Sport magazine 283

Issue 283 | november 23 2012

In hIs sIghts

But can Fernando Alonso catch Sebastian Vettel in Brazil?

18

issue 283, November 23 2012 radar 09 Prints of the court

The NBA’s official art vendor (really) presents Jordan, Bryant and co in ink

10 iPad pugilists Take the sting out of your commute – and put it into your opponent’s face in Real Boxing

12 It’s mostly balls With the Huntington Baseball Co’s classic handmade replicas oFeatures this coming week

18 Down to the wire

Only Fernando Alonso can stop Sebastian Vettel from lifting the F1 title – here’s how it all ends

27 Making an entrance

We bring you the boxers who made it their business to reach the ring in style

33 Pep’s poser

Cover image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Where next for Pep Guardiola?

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has a few ideas

27

60

38 North/south divide We ask Sky’s Dewi Morris how rugby’s northern hemisphere sides can reach their southern opponents’ standards

extra Time

09

52 Gadgets A £2,200 independent lawn mower and the best gear for under £100

56 Kenda Perez The model and Best of Pride Fighting Championships host’s dad knows shito-ryu. Be nice

58 Kit

BOW LANE LONDON 48 - 51 BOW LANE EC4M 9DL

Grab a pair of sunnies and turn to our glow-in-the-dark special

60 Entertainment

Seth MacFarlane’s Ted is blue on Blu-ray, and Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena get the LAPD blues | November 23 2012 | 03

NOW OPEN AT 49-51, BOW LANE, LONDON, EC4M 9DL

Radar

p10 – Bert Le Clos’ beautiful boy is First on the big screen

p10 – Commute with Real Boxing: just don’t bite or kick anyone p12 – F1 drivers as you’ve never seen them. And one as you have

Balls to the wall O

r in this case on the wall. Your wall, to be precise. These prints, featuring basketball legends such as Michael Jordan (above) and Kobe Bryant (top left), are available to buy from rareink.com – the NBA’s official art vendor.

We think it’s a crying shame the Premier League doesn’t have an official art vendor – we know some people who would pay a lot of money for an arty rendering of Vinnie Jones

doing a number on Gazza’s balls. Most of those people are named Vinnie Jones, but still...

All this talk of balls brings us neatly back to our original topic. There are dozens of designs by a variety of artists, with new ones added regularly and fans voting for prints they’d like made available to buy.

As well as particular players, there are team-specific designs including stylised team logos, and prints are available in a range of sizes, surfaces and frames. Prices start at just $69. So, if you’d like to see some balls on your wall, get clicking. And stop sniggering. rareink.com

| November 23 2012 | 09

Radar

Road to glory R

ecognise the four London 2012 athletes to your left? Possibly not, unless you spent the summer locked into every second of Olympic coverage. They are four stars of Caroline Rowland’s official London 2012 film, First.

Showing not a minute of Mo Farah, only briefly touching on Jess Ennis and missing out Sir Chris of Hoy completely might sound preposterous, but First was never intended as a ball rub for the Games’ biggest winners.

Instead, Rowland picked 12 first-time Olympians from a range of disciplines and nations and followed them to 2012, with no idea whether they’d leave London cloaked in glory or drowning in a sea of broken dreams.

What she got was a rich mix of experiences – brought to life by the athletes as well as those closest to them.

So, yes, Chad Le Clos’ (bottom right) legendary dad Bert does feature for one more tearful celebration of his “beautiful boy.”

Take tissues.

In cinemas November 23, on DVD & Blu-Ray November 26

Appy slapping P

unching, kicking, biting – if the urge to kill becomes overwhelming on your morning commute, you can blow off steam with Real Boxing, a brand new boxing game for iOS. Smashing graphics and a satisfying control system – through which you tap for jabs and swipe left or right for left and right hooks – make for an entertaining game mechanic. And there are enough modes to fill a fair few journeys, no matter how severe the signalling problems, including quick fights, training mode mini-games, and the obligatory career mode.

In addition to swiping and tapping, you can control your fighter via the camera, Kinect style, swinging hooks and jabs in real life to make him do the same – though that’s probably not one for the train. And there’s still no kicking or biting. Sorry, Mike.

Real Boxing on iOS, from the App Store

10 | November 23 2012 |

Radar

Olden balls B

y American standards of history, at least, baseball is almost pre-historic – the first professional league was founded waaaay back in 1871.

The Huntington Baseball Co produces handmade replicas of items used in the sport’s illustrious past, including gloves, bats and – as you can see here – balls.

The collection of products spans the golden era when the sport was the nation’s pastime, before it was brusquely replaced by competitive eating and ozone depletion.

The balls tell the story of the sport, from the mish-mash of competing leagues early on to the ‘dead-ball’ era, when the same ball was used for the whole game, as in cricket, and resulted in a dearth of excitement (as in cricket...). huntingtonbaseballco.com

AmATeur leAgue 1850s - 1860s

professionAl 1870s - 1880s

“deAd” BAll 1870s

ATlAnTiC CluB 1870s

eXCelsior CluB 1870s

muTuAl CluB 1870s

AmeriCAn AssoC. 1882-1891

offiCiAl leAgue 1900s

professionAl 1910s

professionAl 1910s

federAl leAgue 1914-15

mlB BAll 2000-

Visor view

W

e actually know surprisingly little about the lives of Formula 1 drivers off the circuit, at least compared to the practitioners of most other sports. A new book looks to rectify that, and raise some money for charity, by asking F1 drivers and personalities to submit photos they’ve taken for inclusion.

There are some interesting entries – Sebastian Vettel opts for some Austrian

12 | November 23 2012 |

mountains, while Fernando Alonso takes a weirdly suggestive picture of Felipe Massa playing in the snow. Which makes Michael Schumacher’s choice (above) look even more bland – this was his chance to show his fans something new, and he chose a photo of the front of his own car, from exactly the same angle seen on TV every race. Nice one, Michael.

Through the Eyes of Formula 1 (Dennis)

Edge-to-edge blockbusters.

Edge-to-edge speed.

Edge-to-edge performance.

Say hello to the full-screen phone.

Introducing the powerful Motorola RAZR i with Intel Inside .

TM

ÂŽ

Games and applications are downloadable in Google Play for an additional cost. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Intel Inside and the Intel Inside logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Š2012 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.

Radar Editor’s letter The full Monty: England need bowlers who can take wickets, not just those capable with the bat www.sport-magazine.co.uk @sportmaguk facebook.com/sportmagazine Free iPad app available on Newsstand

Sport magazine Part of UTV Media plc 18 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJ Telephone: 020 7959 7800 Fax: 020 7959 7942 Email: firstname.lastname@ sport-magazine.co.uk

Get on the front foot England’s cricket team suddenly looks inflexible and exposed. Where did it all go wrong?

P

erhaps, when England became the number one ranked cricket team in the world, at least in Tests, we couldn’t help but get a little carried away.

The truth is that this is a very decent England side, but it is not great. It has a fine Editor-in-chief balance, but few matchwinners – other than Simon Caney in the conditions peculiar to this country. @simoncaney And there are weaknesses.

India exposed England in the First Test, but they did only what Pakistan did last winter, and what South Africa did in the summer. They just played better cricket.

Whereas England’s batting line-up seemed rock-solid not long ago, it now seems flaky. The absence of Paul Collingwood is felt keenly, which probably comes as a surprise to everyone. But where Collingwood was capable of sticking around for sessions at a time, the men with whom England have tried to replace him – the likes

of Bopara, Morgan, Bairstow and Patel – don’t have that in their armoury. They can all play shots, but cricket requires resolve too.

Collingwood could protect a tail-ender; something Morgan patently cannot do.

At the top of the order, it’s too early to comment on Nick Compton, but the middle order of Trott, Pietersen and Bell have not improved in the past two years. Frequently, when one goes, all three do.

Matt Prior, on the other hand, gets better and better – with bat and gloves – and can be considered a genuine all-rounder now.

This is in contrast to Stuart Broad, who has the ability to score plenty of runs at Test cricket, but seems unable to do so regularly.

That said, along with Swann and Bresnan, he makes a very strong tail. But somehow that all seems a bit negative, a bit ’one-day’ in the Test arena. England need to take 20 wickets and should go with the bowlers who can do that, not those who can score runs.

Wonderful to see Miguel Angel Jimenez set the record as the oldest winner on the European Tour with his victory in the Hong Kong Open at the age of 48. Jimenez was a late starter, at least in terms of real success – he didn’t make his first Ryder Cup team until he was 35. But since 2003 he has been supremely consistent, and has shown an admirable loyalty to the European Tour.

He plays with a smile on his face and enjoys himself – plenty of other sportsmen would do well to follow his lead. And, when he turns 50, the Seniors Tour had better watch out...

Later in this magazine – page 38, to be precise – we look at the problems facing northern hemisphere rugby in the wake of yet more disappointing results last weekend. The autumn internationals carry more weight this year, with World Cup seedings imminent, and so far the portents are not good at all.

Editorial Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951) Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897) Art editor: John Mahood (7860) Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861) Digital designer: Chris Firth (7624) 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) Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963) Contributor: Guillem Balague Commercial Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991) Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930) New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904) Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852) Distribution Assistant: Makrum Dudgeon Head of Online: Matt Davis (7825) Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam Bullock PA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826) Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd © UTV Media plc 2012 UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine £1 where sold Hearty thanks this week to: Emma Dowson, Nicky Higgs and Catherine Dobison for setting up a Bacardi bar in the office...

Cover of the Year

Reader comments of the week

@Fredsas7 Twitter

14 | November 23 2012 |

Ahh so PR does work.

Read @sportmaguk’s books of the year and now added Simon Jordan’s autobiography to the xmas list

A Super William Hill Sports Book of the Year summary in this weeks @Sportmaguk . Some fantastic books to read.

@philhawkins87 Twitter

@FootballLaw Twitter

@simoncaney Looking @ d records of previous players in his position, Zaha’s better off playing for The Elephants...

@xmereil Twitter

@simoncaney I’m sure that’s not right that Giggs could’ve played for Englad - I recall him saying he wasn’t eligible to play at full-level.

LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

2008

Total Average Distribution: 305,676 Jan-Jun 2012 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.

@ChipperCZ Twitter

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images

Brilliant visual in @sportmaguk. 3 Prem titles, 4 FA cups and 10 Spurs managers later, AW is still the boss

Frozen in time

Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Dead man walking By the time you read this, Mark Hughes may or may not still be the manager of Queen’s Park Rangers. After all, one day is a long time in football (and, when you’re on a Premier League manager’s wages, every day counts).

If Hughes does go any time soon – and with QPR having amassed four points from 12 games, that would not be an unreasonable suggestion – we’re putting our money on the chap on the left getting a go in the hotseat. He looks like he has some strident views on how to put things right, and is also blessed with a good pointing finger. Let’s face it, he can’t do any worse.

16 | November 23 2012 |

| 17

F1: The Decider

In the red corner Fernando alonso 31-years-old 2 World Championships 197 Grand prix 30 Wins 85 podiums 22 poles

HiTTing THe FronT Two F1 heavyweights fight it out for their third world title this weekend.

It’s Sebastian Vettel’s to lose – and only Fernando Alonso can stop him...

18 | November 23 2012 |

tHe road to victory

Fernando alonso needs to finish on the podium to have any chance of winning the title. if alonso wins in brazil, Sebastian Vettel will still take the title as long as he comes fourth or higher. if alonso comes second, Vettel can finish seventh or higher and still win. and, if the Spaniard can manage only third place, Vettel just needs to finish in the top nine and he’ll become F1’s ninth triple champion.

Roslan Rahman/AFP/GettyImages

In the blue corner SebaStian Vettel 25-yearS-old 2 World ChampionShipS 100 Grand prix 26 WinS 46 podiumS 36 poleS

F1: The Decider

“ANyThiNg CAN hAppEN AT iNTERLAgOS” Revenge will be near the front of Fernando Alonso’s mind at Interlagos on Sunday.

The battle for the drivers’ championship has gone down to the wire 27 times, most recently in 2010, when Alonso went into the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi leading the standings by 15 points ahead of a certain young German. Alonso could only finish seventh that day, watching on helplessly as Vettel won the race and drivers’ championship. And, to rub salt in the wound, the German took Alonso’s title of youngest ever Formula 1 champion with him, too.

Now 13 points behind Vettel, the Spaniard has a chance for retribution. A slim one it may be, but he’s confident. “Maybe on paper that chance is not so big, maybe 25 per cent,” he said after the US Grand Prix, “But deep down, I feel it’s much more than that. ”Clearly, if it’s dry and we have a normal race, one can expect Red Bull to be in front of everyone and us on the third or fourth row, so the more unknown factors there are, the better it is for us. Anything can happen at Interlagos and we saw again how important reliability can be, didn’t we?”

BROKEN BULLS Alonso is referring to Red Bull’s alternator problems, which have forced three retirements this season.

They are understandably nervous about the possibility of another failure on Sunday. Team principal Christian Horner told the BBC: ”It’s just a worry, full stop.

Unfortunately, it is the third alternator we’ve had and there have been others in other cars.”

Despite that problem, Horner’s team definitely have the best chance on paper, having won four of the six races since they upgraded their car in Singapore.

However, according to Sky F1 pundit Johnny Herbert, the Sao Paulo track could put the advantage back in the hands of Ferrari, and Fernando Alonso.

“I think the circuit suits him and Ferrari much more than the past five or so we’ve had,” he told Sport.

“They’ve all been these modern tracks with smooth surfaces, and the Red Bull seems to revel in those new type of tracks. Interlagos is very different – old style, old school, and it needs a different style of driving.”

Some believe that Alonso has the mental edge as well. Take Jacques Villeneuve, for example. The 1997

F1 champion told Autosprint magazine: “Seb is super quick, but there is a difference with Fernando that emerges in case of an unfavourable situation. Alonso remains calm, cool and rational, while Vettel most of the time gets upset, angry, screams and flicks the middle finger. He reacts like a child.”

‘UNKNOWN FACTORS’ We saw signs of that in Austin last weekend, as Vettel raged over the intercom after being overtaken by Lewis Hamilton. “The comments that he made last weekend were a little bit like spitting the dummy out,” says Herbert. “There are little chinks in his armour that I think Fernando has been playing on, and it hasn’t just been him. Everyone seems to be favouring Fernando over Sebastian. I think there are some mental chinks there, although he always seems to be able to do it when he gets on the track.”

“The one who seems to be much more in control seems to be Fernando, because he has that self-belief.

He keeps turning it around when it looks like it’s going to be impossible, and he keeps throwing it on the podium to keep the championship alive. That Ferrari is still not fast enough – he knows that and Ferrari know that, but he’s still been able to churn out the points.”

He also knows that even a win might not be enough – all Vettel has to do to secure the title is finish fourth or higher, something that he’s only failed to do six times in the past two years. But, according to Herbert, nothing is guaranteed – despite the Red Bull’s clear speed advantage. “They all make mistakes,” he says, “And there’s no reason why, under a certain amount of pressure in the last race, it couldn’t happen again.

It could be the weather that throws itself into the works – at the moment it could be wet. One of those guys is very good in the wet, and he’s Spanish.”

The other drivers will want to have their say, too, and could prove the ’unknown factor’ Alonso is hoping for. Lewis Hamilton is in the form of his life at the moment, and will be keen to end his 14-year relationship with McLaren on a high note. Felipe Massa, on the other hand, proved himself a team player in Austin, and “could help out Alonso in his home GP” says Herbert.

Whether it’s their engines failing, their teammates prevailing, or an intervention from above, if there’s one thing that we’ve learnt this season, it’s not to try to predict anything. We’ll definitely have a new triple world champion by Sunday evening. But beyond that, your guess is as good as ours. >

ROUND 20 bRAzIlIAN gRAND PRIx NOvembeR 25

DC: “It’s a perfect place for a season finale. When you get to a track and you see that people have been camping out overnight to get into the circuit, you know you’re in the right place.”

AD: “It’s high-altitude, 810 metres above sea level, so you haven’t got much downforce and you haven’t got much power either – so rhythm and the flow is everything to keep that momentum up. Tricky parts of the track: braking into the S-curves at the start, it’s easy to lock up the front left and make a mistake. You can ruin your qualifying lap on turn one and that’s big pressure for the drivers. You’re flat out for 14-15

20 | November 23 2012 |

seconds as you rise up the hill and DRS is effective as well round there. It’s a great circuit for overtaking and a real challenge for the drivers. It’s physically hard, lots of left handers, anti-clockwise, so the left hand side of your neck gets a real punishment. It’s quite a short circuit as well – lap times are always quite close. So, in qualifying, it is super-important to nail the lap. It’s pretty aggressive on the tyres as well.

All in all, a real brutal track, but very rewarding.”

Watch the F1 season finale with live practice, qualifying and the race on Sky Sports F1 HD SCheDuLe (gMt) SAtuRDAy noveMbeR 24 QuAlIFYINg 4Pm SunDAy noveMbeR 25 RAce 4Pm

start

LApS 71 CIRCuIt Length 4.309km RACe DIStAnCe 305.909km LAp ReCoRD 1:11.473 – JP mONTOYA (2004) 2011 ReSuLt 1 mARk WebbeR (ReD bull) 2 SebASTIAN VeTTel (ReD bull) 3 JeNSON buTTON (mclAReN)

Sport’S pReDICtIon 1 FeRNANDO AlONSO (FeRRARI) 2 leWIS hAmIlTON (mclAReN) 3 SebASTIAN VeTTel (ReD bull)

DRIveR StAnDIngS 1 SebASTIAN VeTTel (ReD bull) 2 FeRNANDO AlONSO (FeRRARI) 3 kImI RAIkkONeN (lOTuS) 4 leWIS hAmIlTON (mclAReN) 5 mARk WebbeR (ReD bull)

273 260 206 190 167

Tom Gandolfini/AFP/Getty Images

Sky Sports F1 commentators David Croft and Anthony Davidson talk us through Interlagos, the last circuit on the calendar...

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Chro n o gra p h Wo r l d Ti m e Alar m Back- l i g ht 10 B a r Wate r R e s i s t a n ce Fro m t h e N a i ro b i Co l l e c t i o n PV 4 0 0 5 X1

Paul Gilham/Getty Images, Mark Thompson/Getty Images, Vladimir Rys/Getty Images

F1 Moments of the Season

Story oF the year In among all the sporting excitement of 2012, there’s been one hell of an F1 season going on – up there, we think, with the best ever. Here are Sport’s seven season-defining moments...

1 22 | November 23 2012 |

2

1

Beauty and the BeaStS AustrAliAN GrANd Prix There were gasps of horror when this year’s cars were first unveiled. In response to new safety regulations they had all, if you listened to certain voices, been horribly disfigured, with stepped noses reminiscent of a duck’s bill. All except for McLaren, that is. They took a different route in an attempt to bridge the gap to Red Bull. The smooth-nosed MP4-27 showed it wasn’t just a pretty face with an encouraging pole position and victory for Jenson Button in the season’s opening race.

It should have been a 1-2, but a well-timed safety car allowed Sebastian Vettel to take second from Lewis Hamilton. Despite that minor blip, it was clear that McLaren had raised their game.

2

alonSo taMeS the Stallion MAlAysiAN GrANd Prix Ferrari’s car had been a nightmare in pre-season testing, with the team’s technical director Pat Fry claiming that the Italian team would struggle to challenge for podiums, let alone wins in the first few rounds. Fernando Alonso therefore deserved much credit for putting himself on the very top step in the second race of the season in Malaysia. He qualified in ninth, but made up ground quickly during a race suspended briefly because of heavy rain. He leapfrogged the McLarens – who had qualified first and second – during a round of pit stops, and then overtook the Mexican Sergio Perez, who also deserved huge credit for his second place finish. It was an entirely unexpected win for the Spaniard in

a car that many had labelled uncompetitive, and it’s testament to Alonso’s talent that Felipe Massa, in the same car, could only manage 15th place.

3

a Fiery encounter sPANish GrANd Prix There were an unprecedented seven different winners in the first seven races – none more surprising than Pastor Maldonado securing Williams’ first victory for eight years in Spain.

Although not the only maiden win of the year, the Venezuelan’s pole-to-flag victory was a strong statement that Williams are once again ready to mix it with the big boys. Joy almost turned to disaster when a fire caused by an electrical fault with a fuel rig gutted the team garage just 90 minutes after the finish. But Maldonado was again the hero of the hour – carrying his 12-year-old cousin Manuel (and his trophy) through the smoke to safety. >

3

www.policelifestyle.com

4 F1 Moments of the Season

6

4

SMaSh-up in Spa BelgiaN graNd Prix A pivotal moment in the championship at Spa, as the most chaotic crash of the season took out championship leader Alonso, along with fourth-placed Lewis Hamilton, and Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean. After his annoyance at Vettel cutting his lead to just 24 points had subsided, Alonso was probably just thankful to be alive. As Romain Grosjean and Lewis Hamilton battled into La Source hairpin they touched wheels, spinning the McLaren and launching Grosjean’s Lotus into the air and over Alonso’s front end, inches from his head. A lucky escape for the Spaniard.

5

LewiS’S raSh deciSion SiNgaPore graNd Prix A dodgy gearbox turned out to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, if you believe Martin Whitmarsh anyway. The McLaren team principal was adamant that his star Lewis Hamilton would regret his decision to move to Mercedes for next season, announced just after the Singapore Grand Prix. “It is always bad to make a decision in the aftermath of a bad race,“ he said. “He was pretty sure he was going to win that race and it was a disappointment.” Of course, it wasn’t just the one disappointment for Hamilton – his third retirement of the year had probably ended any hopes he had of winning the title.

If Whitmarsh is right, and the gearbox failure in Singapore is really what made up Hamilton’s mind, then it’s not just one of the most important moments of the season, it’s one of the most important of Hamilton’s career.

24 | November 23 2012 |

6

Tinkering wiTh The BuLL SiNgaPore graNd Prix Don’t be fooled by who pops the champagne corks on the podium – the most important person in F1 is Red Bull’s technical director Adrian Newey. The 53-year old has designed eight constructor’s championship winning cars, and he proved his worth again this season. Initially Red Bull struggled to rediscover their 2011 pace in the wake of the ban on off-throttle blown diffusers, but Newey continued to work on the car. The European Grand Prix was a sign of things to come – although Vettel was forced to retire, upgrades made to his car had given him a blistering pace advantage. Another set of upgrades arrived for Singapore and Vettel duly won the next four races, overhauling Alonso and putting himself in prime position.

He owes much to Newey and his upgrades.

7

VeTTeL STakeS hiS cLaiM aBu dhaBi graNd Prix It’s not just about the car – Vettel showed his supreme talent when forced to start from the pit lane in Abu Dhabi. A battling performance saw him fight his way up to third, with help from a safety car, which compressed the field, and Hamilton’s retirement. Although he finished just behind Alonso, the German’s podium allowed him to retain his championship lead. The Abu Dhabi race was a metaphor for Vettel’s entire season – nowhere near as dominant as he was in 2011, he managed to come from behind in the standings to take the lead at the best possible moment. But can he make it three championships in a row?

7

one oF The BeST

We asked Sky Sports F1 pundit Johnny Herbert whether this has been one of the greatest Formula 1 seasons of all time...

“In my lifetime, yes. At the beginning of the season, there was the unpredictability because of the tyres – the teams and drivers didn’t understand how to work them. Now they’ve all started to understand it, but I think the racing over the whole year has been awesome because it has been so mixed up.

There was great racing that went all the way down to just outside the top 10, and that’s what for me has made it one of the best ever.

“The racing we had with Prost and Senna was great, but it was just those two. All of ’88 and ’89 they won nearly all the races. If you go back further, it was Piquet and Brabham.

We haven’t before had as many drivers all fighting mid-season, with a number of people who could have gone on to win it.

I can’t think of as many drivers being in with a shout. In the past, the underdog has always struggled to get themselves on the podium, but this year you see the likes of Sauber and Sergio Perez, who came close to winning in Malaysia. ”That intrigue has been brilliant for F1 – you go to a race not knowing who is going to win.”

Mark Thompson/Getty Images, Paul Gilham/Getty Images, Roslan Rahman/AFP/GettyImages, Tom Gandolfini/AFP/Getty Images

5

ALL ROADS LEAD TO VICTORY WITH MICHELIN TYRES.

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In endurance and rally racing, drivers need to have confidence in their tyres’ ability to cope. MICHELIN tyres with their excellent grip and long life give them that confidence, whatever the weather or terrain.

You could also benefit from the expertise Michelin has derived from motorsport with MICHELIN tyres.

Experience the performance at www.michelin.co.uk/experience-the-performance

*Subject to publication of the official results by the FIA.

Simply the beSt

Boxing’s Best Entrances

With Ricky hatton set foR a spine-tingling ManchesteR RetuRn on satuRday, We pResent the boxeRs With the Most aMazing Ring entRances – eveR...

John Gichigi/Allsport

Chris Eubank

Poised. Chin jutting. Nostrils flared. Every muscle taut in an image of statuesque masculine perfection, while Simply the Best blares out. No, we’re not referring to Tina Turner herself, but to the boxer who adopted her anthem as his own. Christopher Livingstone Eubank’s ring walk was a sight to behold, particularly in front of a hostile, partisan crowd from whom he soaked up the hatred, before his signature vault over the top rope and into the ring. Indeed, Eubank seemed to enjoy his pantomime act so much that he regularly failed to stop the ludicrous posturing and posing when the fight actually began, leading to some tedious bouts between his wars with the likes of Nigel Benn and Michael Watson. Still, what an entrance the man made. >

Want more?

To see the kings of boxing ring entrances in action on video, download the iPad app version of Sport now

| November 23 2012 | 27

Boxing’s Best Entrances

BeRnaRd Hopkins

It’s less ‘Executioner’, more Pulp Fiction gimp, but that’s still an imposing gimmick from the Philadelphia hard nut. As if the mask wasn’t enough, in 2010 Hopkins approached the ring accompanied by a tubby crooner singing a version of My Way, with lyrics adapted to reflect B-Hops' career. All together now: “But through it all, when there was doubt, he stepped in the ring, and knocked them out…”

HectoR caMacHo

A Puerto Rican version of Captain America, a gladiator, some sort of flamboyant fireman (pictured) and other costumes that simply defy sartorial analysis, Hector Camacho was the originator of gaudy boxing attire. Even his shorts tended to be frayed, animal-print efforts, often with split seams at the side. And this from a man whose nickname was ‘Macho Camacho’ – we’re utterly speechless.

Ricky Hatton

It’s the electric atmosphere of a raucous crowd belting out Blue Moon that makes Hatton’s ring walks the type that leave your neck-hairs bristling. However The Hitman often adds a dash of wry humour to proceedings – for example with the inflatable fat suit he wore before his bout with Juan Lazcano in 2008, as a nod to those who dubbed him ‘Ricky Fatton’ for ballooning up in weight between fights.

Mike tyson

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images, Holly Stein/Allsport, Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images, AP/Press Association Images

Black trunks, no socks and a white towel instead of a fancy satin robe: Iron Mike’s entrance was a thing of raw, strippedback, old-school beauty. Accompanied by Public Enemy’s Welcome to the Terrordome and the audible sound of his opponents crapping their shorts in fear in the other corner, Tyson’s aura of menace made this the most intimidating entrance in boxing. >

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November23 16 2012 2012 || 20 | |November 29

Naseem Hamed

In the 1990s, Naz dished out knockouts the way most people hand out business cards, but it was his entrances that stole the show.

Swooping down on a flying carpet to meet P-Diddy or punching over gravestones – as he did for his Halloween fight with Wayne McCullough (pictured) – they had a level of choreography not seen before or since.

Add in the trademark front flip over the top rope, and we have to call Sheffield’s Prince the all-time king of the ring walks.

Floyd mayweatHer JuNior

Whether entering the ring for a fight with Mexican-American idol Oscar De La Hoya in a sombrero (plus a Mexican flag robe) or being carried to the ring as a Roman centurion, you don’t get much false modesty from boxing’s current greatest fighter and narcissist.

The pink gloves are a snazzy touch, although they were auctioned for a breast cancer charity post-fight, proving that ‘Money May’ isn’t all bad.

30 | November 23 2012 |

apollo Creed

He may not have existed outside of the Rocky films – but damn it, those entrances were as real as our hot tears after his defeat to Ivan Drago. Whether he donned a George Washington wig (Rocky) or dressed as a glitz-fabulous version of Uncle Sam (Rocky IV – complete with James Brown’s live vocals), the Count of Monte Fisto’s approaches to the ring still seemed more realistic than the actual fights.

Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport, Ethan Miller/Getty Images, , 1976 Rex Features

Boxing’s Best Entrances

Pep Guardiola

What next, Pep?

Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images

His Barcelona team had a revolutionary impact upon the sport, but can Pep Guardiola recreate that astonishing success elsewhere? And will the Premier League be his next destination? Guillem Balague – Spanish football expert and author of a new biography on Guardiola – helps us analyse the future of football management’s golden boy >

| November 23 2012 | 33

Pep Guardiola

Josep Guardiola is the elephant in the room.

“Pep Guardiola wants his team to come out as protagonists, to want the ball, to be the ones deciding the destiny of every game. He will choose an offensive way of playing” 34 | November 23 2012 |

[using physically imposing, athletic midfielders], he thought: ’No, we’re going to do it this way.’

“He wants his team to come out as protagonists, to want the ball, to be the ones deciding the destiny of every game. He will choose an offensive way of playing. But what he is first and foremost is a coach – so he’ll adapt to the players that he has. But obviously the decision he takes on the club that he’s going to will depend a lot on what squad he will have, what type of football they practise, the demands of the fans and the history of the club.”

Chelsea calling But which club will Guardiola decide to join? That is the golden question.

Despite making it clear that he wished to take a break after his Barcelona exit, he’s not been short of attention. As Balague details in his book, Chelsea are longstanding Guardiola admirers. Given Roman Abramovich’s allegedly uneasy relationship with Roberto Di Matteo, it wouldn’t be surprising if they moved for the Spaniard again.

“Chelsea have a lot in favour, a lot against,” says Balague of Guardiola’s chances of joining the Blues. “In favour, they are a team that’s starting to play, and use the ball, in a way that would please Pep. Against that is the fact that history shows that it’s a club run by one person – who at first, at least, changed his mind a lot. But I’ve met Roman and I think he’s learning from [and to be patient with] football. I believe his mindset is changing. Also, Pep asks for seduction to get to a club – and there’s no club that’s tried to seduce him more.” >

Pep talk: Guardiola, right, with Barcelona's former director of football Txiki Begiristain in 2008

Lluis Gene/AFP/GettyImages, Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

The most successful club manager in football in the past five years took a break from the game at the end of 2011/12. And, as we await his return, almost every manager of a big club sits more uneasily than usual in his hot seat.

Each is aware that most chairmen and fans would gladly trample them underfoot if it meant winning the race for the signature of the 41-year-old who shaped a Barcelona side acclaimed worldwide; the coach who delivered 14 trophies in just four seasons. But where is he most likely to go? What can we expect when he does? And how can he deal with the sky-high expectations which will greet him?

“He will be seen as a messiah wherever he goes, there’s no doubt about that,” agrees Guillem Balague, one of the world's foremost authorities on the Spanish game. “If he comes to England, he would be seen by the media straight away as the most glamorous figure in the Premier League. If he goes to Germany, it will be the same. Expectations will be huge. But Pep is very, very clever at is communicating the right message.

“When he first arrived at Barcelona he said, tighten your belts, because this is going to be a great ride, we’re going to enjoy ourselves – and we’re going to try and win everything. Everyone was kind of won over by that speech in his press conference. So I wonder if, in his first press conference, he will actually mould – even manipulate – the audience to his point; to manage expectations through his oratory. But don’t forget that his choice will be a top, top club who will be expected to win things. He will have to deal with those demands.”

The demands on Guardiola will not only be to deliver trophies, however.

The mesmerising, high-pressure, tiki-taka style of his Barcelona team awed pundits, football supporters and even his fellow managers. “I’ve known managers in at least three different divisions in England – and in Scotland as well – who show DVDs of what Barcelona have been doing under him to their teams," says Balague. So, is it possible for him to recreate the magic with a new set of players and in a whole new environment?

“Well, he believes that is the way football should be played,“ Balague explains.

“I don’t think Pep believes it’s the only way, but he believes in it. At a time when the likes of Chelsea or Inter Milan were taking football in a different route

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Pep Guardiola They are not his only suitor, however, particularly given Manchester City’s rather conspicuous appointments of Barcelona’s former vice-president and former director of football over the past four months. “Of course, now that Manchester City have Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain [pictured with Guardiola on previous page], I think they are definitely going to try to get him at some point,” says Balague. “Against City is the fact that there’s still a lot to do to make it the kind of brand of football that he would like, but at the same time there’s enough quality there to transform it pretty quickly. And the big thing in favour of City is that he’s got friends in charge. That is very important for him.”

Bayern Munich is another club that Balague lists as a potential destination, but dismisses the idea that a manager with whom Guardiola shares a bond – Sir Alex Ferguson – would ever consider lining him up as his Old Trafford successor.

Balague’s insightful biography presents Guardiola as a relentless perfectionist – a man obsessed with the minutiae of football, often unable to switch off. It’s part of his success, as it drives him to seek constant improvement, but the pressure he puts on himself can be excessive. He’s also a sensitive individual, to the extent that Guardiola claims he has few happy memories of his stirring matches with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid because the bad blood between the two clubs was so overpowering. However, it’s this sensitivity that helped Guardiola develop such a close relationship with his players and to extract the best from them. It’s a bond so strong that Lionel Messi – having been unable to persuade his manager not to leave Barcelona – didn’t feel he could be present at the press conference to announce Guardiola’s exit because the Argentinian feared his emotions might betray him.

“There’s been contact – Sir Alex and Pep have met in New York this year,” Balague explains. “That doesn’t mean anything in terms of a Manchester United link, but it shows their mutual respect. Would Pep suit Manchester United? Sure.

But Ferguson retire so Pep comes in? No way.”

Pep imperfect Although Guardiola might be the most wanted free agent in football, there are still a few questions hanging over him as a manager. While he took Barcelona’s football to a new level, he had a stunning talent pool at his disposal.

Players core to his success – Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andreas Iniesta, Carlos Puyol and more – were already at the club when he was promoted to the top job in 2008.

Indeed, the signing of the immensely gifted but eventually troublesome Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan (for €46m plus Samuel Eto’o) was widely seen as a failure. Ibrahimovic left the club after just one season.

“Guardiola is not perfect,” admits Balague. “The signing of Dmytro Chygrynskiy [for €25m], perhaps even the signing of Ibrahimovic, were expensive mistakes.

But look at any manager’s history – they all make mistakes. In his case, the main guys who have done it for him – with the possible exception of David Villa – are players who were already at Barcelona. But in his favour, he brought Sergio Busquets and Pedro into the first team, which Frank Rijkaard wouldn’t necessarily have done. So he hasn’t always got it right, but he can identify talent, obviously.”

And, while Guardiola thrived at Barcelona, he sometimes seemed worn down by the pressures of the job. He hinted at leaving after winning the treble in his first season, questioning where he could possibly go from there.

36 | November 23 2012 |

“Pep is a complex character,” Balague says. “His mind is always at 200mph and at one point, he had his priorities wrong. He abandoned for a little bit the things that made him a happy person – being close to his family and his friends.

Football took over completely.”

On the subject of whether Guardiola can succeed away from Barcelona, Balague is convincing. “One of the things for me in trying to analyse Pep Guardiola is that I’m not in love with him, as many people are, because I’m an Espanyol fan,” he explains. ”I see his talent for what it is. And I see that – yes – he’s got it in him to go to another club and succeed. He reads football better than anybody I know, but tactics are not his only quality. It’s about what he gives to players, how he works with them, how he finds out about them. He manages people in a wonderful way – and he will do that anywhere else, because his English is very good, and he has the experience of playing in other countries. If you add to that the work he’s going to put in and you ha a guy who’s as committed as he is talented. Will he be able to adapt to a new job? For sure.”

Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning by Guillem Balague – with a foreword by Sir Alex Ferguson – is available now (Orion Books), £20

David Ramos/Getty Images

Messi didn’t feel he could be present at the press conference to announce Guardiola’s exit because the Argentine feared his emotions might betray him

NORTHERN PLIGHTS Rugby Union

38 | November 23 2012 |

Basics, not big boys “My theme through all this is you just have to look at the All Blacks. They’re consistently the best team in the world, so I make no apologies for using them as a blueprint. They play a basic game, but they play it with incredible intensity and incredible pace, and everyone understands it because they’re brought up to play this way from a young age.

“When they step up to international level, it’s a big leap, but they’re all on the same wavelength of how the game should be played – so they integrate easily. The key thing, though, is that the Kiwis work out how to get around defences instead of just battering through them. We’ve become obsessed with gym monkeys, as I call them, and we try to go through locked defences instead of unlocking them. As long as you look fantastic in a pair of Speedos and you have big muscles, you’re a great international. That’s absolute rubbish.

“We need to get back to basics and teach our players to play rugby. The problem is, the players are over-coached and not given authority. So, when things go wrong on the field, there is no Richie McCaw out there to make decisions and play off the cuff. It’s all drills and set pieces in training up here.

“The southern hemisphere sides have 15 men who can play the ball no matter where they pick it up, and we can’t do that. We need to get back to the days of players who can play the game. If you can’t take a pass at speed, hold it and offload it without breaking stride, you shouldn’t be an international player. I don’t care how big you are.”

slowed up so successfully that they have nowhere to go.

“Steffon Armitage has to be in Stuart Lancaster’s side, there’s no doubt. He was voted the best player in the Top 14 last season, in a league with some world-class players.

What more does he have to do to get a look in?

“The other thing about sevens is they carry this mystique. Other than the captain, sevens tend to be able to talk to referees without getting in trouble, and they’re respected.

You need a seven that the opposition really fear and don’t want to run near. That’s David Pocock and Richie McCaw on any day of the week. Ireland, Scotland and England need to find the same, Wales just need to get their one playing at his best again.” >

Pick a seven to play seven “A lot of northern hemisphere sides don’t pick out-and-out sevens, and it was evident yet again in the past couple of weekends. You saw what Michael Hooper did to England, and you don’t need me to tell you how good Richie McCaw (right) is. It’s incredible that we just ignore the problem, but it’s because we are in this cocoon of success in the Heineken Cup and the Six Nations, so we think we’re great.

“Look at Wales: they nearly got to the World Cup final with Sam Warburton playing out of his skin at seven. Now he’s lost a bit of form and the team are struggling. That’s because they’re losing the breakdown.

Or, even if they are winning it, the ball gets

| 39

Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images, Hannah Johnston/Getty Images

Let’s face it, six defeats from seven Tests is hardly the autumn that the home nations were hoping for. With less than three years until the World Cup hits British soil, then, we asked Sky Sports pundit Dewi Morris what the north needs to do to catch up with the southern hemisphere’s finest. As it turns out, he’s been thinking about this one for a while

Rugby Union GET Quick ball

Get a 10 on the gainline “Get a seven in there to steal the ball, get your forwards producing quick ball, and then it’s all about your 10 flat on the gainline. Just look at how Dan Carter fixes the defence and holds tacklers, creating space for his runners or just going himself. That’s the other thing – it’s all well and good having a 10 who stands flat, but he has to have the pace to back it up.

“Owen Farrell and Toby Flood can hold a defence, but they don’t have the pace to worry defences – so they can’t fix players.

Look how Michael Hooper (below, right) offered Toby Flood the gap on Saturday because he knew he could catch him up easily.

Scotland are trying to grow Greig Laidlaw in this gainline kind of role, while Ireland have Jonny Sexton – and you can see the difference he makes. When Leinster or Ireland are flying, it generally comes through an on-form Sexton. Wales need to get Rhys Priestland playing that flat rugby to worry defences, while England have to look at Freddie Burns. He’s the only player – at least while George Ford is still inexperienced – playing rugby that would worry defences and have them on the back foot when he gets the ball. Get him at 10 and give him the freedom to bring the kind of rugby Gloucester play to the international stage.”

28% Percentage of home matches home nations have won against the four sides who make up the Rugby Championship since England’s World Cup win in 2003 – with only Ireland winning more (7) than they’ve lost (6)

results-driven rugby. Too many coaches are worried about losing their well-paid jobs, so no risks are taken. Look at Australia last Saturday. I like Lancaster’s youthful approach, but England dominated large parts of the game and went nowhere. When the Aussies got it, there was an unpredictability that northern hemisphere sides don’t have. Kurtley Beale or Berrick Barnes chipped the ball for a chasing runner more in one game than I’ve seen from our backs in a season.

“Harlequins – sorry to go back to them again – are an example of how you can do it.

It took them three or four years of building, but they created an atmosphere in which no one is afraid to play rugby. Take that to international level, and Chris Robshaw was looking for offloads last week, but nobody was on the same wavelength.

“I’m a big fan of what all the home nations quartet are doing in terms of youth and bringing players in with the World Cup in mind.

Some of the younger faces picked now will have 30 or so caps by the time the World Cup comes round, so it’s the right way to do things. It’s just about getting them to play the right way. Get quick ball, get an attacking fly half and just let your entire team play some rugby. Let them create, let them make mistakes and let them grow.

“I don’t care what Clive Woodward says – it’s not just about winning the next game at all costs. We need to rethink our game over here and go back to basics. England will learn from their failure to take the points last week; Wales will learn from their over-reliance on a physical game against Samoa. These things can be tweaked and changed – it’s the attacking mentality and the freedom to play the right way where our guys need to start.”

Don’t be afraid of failure “At the end of the day, we’re in the entertainment business, and people aren’t going to pay money to keep watching

40 | November 23 2012 |

Dewi Morris was talking to Mark Coughlan. Morris is Sky Sports’ rugby pundit for England’s autumn internationals. Catch England v South Africa live on Sky Sports 1 tomorrow from 1.30pm

Rank Deciders Pride and planning for the future might be on the agenda across the international grounds this weekend, but there’s far more at stake. That’s because the draw for the Rugby World Cup 2015 takes place on Monday week, and everyone wants to be in the top four seeds. The draw will see the top four sides in the world each drawn in a pool, along with one team from the fifth to eighth place slots and one side from the next four spots (the smaller nations will be decided at a later date).

At present, then, Scotland could get England and New Zealand in their pool, while France could feasibly be drawn with Wales and Tonga. We don’t have the space to explain how the ranking points work (it’d take several diagrams, more numbers than we even know and several hundred pages) but, in layman’s terms, beating a side higher than you raises your ranking score and lowers theirs. As you can see, it’s still very much all to play for.

Current IRB rankings 1 New Zealand 92.91 2 South Africa 86.05 3 Australia 85.94 4 France 84.99 ---------5 England 81.96 6 Argentina 79.89 7 Ireland 79.04 8 Wales 78.95 --------9 Samoa 78.79 10 Scotland 77.42 11 Italy 76.61 12 Tonga 74.51

Tom Shaw/Getty Images

“Securing your own ball is one thing, but it’s got to come back quickly time and time again.

If you’ve got quick ball, you’ve got a chance of doing anything, and that ball comes from good presentation. Look at Richie McCaw [again].

Yes, he hits rucks at speed and from depth like the northern hemisphere players do, but the difference is he hits through the man, then fights to get back to his nine instead of flopping to the ground and squeezing the ball back like an egg being hatched. He almost points his hands back at the scrum half, and it allows players to ruck over the top quickly and lets the scrum half play heads-up rugby – instead of having to dig the ball out.

“Once the nine gets quick ball, it’s a flat fly half outside him or forwards around the corner that take the ball off him and power on again, then do the same thing. Once you’ve hit two or three quick phases and recycled at speed, no defence in the world can cope – I don’t care how many hours some boring nause has drilled them on the training pitch.

“Leinster, Harlequins, and – last season, at least – Edinburgh and Scarlets have all shown flashes of it, so the seeds are there. It just goes back to that thing of over-coaching. It’s this idea of holding the ball and going through phases that sucks the life out of our rugby over here. Get it out of the dark spaces and let’s play some rugby.”

7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

NOV HIGHLIGHTS 23-NOV 29 » Football: Premier League Preview » p44 » Rugby Union: Gloucester v Sale » p46 » Cricket: India v England – 2nd Test » p46 » FIBT Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Cup » p48 » Football: Hearts v Celtic » p49

Saturday BOxING | RICKy HATTON v VyACHESLAV SENCHENKO | MANCHESTER ARENA | PRIMETIME, CHANNEL 498 7PM

jameslincoln.co.uk

Hitting back Where there’s a will, there’s a way, or so the old saying goes. If that’s the case, Ricky Hatton’s comeback will be a resounding success. He had the fire in his eyes when Sport spoke to him in October, telling us: “I’ve got that nastiness that every boxer needs, but also an older and wiser head.

I can control the aggression now.”

It isn’t Hatton’s determination that’s in question, however. The query is whether a boxer who’s spent much of the past three-and-a-half years abusing his body (and hardly lived the life of a monk before that) can perform at the highest level, no matter how hard he’s worked to whip himself into fighting shape. Whisper it, but his punch resistance also appeared to be

42 | November 23 2012 |

weakening towards the latter stages of his 47 professional fights (45 wins, two losses).

Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko is the solid boxer who stands in Hatton’s way.

The former WBA welterweight title-holder has just one defeat in 33 fights, but that came in his last bout: a one-sided loss to the slick American Paulie Malignaggi. Hatton stopped Malignaggi in 2008 and would be, at his best, a class above the well-schooledbut-plodding Senchenko.

Nobody knows how much The Hitman has left in the tank, and Senchenko’s size (5ft 10ins) and jab could cause problems.

Home support may pull Hatton through, or he could discover that wanting something badly enough doesn’t mean you get it.

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|43

7 Days

Premier League

sunday swansea v liverpool | liberty stadium | sky sports 1 1.30pm

Defeat at West Brom saw the last Chelsea boss ushered out.

So what hope for Roberto di Matteo? sunday chelsea v manchester city | stamford bridge | sky sports 1 4pm

Sunday sees Brendan Rodgers taking on his former team for the second time since swapping Swansea for Liverpool. Their first reunion came in the Capital One Cup last month, when the Swans won 3-1 at Anfield to reach the quarter finals. It was Michael Laudrup’s side who showed the invention and creativity that was missing from Rodgers’ Reds that day, leaving the Liverpool boss humbled by the squad of players he left behind. Two draws and a win in the league since then will have him hopeful of seeing a better performance from his team at the Liberty, where Swansea have drawn half their games this season. Considering Liverpool’s own penchant for the draw, this one looks to be heading for honours even, although that still leaves Laudrup one up on Rodgers.

Feeling blue

sunday tottenham v west ham | white hart lane | 4pm

Chelsea have officially entered the blip period of their season, after defeat to West Brom left them without a win in four league games.

The Blues’ outclassing of Spurs a month ago was the last time they picked up all three points, with Roberto di Matteo’s side needing a return to that form if they’re to mount a title challenge this season.

The champions visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday – and it might just be the catalyst Chelsea need to start performing. Last weekend saw Manchester City top the league for the first time this season, courtesy of a demolition job on Aston Villa. But they haven’t beaten Chelsea at the Bridge since 2010, when the Blues had two players sent off.

Both sides had midweek Champions League concerns, with di Matteo’s team selection at The Hawthorns last Saturday revealing a certain Old Lady in Turin was already playing on his mind (although long international trips will also have played a part). Juan Mata and Oscar, who together have been among Chelsea’s most impressive players this

44 | November 23 2012 |

season, dropped to the bench. They made a late entrance to proceedings in the Midlands, but neither could make the difference desired.

City made no such concessions at the Etihad, where they have not lost in 36 league games. On the road they’re only marginally less successful, drawing one more game than they’ve won. Roberto Mancini will, however, likely demand his team keep up with the neighbours after Manchester United last month became the first team this season to leave Stamford Bridge victorious in the league.

A point won’t be satisfactory for di Matteo either. He needs to pick up the winning habit again before Roman Abramovich starts asking awkward questions.

7

Chelsea have both scored and conceded in each of their past seven Premier League matches

It’s a second London derby on the bounce for Tottenham after their defeat at Arsenal last weekend saw them slip to eighth in the league. Having finally succumbed to fans’ demands to start with two up top at the Emirates, manager Andre Villas-Boas will now be without Emmanuel Adebayor for three matches after the striker was sent off against his former club.

So, it will most likely be a return to the status quo for Spurs, with Jermain Defoe leading the line. Sam Allardyce professed to be satisfied with a point at home against Stoke on Monday, but not with his side’s limp first half performance. This marks the start of a difficult run for West Ham (Manchester United, Chelsea and then Liverpool). A first win at White Hart Lane since 1999, then, would be a timely confidence boost.

Martin O’Neill’s impressive vertical leaps had been in short supply this season, until last weekend’s 3-1 win at Fulham had him pogoing like Tigger on speed.

His relief at seeing the goals finally flying in (and from three different scorers) was plain to see, but it was still only Sunderland’s second win of the season. They will be hard pushed to get a third on Saturday against the current fourth best team in the league.

saturday wigan v reading | dw stadium | 3pm

Reading head for the DW buoyed by their first win of the season against Everton – a result that nudged them clear of the relegation zone. There they’ll find a Wigan side deflated by a three-goal beating at Liverpool last weekend and by news that midfielder Ben Watson is out until 2013 with a broken leg.

Roberto Martinez will be keen to bounce back with some better news ahead of Manchester City’s visit next Wednesday.

saturday everton v norwich | goodison park | 3pm

saturday manchester united v qpr | old trafford | 3pm

Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United and, er, Stoke have come off second best to Norwich in recent weeks. With the Canaries also keeping clean sheets in their past three league games, things are looking up in East Anglia. Everton, meanwhile, have lost the bite they had earlier this season, winning just one of their past six in the league. David Moyes will hope it returns here – before Arsenal’s visit on Wednesday.

“We’re at a point in time where we need to understand where we are,” said QPR boss Mark Hughes after his side lost to Southampton in a game christened ‘El Sackico’. But players and fans have known where QPR are for some time – and they are elbow deep in it. With no win in 12, they head to Old Trafford, where Fergie will have blow-dried his team into a bouffant over their defeat at Norwich last weekend.

saturday aston villa v arsenal | villa park | espn 5.30pm

Last season, a 5-2 win for Arsenal against Spurs sent them on a winning streak that helped the Gunners finish third in the league. Given their current league position, Arsenal could do with another such run after last weekend’s same scoreline with their local rivals.

They’ve not lost at Villa Park since 1998, but will be wary after Paul Lambert’s side gave Manchester United a run for their money there a fortnight ago.

sunday southampton v newcastle | st mary’s | 3pm

Newcastle have taken one point from their last available nine, with home defeats to West Ham and Swansea giving Alan Pardew plenty to think about ahead of the January transfer window. The Magpies have not started the season in the form they would have hoped given Pardew’s pre-season talk of challenging for Champions League places. A visit to second-bottom Saints would be the ideal time to start turning things around.

saturday stoke v fulham britannia stadium | 3pm

Stoke fans haven’t had much to get excited about at the Britannia this season, where Tony Pulis’ side have scored only four goals. On the plus side, however, they’ve let in only one. Fulham go north without suspended captain Brede Hangeland, while injured duo Brian Ruiz and Alexander Kacaniklic are also missing. Fulham need Dimitar Berbatov at his magical best, then, if they’re to break through a staunch Stoke defence.

Premier League table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

P Man City 12 Man Utd 12 Chelsea 12 West Brom 12 Everton 12 Arsenal 12 West Ham 12 Tottenham 12 Fulham 12 Swansea 12 Liverpool 12 Newcastle 12 Norwich 12 Stoke 12 Sunderland 11 Wigan 12 Reading 11 Aston Villa 12 Southampton 12 QPR 12

W 8 9 7 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 1 2 2 0

10

D 4 0 3 2 5 4 4 2 4 4 6 5 5 7 6 2 6 3 2 4

L 0 3 2 3 2 3 3 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 7 4 7 8 8

F 25 29 24 19 22 23 15 20 25 18 17 13 9 10 10 12 14 10 18 9

A 10 17 13 13 16 13 12 21 22 16 16 17 18 11 12 21 19 22 30 23

Pts 28 27 24 23 20 19 19 17 16 16 15 14 14 13 12 11 9 9 8 4

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez is the Premier League’s top scorer and has created the most chances from open play, with 35

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All pictures Getty Images

saturday sunderland v west brom | stadium of light | sky sports 2 12.45pm

7 Days SATURDAY RUGBY UNION | AVIVA PREMIERSHIP: GLOUCESTER V SALE | KINGSHOLM | ESPN 12PM

FRIDAY > CRICKET | INDIA V ENGLAND 2ND TEST | WANKHEDE STADIUM, MUMBAI | SKY SPORTS 1 3.30AM His 206 not out, supported by a ton from Virender Sehwag, took the match away from England. Graeme Swann (below) bowled well to snare five wickets, but the quick triumvirate of Broad, Anderson and Bresnan posed very little threat.

The Wankhede Stadium offers little for the mediumfast brigade, apart from the odd bit of swing, but India’s Umesh Yadav showed in the First Test that quicks can be rewarded if they bowl fast and straight on a good length. Steve Finn – still injured – would have been very useful here.

Ultimately, this Test will boil down the same as the first: which side can turn the screw? Despite Swann’s best efforts, he needs some support, and England’s batsmen must show they can actually play spin. If those two things happen, England have a glimmer of a chance.

England in a spin After the optimism, a reality check. England are not the first visiting team to get mauled by India, but the manner in which they capitulated in the First Test, especially in the first innings, has left new captain Alastair Cook with plenty to ponder.

Cook himself was one of the few to emerge blameless, along with the admirable Matt Prior, who has shown himself to be one of England’s better batsmen in the past year. Between them they scored 356 of England’s 597 runs in the match.

True, India were allowed to race to 521-8 declared in the first innings, with Cheteshwar Pujara showing that his reputation as a run machine is well-founded.

Warren Little/Getty Images, Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The Shed welcomes the Sharks International weekend it might be, but those heading to Twickenham might want to find their way to a pub with a TV first. That’s because the Aviva Premiership is back in action, and Saturday’s early game should be an absolute belter.

After an opening day defeat, Gloucester had gone eight games unbeaten before Harlequins put them to bed in their previous league outing at the start of the month, and they’ll be determined to get back on track tomorrow. With Jimmy Cowan at scrum half, and Billy Twelvetrees slotting in at inside centre, Gloucester also have Freddie Burns

46 | November 23 2012 |

maturing into England’s next big hope in the number 10 shirt.

He’ll be looking to make his mark again against a struggling Sale side. With the finishing power Gloucester possess out wide, and the sheer strength up front, Burns (above) has been the link man who has dictated so much success in the West Country.

Sale, meanwhile, might be on their third head coach of the season already, but they got that elusive first win last time out. That victory over London Irish means the gap at the bottom is just four points, and it should allow them to concentrate on picking up points without the ever-present spectre of a no-win season. Danny Cipriani has lit up Sale’s season in fits and starts, but the Shed Heads at Kingsholm aren’t known for their warm welcome, so the mercurial Englishman will need to keep his head to get his backs going and use the power runners that can cause the home team damage. Fail to keep calm in Kingsholm’s cauldron, and Gloucester might just run riot here.

7 Days FRIDAY > WINTER SPORTS | FIBT BOBSLEIGH & SKELETON WORLD CUP | WHISTLER SLIDING CENTRE, CANADA | BRITISH EUROSPORT 2 2.30AM

George Frey/Getty Images, Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme...

The third round of this season’s World Cup series sees it return to the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, where GB’s Amy Williams won an historic gold medal for Britain.

With Williams having retired in May, attention has turned to defending World Cup winner Shelley Rudman and reigning world junior champion Lizzy Yarnold this season. But it was 26-year-old Donna Creighton – a Team GB reserve when Williams enjoyed her finest hour – who was top of the British pile at the season’s first World Cup round in Lake Placid.

48 | November 23 2012 |

Yarnold fought back in round two though, finishing second overall in Park City, with Rudman fifth and Creighton falling back to 11th.

For Rudman, every race is a step towards finding the perfect set-up for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, 2014. “I don’t have the funding to do any extra sliding outside of World Cup races to test my equipment,” she said in pre-season. “So I’m doing this throughout the World Cup.” In the bobsleigh, British duo Paula Walker and Gillian Cooke finished sixth in their season opener, with the men’s four-man crew, led by John Jackson, seventh. Performance director Gary Anderson was happy enough, stating: “Top eight is our aim at World Cups, so we have to be happy to exceed that.”

Second and third places in the women’s event, however, went to two Americans who spent this summer on the athletics track in London. Sprint hurdler Lolo Jones and 100m sprinter Tianna Madison switched to bobsleigh after an invitation by US coach Todd Hays.

Keep that up and they will be back in Olympic mode sooner than expected.

Wednesday Football | Hearts v CeltiC | tyneCastle | esPn 7.30PM They’d strenuously deny it, but it appears the absence of Rangers (plus their Champions League exploits) have left Celtic lacking inspiration in the SPL. Beating Barcelona is all well and good, but it surely can’t compensate for 25 Old Firm matches every season, can it?

If Celtic are missing Rangers, they have the ideal replacement lined up next week. Not because Hearts are pushing Celtic for the championship, but because their rumoured £22m debt means they’re currently leading the keenly-fought battle for the SPL’s most fiscally troubled team. Their fans responded magnificently last weekend, however, packing out Tynecastle and creating a boisterous backdrop to their team’s 1-0 win over St Mirren.

Expect a similar atmosphere on Wednesday, and Hearts have caused Celtic problems in the recent past. A 1-0 win for the home side at Celtic Park in October didn’t accurately reflect an even game, while last season’s Scottish Cup semi final win came courtesy of a rousing display from the Edinburgh club. The problem could be scoring: Hearts have just 14 goals in 14 league matches this season, while Fraser Forster is an English goalkeeper in far better form than Joe Hart.

A tightly contested match with Celtic’s superior quality proving the difference is the safe bet, but don’t be surprised if the likes of gifted youngsters Jason Holt and Jamie Walker show that there is hope for the future of Heart of Midlothian – providing the club has one, that is.

SHOW US YOUR

CATWALK

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Hearts in the red DRY EQUALS WARMER.

BesT OF THe ResT

FRIDAY

CriCKet australia v south africa, second test Day 3, adelaide, sky sports 3 11.30pm

SATURDAY Winter sPort Figure skating: nHK trophy, sendai,Japan, british eurosport 2 HD 7am

Winter sPort Fis alpine skiing World Cup, lake louise, Canada, british eurosport 6.15pm Football la liga: betis v real Madrid, estadio benito villamarín, sky sports 1 9pm

SUNDAY

Football la liga: levante v barcelona, estadi Ciutat de valència, sky sports 1 8pm nFl new orleans saints v san Francisco 49ers, Mercedes-benz superdrome, sky sports 2 9.15pm

WEDNESDAY

GolF DP World tour Championship: Day 4, Jumeirah Golf estates, Dubai, sky sports 3 8am

Football nextGen series: liverpool v Dortmund, st Helens langtree Park, british eurosport 1 HD 6pm

Winter sPort isU Cross-Country skiing World Cup, Gallivare, sweden, british eurosport 1 HD 9.30am

Winter sPort ibU biathlon World Cup, oestersund, sweden, british eurosport 1 4.15pm

Winter sPort Fis ski Jumping World Cup, lillehammer, norway, british eurosport HD 12.45pm

Football sFl: elgin City v rangers, borough briggs, esPn 12pm

GolF Chevron World Challenge: Day 1, sherwood Country Club, California, sky sports 3 8pm

Football Championship: Derby v birmingham, Pride Park, sky sports 2 5.20pm

rUGby Union aviva Premiership: london Wasps v leicester tigers, adams Park, esPn 2.30pm

Winter sPort Fis ski Jumping World Cup, Kuusamo, Finland, british eurosport 2 5pm

rUGby Union international: italy v australia, artemio Franchi stadium, Florence, esPn 2pm Football sPl: Motherwell v Hearts, Fir Park, sky sports 4 12.45pm

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THURSDAY

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Advertising Feature

Snow sure As November draws to its close, there is every chance that you have already booked your ski and/or snowboard trip for the coming year. In fact, you may even have booked it as a result of reading the special winter sports issue of this very magazine just two weeks ago.

There may be some way to go in terms of your preparation for said trip, particularly where your kit is concerned. Performance technology and style evolve as quickly as each other, meaning that last year’s gear might now be, well, a bit last year.

Thanks to our friends at The North Face®, you can keep up to date with all the latest technology and fashions, guaranteeing yourself high performance on the slopes and apres-ski elegance in equal measure. Here, we collate the best of their newest snowsport ranges, featuring kit for the whole family. Happy skiing!

The kit

PaTrol 24 aBS Pack £749.99 The Patrol 24 ABS pack features the innovative ABS Avalanche Airbag System, the industry’s most trusted technology for preventing burial in an avalanche, with a 95 per cent success rate in real-world situations. When activated by the user, the ABS system utilises compressed CO2 to inflate two integrated 85-litre airbags that keep the user on the surface of the avalanche and speed rescue thanks to their visibility.

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Men’S enzo GTX JackeT £399.99 This is the jacket of choice for many of The North Face® snowsports team, and it delivers the highest waterproof and breathable performance levels to demanding high energy athletes. In industry leading GORE-TEX® Pro 3-layer fabric with movementmapping 3D active articulated construction.

Colour Athens Blue Sizes S-XL

Men’S enzo GTX BiB PanTS £375 Real high-mountain performance in a light and agile package. Relaxed 3D engineered cut in megawaterproof and highly breathable GORE-TEX® Pro 3-layer fabric.

Colour Oriole Orange Sizes S-XL

Women’s Baker deluxe JaCket £269.99 A classic best-selling style that delivers heaps of on the mountain performance and great around town wearability.

In fully taped HyVent™ waterproof and breathable cross-dyed herringbone fabric with soft, low bulk Heatseeker™ insulation.

Colour Bolt Blue Sizes XS-XL

Women’s go go Pants £139.99 Best-selling women’s ski trousers, delivering a great fit. In fully-taped HyVent™ waterproof and breathable fabric, with warm low bulk Heatseeker™ insulation.

Colours TNF White and Bolt Blue Sizes XS – L

Women’s Baker JaCket £249.99 One of The North Face’s® most versatile women’s jackets, with great all-weather performance on the slopes, in the countryside and around town. In fully taped HyVent™ waterproof and breathable fabric with soft, low bulk Heatseeker™ insulation.

Colour TNF White/Blue Sizes XS-XL

Women’s Freedom insulated JaCket £199.99 A fantastic snowsports jacket combining all-weather performance with easy to wear style at a great price. Fully taped waterproof and breathable HyVent™ fabric with low bulk Heatseeker™ insulation.

Colour Barberry Pink Sizes XS-L

Boy’s nimBostratus triClimate JaCket £109.99 A versatile performance winter jacket. In fully seam sealed 2L HyVent™ waterproof and breathable fabric with a cool zip-in/ zip-out fleece jacket.

Colour Fiery Red Sizes XS-L

men’s Bansko stretCh JaCket £249.99 This best selling alpine jacket delivers the goods, skiing the mountain from first to last lift, then offers slope to street wearability all winter. In fully taped HyVent™ waterproof and breathable stretch fabric with low bulk 80g Heatseeker™ Eco insulation.

Colour TNF Black/Fiery Red Sizes S-XL

Junior Freedom insulated Pants £75.00 Performance ski pants for both boys and girls, engineered in fully seam sealed 2L HyVent™ waterproof and breathable fabric, with low bulk 80g Heatseeker™ Aero insulation.

Colour TNF Black Sizes XS-L

men’s monte Cargo Pants £139.99 These relaxed cut cargo pants in fully taped HyVent™ waterproof and breathable fabric deliver workhorse all-weather performance at a great price.

Colour Fiery Red Sizes S-XL

Contact

Visit The North Face Store London 30/32 Southampton Street Covent Garden WC2E 7HE Call 020 7240 9577 Online ellis-brigham.com/thenorthface

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P58 Rrrrrrr-ghghghghgh Rrrrrrr-ghghghghgh Rrrrrrr-ghghghghgh

Extra time Gadgets

Extra time Making the most of your time and money

Hand-built by robots Not really – but this robotic lawnmower does use technology developed for Asimo

Honda Miimo HRM500 The Japanese car manufacturer Honda has spent more than 20 years dabbling in robotics, most notably with Asimo, the humanoid robot above, to the right, that solved the surprisingly difficult problem of bipedal motion, albeit with the elegance and gait of someone who’s had a serious trouser malfunction.

Some of that technology has found its way into Miimo (to the left), Honda’s

52 | November 23 2012 |

first consumer robotic product. It can automatically navigate your garden every couple of days, cutting the grass by a few millimetres each time to keep it trim and healthy with unique features including a fan that sucks grass towards the blades to ensure an even cut. So, your back garden five-a-side pitch can take another step towards perfection. £2,235 | honda.co.uk/garden

Cheap as chips We can’t all afford grass-cutting robots, so here’s our pick of the best gadgets for £100 or less

Nikon Coolpix S30

SuperTooth Crystal in-car speakerphone

If you have a child keen on a first camera – or if you happen to be particularly destructive or clumsy – this simple-to-use, shockproof, waterproof (and, therefore, idiot proof) camera is perfect. It offers 10 megapixels and big buttons, with the lens and flash located in the middle to keep fingers out of shot. £100 | europe-nikon.com

If you’re not lucky enough to have Bluetooth built into your car, this is a handy substitute.

It offers 20 hours of hands-free talk time from a single three-hour charge, and you can stream music and sat nav app directions right to it. £50 | Vodafone stores

SolarPod Buddy This portable solar charger stores energy and delivers it to your phone, giving you unlimited power as long as it’s not dark out. So you can harness the almighty power of the sun and use it to check Facebook and Twitter. Seems a bit disrespectful, doesn’t it? £25 | power-on-demand.co.uk

Atomic Floyd PowerJax headphones A welcome addition to Atomic Floyd’s range of eye-catching headphones, the Power Jax have a lower price point, but still come with the brand’s signature metal construction and a remote control cable . £99 | atomicfloyd.com

Zip earphones The name says it all, really – if you’re tired of spending the equivalent of two songs untangling your headphones every time you want to use them, these might help. The left and right wires zip together to avoid tangles. £13 | menkind.co.uk

54 | November 23 2012 |

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

56 | November 23 2012 |

A

s host of UFC show The Best of Pride Fighting Championships, Kenda Perez is something of a fan of combat sports. But be warned: so is her father. As a black belt shito-ryu – it’s a form of karate – he is (probably) out breaking the face of anyone who dares look in his daughter’s direction. That would be you, then.

Given her occupation, however, and that she is also a model for Maxim magazine in the US after getting her break courtesy of its Hometown Hotties competition, you are not alone. So before Mr Perez reaches you on his hitlist of people with whom he would like a word, know that his Newport Beachresiding daughter is not a total MMA badass.

In fact, apart from incessantly plugging her show on Twitter, she tweets behind-the-scenes pictures from different photo shoots, as well as snaps of home-cooked meals and her Yorkshire terrier, Dexter.

Though you should also know the pup is named after the eponymous serial killer in the show of the same name. Any questions? Contact Sport.

Contact sport

Extra time Kenda Perez

Lickerish/Roger Erickson

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Extra time Kit

Don’t be afraid of the darkness Unless it’s Justin Hawkins and co – in which case outrun them wearing one of these...

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2

4

5

1. Karrimor Skull Cap 2. adidas adiViz SQ Keep your noggin nice 2 in 1 top long sleeve and warm with this lightweight running hat. An internal grip trim means a more consistent fit, while reflective detail on the rear and a reflective Karrimor logo on the front means you’ll stand out a mile. There’s also a fluoro pink option for the braver among you, too. £3 | sportsdirect.com

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Work hard enough and you can overheat in cold weather. Adidas knows your game, however – its Climacool ventilation system will keep you cool.

Should your game be a little subtler, it also comes in black with infrared sleeves. Yes, we’re talking colour, not electromagnetic radiation. £34 |. prodirectrunning.com

3. Ronhill Vizion bib If you like variety in your running garb, chop and change between your favourite stuff and stick this bad boy over the top.

Reflective strips on the front and back keep you visible, while the elasticated side will stop it flapping. Alternatively, give one to Mario Balotelli and simply sit back and enjoy the show. £10 | surfdome.com

3

6 4. New Balance Tempo long sleeve

5. Gore Mythos Thermo Neon Shirt

Stay cool and dry thanks to the same Lightning Dry fabric that New Balance uses in its trainers, with a base layer material offers protection from the elements. An Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 20+ protects you from UV rays, too, but we don’t think that will come into its own for a while yet. £18 | newbalance.co.uk

As a middle layer in the cold or a top layer in milder conditions, Gore’s soft feel top has enough give to ensure your comfort and is made of fabrics that regulate body heat. It also boasts a zip pocket for your keys and a thumbhole to protect your hands. £75 | prodirectrunning.com

6. Spiro Men’s Team 3-Layer Softshell Jacket Protect against extreme elements with this water and windproof option.

Its lightweight sport fit means it’s good for all types of winter training, while quick-drying material and a full front zip will ensure you don’t drench yourself from the inside. £50 | spiroactivewear.com

Extra time Entertainment FILM

Super Ted Seth MacFarlane’s comedy is a lewd hit, a new cop drama is riveting viewing, plus Darth Vader decides red is the new black BOOK

Despite having the dubious honour of owning the world’s largest private Star Wars memorabilia collection, Stephen Sansweet has a written lively, insightful guide to more than 2,500 toys.

The pictures naturally dominate, however – our favourite being a bright-red Christmas-themed Darth Vader figure. Out now and well worth investing in (the book, that is, not Santa Vader).

BLU-RAY

End of Watch Ignore the found-footage style and End of Watch is startlingly close to a grittier, less zany Lethal Weapon. No bad thing at all. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are totally convincing as two LA street cops, firing quips about each other’s ethnicity, but with a deep bond between them. As we see them called to one dangerous job after another – and get to know their loved ones – the film becomes

MUSIC

increasingly unsettling, particularly when the pair get on the scent of a drug cartel and a hit on them is put out. It leads to a riveting climax superbly handled by director (and Training Day producer) David Ayer.

Despite the handheld camera approach becoming a tiresome quirk, the spark between Gyllenhaal and Pena keeps this arrestingly watchable to the end. Out today.

BLU-RAY

The Defenestration of St. Martin Martin Rossiter

The Amazing Spider-Man Was there any need for a new Spider-Man origin film? Probably not, but Marc Webb’s ‘web 2.0’ version has a feisty charm, aided by new Spidey (Andrew Garfield) being far more convincing as a cocky, wise-cracking superhero than Tobey Maguire managed.

His sizzling chemistry with love interest Emma Stone also convinces, even if the CGI lizard villain does not. Out on Monday and well worth slinging on.

60 | November 23 2012 |

We weren’t crying out for a solo album from the former Gene front man, but now that it’s here, it’s very welcome.

No One Left To Blame in particular showcases the singer’s searching, soaring vocals, backed by a haunting piano melody. Rossiter’s hero Morrissey would surely approve. Out on Monday.

BOOK Sons of the Eagle KA Higgs

Ted It’s uneven and falls into formulaic territory by the end, but there are lots of lewd chuckles along the way in Seth ‘Family Guy’ MacFarlane’s bawdy buddy-comedy. Mark Wahlberg is the man-child who can’t stop partying with the teddy he wished into life as a kid, but the bear himself steals the show as a foul-mouthed furball who’s handy with a bong and a root vegetable. The Flash Gordon cameo is also a show-stopper.

This historical novel is based on the real-life exploits of a soldier who joined the AustroHungarian army aged just 16 as the First World War loomed. Following the cadet and his friends through conflict and tragedy, it’s a moving alternative perspective on Europe’s Great War.

Fred Dufour/AFP/GettyImages

Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection Stephen J Sansweet

To view trailer scan code:

BUY NOW Free Super Saver Delivery and Unlimited Free One-Day Delivery with Amazon Prime are available.

Terms and Conditions apply. See Amazon.co.uk for details.

Extra time Grooming The fRagRances

Rare dry spell

Superdry Mini Gift Set

It happens to the best of us, old chap.

A few suggestions, then, to address your sorry situation...

Four 25ml fragrances in one set – from left to right: Steel, Orange, Blue and Black – so if one doesn’t work, you at least have four other options. From the top, then, and be you a super man of Steel, you can expect whiffs of lime and bergamot, a heart of cardamom and violet leaves, and a rich base of cedar wood and moss. Orange is – as you might expect – a citrus

fragrance, with top notes of blood orange, patchouli, sandalwood and frankincense (for ‘tis the season).

Blue offers an aquatic freshness: bergamot, pear, clary sage and moss. Black gives you lavender, jasmine, thyme, coriander and nutmeg, with lime notes. And your last resort: all of them at once. superdry.com

£29.50

The elecTRIc shaveR

The bOdy MOIsTURIseR and face lOTIOn Remington Black Diamond-X

£35 for 50ml

62 | November 23 2012 |

£149.99

For a fast and close dry shave that, says Remington, provides a ‘400-per-cent-better’ glide than its predecessors – with less irritation – the Diamond-X marks the spot. So just what made its other models so inferior? That would be the introduction of the ‘X-System’, which means the blades sit on three multi-flexing floating heads on a self-adjusting pivot to minimise friction. Those same blades have a ‘diamondlike carbon coating’, making them extremely hard-wearing as well as super-smooth. It also features a pop-up trimmer for precision areas. It’s washable, too. A dry shave to end your dry spell – this diamond is your ticket out of there. remington.co.uk

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Men Dry hands? Dry post-shave face? For a dry anything, in fact, Palmer’s fastabsorbing and creamy lotion is made with high-quality cocoa butter and vitamin E that can be used daily on face and body. As those subtle capitals on the front of the bottle point out, it’s designed for men, and comes in either 250ml or 400ml bottles (right), as well as a fragrance-free 100ml lotion or 60g fragrance-free concentrated cream . uk.palmers.com/men/

£5.29 for 400ml

£3.99 for 250ml

“I DON’T EXPECT SUCCESS I PREPARE FOR IT” RYAN REYNOLDS

BOSS BOTTLED. FRAGRANCE FOR MEN

hugoboss.com