CK Updates
Six Nations 2026: Scotland v England in Calcutta Cup – preview
The ‘proud of the effort’ mantra from Townsend is the biggest red rag to the biggest Scottish bull.
The scale of the failure was epic, not so much because they lost – because this was always going to be a tight game against a fine Italy team – but in the way they lost.
Their lack of aggression and intent from the start, their defensive disorganisation for Italy’s tries, the terrible weaknesses in their lineout (while Italy were nailing most of theirs), the self-harming bouts of indiscipline at critical times, their inability to problem-solve on the move.
Italy were missing some key players. Scotland were missing no-one.
When it came to coaching nous and player execution, Italy had a little too much of both.
They inflicted a soul-destroying defeat on Scotland, but, in many senses, Scotland did it to themselves. A recurring theme, that.
The feeling of fury in the aftermath is unprecedented since Andy Robinson’s team lost to Tonga in 2013 and Matt Williams’ team lost to, well, pretty much everybody in his slapstick years in charge.
A campaign over after just one game? Maybe premature, but you can’t fault anybody for thinking it.
England will expect an angry Scottish reaction on Saturday. Some of the visitors, hard-bitten by recent experience, will know that there’s fire and brimstone coming their way.
The home fans in vast numbers are now dead against Townsend remaining as coach, but come kick-off time in Edinburgh, you won’t know it. The place will be electrified.
Could you discount a Scotland upset? No. Would you bet on it? No, again.
At Murrayfield, the decision-makers are sitting in silence, apparently still confident that improvement will come if they just hold their nerve.
As a reminder, Townsend took over in 2017. He’s nearly 100 games in. This is his ninth Six Nations. Scotland have never contended.
His future is being talked about, but not by the people who might determine it. Not yet.
That might come later, depending on what happens in the weeks ahead – ‘might’ being the operative word – but for now there is a Calcutta Cup to deal with and a world of questions for Townsend to answer.
CK Updates
Allan Nascimento: UFC fighter dies at the age of 34
Mixed martial arts fighter Allan Nascimento has died at the age of 34, says the UFC.
According to MMA’s leading promotion, the Brazilian flyweight was found unresponsive on Monday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep.
“Despite the efforts of the responding medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene,” added a UFC statement., external
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, team-mates and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Nascimento had been with the UFC since 2021 and his last fight was a split-decision loss to Mitch Raposo in June.
That left Nascimento with an overall MMA record of 22 wins and seven losses, with a 4-2 record in the UFC.
CK Updates
Vinicius Junior: Real Madrid forward to resume contract talks as Arsenal maintain an interest
Vinicius returned to the club for his first pre-season training session and medical assessment on Monday following his World Cup campaign with Brazil.
The forward is training under Jose Mourinho for the first time this week, with sources close to the Portuguese manager saying he is keen for the winger to commit his future to Real.
Vinicius also wants to remain at the Bernabeu but with his contract expiring next summer, Real risk losing him on a free transfer if no agreement is reached.
That has increased the urgency for the club to resolve his future before the end of the transfer window, with talks set to resume in earnest in the next few days.
There was a similar situation in 2023 when, with his previous contract entering its final year, Vinicius signed a new deal extending his stay until 2027.
Renewal talks have taken place over the past 18 months, but slowed because of disagreements over wages and status within the club.
The 26-year-old is believed to want recognition as Los Blancos’ top star financially, especially after carrying the team for years before the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
Real, however, are traditionally strict about maintaining their salary structure under president Florentino Perez, with Mbappe currently top of the club’s high earners.
Despite this tension, Vinicius has described Real as “the club of my dreams” and said he hopes to remain there “for many years”.
The club are hopeful of concluding talks this week. If a new contract can’t be agreed – that’s when Arsenal come in.
CK Updates
Celtic drawn against LASK in Champions League play-off
If they defeat Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the third round of Europa League qualifying, Rangers will play either Lillestrom of Norway, the winners of the tie between Northern Irish champions Larne and Iberia 1999 of Georgia, or the losers of two Champions League qualifiers – between Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) and Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) or Mjallby (Sweden) and Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia).
Having dropped down from Champions League qualifying, Hearts face Benfica and the winners of that also have four possible play-off opponents.
Those are OFI Crete, the winners of Thun (Switzerland) and Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland), or the losers of two Champions League qualifiers – AGF Aarhus (Denmark) and Sabah (Azerbaijan) and Dinamo (Croatia) and Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania).
Should Hearts lose to Benfica, they will face either Atalanta (Italy), Freiburg (Germany), or the winners of ties between Panathinaikos (Greece) and CSKA (Bulgaria), Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia) and Rapid Vienna (Austria), or Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) and St Gallen (Switzerland) in a Conference League play-off.
Motherwell have the same possible opponents should they defeat HJK Helsinki of Finland.
If Rangers lose to Jagiellonia, they will face the winners of ties between Jablonec (Czech Republic) and RFS (Latvia), Zalgiris (Lithuania) and Hajduk Split (Croatia), Brann (Norway) and Apollon Limassol (Cyprus), Inter Turki (Finland) and Vaduz (Liechtenstein) or Noah (Armenia) and Sion (Switzerland).
Hibs’ reward should they defeat Shkendija of Macedonia is a possible tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, Monaco of France, the winner of the tie between Bohemians (Republic of Ireland) and Midtjylland (Denmark), the winners of IFK Gothenburg (Sweden) and Gent (Belgium), or the losers of Pafos (Cyprus) against Salzburg (Austria).
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CK Updates12 hours agoCeltic drawn against LASK in Champions League play-off
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CK Updates6 hours agoVinicius Junior: Real Madrid forward to resume contract talks as Arsenal maintain an interest
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CK Updates18 hours agoSwansea City: Vitor Matos says Premier League always the goal after signing new contract

