Daily Mail - 05.03.2020

95

Daily Mail, Thursday, March 5, 2020^

95

BBC cancel filming for Tokyo Olympics

THE BBC’S Olympic schedule is
under threat because of the
coronavirus outbreak.
Sportsmail can reveal BBC Sport
have been forced to delay filming
for certain projects that require
Far East travel.
The Beeb are lining up a series of
features and documentaries to be
aired before and during the
Tokyo Games, which are due to
start on July 24. But the virus is
posing problems.
One project, which was due to
start filming in Tokyo next
month, has been shelved with no
indication of when it will be
rescheduled. It remains to be

seen what steps the BBC take to

protect staff as the Olympics

move closer, but the fact they

have postponed filming in

Japan is an indication that

they are taking the virus

threat seriously.

The Japanese government

insist their plans for the

Games remain on track but

Britain’s superstar swimmer

Adam Peaty (right) told

Sportsmail: ‘I’m worried it’ll

be postponed or moved.

At the moment, that’s realistic.

But I don’t think it will be

(cancelled). There’s too much

money, too much accommodation,

too much stuff planned.’

As revealed by Sportsmail this

week, the prospect of the

Olympics taking place

without fans has been

discussed. Peaty said: ‘The

Olympics is based on

people watching and a

massive crowd, a bit like

football. It wouldn’t be

ideal, but sometimes the

world isn’t ideal and you’ve

just got to get on with it

and stop moaning.’

EXCLUSIVE

By SAMI MOKBEL

Marler keen

to unleash

pack power

Williams set to start

Twickenham battle

WALES are poised to throw Liam By WILL KELLEHER

Williams straight back into their

team to face England for his first

match since the World Cup

quarter-final in October.

The 28-year-old has missed the

last four months with an ankle

injury he suffered in Japan but is

set to be picked in a back three

with George North and Leigh

Halfpenny today.

North is expected to be fine to

play after seeking independent

medical advice following a head

knock against France.

With Josh Adams out injured, it is

understood 62-cap Williams will

start — with Johnny McNicholl

on the bench.

And Maro Itoje, Williams’ former

Saracens team-mate but enemy

on Saturday, was full of praise.

‘Williams is one of those players

who is effortlessly talented,’

said the England lock and fellow

Lion. ‘He has got a good aura

about him. He is very relaxed

but super competitive. Even

though he is quite skinny, he is

very strong for his slight frame.

He is very good in the air too,

good with ball in hand, and has a

good kicking game.’

Fly-half Dan Biggar, who injured

his knee for Northampton last

Saturday, is being given every

chance to make the game and

should also be in the team.

E

NGLAND are ready

t o u n l e a s h t h e i r

scrum as an attack-

ing weapon against

Wales at Twicken-

ham on Saturday, after

using their set-piece ordeal

in the World Cup final as a

catalyst for change.

Eddie Jones’s side were beaten

32-12 by South Africa in Yokohama

last November, with the Spring-

bok pack laying a platform for the

triumph. Time and again they

pushed back the England for-

wards in the scrum, a mis-match

that was key to their success.

J o n e s r e s p o n d e d b y h i r i n g

Springbok forwards coach Matt

Proudfoot, who has asked all

e i g h t m e n i n v o l v e d t o

commit fully to making

the scrum an offensive

asset.

‘Matt’s been bril-

liant,’ said Joe Marler

( r i g h t ) , w h o i s

expected to be named

as the starting loose-

h e a d p r o p a g a i n s t

Wales. ‘I like the way he

works; he places a huge

amount of pride and respect

on the set piece, particularly the

scrum.’

Steve Borthwick , England’s

forwards coach, has ‘turned us

into a world-class outfit in the

lineout’, according to Marler.

‘But Matt has come in and added

a different mentality to the scrum,

given us a little bit more licence to

attack there, which is always nice

for a prop to hear.’

Marler explained what Proudfoot

had changed about England’s

scrum: ‘The back five stay on

u s, t h e fro n t -ro w ers, l o n g er,

particularly on defensive scrums,

a s o p p o s e d t o w h a t m o s t

b a c k- r o w e r s d o w h e n t h e y

“periscope” — which you can’t

blame them for because they’ve

got another job to do.

‘But they also have to back

themselves that if they stay on the

scrum and we get a result there, or

make an impression there, then

you will have an easier job getting

off to make a tackle because it’ll

be that much further behind the

gainline.

‘It’s trying to get the back-rowers

to buy into loving scrummaging as

much as we do.’

There have been some encourag-

ing results so far. In the 24-12 win

over Ireland at Twickenham, the

home pack cranked up the pres-

sure and put their rivals in reverse.

Maro Itoje provides considerable

power from the second row and he

has recognised the need for a

collective effort from all

England’s forwards.

T h e S a r a c e n s l o c k

said: ‘Matt has come in

and placed a greater

importance on the

scrum, both sides of

t h e ba l l , w h en w e

have it and when the

opposition puts in. It is

the responsibility of not

just the front row, but

everyone in the pack.

‘When the scrum is getting

marched forward, the front row

get massive pats on the back, but

as a second row I get just as much

enjoyment from winning a scrum

penalty as I do a maul penalty.

‘They are both massive parts of

the game and I think that is what

Matt has come in and tried to

emphasise.’

Itoje recoiled at the memory of

the scrum punishment dished out

by the Springboks four months

ago. ‘I’ve experienced being on the

other side of a team when they

have a dominant scrum and it is

not nice. We like to use our scrum

as a weapon and when you can’t

use your scrum as a weapon it is

almost seen as a weakness — not a

place you want to be in,’ he said.

‘When you are on the receiving

end of a pack that is coming at

you, marching over you at the

scrum, marching you backwards,

it is not nice.’

by

CHRIS FOY

Rugby Correspondent

many for a long weekend with
travel outside of Rome?
I had intended to go to Italy
for a long weekend with my
wife Jayne and two friends, but
the moment we heard the
Ireland v Italy game was off we
cancelled our plans. That was
last week. Forget what
decisions the authorities are
making, why would you put
your family and friends in that
position? It’s just a rugby
match. I was still prepared to
travel alone to join the ITV
commentary team, but was
very relieved yesterday when
they took the sensible decision

to cover the match from their

studios in London. When they,

with all their experience,

made that call I knew the

game was up. A postponement

had to follow. We need to get

used to this. Unless I am very

much mistaken the situation is

going to get worse before it

gets better and, although we

have escaped relatively

unscathed in the UK so far, we

have to prepare for the worst.

I can see sport in Britain being

in lockdown by the end of the

month. As for the Six Nations, I

would suggest this will be the

final weekend. I don’t see how

any of the games next

weekend can be allowed to

take place. If that’s the case

the temptation will be to try

to re-arrange — France will

definitely want that if they are

still in contention for the

Grand Slam — but I would be

inclined to call time on this

year’s tournament. There are

other, more pressing things to

concern us, we don’t know

what the outlook is and when

games could be re-scheduled.

We haven’t got the flexibility

we had in 2001 when the

tournament was interrupted

by Foot and Mouth.