, Matheus Cunha leaving for Manchester United for £62.5 million, Rayan Ait-Nouri joining Manchester City for £31 million, and Matheus Cunha moving to Manchester United for £60 million.

During the difficult start to the campaign, when Pereira attempted to bring in six new players, speculation about Jorgen Strand Larsen’s future turned out to be a disgrace.

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Wolves comfortably endured thanks to a six-game winning run following Pereira’s arrival midway through the previous season.

However, as Wolves began their campaign with five league defeats in a row, that optimism quickly vanished.

They have now lost three league games in a row.

Although Wolves conceded a late equalizer in both games, their two points came from draws in favor of Tottenham and Brighton successively.

This year, Wolves have lost to Leeds, Sunderland, and Burnley, all three promoted clubs.

No surprise Wolves behaved, analysts say.

The managers were given the sack and the teams were promoted as a result of Saturday’s defeat.

Fulham, who had lost their previous four games, gave Wolves something, but they did it under Pereira.

Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise Wolves to fire the 57-year-old.

Wolves sought consistency and stability, but they are now seeking their fifth permanent manager in four years.

After losing at Craven Cottage, Pereira began to sound like a battered man, and a change was about to occur.

He was unable to provide a convincing response when asked how Wolves could become the first Premier League team to escape relegation after capturing two points from ten games.

Pereira is a good man, an honest coach, and a coach with experience, and he was aware that the situation was unlikely to favor him.

Wolves’ winless start does not appear to be coming to an end with a trip to Chelsea on Saturday.

The last six Premier League victories for Wolves

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US federal agent in Chicago punches restrained man’s head on the ground

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A Customs and Border Protection agent repeatedly punched a man’s head against the road during an arrest in Evanston, Illinois. After the agent’s car was rear-ended, a hostile crowd formed, which the agents reacted with pepper spray and pointed guns at protesters. The identity of the man who was punched is still unknown, whether he was the one who caused the collision or a member of a gathering to compel federal officers to leave. Local leaders resent the incident, and there are still unresolved issues with Chicago’s federal immigration enforcement.

Wicked 2 stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo get matching tattoos with secret meaning

The Wicked movie’s second installment features identical lead actors who receive hidden messages and identical inkings.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the stars of Wicked 2, have revealed they have matching tattoos just in time for Wicked: For Good’s release on November 21.

In the popular musical, the actresses play Glinda and Elphaba, and they have forged a lasting friendship that has led to their permanent tattoos.

Ariana took to her Instagram page to share a photo of her and Cynthia’s hands with the inscription ‘For Good’ written in a simple black font under their thumbs.

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The singer also wrote, “Happy wicked month, 20 days!” along with the post. In a nod to the second installment of the Wicked movies, the two friends decided to tattoo “For Good” on them.

The relationship between Cynthia and Ariana dates back to Wicked, and they now seem to be a blur. However, their close friendship last year raised questions and sparked a viral sensation that perplexed fans.

The duo were speaking with journalist Tracy Gilchrist, who eluded the release of the movie’s stars by secretly letting them know that fans were “holding space” for the lyrics to one of the musical’s most recognizable songs, “Defying Gravity.”

Cynthia elicited an emotional response when Gilchrist inquired about whether they were aware that “people are really holding space with that and feeling power in that” and that “people are taking the lyrics of Defying Gravity.”

As they looked at one another, Ariana grabbed Cynthia’s finger and said no. They both seemed to know exactly how to respond.

After the clip first went viral, Gilchrist clarified her meaning with Variety, saying, “‘Holding space’ is being physically, emotionally and mentally present with someone or something,” and that people were “finding solace or inspiration” in the song following Donald Trump’s election.

When attending press conferences, Cynthia and Ariana are always a close second.

Cynthia said, “I think we found a little bit of ourselves in each other,” referring to their close friendship. I believe there are some small parts of us that were missing when we first started working together.

Cynthia claims that Ariana, her “best friend,” encouraged her to pursue her goals rather than pursue a career in medicine. In June, she released her second album, I Forgive You.

The triple Oscar nominee, who has won Grammy, Emmy, and Tony awards, said of her pal Ariana: “At the very beginning, when we were doing rehearsals, I sort of decided that, okay, time to write this album. Ariana pressured me because she wouldn’t let me get away with it.

Cynthia said, “I decided I wanted to be a spinal surgeon on the fly. because I was getting started with biology.

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I was one of those kids who excelled at reading, doing those things, and doing well in class, but I also excelled at singing. So my left and right brains were sort of engaged in combat.