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Prem talking points: Louis Rees-Zammit’s celebration and England bolters

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England boss Steve Borthwick was at The Rec on Friday night.

He will have taken particular interest in one 28th-minute scrum.

Beno Obano and Will Stuart, either side of hooker Tom Dunn, made the Exeter front row look as though they were wearing skis rather than studs, sending the visitors skidding backwards at a rate of knots.

Considering Baxter’s lack of game time and Bevan Rodd being ruled out of the autumn after wrist surgery, Obano may well be the back-up loosehead option to Ellis Genge for England’s Nations Championship campaign.

Stuart’s welcome return from an Achilles injury is likely to have him installed as the tighthead replacement behind the excellent Joe Heyes.

Borthwick may well lean into their Bath connection as he rebuilds a ‘bomb squad’ bench which was crucial to England’s good form in 2025.

Gloucester fly-half Charlie Atkinson may well be twisting Borthwick’s arm as well.

The 25-year-old has been central to the Cherry and Whites’ electric start to the season.

He set up the opening try of their thrashing of Harlequins with a cute jink past Will Porter and then a pinpoint crossfield bomb for Ben Loader a couple of passages later. A hint of a dummy and a dart took Atkinson himself over for his team’s fourth.

His substandard goal-kicking may count against him. Of players with a minimum of 10 kicks at goal, only Bath’s Santi Carreras had a lower success-rate off the tee in 2025-26. Team-mate George Barton had kicking duties on Saturday.

But if Borthwick wants a back-up stand-off that more closely replicates the playing style of first-choice Fin Smith, Atkinson may be due promotion after three appearances for England A last season.

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Why did QB Case Keenum get credited with Bears' win over Jets instead of Tyson Bagent?

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Ben Johnson’s decision to have Keenum and Bagent on the field to start the game was clever. It also meant Keenum got the win.

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China Open: Novak Djokovic claims 102nd career title, Carlos Alcaraz wins Japan trophy

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Earlier, Alcaraz won the Japan Open, claiming a trophy in just his third tournament since injuring his wrist in April.

The Spaniard came back from an early break down to beat Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 and successfully defend his title in Tokyo.

Alcaraz only returned to competitive tennis at August’s US Open, where he reached the quarter-finals before losing in five tight sets to Ben Shelton.

It is Alcaraz’s third title of the season, having won the Australian Open in January to complete the career Grand Slam, and also February’s Qatar Open.

“It’s extra special after my injury,” the 25-year-old said.

“It was a tough week that I didn’t find my best tennis, my best level, but I did find the good solutions.

“I think that’s what matters in the end.”

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Krystian Bielik: Cardiff City defender banned over Portsmouth incident

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The Football Association (FA) has banned Cardiff City defender Krystian Bielik for two games and fined him £10,000 after he admitted a case of misconduct.

The 28-year-old Poland international was involved in an altercation involving Portsmouth fans during Cardiff’s 2-0 Championship defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday, 5 September.

A Hampshire Police investigation into the flashpoint concluded that no further action was needed on their part over the incident, although as part of the resolution Bielik provided an apology.

Bielik is now set to miss the Championship trip to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, followed by the home games against Watford on Tuesday, 13 October.

The FA charge stated that: “It was alleged that the player acted in an improper manner around the 71st minute of the fixture.

“Krystian Bielik subsequently admitted the charge. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions following a hearing, and the written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.”

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