From the back pages, March 16: England ready to make Six Nations history as they bid to raise the roof in battle for Grand Slam glory

England yesterday polished their preparations for the Six Nations decider with Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Captain Chris Robshaw and his side are chasing England’s first Grand Slam since 2003 and know that a top performance in Cardiff will seal an unforgettable triumph. (Daily Mail)
Chris Robshaw, EnglandChris Robshaw, England
Chris Robshaw, England

Judgement day and, not for the first time, England have hopes pinned on Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney. The pair have no direct role to play in Cardiff where the mother of all Six Nations title deciders takes place this evening, but their names have been prominent in the build-up in an attempt to reignite forgotten England match-winner Chris Ashton. (The Mirror)

England could have THREE of the four semi-finalists in this season’s Europa League. Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham all avoided each other in today’s quarter-final draw in Switzerland. The Blues face Russian side Rubin Kazan while Spurs meet Swiss champions Basel. (The Sun)

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It was an old-fashioned Gold Cup, won in the mud by a horse who was bred for the job and overwhelmed his opponents with brutal stamina in the final climb up the hill. As Barry Geraghty pulled up on Bobs Worth, though, his thoughts went no further than 24 hours into the past, when JT McNamara was a weighing-room colleague preparing for a ride in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase. (The Guardian)

Sebastian Vettel rejected an audacious attempt by McLaren to snatch him from Red Bull and sign him as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton. Sources close to Vettel have revealed for the first time that McLaren tried to sign the future three-times world champion as he emerged as a potential superstar at the end of the 2007 season. (The Times)

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League have taken place, with the three favourites to lift the trophy kept apart. Real Madrid, who beat Manchester United to advance to the last eight, will face Turkish side Galatasaray. The match will see Jose Mourinho, the manager of the nine-times champions, come up against former players Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder, who he coached at Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively. (The Independent)

Everton midfielder Leon Osman is urging David Moyes to stay on next season. Moyes has managed the Toffees since 2002, but has been linked with the Chelsea job in recent months. (The Express)

Rio Ferdinand may pull out of England squad, claims Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. (The Telegraph)