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My leadThe rise of Chris Robshaw

Issue 296 | March 8 2013

issue 296, March 8 2013

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radar

06 This week in sporting history Smokin’ Joe Frazier gets the better of The Greatest in the Fight of the Century 08 100 years of ‘Oh I say’ A century of tennis is brought to book by the ITF. The start of Sue Barker’s career scrapes in o this coming weekFeatures

20 Chris Robshaw England’s captain on his journey to the top of the international game, plus our preview of this weekend’s Six Nations ties

29 Premier stats Data specialists Opta crunch the numbers that tell us who’s ruled, who’s dribbled and who’s drooled in this season’s Premier League

33 Lucas Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder on his adopted city, Luis Suárez and understanding Jamie Carragher

39 Cheltenham special Our eight-page preview of the festival’s biggest names and races – and the best (we hope) tips from an actual expert

extra Time

60 Gadgets The Sonos PLAYBAR breaks the sound barrier, and we try not to break Google’s Chromebook Pixel

62 Kit Our old and creaking bones have got into yoga in a big way. If it’s good enough for Giggsy...

64 Grooming Collections from Natio, Dove and Jack Black will leave you looking meaner and smelling cleaner 68 Entertainment Jude Law and Rooney Mara suffer serious Side Effects, and the Thin White Duke returns

| March 8 2013 | 03

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Grand old players

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Radarp06 – This week in sporting history, Ali v Frazier: the Fight of the Century

p10– I AM PLAYR: live the life of a pro footballer on your commute

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With the buzz around Ryan Giggs reaching his 1,000-game milestone, we look at some of the other outfield footballers in the 1,000 club

1. Ryan Giggs Giggs signed his professional contract for

Manchester United in November 1990, the

same month that teammate David de Gea was

busy being born, making his first-team debut

later that season. Appearances for Wales

were limited to just 64 caps by a series of

mysterious pre-friendly injuries.

2. Pelé He’s allegedly scored more than 1,200 goals, so

a mere thousand games is a doddle for Pelé.

Hard data is tricky to find for the Viagra-

peddling Brazil icon, but 1,363 matches is

apparently the total. Looks much the same

now as he did in his playing days, leaving us to

conclude that Pelé is in fact a Highlander.

3. Javier Zanetti Total games played: 1,078. Total haircuts in

that time: one. The 39-year-old Argentine

right-back and Inter captain is still going

strong, despite being two years older than his

current club manager. Has been (correctly)

identified by Giggs himself as the most

complete opponent he’s ever faced.

4. Alan Ball Squeaky-voiced World Cup winner buzzed

around in midfield for a total of 1,054

competitive games, according to FIFA’s

records (and who can we trust if not good

ol’ Uncle Sepp?). Scored more than 200 goals

in his 12-club career and is a genuine,

much-missed England legend.

5. Paolo Maldini His playing career may have stretched from

1985 to 2009, but we barely recall this

majestic defender extending a leg in that time.

Perfect positioning meant Maldini rarely had

to even tackle opponents to stop them. Played

902 games for Milan and 126 matches for

Italy, keeping his kit immaculate in each one.

6. Steve ClaridgeSoftly spoken forward-come-lunatic has played

more than 1,000 games for 20+ clubs and

was still scoring goals for Gosport Borough

last year at the age of 45. In his younger days,

Claridge used to sell fruit and veg out of his

car boot after training – which we’re fairly

sure can’t be said of anyone else on this list.

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p08 – Anyone for the ITF’s book on a century of tennis?

Radar

06 | March 8 2013 |

e’re all used to there being more

than one heavyweight champion in

modern boxing. Hell, you yourself

probably hold an alphabet version right now,

without even knowing it: the WTF world title.

Congratulations, slugger! However, back

in the 1970s, when boxing’s heavyweight

champion was the most high-profile man

in all of sport, it was all but unheard of to

have two genuine claimants to the crown.

Especially when that pair were two of the

greatest heavyweights ever.

Muhammad Ali, 29 years old and unbeaten

in 31 fights, had been stripped of his world

title four years earlier for his refusal to be

conscripted to the army during the Vietnam

War. During Ali’s absence from the ring, Joe

Frazier – like Ali, an Olympic gold-medallist

and an unbeaten boxer – won the title. After

two Ali comeback bouts, ‘the fight’, as it was

known, was scheduled for March 8 1971.

It didn’t so much capture public imagination,

as pin public imagination and eyeball it into

submission, dividing an enthralled USA on

sporting, social and political grounds.

Remarkably, the contest lived up to the

hype. Ali outboxed Frazier early, but could

never quite figure out Smokin’ Joe’s

bobbing, weaving style. Eventually, the

27-year-old Frazier began to outwork Ali,

punctuating his narrow yet conclusive points

win by knocking his rival down with a titanic

left hook in the 15th and final round.

The braggart Ali surprised some with his

grace in defeat, but the bad blood between

him and Frazier continued throughout their

epic trilogy. Ali won the two return bouts – in

New York in 1974 and the famous ‘Thrilla in

Manilla’ decider in 1975, but Frazier will

always be known as the first boxer to beat

‘The Greatest’ – and the winner of the most

famous boxing match in history.

WTHIS WEEK In SporTIng HISTory

1971THE FIgHT oF THE CEnTury

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one in ahundredOther events name-

checked as century-lOng

highlights fOr their

spOrt include:

game Of the century

An injury-time equaliser for germany against Italy in the semi final of the 1970 World Cup was just the start of the excitement. From 1-1, an astonishing five goals were scored in extra time, as germany lost to their international bogey team 4-3. Franz Beckenbauer played all of extra time with his dislocated arm in a sling because germany had used both of their substitutions.

Ball Of the century

Shane Warne’s first ever ball in an Ashes series occurred in 1993, when the 23-year-old unleashed a leg-break that landed several inches outside of Mike gatting’s leg stump, then spun so fiercely that it clipped the top of off-stump. A disbelieving gatt walked off with a look on his face like someone had whipped the bacon out of his sarnie, the dying art of leg spin was revived, and a cricket great had announced his arrival.

swim Of the century

Despite it taking place in 2004, the swimming world seemed confident this race wouldn’t be bested in the following 96 years. Ian Thorpe, pieter van den Hoogenband, grant Hackett and a young Michael phelps now have a total of 29 olympic gold medals between them. At the Athens olympics, all four met in the final of the 200m freestyle, the Thorpedo edging out defending champ van den Hoogenband to win.

Radar

08 | March 8 2013 |

f, like Mo Farah, you’ve run

before, you’ll be aware of

the benefits of minimalist

footwear. We don’t mean economically

designed shoes, or ones made to look

like empty white rooms, but lightweight

gear that allows for greater agility and

movement. Merrell’s M-Connect range

combines that approach without

sacrificing the benefits of their outdoor

range. Kit is available for activities

such as hiking and ‘barefoot running,’

which is like running without shoes on,

but with shoes on. Mind: blown.

merrell.com

Serving time

Running riot

uch has changed in tennis in the

century since the International Tennis

Federation was founded. Rackets

of wood and catgut have been replaced by

unrecognisable titanium creations, and the men

and women holding them have changed in a

similar fashion: well-heeled aristocrats have

been replaced by muscled supermen,

and gleaming whites swapped for garish

branded clothing (except at Wimbledon,

a whole postcode that remains pleasingly

sequestered in a pre-war idyll).

A new coffee-table book delves into the

rich history of the sport, from its

aristocratic origins during the

Renaissance, through its own

enlightenment with the ‘sphairistiké’ set created

by Major Walter Wingfield in 1873. This marks the

birth of modern tennis – the major’s play-at-

home kit allowed families to try out the sport at

their leisure. The name didn’t catch on (replaced

by the much catchier ‘lawn tennis’) but the

sport certainly did, and this book is full of

photographs and information about

its history.

It covers the birth of the game, its

growth into a global sport and the ITF’s

continuing efforts to grow the sport in

places like Africa. It’s a fascinating story,

and beautifully illustrated, but it’s

safe to say it doesn’t make

great reading for fans of

British people winning stuff.

A Century of Contribution to

Tennis, £35, itftennis.com

Richard N Williams: son of Duane (one of

the ITF’s three founders), two-time US

Open winner and Titanic survivor

This image (top) of

‘Superbrat’ John McEnroe

opens a chapter on the ITF’s

role in enforcing the rules

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Discover the making of

Radar

10 | March 8 2013 |

Cheat at FIFAf you prefer your gaming in a

more sedentary format, this might

be more up your alley. Apparently

crafted with the iconic Predator boot in

mind, the Gioteck SC-1 Playstation 3

controller has been specifically designed

for sports games. The standout features

are the two programmable function

buttons at the bottom, which you can map

to your favourite tricks – so instead of

flailing around with the right stick while

your player does his best impression of

Shaun Wright-Phillips, you can get that

rainbow flick right every time.

Gioteck SC-1, £25, amazon.co.uk

I

e’ve picked out three

great sports games to

play on your phone.

1. I AM PLAYRA slickly produced online game

with millions of fans, I AM PLAYR

lets you live the life of a pro

footballer for the fictional River

Park FC – from training and

matches, to being interviewed

by Sport (genuinely coming soon,

on the app). The iOS app lets you

play mini-games to practise your

passing and shooting and

improve your players’ stats.

Free from iTunes store

2. Real Racing 3Beautiful graphics, a packed

roster of real tracks and cars,

and innovative multiplayer

options make the new Real

Racing 3 a must.

Free from iTunes store, Google

Play and Amazon Appstore

3. Super CricketLurid, bright and extremely quick

– Super Cricket is what Twenty20

must seem like to Test purists.

It’s much better commuting fun

than actual cricket, which got us

thrown off the bus, bat in hand.

66p from play.google.com

W

Game on

12 | March 8 2013 |

Radar Editor’s letter

Editor-in-chief

Simon Caney

@simoncaney

Sport magazine

Part of UTV Media plc

18 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJ

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Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951)

Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954)

Art editor: John Mahood (7860)

Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431)

Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958),

Alex Reid (7915)

Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901),

Amit Katwala (7914)

Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961)

Designer: Matthew Samson (7861)

Digital designer: Chris Firth (7952)

Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963)

Contributors: Mark Richardson

Commercial

Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991)

Advertising Managers:

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Managing Director: Calum Macaulay

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Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd

© UTV Media plc 2012

UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for

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£1 where sold

Hearty thanks to: Grant Rowley, Claire

Burns, Steph Jones, Duncan Alexander,

Matt Furniss, Mark Hazell

Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean and tidy for everyone by taking your copy of Sport away with you when you leave the bus or train.

LAUNCH OFTHE YEAR

2008

Total Average Distribution: 302,466 Jul-Dec 2012

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facebook.com/sportmagazine

N ow I fully appreciate that to many people, horse racing doesn’t constitute sport. They just don’t get it. To them, the Cheltenham Festival

means nothing at all.It’s fair enough. We all have sports we

like less than others. But I’d urge everyone

– especially those among you who are,

let’s say, ’horse-averse’ – to tune in to

Channel 4 on Tuesday afternoon.

The start of the festival – the booming

roar before the first race, the Supreme

Novices Hurdle – is one of the great

moments in any British sporting year.

I love racing, as Messrs Hill, Ladbroke,

Power and, er, 365 will testify. And, given

a choice, I’d normally opt for flat racing

over the jumps – but Cheltenham is my

favourite racing week of the year by a mile.

Its atmosphere is second to none,

and the quality of racing is incredible.

Yes, racing is dominated by betting, but

you don’t have to gamble to appreciate the

brilliance and bravery on show – both equine

and human. Jump jockeys, epitomised by

the legendary AP McCoy (interviewed on

page 40), are a different breed.

And then there are the horses. Every

decent jumps horse that is fit will be there,

because these are the thrilling races that

determine champions. It is unbeatable action

over four days, when reputations will be

made. In short, it is terrific sport.

On the subject of horses, much has been

written about the fact that the great Kauto

Star has now been retired from racing and

taken up dressage. There have been some

remarkably snooty comments about how

this is ’demeaning’ to a great champion, but

those people seem to forget he’s a horse,

not a person. As long as he’s happy,

stimulated, fed and warm, he’ll be fine.

Good luck to him in another sport.

One cricketer to watch closely over the next few weeks is Stuart Broad, who seems at a crossroads in his career. He needs a big series against New Zealand or the unthinkable – an Ashes without him – is a possibility. It’s unlikely, admittedly, but Broad is no longer an automatic selection.

Rory McIlroy dropped a clanger of some

proportions when he walked off the

course at last week’s Honda Classic,

citing toothache. It was an horrendous

PR blunder, but one he went some way to

rectifying with an apology that I, for one,

believe was genuine. He’s a young man

who for the first time in his life is feeling

real pressure, as he tries to prove he is

worth the vast sums that Nike is now

paying him to use its equipment. Faced

with one of the worst rounds of his

career, he fled the scene. He will be back,

though. He’s too good not to be.

Now this is real sportThe Cheltenham Festival is one of the highlights of the year. Embrace it, people!

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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A win and a prayer? The start of the festival is an unmissable

spectacle – with or without divine intervention

Reader comments of the week

@simoncaney don’t say

Bale should leave!!! I hope

he’s right when he says he

doesn’t read press about

himself

@lauraoakley81

Twitter

Wow, maybe

@simoncaney should drive

Bale to the airport! We

need to keep that sort of

talent to keep this the best

league in the world!?

@Broadinator

Twitter

With all that’s been said

since @ronnieo147 made

his announcement, it’s

good to see @simoncaney

bothering to talk positively

in @sportmaguk

@GoodOldChuffy

Twitter

@simoncaney Beckham

seems an odd omission

from list of British players

succeeding abroad. La

Liga not count?

@j_coatsworth

Twitter

@simoncaney one more

British player to succeed

abroad: Owen Hargreaves.

@thomasjohnsonpr

Twitter

Free iPad app available on Newsstand

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14 | March 8 2013 |

Radar Opinion

It is indeed exciting that England face Italy at Twickenham on Sunday, but I still feel a little bit sorry for the players.

I know they are suitably remunerated, fed like

medieval kings and massaged like the adonises they

are. But, still, this weekend they’re missing out.

Italy, you see, is just about the best away trip in

the game. Let’s start by thinking practically. The

flight is nice and short, so not too long is spent in

seats presumably designed for Jimmy Krankie.

And there is no need to consume the in-flight meal

– the appeal of which, frankly, even my dog would

take time to assess. No, it’s an in-and-out mission,

this one, and that works just nicely.

So you get there and you work through the

now-standard player-reaches-hotel-room

protocol: eat complimentary shortbread biscuits

before even sitting down, jump on to the bed to

test firmness, then check which TV channels are

available. A word to the wise: these Italian types

are not inclined to fork out for television packages

that include any English channels. Don’t worry, I

have a template complaint letter that I farm out to

every hotel that lets me down in this regard, so

they know all about what we expect.

Once the room is inspected, teams generally

meet up downstairs for a stretch designed to get

the journey out of the system. Having handed in my

gumshield for good, I can now reveal this session

to be an absolute waste of everybody’s time.

Lads sit and text, chat and sometimes even sleep,

as one fitness guru or another calls out which

body part needs releasing next. Waste of time.

Then your time is your own – and what a feeling.

Rugby players with time on their hands in foreign

countries do one of two things: they go back to

bed to play with their iPhones, or they go to the

nearest coffee shop to play with their iPhones.

Being one of the adventurous gang, I would

always look to sample the local espresso. Walking

around and soaking in the culture was never really

on the agenda – it all makes your legs a bit tired.

But coffee and cafes are non-negotiable, and

Italy’s offerings are world-class.

But really, it’s all about the post-match over

there. Whereas we might offer a warm can of beer

and some boiled chicken and broccoli with a stale

mini-baguette (how cute), the Italians serve up

tables of cold meats, beautiful bread, salty butter,

bottomless bottles of rouge and pasta made fresh

by highly expressive local men in big white hats.

Then it’s on to an Italian nightclub – which will,

invariably, be exactly like an English one from the

late 1980s. So long as you took advantage of the

rouge, this is no bad thing. It’s a one-off and you

don’t know anybody there, so admitting that

Europop music is cool and sweaty dancing is

attractive can be your little secret.

So, yes, these chaps are lucky to be playing for

England on Sunday. It’s just a shame they have to

do so in boring old London.

@davidflatman

Da

vid

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Flats on Friday

After the match, there is no place like Rome

My father was a bookie. That is to say, if I

was ever questioned by the mothers of other

kids, he was a turf accountant. As indeed

were both my brothers-in-law, one sister, a niece

and a nephew... and I’m the only one who likes a bet.

Strange, that.

Somebody else who very definitely likes a bet is

professional gambler Harry ‘The Dog’ Findlay, a man

who had a £14,000 betting tab by the age of 16 and is

reckoned variously and across any sporting event you

care to name to have won between £27m and £33m

in his time.

Now Cheltenham is finally here, will he be betting

on it? Will the new Pope

be a Catholic? It’s

odds-on with the bookies.

“I’d been to a few

meetings at Cheltenham,”

he told me. “But the first

time I went to the festival

was with your cousin

[another, ahem, turf

accountant].

“We left a nightclub at

about 3.30am and it was

pissing down. Desert

Orchid was going to be

racing the next day and

he didn’t like heavy

ground, so we laid off the

bets everywhere. It was

1989, and when he came

in I got the train home.

I was saturated and penniless, but I was still glad he won.”

Findlay can afford to be generous. Within a few years

he owned several racehorses and, in 2008, one of them,

Denman, won the Gold Cup. “If you’d told me I’d end up

owning horses I’d have said you were mad,” he says now.

“If you’d said I’d end up with one that won the Gold Cup,

I’d have said you were out of your f*cking mind.

But that’s how it ended up.”

So, having been to the festival as a punter, an owner

and a winning owner (he made £600,000 that

afternoon), it’s fair to say he knows his way around

Cheltenham. Any advice for Sport readers?

“Know what you’re going to bet before you get there,

and stick to it,” he says. “Don’t change just because

you’ve backed a couple of losers.”

There you go, straight from the horse’s.

@BorrowsSPORT

Plank of the WeekJosé Mourinho, Real Madrid manager

“The world will stop to watch this tie.” Or so reckoned

The Special One before the recent Champions League

game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Sorry pal, big shop at Tesco followed by CSI Miami

and then back-to-back South Parks.

It’s like this…Bill Borrows

“Harry Findlay, a man who had a £14,000 betting tab by the age of 16 and is reckoned variously and across any sporting event you care to name to have won between £27m and £33m”

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16 | March 8 2013 |

Frozen in time

| 17

Man of the momentGareth Bale can do no wrong right now (unless you

happen to be an Arsenal fan, that is). His goal against

the Gunners last weekend helped Tottenham beat

their north London rivals and sparked jubilation in

the stands. He needs to work harder on that little

trademark handsy celebration, though. Only one

person in the crowd, the oh-so-enthusiastic

woman at the front – bothered to do it. Fail. Pa

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Chris Robshaw

| March 8 2013 | 21

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“A week’s a long time in sport, let alone

a couple of months.” Chris Robshaw is

addressing the journalists gathered at

England’s training camp in Surrey. He is

making reference to the media’s tendency

to hyperbolise every run of success or

failure, but England’s leading man could

just as easily be talking about his own

meteoric rise.

It’s hard to remember now, but going into

last year’s Six Nations tournament, Chris

Robshaw was making his second appearance

for England, and was far from everyone’s

first choice as captain. After two wins from

his first three games in charge, we sat down

with Robshaw during last year’s tournament

– when he was under no illusions about the

building job that lay ahead for English rugby.

“This project is about getting us back to

potentially being the best side in the world,”

he said then. “We know that won’t happen

overnight, but the plan is to be there ready to

compete at the 2015 World Cup. We are here

to take English rugby forward again.”

HIGHS AND LOWSSince then, Robshaw has led England on a

tour to South Africa, faced the southern

hemisphere’s big three at Twickenham,

led Harlequins to a first Premiership title,

and conquered the seemingly unbeatable All

Blacks. He now stands on the verge of Grand

Slam glory, with only Italy standing in the

way of the chance to head to Cardiff with a

perfect four-out-of-four Six Nations record.

If a week is a long time in sport, imagine how

the past year has felt for Robshaw.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he insists. “There have

been tough times, there has been a lot of

learning – but the more you do something,

the more experience you get. Coming into

contact with guys like Richie McCaw or Jean

de Villiers means you can learn a lot about the

way they go about the job, from the way they

speak to the ref to little things such as the

way they deal with the media and the

post-game presentations. As long as I keep

learning and moving forward, it’s very helpful.”

The way he’s gone about the job so far, it’s

easy to argue that England’s captain doesn’t

need too much help at all. It hasn’t all been >

From international debut to a Grand Slam opportunity, it’s been an incredible 12 months for Chris Robshaw. With Italy next up for his side on Sunday, we caught up with England’s inspirational leader

22 | March 8 2013 |

rosy for the team bearing the red rose,

though, and Robshaw is quick to point out

that the harder times have helped make him

the man he is. After three defeats to South

Africa in the summer, England beat Fiji in

November before succumbing to Australia

and then those pesky Springboks again.

It was that South Africa defeat that brought

about what Robshaw terms his “first time in

a dark, negative place” after a game. With one

minute to go, England trailed by four points

when he opted for a kick at goal instead of

going for the corner – a decision that was

met with derision by fans and pundits alike.

“I don’t think you really appreciate what

those negative reactions are like until you

experience it yourself,” Robshaw explains.

“You learn best from your mistakes though,

don’t you? It makes you a stronger person

coming out the other side, and I had good

people looking after me. The players in

particular were great during that period.

Of course it’s hard, but you’re moving

forward and it can go one of two ways –

so you need to go out there and rectify it.”

Robshaw and his team did a pretty good job

of doing exactly that at Twickenham a week

later. With the All Blacks in town, England set

about a gameplan that has shaped their

pattern ever since: closing down, chasing and

pressuring every bit of opposition ball for 80

minutes. A bit of luck – and Kiwi tiredness

– might have played its part, but England put

a record 38-21 score on the visiting world

champions, and Robshaw was once again

the hero of the piece. “That’s sport,” the

ever-understated England man insists.

A year on from our interview with Robshaw

in March 2012, then, and with the wealth of

experience that those 12 months have

brought, how does he look back on his early

days leading England?

“Luckily I was captain of Harlequins before

I was first appointed, so that helped,” he says.

“When I was first made captain, I tried to

overdo things, though, and tried to do

everyone’s job and make every decision.

It took me a while to learn to trust the

experience of others. It’s about learning

to delegate responsibility, and we have a

leadership group in this side that helps make

those big decisions. As a captain, people

always assume you have to be the guy giving

the inspirational speeches or saying this

and that. First and foremost, though, you

need to put your hand up and ensure you own

your shirt. When you ask your players to go

out there and put their all into it, they’ve got

to know you’re willing to do the same.”

And what about his least favourite part

of the job? “Honestly? Things like this.” Oh.

“I love playing and going out there and

doing something I’ve always done, but the

media is a different challenge that you have

to be mentally switched on for.”

LEADING FROM THE FRONTWhen it comes to earning his shirt and

setting an example for others to follow,

Robshaw has lived up to expectations. After

victory over New Zealand, England came into

the Six Nations with a spring in their step.

They have dispatched Scotland, Ireland and

France with a ruthless efficiency. Robshaw,

meanwhile, has picked up two man-of-the-

match awards as recognition for his

incredible workrate and leadership. Stu

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“It’s been nice to get the awards,” he admits.

“But it’s one of those things that only comes

off the back of good team performances.

We want everyone to put their hand up, and

I think that’s what has happened so far.”

Victory over Italy at home this Sunday – a

fixture England have never lost – and the men

from Twickenham will be heading down the

M4 to Cardiff next Saturday with the chance

to win a first Grand Slam since 2003.

Succeed, and Robshaw’s rise to the top of

the game in England will be complete. And,

with a Lions tour this summer, he couldn’t

choose a better time to get there. Not that

he’ll admit it.

“Of course you know there’s a Lions tour,”

he admits. “But it’s been talked about since

the Premiership launch last year. Every player

wants to be in the Lions, and I’m no exception.

But it’s about what you do week in, week out.

If you deserve to be on that plane and you’re

playing well, then you will be. It’s out of your

control, though, so you need to go out there

and just play well.”

With New Zealander Warren Gatland set to

lead the Lions this summer, we have to ask if

Robshaw’s had a Kiwi voice on the phone yet?

“Yeah,” he says, as the gathered media

grab their pens and pads and lean in for an

exclusive revelation. “I had a call from Nick

Evans last week.” Robshaw is clearly set

on giving nothing away. Should he lead his

country to two wins in the next eight days,

though, you can be sure the New Zealander

that matters will be on the phone in no time.

That’s the good news for the England

captain. And the bad? If he does, there will

be many more media sessions to come.

Mark Coughlan @coffers83

The Six Nations

game against

France saw

Robshaw become

England’s eighth

most experienced

captain of all time.

He has a few more

in his sights...

59 WILL CARLING

39 MARTIN JOHNsON

22 LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO

21 BILL BEAuMONT

21 sTEvE BORTHWICk

17 MARTIN CORRy

15 PHIL vICkERy

14 CHRIs ROBsHAW

CAPTAIN

MATERIAL

Chris Robshaw

“WHEN yOu Ask yOuR

PLAyERs TO PuT THEIR

ALL IN, THEy’vE GOT TO

kNOW yOu WILL DO

THE sAME”

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2013 Six Nations

W i ith three wins from three, England have _only Italy standing in the way of a trip to

Cardiff with Grand Slam Glory in sight.

We take a look at the task in hand for

Stuart Lancaster’s men on Sunday.

EnglandWith Owen Farrell out injured, Lancaster has brought

in Toby Flood, while Danny Care is also in line for his

first start of the tournament. The structure will

remain the same for England – they have built their

team ethos on doing the simple things well and

letting the opposition make mistakes.

And, with three wins on the bounce, Lancaster

won’t change too much ahead of his side’s final

home game, with the new men set to bring more

of the same to the field.

With Care and Flood in situ, however, the pace is

likely to be upped behind the pack, because the duo

play a higher tempo than Farrell and Ben Youngs.

The back-row three were slightly quieter against

France two weeks ago, but they’ll be essential here

in wearing the Italians down early on, and ensuring

England win the battle of the breakdown to keep the

Azzuri quiet. Get that ball to the half-backs, and they

can unleash the likes of Manu Tuilagi (above), Chris

Ashton and Mike Brown. It won’t come easy, but keep

things simple, go through the phases and Italy will

tire. The second half is where the points will come.

OnE tO WatchChris Ashton

With two tries in 14 internationals, Ashton’s place is

coming under more and more scrutiny. If the game

opens up, though, what odds the flying winger

bouncing back with a couple of tries?

ItalyThe Italians have looked exhausted since their

opening-game victory over France, and with Sergio

Parisse still missing after his ban for insulting a

referee in a club match, they are missing the spark

that can see them surprise teams. Manoa Vosawai

has taken the number eight shirt and, after failing to

make an impact against Wales, he’ll be looking to

make a mark here. England struggled to keep Louis

Picamoles quiet, so Vosawai could be key to Italy

breaking the gain line. Beyond that, the visitors will

target England’s pack because they have struggled

to dominate games so far, while the half-back pairing

of Edoardo Gori and Kris Burton will be key in

controlling the game with the boot. The power up

front, and the control at half-back, are Italy’s main

weapons on Sunday. In truth, though, a win for the

men in blue would arguably be the biggest shock in

Six Nations history. Don’t hold your breath, Italy.

OnE tO Watch Edoardo Gori

Italy are going to spend a lot of the game on the back

foot and keeping things tight around the pack, so the

scrum half’s ability to keep his forwards going, and

England’s back row on the back foot, could be vital.

Sport’s prediction

England 34-9 italy

England v ItalyImproving

Azzurri

Sunday signals

England’s 14th Six

Nations encounter

with Italy, and the

points difference

between the two

shows the Azzurri

are getting closer.

Except for a blip in

2011, that is…

2000 47

2001 57

2002 36

2003 35

2004 41

2005 32

2006 15

2007 13

2008 4

2009 25

2010 5

2011 46

2012 4

SundAy

Six NatioNS:

ENglaNd

v italy |

twickENham |

BBc oNE 3pm

24 | March 8 2013 |

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2013 Six Nations

Scotland

Flying after their win over

Ireland, a third home victory on

the bounce would give Scotland

an albeit long final day shot at

the Six Nations title. The power

of the pack is key to their game,

with Jim Hamilton, Richie Gray

and Kelly Brown vital in keeping

the workrate up. Duncan Weir’s

selection at 10 highlights the

Scots’ gameplan – and his boot,

along with Laidlaw’s, will keep

the Welsh chasing high balls and

long kicks all day long. The Scots

will give the ball to Wales and

invite them to attack a blue line

in defence. With the scramble

defence they showed against

Ireland, they’ll back themselves

to keep Wales out.

one to watch

Richie Gray Jim Hamilton’s big

performance against Ireland

overshadowed his blonde-haired

partner. But Gray’s presence is

growing, and his power will be

central to Scotland’s attempts

to silence the Welsh pack.

waleS

After two wins on the trot,

Wales have their eyes fixed on a

Cardiff showdown next weekend.

With Dan Biggar and Mike Phillips

finding form at half-back, they

look a more threatening side

than they have in a long time –

although the manner in which

they put France and Italy away

was hardly beyond doubt. Ryan

Jones, Toby Faletau and the

returning Sam Warburton will be

tasked with starving the Scots

of possession at the breakdown,

while Alun Wyn Jones is back to

sure up the lineout. As for tries,

they’ll be relying on the backs.

one to watch

Alex Cuthbert With two tries

from three games, Cuthbert

(right) is rediscovering his best

form. If Scotland’s midfield is as

porous as it was against Ireland,

expect Cuthbert to finish off

another pulled-back Biggar pass.

sport’s Prediction

Scotland 12-18 Wales

Ireland

Will still be reeling from defeat

to Scotland, and will still not be

entirely sure how they failed to

come away with a win. A strong

start here will keep the French

quiet and should be enough –

if Ireland finish their chances.

If fit, Paddy Jackson will be key.

The number 10 got a lot of stick

for his kicking against Scotland,

but the way in which he opened

up the Scots means he deserves

another shot. In the forwards,

meanwhile, Sean O’Brien is

showing signs of his old form,

and his breakdown work – along

with Peter O’Mahony and an

under-pressure Jamie Heaslip

– will be essential to stopping

the French getting a chance.

one to watch

Luke Marshall After a great

debut against Scotland, Marshall

(left) needs to build on his

performance to help open the

French up, while his defensive

side will be important up against

the dangerous Wesley Fofana.

France

The England defeat will have

hurt more than their opening

two games, because Philippe

Saint-André’s men had the

chance to put England away

– but the roots of recovery

are there. The breakdown work

they showed in the first half

at Twickenham will need to be

central to their game again,

while the shackles are off in the

backs, giving the aforementioned

Fofana the opportunity to cause

defensive problems. Mathieu

Bastareaud needs to make more

of his half-breaks, while the

return of Maxime Médard spells

trouble for Ireland.

one to watch

François Trinh-Duc The fly half

is under pressure after three

defeats. He showed creative

flashes against England, but

more of those will be needed to

keep the Irish defence moving.

sport’s Prediction

Ireland 22-13 France

Scotland v WaleS

Ireland v France

Saturday

Scotland v WaleS |

Murrayfield |

BBc one 2.30pM

Saturday

ireland v france |

aviva StadiuM |

BBc one 5pM

26 | March 8 2013 |

23.08%minutes per successful pass

In Stats: The Season So Far

| March 8 2013 | 29

Number cruNcher

16.37

this weekend marks 10 premier league games to go. But, thanks to data specialists Opta, we can already learn plenty about which players are performing – and who is really struggling – in 2012-13

minutes per tackle

king lucas super suBs rule

It’s little shock that scurrying,

busybody midfielders monopolise the

list of the Premier League’s most

frequent tacklers, but the gap between

Lucas and the rest surprised us.

Despite an injury-disrupted season, the

Brazil international is the only Premier

League player to tackle at a rate better

than once every 20 minutes, putting in

a challenge every 16 minutes and 37

seconds. We do our best to tackle the

tackler with an interview on page 33.

You can see why Roberto Mancini, Brian

McDermott and Sir Alex Ferguson often

leave their poachers on the bench.

Despite not getting a regular run of

starts, Javier Hernández is lethal,

scoring at a rate better than a goal

every 90 minutes. Supersubs Edin

Dzeko and Adam le Fondre also

regularly cash in on their off-the-bench

freshness to help push Robin van

Persie – second in the league’s

scoring charts – out of the top five.

new BOOts, please schOles still has it

Mario Balotelli is excelling at Milan –

but, based on this season’s form,

Roberto Mancini did the right thing in

manhandling him out of the door. Of the

26 shots Super Mario pelted at goal,

just six were on target. He’s kept off

top spot in the wayward shooting

stakes only by Maynor Figueroa. The

Wigan defender has dynamite in his

boots, but this season he’s been

blasting the ball into the stands, leaving

the Honduran an ash-covered Wile E

Coyote figure. Of Figueroa’s 24 shots,

a mere five have been on target.

All the fuss is about Ryan Giggs right

now. But the stats seem to indicate

that, when he plays, ageing ginger

metronome Paul Scholes can still run

a game. He both gives and accepts

successful passes at a rate of one

per minute (though how many are him

and Michael Carrick doing their best

Chuckle Brothers “to you, to me” act is

not detailed). Scholes also pips Steven

‘Hollywood’ Gerrard in the amount of

long passes per minute. >

Minutes per tackle

1. Lucas Leiva, Liverpool 16.37

2. Steve Sidwell, Fulham 20.24

3. Mohamed Diamé, West Ham 20.32

4. Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton 21.05

5. Claudio Yacob, WBA 21.64

Minutes per goal

1. Javier Hernández, Man Utd 85.50

2. Edin Dzeko, Man City 99.17

3. Romelu Lukaku, WBA 106.08

4. Luis Suárez, Liverpool 115.00

5. Adam le Fondre, Reading 116.30

6. Robin van Persie, Man Utd 117.00

7. Frank Lampard, Chelsea 117.64

8. Gareth Bale, Tottenham 132.13

9. Wayne Rooney, Man Utd 136.55

10. Demba Ba, Newcastle/Chelsea 137.33

Worst shooting accuracy*

1. Maynor Figueroa, Wigan 20.83%

2. Mario Balotelli, Man City 23.08%

3. Stewart Downing, Liverpool 25.00%

= Brett Holman, Aston Villa 25.00%

5. Glen Johnson, Liverpool 25.71%

*players with a minimum of 20 shots

Minutes per successful pass

1. Paul Scholes, Man Utd 1.0

2. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal 1.1

3. Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal 1.2

Minutes per pass received

1. Paul Scholes, Man Utd 1.0

2. Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal 1.2

= Yaya Touré, Man City 1.2

Minutes per long pass

1. Paul Scholes, Man Utd 5.2

2. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool 8.0

= Phil Jagielka, Everton 8.0

85.50

1.0minutes per gOal

wOrstshOOtingaccuracy

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30 | March 8 2013 |

In Stats: The Season So Far

Paul lambert gets it right

Forward Filth damien duFF: creative key saints oF Poor goalkeePing

minutes PersuccessFul

dribble

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has had

a rough season, but his sticking with

Christian Benteke over Darren Bent

(a decision he was pilloried for by

media types earlier this season) has

arguably been vindicated. The Belgian

has played a role in 58 per cent of Aston

Villa’s goals, with only the league’s top

scorer Luis Suárez also playing a key

part in more than half his team’s goals.

You can argue that this shows the poor

contribution of Benteke’s teammates to

the goal-scoring-and-creating cause.

To which we’d reply: also true.

Hats off to Hatem Ben Arfa for jinking

past rivals more than once every 20

minutes. As you might expect, Ben Arfa

also tops the highest attempted

minutes-per-dribble list (running at

opponents every 9.2 minutes). Second

on that list is Luis Suárez, who’s sixth

in terms of success. However, the

player who sits third on the list of most

frequent dribblers is Arsenal’s Gervinho

(an attempt every 12.3 minutes), yet

we’re struggling to find his name on this

list of the 10 most successful dribblers.

Mainly because it isn’t there.

Evidence here that either the Premier

League is packed with burly, all-elbows

forwards who commit many fouls –

or that referees are likely to give

defenders the benefit of the doubt

when they tussle with strikers. Take

your pick, but three of the Premier

League’s most frequent foulers are

attackers, with Grant Holt taking on the

Kevin Davis role as an effective striker

who nonetheless gives away a free-kick

every half hour he’s on the pitch.

When watching Fulham, we only have

eyes for languid fops Dimitar Berbatov

and Bryan Ruiz. So much so that we

hadn’t noticed it’s the 34-year-old

chuffing veteran who’s doing so much

to assist his team. Duff sets up almost

20 per cent of Fulham’s goals, but it’s

notable that none of the clubs currently

occupying the Champions League

qualification places have a player in the

top five (the closest is Chelsea’s Juan

Mata, in eighth spot) – predictably

indicating that the best-performing

sides have a wide range of players

contributing to their assist tally.

Ropey defending isn’t helping, but

Southampton have not one but two

statistically unimpressive keepers.

Kelvin Davis and replacement Artur

Boruc have both faced 43 shots apiece

and let in 19 and 20 goals respectively,

conceding a high amount of shots

faced. Wigan’s shellshocked Ali Al-Habsi

has let in 55 from 139 shots on target.

Percentage of goals involved in*

1. Christian Benteke, Aston Villa 58%

2. Luis Suárez, Liverpool 51%

3. Rickie Lambert, Southampton 44%

4. Michu, Swansea City 44%

5. Robin van Persie, Man Utd 42%

*excludes own goals

Minutes per foul lost

Grant Holt, Norwich City 30.1

Cheik Tioté, Newcastle 31.0

Marouane Fellaini, Everton 32.3

Carlton Cole, West Ham 32.6

Charlie Adam, Stoke City 33.1

Percentage of team’s assists

1. Damien Duff, Fulham 19.4%

2. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool 18%

= Lukas Podolski, Arsenal 18%

= Theo Walcott, Arsenal 18%

5. Jean Beausejour, Wigan Athletic 17.6%

Goals per shots on target

1. Artur Boruc, Southampton 0.47

2. Kelvin Davis, Southampton 0.44

= Rob Green, QPR 0.44

4. Ali Al-Habsi, Wigan 0.4

= Brad Friedel, Tottenham 0.4

Percentage oF goals involved in

58%

19.4%

17.8

0.47

30.1

Percentage oF team’s assists

goals Per shots

on target

minutes Per

Foul lost

dribbling all over

Minutes per successful dribble

1. Hatem Ben Arfa, Newcastle 17.8

2. Adel Taarabt, QPR 26.6

3. Abou Diaby, Arsenal 26.8

4. Jack Wilshere, Arsenal 29.5

5. Samba Diakité, QPR 29.7

6. Luis Suárez, Liverpool 31.0

7. Sergio Agüero, Man City 33.7

8. Mohamed Diamé, West Ham 35.9

9. Santi Cazorla, Arsenal 37.1

= Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal 37.1

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Lucas Leiva

| March 8 2013 | 33

Liverpool’s former boo-boy has turned into one of the club’s favourite sons. The midfielder spoke exclusively to Sport about his journey from zero to hero kA

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Stand by me

He spoke very little English (aside from the

words ‘Liverpool’ and ‘The Beatles’) and had

no experience of league football outside of

Brazil’s Serie A, where he’d played for Grêmio

since the start of his senior career.

But then Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was

convinced – to the tune of some £5m – that

this was one Brazilian equipped to succeed in

England, where so many others before him

had failed.

It took some time, however, before the Kop

was similarly convinced. For Lucas’ first two

seasons at the club, he struggled to impress.

A formidable midfield trio of Steven Gerrard,

Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano did not

help the Brazilian’s cause. Benitez stuck by

him, but Liverpool fans were frustrated by

his performances. When he was booed

incessantly during a 0-0 draw with Fulham

at Anfield in 2008 – a moment Lucas calls his

worst in a Liverpool shirt – many felt there

would be no way back for the boy from Brazil,

for whom he has 20 caps.

And yet, five years on, Lucas is one of the

club’s most popular players. He was voted

Player of the Year by Reds fans at the end

of the 2010-11 season, and his shirt is

now one of Liverpool’s biggest sellers.

The turnaround became painfully clear in

December 2011, when Lucas was ruled out

for the rest of that season with injury.

Suddenly, Liverpool fans – and those from

outside the club, too – realised just how

crucial the Brazilian had become to his side.

With 10 games remaining of his ‘comeback’

season – one that Lucas admits has not been

easy from a team perspective – Sport caught

up with the midfielder for a post-training

chat about the highs, the lows and the Jamie

Carragher conundrums of life at Liverpool.

You had quite a battle to win the Liverpool

fans over in your first few seasons, but

things are very different now. What got you

through that difficult period?

“It was a combination of a lot of things. First,

my family, who gave me confidence to keep

going. And Rafa [Benitez] was crucial for me

– I always say that because maybe, if it was

another manager, I wouldn’t be here now.

I was also determined to show every day that I

wanted to improve, because I knew the level

I was at wasn’t good enough to have a

successful career in Liverpool. Of course,

there were a lot of moments when I thought

I wouldn’t be able to do it. But I think if you

work hard, always you attract more luck.

Also, the fans started to realise that the job

I was doing was important, so now it’s a

totally different situation.”

When you arrived at Liverpool it was as an

attacking midfielder, but you’ve now become

more of a holding player. Was there one

particular game in which you played in that

position and thought: ‘That’s it’?

“I think, during my time here, the holding

midfielder position was the position that I

felt most comfortable in. And, of course,

the competition for the place of attacking

midfielder was not easy. [Smiles] So I just had

to move back a bit, and I started to feel really

comfortable in the way I could play and be

important for the team. I’ve played in many

positions for Liverpool, but that was the one

I felt comfortable in – and, after that, I just

kept going and learning a lot. And today I feel

like it has always been my position.”

You moved from your home in Dourados

aged 14 to start your career some 750

miles away at Grêmio. How tough was that

at such a young age?

“It was very hard. I didn’t go straight to

Grêmio, though. I went to a small club in Sao

Paulo first. I was living at the training ground

with a lot of young players, and at that time

I didn’t know if I was going to become a

professional player. So, while I wouldn’t say

it was a risk, nothing was certain. At the

beginning, my parents were not so happy for

me to leave home because I was so young.

It wasn’t easy for them, but I asked them if I

could go and just try it. Then, when I was 16, I

had a chance to go to Grêmio. That was when

I started to really go forward in my career,

because it’s a big club in Brazil.”

How has that experience affected you?

“It helped me get life experience and learn to

make my own decisions. Because sometimes,

when you have your parents around, the

easiest way to make decisions is to ask them.

I think it helped me to become a man, really,

and to see life in another way. Leaving home

was the only way I would become a football

player, though, because if I’d stayed

in my home city I wouldn’t have had a chance.

I wasn’t lucky enough to be born in a city like

Porto Alegre or Rio, where the local teams

are big clubs, so I had to move away.” > 20

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When the 20-year-old Lucas Leiva arrived in Liverpool in the summer of 2007, he knew just two things about the city for which he’d left behind his homeland of Brazil. One was the football club itself, and its rich pedigree. And the other? The Beatles.

Leiva-tation: Lucas in his

first season at Anfield

(above) and celebrating

winning a penalty at

the Emirates in 2011

34 | March 8 2013 |

Lucas Leiva

Lucas Leiva

Your second move was from Grêmio to

Liverpool. Was it a feeling of ‘now or never’

in terms of coming to Europe?

“A few people said I was a bit crazy to come

to England, actually, because normally we see

Brazilian players leaving Brazil for Portugal

or Spain, where the coaching is similar and

the language is easier. But Liverpool came

and I couldn’t say no, really. It was the same

as when I was 14 and moved away from

Dourados – that was my chance then, and I

thought: ‘This is my chance now, and I have to

take it.’ Of course it was a big move that came

with a lot of pressure, so it was another

stage of my career where I had to learn a

lot and be patient. I had to have determination

to get to where I wanted to be. And, I think,

after five years here I’m getting closer to

where I want to be.”

You post a lot of pictures on Twitter of

your jaunts around the city. We’re curious –

how does a boy from Brazil fall in love

with Liverpool?

“Liverpool is my home now. My son was born

here, and now when I go back to Brazil it’s for

holidays... and where I come back to,

Liverpool, is home. I post pictures just to

agree with him. So I said: “Yes.” He was very

surprised with my answer. He said: “Yes?!”

I could see on his face he was not happy, so I

said: “No.” He said: “No?” And I said “No.” And

that’s it. I have never asked him what he was

asking me. [Laughs] I don’t want to know.

He might not even remember it now, but

for me it was like: ‘What am I doing?’ It was

a funny story.”

Luis Suárez is such a competitor on the

pitch. Is he the same on the training ground?

Do you have to get out of the way quick if he

goes in for a tackle?

“Yeah, he is. It’s just his character, and that’s

why he’s so successful – because he has the

hunger to win all the time. He’s having a

fantastic season and we just hope he keeps

going and getting better and better. It’s

difficult to imagine if he gets better, where

he will be, but he is doing very well for us.”

You play Spurs at Anfield on Sunday. Is that

a game you think Liverpool have to win to be

in with a chance of a European spot?

“They are doing really well this season and

you can see they’ve won quite a few games in

the last few minutes – these things show

their confidence is very high. We know the

gap between us and the European places is

quite big now [Liverpool are five points from

fifth-placed Arsenal], but we just need to

make sure that we play well. And, if we do

that, we will have a big chance to win the

game and move up the table. Unfortunately,

we need teams to drop points now – but I

think they will. And, of course, we need to make

sure we drop less points than the others.”

Do the players see genuine development

under Brendan Rodgers?

“The season has been a hard one for us, but

we have a lot of positive things to take from

it, and good performances against big teams.

We are always trying to find the consistency

– that’s what we try to do for the next 10

games. If we can find it, then for sure the

next season will be a better one.”

Lucas was speaking to Graham Beecroft La

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Lucas is an ambassador for the Liverpool FC

Foundation, which provides community, health

and education programmes that inspire positive

change and build better futures for young people

and adults. “When you see the projects the

foundation runs, you appreciate what you have in

life,” he says. “ When you have a bad game, you

realise that you have a lot of people around you

who have been in worse moments, and that’s why

you have to keep going. I love spending time with

the kids, because it’s good for them. But I think

it’s good for me as well. Even if you can only

spend an hour with them, you can see a smile

on the kids’ faces. It makes you very happy.”

Follow the Liverpool FC Foundation on Twitter at

@LFCFoundation

LiverpooL’s Foundations

share a bit with the fans and to show them

around Liverpool, because I don’t think a lot of

people know how nice it is. All they know is

The Beatles. Of course they are a big thing,

but there is a lot more about Liverpool than

The Beatles and the football. I didn’t know that

either when I came here, to be honest. I only

knew about the football club and The Beatles,

but then I found out a lot of good things about

the city and about the people – it’s a lovely city.”

All Liverpool players have a Jamie Carragher

story. What’s yours?

“I do have one, yeah. At the very beginning of

my career here I couldn’t speak any English,

and Carra came up to me in the dressing

room and asked me a question. I didn’t

understand a word, but I just thought I had to

“At the very beginning of my career here, I couldn’t speak any English. Carra came up to me in the dressing room and asked me a question... I didn’t understand a word”

| March 8 2013 | 37

Add some g-force to your internetting, without paying a hefty premium.

Our Ultrafast network speeds & coverage vary.

You’ll need an Ultrafast enabled device. See three.co.uk/network

Screamif you want to go

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| March 8 2013 | 39

Cheltenham 2013 The Festival

Leap of faith

The Cheltenham Festival: a glorious sporting week

during which every trainer, jockey and punter crosses

their fingers and hopes for things to go their way.

In our special eight-page preview, we speak with the

biggest names, look ahead to the biggest races and

feature tips from at least one genuine expert... >

Tuesday March 12-Friday March 15

Daily terrestrial coverage on channel 4 froM

12.35pM; all races are shown live on racing UK

40 | March 8 2013 |

Cheltenham 2013 The Festival

Think of AP McCoy, the greatest National Hunt

jockey of all time, and it is hard to picture him

in anything other than the green and gold hoops

of the legendary owner JP McManus. It is a

professional relationship that goes back the best part of

a decade, and one that won its place in racing history

when the pair combined with the great jockey-turned-

trainer Jonjo O’Neill to win the 2010 Grand National with

Don’t Push It.

It was an ironic name for a horse ridden by McCoy, a

man whose reputation has been built on an ability to push

his mounts to the absolute limit of their powers, but

there is no doubt how much winning such a huge race

for his chief employer meant to him.

“I’m very lucky to ride for a huge supporter of jumps

racing in JP, and feel privileged to be wearing those

colours every time I go out,” he told Sport in an exclusive

interview ahead of this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

“Barry [Geraghty] and Ruby [Walsh] are obviously

fortunate to ride for powerful stables, and both will have

exceptionally good rides through the week, but in the

past three years I’ve been lucky enough to win the Grand

National, the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in those

colours. That has probably given me as much satisfaction

as anything in my entire riding career.”

A sport for wArriorsAnyone who watched McCoy’s victorious ride on

Synchronised in last year’s Gold Cup, a masterclass of

patience and persistence aboard a horse not obviously

built for jumping, will appreciate the satisfaction of which

he speaks. The 38-year-old is not prone to retrospection

or nostalgia, more interested always in where his next

winner is coming from, but he nods when we recall a

similar festival ride – on Wichita Lineman in the 2009

William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.

“Those two in particular would be huge favourites

because of their attitude and their will to win,” he says.

“They were both great warriors. No matter how many

winners you ride or how good a jockey people think you

are, you can’t win races without the horse. I can’t take a

donkey to the Gold Cup and make it win. Once you’ve got

the right horse, all you can do is point it in the right

direction and try to make it go faster than the others.”

There is an element of poignancy as McCoy remembers

these great warriors, for both Synchronised and Wichita

Lineman were to lose their lives on the racecourse – the

former in front of millions of TV viewers in last year’s

Grand National. More recently, McCoy was on board the

hugely talented Darlan, a Champion Hurdle contender

also owned by McManus, when the horse suffered a fatal

fall at Doncaster.

“It’s the most difficult part of the sport, obviously,” he

admits. “I’ve unfortunately had not just horses, but also

good friends, who have been fatally injured. We wish

these things never happened, of course, and you always

wish you could turn back the clock and stop them from

ever happening again... but unfortunately it just isn’t

that easy. When you’re taking part in a competitive and

sometimes dangerous sport, accidents can happen.”

second coming?Five days after the tragic death of Darlan, McCoy was

back in the famous green and gold to ride My Tent Or

Yours in the prestigious Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

With fate seemingly smiling on the McCoy-McManus axis,

the six-year-old duly destroyed a top-class field en route

to establishing himself as a strong favourite for the

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Twelve months on from the

champion jockey having to wait until the final day of the

festival to ride his first winner, McCoy is well placed to

get off the mark in the very first race.

“On official ratings he’s pretty good,” he smiles.

“He was impressive at Newbury, and will probably go to

the Supreme Novices’ as one of the highest-rated horses

ever to run in it. I hope the handicapper is right, and that

he is that good – because if he is then he’s going to win.

“I wouldn’t want to be picking another horse to finish

in front of him, if that’s what you’re asking me – and

certainly wouldn’t be swapping him for any other horse

at Cheltenham. Yes, there are short-priced favourites

like Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig, but I wouldn’t swap

My Tent Or Yours for anything else.”

Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1

the green-And-golden the most fAmous jumps jockey of them All mAy not ride As mAny winners As BArry gerAghty or ruBy wAlsh At this yeAr’s cheltenhAm festivAl, But Ap mccoy hAs A joB he wouldn’t swAp for Anything

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Best of the rest

Champion jockey AP McCoy gives us

the lowdown on some of his other

big rides at this year’s festival

BinocularChampion hurdle, Tuesday

“Binocular was never right last year; he

had a long time off after the Champion

Hurdle [in which he finished fourth], and

ran okay in Ireland in January. Heavy

ground wouldn’t have been ideal for him

then, but Hurricane Fly still beat him on

the bridle. He’ll improve for quicker

ground, but he’s going to need to.”

alBertas runryanair Chase, Thursday

“A great horse who has won three

times for me at the festival, and he

only just got pipped last year. He’s 12

now, and it would be fantastic if he

could win a third Ryanair, but it’s not

going to be easy. He’s a lovely horse

and is in good shape, but he does need

nice ground.”

at fishers crossalberT barTleTT noviCes’ hurdle,

Friday

“He’s been a good, tough, genuine

horse all season, beating The New One

at Cheltenham last time. He seems to

prefer soft ground, but hopefully he’ll

go okay if the ground does dry up. He

might not be the best racehorse we’ve

ever seen, but he knows how to dig it

out – whatever beats him will know

they’ve had a proper race.”

alderwoodGrand annual Chase, Friday

“It’s quite tough in those big-field

handicaps at Cheltenham, and you

want your horse to have plenty of

experience going into it. He doesn’t

really have that yet [having had only

four runs over fences], but he ran

okay in his first handicap in Ireland

last month and could definitely be

one to watch.”

touch

numBer of cheltenham festival winners ridden By aP mccoy. that Puts him second on the all-time list, seven Behind ruBy walsh27

42 | March 8 2013 |

Cheltenham 2013 The Festival

Three years after Binocular

returned from a muscle problem

to turn a supposedly competitive

Champion Hurdle into a procession,

his trainer Nicky Henderson might just repeat

the feat with his talented six-year-old hurdler

Grandouet. The gelding (above, in green) has

been seen only once on the track since the

end of 2011, and missed his intended prep

race for Cheltenham with a slight near-fore

injury; but the huge potential he has shown in

his hurdling career to date, coupled with his

trainer’s masterful record at the festival,

suggest it is worth keeping the faith.

If Grandouet is to earn Henderson a

record sixth Champion Hurdle win, however,

he will have to see off a competitive field.

The bookies are convinced that 2010 winner

Hurricane Fly is back to his best, despite him

beating nothing in Ireland this season, while

reigning champ Rock On Ruby needs to be

taken much more seriously than he was 12

months ago. Binocular is still around, but

perhaps the biggest danger to Grandouet

is a horse who would appear to have his

measure. The Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkandar

is three from three this season, including a

two-length win over Grandouet at Cheltenham

in December – but the former was carrying

four pounds less than the vanquished that

day, and looked a fitter horse. Granted good

ground and a strong pace behind which he

can use his impressive cruising speed,

Grandouet can finally have his day in the sun.

Elsewhere on a superb opening-day card,

the mighty Quevega will win her fifth straight

OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (4.40pm), Simonsig can

defeat the admirable Overturn in the Racing

Post Arkle (2.05pm), while the underrated

Dodging Bullets can get the meeting off to

a winning start for Paul Nicholls in the

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm).

Day 1: Champion

hurDle 3.20pm GranD expeCtations

a fit anD firinG GranDouet Can return from a reCent injury sCare to take the feature raCe of Day one for a trainer who has previous on that sCore

expert view with paul kealy of the raCinG post

Day one of the Cheltenham

Festival features a cracking

Champion Hurdle, in which

the last three winners are

set to do battle – yet the

reigning champ is not even in

the first two in the betting.

Rock On Ruby caused a

minor upset when winning

last year, but there was no

fluke about it as he took up

the running a long way from

home and was further clear

at the line than he was at the

last flight of hurdles.

The bookies can’t see past

Hurricane Fly again, but

there remains the suspicion

that Cheltenham just isn’t his

track, even though he won in

2010. Binocular, the 2009

winner, has run just once

this term and needs to show

a lot more.

The opening Supreme

Novices’ Hurdle sees a short-

priced favourite in My Tent

Or Yours. He looked brilliant

on his last run at Newbury,

but was he flattered by

quickening up off a slow

pace? Time will tell, but

Grade 1 winner Melodic

Rendezvous looks good value

at around 10/1 against him.

In the Racing Post Arkle,

the ultra-versatile Overturn

– classy on the flat and over

hurdles – looks like being

just as good over fences and

should be up to giving

Simonsig a fright.

last year, roCk on ruby beCame only the fourth horse in the last 30 years to win the Champion hurDle havinG not run sinCe the start of the year

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No horse at the 2013 Cheltenham

Festival will start at shorter odds

than Sprinter Sacre, the jumping

machine who in seven displays

over fences has destroyed all opposition

to the combined tune of 95 lengths.

That represents an equine massacre –

and the likelihood is that Nicky Henderson’s

sensational seven-year-old will do the same

again in Wednesday’s Champion Chase.

“He’s getting a reputation that does put

the pressure on,” says Henderson. “Nothing

but the best will do – the spectacular – and if

he doesn’t do that then people aren’t happy.

But that’s what he’s come to do every time,

and it’s great to watch for everyone bar us.”

Few onlookers will share Henderson’s

nerves, as Sprinter Sacre should find little

to get him off the bridle – and that includes

defending champion Finian’s Rainbow or

2011 winner Sizing Europe, neither of whom

are certain to even run. The reality is that

whichever horses do line up to take on the

favourite will be racing for second place.

Sprinter Sacre’s likely dominance stands

alone on a card that is plenty competitive

elsewhere. The Neptune Investment

Management Novices’ Hurdle (2.05pm) looks

like being one of the contests of the week,

with Pont Alexandre, Taquin Du Seuil and

Puffin Billy all boasting claims in a race we

think can go to The New One.

The RSA Chase (2.40pm) is a three-mile

novices’ race traditionally won by battle-

hardened warhorses. That casts doubts

over the chances of favourite Dynaste, who

comes here off the back of a longish break

and after three facile victories. Irish horses

have won three of the past four runnings,

and Lord Windermere looks to have been

aimed at this all season – he’s great

each-way value at about 16/1.

Day 2: Champion

Chase 3.20pm stroller saCre?

With muCh of the opposition sCareD aWay, WeDnesDay’s Champion Chase CoulD be little more than a stroll in the park for the phenomenal sprinter saCre

expert vieW With paul kealy of the raCing post

Sprinter Sacre is quite

possibly the best two-mile

chaser we’ve seen for 30

years or more, but you

certainly won’t get rich

backing him in the Champion

Chase – he’s set to go off as

one of the shortest-priced

favourites in the history

of the race.

With only nine runners

entered well in advance of

the race, and most of those

having possible other

targets, the chances are

that he’ll face little more

than a victory dance.

If you’re looking for a

better-value bet on the

day, why not have a pop at

Houblon Des Obeaux at a

big price in the RSA Chase?

He has ground to make up

on favourite Dynaste, but

that one could yet run

elsewhere and this horse

had his best form over

hurdles at Cheltenham.

Champion trainer Paul

Nicholls has the first two in

the betting for the Fred

Winter Juvenile Handicap

Hurdle, and the word from

Ditcheat is that Saphir Du

Rheu is the one doing

everything right at home.

Don’t be surprised if he is

the mount of Ruby Walsh on

the day, for a stable that

took the race with a similar

sort in Sanctuaire back

in 2010.

Denman is the only rsa Chase Winner in the past DeCaDe to have gone into the raCe unbeaten over fenCes1

44 | March 8 2013 |

Cheltenham 2013 The Festival

He may be tHe most successful trainer in tHe History of tHe festival, but tHat doesn’t stop nicky Henderson’s nerves aHead of tHe most important week of His year

Handling witH care

When Bellvano romped home

in the final race of last year’s

Cheltenham Festival, it was the

perfect ending to a near-perfect

week for Nicky Henderson. Not only did the

win give the trainer a second victory in a

race named after his father, but it also

secured him a seventh win of the meeting

– not surprisingly, a festival record.

“Last year was a complete freak the whole

way through the week,” recalls Henderson

now, smiling. “If you could just go and get one

winner on the first day of the festival, you’re

the happiest, most relieved man in the whole

of Cheltenham... because then the pressure

comes off for the rest of the week.

“I think it was two years ago, we went into

the final day without a winner – but then

Bobs Worth won the Albert Bartlett and Long

Run the Gold Cup. But it’s not much fun going

in there after three blank days, I can tell you.”

There is little to no chance of Henderson,

the festival’s all-time leading trainer with 46

wins, having to suffer such a fate this year.

In My Tent Or Yours and Simonsig, the

62-year-old boasts strong favourites in each

of the festival’s opening two races, while the

majestic Sprinter Sacre is the certainty of

the week in Wednesday’s Champion Chase.

As we analyse below, it is not beyond the

realms of belief that Henderson could emerge

victorious from every one of the festival’s

four major races. Not that he thinks so.

“It’s not inconceivable, no, but it’s highly,

highly unlikely,” he says. “You’ve got the

ammo, sure, but all of those horses have to

be trained, to stay in one piece and then get

there fit and well on the day. You’ve got to

have an awful lot of luck.”

There is a nervousness to Henderson that

belies the strength of character required to

train nearing half a century of festival winners.

Perhaps it’s because Cheltenham means so

much to him. His father Johnny, after whom

the week-ending Grand Annual Chase is named,

was a high-ranking Army officer who later

worked in the City and was integral to the

safeguarding of Cheltenham racecourse long

before the festival became what it is today.

“I was meant to follow Dad into the City,

but I escaped,” says the Eton-educated

Henderson. “But he did an awful lot for

racing, and these days we all live around the

festival. Compared with flat racing, National

Hunt racing is top-heavy around this one

meeting. It all comes down to these four

days... it really does.”

Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1

we assess tHe Horses

tHat could give nicky

Henderson an

unprecedented victory

in all four of tHe

major cHampionsHip

races at tHis

year’s festival

cHampion HurdleLost his main hope Darlan

in tragic circumstances at

Doncaster, but still has two

chances. Former winner

Binocular has a bit to prove

after a lacklustre return in

January, while the talented

Grandouet has had a recent

injury scare. Hasn’t stopped

us tipping him up, mind.

cHampion cHaseDefending champion

Finian’s Rainbow should

line up to defend his crown,

but Henderson also trains

the outstanding (and

shortest-priced) favourite

of the entire festival in

Sprinter Sacre. The Black

Aeroplane will win this by

a street.

world HurdleJust Oscar Whisky to line

up for the Cheltenham

maestro here, in one of the

most intriguing races of the

week. Could start favourite

and is undoubtedly the

best horse in the race, but

doubts linger as to whether

he genuinely stays the

three-mile trip.

gold cupFormer winner Long Run

goes once more, but

long-time antepost

favourite Bobs Worth,

unbeaten in four starts

at Cheltenham, looks

the most likely to give

Henderson a second Gold

Cup. Don’t be surprised

if he does.

festival slam?

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Thursday at the festival has in

recent years been given over to

two things: St Patrick’s Day and

Big Buck’s. While the former will

still be celebrated – and in style – the latter

will be at home, injury depriving him of the

chance to win a fifth straight World Hurdle.

In his absence, punters are faced with a

conundrum. Can Nicky Henderson’s classy

Oscar Whisky stay the gruelling three-mile

trip? Will Reve De Sivola (pictured, clearing

the jump), who beat him at Cheltenham in

January, prove as adept on quicker ground?

Can Donald McCain bring former festival

winner Peddlers Cross back to his best? Or

can the Irish, represented by Monksland and

Solwhit, win for the first time since 1995?

Our preference, as indicated by the bold

up there, is for Reve De Sivola. His trainer

Nick Williams is long overdue a first festival

success – but it’s a tricky race, and one we

wouldn’t advise lumping heavily on.

Elsewhere on Thursday, the Ryanair Chase

(2.40pm) is another competitive affair.

Defending champ Riverside Theatre has run

two bad races since his dramatic victory 12

months ago, while two-time former winner

Albertas Run is unlikely to be improving at

the age of 12. First Lieutenant makes a

compelling case for the Irish, as does

former Champion Chase winner Sizing

Europe, who has never been out of the first

three in 21 chase starts. But our choice is

Cue Card, who ran Sprinter Sacre as close

as anything last year and looks well suited

to the two-and-a-half-mile trip.

Oh, and keep an eye on Vino Griego in the

Byrne Group Plate (4pm). Gary Moore’s

eight-year-old took an age to get off the

mark over fences, but he comes here on the

back of two very good wins and looks a

more trustworthy character these days.

ExpErt viEw with paul KEaly of thE racing post

The staying hurdlers get

their day in the sun today,

and Reve De Sivola looks

the one most likely to do

the business. Though not

taking to fences over the

past couple of seasons, he

has proved this term that he

is still top-class over hurdles

– and he’s won three of the

past four Grade 1s he has

run in. The only horse

to beat him in a three-mile

hurdle is the legend that

is Big Buck’s, but he’s not

here this year.

There’s another three-mile

hurdle on the Thursday: the

Pertemps Final, in which

Captain Sunshine should be

considered at big odds,

although there are risks

involved. He’s a bit quirky,

to say the least, and has

refused to race once already

this term. But his finishing

effort when second from the

back over three miles at

Newbury on his latest start

– coming home after the last

much faster than all of the

horses in the top-class

two-mile handicap hurdle on

the same day – had to be

seen to be believed.

The Ryanair Chase is

another Grade 1 on this

card. If First Lieutenant

gets the nod here, instead

of going for the Gold Cup

on Friday, he’d be the one

to beat.

fourtEEn of thE past 17 winnErs of thE ByrnE group platE havE carriEd 10st 10lBs or lEss – as did thE first thrEE homE last yEar14

day 3: world hurdlE 3.20pm thE King is dEad...

with injury dEpriving four-timE winnEr Big BucK’s of thE chancE to dEfEnd his crown, thursday’s fEaturE racE looKs to BE aBsolutEly widE opEn

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There will be an ineluctable sense

of absence around Cheltenham on

Friday, as the horsey world comes

to terms with the fact that, for the

first time since 2006, there will be no Kauto

Star lining up for the Gold Cup. The great

Kauto is now plying his trade in the murky,

largely unintelligible world of dressage,

while another former winner, the 2010 hero

Imperial Commander, sadly misses the race

with a lung infection. Long Run, champ in

2011 before finishing third to Synchronised

last year, is back for another crack, however.

It’s a younger horse’s game these days,

though – a fact reflected in the betting being

dominated by three horses that have not a

single Gold Cup appearance between them.

If you believe the bookies, the race revolves

around the Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs

Worth, twice a festival winner and unbeaten

in four starts at the track; Irish raider Sir

Des Champs (above), another to boast an

unblemished Cheltenham record; and

Silviniaco Conti, three from three this

season and the new great hope from the

yard of Paul Nicholls. The past 12 winners

of this race have come from the first three

in the betting, so we should probably expect

it to be between these three.

If you are looking to get out of jail on the

final day, then Salsify looks good to repeat

last year’s win in the Foxhunter Chase

(4pm), Our Vinnie can make the frame at a

decent price in the Albert Bartlett Novices’

Hurdle (2.40pm), and last year’s County

Hurdle winner Alderwood should go close

in the Grand Annual. If it all goes wrong,

however, don’t blame us.

See next week’s edition of Sport for a full preview

of the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with expert

analysis from Paul Kealy of the Racing Post

Day 4: Cheltenham

GolD Cup 3.20pm that FriDay FeelinG

FriDay at the Festival Doesn’t just mean the GolD Cup... it’s also last-ChanCe saloon For all those lookinG to enD the week in some kinD oF proFit

expert view with paul kealy oF the raCinG post

The final day of the festival

is the hardest of all for

punters because it will

feature loads of huge fields

– and that starts with the

Triumph Hurdle.

That race has been a lot

better for punters in recent

years, though, with only one

of the past eight winners

(last year’s, as it happens)

going off at double-figure

odds.

Word has it that Paul

Nicholls is very sweet on

the chances of Far West,

but Our Conor arguably has

the best form and certainly

has a good change of gear.

He is taken to improve the

admittedly poor record of

Irish-trained runners in

the race.

The County Hurdle will not

look any easier on the day

than it does now, but

Ifandbutwhynot is a horse

who travels very well off a

strong pace and should be

primed to challenge as they

enter the straight.

Bringing down the curtain

on this four-day punt-fest is

the Grand Annual, and Tom

George could have the

answer with the fast-

improving Rody. He was an

exceptionally easy eight-

length winner of his last

start at Warwick, and the

second, third and fourth all

scored next time.

niCky henDerson has maDe the Frame in the triumph hurDle

(1.30pm) in every year he’s haD a runner sinCe 2007. he runs rollinG star this year

2007

Cheltenham 2013 The Festival

46 | March 8 2013 |

48 | March 8 2013 |

Advertising Feature

Are you seeking a career that not

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careers iN focus

| 49

For further

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on Royal Navy

careers, call

08456 07 55 55

or search

'Navy Jobs'

online

Ariane is a Leading Naval

Nurse based at the Ministry

of Defence Hospital Unit in

Portsmouth†

Why did you join the Royal Navy?

“I had always had an interest in joining the

Armed Forces, but wasn’t sure what I could

offer or which branch I would be suited to.

On qualifying in September 2009, I began to

look into becoming a Naval Nurse. I was

inspired by the people I met during my first

job as a staff nurse – ex-servicemen and

women who, despite difficult times, still

displayed a sense of pride and loyalty.”

Tell us about your current role.

“I am posted at Ministry of Defence

Hospital Unit (MDHU) Portsmouth as a

Leading Naval Nurse. Having completed my

rotation, which included working on medical

and surgical wards to consolidate my skills,

I now work within a busy Medical Assessment

Unit, where I continue to train to ensure

I can deliver high-quality clinical care.”

What have you enjoyed about the training?

“As a direct entry to the Royal Navy, I was

fully trained in adult nursing already – but I

enjoyed basic training and learning about

life in the Royal Navy, and also expanding

my skills within the MDHU. I was proud to

represent the QARNNS [Queen Alexandra’s

Royal Naval Nursing Service] at November

Ceremonies in 2011.”

How have you developed since joining?

“Since joining the Royal Navy I have grown

in confidence and continue to work towards

developing as an effective leader within the

service. I have become a more motivated

individual and believe I can reach my goals.”

What skills can you take into everyday life?

“Royal Navy basic training at HMS Raleigh

provides an opportunity to gain many skills

that can be taken into everyday life. We

learn about discipline, respect and loyalty

to and for others, integrity, courage and

commitment. Having completed the

Leading Rates Leadership Course at HMS

Collingwood, I have also learned the skills

of leadership, organising, communicating

and working with others.”

What do you feel you have gained most

since joining the Royal Navy?

“Since joining, I have never been bored. It

has enhanced my career as a nurse, I have

gained confidence in my abilities, and had

the opportunity to work with and learn from

many different people in different situations.”

What sports do you play?

“Joining the Royal Navy has given me the

chance to try many sports, which I have

enjoyed. I attend the gym regularly, enjoy

running and was able to participate in a

Unit sports day, which brought our unit

together as a whole team. And in May last

year I participated in Adventure Training,

Exercise Caribbean Wings, sailing from

New York to Boston, and achieved my

competent crew award. As a novice I

found this challenging but enjoyable, and

would like to continue sailing in the future.”

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50 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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7 DaysMAR 8-MAR 14

HIGHLIGHTS

» Football: FA Cup Quarter Finals » p52

» Football: Premier League Preview» p54

» Football: Champions League Preview» p56

» Basketball: LA Lakers v Chicago Bulls » p58

» Snooker: Players Tour Championship Grand Finals » p58OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

SATURDAY TENNIS | BNP PARIBAS OPEN | INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA | SKY SPORTS 4 9PM

Andy Murray hasn’t hit a

competitive ball since his

defeat to Novak Djokovic in the

Australian Open final, but that’s

not to say he’s been idle. The world

number three has bought a £2m

hotel in Stirlingshire and plans to

refurbish it into a five-star resort

that will reopen ahead of the 2014

Ryder Cup, staged a short drive

away at Gleneagles.

He’s also been training hard

with coach Ivan Lendl in Miami,

choosing not to follow the

tournament trail to Dubai –

a decision that’s not surprising

when you consider he’s failed to

make it beyond his first match in

Indian Wells for the past two years.

Holder Roger Federer,

meanwhile, is looking for a fifth

title in the desert. The 31-year-old

has already announced plans to

take a two-month break after the

tournament, explaining the need

to be “smart with his scheduling”

and to spend more time with his

wife and twin daughters.

Having thrashed David Ferrer in

the Mexico Open final, Rafael Nadal

has confirmed he will continue

his comeback in California, but

current world number one and

two-time winner Djokovic will

still be favourite to start off the

American hard-court season with

a trophy.

The Williams sisters are missing

from the women’s draw (they’ve

refused to play in Indian Wells

since Serena was booed by the

crowd there in 2001), so it will be

up to world number two – and 2012

winner – Victoria Azarenka to lead

the way. Maria Sharapova could

stand in her way, if she’s recovered

from her most recent outing at the

Oscars. Tough gig, this tennis lark.

Murray’s desert storm

52 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

7 Days

It might have gone under the radar with many

outside west London, but Chelsea have actually

won four of the past six FA Cups. Roman

Abramovich can sack as many managers as he

wants, it seems, but his club’s recent penchant

for success in this great old competition (in

association with Budweiser) remains unaffected.

It’s not been a straightforward defence of the

cup they won against Liverpool last May, however.

They’d have gone out to Brentford in the fourth

round, were it not for the collector’s item of a

meaningful Fernando Torres strike, and now face a

stern test of their credentials against champions

elect Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Domestic cup ties between these two have gone

one way or the other in recent seasons. The 2007

FA Cup final was a desperate affair won by a Didier

Drogba goal late in extra time, thus depriving

neutrals of the penalty shootout that would have

offered at least a modicum of excitement. By stark

contrast, this season’s meeting in the Capital One

Cup was an absolute humdinger, Ramires (left)

netting the decisive goal in a 5-4 Chelsea win.

With Rafa Benitez seemingly secure in his

fundamentally insecure post of interim manager

for now, he is charged with getting enough out of

his allegedly mutinous charges to secure Chelsea

a first win at Old Trafford for three years. United

haven’t lost a domestic match since Norwich

turned them over in November, though – you

wouldn’t expect them to lose this one either.

No quarter

given

Saturday FA Cup: EvErton v WigAn | goodison pArk

itv 1 12.45pm

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Twelve months after a heartbreaking semi-final

defeat to neighbours Liverpool, Everton are on

the verge of a return to Wembley. All that stands

between them is Roberto Martinez and a Wigan

side fresh from their own mauling at the hands of

the red side of the city. The Spaniard says FA Cup

success has “helped us in the confidence and

belief we bring into the league”. His team are,

however, without a win in nine against the Toffees.

Expect that run to continue, with old boy Leighton

Baines a likely source of woe for the Latics.

Saturday FA Cup: mAnChEstEr City v BArnslEy | EtihAd stAdium

Espn 5.30pm

The 2011 FA Cup was Roberto Mancini’s first

trophy in England, and this year’s quarter-final

draw has given him ample chance of making the

2013 version his next. His side is not exactly

scoring freely of late, but Carlos Tevez and pals

should make hay against Championship relegation

fodder Barnsley. It’s five years since the Tykes put

both Liverpool and Chelsea out on their way to the

semis. Luke Steele, the goalkeeping hero behind

that run, remains, but reality says he and his

teammates are up against it here.

Sunday FA Cup: millWAll v BlACkBurn | thE dEn | Espn 2pm

The glamour tie of the round pits the

Championship’s longest-serving manager,

Millwall’s Kenny Jackett, against Michael Appleton,

the ringmaster who has brought some semblance

of normality to the chicken-funded circus that is

Blackburn Rovers. Neither side is setting the world

alight at the moment, both having lost at home to

the mighty Peterborough in recent weeks, but home

advantage could prove enough for the Lions. And,

for what it’s worth, they also won 2-0 at Ewood

Park back in November. How’s that for a form guide?

Sunday FootBAll | FA Cup QuArtEr FinAl: mAnChEstEr unitEd v ChElsEA | old trAFFord | itv 1 4.30pm

54 | March 8 2013 |

7 Days

SUNDAY liverpool v tottenham | anfield | SKY SportS 1 4pm

“He is a player who can make the difference,”

was the praise won by young Brazilian Philippe

Coutinho from his manager Brendan Rodgers last

weekend. But it’s a compliment that can also be

applied to a couple of other players who’ll be on

the pitch at Anfield this weekend.

Gareth Bale and Luis Suárez both lived up to

their billings as the main threat in their respective

sides last weekend, with Bale opening the scoring

for Tottenham in their win over Arsenal and Suárez

netting a hat-trick to help Liverpool thrash Wigan.

Rodgers was obviously in a generous mood

after the final whistle, when he said of Suarez:

“There isn’t a better striker in the Premier League.”

A certain Manchester-based Scot will beg to differ,

but Spurs boss André Villas-Boas might consider

himself forewarned ahead of his side’s trip to

the northwest.

Having picked up points at Anfield for the past

two seasons, and riding high on what their manager

called “an upward spiral in terms of confidence”,

Spurs sit third – and will be looking to widen the

gap between themselves and Chelsea in fourth.

Their defence-splitting tactics against Arsenal

yielded two goals in quick succession. Liverpool

could face more of the same on Sunday,

particularly if Jermain Defoe – who was only fit

enough to come off the bench last weekend –

plays from the start. Jamie Carragher and Daniel

Agger will be tasked with faring better than the

Gunners’ centre-back pairing (not too tricky),

while the impressive Liverpool attack that ripped

Wigan to shreds last weekend will look to get in

behind the Spurs defence more effectively than

Arsenal’s did (again, not exactly a challenge).

Tottenham are unbeaten in 12 in the league –

their best run since the Premier League began.

Liverpool, on the other hand, haven’t lost in eight.

Two teams on the up – it could be a cracker.

Two of the Premier League’s young managers go head to head this weekend, with two of the league’s best players in tow...

Premier League

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand | 55

After scoring just four goals in their past 10 league games, QPR found the

back of the net twice in 90 minutes against Southampton last weekend.

Rangers’ third win of the season came amid allegations that a warm-weather

training trip to Dubai was (shock, horror) an excuse for a booze-up. The story

was dismissed as “a load of nonsense” by QPR manager Harry Redknapp, whose

team worked hard for a 2-1 win at St Mary’s. If it is to be the start of a great

escape, QPR need to consolidate that positive result with another one against

Sunderland. Martin O’Neill’s side have good memories of their last trip to Loftus

Road – they nicked a winner in the 89th minute in December 2011. And, with just

six points separating them from the drop zone, their own battle is far from over.

“This was never going to define

our season,” said Norwich boss

Chris Hughton after his side took

a 4-0 beating at Old Trafford last

weekend. He’s right – a win for the

Canaries against Southampton

would put them within five points

of the magic 40, and leave Saints

struggling. It was honours even

when the sides met in November,

when a mistake from Saints

goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga

gifted Norwich a point.

saturday norwich v southampton

carrow road | 3pm

West Brom are yet to beat Swansea

in the Premier League, and it’s the

Swans who have all the momentum.

The League Cup winners absorbed

plenty of pressure before scoring

the only goal of their win over

Newcastle last weekend – a result

that took them to eighth in the

league. The Baggies are level on

points, though, and boss Steve

Clarke will be keen for revenge after

Swansea outclassed them in a 3-1

defeat at the Liberty in November.

saturday west brom v swansea |

the hawthorns | 3pm

A game that marks a battle between two men who would have to share the

award for grumpiest middle-aged manager of the year this season, if it

existed (it should). It’s perhaps unsurprising, given that Brian McDermott and

Paul Lambert’s sides have spent much of the past seven months in the bottom

three. Reading have lost three on the trot, but are clearly up for a fight, scoring

eight of their last 11 league goals inside the last 10 minutes – though that’s not

much use if you’ve already conceded three.

With just one point separating the sides, it’s a classic six-pointer. Lambert’s

side were 1-0 winners when the teams met at Villa Park last year, with Christian

Benteke proving the difference. Will it be that man again?

P W D L F A Pts

Premier League tabLe

Liverpool’s total

of 53 goals from

28 games is their

second best at

this stage of a

Premier League

season53

Man Utd 28 23 2 3 68 31 71

Man City 28 17 8 3 51 24 59

Tottenham 28 16 6 6 49 33 54

Chelsea 28 15 7 6 56 30 52

Arsenal 28 13 8 7 53 32 47

Everton 28 11 12 5 44 35 45

Liverpool 28 11 9 8 53 34 42

Swansea 28 10 10 8 39 34 40

West Brom 28 12 4 12 38 37 40

Fulham 28 8 9 11 39 44 33

Stoke 28 7 12 9 26 33 33

West Ham 28 9 6 13 32 41 33

Norwich 28 7 11 10 27 45 32

Sunderland 28 7 9 12 31 38 30

Newcastle 28 8 6 14 38 49 30

Southampton 28 6 9 13 39 51 27

Wigan 28 6 6 16 33 55 24

Aston Villa 28 5 9 14 26 53 24

Reading 28 5 8 15 34 54 23

QPR 28 3 11 14 21 44 20

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saturday qpr v sunderland | loftus road | 3pm

Tony Pulis admitted his side have

“gone a bit flat” after their defeat

to West Ham last weekend. Some

might ponder whether they have

been anything but this season –

not us. We’re still impressed by the

Potters’ ability to remain a mid(ish)-

table side, no matter what occurs on

the pitch. It’s a skill. They have lost

their last two, though, and another

defeat to Newcastle on Sunday

could see them sink worryingly

south of the middle.

sunday newcastle v stoke |st james’ park | 3pm

saturday reading v aston villa | madejski stadium | 3pm

56 | March 8 2013 |

7 Days

Arsenal’s season is hanging by a single thread.

The derby defeat to Tottenham leaves them five

points off fourth in the league, and their impressive

record of 15 consecutive Champions League

qualifications looks under serious threat. There is

one way out, though: the route Chelsea memorably

used last season. Unfortunately for the Gunners, it

involves overturning a 3-1 deficit away at Bayern

Munich, and then winning the whole damn thing.

Over the top

Let’s break that down. First off, Arsenal will need to

score at least three goals. The Munich defence may

not have looked that organised when they farcically

allowed Lukas Podolski to head home in the first leg,

but they’re a tight unit. In nine matches in 2013, the

Germans have conceded on just one other occasion

– against Werder Bremen. They won that game 6-1.

Theo Walcott started up front in the first leg, with

the aim of testing the speed of Bayern’s defenders,

but he managed just one attempt on goal as the

Germans sat a little deeper than usual to counter his

threat. The Gunners looked far more of a threat with

the introduction of Olivier Giroud in the second half;

he could start in Munich, with Walcott providing

width on the right.

Pressing concern

The Germans pressed a high line to deny Arsenal’s

centre backs time on the ball in the first leg. Per

Mertesacker to Laurent Koscielny was one of

Arsenal’s most frequently played passes, indicating

the extent to which this tactic helped stifle them.

Jupp Heynckes’ tactic could change with Arsenal

having to chase the game. He could instead look to

ape Tottenham’s success with Gareth Bale and

Aaron Lennon with his own pacy wingers, and try

to get in behind the Gunners on the break. Thomas

Müller has generally been preferred to Arjen Robben

this season, but the Dutchman scored a cracking

goal against Dortmund in the German cup last week

and could be given the nod because of his pace.

Rearguard action

Even if Arsenal manage to score three, they’ll need

to keep a clean sheet – something they’ve managed

just once in their past 17 Champions League away

games. Their defence is still ravaged by injuries,

particularly down the left, with Kieran Gibbs still

injured and new signing Nacho Monreal cup-tied for

this competition. Bayern looked to exploit this flank

in the first leg, as Thomas Vermaelen was being

played out of position at left-back – two of their

three goals came from moves down that side.

Lukas Podolski is an experienced competitor at

this level, but didn’t provide Vermaelen with much

protection in the first leg. That’s something Arsène

Wenger will need to look at, even if he insisted

before the Tottenham game: “We don’t plan for

anybody. It is always the same – focus on our

strengths and forget about your opponent.”

Wenger can’t forget, however, about the

scoreline. He knows that, even if Arsenal play at

their very best, they’ll need a miracle to progress.

It’s worth remembering – if you’re a Gooner seeking

comforting thoughts – that Arsenal were in a worse

position last year and almost pulled back a 4-0

deficit against Milan. As Chelsea demonstrated so

dramatically last May, anything is possible.

Mission impossible

WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16, SECOND LEG: BAYERN MUNICH v ARSENAL (3:1) | ALLIANZ ARENA | SKY SPORTS 2 7.45PM

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

TUESDAY FOOTBALL | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16, SECOND LEG: SCHALKE v

GALATASARAY (1:1) | TURK TELECOM ARENA | SKY SPORTS 2 7.45PM

| 57

It’s been a bad few weeks for Barcelona. They’ve

lost three of their past four games, two Clasico

defeats compounding the misery of a shock 2-0

reversal to AC Milan in the first leg of this tie.

With manager Tito Vilanova receiving treatment

for cancer, it’s fallen to his assistant Jordi Roura to

take the reins, and Barca’s season seems to be

grinding to a halt. They crashed out of the Copa

del Rey to Real Madrid, and their league meeting

at the weekend descended into farce with

goalkeeper Victor Valdes red-carded after the

final whistle for screaming at the referee. As you

would expect, Barcelona dominated possession in

the first leg at the San Siro, but managed as little

as three attempts on target. AC Milan pulled off

the perfect anti-tiki-taka display – they sat deep,

pressed when required and were clinical on the

counter-attack. With Roura forced to deny

allegations that Barcelona’s players are suffering

a ‘crisis of confidence’, there’s every chance Milan

could repeat the feat at the Nou Camp. Then again,

there’s also every chance Leo Messi could turn on

the style and score a ludicrous hat-trick.

The most delicately poised of this week’s ties sees

Galatasaray’s new stars visit Schalke, who have an

away-goal advantage thanks to the 1-1 draw in the

first leg. The teams were evenly matched in the

Turkish cauldron, but Schalke have a formidable

home stadium of their own – they’re unbeaten at

the Veltins-Arena in Europe this season. The

additions of Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba,

however, mean Galatasaray are unbeaten in seven.

Their main threat could be former Schalke boy

Hamit Altintop – the Turkish midfielder was born in

Germany, and could pose a real threat to the club

that made him a star when drifting infield from the

right or shooting from distance. Much of their

good work in the first leg actually came down the

left, though, with former Liverpool winger Albert

Riera getting forward in support of Sneijder.

Schalke, meanwhile, offer a more fluid threat

than the Turks’ fairly traditional 4-4-2 – Michel

Bastos and Jefferson Farfan will look to feed

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who hasn’t replicated his

form from last season but still has four goals in

seven Champions League games this year.

TUESDAY FOOTBALL | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16, SECOND LEG:

BARCELONA v AC MILAN (0:2) | NOU CAMP | ITV1 7.45PM

Málaga are banned from European competitions

for next season because of some unpaid bills,

so they’re intent on getting as far as possible this

time around. The first-leg defeat to Porto was the

Champions League debutants’ only defeat in the

competition so far, and their league form has

suffered since the UEFA sanctions were

announced in late December. The Spaniards have

conceded just twice in Europe at La Rosaleda, but

will need to offer a lot more going forward if they

are to get through to the last eight.

Porto dominated possession in the first leg,

restricting their opponents to just one attempt

while hammering in 16 of their own. Six of those

were on target, but they found Malaga stopper

Willy hard to beat. The Argentine proved a stiff

opponent, letting just one well-worked João

Moutinho effort slip past him, and Porto will be

frustrated that they aren’t further in front going

into the second leg. If Malaga are to extend their

Champions League journey, their forward line of

Júlio Baptista and Roque Santa Cruz will need to

give big Willy a helping hand.

WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16, SECOND LEG: MALAGA v

PORTO (0:1) | LA ROSALEDA | SKY SPORTS 4 7.45PM

Big Willy style

Hamit goes home

Falling apart

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58 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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Tuesday > Snooker | Dafabet PtC GranD finalS | bailey allen Hall, national UniverSity of irelanD, Galway | britiSH eUroSPort 2 10am

Snooker’s version of the Champions

League begins on Tuesday. After 13

best-of-seven tournaments in the UK,

Europe and China, the top 25 in the PTC

Order of Merit, top four in the Asian Order

of Merit and three Asian Players Tour

Championship winners have qualified

for the finals in Galway.

World number one Judd Trump (right)

qualified second in the UK/Europe Order

of Merit behind world number two Mark

Selby. The Ace looked the form player at

last week’s Haikou World Open, firing in

three centuries as he blitzed Nigel Bond

5-1 to reach the quarters, but broke his tip

early on against Matthew Stevens and

didn’t look comfortable from then on.

Stevens prevailed 5-3, but eventually

went down 10-4 to Mark Allen in his first

ranking final since 2008. But, despite

having beaten three of the world’s top

four in Haikou – Trump, Neil Robertson

and Shaun Murphy – Stevens has not

qualified for Galway. Allen, on the other

hand, qualified eighth in the UK/Europe

Order of Merit and faces Mark Davis and

then the prospect of Welsh Open

champion Stephen Maguire in round two.

Trump and Robertson are on the same

side of the draw, with one of them likely

to face Selby in the semis. There’s also

a potential quarter final between the

Jester from Leicester and one from John

Higgins and Ali Carter, who play each

other in the first round.

Holder Stephen Lee will not appear,

however, having been suspended by the

WPBSA while snooker’s governing body

decides whether he has a case to answer

over four allegations of match-fixing.

It’s not quite the 680 games under

investigation in European football’s

premier club competition. But it’s another

– unwelcome – similarity.

Snooker’s Big Ears

After winning their division for five consecutive

years, the mighty Los Angeles Lakers now find

themselves fighting tooth and nail to try and

scrape into the NBA postseason. It is unlikely to

be an easy ride as, with 19 games left, they still

have to face several playoff contenders. They do

though, have a team of marquee players. Kobe

Bryant is in excellent form and has (at time of

writing) the third best points-per-game average

in the NBA, while Dwight Howard boasts the top

rebound average. Their defense has also

improved since the turn of the year.

If the Lakers do make the playoffs, their roster

of ageing talent could test several of the best

teams. Their opponents at the Staples Center on

Sunday night are the Chicago Bulls, who are also

battling to reach the playoffs. They have a solid

team – including GB’s finest, Luol Deng – but have

played the season without star point guard

Derrick Rose, who tore his anterior cruciate

ligament last year. If he can return in good form

this season, he could reignite an offense that has

the third lowest points-per-game in the league.

Too little

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60 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Sonos PLAYBAR

A beautiful way to spruce up the

sound of your favourite television

shows, the PLAYBAR is Sonos’s first

– and highly acclaimed – move into

the home cinema market. Nine

speakers are hidden within its sleek

design, delivering richly textured

sound to match your HD set. The

cacophonous splash of Omid Djalili

belly-flopping into a swimming pool

in front of a live studio audience has

never sounded quite this good.

£599 | sonos.com

Google Chromebook Pixel

The search giant’s ongoing march towards

world domination takes an attractive turn

with their first high-end laptop. The Pixel is

optimised for the web – its touch-enabled

screen has an unusual 3:2 ratio better suited

to browsing, and it has a super-sharp screen

rivalled only by the Retina displays on Apple’s

MacBooks. Chrome OS is another selling

point – it’s quick to boot up, and syncs

seamlessly with cloud-based storage.

£1,049 | play.google.com

Beats by Dr. Dre Executive Headphones

As the good doctor has risen up the medical

hierarchy, he’s clearly found that his

signature line of headphones, while well

suited to the operating theatre, don’t

quite cut it at boardroom level. That’s why

he’s come out with an executive line of

headphones, crafted from soft leather and

stainless steel and with noise-cancelling

technology. With all that technology, Dre

will be running the NHS before too long.

£270 | store.universal-music.co.uk

Sony NEX-3N Compact Camera

Like a liger or a zorse, this camera is a hybrid.

It’s got interchangeable lenses from the

world of DSLRs and the compact size of a

more basic camera. Added to the mix are

a flippable 7.5-inch LCD screen to help you

aim your self-portraits a bit more easily;

a 16.1-megapixel high sensitivity sensor and a

new Auto Object Framing system for more

professional results. Mate the whole thing

with a zebra, et voila!

£TBC | sony.co.uk

EXtRA timEMaking the most of your time and money

P68

Warwick Davis

is left holding

the baby in

Willow

Sound barrier

62 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Yoga! Yoga! Yoga!

ET Kit Ryan Giggs does yoga, and he’s on the verge of his billionth game. Ergo, if you do yoga, you can play sports for years to come. That’s how it works, right?

Quiksilver HB3 Hoodie

Make those ‘irritating talkers’

in your yoga class a thing of

the past with this soft-brushed

cotton hoodie. The integrated

in-ear headphones mean you

can subtly listen to your own

relaxing sounds, while the clever

tech makes them fully washable

without dismantling. Clever.

£70 | quiksilver.com

alpineStars Howzit Tanktop

The motorsport kit makers

produced this tanktop to wear

under those pesky hot leathers,

but it works for yoga too. It gets

darned hot in those workout

studios, but going topless is

frowned upon – as we learned

the hard way. This cotton top

suits the task well. Even if you

don’t have the Top Gun arms.

£20 | alpinestars.com

EcoMatt Sr Yoga Mat

Yoga, lesson one: get a good

mat. And this blueberry and

banana-coloured number (yup,

really) fits the bill. It’s 100 per

cent biodegradable, recyclable

and latex- and PVC-free, while

the textures offer superb grip

to stop you slipping around as

you switch between postures.

£30 | amazon.co.uk

Puma aCTV Tights

Designed for high performance

and endurance sports, these

leggings also tick the boxes for

the yoga enthusiasts. A moisture

-wicking finish will keep you

dry, while the articulated knees

will help your flexibility and the

Puma tape interior aligns with

your muscles to maximise your

workout and reduce any pain.

£100 | shop.puma.co.uk

Patagonia Piton Bottoms

A pull-on, elasticised waist

offers comfort, while the

stretchy Polartec Power Dry

fabric helps to wick moisture

away and keep you dry when

things get a bit hot. A hidden

zip pocket means you can head

to the gym with just your house

key as well, which is a nice touch.

£75 | patagonia.com

Spiro Performance Quick

Dry Short Sleeve T-shirt

It all sounds a bit techy, but the

fast moisture-wicking control in

this top basically keeps your skin

cool and comfy as the room gets

hotter. Even better, the plain

design makes it ideal for getting

something printed on the front,

so you can make a statement.

‘Yippee for yoga’, anyone?

£6 | spiroactivewear.com

Pineapple SoF Hoodie

Getting in touch with your inner

Zen (that’s what yoga is about,

right?) doesn’t mean you can’t

be comfy. This Pineapple hoodie

will do the job nicely, thanks to

the soft cotton lining and the

loose raglan sleeves. It also

has a useful front pocket for

carrying all those joss sticks.

£18 | getthelabel.com

gaiam Super grippy

Yoga gloves

Not got a mat? Look up and left

– there’s one there! If not, these

gloves will help you. The blue

grip dots allow you to take your

mat with you – in a way – and

provide a non-slip surface to

help your balance and stability.

Sport tip: the grip makes them

good for lifting weights, too.

£8 | johnlewis.com

| 63

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64 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Dove Men+Care

Depending on your skin type, Dove has you covered: Hydrate+ for dry

skin, Sensitive+ for sensitive skin, Revitalise+ for tired skin and Deep

Clean+ for oily skin. We’ve picked out its Sensitive+ Moisturiser (£8.99,

50ml), because it absorbs quickly and isn’t greasy; its Hydrate+ Post

Shave Balm (£5.49, 100ml), because it reduces irritation and soothes;

and its Revitalise+ and Sensitive+ Shave Gels (both £3.49, 200ml)

because they help prevent razor burn and leave skin smooth. boots.com

Jack Black

This exfoliating Body Rehab Scrub and Muscle Soak (£24.50, 403g),

Turbo Wash Energising Cleaner for Hair & Body (for £16.95, 295ml of

it will “jumpstart the body and awaken the mind”), Dry Down Friction

Free Powder (£14.95, 170g) with a talc-free formula for chafe-free

workouts, and Dragon Ice Relief & Recovery Balm (£18.50, 118ml) is all,

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66 | March 8 2013 |

Extra time Leeann Tweeden

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APIX Syndication

| 67

68 | March 8 2013 | Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Sound City

Dave Grohl provides enthusiastic

insight into US rock’s Abbey

Road – LA’s Sound City Studios –

in this lively, funny documentary.

Neil Young, Nirvana, Metallica and

many more all recorded there

and – although the dilapidated

studio closed in 2011 – the sight

of a starstruck Grohl jamming

with Paul McCartney shows the

Sound City ethos endures.

Out Monday

The Servants Klak Tik

You expect the warm, overlapped

vocals from acclaimed alt-folk

band Klak Tik. What we weren’t

expecting is each song packing

in more playful melodies than a

runaway ice cream van, as well

as taking you in just as many

unusual directions. Tracks such

as Fire Souls have the depth and

rich power to wash any lingering

Mumford out of your ears.

Out now

Side EffectsSteven Soderbergh has said that Side

Effects will be his final film before he

takes a possibly permanent break from

directing. Good news that we won’t

have to endure Ocean’s 78, but bad

news if you enjoy intense, intelligent

thrillers – and that’s what Soderbergh

has served up as his parting shot.

Side Effects stars so-hot-right-now

Rooney Mara (above) as a woman

who tries to commit suicide despite

being apparently happy at the release

of her husband from a jail stint for

insider trading. She visits psychiatrist

Jude Law and is eventually put on an

experimental new drug, which helps

dramatically. However, as the title hints,

events soon take several dark turns.

We won’t reveal all here, but safe to say

– with an A-list cast and a director who

has an almost Hitchcockian hand when

it comes to crime, sex and a coiled,

twisting plot – this psychological drama

will keep you guessing right to the end.

Out today

Willow

It was the butt

of a few jokes

(we use the

term loosely) in

Ricky Gervais’

Life’s Too Short,

but Willow is a

fun, flawed, fast-paced fantasy

and very welcome on Blu-ray

25 years after its initial release.

Warwick Davis is the eponymous

Willow: a mocked, would-be

sorcerer who has to protect an

abandoned baby, but it’s Val

Kilmer who steals the show as

an arrogant, selfish, womanising

swordsman. Must have been a

real stretch for him to play the

role. The special effects have

aged, but all-new extras from

Davis and director Ron Howard

show that its creators definitely

still have a big soft spot for it.

As do we.

Out Monday

The Next Day David Bowie

Available to stream now and

to buy from next week, the

latest offering from the Brixton

chameleon doesn’t seem the

album of a 66-year-old recluse.

After kicking off with a jaunty

guitar riff, the concise pop songs

– such as Valentine’s Day – show

Bowie hasn’t lost his way. It’s no

Low, but it’s a better high than

we had any right to expect.

Out Monday

Aping the Beast

Camden Arts Centre

If this is modern art – a towering,

Godzilla-like monster puppet

handmade in latex – well, count

us in. This new, free-to-visit

project from British artist Serena

Korda is focused on fears of the

unknown. It consists of two films,

a series of performances and this

four-metre-tall behemoth. Pop

along and take it some Chewits.

Opens today

Film Blu-ray

DVD MusicMusic Exhibition

SouND AND ViSioN

ET Entertainment Jude Law and Rooney Mara serve up a visual treat, while

David Bowie proves there’s life in the old diamond dog yet