Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Spare a thought for Rory Best, Liverpool young guns impress in FA Cup and McIlroy shows no signs of rust in Abu Dhabi

Ulster’s Rory Best will lead Ireland out against Wales next month. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho
Ulster’s Rory Best will lead Ireland out against Wales next month. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho
Thu Jan 21 2016 - 08:32

Rugby

Rory Best was yesterday announced as the new captain of the Irish rugby team as Joe Schmidt announced his 35 man squad for the opening two rounds of next month’s Six Nations.

Included in that selection were four uncapped players - the major talking point though will be the call on the captaincy - as Gerry Thornley explains, "there is probably no harder task than to succeed Paul O'Connell as captain, who had effectively succeeded Brian O'Driscoll."

Meanwhile discussions are continuing on a daily basis and legal advice is now being taken as Leinster strive to keep hold of Marty Moore - after the prop's decision to accept a three-year offer from English Premiership club Wasps, before reported interventions from members of the Irish and Leinster management, persuading him that his future best lies with the province.

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Women in Sport

In this morning's Women in Sport pages Sonia O'Sullivan recalls how an injury can so suddenly derail an athlete's progress - but a recent injury she's picked up has presented her with a new challenge - "it's never too late to take on a new challenge, even if you'd rather be out running or cycling. You never know what you might discover just by jumping in at the deep end and giving it a go."

Soccer: FA Cup

Liverpool finally booked there place in the fourth round of the FA Cup last night, as their young guns impressed in a 3-0 win over Exeter City. Goals from Joe Allen, and one apiece from the impressive Joao Teixera and Sheyi Ojo capped off a dominant performance in which local boy Jon Flanagan also made his return after a 20-month injury lay-off. Tottenham too progressed, after securing a 2-0 away win over high-flying Leicester.

Golf

Rory McIlroy has made a quick start in the early stages of the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this morning. He may not have played since November, but there was no evidence of any rust as he birdied four of his first six holes and is two off the current lead having finished his round on 66.

Tennis

While in the Australian Open, Andy Murray this morning saw off the second round challenge of Aussie Sam Groth in three sets.