Gatland shake-up for All Blacks November 20, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made five changes as they look to avoid a sixth straight defeat on Saturday against world champions New Zealand. Lions boss Gatland, who resumes the reins from assistant Rob Howley, has recalled captain Sam Warburton, centre Jonathan Davies, fly-half Rhys Priestland, hooker Matthew Rees and lock Luke [...]
No mutiny at Chelsea, says Di Matteo, as crunch looms November 19, 2012 UNDER-FIRE Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo played down talk of dressing room unrest last night as he prepared for an evening in his native Italy that could determine whether he keeps his job. Victory tonight at Juventus would book their place in the Champions League last 16, but defeat would leave them facing the likely [...]
Cook demands better batting after India strike first in series November 19, 2012 CAPTAIN Alastair Cook has warned England’s floundering middle order batsmen they must improve if the tourists are to level the series with India in the second Test, which starts in Mumbai on Friday. Cook said he was “bitterly disappointed” after India clinched a nine-wicket first Test victory before lunch yesterday in Ahmedabad, where his 176 [...]
Ecclestone: New £410m lawsuit over Formula One sale is absurd November 19, 2012 FORMULA One boss Bernie Ecclestone hit out last night after an American company filed a £409m lawsuit against him and private equity firm CVC over the 2006 takeover of the motorsport series. Investment firm Bluewaters Communications Holdings, which made a bid to buy a controlling stake in F1 in 2005 from German bank BayernLB, filed [...]
O’Brien proves his point as Hammers held November 19, 2012 WEST HAM UNITED 1 vs STOKE CITY 1 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce put their recovery from a goal behind to salvage a draw against Stoke down to his half-time pep talk, after the Hammers last night wasted an opportunity to go fifth in the Premier League at Upton Park. Stoke went ahead on 13 [...]
Jimenez has benefited from the Seve effect November 19, 2012 SPAIN’S Miguel Angel Jimenez achieved an incredible record on Sunday, and I can’t help wondering whether his enduring success doesn’t owe something to the inspirational qualities of his great countryman, the late Seve Ballesteros. Jimenez completed a third bogie-free round to claim the Hong Kong Open and become the oldest man to win a European [...]
Corbisiero set to win recall as Lancaster shuffles his pack November 19, 2012 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster looks set to ring the changes as he prepares his side for a crucial Test against South Africa on Saturday. Australia surprisingly dominated England’s pack on Saturday and at least one change will be enforced as Harlequins prop Joe Marler is ruled out with a knee ligament injury. Marler could [...]
Botham in Twitter beef with Broad over “experts” barb November 19, 2012 SEAM bowler Stuart Broad became embroiled in a Twitter row with former England captain Sir Ian Botham following yesterday’s first Test defeat to India in Ahmedabad. Botham shot back on the micro-blogging site after Broad suggested ex-players who fared little better on the subcontinent had no right to criticise. Broad wrote: “Before u listen to [...]
Hughes spared but could still go this week November 19, 2012 QPR manager Mark Hughes was clinging on to his job last night after lengthy talks with club chiefs. Hughes did not take training yesterday and instead met chief executive Philip Beard to discuss Rangers’ woeful form. His representative Kia Joorabchian yesterday insisted reports of Hughes’ sacking were premature, calling them “not true at all”. However, [...]
Howzat! Hero Sir Steve is a hit in Sri Lanka November 19, 2012 ROWING great Sir Steve Redgrave swapped his oars for a cricket bat on a trip to Sri Lanka last week to visit a project run by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The five-time Olympic gold medallist was in Seenigama, near Galle, to present a prize to the winner of a Laureus competition to design [...]