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Fin Smith delivers after 'rabbit in headlights' start
Former Saints and England fly-half Paul Grayson said the ability to overcome early mistakes showed "a sign of an international player".
"I have watched him a bit and that's what he is," Grayson told the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"He's a good organiser, he is measured, and he will call the right decisions most of the time.
"His open field kicking needs work. He kicked some shockers today.
"But that didn't define him. He grew into the game, and he got better the longer he was on the pitch."
In the autumn, England were leading heading into the final stages against Australia and New Zealand but failed to close out both games.
Against Ireland in their opening Six Nations match, Steve Borthwick's side led 10-5 at half-time but fell away in the final quarter.
Former England scrum-half and World Cup winner Matt Dawson believes the way Fin Smith grabbed the game in final quarter makes him "more of the man" for the 10 shirt going forward.
"Watching other players go up to Fin [after the game], I saw more of the senior players pretend to bow down to him a little bit," he added.
"That means quite a lot for someone who is 22 years old.
"They obviously appreciate that they're being managed and looked after on the pitch by the 10.
"Not every fly-half has the ability to do that to the team."
Warren Gatland has vowed to carry on as Wales head coach despite their record losing run hitting a new low.
Wales are now down to 12th in the world rankings - their lowest ever position - following the 22-15 loss to Italy.
It was their 14th straight defeat, a first in Rome for 18 years and equalled their worst series of results in championship history.
But Gatland insists he is seeing enough progress and spirit in his team to remain in the firing line.
"It's not the easiest position to be in but you have to be strong," he replied, when asked whether he wanted to continue.
"There's no doubt it's challenging. You do question yourself in terms of [being able to turn things round].
"We talked [after the game] about continuing to work hard and staying tight as a group.
"Everyone is pretty frustrated, the players, staff and coaches. There's no-one more disappointed than we are.
"We will review and highlight areas where we can still get better, and for me personally."
Cool heads and bloody minds combine as England pluck victory from chaos
"Make some noise for your England!"
The pitchside hype man needn't have worried.
The 81,000 inside Allianz Stadium had been doing exactly that for the final rounds of an epic, see-sawing contest and weren't about to stop as Maro Itoje, Tom Curry and their battle-battered team-mates used their last drop of energy to salute the stands.
There was jubilation, vindication and a fair bit of relief in the decibels.
England fans are used to their teams putting them through the wringer.
Three tries in the final 10 minutes? The lead swapping hands faster than an ambidextrous dog-walker? This is standard fare in the wild, wild south-west of London nowadays.
The last Six Nations match here was a victory over Ireland settled by a Marcus Smith drop-goal at the death.
In the autumn, George Ford was the width of a post from doing the same to New Zealand.
A week later against Australia, the Wallabies won a 79-point, 10-try rafter-ripper on the final play.
Some of the Twickenham scripts would have been shredded as too outlandish by a telenovela writers' room.
But, after six defeats in their past seven Tests, an England victory was the oh-so welcome twist this time around.
Finally, England have the salve of victory to ease some tired bodies and minds.
The hosts' effort and commitment has been evident through that rotten run. Perspiration has come by the gallon. Inspiration coming in far shorter measures has been the problem.
This wasn't loads in this performance either.
France, who carried further and made more line breaks, were the more consistently dangerous.
They were also criminally - and crucially - casual in their handling. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, scorer of two tries, butchered another with a nonchalant pass slung over the top of Peato Mauvaka.
Damian Penaud juggled and spilled a dolly.
Even in the build-up to their opening try, Mauvaka carelessly dropped the ball out his back pocket.
BARBERVILLE, Fla. A Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals gator was one of few pieces missing from Kyle Larsons résumé.
There was no stopping him from filling that line on Friday night at Volusia Speedway Park.
He was third on Wednesday. He climbed to second on Thursday. The hunger grew and grew. And finally on his 19th attempt, Larson caught himself a gator.
Larson started on the pole of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car feature and never looked back. Lapped traffic appeared as if it may make things interesting with Christopher Bell stalking in second, but a timely yellow gave Larson open track. He refused to watch Bell celebrate two nights in a row. Theyre friends but also fierce competitors.
Larson survived a handful of late restarts and parked the Silva Motorsports No. 57 in victory lane.
Its (Volusia) a place that I feel like Ive raced well, Larson said. I just always start so far back. I havent felt like that gator has been close enough. Weve been getting the night started off pretty well, and my car feels really good throughout the night. I felt really good there again.
Its cool to win here at Volusia. Its cool to have a lot of our supporters here this weekend and great to see a packed house too.
It was roles reversed from the previous night when Bell narrowly fended off Larson. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion lined up on the pole and took off right away. Danny Sams III took the second spot from Bell, but the Norman, Okla., native rallied to reclaim it on Lap 13. He closed in on Larson in traffic, but some late cautions put Larson in clean air, and he drove the Silva Motorsports No. 57 to victory.
It got kind of a little easy to run the top, so the lappers were just as fast as I was, Larson said. I felt like Bell would be closing on me, but I was able to make a couple good moves. I think the cautions probably came out at the right time for me, and I was able to have clean air to the end there.
Larsons 36th career win with The Greatest Show on Dirt equaled him with Shane Stewart for 22nd all-time. Volusia is the 18th different track where hes topped a World of Outlaws race. Larson will also enter Saturdays finale with an eight-point lead in the Big Gator standings.
Bell came up just one spot short of back-to-back Volusia victories.
I definitely wanted it to stay green, Bell said. But ultimately, he got away from me even before the yellow came out. Ultimately, on the start me not being able to fall into second and follow behind him cost me a shot at it. But the car felt really good.
Rounding out the podium was David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. The defending champion continued his strong start to 2025 with his third consecutive finish of fourth or better.
When it got congested there, we were really good, Gravel said. I think our car was the best right there in the middle of the race and was able to use the bottom here in (Turns) 3 and 4 to pass those guys. I think we passed two in one corner. Another good race car just a little too late. You put Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell on the front row its going to be tough to beat them.
Brad Sweet and Ryan Timms completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[1]; 2. 69K-Christopher Bell[2]; 3. 2-David Gravel[5]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[4]; 5. 10-Ryan Timms[7]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 7. 17B-Bill Balog[13]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[19]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[9]; 10. 24D-Danny Sams III[3]; 11. 21-Brian Brown[8]; 12. 88-Austin McCarl[11]; 13. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[16]; 14. 83-Michael Kofoid[22]; 15. 27-Emerson Axsom[10]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen[14]; 17. 15-Donny Schatz[25]; 18. 26-Justin Peck[17]; 19. 9-Kasey Kahne[15]; 20. 5-Brenham Crouch[23]; 21. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[21]; 22. 23-Garet Williamson[18]; 23. 99-Skylar Gee[20]; 24. 6-Zach Hampton[27]; 25. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]; 26. 39M-Anthony Macri[12]; 27. 7S-Chris Windom[26]
Early Dave Steele Weekend Expected Entrants Revealed
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. Showtime Speedway announced the early list of expected entries for the sixth annual Dave Steele Sprint Car World Championship Weekend, set for Feb. 21-22.
The early expected entry list includes both the 100-lap non-wing race and the twin 35-lap winged sprint car features the following evening.
For the first time in the six-year history of the event, it will include both non-winged and winged sprint car races on the same weekend. Feb. 21 will be highlighted by a 100-lap $7,500 to win non-winged event.
The following evening (Feb. 22) will include twin 35-lap winged sprint car events paying $2,500 to win each feature. If a driver could sweep all three feature events, they would walk away with $12,500 not counting lap monies and special awards.
Past Dave Steele non-winged winners Kyle OGara, Davey Hamilton Jr. and Kody Swanson highlight Friday nights 100-non-wing race entry list.
Other notable expected entrants include Colton Bettis, L.J. Grimm, Jim Childers, Aaron Willison and Tommy Nichols.
Saturdays winged entry list includes Hamilton and Bettis who both claimed winged feature victories in the winged portion of last years Dave Steele Sprint Car Championship Weekend. Other notables include Willison, Jeff Montgomery, Steven Hollinger and Brian Gingras.
There will be no less than 14 drivers who will attempt to compete in both days of non-winged and winged events.
There is no official entry process for the 6th annual Dave Steele Sprint Car World Championship Weekend. The expected list was compiled from drivers confirming they will compete in this years event.
The expected entry list could be subject to change leading up to the event. There are several drivers who have yet to confirm their participation.
NON-WING EXPECTED ENTRANTS
TWIN 35-LAP WING EXPECTED ENTRANTS
Reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore will open his chase for a fifth series championship on Saturday at New Smyrna Speedway.
As the traditional World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing kicks-off, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will compete in the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200.
Bonsignore will look for his first win at the high-banked track on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The New York native has finished second the last two years in the 200-lap contest.
Bonsignore capped the 2024 season by winning the last three events en route to the title, leading nearly 80-percent of the laps in those three races. He returns to competition in the Kenneth Massa Motorsports, Phoenix Communications No. 51, starting his 16th season with the team.
Were hoping to carry some of that momentum from the end of last year into 2025 and kick-off the year on a high note, Bonsignore said. Weve come close the last two years at New Smyrna. Its one of the fastest tracks we race on and strategy always plays a role in who wins, its a long race. Kicking off the season in sunny Florida you cant ask for much more.
Logan Brown: From Karting Champ to DIRTCar Sportsman Star
Most 14-year-old kids are out at the beach in the summer time and having fun with their friends at a theme park.
Logan Brown is not one of those kids hes more concerned with making his race cars and go-karts go fast every week.
After an outstanding career in the local and national karting scene, where he ran to a total of 70 career wins, eight track championships along with three consecutive New York State Indoor Karting titles since he started at the age of five, Brown and his family decided the next step was the DIRTCar Sportsman ranks at his home track of Can Am.
His first ever start last April at Can Am in the Donath Motorworx Limited Sportsman ranks, resulted in his first career win, something not even his family thought was possible.
Not in a million years did we expect him to do what he did this year, said both Jamie and Jennifer Brown, Logans Mom and Dad. He would score the first of seven Can Am Wins last year.
Along the way Brown tested his talents in limited starts in the Novice Sportsman class on the tight quarter mile at the Brockville Ontario Speedway, where he also went to victory lane on two occasions, for a total of nine wins in his first full season behind the wheel of a full size race car.
When Brown was not taking checkered flags at Can Am or Brockville, he was able to fill his racing schedule with other events at Weedsport, Fulton and Mohawk, where he was able to score solid top five runs. He also never forgot his roots in the karting ranks, scoring five feature wins in last years campaign.
After a solid rookie season, what is the next step for Brown? Very simple: test his talents in weekly competition against the top drivers in the Bob Johnson Auto Group DIRTCar Sportsman division at Can Am on Friday nights.
With drivers like defending track champion Mike Fowler, Gavin Eisele, Eric Nier, Brennan Moore, Jessica Power and a host of other top drivers, Brown will have his hands full but his competition knows he will pick up the pace quickly this year. Brown already has had laps against the top stars, having competed in a few, end of the season DIRTCar Sportsman Series races at several area tracks last year.
We thank all of our loyal sponsors, along with family and friends for their generous contributions to our racing program. Brown said. Without them this wouldnt be possible.
Editors Note: This is another installment in SPEED SPORTs preview of each NTT IndyCar Series team. To read other teams previews, click here.
Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team has had its fair share of potential championship runs over the last handful of years, however, has yet to breakthrough with CEO Zak Brown at the helm.
With youthful experience led by veteran driver Pato OWard, the three-driver lineup completed by Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel may state a case as one of the open-wheel series elite teams.
Ahead of the March 2 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.), heres a look at each driver:
Key Losses: Alexander Rossi (Ed Carpenter Racing)
Key Additions: Christian Lundgaard (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing)
No. 5 Pato OWard
Pato OWard made a case for the IndyCar Series title last season on the strength of three victories, the most hes scored in a single season.
However, OWards title chase was derailed with seven finishes of 13th or worse. Hed place fifth in the season-ending standings.
Entering this season, OWard will be looking for redemption at the Indianapolis 500 after narrowly missing out on a victory in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Eventual winner Josef Newgarden passed OWard on the final lap to win.
No. 6 Nolan Siegel
Nolan Siegels maiden campaign in the IndyCar Series couldnt have been more unconventional.
Siegel made his first start of the season at Californias famed Long Beach Grand Prix with Dale Coyne Racing.
A few months later, Siegel filled in for Juncos Hollinger Racing aboard the No. 78 due to Augustin Canapinos suspension at Wisconsins Road America.
Hed later find a home with Arrow McLaren after the team dropped David Malukas and Theo Pourchaire during the first few months of the season. In 10 starts with the team, he had an average finish of 16.7.
With a full offseason under the Arrow McLaren umbrella, Siegel may surprise throughout the season.
No. 7 Christian Lundgaard
After three seasons with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Christian Lundgaard joins Arrow McLaren with plenty to offer.
Despite RLL struggling to find consistent speed, Lundgaard was a bright spot for the team. While he didnt win last year, Lundgaard scored five top-10 finishes and a podium effort at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
The 23-year-old brings plenty of speed to Arrow McLaren, where hell be given the opportunity to compete for victories on a more consistent basis.
Ancelotti on VAR pen: 'Football people' confused
Carlo Ancelotti said "football people don't understand" penalties like the one awarded to Atlético Madrid in their 1-1 derby draw with Real Madrid on Saturday.
Julián Álvarez converted the 35th minute spot kick -- given by VAR after Aurélien Tchouaméni was adjudged to have fouled Samuel Lino -- to put visitors Atlético ahead at the Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé equalised in the second half, for a result which leaves leaders Madrid just a point ahead of their local rivals at the top of the LaLiga table.
Ancelotti initially said "I'll pass" when asked for his thoughts on the penalty, after a week which saw Madrid file a formal complaint over the refereeing in their defeat at Espanyol last weekend, drawing an angry response from Atlético, who accused them of putting pressure on officials.
Madrid have been regular critics of refereeing in LaLiga, and their open letter this week called for "structural reform" calling the current system "completely discredited."
"I think we deserved more," Ancelotti said. "We had total control, we scored, we got into the box, we played very well in the second half.
"The first half was totally different, much slower, and less aggressive. I think with what we did in the second half, we leave with a good feeling. The penalty affected the team, obviously."
"I think the referee did his best with his decisions," Diego Simeone said in his news conference, citing a first-half decision to show Real midfielder Dani Ceballos a yellow card for a challenge on Pablo Barrios. "For some people the Ceballos challenge was a red, and for others it wasn't. I thought [the referee] had an OK game."
Kaoru Mitoma sealed Brighton & Hove Albion's 2-1 comeback home victory over Premier League rivals Chelsea to send the south coast club into the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen gifted Chelsea a fifth-minute lead when he bundled a cross by Cole Palmer into his own net under no pressure.
The hosts were not behind for long, however, as Georginio Rutter equalised seven minutes later with a glancing header.
Palmer should have restored eight-times Cup winners Chelsea's lead before halftime but Brighton were superior after the break and Japanese winger Mitoma sealed the tie in the 57th minute with a flicked finish over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Defeat means Chelsea have not won away in any competition since early December and their only realistic chance of silverware in manager Enzo Maresca's first season at the helm is in the UEFA Conference League.
Brighton have been inconsistent in the league under their 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler but they provided a great response to last week's 7-0 drubbing by Nottingham Forest, especially after such a calamitous start.
"It's good that everyone rallied around and showed their fighting spirit," Brighton winger Tariq Lamptey said.
"We showed that we are together and we turned it around."
Things looked bad for the hosts when Palmer volleyed a cross towards goal and Verbruggen spilled the ball into his goal.
Rutter spared his blushes soon after though as Joël Veltman's cross from the right evaded two Chelsea defenders and the Frenchman guided his header beyond Sanchez.
There was a hint of controversy about Brighton's winner with a suspicion of handball in the build-up before Mitoma showed a cool head to lift his finish over Sanchez.
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