SEEN Sport Magazine Issue No. 1

SPORT MAGAZINE

SEEN

ISSUE NO. 1 APRIL/MAY 2010

www.seensportmagazine.com

1ST ISSUE

CARL FROCH

“WIN BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY”

+ ANDRE WARD DAN CARTER LIONEL MESSI GRAND SLAM SPECIAL WORLD CUP 2010 FEATURE

A

warm welcome to the first issue of SEEN Sport Magazine!

SEEN is a free online magazine that combines our passion for sport and photography.

It is all too often that we read the same content and view the same photos across all media sent via wire services.

SEEN offers a voice and a platform to our contributors to share their unique talents with sport fans who want to read original content and view fantastic sport photography that is not always SEEN in the mainstream.

SEEN

We kick start this issue with the ground breaking Showtime Super Six Boxing Series and interview two of it’s contenders, Super Middleweight World Champions Carl Froch and Andre Ward.

Publisher Seen Sport Magazine +44 (0)208 133 8696 www.seensportmagazine.com

We also catch up with All Blacks star Dan Carter who is back to record breaking form and excited about facing Grand Slam winners, France, in next year’s Rugby World Cup. In anticipation of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, we showcase stunning images of the stadia where all the action will take place and finish off with the world’s greatest football player, Lionel Messi.

Editor Karen Reid editor@seensportmagazine.com Picture Editor Eoin Mundow pictures@seensportmagazine.com Photographers Eoin Mundow Alexis Cuaresma Jed Wee Matthew Ashton Cesar Cebolla Justin McKie

We hope you enjoy this first issue and would like to thank all the athletes, their press teams and our contributors that have supported us in our launch.

We look forward to bringing you more great features, interviews and stories from the sporting world and of course fantastic photography!

SEEN TEAM

Art Director Karen Reid Advertising Sales Eoin Mundow eoin@seensportmagazine.com License Images Contact Cleva Media for all image licensing requests. pictures@clevamedia.com www.clevamedia.com

ON THE COVER CARL FROCH PHOTO BY JED WEE/CLEVA MEDIA

ISSUE 1 MA Y-JUNE 201 0 04 CARL FROCH

Ahead of his WBC Super Middleweight fight in Denmark against Mikkel Kessler. Carl “The Cobra” Froch reveals his thoughts on his critics, Joe Calzaghe, Andre Dirrel and what the Showtime Super Six series means to his legacy.

14 ANDRE WARD

The new star of American boxing gives us a frank interview on his rise to boxing superstardom, his quest to become undisputed Super Middleweight Champion and cleaning up the image of boxing.

22 WORLD CUP 2010 STADIA

With just over six weeks to go before the FIFA 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa. SEEN Sport Magazine contributor Matthew Ashton captures some stunning images of the World Cup Stadiums.

44 DAN CARTER

The record breaking All Blacks Fly half discusses life in France, his comeback from injury and his hopes for the future with the All Blacks ahead of the IRB Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

48 THE GRAND SLAM 2010

A photographic feature capturing a historic night at the Stade De France as ‘Les Bleus’ claim their ninth Six Nations title against arch rivals England.

54 LIONEL MESSI

Barcelona’s midfield maestro shares his thoughts on his mesmerising performance against Arsenal at the Nou Camp in the Champions League and the comparisons between him and Cristiano Ronaldo.

CARL FROCH

‘HOW CAN CALZAGHE GIVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO BEAT ME WHEN HE LOST HIS BOTTLE AND DIDN’T WANT TO FIGHT ME!’

Photo by Jed Wee/Cleva Media

Interview by Eoin Mundow

R O F T H G FI

T C E P S E R

Avoided by Joe Calzaghe and battling against the odds to gain the recognition that he deserves, Carl “The Cobra” Froch has traveled a long and arduous road on the way to becoming Super Middleweight Champion.

Seen Sport Magazine caught up with Carl Froch for an exclusive interview to discuss his upcoming fight in Denmark on April 24th with former Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler and his career so far.

THE SHOWTIME SUPER SIX TOURNAMENT GIVES YOU THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT THE BEST SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS OF YOUR ERA. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CONCEPT?

Excellent, good concept, a good opportunity for all these fighters who are serious in boxing to compete against each other at top level and all the World Championship belts are on the line (except the IBF belt held by Lucian Bute), a great concept unique!

DO YOU FEEL THIS GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH YOURSELF AS ONE OF BRITAIN’S BEST EVER FIGHTERS AND PROVE YOUR CRITICS WRONG?

I don’t really care less about the critics if I’m totally honest.

I’ve got plenty of positive fans that follow me all over the World, so I don’t see that I have to put myself in a position to do anything to prove the critics wrong. I’m world champion, undefeated, defending world champion, I’ve defended it again, you’ll never ever please critics, so I don’t think this tournament will do anything to please critics at all.

HAVE YOU CHANGED ANYTHING IN YOUR TRAINING CAMP OR SPARRING TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE CHANGE IN STYLE OF YOUR OPPONENT?

Robert McCracken is performance director training the Olympic hopefuls for the 2011 games. Win by any means necessary, whatever it takes!

Kessler likes to box and he likes to jab, he will probably throw 40 jabs and two right hands. So I know what he’s gonna try and do, he’s gonna keep me at range try and outbox me. That’s every boxers plan A. All fighters at top level want to move and not get hit. But you know I’m gonna box myself, but if it comes down to it, which it probably will I’ll stand there and have a fight with him, toe to toe!

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF ANDRE WARD’S FIGHT MIKKEL KESSLER, WERE YOU SHOCKED BY THE RESULT OR DID KESSLER UNDER PERFORM ON THE NIGHT?

I think he was getting outboxed anyway. He was being conclusively outboxed, but the cuts hindered him. I mean it was a problem the cuts, bleeding in the eye and then he got adrenaline in the eye, so that affects your vision gives you tunnel vision. It’s not an ideal scenario to be in when you defending your world title.

You can’t hold it too much against Kessler, but he was getting conclusively outboxed. He was being beaten and probably would have lost anyway.

MIKKEL KESSLER HAS A LOT TO PROVE AFTER

You always try to bring in relative sparring to accommodate LOSING TO ANDRE WARD, DOES THIS MAKE HIM A for the style, but you never really get the style bang on, but MORE DANGEROUS PROPOSITION? I’ve got some good sparring. I’m down at the Institute of Sport and excellence in Sheffield. My trainer It’s last chance saloon for him now. He’s gonna come and 6

Photo by Jed Wee/Cleva Media

‘ANDRE DIRREL IS A BIT OF A BITCH AND RUNS ALONG, BUT THAT’S JUST HIS STYLE’

Not much really. I got hit with that many bloody shots, I got a bit of amnesia. I watch the fight now and can’t remember round after round, I think I was slightly concussed!

I hope he does help him because it will be more of a hindrance. How can Calzaghe give any advice on how to beat me when he lost his bottle and didn’t want to fight me!

He’s got no shout really saying he’s gonna help Kessler.

How does Joe Calzaghe know how to beat Carl Froch?

How is that possible?

Andre Dirrel is a bit of a bitch and runs along, but that’s just his style, his got no confidence. He’s got very fast hands; he’s an Olympic medalist.

Jermain Taylor what he achieved beating Bernard Hopkins twice is unbelievable at Middleweight, undisputed champion, great, great fighter.

SINCE IT’S INCEPTION IN 1984, THE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP HAS HAD SOME VERY DISTINGUISHED CHAMPIONS SUCH AS THOMAS HEARNS, SUGAR RAY LEONARD, NIGEL BENN, STEVE COLLINS, CHRIS EUBANK, AND ROY JONES. HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE FARED AGAINST THESE FIGHTERS? DO FEEL YOU WOULD HAVE HELD YOUR OWN AGAINST THEM?

Yeah, definitely! Eubank and Benn were both proud strong champions but quite basic boxers. Boxing wise I’m not renowned for being a boxer, but I can box, I’ve got a lot have a real go and try and snatch the title off me. It’s his of skills. last chance so I’m probably gonna get the best of Kessler!

Sugar Ray Leonard, great fighter! I could have definitely IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT JOE CALZAGHE mixed at top level, 100%. I’ve proven that I can mix at top PLANS TO HELP MIKKEL KESSLER BEAT YOU, WHAT level with the fights that I’ve won and I’ve defended my DO YOU MAKE OF THIS? title a couple of times against top fighters.

DOES IT ANNOY THAT HE NEVER GAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY; DO YOU THINK HE WAS SCARED?

The only person I would have struggled badly against was Roy Jones Jnr he was just phenomenal! At his peak time when he was 26 and Undisputed Super MiddleYeah he was scared. He didn’t want to fight me; he gave weight Champion he was just too quick for everybody, you up the title rather than defend it. We all know the story and couldn’t hit the guy and he probably would have been too then he got bit in the arse cause he fought Bernard Hopkins quick for me to be honest. and never got paid for the fight. He would have earned a That would have been a difficult one, but who knows, I fortune fighting me and instead he made nothing fighting might have bulldozed him, used my granite chin, and took Hopkins! He’s a bit thick isn’t he Calzaghe! some of his fast shots to get some of mine off. He’s been knocked out a couple of times; I might have knocked him DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE GOOD TO HAVE A COMout who knows?

MON OPPONENT IN MIKKEL KESSLER SO THE PUBLIC CAN JUDGE WHO IS THE BETTER FIGHTER – FROCH OR CALZAGHE?

We had that before with Robin Reid. Joe Calzaghe lost to Robin Reid and lost the decision. Stopped Robin Reid in five rounds, but then your gonna get the same scenario, Robin Reid wasn’t the fighter he was when he fought you.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE NIGHT WHEN YOU WON THE TITLE IN AN EPIC WAR AGAINST JEAN PASCAL?

FINALLY, WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION FOR THE KESSLER FIGHT?

I reckon I can get him out of there if I get my game plan right and concentrate for the duration of each round, what I’ve got planned I think I can stop him. A mid to late stoppage, break him down, stick on him and have a fight with him late on and get him out of there. Get three points in the Super Six to add to my two points!

Photo by Justin McKie

Carl Froch celebrates after dramatically stopping Jermain Taylor in the 12th ro

ound during their WBC Super Middleweight Championship bout at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on 25th April 2009. Photo by Justin McKie

ANDRE WARD

‘I’M A VERY HUMBLE INDIVIDUAL AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE MISREAD THAT, THEY TAKE MY MEEKNESS FOR WEAKNESS’

Photo by Alexis Cuaresma

Interview by Eoin Mundow

‘SON OF GOD’ Following a drought in new talent coming through the amateur ranks in the USA, a shining star appeared in Athens 2004 when Andre Ward became only the second Olympic Goldmedalist since 1996. Now a professional for six years and having become the newly crowned WBA Super Middleweight Champion whilst beating Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler in the Showtime Super Six Series, can Andre “SOG” Ward become the saviour of US boxing?

WHAT OR WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A BOXER?

It was my father Frank Ward. He boxed at his high school in a city called San Bruno and he basically would tell me a lot of war stories that he had from his rivals in other schools and just how he would get prepared for big fights. I wanted to be like my father, you know he was the male role model in my life.

My first love was baseball, I love baseball and still do today, but I wanted to try my hand a boxing and I just told my Dad one night that “Dad I’m gonna give it a shot” and you know I made a commitment to him that if I did it, that I was going to stick with it and I wasn’t going to quit it if it got hard. I made that commitment at nine years old and I’ve been at it ever since.

COMPARISONS HAVE BEEN MADE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND FELLOW OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS OSCAR DE LA HOYA AND SUGAR RAY LEONARD. BOTH OF THESE FIGHTERS HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH IN THEIR CAREERS, DO YOU FEEL ANY PRESSURE TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE FANS OR THE MEDIA?

I always want to put on a great performance and hope that I have a great career and that the media and the fans can talk about me for a long time. I don’t think their expectations put any added pressure on me, I set the bar very high for myself, my coach Virgil (Virgil Hunter) sets the bar very high and we have high standards and I don’t really think that anyone’s standards can exceed ours!

16

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE EVENTUAL WINNER OF THE SUPER SIX TOURNAMENT?

It would be a tremendous feat, it would be another notch on my belt , it would just be an awesome feeling and it goes beyond just winning a World Championship because this is obviously a tournament setting and there’s multiple champions and a former champion. Allan Green is the only one that hasn’t had champion status, but everyone else is either a champion or a former champion, so to be able to beat all these guys and to be the last man standing in a tournament with this much recognition would do wonders for my career, but also personally would be something that I would cherish forever.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR ALLAN GREEN? HE HAS BEEN QUITE OUTSPOKEN FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION OF YOUR FIGHT?

Ha, ha, ha (laughs) .. Allan Green is gonna be Allan Green, I’m gonna be Andre Ward and I think you know me being Andre Ward at the end of the day is going to get the job done.

One thing about this sport is, that you can do the talking, but at the end of the day we have a date. He and I have a date to dance and to take care of business, so he’s gonna have to put up! It’s not about the talking anymore, so you know I’m not the type to let anyone walk over me, but I’m a very humble individual and I think that sometimes people misread that, they take my meekness for weakness! But that’s ok because I’m a show or tell kinda

Photo by Alexis Cuaresma

guy, I was raised that way, hey man, keep your mouth closed, put in the work and just go handle your business.

So that’s just who I am.

title and he’s shown already in his career that coming off a defeat he can comeback and win a title, so he’s already proven that.

IN THE NEXT ROUND YOU WILL FACE FELLOW OLYMPIAN AND FRIEND ANDRE DIRREL, WILL IT BE DIFFICULT TO BE PUT YOUR FEELINGS TO ONE SIDE WHEN YOU FIGHT?

Yet again, I don’t think he has that many miles on him, he put up a good fight against me and we all know he put up a good fight against Joe Calzaghe. So he’s gonna be very motivated, he seems to have made some changes in his training camp, he seems to be revived, so I’m leaning towards Kessler. But, I definitely know that Carl Froch is going to be in the fight and it’s not going to be an easy fight for Mikkel Kessler, but I believe he will come away with the victory.

Well I say this, it will never be easy to fight a friend or someone you know, it’s just not a normal thing you’re supposed to do. So it will definitely be difficult, I think if it came down to it we would put friendship to one side and take care of business and at the end of the night I don’t think there would be any bad feelings.

But obviously, I have a tough task in front of me, Dirrel has obviously dealt with the Abraham. (Andre Dirrel won via 11th round DQ) He is just sitting and waiting, but right now I have a lot to focus on and I will cross that bridge when it comes.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ANDRE DIRREL’S FIGHT WITH ARTHUR ABRAHAM AND WAS THE REFEREE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY ARTHUR ABRAHAM? THERE WERE LOTS OF COMMENTS IN THE BOXING MEDIA AND ON FORUMS THAT ANDRE DIRREL WAS FEIGNING INJURY.

I think he (Arthur Abraham) took a shot, you know a cheap shot, I really do. I think that Andre Direll put on a masterful performance. I thought he answered a lot of critics, I thought he matured a lot in the fight with Abraham.

As far as the foul, I’ve watched it several times in slow motion, I’ve watched it in regular speed and Abraham clearly looked down at Dirrel and he took a swipe at him and it cost him dearly.

I don’t think people can say that Dirrel was faking. I was personally there and Dirrel did not remember what happened, he really didn’t think he had been knocked out at all.

ON APRIL 24TH IN DENMARK, THERE’S ANOTHER BIG FIGHT BETWEEN CARL FROCH AND YOUR FORMER OPPONENT MIKKEL KESSLER, WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN AND WHY?

My pick is Mikkel Kessler. I think he is more polished and has more tools in his tool box and I think he is going to be victorious because he’s very motivated to retain the 18

CARL FROCH WON A CONTROVERSIAL DECISON AGAINST ANDRE DIRREL. WHAT WERE YOU THOUGHTS ON THEIR FIGHT. DO YOU THINK CARL FROCH WAS LUCKY TO COME AWAY WITH THE WIN?

I think he was very lucky to come away with the win. I mean you know people can’t highlight what Dirrel was doing and justify him losing for that. What I mean is that Dirrel didn’t do much in that fight, but Carl Froch didn’t do much in that fight. The number of punches landed from either guy was very, very low and the fight could have gone either way.

If you noticed before the decision was announced Carl Froch was on his knees, just like Dirrel was on his knees, hoping (chuckle) to get his hand raised. You know he definitely felt like the fight was close and he should be happy he got away with the victory!

‘I JUST WANT TO IMPACT OUR SPORT IN AS POSITIVE A MANNER AS I CAN BECAUSE OUR SPORT GETS A LOT OF BAD PRESS’

Andre Ward catches Mikkel Kessler on his way to becoming WBA Super Middleweight Champion.Photo by Alexis Cuaresma

Photo by Alexis Cuaresma

THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE OTHER PROMOTERS IN THE TOURNAMENT ABOUT YOU HAVING HOME ADVANTAGE FOR YOUR FIGHTS. DOES IT WORRY YOU IF YOU HAVE TO COME AND FIGHT IN EUROPE? FOLLOWING THE DIRREL V FROCH FIGHT DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD GET A FAIR SHAKE?

You know, it’s tough to say. I think with the Andre Dirrel and Arthur Abraham situation and me beating Mikkel Kessler that they are not too fond of us (laughs) across the pond right now. So I don’t know what kind of shake we would get.

I’m always open to fight wherever I have to fight; you know I don’t have to fight at home. A lot of people have made a big fuss about me fighting at home, but that’s just the way the contract was negotiated and I was aware of it, but it wasn’t really a demand that I made, it was just something my team went forth and made happen.

So I’m not gonna apologise about that, but you know I think from what I hear the semi-finals and final are going to be on neutral ground, so I have no problem doing what I have to do to ultimately get that silver cup.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CARL FROCH AS A FIGHTER AND HOW WOULD YOU COMBAT HIS STYLE WHEN AND IF YOU FIGHT?

Well I think Froch should be respected, anybody should be respected if they win a championship and he’s fought a good fight against Jermain Taylor, he fought a war against Jean Pascal and came out on top, so toughness is not something you can really question when you talk about Carl Froch. But, I do think that he has some deficiencies as far as skill and he tries to make up with those deficiencies with his toughness. I don’t know how far that’s going to get him against me, but you know time will tell.

Just know though that I would love that fight, I would love that match up.

WHO POSES THE BIGGEST THREAT TO YOU IN THE SUPER SIX TOURNAMENT?

In every fight; every fighter has their own strength. So, Allan Green regardless of what you think of him personally, you know he has something he is bringing to the table. Andre Dirrel, Arthur Abraham, you know Mikkel Kessler, people say what they want to say about him, but that’s a tough Dane and he’s very skilful.

My style and my approach for the fight were just all bad

for him. Carl Froch has a lot to offer and again that’s the beauty of the tournament. There really is no weak link in my opinion.

IF YOU LOOK BEYOND THE SUPER SIX AND SHOULD YOU BE THE VICTOR WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?

I would love to move and unify with (Lucian) Bute and then afterward be a multi divisional champion, that’s my ultimate goal.

WHERE DID THE NICKNAME SOG “SON OF GOD” COME FROM AND WHO GAVE IT TO YOU?

It was a gentleman in my hometown of Oakland, he made a song for me and in the song he referenced the name and its well publicised that I am a man of faith, I am a Christian and I felt like it stuck. I felt it stuck and I use the scripture “Galatians 326” were it says, “You are all sons of God, through faith in Jesus Christ.”

So it was something I heard, I liked it, I looked it up in the bible and it stuck with me and I felt it was natural. I don’t think Terminator or Destroyer would fit with me. I think this is more something that fits with me, it speaks of my faith and a lot people seem to like the name, so hey if they like it, I love it!

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LEGACY TO BE WHEN YOU RETIRE?

Inside the ring I just want people to say that I was a humble guy, but also a fierce competitor and I fought the best and I beat the best. My goal is ultimately to finish on top undefeated, that’s my goal.

Outside the ring I want to be attracting only positive attention to the sport, someone who was a good prototype for guys coming behind me, young olympians and young fighters and I just want to impact our sport in as positive a manner as I can because our sport gets a lot of bad press, some of it is warranted, some of it isn’t and that’s just my focus. To impact boxing in a positive way and get out on top!

Andre ‘S.O.G’Ward defends his WBA Super Middleweight title in the next round of the Showtime Super Six Series against ‘Sweetness’ Allan Green at the Oracle Arena, Oakland, California on 19th June .

WORLD CUP 2010 STADIA

SOCCER CITY CITY: JOHANNESBURG CAPACITY: 94,700 E

HOST TO TH

UP FINAL

DC D THE WORL N A H C T A M OPENING

Photo by Matthew Ashton

FREE STATE STADIUM FONTEIN

CITY: BLOEM CAPACITY:

45,058

Photo by Matthew Ashton

ROYAL BAFOKENG NBURG

CITY: RUSTE CAPACITY:

44,530

Photo by Matthew Ashton

GREEN POINT CITY: CAPE TOWN CAPACITY:

66,000

Photo by Matthew Ashton

PETER MOKABA WANE

CITY: POLOK CAPACITY:

45,264

Photo by Matthew Ashton

NELSON MANDELA BAY CITY: PORT CAPACITY:

ELIZABETH

46,082

Photo by Matthew Ashton

MBOMBELA RUIT

CITY: NELSP CAPACITY:

43,589

Photo by Matthew Ashton

ELL

LIS-PARK STADIUM BURG

NES CITY: JOHAN CAPACITY:

60,000

Photo by Matthew Ashton

LOFTUS VERSFELD RIA

CITY: PRETO CAPACITY:

49,365

Photo by Matthew Ashton

MOSES MABHIDA N

CITY: DURBA CAPACITY:

69,957

Photo by Matthew Ashton

DAN CARTER

Photo by Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media

‘IT CAN BE A PRETTY LONELY PLACE, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE, BUT I THRIVE ON THAT PRESSURE’

Interview by Eoin Mundow

GET CARTER With the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand fast approaching, All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has returned from a serious injury and a six month sabbatical in France to become the record points scorer in Super 14 history and is determined to inspire his county to claim their elusive second World Cup title in 2011 on home soil.

YOU RECENTLY BECAME THE HIGHEST POINT SCORER IN SUPER RUGBY HISTORY WHEN THE CRUSADERS BEAT NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS 20-13. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BREAK ANOTHER RECORD AND HOW IS LIFE TREATING YOU SINCE YOU RETURNED TO NEW ZEALAND?

It’s good to be back, it’s all going well since I returned.

It’s great to break records, but it’s not something I set out to do. However, It will be great to look back at the records I have broken after my career has finished. So yeah, it’s pretty cool!

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLAYING IN THE SUPER 14 AND THE TOP 14/EUROPEAN RUGBY?

You have the history of French rugby and the Brennus is amazing, the Super 14 has only been going for about 15 years. I think the Super 14 is more open and attacking, with more emphasis on scoring tries.

HOW DO YOU VIEW YOUR TIME IN PERPIGNAN AND DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN FRANCE FOLLOWING YOUR SERIOUS ACHILLES INJURY?

It was great, the culture, the people. I got to travel about to Paris; Spain is only 20 minutes away. It was frustrating as I had only played five matches, but it was amazing winning the Top 14, although I was injured I still felt a part of it. I’d like to go back to France, maybe at the end of my career but that is not something I’m thinking of now.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT MENTALLY AND PHYSI CALLY TO RETURN FROM SUCH A SERIOUS INJURY?

47

It was a pretty hard time, not having suffered a serious injury up to that point it was a difficult time.

However my rehabilitation was good, I managed to get back after four months in time to start training for the Tri-Nations and winter internationals. When you’re injured you always have people asking you to try new things, but I used Synapse Tendonworks. I took it everywhere with me. I went back to New Zealand, but returned as I had a six month contract and wanted to stay on although I was not playing. I flew over the All Blacks doctor Peter Gallagher and he taught me how to walk again and got me back on my feet.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PERPIGNAN OVER RIVAL FRENCH TEAMS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SIGNING YOU?

I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and with Toulon there are a lot of Kiwis and Samoans there so I would have probably hung out with them. I really wanted to get into the culture and most of the players are French at Perpignan so I think I benefited by moving there.

MANY ALL BLACKS PLAYERS HAVE LEFT TO PLAY IN EUROPE. APART FROM YOURSELF AND LUKE MCCALLISTER WHO HAVE RETURNED, DO YOU THINK THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR ANY OTHER FORMER ALL BLACKS OR IS IT A NEW ERA IN ALL BLACKS RUGBY?

Well Chris Jack has returned from three seasons at Saracens and is playing some good footie. But I think it would be hard coming back, but you never know. We have a good group of players coming through now.

YOU HAVE RETURNED IN GREAT FORM. HAVING

Photo by Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media

Photo by Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media

PLAYED IN THE TRI-NATIONS AND THE SUCCESSFUL WINTER TOUR OF EUROPE, WHICH TEAM DO YOU FEEL WILL POSE THE MOST THREAT TO THE ALL BLACKS IN THE WORLD CUP?

Well obviously you have the Southern Hemisphere teams, although they’re not winning, Australia have a good young team and are building for the World Cup. France has a great side after winning the Six Nations and Ireland will also be a threat.

THE ALL BLACKS DEMOLISHED CURRENT SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONS FRANCE, IN MARSEILLE, WHAT IS YOUR RECOLLECTION OF THAT GAME AND DO YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME RESULT AT THE WORLD CUP?

That would be nice. We were coming off a bad Tri-Nations and we wanted to finish on a high and everything just seemed to click in that game.

DO YOU FEEL THAT THE FRENCH HAVE EMBRACED A NEW STYLE OF PLAY UNDER MARC LIEVREMONT, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON KICKING .

WILL THAT BENEFIT THEM AT THE WORLD CUP?

I think so, what with the new rule changes, I think it will help them. The game now is very tight and there isn’t much space.

KICKING HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THE MODERN GAME; IS THE PRESSURE GREATER ON YOU AS A FLY HALF AS YOU CAN ULTIMATELY WIN OR LOSE YOUR TEAM THE GAME?

I think so, it can be a pretty lonely place, I think there is a lot of pressure, but thrive on that pressure. I recently missed a kick in the last minute of the game and you feel pretty bad, but I’ve got good team mates around me. I suppose everyone in the team is trying so hard.

THE INAUGURAL WORLD CUP IN 1987 WAS COHOSTED BY NEW ZEALAND, WHO BEAT FRANCE 29–9 IN THE FINAL AT EDEN PARK. DO YOU THINK THAT AFTER SO MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT IN RECENT YEARS DURING THE WORLD CUP, THE ALL BLACKS HAVE A TEAM THAT CAN REPEAT HISTORY AND WIN THE WORLD CUP IN NZ AGAIN?

That would be great. We will be trying everything we can to win and have France in our group; it would be great to meet them in the finals. I love playing against France; it always makes for a great match!

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THE GRAND SLAM 2010

ON A WET AND TENSE NIGHT AT THE STADE DE FRANCE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS, LES BLEUS GROUND OUT A HARD FOUGHT AND PRAGMATIC 12-10 VICTORY OVER THEIR OLD RIVALS ENGLAND TO CLAIM THE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP. WITH A MIXTURE OFGUILE, GRIT AND DETERMINATION MARC LIEVREMONT’S TEAM ADOPTED A NEW APPROACH AND FINALLY ANSWERED THEIR CRITICS TO SECURE THEIR NINTH TITLE AND BUILD A TEAM TO COMPETE AT THE WORLD CUP IN 2011.

Franรงois Trinh-Duc - France v England - Stade de France - 6 Six Nations 2010. Photo by Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media

THIERRY DUSAUTOIR IN THE SCRUM

WILLIAM SERVAT PREPARES FOR A SCRUM IN HEAVY RAIN

IMANOL HARINORDOQUY PUTS IN HIS GUM SHIELD BEFORE THE MATCH

Photos by Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media

Grand Slam winners, France, celebrate winning the Six Nations 2010. Photo by Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media

MAJESTIC MESSI THE BARCA NO. 10 REFLECTS HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SCORE FOUR GOALS IN ONE MATCH? Joy. A lot of joy. I had scored three in several matches and honestly it’s a great feeling.

YOUR TEAM MATES SAY THAT YOU’VE REACHED PERFECTION… I can still get better. My team mates always support me but I hope to grow even more.

WHAT IMPORTANCE DO YOU GIVE PEP? He is very close with all of his players and that is good for us.

GETTING BACK TO ARSENAL; WAS IT WAS A COMPLICATED GAME? We knew it wouldn’t be easy and they made things even more difficult by scoring a goal. We still weren’t settled with the 3-1 score line because one goal would complicate matters again.

AND IN THE END YOU TOOK HOME ANOTHER MATCH BALL… Yep! I’ve already taken home a few balls this year.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING COMPARED WITH CRISTIANO RONALDO? I’m over being compared to him. Barca isn’t just one player, we are a team and luckily we are still alive in the Champions League.

Playing with Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta makes things that much easier. It’s fun to watch them run the midfield. I’m so happy.

And the happier I am, the better I play.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR NEW POSITION? I’m happier there because I get to participate more by coming from behind…

WHAT FINAL DO YOU HOPE FOR ON MAY 22ND? I just want Barca to be there. I’m not interested in the other teams.

Interview courtesy of - Barça TV and fcbarcelona.cat

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Argentinian legend and national team manager Diego Maradona recently commented “Leo is playing kick-about with jesus” following Lionel Messi ‘s majestic display against Arsenal at the Nou Camp in which the midfield maestro scored four goals securing his team a place in the Champions League semi final.

Lionel Messi. Photo by Cesar Cebolla

Lionel Messi. Photo by Cesar Cebolla