Carter’s return can help All Blacks edge thriller September 22, 2011 NEW Zealand and France have played out some epic matches over the years, so rugby fans’ eyes everywhere will have lit up when they were drawn together in Pool A. The hosts came into the tournament with successive Tri-Nations defeats, but now look to have found their feet with two wins from two. Pool A [...]
Collet’s Sahpresa to make history in the Sun Chariot September 22, 2011 NO horse has ever won tomorrow’s Group One Sun Chariot Stakes (3.10pm) three times, but that could be about to change with Rod Collet’s French mare SAHPRESA. The six-year-old has claimed the last two renewals of this contest and probably should have taken the Falmouth Stakes at the July Course when given a poor ride [...]
Frankie’s Thoughts September 22, 2011 I’VE got some decent rides this afternoon, none more so than Lyric Of Light in the Fillies’ Mile. She’s a lovely filly and I was very impressed with her at Doncaster. She showed some signs of greenness that day, but there should be a bit more improvement and I hope she can confirm the form [...]
Strife of Bryan: Ruiz miss gives Chelsea rare shoot-out joy September 21, 2011 Chelsea (0) vs fulham (0) Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties TEN-MAN Chelsea won only their second penalty shoot-out in nine attempts at the expense of west London rivals Fulham in an incident packed Carling Cup third round tie at Stamford Bridge last night. Fulham’s £11m deadline day signing Bryan Ruiz, who has endured a nightmare [...]
Shaw: Rugby in danger if players not given privacy September 21, 2011 VETERAN England lock Simon Shaw fears rugby players will lose their unique and long-held rapport with supporters if their social lives are subjected to increasing media scrutiny. The England World Cup camp, in particular newly-wed Mike Tindall, was engulfed in controversy last week after members of the public passed accounts and CCTV footage of the [...]
Fifa U-turn over Hayatou London 2012 appointment September 21, 2011 WORLD governing body Fifa were last night forced into an embarrassing climb down amid criticism over the appointment of Issa Hayatou to oversee the London 2012 football tournament Hayatou, the erstwhile president of the Confederation of African Football, appeared yesterday to have been confirmed by Fifa as head of the organising committee for Olympic football [...]
Tindall and Wilko back for Romania September 21, 2011 CENTRE Mike Tindall is set to return to the England starting line-up for Saturday’s Pool B match against Romania. Veteran fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and fit-again wing Mark Cueto are also in line for a recall, as are forwards Steve Thompson, Louis Deacon and Tom Croft, while David Wilson is set for his start of the tournament, [...]
Dream return for Hargreaves capped by his first City goal September 21, 2011 INJURY-JINXED Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves scored on his club debut to help dump holders Birmingham out of the Carling Cup in a convincing 2-0 win. The 30-year-old (below), a surprise summer signing from Manchester United, opened the scoring with his first goal since April 2008, locating the top corner from 25 yards just 17 [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 21, 2011 ALL BLACKS COOL ON ROW New Zealand’s coaching staff have attempted to defuse the simmering row over France’s selection for their clash with the hosts on Saturday. Critics believe Les Bleus have named a second string team as part of a fiendish ploy to lose and therefore enjoy an easier draw in the knockout stage. [...]
THIRD TIME LUCKY | TONGA BREAK DUCK September 21, 2011 TONGA claimed their first 2011 World Cup win at the third attempt with a hard-fought 31-18 victory over Japan yesterday in Whangarei. Viliami Ma’afu, Tukulua Lokotui and Fetu’u Vainikolo scored the tries to maintain the Pacific Islanders’ slim hope of progressing from Pool A. Although they stayed in touch with Tonga throughout, Japan’s defeat confirmed [...]