Perfection: Vettel rivals hail world champion October 9, 2011 BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton led the tributes to Sebastian Vettel’s “perfect” season after the Red Bull driver became the youngest man to successfully defend the World Championship. Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Jenson Button won yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix but 24-year-old Vettel’s third place was enough to clinch the title with four races still remaining. “It was perfection,” [...]
Johnson left to wait for RFU review verdict October 9, 2011 THE Rugby Football Union will undertake a review of England’s wretched World Cup campaign before deciding whether to preserve manager Martin Johnson in his current position. England’s campaign, tainted by a number of off-field controversies, came to an end on Saturday in Auckland at the quarter-final stage, as France exacted revenge for consecutive semi-final defeats [...]
It doesn’t get better than this, beams history maker Vettel October 9, 2011 DOUBLE world champion Sebastian Vettel insists his second title was harder to win than his first, despite sealing his record-breaking successive triumphs with four races to spare. Vettel became the ninth and youngest man to successfully defend his crown yesterday in Japan, where he finished third behind two former champions, Britain’s Jenson Button and Ferrari’s [...]
Nadal blitzed in Japan as Murray celebrates second successive title October 9, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray hailed yesterday’s victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Japan Open as one of his best ever displays. Murray, beaten by the Spaniard in two grand slam semi-finals this season, gained some measure of revenge with a mightily impressive 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory. Murray (right), who won the previous [...]
England to leave Rooney out of Euro2012 build-up October 9, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED striker Wayne Rooney will be left out of England manager Fabio Capello’s starting line-up in the build-up to Euro 2012 after he was sent off in Montenegro on Friday. Rooney will definitely miss at least his side’s first game, and will learn this week whether or not Uefa will exact further punishment after [...]
Chelsea give away 1,000 Euro seats to fill stadium October 9, 2011 CHELSEA, embroiled in a controversial battle with some supporters over a possible move to a new larger capacity stadium, gave away more than 1,000 tickets for their last Champions League match, City A.M. has learned, as many fans shunned the game due to a price hike on tickets. The tickets giveaway is likely to be [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS October 9, 2011 HOWLEY DARES TO DREAM WALES assistant coach Rob Howley admits he and the players are beginning to dream after arriving in Auckland with 80 minutes against France lying between themselves and the World Cup final. Speaking on the team’s arrival, Howley (inset) said: “Its a pretty special place to be. Auckland’s a pretty famous place [...]
Aussie win spells the end for De Villiers October 9, 2011 SOUTH AFRICA (9) vs AUSTRALIA (11) OUTGOING world champions South Africa will today begin the search for a new coach after Peter de Villiers stepped down following the sterling defensive effort that propelled Australia into a semi-final showdown against New Zealand. The Springboks enjoyed 76 per cent of the territory and had the lion’s share [...]
Weepu kicks All Blacks into grudge semi-final October 9, 2011 NEW ZEALAND (33) vs ARGENTINA (10) NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry hailed Piri Weepu after the scrum-half kicked them into a World Cup semi-final with arch-rivals Australia. Weepu notched seven penalties and a conversion as the All Blacks came from behind to beat Argentina and further their hopes of winning the tournament on home soil. [...]
Sarries maintain winning run October 9, 2011 Premiership champions Saracens recorded their fifth win of the season with a 25-5 victory over Newcastle Falcons to keep the heat on early pacesetters Harlequins. Joe Maddock and Alex Goode were first-half try-scorers, while James Short crossed after the break with Charlie Hodgson contributing two penalties and a brace of conversions. Saracens director of rugby [...]