Fly-half starred in England’s victory against France and is now set to face Scotland, the country of his father’s birth

As Gregor Townsend sweats on the availability of Finn Russell for next Saturday’s Calcutta Cup there may be a few wistful glances in the direction of England’s fly-halves. For Fin Smith, man of the match on his first Test start against France, has Scottish blood in his veins.

His grandfather, Tom Elliot, was from Galashiels – like Townsend – and represented Scotland and the British & Irish Lions as a loosehead prop. Smith’s father, Andrew, is from Dunfermline and met his wife, Judith, Tom’s daughter, at the London Scottish clubhouse. Smith Jr has eight England caps of his own now but as a child would marvel at his grandfather’s collection, he and brother Angus regularly trying them on.

For 78 minutes, Bayern Munich performed like a team who were irritated at having to play an extra two games before taking a place in the Champions League’s last 16. The return leg next week looked ­little more than a box-ticking exercise.

What happened next was as ­curious as it was intriguing. ­Daizen ­Maeda’s header afforded Celtic hope to the extent that they actually ­finished as the stronger side. ­Bayern, once so vastly superior, started to rock. Vincent Kompany’s team will still be the heavy favourites to progress from this playoff but Celtic will believe they can cause a shock.

Four goals, four red cards, one mass brawl plus enough controversy, fury and entertainment to elevate the fixture way above the Premier League norm; the Merseyside derby bid a fitting farewell to Goodison Park.

David “Mystic” Moyes had predicted the 120th and final Goodison derby would, by the nature of an emotionally charged occasion, be explosive. James Tarkowski triggered a detonator under the old place. The Everton captain volleyed in a stunning 98th-minute equaliser to ensure Liverpool went seven points clear in the title race rather than nine.

‘Doing it for the town’: Super League’s all-conquering machine have a unique way of involving their community

It is Tuesday morning and there are just 48 hours to go until Wigan begin their Super League title defence against Leigh, not that you would know that when you walk into their Robin Park training complex.

To suggest the mood is relaxed would be an understatement. Some players are taking part in a cricket match on the indoor athletics track, while others are chatting to members of the public and upstairs, their head coach, Matt Peet, is relaxing with a coffee. “If someone said describe a high-performance environment, I don’t think this would be the first place you’d think of,” their former captain and assistant coach, Sean O’Loughlin, smiles.

• Co-owner feels finances left him with little choice
• Action designed to make United profitable in two years

Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes his ­decision to cut about 200 more jobs at ­Manchester United is necessary to help the club avoid going bust, the Guardian understands.

The minority owner is said to feel he has little choice other than to take tough measures after United lost £300m over the past three years, but he is confident that acting now can lead to the club being profitable and highly competitive in two years’ time.

• India 356 beat England 214 by 142 runs in third and ODI
• Captain Buttler: ‘The guys are desperate to perform’

The numbers are ugly as the Champions Trophy approaches. ­England’s defeat in this final clash with India was their 16th in 23 one‑day interna­tionals since the start of the 2023 World Cup. The one-time ­world‑­beaters have long lost their winning habit, their latest offering a 142-run defeat in Ahmedabad, Rohit Sharma’s team easing to a 3-0 series victory. If that’s not brutal enough, in the aftermath Jos ­Buttler was having to discuss how much his side trained on the tour.

A chase of 357 could not be ruled out when England were 126 for two inside 18 overs, Joe Root building, Tom Banton beginning to bash. But an India attack built on variety instigated the collapse, the wickets shared around, Banton and Gus Atkinson joint top‑scorers with 38.

At 11.04pm, at last there was a result, Nottingham Forest avoiding an FA Cup upset against 10-man Exeter City after prevailing from the final fourth-round tie via a 4-2 penalty shootout victory. Neco Williams scored the decisive penalty before Matz Sels, who replaced the injured Carlos Miguel midway through the second half, saved low to his right to deny Reece Cole before Angus MacDonald blasted his spot-kick against the crossbar. It was an absorbing contest – locals craned their necks from the windows of the terraced houses on St James Road to catch a view – but a cruel crescendo for third-tier Exeter.

Forest had a man advantage for 53 minutes after Ed Turns was given a straight red card for a high challenge on Morgan Gibbs-White, 23 of which were in second-half stoppage time after Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a concussion and broken nose. The striker received 12 minutes of medical treatment on the pitch but by the end he was well enough to salute the Forest fans, some of whom will do well to return home by 4am. “He is in a lot of pain but with a smile on his face because he did an amazing job, scoring for us,” said Nuno Espírito Santo, relieved about his side’s progress and the injury prognosis.

Pep Guardiola had made the point that it was “impossible” to control Real Madrid’s front four. You can only hold out for so long against them, the Manchester City manager suggested. They tend to find a way. This Madrid victory was built on their cut and thrust up front, the slickness of their bursts, the sheer speed of them.

For a good while, it felt as though Erling Haaland would be the story; another striker who is not in the business of being shackled. The City No 9 had drawn blanks in all four of his previous Champions League ties against Madrid. He had a point to prove and he proved it, twice putting his team in front, the second for 2-1 coming from the penalty spot after Phil Foden, on as a substitute, had been fouled by Dani Ceballos.

• Player to return to non-contact training soon
• ‘I can finally put this challenging period behind me’

Sam Kerr, who was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a white police officer on Tuesday, is expected to be back on the pitch within the next month.

The Guardian understands the 31-year-old Australia captain is close to making her return for Chelsea for the first time since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament during Chelsea’s warm weather training camp in January 2024, though it is expected that will not come before the international break at the end of this month.

Wigan have no weakness, Hull face a rebuild and newcomers Wakefield will quietly fancy their chances

Super League’s 30th season gets under way on Thursday evening, with the biggest opening-night crowd in the competition’s history anticipated to watch the reigning champions, Wigan Warriors, take on their local rivals, Leigh Leopards. Matt Peet’s side completed an historic quadruple last year and have all the hallmarks of a side that could sweep aside all comers again.

Will Wigan dominate 2025 just like they did in 2024? Can the likes of Warrington, Hull KR and Leeds put up a credible challenge? And who is in a struggle to avoid finishing bottom? Here is the Guardian’s team-by-team guide to the new season.