THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 25, 2011 SAMOA STILL IN THE HUNT TUSI PISI helped Samoa keep alive their quarter-final hopes as they overcame Fiji 27-7 at Eden Park. Samoa must beat South Africa in their final pool match – or hope Fiji can do them a favourite against Wales – if they are to reach the last eight. Pisi landed four [...]
Harsh glare of spotlight fortifies us, insists Cueto September 22, 2011 ENGLAND vs ROMANIA ENGLAND wing Mark Cueto insists the negative publicity surrounding their World Cup campaign has only made them more determined to repeat the heroics of 2003 and return with the Webb Ellis Trophy. The team’s preparations for tomorrow’s Pool B clash with Romania have been surrounded by controversy over the off-field behaviour of [...]
Tindall grilling prompts fed-up Johnson to round on press pack September 22, 2011 IRATE England manager Martin Johnson stepped in to swat away questions about Mike Tindall’s private life yesterday when the vice-captain faced the media ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup match with Romania. Tindall answered one question relating to his much-publicised visit to a Queenstown bar, and the tabloid storm that has subsequently stalked the squad, in [...]
Cheer up, England have good reason to be happy September 22, 2011 YOU wouldn’t know it from much of the media coverage or the vibes surrounding the camp, but I think England have made a good start to this World Cup. An overreaction to the performance against Georgia last week combined with the nonsense about players’ off-field pursuits has created a cloud. There is no doubt that [...]
Legend Walsh laments Windies slide September 22, 2011 THE CRICKETING summer began with the release of Fire in Babylon, a rousing film charting the exploits of the all-conquering West Indies team of the late 1970s and ‘80s. It will end this week at The Oval in the shape of two Twenty20 matches – the first today – crowbarred into an already packed schedule, [...]
Hargreaves frightened by end of injury ordeal September 22, 2011 REVITALISED Owen Hargreaves admits he was scared before making a triumphant Manchester City debut in Wednesday’s Carling Cup win over holders Birmingham. The midfielder’s injury-ravaged career looked all but over, having barely played at all in the last three years, until City took a chance and signed the 30-year-old free agent last month. He repaid [...]
Van Persie: We’ll fight out of crisis September 22, 2011 ARSENAL captain Robin van Persie has urged the beleaguered Gunners to come out fighting when they resume their Premier League nightmare against Bolton tomorrow. Last week’s defeat at struggling Blackburn marked another low in an already testing season and prompted fresh questions about manager Arsene Wenger’s future. But Van Persie said: “We realise this is [...]
Vettel in no hurry to seal successful title defence September 22, 2011 DEFENDING champion Sebastian Vettel could clinch back-to-back titles in Singapore this weekend but the German insists he is in no hurry to put the seal on another season of glory. A maiden win at Marina Bay coupled with off days for nearest challengers Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Mark Webber would be sufficient for runaway [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 22, 2011 MURRAY IN SUNDAYS PLEA Scotland prop Euan Murray has called for Sunday matches to be removed form the calendar for religious reasons. Murray, a Christian, has elected to sit out this weekend’s crunch Pool B clash with Argentina because of his faith. He said: “I don’t see why there have to be games on Sundays. [...]
No Ashes Tests for Headingley September 22, 2011 CRICKET: The Oval, Lord’s, Trent Bridge, Old Trafford, and the Riverside in Durham will host the 2013 Ashes Tests, it was announced yesterday. The latter two will be replaced by Edgbaston and Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium for the 2015 series. Headingley and the Rose Bowl feature only in one-day international against Australia.