How England’s pool measures up December 3, 2012 ENGLAND World ranking: 5 World Cup appearances: 7 Best result: Winners (2003) Head coach: Stuart Lancaster Star man: Manu Tuilagi has the explosive power and speed to break any international defence and has become an integral part of the side. With nine tries in 17 England caps, the 21-year-old centre will be essential come 2015 [...]
All Blacks win trio of awards December 3, 2012 NEW Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has been named the International Rugby Board’s player of the year for the second time after the All Blacks swept the board. Steve Hansen won coach of the year award while New Zealand predictably won team of the year, after going 20 Tests unbeaten before losing 38-21 to England on [...]
G-Mac and Kaymer profit from Ryder effect December 3, 2012 CHRISTMAS dinner will taste all the sweeter now for two of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, after they claimed their first individual titles of the year at the weekend. McDowell broke his duck for 2012 with an excellent victory at the World Challenge in California, where his extraordinary chip out of [...]
Finn desperate to gatecrash England party December 3, 2012 ENGLAND fast bowler Steven Finn is determined to not miss out on another famous victory after declaring himself fit for the third Test against India, which starts tomorrow in Kolkata. A thigh injury ruled Finn out of the first two Tests, including England’s impressive 10 wicket win last week, but he is in contention to [...]
Hammers stadium bid verdict likely to be delayed until 2013 December 3, 2012 WEST Ham’s hopes of this week clinching a deal to move into the Olympic Stadium look to be fading, raising the likelihood that a decision will not be made until 2013. The Hammers have long been favourites to be the main users of the arena, but remain at odds with the London Legacy Development Corporation [...]
Proteas reign on Ponting parade December 3, 2012 CRICKET: South Africa spoiled Ricky Ponting’s farewell party as they dealt Australia a 309-run defeat in the third Test yesterday, securing a 2-1 series victory. Australia had been set 632 to win, but were bowled out for 322 on the fourth day in Perth. Ponting, who had announced his international retirement ahead of the Test, [...]
Williams joins top 10 casualties December 3, 2012 SNOOKER: Mark Williams became the latest big-name casualty at the UK Championships last night when he lost 6-3 to Mark King. His defeat made him the fourth top 10 player to fail to reach the second round, after defeats for world No1 Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Ding Junhui. Former world champion Neil Robertson swept [...]
Brit Wellington retires unbeaten December 3, 2012 TRIATHLON: Four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington has retired from the event in order to pursue other challenges. The Briton, 35, remained unbeaten in the event, winning all 13 professional races and claiming the world title in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. She missed the 2010 event through illness but also broke the female world [...]
UK is facing a lost decade for growth December 3, 2012 CITY leaders yesterday raised new concerns about the pace of growth in the Western economies after experts warned countries were facing more than a decade of economic stagnation. The gloomy warnings will send a stark reminder to chancellor George Osborne ahead of tomorrow’s Autumn Statement of the growth challenges facing Britain and its debt pile. [...]
US manufacturing stalls ahead of looming fiscal cliff December 3, 2012 US FIRMS yesterday blamed Hurricane Sandy and the oncoming fiscal cliff for a plummet in manufacturing activity to its lowest level since July 2009. The ISM’s widely-regarded purchasing managers’ index (PMI) crashed from 51.7 in October to 49.5 in November – a level that shows a contracting manufacturing sector. Companies cited political uncertainty as the [...]
