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issue 294, February 22 2013
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radar
06 The Miracle on Ice This week in sporting history, the USA ice hockey team’s win over the unbeatable Soviet Union 08 Rugger reads In between games of egg-chasing, pick one of these top books o this coming weekFeatures
16 David Haye Love him or hate him, the former heavyweight champion’s career is in limbo – and his future depends on the decision of a Klitschko
25 Alex Goode On why, ahead of their meeting with France, England’s Grand Slam hopefuls are keeping their feet firmly on the ground
33 The Capital One Cup final Michu reflects on his first season in England and his first appearance at Wembley, and the Dalai Lama wishes Bradford well
39 Johnny Rea The World Superbikes rider on the new season, and why Valentino Rossi has an easier job than him
extra Time
52 Gadgets Sony’s new Xperia Z is a full HD smartphone with a five-inch full HD display on a full HD page
54 Kit Snow+Rock pick out the best skis to wear while humming the Ski Sunday theme on the slopes
56 Grooming Our selection of roll-ons roll into town, accompanied by questionable Oasis punning 60 Games Tomb Raider gets the origin story treatment, and God Of War: Ascension sees Kratos break free of his chains
| February 22 2013 | 03
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ll over the continent, fans of Europe’s biggest clubs
are preparing for some of the most important games
of their seasons. Whether it’s trophy challengers locking
horns, local rivals renewing their animosity or a bit of both, there
are some seriously titanic clashes taking place this week. Here
we’ve mapped out some of the best that Europe has to offer,
from Barcelona and Real vying to reach the Copa del Rey final to
Manchester City and Chelsea battling for the Premier League
runners-up spot. And let’s spare a thought for poor old Rangers,
who instead of playing their great rivals Celtic – as originally
scheduled – instead face a trip to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Ouch.
A
Big game hunting
04 | February 22 2013 |
Radarp06 – This week in sporting history: 1980’s Miracle on Ice
p08 – We get all misty-eyed over When Rugby was Rugby
Celtic v Club 12 (cancelled)Importance: 0
Rivalry: 5This weekend would have
marked the 17,000th Old
Firm derby of the season, if
Rangers hadn’t been smacked
down to the Third Division.
We probably wouldn’t have
watched it anyway.
Man City v ChelseaSunday 1.30pmImportance: 3 Rivalry: 2English football’s plutocrats
go top hat to top hat with the
Premier League runners-up
prize the only morsel left on
the table. Seems money can’t
buy you everything. Not every
year, anyway.
PSG v MarseilleSunday 8pmImportance: 3 Rivalry: 5Although the big-spending
Parisians are eight points
clear of Marseille in third,
Le Classique’s fierce rivalry
always generates tension, and
often violence, with hundreds
of arrest over the years.
Feyenoord v PSVSunday 11.30amImportance: 4
Rivalry: 1Challenging with Ajax for the
Dutch title, these clubs from
Rotterdam and Eindhoven are
currently separated by just
three points at the top of the
Eredivisie.
Inter v AC MilanSunday 7.45pmImportance: 4
Rivalry: 5Mario Balotelli returns to
his former club, whose fans
were recently fined for racist
chants about the former Man
City striker. Expect fireworks.
And not in the bathroom.
Barcelona v Real MadridTuesday 8pmImportance: 3 Rivalry: 5Both clubs are probably more
focused on the Champions
League, but this Copa del Rey
clash is still the biggest rivalry
in Europe, with the score
standing at 1-1 from the first,
fascinating leg.
Radar
06 | February 22 2013 |
t the height of the Cold War,
the USA and USSR were, in the
political sense, two evenly
matched superpowers. It was quite
different on ice – the Soviet Union had
won every World Championship and
Olympic gold for 16 years, and lost
just one of their previous 28 matches.
So, when the US faced them in the
Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, a home
victory looked unlikely for all but the
most fervent patriots. The only people
in America who saw what followed live
were the 8,500 in the stadium, because
ABC only aired it hours later.
The USA were 2-1 behind with
seconds to go in the first period, but
equalised on the buzzer after a mistake
by star keeper Vladislav Tretiak, who
was promptly subbed. They took a 4-3
lead with 10 minutes remaining and
hung on for a famous victory that paved
the way to the gold medal. ABC decided
to show their next match live.
Also this week
1964 A cocky 22-year-old called
Cassius Clay is crowned world champ in
a surprise win over Sonny Liston. He is
later fined for his rant at the weigh-in:
“You’re a tramp. I’m gonna eat you up.”
1972 Alex Higgins becomes the
youngest world snooker champion at the
tender age of 22, on his first attempt.
At the time, the Hurricane was living
in an abandoned house in Blackburn.
2010 Sachin Tendulkar makes history
by making the first ever double-century
in an ODI, against South Africa.
Athis week in sporting history
1980the mirAcle on ice
Ste
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The USA hockey team beat their USSR counterparts during the Cold War. We take a look at some other occasions sport and politics have mixed throughout history...
moSCoW mUTiny 1980Just a few months after the hockey game (left), the UsA and 60 other countries announced their boycott of the 1980 summer olympics in moscow, in response to soviet troops occupying Afghanistan. the russians responded by boycotting the lA games in 1984, along with 15 of their allies. Albania and iran somehow ended up refusing to attend either olympics. we’re not quite sure how that happened.
The FooTbAll WAR el SAlvAdoR v hondURAS, 1969three games played against a backdrop of mass el salvadorean immigration into honduras were the spark that lit the fuse of this central American conflict. part of qualifying for the 1970 world cup, the games in June 1969 resulted in mass rioting and, after the third game, a suspension of all diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring nations. the so-called Football war would follow just a few weeks later.
SoUTh AFRiCA ShUnned 1964-1991perhaps the quintessential example of sport’s occasional power over politics, the boycott of south African athletes over the issue of apartheid began with the country’s exclusion from the 1964 olympics, and ended with the abolition of the segregation rules in June 1991. As the Un kept a roster of all sportspeople who competed in south Africa, pressure on the regime grew, and white south Africans named the sport boycott as the third most damaging consequence of apartheid in a 1977 survey. south Africa’s rugby world cup win in 1995 is also given a lot of credit for healing the wounds left by the policy, to the point where the country was able to succesfully host a football world cup in 2010 as a truly united nation.
what is it good for?
W hat’s the collective noun for a group of football legends?
The reason we ask is that a whole team (is that right?) of
them will be in town next week for the London Football
Legends Dinner and Awards, in support of the Willow Foundation
charity. Set up by Bob Wilson (pictured) and his wife Megs, the
foundation gives seriously ill 16 to 40-year-olds life-enhancing special
days. Sport is an official supporter of the event, which will be attended
by stars such as Ian Wright, Jimmy Greaves and Sir Trevor Brooking.
London Football Legends Dinner and Awards, Thursday February 28
at Park Plaza Riverbank, London. Tickets from £160 per person.
Visit willowfoundation.org.uk/FootballLegends
Radar
08 | February 22 2013 |
All
sp
ort
UK
/All
sp
ort
Bob Wilson: middle
name, Primrose
Don’t worry, it’s not
all about Guscott
With the Six Nations returning this
week after a well-earned break,
we’ve picked out three of the
best newly released rugby reads...
When rugby Was rugby
Full of iconic images from the Daily Mirror’s
rich photographic archive, When Rugby Was
Rugby offers a nostalgic trip down a very
muddy memory lane. From the sport’s
eponymous beginnings at Rugby School to the
rise of professionalism via the first organised
games of the 19th century – which were
seemingly played in Victorian prison garb –
this glossy coffee table book offers a
thorough if rose-tinted record of the
gentleman’s game. One thing’s for sure –
the kits are a lot more practical these days.
By Neil Palmer, £20 (Haynes)
calon: a journey to the
heart of Welsh rugby
Calon means heart in Welsh, and it’s a fitting
title – perhaps no other nation has taken
rugby to its heart more deeply than Wales.
Author Owen Sheers spent a year with the
young team that carries the hopes of that
nation, telling the tale in a beautifully written
book that covers the Grand Slam win of 2012.
By Owen Sheers, £14.99 (Faber and Faber)
125 years of the british & irish
lions: the official history
Updated ahead of the summer tour, this
weighty book covers the entire history of
rugby tours to the Antipodes, from 1888 to
the present day. We can’t think of a better
way to brush up on your Lions knowledge.
By Clem and Greg Thomas, £20 (Mainstream)
Scrumptious stories
Football legends
10 | February 22 2013 |
Radar Editor’s letter
Editor-in-chief
Simon Caney
@simoncaney
Sport magazine
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Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901),
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Contributors: Del Gentleman, Mark
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Commercial
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© UTV Media plc 2012
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Sport magazine
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Hearty thanks to: Garry Hayes,
Angela Acquaye
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O h, Arsenal. You do make life difficult for yourselves sometimes. And when Arsène Wenger gave that press conference this week,
it merely added fuel to the fire. I’ve said on this page before that I believe
the English game owes a great debt to
Wenger, and it’s sad to see him being vilified
and lampooned by so many – including
Arsenal’s own supporters.
Now, I’ve learned over the years that
Arsenal fans can be a sensitive bunch, but I
have a pal who has supported them since
Pat Rice was a plucky full-back, and who
can be relied upon to offer a rational view.
He didn’t let me down when I asked him.
And he made the very valid point that there
are only two possible outcomes for Arsenal
now: they either win a trophy soon or get a
new manager, and the latter does not
guarantee the former.
The thing that saddens him most is the
way the supporters have split. “Personally I
never want us to lose a throw-in, but I’ve
spoken to people who want us to lose so it
expedites change,“ he said. “I cannot fathom
that reasoning, I find it bewildering.“
The problem for Arsenal fans is that
their team’s performances this season have
been so dismally inconsistent. “The whole
situation, and any defence I may put up of
Arsène, is shot down by some execrable
performances this year,“ says my mate.
And, ultimately, the manager is accountable
for the results.
Wenger pushed the boat out to keep
Theo Walcott, but Arsenal really still need
Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, too.
Whoever takes over needs to ensure
Arsenal are not a selling club; in Jack
Wilshere, they have the jewel in the crown of
English football, and he simply must stay.
But is this job now just a poisoned chalice?
This Sunday’s Capital One Cup final is a great story. Swansea, who have come up from the bottom tier to the Premier League, against Bradford City, who have done just the opposite. Too often our big Wembley finals become nothing more than an annoying inconvenience to the so-called big clubs, but this year the League Cup will genuinely mean something to both sets of players and supporters. I’ll root for the underdogs, but a Swansea win would be great for football too.
Whatever the circumstances
surrounding the tragic death of Reeva
Steenkamp last week, there was
something ghoulish about the way so
many news programmes chose to focus
on the damage done to Oscar Pistorius’
’brand’. Tiger Woods damaged his brand.
Lance Armstrong damaged his. In this
case, a young girl was killed, but it seems
that several people forgot that fact.
Arsenal’s two optionsWin something – quickly – or get a new manager. The Gunners are being backed into a corner
Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
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Back to the wall: will Arsenal be walking in a Wenger
wonderland much longer?
Reader comments of the week
After reading
@Sportmaguk interview
with @LauraTrott31
I continue to look up to her
and I also really want one
of these Thermomix things!
@LivWals
Argh got my head stuck in
@Sportmaguk and missed
my change on the train.
Extra 1/2 hour of reading
time. #fail
@batballandboots
@simoncaney it takes a
big man to admit when he
might have got it a bit
wrong @Sportmaguk
#RVP
@DanNCW
@simoncaney was it
deliberate having a wifi ad
behind @sirrkj? “The
problem with today is
people expect to hear
from you”... #solitude
@Louchepunter
The @Sportmaguk is
absolutely class today.
Great read @simoncaney
@amitkatwala
@sarahsportmag
@GeorgeIredale
Free iPad app available on Newsstand
Cover of the Year
monochrome by haglöfs
now available exclusively in selected snow+rock stores and online at www.snowandrock.com
To celebrate the launch of the haglöfs monochrome Intense range snow+rock are offering a gift to the first 20 people who bring this copy of sPorT into their
monument store and spend over £100 on the new range.
12 | February 22 2013 |
Radar Opinion
In the old days, a three-game week was not uncommon, primarily because
nobody had quite realised that this was too
much for our bodies to handle. The feeling of
waking up on a Wednesday morning, still feeling
horribly battered from the Sunday before and
knowing you had to play another big match that
evening, was gruesome – and anyone who claims
they loved it is fibbing. Except me: I loved it
because I was the best pro ever.
These days, though, the players are protected,
as much from themselves as from anybody else.
But back then, in the golden age of recklessness,
nobody was bothered, so we just got amongst it.
I recall with a horrid vividness sitting in the London
Irish changing rooms at what would normally have
been bedtime, mourning a massive loss in a game
we were surely due to win. And all the while
knowing we had to play Leicester that Saturday,
and that they hadn’t lost in a long, long time. These
were tough times and our boss, Francois Pienaar,
was three miles short of happy. We were told to be
at the clubhouse by 10am the next morning, and to
bring our match boots and gumshields.
We arrived feeling smashed to bits, having not
slept a wink and knowing that we were going to
be flogged. Pienaar stood up, looking livid and
strapped head to toe for training. “Last night
was disgraceful and we all need to take a good
look at ourselves,” he said. “We are going to do
just that. I want you all at the pub by midday –
they’ve got mirrors there, so we can have a
good look.” What a hero.
We did go to the pub, we did stay out until stupid
o’clock, and we did beat Leicester that Saturday,
against all the odds. But my aim here is not to
lament the past. Well, it is a little bit – we did have
a rare old time. No, all I want to do is ensure that
nobody writes off the wounded beast that is the
French team. You’ll hear Stuart Lancaster and his
charges repeating this sentiment right up until
kick-off on Saturday, but do not assume this is
merely a standard, media-trained one-liner.
Just ask the All Blacks, or the Australians, or
the English. Actually, ask anybody who has come
a cropper against this mob, and they will tell you
the same thing: nobody wants to face a French
team in a corner, because the weapons at their
disposal are as good as any on earth, should they
choose to use them.
But their romantic allure and mystique has
grown over generations because, simply, they
might be god awful too. When the All Blacks play,
we know that – bar the very occasional blip –
we will see excellence; when the Springboks play,
we know there will be brutality; and when the
Argentineans play, we know we will see passion
to bring tears to the eye. But with the French,
we have absolutely no idea. I think this is bloody
wonderful, and it’s why they’re my favourite team
to watch in the whole world.
@davidflatman
Da
vid
Ly
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ton
Flats on Friday
Nowt so dangerous as Le Coq in a corner
I’m a very liberal man. Gay marriage? Fill your boots. Drugs? Legalise and tax
them. Immigration controls? Everybody round
to ours, because we’re having a party. The England
women’s cricket team… hang on a minute. You’ve gone
too far there.
What? There’s just been a World Cup, and the
cash-strapped BBC sent people out to India to cover it?
In stadia with so many empty seats that the spectators
amounted to witnesses? And the Australians won? And
none of them tested positive?
Well, there’s your story – and here’s me thinking that
American racing driver Danica Patrick is the only female
sport star really making a difference.
You might not have heard of her, but then you
probably haven’t heard of Anya Shrubsole – who, despite
almost lending her name to one of the best anagrams
ever, was the leading wicket-taker at the latest Women’s
World Get-Together Thing.
The difference is that, rather than peddling her trade
in a gender-specific event, and after posting a qualifying
lap with an average speed of 196.4mph, Patrick has just
become the first woman to take pole position for the
Daytona 500 – the most macho event in the most macho
sport in America. Beating the men at their own game,
you might say.
She has her detractors, of course. Robert ‘Robby’
Gordon, once alleged to have taken a four-mile shortcut
in an off-road event in Mexico, has previously refused to
race her on the grounds that she is too light. “Do the
math,” he said, confirming both his idiot status and the
fact that there is nothing more than a weight issue
between the best male and female drivers.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon,
however, is “proud to sit on the front row with her”.
Patrick, in her own words, just wants to “make some
more history”. Go Girl! As I believe they are fond of
saying in certain parts of the United States of America.
@BorrowsSPORT
Planks of the WeekLeeds United supporters (erm… Leeds United)
Arrive in Manchester for an FA Cup tie dressed like
they are on their way to an 1980s theme night while
shouting “we are Leeds!” – which, at best, is a bald
statement of the bleeding obvious – before looking for
United fans to fight. Wrong place. Proceed to chant
Don Revie’s name during the game, taking the whole
experience back a further decade. And then the idiots
take their shoes off. An anthropologist’s wet dream.
It’s like this…Bill Borrows
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14 | February 22 2013 |
Use your hands, man!Back in 1872, the Football Association ruled that only
goalkeepers were allowed to use their hands on the
field of play. Forty years later, the blasted killjoys
added another restriction, that goalies could handle
the ball only inside their penalty area. Unless David de
Gea knows something we don’t, that’s still the case
– and he could have simply caught this ball. Still, you
never know when these pesky rule changes may
come in. So better safe than sorry, eh? Mik
e H
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Frozen in time
David Haye
16 | February 22 2013 |
The waiTing
gameF
ormer world heavyweight champion
David Haye has a fitness DVD to sell.
He’s making a good job of it, too.
But he throws punches better. The
question is: which will he be doing
more of this year? Sport spoke to Haye – as well as
some of the biggest names in boxing – and found
a man in limbo. Haye is neither here nor there,
but somewhere in between.
No longer retired, but pinning his hopes of a return
to the ring on the decision of a 41-year-old to fight
a man almost 10 years his junior, Haye has backed
himself into a corner. He has fought his way out
of corners before, of course. Only, this time, there’s
no indication of when the bell for the next round
might ring.
The 41-year-old in question is Vitali
Volodymyrovych Klitschko, reigning WBC
heavyweight champion and one half of the world-
ruling heavyweight combo that is the Klitschko
brotherhood. He is the older sibling of Wladimir,
who beat Haye so conclusively in the heavyweight
unification fight for the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and
The Ring heavyweight titles in Hamburg in July 2011.
venomous battle with Chisora – this one taking place
inside the square circle and without the added
weaponry. In the intervening period, he’s eaten bugs
in the jungle for reality TV show I’m a Celebrity...
and released a fitness DVD encouraging viewers to
‘Box & Tone’ along with him.
He’s had to do some equally heavyweight
promotional work around said DVD in recent
weeks, which ostensibly is the reason we’re in the
whitewashed offices of television shopping channel
QVC to talk to him. He’s here to film three live slots
plugging ‘The Ultimate Fighting Fit Workout’ that
will be screened in between clips of the latest magic
carpet cleaners and ladies’ high-end fashions. It’s a far
cry from his natural habitat – and ours, too.
But how far away from the ring is he really?
Physically, Haye says he’s in relatively decent shape.
“I’ve been doing bits and pieces in the gym, staying
healthy so that, when the fight does get agreed, I’m
not a million miles away from where I need to be,”
he explains. Ah yes, the fight. The one Haye says he
was promised by Vitali and his manager Bernd
Boente before that press conference ‘altercation’
took place between him and Chisora.
It was a defeat that looked set to be Haye’s last
when he retired a few months later, on the very day
he turned 31. Issuing a lengthy statement announcing
the end of his career as a professional boxer, the
Hayemaker explained that it had been his intention
to retire on that date ever since he “first laced up a
pair of gloves as a skinny 10-year-old at the Fitzroy
Lodge Amateur Boxing Club in Lambeth”.
A glittering career was thus concluded. But coming
as it did, amid an onslaught of broken-toe jokes and
bottle-job allegations, it was an ending that was
always going to require a sequel. This is where Haye’s
story takes an unexpected twist. Having previously
decided Vitali was the only man who could bring
him redemption in the ring, a press conference brawl
with former British heavyweight champion Dereck
Chisora tempted Haye down a different path – one
strewn with smashed glass, steel cages and the kind
of violence even a boxing ring can’t contain.
Selling iTWhen Sport meets Haye, seven months have passed
since he emerged triumphant from another
| 17Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
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“It was the carrot of the Klitschko fight that got me
back in the ring against Chisora,” says Haye. “Boente
said: ‘If David fights Dereck, Vitali will fight the
winner.’ So I thought: ‘Okay, I can beat Chisora. About
two minutes after that, we had that mad scuffle and
it went viral – CNN, NBC, Fox News. I got more
coverage for beating someone up in a press
conference than for any of the fights I’ve ever had.
“I never thought I’d fight someone like Chisora
for a non-world title fight. I’m a world-title fighter –
I have been for many years now. But this was one of
those one-off occasions when it wasn’t about the title.
It was big news, and news means interest. Interest
means ticket sales, and ticket sales mean money.
All of that makes for a high-profile fight, and I’m
only in the game for high-profile fights.”
One-man shOwAnd yet, Haye is not in the game at all right now.
Having repeatedly insisted that Vitali is the only
opponent motivating enough to coax him back
into the ring, Haye has not only left the ball in
the Ukrainian’s court; he has effectively given him
permission to clear off and do as he damn well
pleases with it.
But ask Haye now what he thinks the chances are
of Vitali taking him on, and he says it’s not as distant
a dream as some believe it to be. “There’s not much
to sort,” he says. “We just need a date and a venue.
We agreed the financial terms and contractual terms
months ago, but then all of a sudden he fought a guy
called Manuel Charr last September who no one had
ever heard of.
“I’d said I was willing to fight on that date and he
said: ‘No, you fought Dereck instead.’ But Vitali said to
fight Dereck! He used that as an excuse not to fight
me. But it’s up to him – he does what he wants to do.
If he doesn’t want to do it, then he doesn’t want to
do it. He said he does, though. So hopefully he’s a
man of his word.”
Boxers are used to periods of inactivity between
fights. They relish the time to recover and repair
their bruised and battered bodies. But Haye is well
beyond that point now. If he still considers himself >
“BOente said: ‘if david fights dereck, vitali will
fight the winner.’ twO minutes after that, we had
that mad scuffle. i gOt mOre cOverage fOr Beating
sOmeOne up in a press cOnference than fOr any Of
the fights i’ve ever had”
Haye lands one on
Chisora in the latter’s
post-Klitschko press
conference in Munich
David Haye
18 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
to be a boxer (and his recent re-application for a
licence from the British Boxing Board of Control
suggests he clearly does), then he will surely have
reached the stage where the desire to train and rebuild
the mind and body that helped him win world titles
in two weight divisions is seeping back into his blood.
Is it making him twitchy to fight again, we wonder?
Haye offers a wry smile, insisting the frustration of
waiting for Klitschko is nothing he’s losing sleep over:
“If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” he says. “If not,
then I’ll survive. I won’t miss any meals because of it.”
The words come out easily enough – they usually do
with Haye – but you sense there’s little substance
behind them.
filling the boxing holeThose who know him best sense it, too. Elliot Worsell
– author of Making Haye and someone who has
become an integral part of Haye’s support team –
believes that while the boxer is privileged in having
made enough money to be able to enjoy life and keep
himself busy (he’s frequently jetting off to the warmer
climes of Dubai, Las Vegas and Miami), he is starting
to miss the fight game.
“He’s at the stage I expected him to get to
where he’s missing the training element and the
camaraderie of having people at the gym watching
him prepare for a fight,” says Worsell. “He doesn’t get
stopped in the street any more by people asking:
‘When are you fighting next?’ I can definitely sense
he misses that.”
The Guardian’s boxing writer, Kevin Mitchell,
believes Haye is simply a showman who’s craving a
stage. “I think he misses the attention, the limelight,
like all boxers do when they slip away at the end
of their career,” he says. “That’s what made Ricky
Hatton come back, whatever he says. The roar of the
crowd is a very strong pull, and so many have fallen
for it down the years. David is no different.”
But isn’t there more to it? Isn’t there also a desire to
get back to doing something he dedicated his life to
for 20 years? A passion for the sweet science that also
makes it hard to spend such a long time away from it?
“I love boxing,” says Haye. “I’ll always watch the big
fights when they’re on. In fact, I was in Vegas last
week to watch a fight. I love mixed martial arts, too
– any sort of combat, really. I’ll watch combat sports
all day long on YouTube – old boxing matches,
kickboxing, whatever it is. I love combat.”
Indeed, a few hours after we speak to Haye, Barry
McGuigan’s young charge Carl Frampton is boxing
for a European title in Belfast. It’s a fight Worsell says
would have been “way below David’s eyeline a couple
of months ago”. But on this day, Worsell’s phone rings
just as the undercard finishes and it’s Haye, asking
him what time the main event begins.
“He wanted to get home in time to watch it,” says
Worsell. “If you’d have said to me last year that David
Haye would be rushing home to watch Frampton box
for a European title, I would have laughed at you. But
suddenly he had a desire to watch a fight, and it didn’t
matter who it was or what was at stake – this wasn’t
Floyd Mayweather Jr against Manny Pacquiao. And
that told me he’s still in love with the game, otherwise
“i love boxing. i was in vegas last week to watch a fight. i love mixed martial arts, too – any sort of combat, really. i’ll watch it all day on youtube”he’d have been swanning off to a nightclub. So I took
positivity from that.
“There have been times in the past when David has
fallen out of love with the hard graft and the training
– that’s natural if you spend your whole life dedicated
to fighting. But, normally, those times are quickly
followed by him falling back in love with it even
harder than before, because he misses it and realises
how important it is to him. Boxing has defined who
he is. There’s been nothing else in his life besides
boxing. I don’t think you can ever truly fall out of
love with something that has defined you and made
you who you are.”
Worsell admits Haye was “fighting off demons for
months” after his defeat to Klitschko the younger in
Hamburg, but watched him come back to knock
Chisora out in style last summer. “He did things in
that fight, even after a year off, that he hadn’t shown
before in his career,” he says. “To me, that showed he’s
still improving and that’s one of the things that would
make it a bit sad if he never boxed again.”
Even Frank Warren – a man who, in his own
words, “never had a lot of time for Haye in the past”
– was impressed by the fighter he watched pummel
Chisora at Upton Park. “His love for the game was > Ma
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20 | February 22 2013 |
definitely still there,” says Warren. “And I was
surprised by the love he got from that crowd, too.
When they respond to you like that, it’s a bit like
a drug – you want more of it.”
Weighing up the optionsA boxing promoter and manager for more than three
decades, Warren is pragmatic on the likelihood of
seeing a Klitschko versus Haye mega-fight. While
some believe Haye’s bar-room-type brawl with
Chisora has forever soured relations with the
Klitschko camp, Warren maintains that the only
stopping point is cold, hard cash. “The Klitschkos are
looking for fights that will generate big income, so
providing David can get the guarantees he’d need
from UK television to make it work financially, I have
a feeling it could happen,” he says. “If not, he either
retires or looks to fight someone else.”
Neither of those options are particularly attractive
to Haye. He has already retired once, that’s true, but
not many people believed that Haye would really give
his illustrious career such a sloppy full stop as the
one he provided in Hamburg. And, if Worsell’s
romantic view of Haye’s relationship with boxing is
to be believed, the Hayemaker will surely find it
more difficult than he’s willing to admit to truly
turn his back on boxing.
So what of the second option? Haye versus British
heavyweight champ David Price or notorious
loudmouth Tyson Fury would have a huge domestic
appeal, according to Tristram Dixon, editor of Boxing
News. “There are plenty of people for Haye to fight,
if only he’d beat the drum,” he explains. “Fury is the
most viewed boxer in Britain – his link with Channel
Five means he gets an average of two million viewers
per fight, and that went up to near three million for
his bout with Chisora. With that kind of reach and
the pay-per-view platform that could be provided by
Channel Five’s partnership with Primetime, both
guys would make a lot of money from that fight.”
For now, Haye is adamant – it’s a Klitschko or
nobody: “Only Vitali. Wladimir has said he doesn’t
want to fight me, and that’s fair enough. He doesn’t
have to. He beat me fair and square. The way I see it,
though, if I beat Vitali and knock him out, I’m sure
Wladimir would change his tune about not wanting
to fight me.”
Dixon believes that, despite Haye’s words, he could
still find the motivation to glove up for Fury in the
same way he did for the Chisora bout. But former
world featherweight champ Barry McGuigan is
unconvinced. “He’s already been undisputed world
cruiserweight champion and won a heavyweight
world title, so he doesn’t really want to muck around,”
he says. “Haye feels he merits a direct shot at the
world title and, to my mind, he does.
“His performance against Wladimir was poor, but
he doesn’t need to go down the rungs of the ladder.
He’s still a young man and has the punching power to
knock anyone out, including the Klitschkos. I think it
would be a step back for him to box Fury or Price
– they need him more than he needs them.”
Haye’s appetite for boxing has been diluted, says
McGuigan, by all the shenanigans around it and
some of the characters involved. “I don’t think he’s
someone who gets up every morning thinking about
the game or bursting for the door to get to training,”
he says. “I don’t think he’s in love with boxing, which
is why he only wants the top man, or he’s going to
opt out. That doesn’t surprise me.”
Counting doWn the daysHaye’s single-minded approach is one that Worsell
is accustomed to seeing from the former world
champion. “He’s very stubborn and, if he wants to
achieve a certain goal – like beating Vitali – then
that’s all that’s in his mind,” he says. “But I’m more
and more sceptical over whether that fight will
happen. I’m not hopeful, and I think with each day
that passes David becomes even less hopeful.”
Should Klitschko bang a final nail into the coffin of
Haye’s hopes this year, Worsell believes that could be
exactly what the south Londoner needs: “If Vitali did
come out and officially retire, or even just say ‘I don’t
have any interest in fighting David’, then at least
there would be some closure. David would be able to
sit down and think: ‘How much do I really want to
box again? Am I prepared to box someone else and
go away and train like I used to for eight weeks, or
do I just not have it in me any more?’
“At the moment, because Vitali is dragging it out,
David can keep using the line that Vitali is all he’s
waiting for. He still has that up there as a kind of
dream. But we need it to be less of a dream and
more of a reality.
“At this point, I’d still be surprised if David was to
box someone other than a Klitschko. But, at the same
time, I’d be a lot less surprised than I would have
been last year.”
It would be no surprise at all for Warren, though.
The promoter manages Chisora and was responsible
for persuading Haye to grant a fight – and a hefty
payday – to someone he had frequently dismissed as
both “a moron” and “a loser, on every level”.
“I’m sure he never had any intention of fighting
Chisora until all the nonsense that happened at the
press conference,” admits Warren. “But people
change their minds. Everything that’s said at the time
is how it is, but circumstances change. He’s done very
well for himself. But, like most people, I’m sure he’d
like to earn more money, and what he does for a
living is boxing. So I believe he’ll fight again.”
Warren’s words ring true when Haye talks about
the direction his life has taken over the past 18
months. Ask him whether he regrets anything – from
the embarrassing ruck with Chisora to showering
naked in front of the world for reality TV – and he’s
adamant that he had reasons for doing it all.
“Every decision I made was on the spur of the
moment and that’s how I felt at the time,” he says.
“I don’t regret or want to change things – I never
look back. Have I changed? Every decision I’ve made
has changed me in some way – sent me down a >
“i don’t regret or Want to Change things – i never look baCk. every deCision i’ve made has Changed me in some Way – sent me doWn a different path”
Haye takes Chisora
on again, this time in
the ring, knocking
him out in five rounds
Feet up: Haye tweeted this
picture of himself watching
Frampton v Martinez from his
sofa earlier this month
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David Haye
22 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
different path, maybe one I wasn’t anticipating or
expecting. But everything happens for a reason, and
I’m in a good place. I’ve got this fitness DVD that
I’m happy with and I’m working on a range of
healthy supplements, trying to pass on some of the
knowledge that I’ve needed throughout my career.”
Timing iT righTToday, he talks of wanting to be in the health and
fitness industry – but in the past he’s also mentioned
Hollywood as being the his next destination. There’s
a definite sense that, as far as life after boxing goes,
he is yet to decide where he really belongs.
“He does get bored easily,” says Boxing News
editor Dixon. “But I don’t think he necessarily has
a long-term vision. We’ve heard the stories of him
wanting to be the first black James Bond and all that
stuff, but it won’t get his competitive juices flowing.
He’s applied for his boxing licence again, too.
So what’s he playing at if he doesn’t want to fight?”
As the days pass, says Dixon, Haye moves further
away from the skills, power and impeccable timing
that made him a world champion: “The clock doesn’t
stop ticking in boxing. Even though he’s still a young
guy for a heavyweight – and he’s not really got a high
mileage in terms of his number of fights – the longer
Haye leaves it, the harder it will be to come back in
terms of inactivity and getting meaningful fights.”
Worsell has his own worries about the impact
Haye’s time out of the ring would have on him,
should he fight on: “The timing issue is what I worry
about with him, because you only really get that from
fighting or sparring. And David famously never did
a lot of sparring throughout his career.
“Going into the Chisora fight was probably the
most sparring he’d ever done. He sparred like an
old-school fighter leading up to that, I think, because
he’d had so long out of the ring. He needed to feel
what it was like to be punched in the face and get
pushed around, because he knew it was going to be a
tough physical fight – so he had to be prepared for it.
“You can get your timing that way, but ideally you’d
be boxing three times a year and that timing would
just always be there. Being out of the ring for a year
and just hoping you can get that timing back is a risk.”
Long Live The hayemakerAs someone who has seen Haye burdened by the
empty agony of defeat and lifted by the wave of
euphoria after a victory, Worsell is as much in two
minds as the boxer on whether he wants to see him
fight again. “I wouldn’t be unhappy either way,” he
says. “Simply because he’s had that Chisora win.
If that fight had never happened, and he potentially
went out on that defeat to Wladimir, I’d have been
really disappointed and wanted him to box again.
The Chisora fight did provide a sort of closure to his
career in a way, if that is the way it’s meant to be.
“But if Klitschko is open to fighting David, I’d be
100 per cent behind him boxing again. If you’re
talking about other fighters not named Klitschko,
then I’m 50-50. If David suddenly found a thirst for
beating those guys, jumped into training camp with
gusto and was as inspired as I’ve ever seen him, then
absolutely – it would be great to see him fight those
guys. But if I sensed he was being drawn into it just
because he was fed up or wanted the money, then I’d
go the other way. I’d be really sad if it came to that.”
Haye is likely to remain undecided until he gets his
final answer from the Klitschko camp. Until then,
he’ll keep himself busy chasing the sun, making TV
appearances and crossing off days in his diary until
the fog that’s clouding his future clears. But he’s sure
he’s not yet ready to slip silently into obscurity.
“People love the Hayemaker or they hate the
Hayemaker,” says Haye. “But one way or another,
people feel passionate about the Hayemaker. And, for
me, that’s good. What I don’t want is for people to
think: ‘Oh, he’s a nice guy. I couldn’t care if he fights
or not, though. And I couldn’t care watching him.’
I’m not interested in being that guy. I’m interested
in getting people to feel one way or another.
“Since I went into the jungle, people have seen the
real me a bit more. So maybe if I get another fight, I
might not feel the need to hype it up like I used to.
Maybe I’ll just be me. That’ll be interesting.”
If there is to be another fight in Haye’s future, it
will be interesting to say the least – whoever is in
the opposite corner. And, if there isn’t, be prepared
for another PR onslaught... this time plugging
the Hayemaker range of protein bars and meal-
replacement shakes. Let’s hope Vitali fronts up,
then, for the good of us all.
Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag
David Haye’s Box & Tone, the ultimate fighting fit workout DVD,
is available via qvcuk.com, priced £9.98, item number 400394 Jo
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Exper ience more at www.t- touch . com
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Goode IntentIons
| February 22 2013 | 25
Alex Goode
England arE on coursE for grand slam glory but, With francE in toWn tomorroW, full back alEx goodE tElls us thE mEn in WhitE arE kEEping thEir fEEt on thE ground
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How big was the win in Dublin for
this side?
“It was a great step in the right
direction for us, because we
pride ourselves on improving
each week as a group. Everyone
talks about the New Zealand
game and the Scotland game in
terms of how well we played, but
the win over Ireland showed the
character of the group in the
way we rallied when things
weren’t going well. People made
mistakes, obviously, but we
showed composure and took the
game by the scruff of the neck
when we went down to 14 men.
That’s a huge step forward for
this team.“
How important was that
10-minute period when you
were down to 14?
“It was big, because a lot
depends on how you react to
moments like that. We were very
good all day at getting behind
each other and getting a positive
outlook instilled when people
made mistakes. No one was
angry at James [Haskell, who
was yellow-carded]; we just got
on with it and said: ’What’s our
next job? Let’s go up the other
end and get something out of the
game.’ The way we responded is
a big turning point for this side.“
Is the way you responded also
a sign of this team’s ability to
self-manage?
“Yeah, a lot of people talk about
Robbo [Chris Robshaw] as
captain, and Owen [Farrell] as a
leader at fly half, but the whole
team was in a really good place.
No one was panicking, everyone
knew their role, everyone knew
what was expected of them.
We didn’t have to be told before
the game that we have to play in
their territory, or anything like
that. You’re good enough rugby
players already to know that,
when it gets wet like that, it’s
going to be tough. So you dig in
and fight hard for each other.
Everyone showed great work
rate and put pressure on them,
and all our decision-making was
very good. That was probably
the key to the victory.“
Did you expect a busy afternoon
when you woke up and saw the
weather?
“Yeah, it didn’t stop raining from
when I woke up. You know what
you’re in for, and then when
Ronan [O’Gara] came on, it was
always going to be even tougher.
It’s something I pride myself on,
though – the tactical cat and
mouse with the opposition 10
– and luckily Mike Brown on the
wing was fantastic. We really
dealt well with what Ireland
threw at us. I’m lucky enough to
have had Mike Catt put up
hundreds of spiral bombs and
kicks that are impossible to
catch, so I was used to them.“
How confident is this squad?
“Coming into the Six Nations,
there was a real spring in
everyone’s step – you could
tell everyone really wanted to >
24.8
26 | February 22 2013 |
Alex GoodeR
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be there. Training was a bit bubbly and
everyone was a bit more enthusiastic
because they’d wanted to get back in the
camp. That hasn’t changed. I wouldn’t say
there’s an arrogance, though. The moment
we get arrogant or get above ourselves –
or start thinking about games in the future
– is a bad time for the group, and that’s
when we’ll come unstuck. If we stay humble
and work hard for each other, as we have
been doing, we’re in the right place.“
France are next up tomorrow. Have you
seen their first two games?
“Yeah, I’ve seen their games. There’s nothing
more dangerous than a French side that’s
been written off, or that has nothing to play
for. They have quality – that doesn’t change
overnight – and if they take it to you, they
can be the best in the world. The key for us
is to make sure our defence is spot on.“
Defence and intensity seem to be the buzz
words around this squad. Is this a team
built on its defence?
“It’s something we pride ourselves on, yeah.
We get energy from our defence and the
way we do it – and we defend well – but it’s
not something we’ll rest on either. You’ve got
to keep working and make sure you’re
always at the top of your game. We have a
group of guys who want to work for each
other, which is a massive thing. And, when
we got opened up against Ireland, the way
the guys got back and scrambled was
fantastic. That was key in that first half.
Everyone in the group wants to work for
each other, and that makes a big difference.
We want to put down a marker that we’re the
most physical team in international rugby.“
“we want to put down a marker that we’re the most physical team in international rugby”
england’s starting XV against ireland had an average age of 24.8, with just one player (geoff parling) over the age of 27
You played a lot of rugby at fly half, but
seem to have settled at full back. Is that
your position now?
“Yeah, the transition’s been there for a while
now, and I’m very happy with it. People have
wondered if I’m going to go back to 10, but
I’ve always said that if I’m improving as a 15
and things are going well then there’s no
need for me to change. I love being a full
back, I love playing for England and I don’t
want any of that to change.“
People have talked about a new breed of full
back, with it becoming a second receiver
role. How much does your time at fly half
help you in that role?
“It gives you a different outlook, definitely,
but I wouldn’t say it was a new breed too
much – you get different types of full backs,
it’s as simple as that. There are wonderfully
gifted runners out there who break the line
all the time, and I’ve come from a different
background because I was a 10 – so [I have]
the kicking game, the organising, the first
receiver and second receiver stuff. All of
that’s not foreign to me, and it means that
Owen knows that if he gets caught up in a
ruck, or if he’s sorting something out, I can
help him out in the 10 slot. The more we get
that kind of understanding, the better it
will be for the team. At the end of the day,
though, a full back’s role is to take his high
balls, be secure at the back and come alive
in attack. I’m also there to beat people
and show my footwork and my strength.
That’s something I’ve worked on over
the past two years, in terms of my power
and my speed. That’s going really well,
so hopefully I’ll keep getting chances to
show that.“
Speaking of your speed, Saracens advisor
Richard Hill said of you: “He’s low slung and
the opposition think he’s slower than he is.“
What do you make of that?
“To be fair, I always said I wasn’t the quickest
as well. A lot of boys think I have this long
stride that looks really slow, so they say I’m
moving quicker than I look. It’s a compliment,
I guess! The key is that everything is done at
100mph at international level, and sometimes
you see the likes of Dan Carter, Berrick
Barnes – and Owen has really developed it –
changing their pace. It’s sometimes best not
to be going at 100mph, and to be in control
of your speed and of what you’re doing.
That’s something I learned as a 10 and is
something I can hopefully utilise more at full
back, where I get a bit more space and time.“
Finally, we must ask about the man in charge.
What does Stuart Lancaster bring to this
group that’s turned you into world-beaters?
“He’s just great at speaking to the guys on a
level. He lets us be creative and talk about
ideas ourselves, and that leads to us having
more responsibility and more trust in each
other on the field. Other than that, he’s very
big on instilling the right mixture of self-
belief and humility. He’ll tell us that we’re
better than our opponents, and can beat
anyone, but also that we have to get the
results to back it up. Stuart’s great at not
letting us think beyond the upcoming game,
and it’s something we’re thriving on.“
Mark Coughlan @coffers83
Alex Goode was speaking at the launch of the O2
Touch tour organised by the RFU and O2, proud
Partner of England Rugby, to get more people
involved in rugby. Visit www.rfu.com/O2Touch
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2013 Six Nations
As Stuart Lancaster’s men look to make it three wins out of three at Twickenham tomorrow, we take a look at how they’re shaping up
and analyse the task in hand...
EngLAndIf the long, flat Owen Farrell pass that led to Geoff
Parling’s try characterised England’s victory over
Scotland three weeks ago, then the same can be said
for the Courtney Lawes hit on Rob Kearney against
Ireland one week later. It was body-on-the-line rugby,
with a teammate just two steps away to get over the
ball and win the penalty.
This England side is being built on honesty, hard
work and a genuine sense of team spirit not often
seen beyond club rugby. Chris Robshaw embodies
that feeling, and his leadership will be important
again tomorrow, in the wake of what is likely to be
a French backlash.
England’s game is founded on doing the basics,
and letting the other team make the mistakes. The
key, then, is to start well against France and sap
them of any belief. A strong defensive display will be
important from the off, while the better weather
might mean a touch more ball-carrying in the back
row and more opportunity for creativity in the backs.
Expect to see the centres running clever lines in a
bid to open the French three-quarters up, but it is
England’s offloading game in the tight that will
cause the most problems. Get that right early on,
and France could leave London zero from three.
OnE TO wATchChris Ashton
Kept pretty quiet by the conditions
against Ireland, but Ashton (above)
has a spring back in his step. Dry
conditions could see him notching
his second try of the tournament.
FrAncEAs David Flatman explains on
page 12 of this very magazine,
there are few more dangerous
prospects in rugby than a
France team with nothing to
lose – and that’s exactly what
England face tomorrow. Coach Philippe Saint-
Andre welcomes the evergreen Vincent Clerc back
on the wing, which means moving Wesley Fofana
into the centres, but it’s up front and in the
half-backs where he needs a clearer game plan.
Watch France’s first two matches and it seems
unclear whether Frederic Michalak or François
Trinh-Duc (when he’s been on the field)
is running the back line, while too many
half-breaks aren’t being supported. The
French have looked out on their feet (not
to mention utterly disinterested) at
times this year, but Saint-Andre
has blamed tiredness for a lot of
the issues. A week without a
game might refresh his side,
while the unthinkable prospect
of the Wooden Spoon might
help motivate them. Start
well, and the strut could
return to this French team.
After that, anything can happen.
OnE TO wATch Louis Picamoles While all around
him have been losing their heads,
the big man has displayed a
combination of both power and
pace that caused problems for
Wales and Italy. England will need
to keep him quiet on Saturday.
Our prediction
England 22-16 France
5England have lost only one Six nations
encounter against France since 2006,
beating them in five of their six meetings
Saturday
Six NatioNS:
ENglaNd v FraNcE
twickENham
BBc oNE 5pm
England v FrancE
28 | February 22 2013 |
| February 22 2013 | 31
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2013 Six Nations
Italy
The loss of Sergio Parisse to
suspension (for insulting a
referee in a French league
match) is a huge blow to Italy’s
chances of a second victory in
this season’s tournament, but
the France win proved this side
has more than one trick up its
sleeve. Much depends on how
they play tomorrow, however.
The temptation will be to return
to the ball-up-the-jumper game
that has seen them pick up wins
over the years, but they need to
back themselves against a Wales
team still some way short of its
best. Use their powerful backs
to puncture holes, then quick ball
to Luciano Orquera could cause
problems. The worry is that
negativity returns to their game
in Parisse’s absence.
One tO watch
Andrea Masi
The full back will need to counter
Welsh threats and keep Italy in
the right half of the field to do
some damage.
wales
Confidence is such a precious
commodity in elite sport, and
Wales have finally rediscovered
theirs after a first win in nine
games. Rob Howley’s decision to
stay loyal to his Parisian heroes
will help build that confidence,
but alarm bells will still be
ringing because Wales played
within themselves in France. One
moment of creativity from Dan
Biggar led to the match-winning
try, but now Wales need to find
more of them. The power game
they love to use is getting found
out, so a Plan B is required.
One tO watch
Andrew Coombs
Wales’ top tackler (21 tackles
and three turnovers) after two
rounds has been something of a
revelation. Coombs’ commitment
will be key to stopping Italy at
source and starving them of
possession.
Our prediction
Italy 12-26 wales
scOtland
Yet another of the Jekyll and
Hyde teams on display in this
year’s tournament, Scotland’s
performance in their 34-10
victory over the Italians had
coach Scott Johnson purring –
if a 50-year-old Aussie can purr,
that is. In a similar vein to Wasps
at Premiership level, Scotland
have such finishing potential in
their side that victory is built
on doing the simple things well
and letting the flyers finish.
A powerful display up front,
coupled with Greig Laidlaw
pulling the strings from nine, will
create open spaces – all Stuart
Hogg, Sean Maitland and Tim
Visser need is the ball coming
their way in them.
One tO watch
Greig Laidlaw
After so long at 10, Laidlaw is
loving life back at nine. The
27-year-old’s quick feet and
even quicker hands will be
crucial to his team’s attempts at
moving the Irish defence around.
Ireland
With an absentee list longer than
most sides’ bench, Ireland will
have a much-changed look about
them on Sunday; but captain
Jamie Heaslip remains and, after
the debacle in Dublin, things
can’t get any worse for the men
in green. The biggest frustration
against England was the failure
to do the basics and hold on to
the ball. With the dangermen
Scotland possess, the Irish know
that possession is king in
Edinburgh. Starve the Scots, and
the penalties will start coming.
That’s where a certain Ronan
O’Gara comes into his own.
One tO watch
Craig Gilroy
After two tight and nervy
affairs, the Ulster winger could
well enjoy the open spaces
Murrayfield can offer, while his
big tackling will be important
against Hogg and Visser.
Our prediction
Scotland 19-17 Ireland
Italy v wales
scotland v Ireland
Saturday
Six NatioNS:
italy v WaleS
Stadio olimpico, Rome
BBc oNe 2.30pm
Sunday
Six NatioNS:
ScotlaNd v iRelaNd
muRRayfield
BBc oNe 2pm
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| February 22 2013 | 33
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With the Capital One Cup final against Bradford City this weekend, Michu looks back on his move to Swansea and reflects on why he has been such a success in his first season in English football k
34 | February 22 2013 |
Michu
He wasn’t alone. While Ferguson was
busy breaking the Glazers’ piggy bank to
buy Robin van Persie, Swansea quietly spent
their summer securing the two signings that
would come to define their successful second
season in the Premier League. The first,
installing the great Michael Laudrup as
manager, sent a ripple of excitement through
the English game; the second, paying Rayo
Vallecano £2m for the little-known attacking
midfielder Miguel Perez Cuesta, barely
warranted a mention. Seven months on, a
player more commonly known as Michu is in
pretty much every fantasy team in the land –
and looking forward to making his first
appearance at the home of football.
“I’ve never played at Wembley, so I’m really
looking forward to that,“ he says. “We are
favourites, but Bradford have already beaten
three Premier League teams and we have only
one game against them – not home and away,
like we had against Chelsea, to get it right.
They are three categories below us, so we
are expected to win, but it will be difficult.
Maybe it will take extra time to do it.“
Humble beginningsThe respect Michu affords Sunday’s
opponents is born not out of the modern
footballer’s obligation to say the right thing,
but a natural humility fostered in his home
city of Oviedo. The 26-year-old was one of a
number of footballers – including Juan Mata
and Santi Cazorla – to offer financial support
to aid Real Oviedo’s battle for survival earlier
in the season, and speaks frankly about the
parlous state of the game in Spain.
“There is no money now in Spain,“ he says.
“When Rayo travelled to play Real Sociedad in
San Sebastian, the journey on back roads
took hours longer than it should have done
because the club couldn’t afford the
motorway tolls. All the people on the bus
were saying: ’This is crazy, where are we
going?’ If we’d known what was happening,
we’d have made a collection for the tolls.“
No surprise, then, that Swansea were
not forced to sell the family silver to buy a
Ahead of his side’s trip to the Liberty Stadium on the Sunday before Christmas, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was asked about the dangers posed by Swansea’s in-form forward. “He can play up front or drop into the middle, so he could give us a problem,” replied Fergie, speaking, of course, about Michu. “It was first-class business by Swansea to cherry-pick him. I’d never even heard of him.”
| 35
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player his manager now believes is worth
£30m. “Rayo had no money so they sent
a letter out saying I was available,“ Michu
reveals. “Swansea’s £2m was like a gift
from heaven.“
It’s a phrase many Swansea fans might
use in reference to their star man, who
signalled his arrival in south Wales with four
goals in his first three Premier League starts
– including a brace on his debut on the
opening day of the season. He now has 18 in
32 appearances in all competitions, his ability
to play as either attacking midfielder or
lone striker a precious commodity for his
manager in a league where time on the
ball comes at a high premium.
“It is important to have confidence in your
own ability, and I always thought I could do
well in England,“ says Michu. “Here the game
is up and down, box to box, and it is easier
for me to find space. There are plenty of
chances, and for an offensive midfielder
it is ideal.
“I have faith in my first touch, and that’s
essential over here because you have such
little time in the penalty area. A good touch
in the Premier League table. In typically
modest fashion, Michu is quick to deflect any
credit his manager’s way.
“The gaffer was one of my idols when I was
growing up,“ he says. “He was a truly great
player. As a coach, he allows us the freedom
to try things on the field. Yes, we have
responsibilities, but the attacking players
always have the licence to try a particular
skill – and, if we lose the ball, no problem.
I like that very much.“
The first picture Michu messaged his
older brother Hernan – who also played as
a midfielder for Real Oviedo but is now a
lawyer – from Swansea was one in which his
manager was stood with his arm around him.
It paints a picture of mutual respect, even
friendship, between player and manager,
Spaniard and Dane, forged in the former
mining heartland of south Wales.
Come Sunday evening, there is every
chance that the pair will have combined to
bring Swansea City the first major piece of
silverware in the club’s history. And that
would make the £2m man from Oviedo little
short of priceless.
BRADFORD CITY v SWANSEA CITY
SUNDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2013, 4PM KICK OFF
WEMBLEY STADIUM
£7.00
OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
gives you a great advantage – and playing in
a team like Swansea helps me because we
like to keep the ball.“
Feasting at the top tableSwansea’s ability to do just that is the legacy
of a footballing culture put in place by
Roberto Martinez and continued by Brendan
Rodgers. It is no surprise that Laudrup,
one of European football’s all-time greats,
espouses many of the same virtues as
his predecessors – but the Dane’s greater
experience as a player at the very top of the
game has perhaps instilled in him a more
practical edge.
Many wise judges have noted that his team
isn’t afraid to adopt a more direct approach
when necessary, and it’s hard to argue with
the results: Swansea have registered wins at
both Anfield and Stamford Bridge in the run
to the Capital One Cup final, while Michu
himself netted twice in a deserved 2-0 win at
the Emirates in December. The expected
victory on Sunday would earn the club a ticket
to play European football next term, while
they currently sit an entirely merited eighth
Quotes taken from
the Official Capital One
Cup Final programme.
To order your copy, visit
ProgrammeMaster.com
or call 08700 20 20 20
Sunday
Capital One Cup Final:
BradFOrd City v SwanSea City |
wemBley Stadium |
Sky SpOrtS 1 4pm
“It is important to have confidence in your own ability, and I always thought I could do well in England”
Pleased to Michu: scoring against Chelsea in the semi final (left); holding off Jamie Carragher at Liverpool in the fourth round (above); celebrating a draw with Man Utd (above, right) and scoring in the Swans’ win away at Arsenal
A Nahki of scoring“I don’t want to put any pressure on the lad,
because he’s only 22 and still learning,” says
Harrison of Bradford’s Bermuda international
Nakhi Wells. “But he can definitely go on to play
at a higher level.” The striker scored the first
goal of the semi final against Aston Villa, and
that’s far from a one-off. “He’s a goal-scorer:
14 in the league this season and another four
in cup competitions,“ says Harrison. “Give
him a chance at Wembley, and he’ll take it.”
Swans’ inexperienceHarrison is full of praise for Swansea City’s
rise through the football league. “They have
their own incredible story to match our own
this season,“ he says. “They’re a club that
have gone about things the right way, but we
shouldn’t forget that Swansea were where
we are now not too long ago [they were a
fourth-tier club as recently as 2005]. How
many times have Swansea played in front
of 80,000+ at Wembley? How many of their
players have won major trophies? As a club,
they’re as inexperienced as we are at playing
in a major final like this.”
Defensive options“Michu is Swansea’s dangerman,” says
Harrison. “[Manager] Phil Parkinson probably
won’t assign one player to mark him, but he
has a big decision to make in central defence.
Rory McArdle had, I think, played more
football than any player in the league this
season because of all our cup games. He
played 39 matches until getting injured
two weeks ago, and now we’re not sure if
he’ll be fit. Andrew Davies has only just
returned from a knee injury, but he’s been
excellent since then and Michael Nelson –
who we only got from Kilmarnock in January
– has been great.”
Momentum is with them“You just get a feeling about a cup run,” says
Harrison. “It isn’t just the results against
Arsenal and Aston Villa, as great as they
were. We went to extra time against Notts
County in the very first round. We were 2-0
down and going out with less than 10 minutes
to go against Burton Albion in the third round,
and we won that in extra time [scoring in the
84th and 90th minutes, then winning 3-2].
Players and fans go into this game thinking
anything’s possible, because we’ve seen it all.”
Divine intervention“We have the Dalai Lama on our side,” insists
Harrison. “For years, we’ve joked that he
supports Bradford because he wears claret
and amber robes. Last year, he was in
Yorkshire and a supporters’ group gave him
a shirt with his name on the back. Word got to
him that we’re in the final and his people sent
us a letter. I have a copy: ’On behalf of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, may I offer you,
and indeed the whole team of players for
Bradford City, huge congratulations... if His
Holiness’ blessing has helped in any way
towards your wonderful efforts, I hope it
continues to bring good fortune.’”
They won’t want penalties“Say it’s 0-0 or level at the end of the game,”
says Harrison. “Swansea might get nervous,
because just look at our record on penalties
[see below]. Would I take penalties? I’d bite
your hand off if you offered me that now.”
36 | February 22 2013 |
Capital One Cup Final
Bradford City: upset specialistsSport spoke to Mike Harrison of The City Gent – the oldest football fanzine in Britain – who told us how Bradford City might spring a surprise on Sunday
Nine livesBradford City's ruN of peNalty shootout wiNs
stretChes BaCk over NiNe CoNseCutive matChes
Bradford 2-2 Notts County Football League Trophy October 2009 3-2 pens
Bradford 2-2 Port Vale Football League Trophy November 2009 5-4 pens
Bradford 0-0 Sheff Wed Football League Trophy August 2011 3-1 pens
Huddersfield 2-2 Bradford Football League Trophy October 2011 4-3 pens
Sheff Utd 1-1 Bradford Football League Trophy November 2011 6-5 pens
Hartlepool 0-0 Bradford Football League Trophy October 2012 3-2 pens
Wigan 0-0 Bradford League Cup October 2012 4-2 pens
Bradford 3-3 Northampton FA Cup November 2012 4-2 pens
Bradford 1-1 Arsenal League Cup December 2012 3-2 pens
Order copies of The City
Gent via thecitygent.
co.uk – the latest issue
is a League Cup final
special
Carl McHugh (on the ground) and teammates celebrate his goal in the first leg against Villa
Claret and amber:
the Dalai Lama sent the
club a letter wishing
them luck in the final
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Taking on The world
| February 22 2013 | 39
British World superBikes rider Johnny rea tells us Why, unlike most people, he can't Wait to get Back to Work
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World superBikes rider Johnny
rea is patiently explaining to
Sport why Valentino Rossi‘s job
is much easier than his. The
Northern Irishman is well placed to make
the comparison – he made the step up
from Superbikes to Grand Prix racing on
two occasions last year, filling the storied
leathers of the injured Casey Stoner at
San Marino and Aragon.
“Superbikes feels faster because it‘s
more raw and aggressive,” says the
26-year-old. “MotoGP bikes are fine-tuned
racing machines and, when you go full gas
on a GP, the mappings and the fuelling and
the electronics make it feel like you‘re riding
a scooter off the lights. If you tried to do
that on a Superbike, you‘d get high-sided to
the moon because it‘s a bit more raw.”
We spoke to Rea with him preparing
for a return to his day job – when the
FIM Superbike World Championship begins
anew in Australia this weekend.
How was your stint in MotoGP?
“It was good... but I feel like I didn‘t get a
fair crack, because I was bouncing from
Superbikes to MotoGP week on, week-off,
and the two bikes are completely different.
While I had a contract for Grand Prix, my
job was to race in the Superbike World
Championship, so I tried not to let the GP
thing distract me from that. At the same
time, I wanted to give a good account of
myself, because that‘s seen as the elite
class in the sport. I think I did a good job –
it was a good experience, but I just feel like
I needed more time to understand it. It‘s
certainly easier to ride, but to race and find
that extra second in MotoGP is much harder
than in Superbikes. I went straight in with a
seventh and an eighth, so I can‘t complain.”
Were you happy with your fifth-placed finish
in Superbikes last year?
“In the end, yes, but we expected to be more
competitive as a team. It was clear the
package wasn‘t as we expected. I would
have been happy with top three, but that got
away – so I feel like I didn‘t achieve my own
goals. But a massive dream of mine was to
win the Suzuka 8 Hours race, and I did.” >
40 | February 22 2013 |
"i'm 26 now – i've kind of lost that 'young rider' tag. i'm not the 18 year old waiting to go. i need to get my shit together and get it done"Are there any bike improvements this year?
“We‘re using completely new electronics this
year, different strategies – which already in
the pre-tests have proved to be a big step
forward. But the big thing we‘ve suffered
with is horsepower, top speed – especially
in the high-speed circuits. The guys tell me
we plan to have a completely new engine by
about Round 3, so there‘s a development
plan in place. We just have to wait for it to
happen. With these things, you can‘t just
click your fingers [and make it happen].
I wish I could. I can come home with fitness
testing and everything – I could see my gains
as an athlete month by month, but you know
when it‘s a big investment in motorcycles it‘s
hard just to demand parts to be here right
now. And that‘s the most frustrating thing.”
Last year was a pretty hectic one for you –
are you ready to get back to work?
“Yeah I had so much going on personally,
what with getting married, then the World
Superbikes and MotoGP. At the end of
the season, I didn‘t want to see another
motorbike forever. But as the weeks wore
on, I‘d done the whole off-season thing
seeing family and friends. I can‘t wait to get
back on the bike. We moved house as well
in the middle of it all – that‘s probably the
most stressful thing you can do. It‘s more
stressful than getting married, I tell you.“
How have you been spending your time?
“Just enjoying the new house and having
friends because it‘s such... it‘s not a selfish
sport, but you‘re on the road. You live out of
a suitcase. It‘s nice to come home and put
clothes in a wardrobe and watch the trashy
TV on weekends and do normal things.”
Do you get sick of the travelling? Casey
Stoner said similar things, and it turned out
to be a major factor in his retirement.
“Well I‘m still young enough to enjoy it, and
I haven‘t achieved my goals yet. I love the
sport and I love motorbikes. I wouldn‘t
compare myself to Casey – if my dream
got pulled from underneath me, you‘d catch
me at a local motocross race racing
competitively on a motorbike. It‘s what I was
brought up doing, it‘s all I know. I‘ve got no
hobbies like, er, fishing, or anything else I
wanna be doing.”
What do you have to prepare in advance
for the new season?
“Well, the things I‘m involved in my team
pretty much take care of. You obviously
know about the whole cycling uproar
with anti-doping and stuff, and the FIM
(International Motorcycling Federation)
is signed up to the World Anti Doping
Association‘s anti-doping code. It‘s really
strange, because I‘m on this whereabouts
system that means I have to detail exactly
where I‘ll be at a certain time every day for
three months. I have no idea where I‘ll be!
So it‘s a case of trying to book hotels and
find addresses for the next three months.
I‘m also constantly on the phone to the
workshop, checking up on what‘s happening,
studying a lot of races, making reports
on what we could do better.”
How do you prepare yourself mentally
for that long on the road?
“You can‘t, it‘s just experience. Every season,
you learn something different about what to
do better. I‘m quite OCD; yesterday I was in a
bit of a panic because I was packing my bag
for 10 weeks, and if you forget something it‘s
not like you‘re down the road. It‘s about
being prepared. When I first started, I was
really lucky to get an opportunity. But I was
15 years old, and the guys I worked with
were trailing me round like a son. When
you‘re 15, 16, and your parents aren‘t there
anymore, you grow up fast – you‘re away
hanging out with 30-year-old mechanics,
40-year-old team managers. I had a pretty
steep learning curve.”
What targets have you set yourself for
the 2013 season?
“As competitive as the championship is, and
being realistic after where we‘ve finished in
the past, we target the top three. For sure,
I‘ve got personal goals – I‘d love to win. But,
being realistic first, we have to crack the
top three. We‘ve finished fifth twice in a row,
so it‘s definitely possible. I‘ve proved I have
the speed and I can win races on any given
day. So I just need to put consistency
together and hopefully, come October this
year, we‘ll be laughing. I‘m 26 now – I‘ve kind
of lost that ‘young rider‘ tag. I‘m not the 18
year old who‘s waiting to go. I need to get
my shit together and get it done.”
Amit Katwala @amitkatwala
For the chance to spend a day riding with Jonathan
Rea at Donington Park Racing Circuit, and to push
yourself further than you thought was possible,
visit redbull.co.uk/getyourwingsGa
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go, go, go! The season-opener in Melbourne forms
something of an hors d‘oeuvres to the
rest of the season, with India‘s move
from March to November leaving a big
gap in the schedule after the first race.
Defending champion Max Biaggi ended
last season with something of a
whimper, winning it by just half a point
over Briton Tom Sykes in a thrilling last
round. Marco Melandri was in contention
for much of the campaign, but finished
just one of the last six races – retiring
for various reasons – to finish third
overall. Outside the top three, Rea is a
contender, as is 2011 champion and
Superbikes veteran Carlos Checa.
Februaryi
24 Phillip Island,
Australia
Aprili
14 Aragon,
Spain
28 Assen,
Netherlands
Mayi
12 Monza,
Italy
26 Donington,
Europe
Junei
9 Portimao,
Portugal
23 TBA
30 Imola,
Italy (30th)
Julyi
21 Moscow,
Russia
Augusti
4 Silverstone,
UK
Septemberi
1 Nürburgring,
Germany
29 Laguna Seca,
USA
Octoberi
6 Magny-Cours,
France
20 Jerez,
Spain
Novemberi
17 Buddh
International
Circuit,India
the schedule
Johnny Rea
42 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
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7 DaysFEB 22-FEB 28
HIGHLIGHTS
» Football: Premier League Preview» p44
» Horse Racing: Racing Plus Chase » p46
» Golf: Honda Classic » p48
» Tennis: Dubai Duty Free Championships » p50
» Boxing: David Price v Tony Thompson » p50OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD
Friday RuGBy LeaGue | WORLD CLuB CHaLLeNGe: LeeDS RHINOS v MeLBOuRNe STORM | HeaDINGLey | Sky SPORTS 1 8PM
English clubs have an excellent
record against Australian sides in
the World Club Challenge, having
won six out of the past 10. The
annual contest between the Super
League champions and their NRL
counterparts takes place on Friday
evening, when holders Leeds face
Melbourne Storm at Headingley.
Storm have 11 of their Grand
Final-winning team in a squad
featuring the likes of Cameron Smith,
Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. Brett
Finch and Ryan Hoffman, who both
had spells at Wigan, are also
familiar with English conditions.
Leeds will miss injured prop Ryan
Bailey and could be without Zak
Hardaker after the full back
suffered a thumb injury in their win
over Salford last weekend. Hooker
Paul McShane (right), who went
over for two tries after coming off
the bench in that game, insists his
team need to “go up another level”
if they are to get the better of the
Storm, who beat them 18-10 in the
2010 staging of this fixture.
This could be the last Challenge
in its current format, however.
Officials are discussing including
more teams in a Champions
League-type format and holding
games in Australia.
The Super League continues on
Saturday, with St Helens at Bradford
and Hull FC hosting the unbeaten
Warrington (Sky Sports 1 5.45pm).
On Sunday, the London Broncos go
to Wigan looking for their first win
of the season, while Castleford host
Catalan Dragons. Wakefield Trinity
Wildcats entertain Huddersfield
Giants, and struggling Salford City
Reds are at home to Hull Kingston
Rovers (Sky Sports 3 6.30pm).
Rhinos’ revenge?
44 | February 22 2013 |
7 Days
SUNDAY MANCHESTER CITY v CHELSEA | ETIHAD STADIUM | SKY SPORTS 1 1.30PM
The last time these teams met, Stamford Bridge echoed
to a chorus of jeers and boos as Chelsea fans offered a
hostile welcome to Rafael Benitez, newly installed as the
Blues’ manager. It made for an odd atmosphere for a
football match, and the end result reflected the feeling of
apathy around the ground, with both teams settling for
the point that came with a goalless draw.
Sunday’s match comes three months after Benitez’s
arrival, but the Spaniard is still not sitting comfortably.
Even on Chelsea’s brightest days – and last week’s 4-0 win
over Brentford constitutes one of those – undercurrents
of darkness are never far away, with chants for Roberto di
Matteo ringing out towards the end of a goalless first half.
Benitez’s opposite number on Sunday afternoon is
not exactly reclining with his feet up either. Roberto
Mancini’s City side are without a win in their last three
league games, and are watching on as the title moves
further out of their reach. Better news is that Vincent
Kompany should be available after his recovery from
a calf injury – and Mancini has put a large amount of
expectation on the shoulders of Sergio Aguero after the
striker’s brace helped them to beat Leeds in the FA Cup,
promising the Argentinean can “spark them into life”.
With the strong possibility that Manchester United could
be 15 points clear by the time this match kicks off on
Sunday, Mancini will need to hope his wish comes true.
It’s easy to overlook, given recent
results, that Arsenal are unbeaten in
four league games and still within
touching distance of fourth place.
Their season will most likely live or
die by their league form, while Paul
Lambert has told his Aston Villa side
(admittedly for different reasons)
that the next 12 games must be
viewed as “12 cup finals”. Don’t expect
too much – these two have been
involved in more goalless draws than
any sides in Premier League history.
SATURDAY ARSENAL v ASTON VILLA
EMIRATES STADIUM | 3PM
The Baggies’ impressive win over
Liverpool last time out ended a run
of six games without a win in the
league, and will likely have left
manager Steve Clarke ruing the
interruption of FA Cup weekend.
Martin O’Neill will hope the break
has a positive impact on his side, by
contrast – they are without a win in
three and have managed only one
goal (a penalty) in those three
games. If the Baggies bag one, the
points might well be theirs.
SATURDAY WEST BROM v SUNDERLAND
THE HAWTHORNS | 3PM
West London takes on Manchester this weekend, with Chelsea playing the current champions and QPR taking on their probable replacements
Premier League
Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
SATURDAY NORWICH v EVERTON | CARROW ROAD | 3PM
| 45
Martin Jol paid Stoke a backhanded
compliment after watching his side
beaten 1-0 at the Britannia earlier
this season, saying: “They bully
teams... it is their style and I admire
their style. It’s almost a rugby team.”
Tony Pulis will be keeping Jol’s
comment under his perma-fixed
baseball cap, ready to pull out as
soon as the two sides met again.
Expect much Pulis leaping
whenever a Fulham player makes
the slightest contact, then.
SATURDAY QPR v MAN UTD | LOFTUS ROAD | 3PM SATURDAY READING v WIGAN | MADEJSKI STADIUM | 3PM
It was an unhappy return for Alain
Pardeu to his former club when
these sides met at St Mary’s, with
Saints easing to a 2-0 win. The
Magpies have won just four times in
the league since that defeat last
November, but two of those have
come in their last three: an away
triumph at Aston Villa and a Moussa
Sissoko-inspired win over Chelsea.
More of the same is required against
a Saints side fresh from their own
belief-imbuing win over Man City.
SUNDAY NEWCASTLE v SOUTHAMPTON
ST JAMES’ PARK | 1.30PM
It seems unlikely that Andre Villas-Boas will risk putting Jermain Defoe back
in his striker-starved Tottenham side so soon after the 30-year-old damaged
ankle ligaments earlier this month, meaning the buck is likely to stop with
Gareth Bale (again) on Monday night.
The Welsh wonder has notched 17 goals in all club competitions this season
(prior to Spurs’ Europa League second leg tie against Lyon this week), taking
some of the heat off Emmanuel “half-a-season-and-I’m-done” Adebayor.
The Hammers, fresh from a winter break in Dubai, will look to get back to
winning ways after their defeat to Aston Villa last time out, when the east
Londoners failed to find the goals they needed despite throwing everything
they had at Villa in a frantic end to the second half. Job one will be not giving
away any free-kicks within 40 yards of goal, or they risk another Bale beauty
flying straight into the top corner.
MONDAY WEST HAM v TOTTENHAM | UPTON PARK | SKY SPORTS 1 8PM
The Canaries’ winless streak in
the league is up to nine ahead of
Everton’s visit this weekend.
Manager Chris Hughton must be
scratching his head at how such
a dire run of form hasn’t left the
Canaries wallowing in the relegation
zone. Everton will still be smarting
from allowing Oldham back into
their FA Cup tie last weekend – a
result David Moyes won’t have let his
players get away with lightly. They’ll
be keen to make amends here.
Harry Redknapp and his QPR side
are fresh off a return flight from
Dubai, refreshed and ready to
throw a spanner in the works of
United’s bid to win the title. The Rs
manager will hope all that sun and
sand has washed their previous
league outing from his players’
minds. A 4-1 trouncing by Swansea
will not instil much confidence for
the arrival of the champions elect,
who are unbeaten in the league since
losing to Norwich in November.
A Jordi Gomez hat-trick handed
Wigan three points when these
sides met at the DW, but Royals boss
Brian McDermott felt robbed after
having a penalty appeal turned
down. With the two sides now
comprising two-thirds of the
relegation zone, this match has
become a six-pointer that neither
manager will want to lose – and, with
Reading having lost only three times
at home this season, they’ll be
confident of avoiding defeat.
P W D L F A Pts
PReMieR LeAgUe TAbLe
Excluding
penalties, John
Terry is the top
scoring defender
in Premier
League history,
with 29 goals29
Man Utd 26 21 2 3 62 31 65
Man City 26 15 8 3 48 24 53
Chelsea 26 14 7 5 55 28 49
Tottenham 26 14 6 6 44 30 48
Arsenal 26 12 8 6 50 29 44
Everton 26 10 12 4 40 32 42
Liverpool 27 10 9 8 49 34 39
Swansea 27 9 10 8 38 34 37
West Brom 26 11 4 11 36 35 37
Stoke 26 7 12 7 26 31 33
West Ham 26 8 6 12 29 38 30
Fulham 26 7 8 11 36 42 29
Sunderland 26 7 8 11 28 34 29
Norwich 26 6 11 9 25 40 29
Southampton 26 6 9 11 36 45 27
Newcastle 26 7 6 13 34 46 27
Aston Villa 26 5 9 12 25 50 24
Reading 26 5 8 13 33 48 23
Wigan 26 5 6 15 30 51 21
QPR 26 2 11 13 19 41 17
1
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SATURDAY FULHAM v STOKE | CRAVEN COTTAGE
SKY SPORTS 2 12.45PM
46 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
7 Days
SATURDAY Horse racing | racing Plus cHase | KemPton | cHannel 4 & racing uK 3.50Pm
Galloping greyThe imminent Cheltenham Festival looms
large over the world of jumps racing right
now, but not every horse in training is
heading for Prestbury Park next month.
One almost certain to skip the four-day
meeting is the striking grey Nacarat, who
instead heads to Kempton on Saturday
for the defence of his Racing Plus
Chase crown.
The race often marks the transition from
winter to spring in the National Hunt
season, and Tom George’s 12-year-old
loves the sun on his back at the Surrey
track – in four runs in this race, he has
registered two wins (2009 and 2012),
with second and third-placed finishes
in between.
He is very much a veteran these
days, and won’t find it easy to
dominate a field featuring
improving Grand National
entry Wyck Hill, the
enigmatic but classy
What A Friend and last
year’s second Hector’s
Choice. But Nacarat is a
bold, front-running beast
– should they let him have his
own way, a hat-trick is not
out of the question.
TUESDAY Football | coPa del rey semi Final second leg: barcelona v real madrid | nou camP | sKy sPorts 1 8Pm
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The Champions League might be
taking a week off, but you still have
the chance to see European giants in
action next Tuesday. For that is when
Jose Mourinho takes his gallery of
struggling excellence to face their
fierce rivals for the first of two
Clásicos in the space of a few days.
While they’re 16 points adrift in La
Liga, in which they play Barcelona
next Saturday (March 2), the Copa
del Rey is up for grabs – and a place in
the final is at stake in this second leg.
The first ended 1-1 after goals from
Cesc Fabregas and French defender
Raphaël Varane, who impressed with
his muzzling of Leo Messi. There are
doubts, though, over dodgy keeper
Diego Lopez in the Real goal, while
Barcelona are flying again after a lull.
Expect a tie fit for a king.
Kings of Spain
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48 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
7 Days
MONDAY > Snooker | Haikou World open | Haikou Venue, Hainan iSland, CHina | BritiSH euroSport 2 6.30am
Strait-laced and staunchly
traditional snooker joined the
very modern video viral trend that
is the Harlem Shake when it staged
its own impromptu boogie – led by
announcer Rob Walker (who else?)
– prior to Stephen Maguire’s
semi final against Judd Trump at
the Welsh Open last week.
Maguire (above), clearly inspired,
won that tie 6-4, and then ended
his five-year wait for a ranking title
with a dramatic 9-8 win over Stuart
Bingham in Sunday’s final.
And the game continues its
Barry Hearn-led drive into the
modern era when it returns to
Haikou for the second time on
Monday for the World Open –
formerly the Grand Prix, until its
first journey east last year.
Maguire and Trump are on
different sides of the draw but, if
they are to meet again in China,
The Ace will have to overcome
either world number one Mark
Selby, Neil Robertson or Graeme
Dott. The ‘Livewire’, on the other
hand, will likely face holder Mark
Allen in the quarters and one
from Bingham, Ding Junhui, Mark
Williams and John Higgins in the
semis – if he gets that far.
Matches are best of nine up to
and including the quarters, with
the semis best of 11 and the final
best of 19 for the £85,000 prize.
Proceedings begin early Monday,
with a wildcard round featuring
Nigel ‘00-147’ Bond. Tune in to find
out if he makes it to the main draw
and celebrates with a vodka Martini.
Beating the Trap
Shaken, not stirred
THURSDAY > GolF | Honda ClaSSiC | pGa national, Florida
SkY SportS 3 8pm
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It ain’t over till it’s over at the Honda
Classic. Anyone leading going into the
closing holes at the PGA National in
Florida knows they’re entering possibly
the toughest stretch on the tour.
Holes 15, 16 and 17 are known as the
Bear Trap – the course was designed by
‘Golden Bear’ Jack Nicklaus – and, on
the face of it, two par-3s under 200
yards and a 434-yard par-4 should hold
no fears. But every year this trio wrecks
cards. There is water everywhere... and
where there’s not water, there’s sand.
Somehow, Rory McIlroy (below)
played the Bear Trap in three under last
year, on his way to victory by two shots
from Tiger Woods – who closed with
a blistering 62 that included an eagle
down the 604-yard par-5.
All eyes will again be on the Ulsterman,
who will be keen to prove that those
new Nike clubs do actually work. But
expect big things from Lee Westwood
too, whose last round here was a 63.
Competition
We’ve teamed up with Kinetica Sports and Ben Youngs to give away some great-
tasting protein and nutrition products
and a T-shirt signed by the England rugby man.
We’re giving away 10 sets of Ben’s picks from
the Kinetica Sports range (1 x kilo Whey, 12 x
Milk Pro bars and exclusive T-shirt). Answer
the question below and you could win this stuff.
Whey Protein Kinetica’s own
formulation boosts lean
muscle growth by increasing amino acid levels
before and after exercise, and improves
nitrogen retention. Ben says: “Kinetica
Chocolate Whey protein is delicious (and
effective!) – I take it in the crucial 20-minute
window post-training.”
Milk Pro Chocolate Orange and Toffee
flavours provide a super-
convenient way to get protein to the muscles
quickly. Ben says: “I’m always looking to top up
protein after training for Leicester at Oval
Park, or on the way to the next fixture.”
eXClUSiVe Plus an exclusive signed Made
of What Matters T-shirt
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, JUST ANSWER
THIS SIMPLE QUESTION
How many appearances has Ben Youngs made
for England?
A 10 B 17 C 30 D 55
To enter, head to kineticasports.com/
competitions and fill in your details
Competition closes March 31 2013. Full terms and
conditions at kineticasports.com/competitions
Win! Kinetica products and exclusive signed t-shirts!
to find oUt More ViSit
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50 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
7 Days
MONDAY > TENNIS | DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS | AVIATION CLUB TENNIS CENTRE, DUBAI | SKY SPORTS 2 10AM
Two men – Roger Federer and Novak
Djokovic – have won eight of the past 10
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,
so there is a reasonable chance that they
might fight out the final this year, too.
With no Andy Murray or Rafa Nadal in
the field, the major threat to that dominant
Djokovic-Federer axis comes from the likes of
Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan
Martín del Potro – winner of the ABN Amro
World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam
last Sunday.
The Dubai tournament is one of the
ATP 500 Series, but is also an important
‘warm-up’ event for one of the most
prestigious non-Grand Slam meets of the
season: the BNP Paribas Open at Indian
Wells, which begins on March 4.
Djokovic should prevail in Dubai. But, as
we know, Federer still cannot be written off...
SAturDAY BOxINg | DAVID PRICE v TONY THOMPSON | ECHO ARENA, LIVERPOOL | BOxNATION 7.30PM
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Britain’s David Price is the scourge
of boxing’s pensioners. Last year,
the British heavyweight champ
blasted out a 40-year-old Audley
Harrison, followed by then 45-year-
old Matt Skelton. Presumably after
confirming that 64-year-old George
Foreman was definitely retired, he’s
now taking on the 41-year-old
American Tony Thompson. Don’t
be misled, however, by how many
birthdays ‘Tony the Tiger’ has had:
the two-time world title challenger
represents a step up for the
29-year-old Price.
The 6ft 8ins Scouser has admitted
to being less than fully motivated by
the Skelton challenge, but his juices
are flowing for this one. A latecomer
to the sport, Thompson has lost only
three times in 39 fights – two of
those defeats coming against the
world’s best heavyweight, Wladimir
Klitschko. Thompson lasted into the
11th round when he first fought
Klitschko in 2008, although he was
less resistant last year when he was
stopped in six. He may be sliding
slightly, but he has experience at the
top level and can pose problems with
his long southpaw jab. If Thompson
can survive Price’s early power, we
might see Price’s qualities examined
for the first time as a professional.
A-Force returns
Also on Saturday, ghosts of boxing’s
past gather for a heavyweight
PrizeFighter, including former
winners Martin Rogan and that man
Audley Harrison (Sky Sports 1, 8pm).
They offer erratic entertainment in
the tournament format, but interest
falls on Tom Stalker’s pro debut.
The British Olympic team captain
failed to win a medal at London 2012,
but has a rich amateur pedigree.
Opponent Kristian Laight has just
the 139 career losses and can expect
a 140th on Saturday.
Two-horse race?
Price check
Completely free everyFriday.
iPad edition on Newsstand now
The UK’s top sport magazine The biggest interviews The best previews
Talking to your family about cancer can be really tough. But a chat with one of our experts on the Macmillan Support Line can help you find the words you need. So you and your family can face the future, together.
This is just one of the ways the Macmillan team can help you through cancer. Our medical professionals, cancer support specialists and benefits advisers are just a phone call away.
For cancer support every step of the way call the Macmillan team free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm)
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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). MAC13569
52 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
Sony Xperia Z
About 855,000 phones are dropped
down toilets in Britain each year, so
it’s about time someone came out
with a waterproof smartphone. Sony
are the ones to do it, with the Xperia Z.
It’s big – so large that it might not
even fit down some toilets – with
a super-high-res five-inch screen.
But, like the Samsung Galaxy SIII,
its slim build means it won’t feel too
unwieldy unless you have really tiny
hands. It’s also futureproof, as well as
waterproof, with 4G and contactless
technology. And it’s out on Thursday.
From £34/mth | three.co.uk
Oregon Scientific ATC Chameleon
Action Camera
Those camouflaging lizards are remarkable
not only for their costume changes, but
also for the ability to move their eyes
independently – it’s that trait that gives
this tiny action camera its name. Dual lenses
move separately for two unique perspectives
on whatever you happen to be recording, and
a waterproof case (sold separately) means
there’s no limit to where that could be.
£170 | oregonscientific.com
Fujifilm FinePix XP60
Rugged, waterproof and available in a range
of fluorescent hues, this is the camera we
imagine Bear Grylls would use if he decided
to inject a touch of colour into his muddy life.
It’s shock, freeze and sand-proof, and has
advanced features including panoramas
and 3D effect images. It might not help you
survive in the wilderness, but whoever found
your frozen corpse would have a fine-looking
record of what had happened to you.
£160 | argos.co.uk
EXTrA TimEMaking the most of your time and money
P60
Lara Croft is
back – with a
bear – in the
Tomb Raider
reboot
Splash and grab
Gadgets
ion Water rocker Floating Speaker
This is the perfect swimming pool or
bathtime companion. It bobs along by your
side like a high-tech duckling – but instead of
incessantly quacking and trying to eat your
bread, it’ll stream music from your phone,
MP3 player or any other device you plug into
the wireless transmitter up to 100 feet away,
or from the built-in FM radio. If they can give
a similar treatment to the television, we might
never leave the water.
£60 | johnlewis.com
0800 358 4317Switch to Three today, call
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54 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
Don’t Be A Slope DoDger
et Kit With the ski season hitting its peak, the powder is the place to be. Snow+Rock equipment buyer Phil Gordon picks out a selection of the best skis available at snowandrock.com
K2 AMp Charger
One of our best-
selling piste-
focused rocker skis,
its ‘Speed Rocker’
gives you greater
agility with its
slightly elevated tip
and increased tip
length – ensuring
perfect carved
turns. Triaxial
braiding around the
wood core keeps
the ski torsionally
strong so you can
charge the piste
with confidence.
£405.99, with
binding
White Doctor Ft8
Snowsports
innovator Eric
Bobrowicz believed
there was a market
for real skis for real
skiers at a real price.
He’s just released
his fifth White
Doctor collection,
now available in
the UK. The FT 8 is
80mm under foot
and has a flat
square tail for
strong edge grip
and contact
throughout the
arc of the turn.
£429.99, ski only
Volkl Katana
The Katana
features a top-end
wood core and
vertical sidewall
construction, with
two sheets of
titanium. Its 112mm
underfoot with a
low profile Full
Rocker gives the
Katana a platform
for big landings
while maintaining
manoeuvrability,
making this one of
the most versatile
super-fat skis on
the market.
£619.99, ski only
Head rev 80
pro SW
The new Head Rev
is a universal ski for
all conditions, no
matter what the
quality of snow or
skill of the skier
– and no question
of freeriding versus
carving aspirations.
Thanks to Era 3.0
– a combination of
technology, shape,
and geometry – it is
easier to ski in any
kind of terrain, so
now everyone can
be a better skier.
£515, with binding
Salomon
BBr 8.0
Designed to give
new experiences to
a variety of skiers,
the patented ‘V’
shape, oversized
tip and rocker
construction allow
this ski to carve
beautifully on piste,
float and glide in
fresh snow and still
leave you confident
when the snow is
variable or hard
pack. This is a true
go-anywhere
all-mountain ski.
£425, ski only
rossignol
pursuit 16
A full camber ski
with mindblowing
carve potential on
any piste in any
snow condition. It’s
vibration-free at
speed, thanks to
the way in which
basalt, aramid and
titanal fibres are
woven together,
and the IPS H
structure ensures
all of your energy is
transmitted into the
turning edges for
precision control.
£525, with binding
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is
st
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rk
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om
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rE
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te
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rt
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nm
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.“
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is
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.
56 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
Bulldog Original DeodorantLoaded with “only the best natural ingredients to
deliver all-day protection against underarm odour”,
says Bulldog. And, when we asked the hairy beast to
back up his claims, he drooled, rolled over and told
us his deodorant is enriched with eight essential oils
including patchouli, lemon, bergamot and lime.
Those limes, incidentally, are from Peru and Mexico
“for extra zing”. It also features aloe vera extract,
the soothing properties of which hydrate skin, and
it’s free from parabens and sodium laureth sulfate.
Good dog.
£4.99, 50ml | meetthebulldog.com
Natio For Men
Another with a big tick
in the natural ingredients
column. Lavender
cleanses the underarm
skin, while benzoin and
lemon uplift and purify,
says Natio. We’re pretty
sure that doesn’t mean
you’ll be walking around
with your hands in the air
(like you just don’t care).
£6.40, 100ml |
tesco.com
L’Oréal Men Expert
Carbon Protect 4 in 1
L’Oréal’s Non-Stop Dry
technology prevents
sweat and odours, and
ensures a feeling of
dryness and comfort.
Its ‘4 in 1’ formula also
takes care of bacteria
and helps prevent yellow
stains. But not on your
tighty-whiteys.
£2.69, 50ml |
boots.com
Right Guard
Extreme Invisible
An invisible, powder-free
deodorant that protects
clothes, says Right
Guard, against the three
most common types of
underarm stain: white,
oily and yellow. If your
Sweat Bingo card has
a cross on all three, for
god’s sake pick one up.
£2.29, 50ml |
uk.rightguard.com
Nivea Men 48h
Stress Protect
Protects against effects
of ‘stress sweating’. Sweat
triggered by stress, says
Nivea, has a rapid onset
and smells worse than
that brought on by heat
or exercise, making it
harder to control. Lasts
for 48 hours, too. Kudos
if you can go that long
without a breakdown.
£2.03, 50ml | boots.com
Bluebeards Revenge
Sounds like it’s out of
Brian Fantana’s cupboard
in Anchorman, but
Bluebeards not only uses
the natural anti-microbial
properties of silver to
neutralise odour; it also
has a moral compass
strong enough to include
a male cancer awareness
campaign on its box.
£3, 50ml | bluebeards-
revenge.co.uk
ROLL wIth It
Et Grooming Take your time with our pick of roll-on deodorants and anti-perspirants
– in case the choice out there is all too much for you to take
Wild
o
ne
Til
le T
ho
mp
so
n c
am
e a
-bo
un
din
g i
nto
th
e
Sport
offi
ce
last
we
ek. N
ot
on
ly d
id t
he
BT
CC
gri
d g
irl b
rin
g u
s a
lif
eti
me
su
pp
ly o
f
be
ef
jerk
y a
nd
a larg
er-
than
-lif
esiz
e c
ard
bo
ard
cu
t-o
ut
of
he
rse
lf, b
ut
sh
e a
lso
le
ft u
s w
ith
a p
lea
to “
be
nic
e” t
o h
er
on
th
is v
ery
pag
e.
Th
e u
psta
nd
ing
ge
nt
that
yo
ur
un
cle
Sport
is, w
e
we
re n
eve
r g
oin
g t
o b
e a
nyth
ing
els
e –
esp
ecia
lly
wh
en
su
ch
a p
leasin
gly
allit
era
tive
nam
e c
om
es
to v
isit
be
ari
ng
au
the
nti
c A
me
rican
me
at
sn
acks.
Th
om
pso
n is, yo
u s
ee, th
e f
ace
of
be
ef
jerk
y b
ran
d
Jack L
ink’s
(ta
glin
e: ‘F
ee
d Y
ou
r W
ild
Sid
e’)
.
Th
om
pso
n f
ee
ds h
er
ow
n w
ild
sid
e a
s a
gri
d g
irl
for
Ho
nd
a’s
20
12 B
TC
C c
ham
pio
n a
nd
Au
tosp
ort
Nati
on
al D
rive
r o
f th
e Y
ear
Go
rdo
n S
he
dd
en
.
He
r g
oal in
lif
e, sh
e s
ays, is
to
be
hap
py. T
he
se
cre
t to
wh
ich
, w
e n
ow
kn
ow
, is
be
ef
jerk
y a
nd
tou
rin
g c
ars
. A
nd
th
ere
we
we
re e
ati
ng
piz
za in
fro
nt
of
the
fo
otb
all a
ll t
his
tim
e.
| 59
Palle Hansen
60 | February 22 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand
Gears of War: Judgment
Thick-necked beefcakes Cole
and Baird are the focus once
again, and the task of stopping
the Locust the only way they
know how – by using bloody
great guns. The big difference
this time is that Judgment is a
prequel, meaning this origins
story brings the series full circle
after the disappointment that
was Gears of War 3.
Released March 22
SimCity
The simple title of the latest
entry in Maxis’ city-building sim
should give you an idea of what
the studio hopes to achieve:
a return to the accessible
gameplay that made the series
such a success. Control a region
that delivers true multi-city
scale, play a single city or up to
16 cities at once. Now’s the time
to flex your mayoral muscles.
Released March 5
Tomb RaiderAnother outing for Lara Croft – but
trust us when we say this isn’t like
you’ve seen her before. This reboot of
the franchise reintroduces her more
as a desperate survivor than a steely
heroine. This is Lara’s origins story:
what made her the adventurer we all
know and love in an epic yarn that
switches out previous games’ pyramids
and pistols for an emotionally charged
fight for survival that would make Bear
Grylls quiver in his hiking boots. Set
on a South Pacific island, the odds
are stacked against a shipwrecked
Miss Croft as she negotiates her way
past man and beast with a free-aim
third-person shooter mechanic. Tomb
Raider promises to be a return to form
for this series. It’s visually stunning,
intense, touching and – in a year when
bow-toting protagonists are the action
game innovation de jour – this is one
adventure you’re really going to want
to get your hands on.
Released March 5
Bioshock:
Infinite
While a
return to the
underwater
dystopia of
Rapture is
sadly not on the
cards for the upcoming first-
person shooter Bioshock Infinite,
many hallmarks of the Irrational
Games series are present and
correct. Adrenaline-fuelled
action and razor-sharp gunplay
carry along the game’s twisted
plot at a rattling pace, with the
flying city of Columbia providing
the perfect backdrop for a game
peppered with some of the most
fearsome enemies you’ll ever
face. Set in 1912, you assume the
role of former Pinkerton agent
Booker DeWitt, sent to Columbia
to rescue Elizabeth, imprisoned
since childhood. Irrationally good.
Released March 26
LaRa BeGInS
eT Games Our favourite action heroine gets her own origins story in the new Tomb Raider,
and there’s plenty more to shoot at with our pick of the latest releases
God of War: ascension
Set a decade before the original
God of War, Ascension follows
anti-hero Kratos as he attempts
to atone for his past sins and
break free of the chains Ares has
placed upon him. Expect eye-
wateringly violent gameplay and
a much-needed emotional story,
plus multiplayer in which you
can take on your mates in
a bloody battle to the death.
Released March 15
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2
The original Sniper: Ghost
Warrior was nothing to write
home about. That hasn’t stopped
developer City Interactive taking
another shot (yup) at greatness
though, with a combat system
that revolves around stealth,
hand-to-hand assassination
and – naturally – sniping.
There’s hope but, for now,
colour us dubious.
Released March 12
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