meteorological spring is just around the corner. it felt like that out there today. in kent, blue skies there today. in kent, blue skies there today. in kent, blue skies there to nairn in the highlands, patchy cloud drifting around as the sun set a little bit earlier on today. sun set a little bit earlier on toda . .,, sun set a little bit earlier on toda . , ., , sun set a little bit earlier on toda. ., , . ., today. under those largely clear skies it is turning _ today. under those largely clear skies it is turning quite - today. under those largely clear skies it is turning quite chilly - skies it is turning quite chilly overnight. over the next few days it will be dry by david sunny spells, expect some chilly nights and they could be some frost and fog in the forecast. to the rest of this evening and into tonight, we have a weather front moving evening and into tonight, we have a weatherfront moving in evening and into tonight, we have a weather front moving in from the north—west. that will bring more cloud to the parts of northern ireland and western scotland. england and while staying dry wood clear spells and temperatures dipping down a degree or two below freezing first thing. a touch of frost and some mist and fog around first thing tomorrow morning, which are gradually turn to lift and clear away. the areas most likely to see mist and fog are part of the welsh

marches, south wales and down towards dorset and somerset. elsewhere, clearing the way through the morning. this band of cloud moving into northern england and there could be drizzle on that. sunshine returning from the north and sunny spells holding on further south. temperature is about ten to 13 degrees so doing well for the end of february. heading through the course of saturday night into sunday, high pressure in charge of the weather. keeping things dry and settled on sunday, cloud drifting around here and there and again, some mist and fog patches that should clear slowly through the day. light winds, sunny spells on sunday with temperatures around nine to ii with temperatures around nine to 11 degrees. the dry and settled weather holds on into next week as high pressure is in charge. that's all from the bbc news at six — so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one, we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are.

hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm lizzie greenwood—hughes. and on the eve of wales v england in the six nations, let's take a look at the headlines tonight. wales' george north will make rugby history in cardiff tomorrow, as the youngest player to earn 100 caps for his country. it's 100 caps for his country. an honourjust to have on

with it's an honourjust to have one cap, with and if you would've told me you would be hang around for 100, 99, i probably would have left you off, really —— laughed you off. so what will england have up their sleeve to stop wales winning the triple crown? eddiejones talks to us about his plans for the game. and also coming up on the programme: and from 15 to seven — we'll be hearing how england's rugby sevens players are gearing up for the olympics, despite a funding crisis and lack of fixtures. welcome to sportsday. we're starting with rugby union because it's a pivotal weekend in the six nations, as wales — who are unbeaten in the tournament so far — take on england in cardiff. coming up, we'll meet the bothams' sporting dynasty —

which is now very much in the wales camp. and this man will be showing the way — george north, back from injury and set to become the youngest player to win 100 caps for his country. but let's hear from the coaches now. in a minute, we'll hear from wayne pivac on his side's incredible turnaround. but first — because it's not all about wales — eddiejones, who, as usual, has had plenty to say in the lead—up to this fixture. he's been talking to sonja mclaughlin. six nations come every game is an important game, and that is what we love the tournament so much. and we are looking for to putting our best foot forward. you are looking for to putting our best foot forward-— are looking for to putting our best foot forward. ., ., ., foot forward. you went on to win the title lester — foot forward. you went on to win the title lester after _ foot forward. you went on to win the title lester after losing _ foot forward. you went on to win the title lester after losing your - title lester after losing your opening game, so what do you loose from —— learned from that experience? from -- learned from that exerience? ., . ., ., experience? concentrating on each name, experience? concentrating on each game. making _ experience? concentrating on each game, making sure _ experience? concentrating on each game, making sure you're - experience? concentrating on each game, making sure you're actor i experience? concentrating on each | game, making sure you're actor for each game, the conditions at the moment are different for every team and we are all learning to adapt and find a way to be at our best. england were better against italy but still not perfect. what do you

think is the main area you need to address in order to do well against wales? we address in order to do well against wales? ~ ., ., ., , ., wales? we have got to be more aggressive _ wales? we have got to be more aggressive in — wales? we have got to be more aggressive in our _ wales? we have got to be more aggressive in our defence. - wales? we have got to be more aggressive in our defence. if - wales? we have got to be more aggressive in our defence. if we j wales? we have got to be more - aggressive in our defence. if we are more aggressive in our defence and consistent in our defence, we will attacking opportunities and be able to put a few more points up. i think we are heading _ to put a few more points up. i think we are heading in _ to put a few more points up. i think we are heading in the _ to put a few more points up. i think we are heading in the right - we are heading in the right direction, so long as the players and the — direction, so long as the players and the management believe in the same _ and the management believe in the same plan, — and the management believe in the same plan, which we do, that is what we are _ same plan, which we do, that is what we are worried about. you cannot control_ we are worried about. you cannot control the — we are worried about. you cannot control the views and opinions of people. — control the views and opinions of people, who rightly have their views and opinions. we can do is work hard to improve _ and opinions. we can do is work hard to improve so — and opinions. we can do is work hard to improve so we can make those people _ to improve so we can make those people who we represent proud of the performances. and that is really what _ performances. and that is really what drives us on a weekly basis, to make _ what drives us on a weekly basis, to make this _ what drives us on a weekly basis, to make this country proud of what we're _ make this country proud of what we're doing, and that is simply what we're doing, and that is simply what we will_ we're doing, and that is simply what we will keep trying to do. one player who pivac will be hoping

can make the difference for wales is george north. tomorrow, he'll earn his 100th cap for his country — and atjust 28 years and 320 days old, that makes him a rugby record breaker as the youngest player to reach the milestone. here he is talking to another wales legend, sam warburton. jones... 18 years, he scores! if you no jones... 18 years, he scores! if you to back jones... 18 years, he scores! if you go back to — jones... 18 years, he scores! if you go back to the _ jones... 18 years, he scores! if you go back to the 18-year-old - jones... 18 years, he scores! if you go back to the 18-year-old george | go back to the 18—year—old george north, when you got two tries, what would you tell him? i north, when you got two tries, what would you tell him?— north, when you got two tries, what would you tell him? i would say, get a haircut, shocking! _ would you tell him? i would say, get a haircut, shocking! i— would you tell him? i would say, get a haircut, shocking! i would - would you tell him? i would say, get a haircut, shocking! i would also - a haircut, shocking! i would also say it is worth it in the end, it is worth digging in those hours, even when it is the dark days and it is tough and injuries and stuff, it is worth giving everything.- worth giving everything. jones, nobody chasing... _ worth giving everything. jones, nobody chasing... and - worth giving everything. jones, nobody chasing... and george | worth giving everything. jones, - nobody chasing... and george north exit a _ nobody chasing... and george north exit a brace — nobody chasing... and george north exit a brace of tries on his debut!

along _ exit a brace of tries on his debut! along the — exit a brace of tries on his debut! along the way, rugby has given me so much, and it is an honourjust to have one cap, but then if you would've told me you would be hanging around still for 100, another 99, i would hanging around still for 100, another 99, iwould have hanging around still for 100, another 99, i would have probably laughed you off, really the but it is something that, as you well know, you give so much and it is, yeah, pretty chuffed. now, it's often the case that great sporting genes are passed on through generations, but what happens when they choose to represent an opposing nation? well, take a look at this. sir ian botham — arguably england's greatest cricketer of all time. his son liam, who played both rugby codes professionally, also a pretty decent cricketer, another proud englishmen. and then we have grandsonjames, who's half—welsh and will line up for the wales team tomorrow, hoping to beat england. so which nation will they be cheering on?

music there is the 100 partnership. obviously when i decided to switch over from — obviously when i decided to switch over from cricket to rugby, i started _ over from cricket to rugby, i started off at west hartlepool, and then i_ started off at west hartlepool, and then i came down for a trial with cardiff — then i came down for a trial with cardiff. while i was there, jimbo was born— cardiff. while i was there, jimbo was born in— cardiff. while i was there, jimbo was born in cardiff, and that is the reason _ was born in cardiff, and that is the reason whvm _ was born in cardiff, and that is the reason why... he has always thought of himself— reason why... he has always thought of himself as welsh and that is the reason _ of himself as welsh and that is the reason why— of himself as welsh and that is the reason why he is now got a couple of wildcats _ reason why he is now got a couple of wildcats behind him. the reason why he is now got a couple of wildcats behind him.— wildcats behind him. the whole family enjoyed _ wildcats behind him. the whole family enjoyed going _ wildcats behind him. the whole family enjoyed going down. - wildcats behind him. the whole family enjoyed going down. i i wildcats behind him. the whole i family enjoyed going down. i have always got... ==

family enjoyed going down. i have always got- - -_ family enjoyed going down. i have always got... -- a couple of welsh ca s. always got... -- a couple of welsh caps- iteen — always got... -- a couple of welsh caps. been made _ always got... -- a couple of welsh caps. been made forever, - always got... -- a couple of welsh caps. been made forever, so - always got... -- a couple of welsh j caps. been made forever, so there was no hardship _ caps. been made forever, so there was no hardship of _ caps. been made forever, so there was no hardship of going _ caps. been made forever, so there was no hardship of going down - caps. been made forever, so there was no hardship of going down to i was no hardship of going down to wales. i used to look forward to the trips. let's be fair, talk about cricket in england, it is rugby in wales — summer, winter, autumn, spring. it isjust wales — summer, winter, autumn, spring. it is just one thing and thatis spring. it is just one thing and that is rugby. i always remember jimbo, when he was old enough to think for himself, which are probably a few weeks ago, he said straightaway, i am probably a few weeks ago, he said straightaway, iam not probably a few weeks ago, he said straightaway, i am not quite a play for england, i'm going to play wales. he said, if i get the chance, i'm going to play for wells. he resisted all pressure from england and i think you made a magnificent choice. i and i think you made a magnificent choice. ., ., , ., choice. i said i wanted to play for wales and _ choice. i said i wanted to play for wales and i— choice. i said i wanted to play for wales and i had _ choice. i said i wanted to play for wales and i had the _ choice. i said i wanted to play for wales and i had the opportunity. | choice. i said i wanted to play for- wales and i had the opportunity. had his wales and i had the opportunity. his feathers... everything, the rugby— his feathers... everything, the rugby ball, so there is never ever been _ rugby ball, so there is never ever been any— rugby ball, so there is never ever been any doubt about his come over his heart— been any doubt about his come over his heart was. he was always welsh

through— his heart was. he was always welsh through and through.— through and through. always get a massive buzz. _ through and through. always get a massive buzz. watching _ through and through. always get a massive buzz. watching him - through and through. always get a massive buzz. watching him play | through and through. always get a i massive buzz. watching him play and i have to say watching a grandson play out there. blood is thicker than water, and what grandfather would not be supporting his grandson? i hope he has a part to play. i thought he played well against england last time around, in the autumn couple. and more importantly, i think england can be taken. i think wales can take them. scotland were due to play top—of—the—table france on sunday, but that match is postponed due to the covid outbreak in the french squad. but ireland's match in italy goes ahead. it's tomorrow, just before the wales—england game. and after two defeats and no wins in the tournament so far, ireland's coach knows they need to put in a good performance in rome, against a side that some have criticised for being too far off the six nations pace. i certainly feel they are good

enough to stay in the competition long—term, yeah, because i can see the progress franco is making with them. i think they are certainly heading in the right direction, are playing pretty well, you know? for anyone who knows anything about the game, they are moving in the right direction, so they will have a say in this game as well, so we are going over there with the right attitude. we have got to respect the game, respect the italians, but hopefully we can put our stamp on it as well. let's move onto football, because the draw for the last 16 of the europa league has been made and it's put manchester united up against theirformer striker zlatan ibrahimovic. the veteran swede is currently doing an amazing job at ac milan, who are second in serie a. he's 39 now and seems to get better with age, but ibrahimovic scored five goals during united's europa league—winning campaign four years ago, but he missed the final through injury. arsenal will hoping for revenge against greek side olympiacos, who knocked them out in the last 32 stage last season. tottenham will take on the croatian

side dinamo zagreb and rangers will play slavia prague, who knocked leicester city out of the tournament last night. let's take a look at some of the day's other football stories around. moer bad news for liverpool — their captainjordan henderson will be out for up to ten weeks after an operation on the groin injury he sustained last weekend. henderson is expected to play again this season and be available for the euros, but he'll miss england's world cup qualifiers next month. wrexham's new a—list owners, ryan reynolds and rob mcelhenney, have offered their players a bonus of £250,000 if they win promotion from the national league this season. the actors have already made a £2 million investment since completing their takeover this month. and the new custom united manager steve bruce says he had every right to share life with ole gunnar solskjaer last week. a reporter at

his press comfort today said some newcastle fans are not happy how we left the field —— newcastle united manager. b. left the field -- newcastle united manauer. �* ., ., ., , ., left the field -- newcastle united manauer. ., ., ., , ., manager. a lot of fans or is that ou? i manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would — manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would say— manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would say a _ manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would say a lot _ manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would say a lot of - manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would say a lot of fans. l manager. a lot of fans or is that you? i would say a lot of fans. i | you? i would say a lot of fans. i have known _ you? i would say a lot of fans. i have known ole _ you? i would say a lot of fans. i have known ole gunnar- you? i would say a lot of fans. i i have known ole gunnar solskjaer you? i would say a lot of fans. i - have known ole gunnar solskjaer for years. if i was caught smiling with him, he was company to us on how well we played at. let's move onto cricket. england's women have an unbeatable lead in the one—day series in new zealand after winning the second match in dunedin. nat sivver took three wickets to help bowl the home side out for 192. and she then went on to make 63 runs, as england won by seven wickets. the third and final match is tomorrow. we are really happy with where we are at the minute, and i guess things that we needed to work on from the warm—up game, a bit more consistency with the ball and putting in the right area more often, but also batting partnerships

and making sure that we extend those