Sport News In Brief
McIlroy brands proposed rule changes a ‘huge waste of time and money’
Rory McIlroy has criticised golf's lawmakers for considering changes to equipment that would tame the power of the game's big hitters, saying the campaign is "a huge waste of time and money".
The Royal and Ancient (R&A), in conjunction with the United States Golf Association (USGA), has proposed reducing driver shaft length to 46 inches from the current limit of 48.
Another "area of interest" for the R&A and USGA is for the potential use of local rules that would specify the use of clubs and/or balls, resulting in shorter distances.
The proposals are part of the latest updates to the Distance Insights Report published last February that said increased hitting distances changed the challenge of the game and risked making courses obsolete.
"I think the authorities are looking at the game through such a tiny little lens, that what they're trying to do
is change something that pertains to 0.1% of the golfing community," four-times major champion McIlroy said.
"Ninety-nine per cent of the people that play this game play for enjoyment. They don't need to be told what ball or clubs to use.
"I think this report has been a huge waste of time and money, because the money that it's cost to do this report could have been way better distributed to getting people into the game."
Nadal not playing ‘at full intensity’ ahead of Australian Open
World number two Rafael Nadal on Thursday said doubts remain over his fitness ahead of next week's Australian Open.
Nadal pulled out of Spain's ATP Cup tie against Australia on Tuesday with a lower back problem and, despite improvement, said he was still far away from the level required to play at the year's first Grand Slam.
"It's not that I'm in a really bad way, but I'm also not alright in the sense that I can't play either," Nadal told Spanish television channel Movistar+.
"I've improved a little but I'm not in a position where I can go and play a game at full intensity."
Nadal sits level with Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles and, with the Swiss not taking part in Melbourne after knee surgery, the Spaniard would have the chance to become the all-time major record holder in the men's game for the first time.
He insisted, however, that that was not something he was focused on. "First thing's first, and that's to play the Australian Open, and if that doesn't go well, the season goes on," he said.
"I've never been obsessed with Grand Slams, truth be told."
Kohli hails Root ahead of 100th cap
England captains are always marked out for special treatment ahead of any series. Ahead of a four-match encounter with India, this time will be no different.
However, as Joe Root prepares for what will be his 100th Test captain, his opposite man Virat Kohli decided against calling him out, as is seemingly customary in these pre-showdown press briefings. Instead, he lauded the achievement of the upcoming milestone for a player who he has more or less run parallel with.
Their careers have carried a degree of symmetry. Both were age-group starlets pegged as future skippers who began their Test journeys just over a year apart: Kohli in June 2011, Root in December 2012. They have since gone on to immerse themselves as the crown jewel of their respective batting line-ups.
“A big congratulations to Joe, playing 100 Tests is no small achievement,” said Kohli, who will move to 88 caps of his own with Friday’s firsts Test at Chennai. “He can be very proud of being in this journey and still continuing to do so. He's got many years of cricket still left so huge congratulations on that.
“I have good memories of watching Joe come on to the international scene, he probably got off to a headstart compared to the other three in that group of four that you mention. He's someone who has really come out of England and become that face of England's batting over the years.”
Farrell and Russell start at fly-half for England against Scotland
Owen Farrell will start England's Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland at fly-half as part of physical midfield selected for Saturday's Calcutta Cup showdown at Twickenham.
For the first time since the 2019 World Cup quarter-final victory over Australia, George Ford has dropped to the bench, making way for the more muscular trio of Farrell, Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade.
Ford missed the start of the autumn because of an Achilles injury but having been restored to full fitness, he was picked as chief conductor for the victories over Wales and France.
It will be Lawrence's fourth cap and first Six Nations appearance and the Worcester inside centre will be given the role of midfield battering ram at which he showed promise during the Autumn Nations Cup.
Apart from the adjustment made at fly-half and 12, Jones has retained the same backline that sent France spinning to defeat in sudden death at Twickenham two months ago.
Finn Russell returns at flyhalf and Cameron Redpath will make his debut at centre for Scotland in the lineup named by coach Gregor Townsend to face England.
Russell, whose mercurial performances and flamboyant skills make him one of world rugbyâ s most exciting players, missed the Autumn Nations Cup through injury and sat out most of last yearâ s Six Nations after a spat with the coach that has since been settled.
The 21-year-old Redpath, who played for England at under-20 level and plays his club rugby for Bath, elected last month to follow in the footsteps of his father Bryan and play test rugby for Scotland.
The decision was a blow to England with the centre seen as a promising prospect and Townsend was brimming with enthusiasm on Thursday as he explained his selection of the inexperienced back at a video news conference.