Pride at stake for Brits as Sarries hooker goes head-to-head with fellow Boks
-13.
Main man: Ulster rely heavily on Pienaar's creativity
Brits said: ‘I’ve been blessed with no injuries, and for the first time in two years I don’t feel over-played.
‘The club look after us unbelievably well and in return all we can do is to work very, very hard on the pitch.
‘That’s not been flashy. If it means making 20 tackles or hitting 20 rucks to ensure we win then that’s what we will do.’
We need Henry to coach at Arsenal, says shareholder Usmanov
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UPDATED:
22:47 GMT, 13 December 2012
Billionaire shareholder, Alisher Usmanov, has insisted Thierry Henry should join Arsenal's coaching staff.
It comes following the club's
shameful quarter-final exit of the Capital One Cup at the hands of
League Two Bradford on Tuesday.
Dream team: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Gunners legend Thierry Henry
Wenger is contracted to the Gunners until 2014 and is under no danger of losing his job after being handed the full backing of majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and the board.
But Sportsmail highlighted the growing tensions between Wenger and assistant manager Steve Bould over their working relationship.
And Usmanov, who owns a 29 per cent stake in the club and is still fighting for a place on the Arsenal board, is known to think Wenger needs more help within his coaching set-up.
The Russian, 59, says French striker Henry has a 'more important role' than just to return as a player when he comes to the club on loan from New York Red Bulls next month. He said: 'I don't have any powers in terms of decisions at the club but there are a few players with whom I am in contact.
'My favourite is probably Thierry Henry. Thierry should be involved at the club but not as a player. He has another role to play, a more important role.
'Take Patrick Vieira at Manchester City. He is also a symbol of Arsenal but he is helping another club.
We have to avoid that with Thierry. The presence of a champion can radically change the soul of a team.
'That is what Thierry showed last year when he came back to Arsenal but I think that comebacks only succeed once. That's why I think the decision to come back belongs only to Thierry.'
After two successive European failures, Maicon backs City to become a Champions League force
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UPDATED:
09:43 GMT, 3 December 2012
Manchester City full-back Maicon is certain the club is destined for Champions League success.
City have again failed to impress in Europe’s elite competition this season and are condemned to a group stage exit for a second successive year.
But Maicon, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, believes it is only a matter of time before the Barclays Premier League winners crack it in Europe.
A European force: Maicon believes Manchester City can succeed in the Champions League in future years
The Brazil international said: 'There is nothing missing at City.
'It is a great club and is working to get better in the Champions League. You can see us progressing on a monthly basis.
'The club is growing all the time, and sooner or later City will win the Champions League because everyone is working for that.
'The big difference is that here you have to play in the Premier League as well as trying to do well in the Champions League. It is a very different competition.
'They are great players here, but they need more experience of the Champions League.
Getting close: Maicon says City are not far from being a very good team
'You have to tune in to playing in Europe, as it is very different to playing in your home league.'
City face Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion in the final Group D match of their doomed campaign this week.
Although qualification is no longer at stake for either side – the Germans are already confirmed as group winners – City can still secure the consolation of a place in the Europa League.
Crashing out: City failed to get past the group stages for the second year in a row
To do that they will need to win and hope that Ajax fail to secure maximum points from their trip to Real Madrid.
Maicon said: 'We are playing for pride on Tuesday, but also for practical reasons, because we want to carry on playing in Europe, even if it is not in the top competition.
'The Europa League is important to us, so we need to try to stay in Europe until the end of the season if we can.'
Maicon is now starting to find a role at City after being hampered by a foot injury following his August arrival from Inter.
The 31-year-old has started four of the last five games and feels City’s attacking philosophy fits his game well.
He said: 'I am enjoying life in Manchester – everything’s fine. I am a family man so the first thing that is important to me I that my family is okay.
'When they are settled, as they are now, my mind is only on training.
'I am training very well, to contribute to the team.
'The team is full of quality players, and the way City play they give the full-backs the ball and get them to attack. This suits my game.
'I am only sorry that I couldn’t contribute at the start of the season because of my injury.
'Little by little I am getting back to my best, and trying to add something to the team.'
We are Wimbledon! Fans stake claim for 'real Dons' tag during FA Cup grudge match
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UPDATED:
13:39 GMT, 2 December 2012
As the MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon battled it out on the field in their FA Cup grudge match, both sets of fans did likewise in the stands.
The two sides met for the first time at stadium:mk, nine years after Wimbledon moved 54 miles to Milton Keynes and 10 years after AFC Wimbledon were formed.
The build-up to the clash surrounded the fight over who can lay claim to the achievements of the original 'Dons' and that trend continued on Sunday afternoon.
Clash: Both AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons claim to be the true heirs to the original Wimbledon side
Despite threatening to boycott the match, AFC Wimbledon fans packed into the stadium although the promised radiation suits looked to be absent.
The visiting fans want MK Dons to drop the second part of their name but their supporters made it clear they have no intention of ceding to that request.
Making a point: A banner was flown over the stadium in support of AFC Wimbledon
Up in arms: AFC Wimbledon fans made their feelings towards their hosts clear
Hitting back: MK Dons fans responded to the jibes from the visiting fans
Lambert warns Bent he could be dropped with Villa striking rivals in fine form
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UPDATED:
21:00 GMT, 28 September 2012
Darren Bent has been warned that his 24m price tag is no protection against the axe.
Aston Villa's club record signing heads into Saturday's derby with fourth-placed West Brom with doubts about his place following Gabriel Agbonlahor's two-goal show at the Etihad Stadium.
Agbonlahor seized the opportunity to partner Villa's new 8m signing Christian Benteke against Manchester City with aplomb.
Threat: Darren Bent's place is not set in stone
With Bent having scored twice in five appearances so far this season, the England international finds himself under pressure for his place.
The striker was omitted from Roy Hodgson's last squad and manager Paul Lambert says that the fact Villa have spent so much money on Bent does not mean he is an automatic choice.
'Everyone is in the same boat here,' said the Scot, 'I've got no favourites. I have a group of players I trust, no matter who I play.
'It doesn't matter to me who is worth what. It's about who performs on a given day or who is performing. We have to get a winning team.
'I'm trying to create a vibe where if you don't perform, there's someone there. It's the only way to get the best out of people.
'And from what I've seen so far this season, Gabby is an absolute handful. For him, the secret will be sustaining that.
'The other night, he was excellent. He is adaptable and he can do that. But once he gets his head down with the ball in front of him, there's not too many who can stop him.
Stake a claim: Gabriel Agbonlahor is in impressive form
'What finishes his game off is the goals, like the two he scored the other night.'
Lambert spent 8m to secure Benteke – a forward who created a good impression on his full debut and against top-quality defenders against Manchester City.
It could be that he throws all three of his forwards into the side to face his erstwhile St Mirren team-mate Steve Clarke's Baggies on Sunday.
Tussle: Christian Benteke is also trying to make his case
'Gabby could play with Bent,' added Lambert, 'I don't think there is a problem with that. They are both very good players.
'And we finished the game against Southampton with Gabby, Darren and Christian on the pitch, so I've got that option as well. If it's one I think is right for Sunday, I could do that.'
Chelsea closer to discovering Club World Cup semi-final for latest shot at glory
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UPDATED:
13:59 GMT, 24 September 2012
Chelsea will face Mexican side Monterrey or the winners of the Asian Champions League in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in December.
The Blues, who qualified for the tournament after they were crowned European champions last May, will continue their bid to succeed Barcelona as Club World Cup champions on December 13 in Yokohama, Japan.
The draw, made by FIFA on Monday, pitted Monterrey against the team representing Asia – who will not be known until the final of the Asian Champions League on November 10 – in the quarter-final stage, with a meeting with Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea at stake.
Trophy time: Chelsea can add to their silverware collection
The other quarter-final will see the champions of Africa face the winners of a play-off between the winners of the Japan's football championship and New Zealand's Auckland City.
The winners of that match will face South American champions Corinthians in the other last-four game ahead of the final on December 16.
Gatland vows to be tough on discipline as Wales chief is unveiled as Lions boss
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UPDATED:
22:55 GMT, 4 September 2012
The Lions will use England’s World Cup controversies as a cautionary tale about the need to avoid damaging off-field episodes during next summer’s tour of Australia.
Once the formal appointment of Warren Gatland as head coach had been confirmed in London on Tuesday, attention turned to his vision – and that of the other members of the Lions hierarchy – on how to make the class of 2013 successful Down Under.
Scroll down for video
Aussie rules: Wales coach Gatland will lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Oz
A vital factor was the ability to
steer clear of the kind of trouble which stalked Martin Johnson’s
England team during their stay in New Zealand a year ago. That campaign
degenerated amid a torrent of unseemly sagas involving heavy drinking,
dwarf- tossing and ferry-jumping.
‘Those are massively important
things,’ said Gatland, when asked about discipline. ‘Our conduct on and
particularly off the field will be paramount. We’re all aware of what
happened in the World Cup (with England). It is important we address
that and try not to get ourselves into any trouble off the field.’
Tour manager Andy Irvine was emphatic
in his belief that in Gatland the Lions have the best man for the job.
Yet he made a special point about professional conduct and the Kiwi’s
track record in enforcing it.
‘It is a problem,’ said Irvine. ‘In
the amateur days, some of the antics were probably worse. But these
players are professionals, they have their reputations at stake, the
reputations of their clubs, their countries and the Lions. They have a
huge responsibility. We also know that some of them will be targeted.
‘It is something Warren is to be
congratulated on. Wales have had one or two interesting moments in years
gone by but they have had an exemplary record in the last two years.’
Into battle: Tour manager Andy Irvine with Lions head coach Gatland at the announcement
Lions Tour Fixtures 2013
Barbarians – June 1, Hong Kong
Western Force – June 5, Perth
Queensland Reds – June 8, Brisbane
Comb NSW-Queensland Country – June 12, Newcastle
NSW Waratahs – June 15, Sydney
ACT Brumbies – June 18, Canberra
Australia – June 22, Brisbane
Melbourne Rebels – June 25, Melbourne Jun
Australia – June 29, Melbourne
Australia – July 6, Sydney
One of Gatland’s more pressing
problems is the French-based players facing a fixture clash. There are
several prominent Welshmen with Top 14 clubs — Gethin Jenkins at Toulon
and Mike Phillips at Bayonne, James Hook and Luke Charteris at
Perpignan and Lee /09/04/article-2198066-008E396900000258-899_634x466.jpg” width=”634″ height=”466″ alt=”Revenge: The Lions – under Sir Graham Henry and Martin Johnson – lost the 2001 series 2-1″ class=”blkBorder” />
Revenge: The Lions – under Sir Graham Henry and Martin Johnson – lost the 2001 series 2-1
Warren Gatland- factfile
1963: Born September 17 in Waikato, New Zealand
1986: Made his debut for Waikato in the New Zealand provincial championship as a hooker, having switched from a number eight at the age of 21.
1988: Helped Waikato beat the touring Wales team and won his first All Blacks call-up, for the tour to Australia in 1988 and became a regular in the squad.
1994: Retired from playing having made a record number of appearances for Waikato (140) and 17 for the All Blacks, although he never won a Test cap, with his path blocked by Shaun Fitzpatrick.
1996: Coached Connacht for two seasons.
1998: Appointed Ireland head coach.
2001: Appointed Wasps director of rugby and kept the club in the Premiership.
2003: Wasps won Premiership title and Parker Pen European Shield.
2004: Wasps won Premiership title and the Heineken Cup.
2005: Wasps won Premiership title.
2006: Coached Waikato to the New Zealand provincial championship.
2007: Appointed Wales head coach, replacing Gareth Jenkins after Wales had crashed out in the pool stages of the World Cup.
2008: Coached Wales to the Six Nations, including their first win against England at Twickenham for 20 years.
2009: Appointed British and Irish Lions forwards coach for the tour of South Africa. The Lions were beaten 2-1.
2010: Signed a new four-year contract with the Welsh Rugby Union that included a sabbatical to cover the summer of 2013.
2011: Coached Wales to the semi-finals of the World Cup, their best performance since the inaugural tournament in 1987.
2012: Wales won their second Grand Slam in Gatland's tenure.
September 4 – Confirmed as British and Irish Lions head coach for 2013 tour of Australia.
Cash-strapped Rangers keen on Ashley investment as Green confirms Toon chief's interest
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UPDATED:
11:31 GMT, 10 August 2012
Rangers chief executive Charles Green is hopeful Mike Ashley will become one of three billionaire investors in newco Rangers.
Newcastle owner Ashley is interested in buying a stake in the Irn-Bru Third Division Club along with two other significant investors.
And when asked whether the Sports Direct magnate will invest in the club, Green told Sky Sports News: 'Hopefully, yes.'
Opportunity: Newcastle owner Mike Ashley wants a piece of the Rangers pie
Staying positive: Ally McCoist continues to fight against the tide at Rangers
Meanwhile, Craig Beattie has denied his wage demands were responsible for a proposed move to Rangers falling through.
The former Celtic and Hearts striker held talks with McCoist and Green over a move to the Irn-Bru Third Division club.
But Rangers signed forwards Francisco Sandaza and Kevin Kyle and Beattie's move did not materialise, with the Scotland international claiming Green did not share McCoist's enthusiasm for a deal to be done.
Beattie told the Daily Record: 'There seems to be a perception the deal fell through because I was holding out for more money – and that could not be further from the truth.
'I was prepared to drop down the divisions not to make a fast buck but because I wanted to be a part of something big.
'I wanted to play my part in getting Rangers back to the top of the Scottish game.'
Beattie added: 'I spoke to Ally and was under the impression he really wanted me on board and that excited me. But in the end, it became obvious he and Green were not on the same wavelength. I don't want to say any more than that.'
Nevin clings on to beat Fierro to move within one fight of gold medal for Ireland
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UPDATED:
22:18 GMT, 5 August 2012
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LIVE RESULTS |
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MEDALS TABLE
Ireland's John Joe Nevin will add an Olympic medal to the two World Championship bronzes he has already won after beating Mexico's Oscar Valdez Fierro 19-13 in their Olympic bantamweight quarter-final.
The Mullingar man survived a final round knockdown to see off his aggressive opponent and book a semi-final clash against Cuba's top seed Alvaro Estrada on Friday with a place in the Olympic final at stake.
Nevin dedicated his win to his cousin David, who died in February at the age of 25.
John Joe Nevin (right) survived a final round knock down to progress
He said: 'He was meant to be here and I'd like to thank him. He always told me I was the best in the world. He inspired me to get into boxing.'
Nevin started the fight on the back-foot, enjoying some success picking off the former World Youth champion's crude advances, but the pair were locked at 5-5 after the first, and the Mexican started the second well.
Up you get: Nevin was seconds away from losing the fight
All smiles: Nevin looked delighted after he beat Oscar Valdez Fierro
The Irishman struggled to regain his pose as the Mexican began relying on heavy right hands, but Nevin's excellent movement blocked the majority of shots and his more patient approach saw him edge into a three point lead.
Nevin was forced to cling on to see the bout out after being dropped and clearly winded by a left hook to the body, but the judges rewarded his cleaner work and a clearly emotional Nevin celebrated in style.
He added: 'I got back from Beijing and hung on for four more years when some lads wanted me to go professional. I'd trade the two bronzes I've got for an Olympic medal. Hopefully I can turn it into a different colour now.'
Lerner to sell stake in NFL side… but Villa chief tells Lambert not to expect transfer boost
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UPDATED:
13:13 GMT, 28 July 2012
Owner: Lerner is giving up his stake in the Browns
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is selling a 70 per cent controlling stake in his NFL team Cleveland Browns which is set to make him 600million.
But the American has told Villa boss Paul Lambert not to expect a healthy transfer kitty ahead of his first campaign with the Midlands club.
Lambert has spent only once this summer, with Matthew Lowton arriving on a 3m deal from Sheffield United.
Lerner has been forced to cool spending at Villa Park after running up an 80m wage bill.
The businessman took control of the
Browns when his father Al died in 2002 – the NFL outfit failing to make
the play-offs since then.
Lerner is speaking to Tennessee-based businessman Jimmy Haslam over selling his stake in the Browns.
Pre-season: Aston Villa are touring North America