The Dollop | UK sport video blog

Cipriani returns for Wasps

You can't pick up a newspaper these days without seeing a picture of Danny Cipriani. Whilst the front pages have been full of Cipriani stepping out with TV presenter/model/actress/dancer Kelly Brook, the back pages are gearing up for the return of the Wasps no.10 to the rugby field.

Cipriani has stunned almost everyone by being named in the Wasps side to face Bath, 6 weeks quicker than expected. It has taken him only 4 months to recover from a break and dislocation of the ankle which some initially thought career threatening.

Selectors play safe as Bopara misses out

The Nasser Hussein/Duncan Fletcher era was responsible for implementing a lot of good things into English cricket. One key example was the insistence of Fletcher that players must be given a decent run in the team and a chance to play themselves into some form should they be out of touch.

Prior to this, under previous regimes, players had to continually prove their worth or they were dropped from the side. It is credit to Hussein and Fletcher that since their reign the English side has been a lot more consistent than in previous years. Cricket is a game where players can have dips in form. The idea of picking players with class and keeping faith in their ability has paid dividends.

Aston Villa march on....

Following yesterday's win against Sunderland, Aston Villa now find themselves in 3rd place on the premiership table, just 1 point behind Chelsea and Liverpool.

This and their spectacular start to the season has led Sir Alex Ferguson to announce that Villa are the "dark horse" for the premiership title this year.

Harlequins v London Irish - match summary

Harlequins 27 London Irish 28

Yesterday's Guinness Premiership match between Harlequins and London Irish was a classic game of 2 halves.....well almost.

Quins completely dominated the first period building a 20-3 lead only for Delon Armitage to score in the corner in the 39th minute to bring the deficit back to 12 points going into the mid term interval.

Leicester v Wasps - match preview

Tonight at Welford Road sees the Leicester Tigers take on London Wasps in a rematch of last season's Guinness Premiership final.

Wasps reigned victorious on that occasion but a few months on and the situation is very different.

Newcastle's slump continues as Spurs win at last

Carling Cup: Newcastle 1 Spur 2

(More football highlights at fcfootballblog.com)

Last night's game against Newcastle came at the right time for Spurs. They have experienced a dreadful start to the season and are rooted to the bottom of the premiership having not won in 5 games.

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas had stated in the week that they just needed 1 victory to kick start their challenge. But looking like a disjointed team with a complete lack of cohesion, where would this victory come from?

Arsenal youngsters blitz Blades

Carling Cup - Arsenal 6 Sheffield United 0

(More football highlights at fcfootballblog.com)

Arsene Wenger must have one hell of a scouting network. How he manages to discover this kind of young talent time and time again is beyond me.

He has a knack for finding players who possess pace, movement and most importantly "touch". Last night was a case in point.

Haskell receives 1 week ban for head butt

What a fantastic game rugby is. Yesterday Wasps and England flanker James Haskell was banned for a mere 1 week for head butting in his sides game against Worcester at the weekend.

According to the RFU, head butting is a very serious offence and the authorities do not take such misdemeanours lightly. Except of course if you're provoked!!

Aggressive Murray not very British

Great Britain v Austria - Davis Cup

Prior to his Davis cup match with Andy Murray on Sunday, Jurgen Melzer was winding up his British opponent.

Melzer had suggested that Murray might struggle to handle the pressure of having to "carry" his team. Murray clearly took exception and admitted that these remarks had "fired him up a bit".

During the game Melzer threw everything at Murray. He played like a guy who had nothing to lose and went for the big shots relentlessly.

Murray responded though. He was clearly a bit more than "a little fired up" and Melzer was defeated by a controlled and aggressive performance.

Steve Coppell quote

"He had the shits....big time"!

Steve Coppell explains the absence of Noel Hunt from the pitch during Reading's game against Watford.