Sport magazine - Issue 291

Issue 291 | February 1 2013

THE SIX NATIONS 2013 Warburton, Farrell and the loWdoWn on every team

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issue 291, February 1 2013 radar 04 A tough nut to crack

Our favourite England v Brazil moments – and Ronaldinho’s floated free-kick over Seaman

08 Bowling in

We pick out the best bars in London at which to rock up and watch Super Bowl XLVII

oFeatures this coming week

16 Sam Warburton

The Wales captain kicks off our Six Nations special with an exclusive interview – and tells us another Grand Slam is not impossible...

23 Owen Farrell

Cover illustration by Dragon76

16 04

... but England’s Mr Reliable is kicking and screaming to make that dream his own. He talks about his side’s chances, leadership and the Lions

31 Kevin Sinfield

The Super League’s top player on captaining Leeds Rhinos to another season of silverware

36 49ers v Ravens

Brit NFL expert and Tailgate to Heaven author Adam Goldstein on Super Bowl XLVII’s key clashes

extra Time

23

52

52 Entertainment

Denzel Washington helps himself to the mini bar and casually lands an out-of-control plane in Flight

54 Fitness

Elite running coach Martin Yelling has your marathon training covered for 2013

56 Gadgets

The new Blackberry Z10 and headphones from the good people at Fanny Wang. Really

60 Kit

The Six Nations has arrived – and so has each team’s official replica shirt. We try them on for size | February 1 2013 | 03

Radar

p06 – This week in sporting history: golfing on the moon

p06 – Greg Rusedski on where to look for the next Andy Murray p08 – Where to watch the Super Bowl: our extensive bar exam

Three Lion tamers

ike a university student returning home with a head full of new ideas and one or two new party tricks, Brazil are bringing their samba soccer back to its grimy birthplace on Wednesday, to help the FA celebrate its 150th birthday. The South Americans have proved a tough nut to crack in the past: the head-to-head record shows just three England wins in 23 matches, with eleven for Brazil and nine draws. We’ve picked out three memorable moments...

David Cannon/Allsport, Keystone/Getty Images, David Cannon/Getty Images, Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images

L

The save of the century Brazil win 1-0, World Cup group stage, 1970 Gordon Banks’ famous scrambling save from Pele’s header is renowned not just for the quality of the stop, but also the occasion. England were holders, playing a Brazil side considered one of the best ever. The Stoke keeper’s stop and a celebrated tackle by Bobby Moore restricted Pele and friends to just the one goal – particularly impressive considering they knocked in 14 in their next four games en route to the title. It was probably the last time the sides would meet as equals.

04 | February 1 2013 |

The non-save of the century Brazil win 2-1, World Cup quarter finals, 2002 Some things will live forever in the memory of England fans, but few are more painful than that of a ponytailed David Seaman slumped in his side-netting – like an overweight country singer struggling to get out of a hammock – as Brazil wheeled away in celebration.

Ronaldinho, the scorer of that floated (and quite deliberate) free-kick, has been recalled for the friendly.

A word of advice to Joe Hart: stay on your damn line.

Catch him if you can England win 2-0, friendly, 1984 They tried to hit him and hurt him, but Brazil couldn’t stop John Barnes (above) from scoring one of the greatest goals in England history. The Watford winger picked the ball up on the left and drifted, Maradonastyle, past three defenders before passing the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box for his first England goal. With a second from Mark Hateley, it gave England what remains their only away victory over Brazil.

What to expect of ScolaRi’S BRazil: See page 40

K C A B S I E N O L L A T S “ ” T S E B S I TO H HHHHH ZOO

D L O S T E G R E V E N E G N E V RE

Y A D O T S A M E N IN CI

Radar

where’s the next Andy murray coming from?

Answered by Greg Rusedski

this week iN sportiNg history

1971 oNe smAll Chip for mAN

06 | February 1 2013 |

I

t went miles and miles,” boasted astronaut Alan Shepard about the second of the two golf balls he hit on the moon 42 years ago this week. The 47-year-old used a six-iron club head attached to the handle of a lunar sample scoop to drive the balls one-handed through the moon’s low gravity.

As for the distance, he was probably exaggerating. But he did play golf on the moon, so we’ll take his word for it.

It’s not the only example of lunar sport – later in the same mission, one of Shepard’s crewmates used the same scoop handle as a javelin. It’s still up there, alone in the lunar dust, awaiting the next mission and the debut of Moon Cricket. It looks pretty dusty, so there should be some turn for the spinners.

Also this week 1958 Twenty-three people, including eight Manchester United players, die in the Munich air disaster, when their plane crashes while attempting to take off from the icy runway on the way back from a European tie in Belgrade.

2004 Janet Jackson’s breast appears at the Super Bowl.

2005 Ellen MacArthur breaks the record for the fastest solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. In a boat, that is. It takes her 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds, so you have to say it probably wasn’t the best choice of transport.

“there’s a good group of boys between the ages of 16 and 19.

Usually we have one or two guys that come out in that age category, but at the moment we have about eight that play at a high standard. i think things are improved. if you look at this group of boys, they won the Junior Davis Cup in 2011, which Britain has never done before. “there’s a lot of optimism, and the opportunity the kids have at the moment is second to none if they put the work in. the facilities they have now are so much better than 20 years ago – there’s no comparison. “there’s not one set way of doing it [developing talent] - if you look at serbia, Novak Djokovic and Ana ivanovic were in a war-torn country hitting in an empty swimming pool, so obviously there’s not one formula. the nice thing is that there’s a group of them at the moment. the boy who’s done the best so far is kyle edmund, but i don’t like to give one name. our goal is to have a group of boys coming through at the same time, so it takes the pressure off. we have a 10-year plan at the moment; we’re into about year six, so in the next four years we’re hoping that we’ll have a few of them start to break into the top 100.” woUlD yoU like A qUestioN ANswereD By AN expert? let Us kNow oN twitter @sportmAgUk

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images, NASA

Andy Murray got to the final of the Australian Open last week, but the next-ranked British man is ranked 207th. We asked Eurosport expert Greg Rusedski about the young talent coming through.

Radar

Where to watch the Super Bowl 2. Carlsberg Sports Bar, Leicester Square Probably not the best bar in the world, but a pretty good option for sport. It’s located inside the Empire Casino in Leicester Square, so you can gamble during the Super Bowl’s 13,000 ad breaks.

5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA

Armchair kitbag

What a bunch of coats

M

ake sure you’re suitably equipped to follow proceedings in the Six Nations from home with this selection of swag. Start with a team T-shirt from Front Up rugby (£25, frontup.co.uk) showing your support for the country of your choice. The official Six Nations app (iPhone and Android) will keep you abreast of of the latest news and scores. And, if your heroes are the men in the middle, you can emulate the referees by wearing the same watch as they do – the Tissot T-Touch Expert (tissot.ch). Scrumtastic.

I

f you’re in London, you don’t need to travel far to see unworthy millionaires in suits. But, if you fancy a road trip, a new exhibition covering 50 years of football and fashion launches today at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

Strike a Pose, February 1 to August 27

08 | February 1 2013 |

3. Roadtrip, old street For a more authentic ambience, head to Roadtrip on Old Street, an American-style bar holding its own screening party. It starts at 7pm, with the game kicking off at 11.30pm. Sleep is for the weak.

243 Old Street, EC1V 9EY

Our eight-page Six Nations preview starts with Sam Warburton on page 16

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images, Mirrorpix, Terry O’Neill/Getty Images

1. Superbash at No 1 Sports Bar, Moorgate Featuring VIP presenters, 17 HD screens, free food and cheap beer on tap, it’s the next best thing to being in New Orleans for the real thing.

Tickets from seatwave.com and available on the door. 1 City Road, EC1Y 1AE

Radar Editor’s letter Great expectations: but are we asking too much from Murray? 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

Out on his own (sort of) We suddenly expect rather a lot of Andy Murray – funny how times change

F

or so long, British tennis was in such a parlous state that almost any player, winning in almost any round of a Grand Slam, was big news.

Yet suddenly we are not remotely surprised when Andy Murray makes a major Editor-in-chief final. Indeed, we expect it. And why shouldn‘t Simon Caney we? He‘s been in the past three. As sport @simoncaney fans, it‘s funny how we adapt so quickly (call us fickle) – but imagine being told 10 years ago that we‘d have a regular men‘s Grand Slam finalist. You‘d have laughed out loud, and asked for odds of 10,000/1. Yet here we are, watching our man up against Novak Djokovic – a man on his way to being one of the all-time greats, if he‘s not already – and we‘re disappointed when he doesn‘t win.

Yet Murray is fighting a lone battle for British tennis, at least in the men‘s game.

Heather Watson and Laura Robson may continue to improve in the women‘s

rankings, and it is clear, whatever they say, that they spur each other on. Murray doesn‘t have that. Indeed, Britain‘s number two, Jamie Baker, is ranked 207th in the world, but apparently received a points boost simply by qualifying for the first round of the Australian Open – where he was beaten in straight sets by Lukas Rosol.

Our failure to produce more than one top-class male tennis player at a time in 70-odd years is remarkable: it defies even the law of averages. Forget social pressures, lack of investment or coaching – it‘s just baffling that nobody else emerged.

Murray‘s successes – and more titles will follow – must be used by the powers that be in British sport to produce more young tennis players. Only then will we find someone who stays the distance past the ‘decent junior‘ stage and and becomes a genuine world-class talent. For now though, Murray is out there on his own.

Last week’s ‘Ballboy-gate’ episode feels a long time ago, but now the dust has settled it’s interesting to look back at how the story developed. I wasn’t watching the game, so I saw only updates on Twitter. First off was ‘Hazard has assaulted a ballboy!’ Cue much outrage and calls for life bans. Later: ‘The ballboy is 17 and is all that’s wrong with society!’ Cue more outrage (with society at large). Ultimately, both ballboy and player were stupid. Nothing more to see here.

Outside racing circles, the name Sprinter Sacre perhaps doesn‘t mean much.

But this horse – nicknamed the Black Aeroplane – is on his way to greatness.

Last week he once more demolished a top-class field, and at Cheltenham in March he will surely do the same. He is the Frankel who jumps, and he‘s one of the most exciting horses I‘ve ever seen.

Kauto who?

Editorial Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951) Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Art editor: John Mahood (7860) Digital designer: Chris Firth (7952) 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) Contributors: David Lawrenson, Mark Richardson Commercial Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991) Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Managers: Steve Hare (7930), Aaron Pinto del Rio (7918) Sales Executive: Joe Grant (7904) Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852) Distribution Assistant: Makrum Dudgeon Head of Online: Matt Davis (7825) Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Calum Macaulay 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 to: Alison Hackney, Jenni Thompson, Charlotte Harwood, Verity Williams

Cover of the Year

Reader comments of the week @simoncaney we’ve always been little southampton that nobody likes to see do well, so I doubt anyone’s really bothered!

@simoncaney why so much media loathing of #saintsfc – what about city dumping hughes or spurs with redknapp?

@LeGodisLallana Twitter

@TScrasey Twitter

@jamnhall Twitter

10 | February 1 2013 |

@simoncaney Very disappointed in what you said about our club. We may not have agreed with the decision but what you said is very unfair...

@simoncaney I think you hit the nail on the head.

Embarrassed to be a saints fan at the moment

@jessie_morris Twitter

@saintgert Twitter

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.

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Ok, @simoncaney explain yourself! How are #SouthamptonFC #SaintsFC (I quote) “one of the least liked clubs in the land?”

Flats on Friday

David Lyttleton

Radar Opinion

Les Bleus, les balls and true romance

I

like Rugby World Cups for the razzamatazz and, eventually, for the thrill of the knockout stages. And I like Test matches on summer tours, for the variety of opposition and backdrops they provide.

But, in truth, my favourite games of the year are in the Six Nations. This is probably because I, like so many, grew up watching Mike Teague and Micky Skinner hammering Frenchmen at Twickers, and waiting all week to see Rory Underwood get the ball in space.

So when I had the chance to play in it against the French, you’ll understand that I was a little miffed at looking up into the stands during the national anthems and seeing my grandfather singing La Marseillaise. Admittedly, he did sing ours too, but it did throw me off a touch. We got the game done and managed to win, and I got up to the post-match function to ask the old man what he was thinking.

“Boy, if a man puts his body in the way for his nation, you’d better be willing to offer him some respect,” he said. “I felt it the least I could do.”

An interesting perspective, though one that didn’t necessarily stand up when considered alongside the image of my gentleman’s area being very nearly removed by the very large, very strong hand of a French forward who, for the purposes of this article, we will call Monsieur X. The years of repeated attempts to remove my eyeballs for inspection when playing in the south of France

12 | February 1 2013 |

flashed across my little mind, too. But do you know what? I instinctively agreed with Gramps.

You see, having watched Pascal Ondarts, Keith Wood, Jonathan Davies, Finlay Calder and, more recently, Gonzalo Canale, this all kind of fits the romance of it all.

And I don’t think professionalism has seen that romance relent. Yes, there is cash and rankings at stake, of course. But honour outweighs all that business as soon as someone with a different accent tries to knock you into next week. It won’t be as violent as the old days, thankfully. But it will be every bit as vital.

So, what of the 2013 Six Nations? I see the Scottish hanging on by their fingertips, battling in defence and forcing teams into the errors that will provide them scraps on which to thrive. I see the Italians, once again, propping up the table, despite inhuman physical effort. I see the Welsh – with Adam Jones and Paul James fully fit – leaving behind them their ghastly recent form. If the Irish pack can get on the front foot, I can see their back line being irresistible.

But, for me, this year it’s all about England and Les Bleus. A Grand Slam might be pushing it for either side, but the English arrive bouncing with the confidence of youth – and the French, as ever, have a team to die for.

And, before you ask, no, I am not looking into my crystal ball. I had that removed in Toulouse in 1998. @davidflatman

It’s like this…

Bill Borrows Dear ITV commissioning execs, congratulations on the quite astonishing – although, in another way, totally understandable – success of the TV-ratings winner Splash! Even the exclamation mark succeeds in getting across everything that the original word failed to manage. Wow! I, for one, will definitely be tuning in this weekend to watch the grand final, with that woman off the DFS ads who looks like the alcoholic from Cagney & Lacey, Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards – how you managed to coax him out of retirement, I will never know – and Nick Knowles’ dad.

This is, obviously, a format that works – and so, without being too pushy, I wondered if one of you could take me out for an expensive lunch to discuss an idea for a new surefire Saturday early-evening smash hit?

Think Dancing on Ice meets Splash! With a twist! But without the pike... geddit?

Anyway, it involves the minor sport of curling and ticks the two major boxes: ‘celebrity’ and ‘something recognised by the International Olympic Committee that anyone can do while also delivering a kind of unspecified obligation to some form of nebulous Olympic legacy’.

“But where’s the twist?” I hear you ask. Well, let me explain. And, in so doing, simultaneously create and tick yet another all-important box. These will not be any old celebrities – these will be dead celebrities. A first, I think you’ll find. We’ll call it Dead Celebrity Curling.

Famed psychic Derek Acorah faxed me before I even came up with the idea to tell me he can deliver pretty much whoever we want in terms of ‘those who have passed over’. Even at this early stage, he says John Lennon, Edith Piaf and Isambard Kingdom Brunel are ‘bang up for it’. Former Primer Minister Edward Heath is believed to be keen, as are fast bowler Harold Larwood and both Rod Hull and Emu, with Eleanor of Aquitaine still a possibility. Sadly, Scott of the Antarctic has expressed some reservations about getting back on the ice.

As for the judges, alongside Acorah we hope to have Diana Princess of Wales (talks with her people are at an advanced stage) providing the glamour and Rhona Martin, the blonde 2002 Winter Olympics gold medalwinning Britain curling team captain, the authority.

And if that doesn’t ‘burn your stone’, to use a soon-tobe-popular catchphrase, nothing will.

Feel free to get in touch at the address below. I can do any day apart from the first Wednesday of every month.

Yours in sport, @BorrowsSPORT

Plank of the Week Tony Fernandes, QPR owner Club firmly in relegation zone, knocked out of FA Cup

by League One MK Dons. Transfer window closing.

Response? Twitter. ‘Fantastic response from QPR fans. Good chat with Harry [Redknapp]. I’m a fighter so if fans want me to stay I stay whatever happens.

End of subject. Thank you all.’ Harry: ‘Get off Twitter.’

Frozen in time

14 | February 1 2013 |

Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Arise, Bold Sir Brian When Sport lumped its hard-earned salary on the well-fancied Bold Sir Brian at Cheltenham last Saturday, it was almost inevitable that the nag would end up rump over tit (or whatever horses have) at the final fence, seemingly with his snout (see last bracket) buried firmly in the Gloucestershire sod.

Fear not, however – trainer Lucinda Russell has since reported him to be “very well, incredibly”.

| 15

2013 Six Nations Sam Warburton

16 | February 1 2013 |

Grand desiGns

Just as they did 12 months ago, Wales and sam Warburton arrive at the six nations on the back of recent disappointments. but, as We kick off our eight-page tournament previeW, the Welsh captain tells us a repeat grand slam is possible for his side...

The quieT maN The funny thing is, in a team full of big personalities, Warburton isn‘t the one you might immediately pick out as captain. That‘s not to take away from his ability, leadership or attitude – it‘s more a comment on the quiet nature of the man, and something he readily admits to when we talk about life off the field.

“I like to have a few quiet nights in every week, where I just turn my phone off,“ he says. “And even my fiancée knows I just need a couple of hours to myself to daydream and totally chill out. Beyond that, I like to visit my

parents, go see my sister‘s new baby, hang out with my friends. In fact, that‘s how I‘d describe my life outside rugby – friends, family and food. That‘s it, really.”

Warburton readily admits that accepting the captaincy, when it was offered to him by coach Warren Gatland back in 2011, wasn‘t something he took lightly.

“If I was asked to be captain for the first time now, I‘d say yes,“ he reflects. “I have two more years of experience and I am no longer one of the youngest in the squad.

Back then, though, I really wrestled with the idea. I had to speak to friends, family and my psychologist Andy McCann [with whom he talks before every game].

“I just thought it might be difficult to captain older players like Martyn [Williams] and Shane [yes, Williams again], and I didn‘t want to patronise them. Luckily, I‘ve learned over the years that it‘s not about one man.

You lean on quite a few guys to take leadership roles and call the shots. I bit the bullet when it was offered to me, eventually, and it‘s the best decision I‘ve made.”

He may have worried about taking the captaincy, but Warburton never wavered over his approach to the game. “When we turn up on match days, a lot of players walk around the pitch and chuck a ball around,“ he reveals.

“I‘ll just walk in and sit on my own in silence for 45 minutes. I don‘t get psyched up until I do my pre-match speech, and even then I‘m more of a tactician than a shouter. I don‘t believe in those Braveheart-style heroic speeches. Players need a bit of motivation, obviously, but it‘s the tactical side you need switched on once the game starts. You make

sure the team‘s prepared, but I won‘t go out of my comfort zone to pretend I‘m someone I‘m not.”

BaNishiNg The ghosTs Warburton‘s style of leadership certainly worked in last year‘s Six Nations. A late victory over Ireland was followed up by wins over Scotland and England – the latter by the narrowest of narrow margins after an almost unbearably tense ending, with England‘s David Strettle coming within a whisker of grounding the ball for a try in the game‘s final act. The Grand Slam was on, however much he and his team tried to ignore it.

“We didn‘t like to talk about a Grand Slam,“ he says. “No one will ever admit it, but of course we knew after the England win that we were two victories away from achieving it.

After beating Italy, we just had the French at home... and that was the weirdest build-up to a game I‘ve experienced. The guys were so nervy in training, and it was so quiet around the hotel. We didn‘t know what French team was going to turn up, but thankfully we managed to play our game and hold on to win.”

Importantly, that victory enabled the captain to finally start banishing the ghosts of that World Cup dismissal.

“Every time Wales played France, I knew I was going to get a lot of questions about the red card,“ he explains. “Now that we had beaten them to win a Grand Slam, it was kind of nice to make it old news. Not that it was just the Grand Slam that helped me move on.

After the World Cup, the red card crossed my mind most days for the next six months or so, including after that victory over France. > | 17

Stu Forster/Getty Images

W

hen we sit down with sam Warburton ahead of the big six Nations kick-off this weekend, the heat is very much on the Welsh captain. Not from us, mind – our questions haven‘t even begun yet. No, the air-con unit directly above Warburton is pumping hot air out at a rate of knots.

But then, isn‘t that what he‘s used to?

At the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, where he led his country at the age of just 22, Warburton made headlines for the 18thminute tackle on Vincent Clerc that saw him sent off against France in a semi final his team still could and possibly should have won.

On returning home, Warburton then led Wales to their third Grand Slam in seven years, before the tables turned again; they ended the year on a run of seven consecutive defeats, dropping into the third tier of international rankings ahead of the World Cup draw in December. Is it any surprise, then, that he is used to having the heat turned up?

2013 Six Nations Sam Warburton

“I want to be the best player In my country, the best In the brItIsh Isles”

“The real turning point was the next time I took the field for Wales, on the summer tour to Australia. It was the start of a new season, which helped me wipe the psychological slate clean. Now I don‘t really think about it until people bring it up.” Hint taken.

Stu Forster/Getty Images, Huw Evans Agency

What doesn’t kill you...

One chapter closed, then – but tough times were still ahead. Wales have since gone on a seven-match losing streak, failing to win any of three Tests in Australia before succumbing to four defeats on home soil in the autumn.

Warburton takes the positives from the current run, though, and believes Wales are a stronger team because of it.

“The Australia tour was a weird one,“ he reflects. “Initially it was so disappointing, but looking back we had actually progressed as a team. We lost those games by such narrow margins, and we know the 50/50 decisions could swing our way any other day. It was the autumn results that hurt more, because we were naive. Samoa and Argentina in particular targeted us at the breakdown, and we just didn‘t change our game plan or react to what was going on in time.

“But the feeling in the changing room – especially after that last result against Australia – is something that will help us in the long run. Victories and Grand Slams are all well and good, but losing is what drives you on to become a better team, a fitter team and a team that doesn‘t want to go through that

18 | February 1 2013 |

again. You can already see it in the camp this time round – players are pushing each other harder and harder. Four wins in the autumn, and we might have become complacent.”

And so to the Six Nations, and another fresh challenge for the man from Cardiff.

Rob Howley is tasked with leading Wales while Gatland is on British and Irish Lions duty ahead of the summer tour to Australia.

Howley will not, says Warburton, be taking the team on a dreaded Poland trip this time.

“It‘s quite nice not to go there, to be honest,“ he says. “It was just felt that a fresh approach was needed – and with the facilities we have here, we‘re feeling fresh and ready.”

home advantage?

But it‘s the opening and closing-day home ties, against Ireland and England respectively, that will have the fans salivating and – maybe – dreaming of glory once again. Typically, Warburton refuses to buy into the hype.

“It‘s great to have a home tie to start and finish, because I genuinely think the Millennium Stadium is the best place to play in the world,“ he smiles. “Ireland will be hurting after a few controversial games against us in the past few years, and some people might have them as favourites. We‘ve been underdogs the past three times we‘ve faced them, though, and we‘ve beaten them every time.”

And what of England, and a potential title-deciding final game? Warburton laughs:

Saturday Wales v Ireland MIllennIuM stadIuM BBC One 1.30pM

“It‘s the one the fans will be looking forward to, for sure – and I can guarantee the Wales fans will treat it as a World Cup final, whatever happens.”

Beyond that, what else does the future have in store? With so many players upping roots and leaving the country, is Warburton likely to follow suit? “I can see why players go abroad,“ he says. “A lot of guys come from unfortunate backgrounds, so the chance to help their parents or families out with money is obviously tempting. But I‘ve always thought of myself as a home bird, so I can‘t see it happening for me. I think Wales is going in the right direction at the moment, and I‘m just concentrating on the now. I‘m on my best run of fitness in years – 17 games and counting, touch wood – so I‘m just looking forward to staying fit throughout the coming games.

“My grandad used to say that what you put into life is what you get out.

A lot of people might laugh at that, but I do make sure I grab every opportunity I can.

That‘s why I ended up taking the captaincy, and why I keep pushing myself now. I want to become the best player in my country, in the British Isles, so I‘m planning to do whatever I can to get there.”

Ireland, you have been warned.

Mark Coughlan @coffers83 Under Armour is the Official Technical Partner of the Welsh Rugby Union

3

2013 Six Nations The Teams

WALES Key Player Returning from a knee injury that kept him out of the autumn internationals, Adam Jones’ curly brown mop has been sorely missed in the scrum.

With 83 caps under his belt, the 31-year-old’s control up front should come in handy, especially with the lineout likely to struggle.

one to watCh According to Howley, 20-yearold Ospreys starlet Eli Walker is putting serious pressure on giant wingers George North and Alex Cuthbert. Check out his stunning solo try against

229 england’s 229-point haul in the 2001 six nations – in which soon-to-be-sir Clive woodward’s side amassed 29 tries in five games – remains a record

Toulouse in December as an example of what he can do.

how they’re shaPing uP Not too well. After winning a third Grand Slam in seven years, the reigning champs lost seven games on the bounce (albeit by very narrow margins), including home defeats to Argentina and Samoa, and dropped into the third tier of teams for the World Cup draw in December (made 33 months before the tournament, naturally). Injuries have taken a toll, with Alun Wyn-Jones (shoulder), Bradley Davies (ankle surgery), Luke Charteris (knee) and Dan Lydiate (also ankle) among those absent, but it’s not all bad news. This side has a similar make-up to last year’s Grand Slam winners.

It’s amazing what one win does for the confidence levels; beat Ireland in Cardiff tomorrow, and things might start looking a little rosier for the red army.

since the six nations began in 2000, an inconsistent wales have either won the grand slam (three times) or finished in the bottom three every year

EngLAnd CoaCh After one year in charge, it’s hard to find too many faults with Stuart Lancaster. England missed out on the Grand Slam thanks to a Welsh burglary, but Lancaster has continued to give youth a chance and has reinvigorated the national side, culminating in that victory over New Zealand.

Key Player He can be frustrating at times, and a loose cannon at others, but Manu Tuilagi’s destructive power opened up the Welsh last season and his performance against New Zealand, scoring one try and setting up the other two, was nothing short of world class. Misses the Scotland game with an ankle injury, however.

one to watCh He might be only 21, but the way Joe Launchbury took to international rugby in the

20 | February 1 2013 |

autumn is a sign of big things to come. Expect a lot more from the 6ft 6ins Wasps second row – if he gets his chance.

how they’re shaPing uP Lessons have been learned from a winless South Africa summer tour, and from their autumn games, that will stand this young side in good stead. With the pragmatism – and boot – of Owen Farrell, and the unpredictability of Danny Care, they have the ideal half-back combo, while Chris Robshaw leads from the front. With three games at Twickenham, this side has every reason to be confident going into tomorrow’s tie with the Scots. That they face tough journeys to Wales and Ireland – not to mention the fact that it took them so long to realise that they had the upper hand against the All Blacks in December – means level heads will remain.

Their success is in their hands.

Michael Steele/Getty Images, Clive Rose/Getty Images

CoaCh While Warren Gatland is on Lions watch, assistant manager Rob Howley is back at the helm.

Unlike his autumn timeshare, however, the team is Howley’s from start to finish this time out, so he has an opportunity to make his mark.

“

“IT’S A TRIUMPH

HHHH CHRIS HEWITT - EMPIRE

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IN CINEMAS TODAY

Time To KicK on

2013 Six Nations

On the eve Of england’s six natiOns Opener, sport talks tO their fly half and irB player Of the year nOminee Owen farrell How‘s the feeling in the squad ahead of the Scotland game? ”It‘s really good. We all get on so well, and we‘re feeling sharp – so it‘s good to be back in this environment. Everyone‘s looking forward to what‘s coming up now. We just want to get going.”

David Rogers/Getty Images

And, on a personal note, you‘ve been flying recently. Are you feeling good? ”Yeah, really good. We‘ve had a great run of form with Saracens over the past however many games it‘s been – and we‘ve been really enjoying our rugby as a team, as I think the comeback against Racing Metro showed.

There have been a lot of big games over the past couple of months for us, and we‘ve delivered. So we‘re feeling good.”

Speaking of big games, the last time you were with England was for that New Zealand game.

We imagine that felt pretty good. ”Yeah, not too bad! It was brilliant. It was a massive result for everybody, not just in the team but all round the stadium.

It was a big scalp, but we know we have to look forward and build on it. You look back at games to see what went wrong

and where to improve; but sometimes you have to see what went right as well, and try to take it onwards. That‘s what we‘ve got to do from that game.”

What are the key things that went right, then? ”There was a lot, obviously, but the biggest thing to take out of it is that we need to make sure we keep upping the intensity as a team and putting pressure on teams. We really got stuck in to that game, and upped our intensity and kept getting stronger as the game went on.

That‘s something we need to do in the Six Nations now. That‘s the task, and that‘s what we‘ve been doing in training – getting used to the calls and playing together.

So hopefully we‘ll be flying come Saturday.”

Do you think it was an important game to win after the autumn disappointments? ”I think it can only help with the team‘s confidence, putting in a performance like that. We felt we‘d built on our performances game after game, so we were due a performance like that.

It was nice to show what we can really do, though. We‘ve set >

Saturday ENglaNd v ScoTlaNd TWIckENhaM BBc oNE 4pM | February 1 2013 | 23

2013 Six Nations Owen Farrell

“there are leaders all over the park in this team”

the standard now, though, and it‘s about building and not taking a backwards step. You don‘t look any further than the first game, obviously, which is going to be a massive one against Scotland.

But we‘re looking forward to hopefully putting in a performance like that again and coming out flying.“

Julian Finney/Getty Images

England are sure to be huge favourites for that game, but how wary are you of Scotland?

“Yeah, they‘re a really good team who are going to get stuck in – plus they have a new coach.

We‘re looking forward to the challenge. I think over the past four encounters, there hasn‘t been a bigger points difference than seven. We know it‘s going to be close, but we‘re looking forward to it.“ You have three home games this season, which is always a bonus, but your two away games are Ireland and Wales. Do you ever sit down and discuss a target?

“No, you have to focus on what‘s in front of you and put your

24 | February 1 2013 |

energy into that. If you take your eye off that next game, then it could come back to bite you very quickly. We‘ll obviously enjoy the challenge of going away to such great teams, but you don‘t want to look too far ahead.“

competition for every spot – and everybody pushing everybody else for their starting place can only help us improve and stay on top of our game. As a squad, we‘re in a very good place at the minute.“

You‘re going to hate this next question, then: does the Lions Tour add an extra edge to this year‘s Six Nations?

“Like I just said, you don‘t want to take your eye off what‘s in front of you – and there are some massive games ahead in this Six Nations. Of course it‘s a chance for everyone to go out and prove themselves, and we all know what a big year it is. But you have to focus on your own challenge before each game.“

You talk about a leadership group. Do you see yourself as one of the more senior members of the squad?

“I think being in the position that a fly half is in, you have to be a leader because you have to control the game and direct the team around the field as much as you can – with everyone else‘s help, obviously. But you‘re the one trying to implement and run the game plan. There are leaders all over the park in this team, though, and you don‘t have to look far over your shoulder to see another one.“

Chris Robshaw has been named captain, but other than his position few are nailed down.

Do you think that uncertainty helps the team?

“It can only be good for the team, yeah. There‘s a leadership group in the squad, but there‘s

Are you someone who likes to get psyched up for a game?

“Not really. I think you have to be a bit cool and calm playing fly half, so you can think about what you‘re doing and consider your

options. You have to concentrate through the full game, so you can‘t afford to go out there all guns blazing. If there‘s something to be said, or something you think needs to be said that will add to the group, I‘ll say it.

Otherwise, I tend to listen to the other leaders around me.“ After that New Zealand high, how much are you looking forward to getting going again?

“Yeah, obviously every time you put on an England shirt, it‘s a massive honour – so hopefully I‘ll be able to do it a lot more in the future. Whenever you pull on a shirt, you feel a huge sense of pride. And big games like the rivalry with Scotland – and kicking off the Six Nations at home – only add to that, so we can‘t wait.“ Mark Coughlan @coffers83 Get the latest behind-the-scenes news from Owen Farrell and his England teammates with O2 Inside Line, the weekly show from O2 – proud sponsor of England Rugby – and the RFU at O2InsideLine.com

32 Farrell was successful with 32 consecutive kicks at goal before finally missing a conversion against edinburgh in the final pool game of this season’s heineken Cup

1

2013 Six Nations The Teams

ireland Key Player Cian Healy. The Leinster loosehead prop has improved immensely in the scrum since Ireland were torn apart at Twickenham, and his loose play is arguably better than ever.

Some rampaging performances almost dragged Leinster into the Heineken Cup knockout stages.

Repeat that form in green, and a Lions shirt surely awaits.

one to watCh Craig Gilroy. While Munster’s Simon Zebo has been stealing the headlines recently, Gilroy could be the man to watch if he gets a chance. We hesitate to compare

16 since the tournament’s inception in 2000, scotland have won just 16 of their 65 six nations games, and are yet to finish above third

26 | February 1 2013 |

anyone to Shane Williams, but Gilroy’s jinking style, quick feet and devastating turn of pace does bring him to mind.

how they’re shaPing uP Nearly beating New Zealand one week, and losing to them 60-0 the week after, sums up Ireland’s year – they have struggled for consistency. The way they tore Argentina apart in the autumn will have boosted confidence. Munster and Ulster in the Heineken Cup quarters, and the presence of the usual Leinster names of Sexton, O’Driscoll, Heaslip and Kearney, shows a depth that Irish rugby hasn’t always possessed.

In Donnacha Ryan and Mike McCarthy, the Irish have found second rows to replace Paul O’Connell, while the back row looks as strong as ever. With England and France at home, a win over Wales tomorrow will have Irish eyes smiling.

ireland have the most consistent record of all the six nations sides, having finished outside the top three only once – a fourth-place finish in 2008

scotland CoaCh Scott Johnson steps into the top job after Andy Robinson’s resignation in November. Part of the coaching team who inspired Wales to their 2005 Grand Slam, Johnson is keen to build a team around the running style for which he is known.

Key Player Scotland captain Kelly Brown has gone from strength to strength since his move to Saracens, and the Londoners’ impressive squad means he enters the tournament rested and raring to go. In a side not exactly bursting with experience, his 52 caps will be invaluable.

one to watCh New Zealand-born winger Sean Maitland took just seven minutes to mark his Glasgow debut with a try last month, and he’s been fast-tracked into the squad.

In Maitland and Tim Visser, the

Scots have a genuine threat they’ve missed since Thom Evans’ untimely injury.

how they’re shaPing uP On paper, terribly. Last year’s Wooden Spoon was followed by three wins down under (including a historic win over Australia), but a dismal defeat to Tonga in the autumn was the final straw for Robinson. The new man in charge has drafted 10 uncapped players into the squad, while the absence of the recently retired Mike Blair is a huge blow, so the squad lacks experience. With new faces comes a lack of baggage, however, as England proved last year. Power in the pack remains impressive, so a lot rests on the selection of the half backs and the way in which the pace of Maitland, Visser and Stuart Hogg is utilised.

This squad possesses many dangermen – under Johnson, they might finally show it.

Sandra Mu/Getty Images, Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images

CoaCh Approaching his fifth Six Nations, Declan Kidney is the longest-serving coach in the tournament this year. But the old head has sprung a surprise with the selection of Jamie Heaslip as captain ahead of Brian O’Driscoll.

2013 Six Nations The Teams

france Key Player Morgan Parra. The French possess huge power in the pack and threats throughout their back line, but Parra is the man tasked with linking the two.

More importantly, he brings a calm head and reliable boot that retains a stability French rugby can sometimes leave at home.

9 one to watCh

Mathieu Bastareaud. The big man is back, having left his off-field troubles behind him.

the long-suffering italians have taken home the wooden spoon on nine of the 13 six nations tournaments, while a 4th place finish in 2007 remains their only venture outside the bottom two

28 | February 1 2013 |

Bastareaud’s barnstorming performances for Toulon have seen him recalled, and his mixture of power and subtlety is certain to cause more than a few headaches – in every way.

how they’re shaPing uP Fourth place in last year’s Six Nations was more a hangover from the 2011 World Cup than anything more serious, and the rest of 2012 saw more of the gallic flair Saint-Andre had promised. The 33-6 demolition of Australia in the autumn had everyone sitting up and taking notice of this French squad, while Clermont, Montpellier and Toulon have been flexing their muscles in Europe. There’s more of a structured feel to this squad than usual, with the game winners supported by hard workers across the park. Thierry Dusautoir’s return from injury is a welcome sight, and the former captain has a point to prove.

5 France are the most successful side in the six nations – les Bleus have won five of the 13 tournaments, including grand slams in 2002, 2004 and 2010

italy CoaCh Frenchman Jacques Brunel is taking charge of his second Six Nations with the Italians, and he’s brought a few new faces in to help. The autumn showed signs of improvement, but the running rugby he has talked about has yet to flourish.

Key Player It’s predictable, yes, but as long as he’s still playing, Sergio Parisse will always be the Italians’ key man. With 91 caps to his name, the Stade Francais man continues to strain every sinew for his country, and is just as likely to put in a 30m chip to the corner as he is to be found smashing the ball up into four rucks on the bounce.

one to watCh Selected for the first time since the World Cup, 6ft 4ins back rower Paul Derbyshire adds a ball-carrying presence to take

the focus away from Parisse, while his ability in the lineout gives the Azzurri options.

how they’re shaPing uP The Italians finished 2012 with defeat to the Australians by three points, and a tight defeat to the All Blacks. Add in Treviso’s strong showing in the RaboDirect Pro12 – they’ve won six from 13 this season – and Italian rugby is on something of a high. It’s at home where the Italians will be building their plans, however, with Ireland, Wales and France all facing the daunting trip to the Stadio Olimpico – and Brunel has filled the team with experience in order to build that fortress.

Gonzalo Canale and Andrea Masi will be a central part of Italy’s tight game plan, but it’s Luciano Orquera’s good form in the second half of 2012 that will have the Italians confident of taking a few more scalps.

Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images, Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

CoaCh Having returned civility to a squad torn apart under Marc Lievremont’s reign, Philippe Saint-Andre enters his second Six Nations in charge, and with a bit more control over the squad.

He’s had more time to make his mark on this team, and his selection of Pascal Pape as captain shows he’s not afraid to make big decisions.

Kevin Sinfield

A

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

32-yeAr-old mAn from oldhAm sits quietly in A hotel room in centrAl london, a photographer moving stealthily around him to get the obligatory one last shot. He is keen to return north as soon as possible, to his adopted home of Leeds, but not a flicker of irritation emanates from him. Kevin Sinfield is here to represent the Super League, and it is something he does with patience, grace and no little positivity.

“At the minute there‘s quite a lot of negative stuff around the sport, on the back of Bradford and Salford‘s financial problems,“ he says. “But both clubs have been saved, and I think there should be a positivity about rugby league in 2013. The standards that Super League are going to set this year are going to be higher than ever, I believe, and there‘s a World Cup at the end of it. It‘s a big year for all of us.“ The concerns surrounding the financial state of the sport in this country refuse to go away, however. The 2013 Super League begins without a title sponsor – can you imagine football‘s Premier League or rugby union‘s Premiership in the same situation? – while only this week a BBC investigation found that Super League clubs are facing combined debts of £68.5m. It doesn‘t make for pretty reading, but the bright side to which Sinfield refers does exist – attendances were at an all-time high in 2012, while Sky‘s continued support of the Super League guarantees that more people are watching the sport on television than ever before.

In a league of hIs own

Kevin Sinfield iS arguably the Super league’S all-time fineSt player, but the leedS rhinoS captain beginS the SeaSon aS hungry aS ever

Golden boy On the pitch, too, things are looking good.

Sinfield captained his beloved Leeds Rhinos to a third World Club Challenge victory, over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, at the start of last season; and, despite suffering a heartbreaking fifth defeat in the Challenge Cup final, ended the year with a record sixth victory in the Super League Grand Final.

Sinfield himself picked up the Harry Sunderland Trophy for the Old Trafford showpiece‘s man of the match, before receiving the ultimate award in his sport: the Golden Boot, awarded to the man deemed the best rugby league player on the planet.

“I was chuffed to bits just to be nominated, so to go on and win it was really surprising,“ he reflects. “Why was I surprised? Well, just look at the names who have won it before, and then at the other nominees: Sam Tomkins would have got my vote, although I‘m a big fan of the Aussies as well – especially Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. So for me to win was sort of unreal, but also a very proud moment.“ A quick look at the great and good to have previously picked up the Golden Boot, first awarded to Australia‘s Wally Lewis in 1984, shows that Sinfield is only the fourth Brit to receive the honour. He follows Ellery Hanley, Garry Schofield and Andy Farrell on to that elite list, but is typically keen to share the credit for his individual success.

“I don‘t think it was recognition just for me, but also for Leeds and what we‘ve done >

| February 1 2013 | 31

Kevin Sinfield as a team over the last 10 or 15 years,“ he explains. “I‘ve played alongside some fantastic players, for England as well as for Leeds, so I see it as recognition for both of those teams as well. It‘s a shame we‘ve had only four winners over the years, but I feel very fortunate to be a part of that now.“

Lightning cAn strike twice The mutual affection between player and club is one that has been cemented in the past two Super League seasons, when the Rhinos have somehow managed to grab Grand Final glory on the back of disappointing fifth-place finishes in the regular campaign. Does their inspirational captain have any explanation for such heroics?

"i was always tempted by rugby union, but leeds showed a lot of loyalty to me – it has been nice to give some of that back" Friday Leeds Rhinos v huLL FC | headingLey CaRnegie stadium | sky spoRts 1 8pm

“Not really – and we certainly haven‘t done it on purpose,“ he smiles. “The route we took in the playoffs last year [they had to win away at Catalans Dragons and Wigan to make the Grand Final] is about as difficult as it gets, I think. We‘d have loved to have finished as league leaders and gone on to win the Grand Final, but we weren‘t good enough to do that through the year.

“We came up against some great teams and got turned over by all different sides last year. The quality in the Super League now is such that if you‘re not quite right on the day, then you‘re going to get beaten. But it‘s funny, because when we ended up fifth last season, and found ourselves in the same scenario as the previous year, we found ourselves asking: ‘Why not?

Why can‘t we do it again?‘ We knew what was coming, where we‘d have to go and how we‘d have to play. We just knew that if we got on to a bit of a roll...“ Here, Sinfield drifts off into the kind of pleasurable reverie

Alex Livesey/Getty Images, Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Across the divide Now 32, Sinfield is that rarest of beasts in modern, top-level sport: a one-club man.

It is now almost 20 years since he first signed for Leeds, but how did a teenage Oldham fan come to be picked up by a club from across the Pennines?

“I got scouted playing for Lancashire against Yorkshire at Wakefield,“ he recalls.

“At the time, the Wigan scout was the Lancashire under-15 coach, and he was watching our game before his own team played. Wigan had already signed a lad who was playing in my game, but someone passed a comment that they‘d signed the wrong one, that they should have signed me. It was just a fleeting comment, I think, but the Leeds scout heard it and the next thing the phone was ringing. At the time I‘d also been in talks with Wigan and Warrington, but it just felt right.“ So began a love affair with the Rhinos that has seen Sinfield become one of the most decorated players in Super League history.

The Leeds captain has lifted the Grand Final trophy no fewer than six times in the past nine years, but it could all have been very different had he accepted offers to move to Australia – or across the divide to union – more than a decade ago.

“I have come close to leaving the Rhinos,“ he admits. “But not so close that there was ever a contract agreed or anything. I spoke with rugby union and Australia back at the end of 2002, but at that time I‘d not won anything with Leeds. Sport tends to go in cycles, and I felt that with the young lads we had coming through at Leeds back then, we might be about to have a cycle of our own.

“I was always tempted by rugby union, I suppose – the international stage, the World Cups and so forth are a massive draw – but Leeds showed a lot of loyalty to me, and it has been nice to give some of that loyalty back over the years. I don‘t regret any of it, by the way. I‘ve loved every minute, and I can honestly say that I have never even looked at another rugby league club in this country.“

one suspects he doesn‘t allow himself too often. It doesn‘t last long, however, as his focus returns and he reflects on whether the fact that Leeds faced Warrington Wolves in both major domestic finals last season represents a shift in the balance of power away from the traditionally dominant forces of Wigan and St Helens.

“I don‘t think so, no,“ he decides. “We beat Wigan in both semis last season, and Saints were very close too. I think any one of those four clubs can challenge – and I‘d probably extend that list of four, by the way, to throw Catalans in there, and possibly Hull too. I just think the competition is going to be a whole lot stronger this year. It‘s all up for grabs, but we‘ll do our very best in every competition – and hopefully we‘ll be good enough to get some more silverware.“ tony hodson @tonyhodson1 Kevin Sinfield will lead Leeds Rhinos against Hull FC tonight, in the first of over 70 live Super League games on Sky Sports this season. Watch on TV and on the move with Sky Go

| February 1 2013 | 33

Super League

six for the season

AheAd of the new cAmpAign, we select the six plAyers we expect to light up the super leAgue

Action Images/John Clifton, Getty Images

Kieran Dixon

london Broncos The emergence of the 20-year-old Hackneyborn winger in 2012 was one of the few highlights in a generally dismal season for London’s Super League club. Dixon was brought up in Hemel Hempstead and, after some sensational performances in the Broncos’ under-20s during 2011, was given his debut at the start of last season, going on to score 16 tries in 26 appearances – and collecting five man-ofthe-match awards on the way. Dixon is very quick, with a sharp rugby brain and great feet. Often compared to former England winger Jason Robinson, there is a genuine air of anticipation whenever he gets the ball.

Danny Brough

huddersfield giAnts Arguably the best kicker in Super League, the Huddersfield scrum half’s left boot can seemingly make the ball do just about anything.

A slight figure, but the 29-year-old Giants skipper has made his presence felt wherever he has been – perhaps most memorably with the drop goal that helped Hull FC beat the Leeds Rhinos by a single point in the 2005 Challenge Cup final.

A fine goal-kicker and superb tactical kicker, his ability to make the ball move around in the air causes defenders real problems. If his kicking alone weren’t enough of a threat, he has lightning acceleration and a real eye for a gap, allied to a shrewd rugby brain.

JoDie Broughton

sAlford city reds Big, strong and very, very quick, the Leeds-born winger has blossomed since joining Salford in 2010. It’s a mark of Broughton’s quality that he has continued to shine in a struggling team.

He’s scored many spectacular tries, but he’s also brave enough and strong enough to put his body on the line when necessary.

In 2011, Broughton won the Super League’s ‘Fastest Man’ competition, and last year he was called into the England squad for the second Origin game against the Exiles.

A qualified quantity surveyor, Broughton splits his time between rugby league and working for a construction company.

rangi Chase

cAstleford tigers A real jack-in-the-box, New Zealand-born Chase is one of the most exciting players in Super League. The 26-year-old half back joined Castleford Tigers for the 2009 Super League season and proved an instant hit, his sharp brain, neat footwork and sheer unpredictability often baffling defenders.

Chase admits that he often doesn’t know what he’s going to do next – that, and his ability to play in the faces of defenders, makes him a nightmare for opponents.

He turned in a man-ofthe-match performance for the Exiles in their victory over England in 2011’s mid-season international, and was later named the Super League Man of Steel.

Willie Manu

st helens Second rows don’t come more powerful or destructive than Manu.

An Australian of Tongan descent, he moved to Super League with Castleford Tigers for the 2006 season – but it was only when he joined Hull FC the following year that he began to fulfil his potential. In six seasons at the KC Stadium, he became one of the Super League’s standout performers.

Now 32, Manu has pace and power, plus an ability to offload in the tightest of situations and a reputation for putting in some giant hits. He has joined St Helens for the new campaign, with Langtree Park fans licking their lips at the prospect of Manu enhancing their free-flowing rugby.

KalluM WatKins

leeds rhinos The size, speed and sheer talent of the 21-year-old Leeds centre mark him out as a very special player for both Leeds and England.

He made his first-team debut for the Rhinos in April 2008, at the age of just 17, scoring a try against the then Celtic Crusaders in the Challenge Cup. Watkins scored four tries in 13 appearances in 2009, including a spectacular length-of-the-field interception effort at Headingley against Huddersfield. Two seasons of injury problems followed, but 2012 saw Watkins return and prove his class, scoring the opening try in Leeds’ 26-12 victory over Manly in the World Club Challenge in February.

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Super Bowl XLVII East v West

Brother v Brother

Back in September, 32 teams started their NFL campaigns, and we‘re left with just two: the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in a classic east versus west encounter. In purple and black, the east-coast team from Baltimore have one Super Bowl to their name. And in the red and gold corner, representing America‘s west coast, are five-time Super Bowl champions the San Francisco 49ers.

A fortnight ago in the NFC Championship, the 49ers came back from a 17-point deficit at the Atlanta Falcons to book their place in the final. Meanwhile, in the AFC, Baltimore went to the New England Patriots looking for revenge after they had knocked them out last season. The Ravens stormed the usually high-scoring Patriots, who played in five Super Bowls in 10 seasons between 2001 and 2011.

These are two very different teams from very different cities, with very different playing styles. Yet, oddly enough, both head coaches share one major thing… their parents. John (left) and Jim Harbaugh (right) are the first coaching brothers to be showing off their sibling rivalry on the sport‘s biggest stage. The game has been dubbed by some as ‘HarBowl‘, or the ‘Brothers Bowl‘. Both are passionate leaders and neither has been to the Super Bowl before. John, the elder by one year at 50, has been coaching the Ravens since 2008; he has brought them to the postseason every year, and has a great playoff record of eight wins and four losses. Younger brother Jim has been coaching the 49ers since last season. In his first year he took them to the NFC Championship game. His playoff record stands at three wins and one loss, and he would love to get one over on his older brother, who beat his team 16-6 at Thanksgiving last season. It must have been a pretty frosty atmosphere around the turkey.

San FranciSco 49erS

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images, Stephen Brashear/ Getty Images, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images, Jim Rogash/Getty Images

New OrleaNs hOsts super BOwl XlVII late ON suNday eVeNINg. the BIg easy Is fa happeN ON the fIeld, thOugh, sO we asked the authOr Of TailgaTe To Heaven, ad The ‘white collar‘ 49ers come into the playoffs with a star in the making. Their heavily tattooed quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, will be making only his tenth professional start on Sunday night. In week 10, the 49ers regular quarterback Alex Smith was concussed, which meant the backup and second-year professional Kaepernick stepped in.

He has played so well that Smith cannot get his old position back. Jim Harbaugh has even changed his style of play to suit Kaepernick‘s freakish athleticism. Most quarterbacks are ‘pocket passers‘, such as Baltimore‘s Joe Flacco, who are surrounded by big men making a ‘pocket‘ – such as tackle Michael Oher, who protects Flacco and gives him lots of time to make that accurate pass downfield.

With the 49ers‘ ‘read‘ option, Kaepernick makes a split decision [by reading the

36 | February 1 2013 |

opponents‘ defense] to either hand the ball off to his running back – the bruising Frank Gore – keep the ball and make a pass, or run the ball with pace to the outside.

If Kaepernick was a creative midfielder, he would be making Beckham-esque passes as well as dribbling around the whole team. It is rare that a running quarterback can throw as well as run. Against the mighty Green Bay Packers, he rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, which is a QB playoff record.

This will be the first time this ‘formation‘ has been used in the Super Bowl – and, although the Ravens have beaten the Broncos and the Patriots on the road in the playoffs, they have not seen the likes of this ‘read‘ option offense. They will need all the experience of Ray Lewis and company if they want to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Colin Kaepernick

History v Art

Flacco v Willis

Although neither team has lost a Super Bowl, history is on the side of the 49ers, who have won five to the Ravens‘ one. The Ravens won it more recently – they picked up their win in 2000, when they turned up with a powerful defense led by one of the greatest middle linebackers of all time, the ferocious Ray Lewis. Twelve years later, he is the only player remaining from that winning team. The Ravens joined the league in 1996, after Cleveland Browns owner Art Moddell moved the Browns franchise to Baltimore and formed a new team. Moddell died at the start of this season, and the Ravens have honoured him with ‘Art‘ decals on their jerseys. From the start of the season, the Ravens have been dedicating this campaign to their former owner.

Although the Ravens are a proud defensive team, they do have stars on the other side of the ball. Joe Flacco at quarterback has a strong arm, but can be inaccurate at times.

He is helped by a trio of very good wide receivers, while on the ground they use their workhorse running back, Ray Rice, who has a lot of power.

The 49ers defense, like the Ravens, are tough. They are good against both the run and the pass. If Ray Lewis is the best middle linebacker in the game, then the 49ers have the second best in Patrick Willis.

Alongside him is outside linebacker Aldon Smith, who loves to rush the quarterback.

He notched up a whopping 19.5 sacks in the regular season, and will be blitzing all day to get to Flacco.

S v Baltimore ravenS

mOus fOr Its party atmOsphere. we‘re mOre INterested IN what‘s gOINg tO am gOldsteIN, tO pIck Out fIVe key clashes that cOuld decIde the OutcOme

k v Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 1996, the first year of their existence. Since then, this franchise has been known for having a powerful and stout defense. The blue collar city of Baltimore loves their powerful leader, and this Sunday will be his last game before he retires.

The league will be losing a great player and a formidable leader. He will put his ‘eye black‘ on like the Ultimate Warrior, and he might have an odd chicken-like dance when he comes out of the tunnel; but come kick-off, he is the heartbeat of this team. And, despite his age of 37, he can hit as hard as anyone in the game. Lewis is hungry for another Super Bowl ring, and he and his teammates will look to finish his amazing career on the ultimate high.

Ray Lewis is not the only great player on this defense. The Ravens have one of the best safeties in the game, Ed Reed, who seems to pluck balls out of the air with ease and grace. And, with aggressive linebacker Terrell Suggs sniffing out a big hit, they fear no one. They are an older side than the 49ers, but they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Adam Goldstein @tailgateknight Adam Goldstein will be signing copies of his book, Tailgate To Heaven: A British NFL Fan Tackles America, at the Superbash at No 1 Sports Bar in Moorgate on Super Bowl night

| 37

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n Taken 2, Bryan Mills isn‘t looking for trouble. He‘s just a devoted dad who wants to teach his daughter to drive, have a beer with his buddies and maybe rekindle things with his now available ex-wife (Famke Janssen – so we‘re not blaming him). Okay, so he‘s the kind of guy who uses a GPS installed on his daughter‘s phone to track her down when she doesn‘t answer his phone calls – but aside from that, he‘s a grounded, settled, seemingly normal guy.

That‘s what makes ‘the switch‘ so thrilling to watch: the point when Bryan Mills finds himself or his loved ones threatened. At this precise moment, he suddenly accelerates into a different mode, using his brutally efficient skills to protect those he cares about in uncompromising fashion. It‘s a riveting display from Liam Neeson, utilising the gravitas he‘s established as a great actor combined with an ability to be a chilling badass that shocked audiences when Taken became the action hit of 2008.

I

Hunter BecoMes Hunted Neeson is as irresistible to watch in Taken 2. But, this time, it isn‘t him tracking down the kidnappers: they‘re

38 | February 1 2013 |

hunting him. The father of one of the traffickers from the original, consumed with rage over his son‘s death, swears retribution on the man responsible.

Now it‘s Mills, as well as his ex-wife, who find themselves ‘taken‘ hostage in Istanbul, with his daughter stranded on the outside. However, as he‘s tied up in a hellish basement, the lives of his family in the hands of sadistic captors, Bryan Mills finds ever more ingenious ways to turn the tables with calm, focused, calculated precision.

Like its star Liam Neeson, Taken 2 rapidly shifts up through the gears, the visceral action scenes escalating in scale and tension as it progresses.

One stand-out highlight is a breakneck car chase through the narrow streets of Istanbul, which reaches a shock conclusion. However, it‘s the thrill of seeing Bryan, outnumbered and outgunned, ruthlessly take out his foes one by one that provides the best moments – all leading to a dramatic showdown with the man responsible.

At one point, when his frightened daughter asks her father “What are you gonna do?” he offers the reassuring reply: “What I do best.”

Frankly, it‘s a pleasure watching the man at work.

He’s BAck. to do wHAt He does Best

MIlls’ skIlls B

ryan Mills famously acquired his “particular set of skills” over a long CIA career.

It’s not an experience we share, but we can offer a few essential survival skills that every man (or woman) should know...

TAlk ouT of TrouBle Perhaps you can’t deliver a spinechilling speech in true Bryan Mills style, but you can still talk your way out of a threatening situation. Like Mills, keep cool and don’t raise your voice. Gestures such as pointing can seem accusatory. Instead, keep eye contact with your (presumably) burly adversary and make your points firmly, speaking in a calm, clear, measured tone. By projecting a relaxed air, you’re diffusing tension and imparting to one and all that you’re in control of this situation.

BreAk down A door Smashing down a door isn’t your best first option: a locksmith is always preferable. But if it’s a real emergency and you must get that door down ASAP, this is the method.

First, do not shoulder-charge the door – unless you particularly enjoy dislocations. Instead, keep one foot firmly on the ground and kick as forcefully as you can with the heel of the other. Aim for the side of the door with the lock on, near the keyhole (the weakest spot of most doors). Keep on kicking it until the wood splinters.

fIreMAn’s CArry Oh no! A beautiful lady (or a hefty sumo wrestler, depending on your luck) has collapsed in a dangerous situation. How to move them to safety? First, raise them to a standing position as best you can. From there,

grab their right hand with your left hand and put their arm over your shoulder. Then wrap your right arm around the back of their right knee.

Squat down and hoist them over both of your shoulders to evenly distribute the weight. Remember to lift with your knees and keep your back straight.

Also, never move anyone unless you really, really have to: if they’re injured, you could well make it worse.

nAvIgATe By The sun

In Taken 2, Bryan Mills uses the noise from exploding grenades to calculate his location. Cunning, but if you’re without a smartphone (or any grenades) and need to get your bearings, use the army’s ‘shadow tip’ method. Plant a stick straight in the ground and mark where the shadow falls as ‘west’. Wait 15 minutes, then mark the new shadow line as ‘east’.

Stand with your first mark (west) to your left and the other directions are easy; north to the front, east to the right and south behind you. Simple.

shAke hAnds properly You can now talk your way out of a fight, kick a door down, rescue a prone human, and gain your bearings.

However, one scene in Taken 2 that alarmed us is when Bryan meets his daughter’s new boyfriend. Imagine: being introduced to a man of Millsian prowess who immediately distrusts you. You need to get him on side – and that starts with a proper handshake.

Make sure you grab the meat of the offered hand (never the fingers) and offer two firm shakes before withdrawing. Eye contact is again crucial. Also, never try the ol’ hand crusher. You’ll just come across like an insecure chap trying and failing to act like a tough guy.

on Blu-rAy, dvd And lIMITed edITIon Blu-rAy sTeelBook MondAy

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

FEBHIGHLIGHTS 1-FEB 7 » Football: Premier League Preview » p42 » Darts: World Cup of Darts » p44 » Cricket: South Africa v Pakistan » p44 » UFC: Jose Aldo v Frankie Edgar » p46 » Football: Dundee Utd v Rangers » p46

WEDNESDAy FOOTbALL | INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLy: ENGLAND v bRAZIL | WEMbLEy STADIUM | ITV1 7.30PM

Brazil stripped down Ahead of their glamour friendly against England, South American football expert and co-founder of Southamericanfootball.co.uk Rupert Fryer gives us the state of play with the Brazilian national team.

Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Daddy’s back Brazil are sort of starting from scratch now. Mano Menezes, who was sacked in November, brought through a lot of young players, such as Neymar and Paulinho. I think his last team had an average age of about 24, whereas under Felipe Scolari the average age has grown with more senior pros, like Ronaldinho, included. Scolari isn’t the most forward-thinking man tactically, but he’s a patriarch and is very charismatic. Everybody refers to the 2002 World Cup team as the Scolari family. That’s the togetherness he’ll try to foster in the squad now.

40 | February 1 2013 |

Ronaldinho’s recall To be frank, I’m not sure I’d have called him up. He’s 32 now and will be 34 by the time the World Cup comes around.

But, on form, it’s difficult to begrudge him a place. He joined Atletico Mineiro last year and they played the best football to watch in all of Brazil last season. He isn’t as quick as he once was, but he’s been tremendous in a central role. On club form, he deserves it – but Menezes brought him back twice and neither time did he do particularly well for Brazil.

Believe Neymar’s hype We have to look at everything in the context of how good Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are these days. But, if they weren’t around, Neymar would be the best player in the world within a few years. He’s matured and is less petulant than he once was, though he

still goes to ground a bit easily. I think it’s time for him to move on to Europe, though. He gets a lot of space in Brazil and, when he’s come up against European-style teams that press and condense the space, he hasn’t fared quite as well. Overall, though, Neymar really is the genuine article.

Number 10 decision Oscar has arguably been Brazil’s most important player over the past 12 months. He works tremendously hard off the ball – something that he’s not given enough credit for in England yet. He came into the team to play as a traditional, creative number 10, but also because he chases the opposition when they have the ball. However, Ronaldinho has played well over the past six months in a central role, and Scolari clearly rates him. Perhaps we might see Oscar pushed out to the

right – but I would imagine that he will still be heavily involved.

Weaknesses to exploit Brazil have had problems at full back.

Dani Alves is more of a de facto winger than a traditional right back, while Scolari has also called up Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid. Again, he’s more a winger than a left back. So the space behind full backs is something that Roy Hodgson could look to exploit. We’re also not sure whether Scolari will start with three centre backs, as he did in 2002. If he does, there’s been talk that David Luiz will be his Edmilson, who in 2002 brought the ball out of defence.

He’s called up Dante from Bayern Munich for the first first time, but Thiago Silva is injured, which is a big loss. We’re just not yet sure how this defence is going to work. @Rupert_Fryer

7 Days

Premier League

saturday qPr v NOrwIch | LOftUs rOAD skY sPOrts 1 12.45PM

Liverpool and Man City do their best to exploit each other’s defensive woes, while two big bosses meet at the Cottage sunday MANchester cItY v LIVerPOOL | etIhAD stADIUM | skY sPOrts 1 4PM

What a change half a season can bring. Look back to August, when these two sides drew 1-1, and the QPR team is barely recognisable. Djibril Cisse, Anton Ferdinand, Junior Hoilett and Rob Green all started in a line-up captained by Park Ji-Sung. Few of that lot, if any, will feature in the first 11 on Saturday – and, while some improvements are clear (64-cap Brazil international Julio Cesar is something of a step up from Green), QPR are rock bottom of the league. If that’s to change any time soon, winning this game is crucial. Norwich’s form has dipped, but QPR have won just once at home in the league all season. You wouldn’t bet against the two sides splitting the points again – a result that suits Chris Hughton far better than it does Harry Redknapp.

Feeling blue

saturday fULhAM v MANchester UNIteD | crAVeN cOttAGe esPN 5.30PM

Despite Liverpool’s overall struggles versus the top teams this season, Manchester City remain a club they have a good record against. Since Sheikh Mansour’s lucre came gushing into City in 2008, Liverpool have lost only two of their 11 matches against the Sky Blues.

The other results read six draws and three Liverpool wins, but that could easily be four victories if it wasn’t for Martin Skrtel’s wretched backpass 10 minutes from full time last August, which allowed Carlos Tevez to steal a point for the champions. Liverpool would likely accept a similar 2-2 end result on Sunday.

Manager Brendan Rodgers bemoaned the lack of leadership in his team after last weekend’s FA Cup loss to Oldham, and many of the players are, of course, not his signings.

However, Liverpool have spent £8.5m on 20-year-old Brazilian attacker Coutinho, when Rodgers’ team needs some muscle in defence and cover in goal, where Brad Jones has proved flawed cover for Jose Reina.

Liverpool have struggled against physicality at times and, although City are without their

42 | February 1 2013 |

most imposing powerhouse in Yaya Toure (on Africa Cup of Nations duty with brother Kolo), they could still fancy their chances of unsettling Liverpool’s defence – with Edin Dzeko offering physical heft plus the work rate of Carlos Tevez and/or Sergio Aguero.

Assuming that Vincent Kompany hasn’t made a miracle recovery from a calf injury, his absence means City themselves are more vulnerable than usual in defence. We could well see both sides hit the net again this Sunday, in what looks the pick of the weekend’s Premier League matches.

379 Minutes since Man City last conceded a goal at the Etihad: their December loss to Manchester United

Despite his resemblance to Tony Soprano, Martin Jol seems a genial chap. His teams also tend to play attacking, easy-on-the-eye football.

Perhaps that’s why he’s generally escaped criticism for Fulham’s poor form of late – but his team certainly weren’t a test for Manchester United in last weekend’s FA Cup tie. Manchester’s old don Fergie could even rest Robin van Persie for the full 90 minutes and cruise to a 4-1 win. If Fulham are to stop the rot of five consecutive losses to United, they will need to be far tighter defensively and to find a way of getting Dimitar Berbatov more involved. The problem is that they need him in two places at once – he’s both Fulham’s best finisher and most likely creative force; a trick that’s beyond even the Bulgarian’s magical skills.

André Villas-Boas has won over a lot of Spurs supporters and proved several critics wrong during his spell in charge of Tottenham. However, his apparent lack of interest in signing a forward, despite his team’s paucity of options up front, does seem a head-scratcher (we withdraw this statement if, by the time you read this, Spurs have made the late acquisitions of Lionel Messi, Radamel Falcao and a teenage Pele). West Brom have a good record at the Hawthorns, but have been vulnerable of late, conceding five goals in three January home matches against the less than mighty trio of Fulham, QPR and Aston Villa. Tottenham will be confident of creating chances, but West Brom are not without attacking spark – with Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku proving a handful for any defence. Overall, this looks an intriguingly poised match between two of the Prem’s more entertaining teams.

saturday NEWCASTLE v ChELSEA | ST JAMES’ PARK | 3PM

Newcastle boss Pepe Le Pardew has done what any manager facing a relegation scrap would do: signed lots of French players (renowned for knuckling down in tough situations). Hatem Ben Arfa is the Gallic flair that the Toon really miss, and his absence plays into the hands of Chelsea, who – while missing their own mercurial talent in Eden Hazard, due to ballboy shenanigans – should still have enough firepower to win this one.

saturday READING v SUNDERLAND | MADEJSKI | 3PM

It’s less than two months since these teams last met, but both have spent their time productively. Sunderland have moved upwards towards midtable, while several late comebacks have given Reading renewed zeal. Stephen Fletcher should relish coming up against Reading’s rickety back line, but the Black Cats will also know Reading represent late danger – particularly with Adam le Fondre lurking on the bench.

saturday ARSENAL v STOKE EMIRATES STADIUM | 3PM

saturday EVERTON v ASTON VILLA | GOODISON PARK | 3PM

The narrative, lest we forget, suggests that this is the type of match that foppish, north London fancy dans Arsenal struggle with. The truth is that Arsenal actually have a solid record against Stoke – particularly at home, where they’ve won all four of their league games since the Potters’ promotion in 2008. If they can hog possession and protect their weak defence, Arsenal should have enough attacking potency to extend that run.

As if they didn’t have enough big, scary mothercluckers in their line-up, Everton have added burly Dutch international Leroy Fer to their squad this transfer window. Bad news for Aston Villa, whose fragile back line has been bullied by physical attacking players all season.

If this match were taking place in the school playground, it would finish with Marouane Fellaini giving Ciaran Clark an enormous swirly in the boys’ toilets.

saturday WEST hAM v SWANSEA UPTON PARK | 3PM

saturday WIGAN v SOUThAMPTON DW STADIUM | 3PM

West Ham’s form has dipped since that magnificent 3-1 victory over Chelsea, but they’re still ahead of the other teams promoted in 2012 and likely to give Swansea a tougher fight than they did in their 3-0 loss in August. Stopping the flowing football of Michael Laudrup’s La Liga-nabbed players is the tricky task.

Still, it’s the last time they’ll have to do so before he (probably) rocks up at Chelsea next season – with Michu in tow.

Southampton make their DW Stadium debut on Saturday – and this is the type of fixture their fans dreamed about in the seven years away from the top flight.

Well, perhaps not, but it does represent a good chance for precious away points.

Premier League barnacles Wigan are always in trouble at this stage of the season, before a late run saves them.

But with Arouna Kone on international duty, they look short of attacking options.

| 43

All pictures Getty Images

suNday WEST BROM v TOTTENhAM | ThE hAWThORNS SKY SPORTS 1 1.30PM

7 Days Friday > Darts | WorlD Cup of Darts | Hamburg | sky sports 2 1.30pm

A cracking pair Whitlock and brash Geordie-cum-Aussie Paul ‘The Asset’ Nicholson, while Scotland’s Gary Anderson and Robert Thornton partnership could threaten if Anderson is hitting his doubles (a fairly enormous if). The semi finals and final take place on Sunday and should be enticing matches, but it begins with a round-robin stage in which England face Austria and Japan. Who, and let’s be fair to them, couldn’t beat Lewis and Taylor if both men were blindfolded.

Friday > CriCket | soutH afriCa v pakistan: 1st test JoHannesburg | sky sports 3 8.30am

Friday nba | minnesota timberWolves v la lakers | target Center, minnesota | espn 2.30am

Travel sick?

Lakers look ahead

Cricketing minds in this country may be focused on the 257 different occasions England are facing Australia this year (number approximate), but an intriguing three-match test series begins in south africa today. pakistan tend to travel poorly outside asia, but this is a resurgent, well-balanced team, featuring the liquid wrist of spinner saeed ajmal (pictured). of course, south africa won’t be preparing any raging turners for him, least of all because their quickbowling attack is the best in world cricket. married to a superb batting line-up, it’s easy to see why they’re strong favourites. However, with ajmal and a fine crop of fast bowlers – including all 7ft 1in of mohammad irfan – pakistan are capable of causing a few scares. and perhaps even a test win.

With the NBA All-Star Game on the horizon, the season has passed the halfway mark – and, for the star-studded los angeles lakers, it has been a rather miserable first half. Despite boasting some of the biggest and most experienced names in the nba, the lakers have failed to come together as a team and at the time of writing boasted a miserable record of 19 wins and 25 losses. after a recent clear-the-air meeting between the players, however, they did raise their game to beat the northwest Division-leading oklahoma City thunder. if the same unified team shows up against minnesota – who sit bottom of the northwest Division – the timberwolves should provide little resistance.

44 | February 1 2013 |

Paul Gilham/Getty Images, Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images, Harry How/Getty Images

England starting favourite for a World Cup is a rarity, but in a darts pairs competition Blighty rules the roost. Defending champions Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis (pictured) are the team to beat, but could face stiff opposition from the Dutch duo of Raymond van Barneveld and the mercurially talented Michael van Gerwen, whose 17 ‘perfect darts’ lit up Ally Pally at the 2013 PDC World Championship.

World Cup runners-up in 2012, Australia also boast a strong pairing of Simon

19:00

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THE NBA LIVE ON

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7 Days Saturday Football | ScottiSh cup: DunDee uniteD v RangeRS | tannaDice | Sky SpoRtS 1 12.45pm

Saturday uFc | JoSe alDo v FRankie eDgaR | manDalay bay, laS VegaS | eSpn 3am

Comeback special It’s a stacked card for UFC 156, with explosive Dutch heavyweight Alistair Overeem coming back from his drugs ban as he takes aim at the lantern jaw of Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva.

Lightweight Rashad Evans also returns for his first fight after last April’s loss to Jon Jones, but it’s the main event that really piques the interest. Frankie Edgar has long been one of the UFC’s premier lightweights, despite coming up against far larger

opponents. Now that he has dropped down to featherweight, that disadvantage is behind him – but taking on 145lb champ Jose Aldo (pictured, left) represents a different challenge. Edgar is a tenacious all-rounder, but he isn’t too tricky to hit cleanly. Providing Aldo hasn’t lost a step in his own 12 months out of the octagon, his speed and strikes may ask questions of Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar that he’s unable to respond to.

Sunday cRicket | Women’S WoRlD cup: inDia v englanD | mumbai Sky SpoRtS 1 3.30am

There’s bad blood in this pick of the Scottish Cup fifth-round ties. A Rangers supporters’ boycott over the part Dundee United played in the Glasgow club’s failed attempt to gain re-entry to the SPL last year means the Gers will be without the majority of their away support, while several United fans apparently plan on wearing masks of former Rangers owner Craig Whyte in mocking tribute to their opponents.

46 | February 1 2013 |

However, the match itself represents a solid chance of an upset. Dundee United are on a winless home streak that stretches back 11 games, while manager Peter Houston stood down after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Ross County. Much depends on the fitness of Rangers captain Lee McCulloch (pictured), but home fans may yet need those masks to hide some pretty red faces if they fail to beat the Third Division leaders.

If you’re picking this up on Friday morning, england’s women are about halfway through their opening World cup group match against Sri lanka in mumbai – their next game coming against hosts india in the same venue in the early hours of Sunday morning. as defending champions, england are tournament favourites, but they did lose their final warm-up game against new Zealand on tuesday. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarah taylor (pictured) could be pivotal, although as captain charlotte edwards warned Sport last week, india always tend to perform well in home conditions.

Mark Runnacles/Getty Images, J osh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images, Paul Thomas/Getty Images

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Call of the ocean Waking up to a new challenge every day, relishing the opportunity to travel, enjoying the benefits of a stable and fulfilling profession... if this sounds like you, then perhaps it’s time to consider a career in the Royal Navy ife, and the career that forms such a large part of it, so often gets in the way. How many times have you had to miss the weekly five-a-side because of having to work late? Or forgotten a friend’s birthday because of a deadline that has dominated your thoughts?

Or had to rearrange your holiday plans because someone at the office has already booked off the time you wanted to take? In the modern world, it seems, frustrations abound.

But they don’t have to. There is a career in which sporting pursuits are encouraged rather than obstructed; in which your friends and colleagues are just as important as the work you do; and in which travel isn’t something you do when work allows, but an integral part of your life at every turn. A life without limits... and that life is in the Royal Navy.

L

CArEErS iN foCuS

Security service The Royal Navy has a well-earned reputation as a force that provides security for the nation it serves, protecting Britain’s ports, fishing grounds and merchant ships while aiding humanitarian and relief missions around the world. But it also offers a different kind of security to those who serve within it, providing a job with stability and variety that is all too uncommon in the civilian world, not to mention a combination of pension and benefits the rest of us could only now dream about.

A job that offers such variety is naturally a great pull, but life in the Royal Navy is about so much more than that. Unless you want to be an air hostess, where else could you find a career in which travel plays such a large part – and where you actually get to see so much more than the inside of an airport and hotel? How many walks of life actively encourage the playing of sport outside your working hours, fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie that has a direct positive effect on the job you do? And how many careers throw different challenges your way every single day, giving you the chance to affect people’s lives in such a positive way as you embrace them?

Very few, if any, is the answer to all the above – and the huge range of career paths within the Royal Navy means there will be something to suit almost everybody. So head online now, to www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers, and take a look at the opportunities on offer. Who knows where it will lead you?

139,000,000 square miles of sea.

58,000,000 square miles of land and an entire sky. Welcome to the biggest workplace in the world 48 | February 1 2013 |

Air Engineering technician As a vital part of the air operations team, you’ll take charge of scheduled maintenance and pre- and post-flight servicing and inspections for the Fleet Air Arm’s aircraft. You could serve on board a frigate, destroyer, helicopter carrier, at a Royal Naval Air Station or with a front-line squadron based overseas.

Later on, you could specialise in mechanical technology or avionics.

Naval Nurse You’ll join Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, leading a team providing medical support to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel on shore and at sea, in the UK and around the world. As part of your training, you’ll work at sea within the 100-bed primary casualty receiving facility on board RFA Argus, and may train as part of a surgical team on shore, developing the skills you’ll need to work in hostile environments.

Marine Engineering Submariner You are a highly skilled technician responsible for maintaining the hull, engines, power, water purification and hydraulics systems – plus the nuclear reactor.

A Royal Navy submarine combines the engineering challenges of a warship, a nuclear power station and, given the alien environment it inhabits, a spacecraft. It’s a career offering challenges and rewards you won’t find anywhere else in engineering.

*The Royal Navy believes in equal opportunities. This means we’ll consider your application no matter what your sex, race, ethnic origin, religion, sexuality or social background † Not the serviceman in the featured image

CASe Study

Continuing our series of interviews with serving Royal Navy Ratings, we speak to Chris – a 27-year-old Able Seaman specialising in Mine Warfare† What inspired you to join the Royal Navy?

“I wanted to join the Royal Navy from a young age; mainly to see the world, be part of the Military and to serve our country. Then, as I got older, I realised it was also a good career choice – that the pay and other bonuses, such as the pension, were better than I was being offered anywhere else. Another influential

factor was the opportunity to play sport regularly.”

I’ve also become more disciplined at looking after my own fitness.”

What role are you training for, and what does this entail?

“I’m a Mine Warfare Rating, which means my main job onboard involves working on the Sonar in the Operations Room – searching the seabed to find mines, and launching and recovering a remote control vehicle from the ship that we use to classify and dispose of sea mines. I’m also trained to do many other jobs, such as firefighting, weapons and guns crews, and bridge and harbour Quarter Master.”

What do you feel you have gained most since joining the Royal Navy?

“The experience of travelling around the Mediterranean with my friends is one that I’ll never forget and really enjoyed. I also have access to the gym on a daily basis, and play rugby regularly for HMS Nelson and Portsmouth Command. Playing an extra game every week, on top of the games I play at home, has definitely helped me develop more as a player.”

Tell us about the part of your training you have enjoyed the most, and why.

“I enjoyed being put into new situations with new people, and having to then adapt and overcome different challenges together. We all soon became very close friends and learnt a lot about ourselves.”

What skills have you learned that you can take into everyday life?

“I am much more organised now, and work very well as part of a team. But I’m also very confident taking charge of situations and speaking in front of large groups.

For further information on Royal Navy careers, call 08456 07 55 55 or search 'Navy Jobs' online

The Royal Navy appears to have a strong sporting pedigree...

“I like that everyone who plays sport within the Royal Navy is very competitive, fit and has a strong mentality to win, which makes games more enjoyable. The Royal Navy also provides good training sessions for all their sports, with good passionate coaches and Physical Training Instructors.

There are also platforms to progress on to different levels if you have enough skill; you can end up representing the Royal Navy in your sport and even compete at a professional level. The training facilities in naval bases and ships are also very good.”

| 49

Extra timE

P52 Denzel snorts cocaine and lands a plane in Flight

Making the most of your time and money

Grooming

Game changer Davidoff: the Game

‘A natural distinction, an aura of elegance that commands a man’s respect and will ravish a woman’s heart.’ Such is the potency of Davidoff’s latest fragrance, they assure us. Keen to unleash the power within the poker chip stack-like flacon – made of a rather classy transparent black glass – we’ve splashed on the eau de toilette (£29 for 40ml, £39.50 for 60ml or £48 for 100ml) ourselves.

And it delivered, revealing a top note of the perfumer’s own Gin Fizz, a fresh and aromatic chord based on juniper berries.

If you learned anything from Monty Python’s Life of Brian, you’ll know bringing forth this fruit is an important step on the way to establishing yourself as The Messiah. The refined blackwood base note, meanwhile, is a masculine and elegant one. There’s also a hair and body shampoo (£18 for 200ml) and deodorant stick (£14 for 70g) available. Plenty of reasons, in fact, to look on the bright side of life.

Available nationwide

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ET

Entertainment

CaPTain WhiPPy

Denzel Washinton proves he’s still the cream of the crop in Flight, while you can now see a dazzling aerial view of London

Film

Experience

The View from The Shard

Flight

A breathtaking aeroplane crash landing – one of the most tense and original action sequences we’ve seen in years – starts Flight with a bang. Captain ‘Whip’ Whitaker is hailed as a hero. That is, until empty vodka miniatures and toxicology reports offer investigators hints of the truth. Whitaker is a brilliant pilot, an alcoholic and a long overdue reminder of how compelling Denzel Washinton is at his best. Not all actors can combine a grounded character

Music

Pedestrian Verse Frightened Rabbit

Quality British indie bands are in short supply, but this fourth album from Frightened Rabbit sees the Scottish five-piece come out roaring like emboldened lions. Led by Scott Hutchison’s burnished brogue, their songs – such as The Woodpile – are rollickingly anthemic at times. In no way a pedestrian effort, lads.

Out Monday

52 | February 1 2013 |

portrayal with leading man charisma, but Washington nails it. As Captain Whip battles the demon drink, dodges the truth and develops feelings towards fellow addict Nicole, Flight takes us on an involving journey. It does slip into melodramatic cliche territory at times, but director Robert ‘Back to the Future’ Zemeckis extracts a revival performance from Washington to make it all worthwhile. Keep an eye out for a scene-stealing John Goodman, as well.

Out today

Blu-ray

Taken 2

Just as you’re patching things up with your ex-wife and daughter, the relatives of a sex trafficker you electrocuted to death turn up to wreak their vengeance.

We’ve all been there. Thankfully, Bryan Mills (played with a quiet, pants-soiling intensity by Liam Neeson) has the skills to handle them in this violent, fast-paced sequel to the 2008 action hit.

Out Monday

Music

Wonderful Glorious Eels

A 10th studio album from the Californian low-fi rock specialists: has it really been so long since Novocaine for the Soul? Eels haven’t lost their touch with a tight single, however, as the scuzzy, bass-driven Peach Blossom perfectly illustrates.

Mark Everett turns 50 this year, but has the vigour of a man half his age. A worthy new addition.

Out Monday

Before today, the only way to gawp at London from atop The Shard would be to don your ape suit and shimmy up it like a lowrent King Kong. No more. You can now visit a viewing platform that towers above the capital’s other vantage points, offering a stunning, 40-mile-wide view.

Your monkey ass is paying £24.95 for the pleasure, but you will get to enjoy high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lifts, digital telescopes and an illustrated guide to 140 great Londoners, including Chris Eubank. Bonus!

Opens today

Film

hyde Park on hudson

Bill Murray is on rascalish form in this gentle comedy-drama about US President Franklin D Roosevelt receiving a royal visit in 1939.

While the focus is on Roosevelt’s affairs (not of the political type), Britain’s King and Queen are the most interesting couple, as they earnestly debate whether royalty should eat a hotdog. Get some onions on it, your majesty.

Out today

“THE MOST EXCITING FILM OF THE YEAR” SHORTLIST

EMPIRE

SFX

T O TA L F I L M

FHM

DVD

£9.99 BLU-RAY

£14.99

ON BLU-RAY AND DVD NOW / LO O P E R U K

Available at SELECTED STORES AND AVAILABILITY. ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.

sainsburys.co.uk/entertainment

@ LO O P E R U K

© 2012 Looper Distribution, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Packaging © Entertainment One UK Limited 2013. All Rights Reserved.

et

Fitness

With 11 weeks to go, what distance should I be up to for my long run?

“The ‘long run’ is the most important part of your marathon build-up. With 11 weeks to go, though, the distance of a long runs varies from runner to runner. For the motivated and experienced marathon runner, it may already be 16 miles or more. For those just trying to scrape a finish, then six to eight miles with 11 weeks to go means you still have enough time to progressively build up the distance over the next eight weeks – eventually reaching a longest run in the region of 18 to 20 miles three weeks before the big day. If you’re not up to six or eight miles yet, don’t panic. There is still plenty of time to build up to it. Add one or two miles each week for the next eight weeks.

Gentle progression helps build your stamina, but also your confidence.”

moodboard/SuperStock

running a bunch of times a week is monotonous: how can I mix up my training so it’s varied but still effective?

“The minimum ‘bunch’ for marathon training is three runs a week – anything less and your fitness is going to fall short when it matters.

One approach is to go out and do the one-paced plod on every run. This is effective in building stamina, but can be dull. Varied training is much more effective in boosting fitness and keeping motivation high. Intervals are great for this; it might sound a bit ‘pro’, but it’s actually straightforward and highly effective. Run at a faster pace for a fixed amount of time. Have a break, walking or jogging, for a fixed amount of time, and repeat! An example: six three-minute runs with two minutes’ recovery in between.”

54 | February 1 2013 |

Marathon battle

With fewer than 80 days to go until the London Marathon, we asked elite running coach Martin Yelling some of the key questions those of you in training might want answered

how long should I spend on stretching?

“Consistent running is the key to marathon success. That means staying injury-free, and stretching can help with that. Short periods of regular stretching before your runs (mobility and dynamic exercises, such as circling or lunging) and focused, controlled, held stretches after your run can be effective. ten minutes of additional stretching every other day really helps, particularly if targeted at specific areas of injury risk, such as calves or hamstrings.”

I prefer to run in the evenings, but the marathon starts early in the morning – do I need to be practising that?

“Ultimately it doesn’t matter when you do your training runs, as long as you do them! But running in the morning can help you practise your routines and get used to how your body responds. The perfect time to practise this is on your long run, perhaps at the weekend.”

Does proper training mean giving up alcohol?

“No, not at all – although alcohol certainly isn’t the best fuel, and the hair of the dog and long runs don’t mix well. You should start your runs appropriately hydrated – your urine should be the colour of pale straw – and stay fuelled and hydrated when you run.”

Martin Yelling is the Lucozade Sport Elite Running Coach. To find out more, go to lucozadesport.com

traInInG aIDS the kit trigger Point Performance Foam Grid roller

“Foam rollers are especially useful for helping you ease out the tight spots you’ll inevitably get with increased running miles in the bank,” says our man Martin Yelling. You can get a basic model for as little as £15, but the Grid has differentsized zones that mimic a masseur’s fingers – perfect for really getting into those trouble spots. £44.99 | runnersneed.com

the nutrition lucozade Sport Isotonic Performance Fuel

When running long distances, you need to maintain your energy levels and replace the fluids your body loses through sweat. In that regard, swigging water will only get you so far; whereas Lucozade Sport (the official drink of the London Marathon, don’t you know?) is formulated to contain carbohydrates for energy and electrolytes for hydration.

In short: better than water.

eT

Gadgets

BlACkBerry’S Bold neW FlAvour

It tastes like Ribena. The BlackBerry Z10, launched on Wednesday, has abandoned the brand’s physical keyboard in favour of a touchscreen

BlackBerry Z10

With a 4.2-inch multitouch screen, no physical keyboard and a totally revamped operating system, the Z10 doesn’t look much like its ancestors.

Features include an NFC chip for contactless content transfer, and the ‘BlackBerry Hub’, which allows you to see all your messages from various sources with a swipe of your finger. £TBC | uk.blackberry.com

Fischer Audio Ceramique Headphones

Crafted from ceramic to eliminate distortion, this sleek pair has 6mm drivers to provide clean and clear sound, and a tangle resistant cable with in-line remote. They make great smartphone companions that really look the part. £80 | fischeraudio.eu

56 | February 1 2013 |

IT7 Audio Sport Headphones

Designed in conjunction with former Aston Villa midfielder Ian Taylor (no, really), these lightweight Bluetooth hook headphones are great for exercise – whether you’re jogging round the park, or taking to the pitch at Villa Park. £100 | tesco.com/phoneshop

thinksound ts02+mic Headphones

Made from renewable and recyclable materials to minimise their eco-footprint, these headphones have an integrated microphone and are perfect if you prefer your music to be accompanied by a smug sense of self-satisfaction. £100 | amazon.co.uk

Fanny Wang Buds

These silicone headphones sit securely in your ear, and super-sized air chambers give you the kind of sound quality you’d expect from a pair of over-ear headphones. They also offer a valuable lesson in not letting a group of 13-year-old boys name your company. £70 | fannywang.com

Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Rules of

Rule 24.

DRINKABLE OBSTRUCTION A bottle of Asahi Super Dry that is placed in front of a player is his or hers to drink for free.

Bring this ad into any one of our three clubs - Royal Smithfield, Soho Golf & Country, or Kensington National - and you and a maximum of three playing partners won’t just get to play in the most advanced golf simulator on the planet (the same one Luke Donald uses), you’ll enjoy a round of Asahi Super Dry on us too. And the offers don’t end when February is over. There are half-priced Mondays and half-priced Fridays (after 5pm) all year long, and even more perks if you go to the web site and become a club member, like free membership. www.urbangolf.co.uk/freedrop Please drink responsibly. Only one Asahi beer available per person per booking regardless of the length of the booking up to a maximum of four beers.

Extra time Megan Felix

58 | February 1 2013 |

| 59

Apix Syndication

eet model Megan Felix. “Just like Felix the Cat,” she confirms. She is brought to these pages by virtue of her relationship with Tim Reyes, an American pro surfer who competes on the ASP World Tour and whose attention may or may not have been grabbed by this very walk on the beach.

Still, we’re sure his approach was a subtle one – for Felix is not to be underestimated.

“People stereotype models, but it takes a lot to do what we do,” she explains. “It takes someone with a good head on their shoulders to deal with rejection and how people look at you – guys staring.”

We empathise. After a lifetime of rejection and men staring at us on the Tube, Sport knows exactly how poor old Felix feels.

M

Cats like Felix

et

Kit

shirts that show your six appeal It’s time to don your nation’s colours – or just wait until the final week and buy the winners’ shirt

top row (l to r): italy home £65 prodirectrugby.com, ireland home £55 lovell-rugby.co.uk, France home £65 prodirectrugby.com Bottom row (l to r): wales home £85 underarmour.com, scotland home £81 canterbury.com, england home £91 canterbury.com

60 | February 1 2013 |

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