Brian Smith News

ENGLAND believe today's Cape Town showdown with South Africa will be the real test of their one-day progress.

Charlie Weis has been fired from Notre Dame, Urban Meyer has re-dedicated himself the University of Florida, and Bob Stoops has denied that he has any interest in becoming the next UND head coach.

Forget any rumors about the next Notre Dame football coach. According to Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick, there's no truth to any of the speculation swirling around the situation.

Read a full match report of the Guinness Premiership game between Harlequins and Gloucester at the Stoop on Saturday Nov 28 2009.

Stanford has the player to attack one of the weakest points of the Notre Dame's defense.

MARTIN JOHNSONa S bid to keep his management team in place for the Six Nations could be undermined after it emerged Mike Ford is being considered for the England rugby league head coacha s job.

This late in the college football season, time for proclamations. We hold these truths to be self-evident ... Behind every struggling coach ... there are players having their hearts stomped on.

The Connecticut Huskies finally won one for their slain teammate, handing Notre Dame and coach Charlie Weis a second straight bitter defeat on senior day.

International: England v New Zealand Venue: Twickenham Date: Saturday 21 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports 2, BBC Radio 5 live, highlights on BBC Three at 1900 and BBC Two at 1130 on Sunday.

The raiders are streaming over the hills and the wagons have been drawn in a circle.

England manager Martin Johnson insisted on Wednesday he was still the right man to lead the team after unveiling his side to play New Zealand at Twickenham this weekend.

Graham Rowntree backed under-fire forwards coach John Wells as "one of the best practitioners" in the game as the England management presented a united front.

England missed Shaw's physical presence during their defeat to Australia and in Saturday's insipid victory over Argentina as he completed his comeback from a nagging foot injury.

Two games remain for the Irish in what could be the final season for coach Charlie Weis.

The atmosphere near Heinz Field crackled with expectation Saturday. Some hoped for Notre Dame's temporary rejuvenation.

TV/radio: 7 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7, WLS-AM 890. Line: Pittsburgh by 7. GETTING OFFENSIVE ON THE DEFENSIVE THE NUMBER THE TALK LOOKING AHEAD If the Irish can't keep Jimmy Clausen off his back -- Pittsburgh has an FBS-best 39 sacks -- the team shouldn't bother showing up at Heinz Field.

Last Saturday, Notre Dame junior nose tackle Ian Williams made national ripples with the word "outschemed" used in the context of the Irish defensive coaching staff.

Notre Dame associate head coach Corwin Brown has criticized Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo for his postgame comments after the Midshipmen upset the Irish Saturday and for a ``malicious'' cut block by a Navy receiver.

GUINNESS Premiership star Seilala Mapusua believes Samoa face a tougher challenge against Wales on Friday night than if they were tackling Martin Johnson's England.

One of the keys to Notre Dame's victory over Navy last season was holding the Midshipmen to 178 yards rushing, which was Navy's lowest total of the season and 114 yards below what its average.