Wednesday, February 25, 2009

DEMPSEY: BEST TIME AT FULHAM

Clint Dempsey believes that with Fulham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, following Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Swansea City, and the team riding high in the Premier League, he is enjoying the most successful time of his career.

The American forward, who signed from New England Revolution in January 2007, notched up his first FA Cup goal to help Fulham advance to the last-eight of the competition for the first time in five years.

Bobby Zamora netted the winner in the FA Cup Fifth Round replay after Jason Scotland opened the scoring for the Championship side. Next up is home tie against Manchester United and with Roy Hodgson’s team eighth in the Premier League they are a world away from last season’s relegation struggle.

“I certainly couldn’t have predicted this 12 months ago,” said the 25-year-old, whose team have still only lost at Craven Cottage once this season. “It was great to get my first FA Cup goal against Swansea.

“In the time that I have been here it has been difficult and this period has definitely been the most successful. It has been great to be a part of it. Hopefully we can keep on going!

“It is going to be tough playing United, but to win the FA Cup you have to beat the best. It gives us a chance to go on and win something this season, so we will have to go out and play the best we can.”

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LAMPARD: CHELSEA EXTRA DETERMINED TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Frank Lampard is hoping lady luck is shining on Chelsea on Wednesday when his team host Italian giants Juventus – and he has expressed the deep desire the Blues have to make amends for last May’s heartache in the Champions League Final when they lost out to Manchester United.

In Moscow Lampard levelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener but his team were defeated 6-5 on penalties when captain John Terry missed his spot kick and Nicolas Anelka had his saved by Edwin van der Sar. And the 30-year-old has admitted that he is hoping for a slice of fortune so his team claim Europe’s biggest prize this year.

“After last year we really want to win the Champions League,” he said ahead of the first leg of the last-16 game at Stamford Bridge – new manager Guus Hiddink’s first at home. “There is obviously something added this year because of the manner we came so close. You can’t help but have that on the back of your mind. There is a just a great determination to go back and win it.

“Whether that is this year or not is very hard to call. In the Champions League there are so many top teams. There are so many moments to get to that final that can go either way. You can win a game on a little bit of luck, or on a small detail.”

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RANIERI DESERVES CREDIT FOR CHELSEA SUCCESS

Claudio Ranieri deserves to be credited with transforming Chelsea from a team of also-rans to champions – that is the view of Frank Lampard and current manager Guus Hiddink,

The Italian was at the Stamford Bridge helm for four years from 2000 before Roman’s Revolution took over in 2003.

And he was sacked for Special One Jose Mourinho after one season under Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich – despite finishing second in the Premier League.

The 57-year-old, who is now in charge of Juventus, Chelsea’s Champions League opponents on Wednesday, bought Lampard from West Ham for £11m in 2001.

And the England midfielder believes that if it wasn’t for Ranieri, who also reached the FA Cup Final with the Blues, he would not be the player he is today.

“I think Claudio should take a lot of credit for Chelsea’s success,” said Lampard. “A lot of things have happened at the club and Claudio is part of that.

“He bought a lot of good players to the team, even before the Abramovich era and without him I would not be here.

“I have the utmost respect for him and think he is a great man as well as a great manager. He opened my eyes in football terms.

“I think Claudio has to take a lot of credit of what he has done for the club in the time he was here (at Chelsea).”

The 30-year-old continued: “He elevated John Terry to captain and now he has developed in to one of the best captains in the world.

“Claudio achieved a lot when he was at Chelsea. He oversaw the transition of Chelsea being a good team who were not challenging for titles to one that was.

“He certainly gets credit for that in-house – I appreciate what he did for me and for the team.

“The fans, who are the most important people at Chelsea, hold him in very high regard because of the way he took the team on.”

Chelsea’s new Dutch manager Hiddink, who won his first game in charge of the Blues at the weekend, also praised Ranieri.

He said ahead of last-16 clash: “He is a gentleman coach and very intelligent.

“He knows how to cope with the press and cope with the pressure in this job and I respect him very much.

“He has several abilities. When he was at Chelsea he made a team that was very competitive for the Premier League.

“I have seen that he is a very good organiser of his teams – they have enormous tactical discipline.

“It is difficult to play against the teams he is managing.”

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ZAMORA STRIKES AGAIN AS FULHAM DOWN SWANSEA

Roy Hodgson had predicted that Bobby Zamora’s first Premier League goal in 1,763 minutes, scored in Sunday’s triumph over West Bromwich Albion, would provide the confidence for the forward to bag many more. And so it proved last night as the 28-year-old broke Swansea City’s hearts with a late winning header at Craven Cottage to end a scintillating FA Cup Fifth Round replay.

Zamora, a summer signing from West Ham, earned more praise from his manager on Tuesday night. “He could have had four or five,” said Hodgson, whose side have still only lost one game at home all season.

“A number of times he was within a millimetre of reaching the ball, the goalkeeper made three good saves and he scored a very good goal. I thought his performance was quite outstanding. His target play, his linking up with other players is just what we hoped we would get from him.”

Hodgson had witnessed his side 2-0 defeat of West Brom only 52 hours before kick-off and one could understand his complaints to the Football Association about his players being fatigued.

Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez came close early on for the visitors but found Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in inspired form, in particular in the 28th minute when the Spaniard’s low-struck spot-kick deflected off the bottom of the wall and hit the former Middlesbrough stopper’s trailing leg.

That close call seemed to shake Fulham from their torpor as they had the better of the remainder of the half. Colossal central defender Brede Hangeland came closest to breaking the deadlock five minutes before the interval. But his thumping header from a Simon corner only found the Swansea crossbar.

However, it was the visitors who drew first blood through Scotland. The 30-year-old striker was found by Mark Gower just inside the Fulham box and, with too much space for Hodgson’s liking, toe-poked his effort to the left of Schwarzer’s groping hand – it was his 14th goal in 15 games.

The home side began to pepper Dorus De Vries’s goal and their persistence finally paid off when American Clint Dempsey nodded in Davies’s corner in the 76th minute. Zamora competed the scoring three minutes later and earned his side their first FA Cup quarter-final in five years. They host World Champions Manchester United in the last-eight.

“United will be the favourites,” grinned Hodgson, “but they will have their distractions, too. Why can’t we win? I was surprised at the players energy level tonight – they were incredible. I can’t praise the team enough.”

Losing manager Roberto Martinez added: “I’m extremely proud of the players but we are very disappointed to lose. We controlled the game for long spells. Over 180 minutes I thought we deserved to be the side to go through but we did not get that little bit of luck you need in the FA Cup.”

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies, Dacourt (Murphy 59), Etuhu (booked 3), Dempsey (Kamara 89); Nevland (Gera 59), Zamora.

Subs: Zuberbuhler, Milsom, Kallio, Baird.

Swansea (4-4-2): De Vries; Rangel, Williams (Bessone 89), Serran, Tate; Dyer, Gower (Tudur-Jones 55), Britton, Gower; Scotland, Bauza (booked 69, Butler 72).
Subs: Cornell, O'Leary, Orlandi, Collins.

Referee: Mark Halsey

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

MANLY WIN WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE WARM-UP

Australian NRL champions Manly Sea Eagles had to wait until the 68th minute to take the lead in their warm-up friendly with Harlequins ahead of next Sunday’s World Club Challenge against Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

And though they ended winning 34-26 Manly, who have not played in a competitive match since their Grand Final success in October, were simply pleased to have a run out.

They rested their big names until the second half – and Harlequins took advantage, scoring 20 unanswered points before the break and only lost the lead with 12 minutes remaining.

The home side first crossed against Manly’s second-string team after six minutes through winger Jon Wells before captain Rob Purdham powered over eight minutes later.

Tries from Chad Randall and Luke Dorn completed the scoring for the first-half. But having rung the changes at the break, Manly soon showed why they are so highly regarded. Winger Michael Robertson scored a brace within seven minutes of the restart.

And though David Howell hit back with a try for Quins, with 20 minutes left on the clock it was all about the Australians.

There were touches of class in attack and further scores came from David Williams, Brett Stewart, former St Helens star Jamie Lyon and Stever Matai.

Manly coach Des Hasler said: “The first 40 we had a lot of young kids out there but they will have got a lot from it. We looked pretty good in the second half and there were no injury concerns, so that’s good.”

Brian McDermott, the Quins coach, added: “It was good for the players to have the challenge. I thought we did some good stuff.

“We were pleased with the score at the break but we knew it would change in the second half.”

Harlequins
Tries: Wells, Purdham, Randall, Dorn, Howell
Goals: Purdam 1, Orr 1, Gale 1

Manly Sea Eagles
Tries: Robertson 2, Williams, Stewart, Lyon, Matai
Goals: Orford 2, Lyon 1, Matai

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

HIDDINK ADDS DZAGOEV TO WISH LIST

Guus Hiddink has added another CSKA Moscow player to his Chelsea wish list - with Alan Dzagoev joining Yuri Zhikov as a major target.

The Dutchman, who took over the reins at Chelsea last week following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, knows both players well as they star for his Russian national team.

The 62-year-old has recommended that Chelsea snap up the pair before another suitors step in.

Midfielder Dzagoev, still only 18-years-old, wears the No10 shirt for CSKA and has already won two caps for Russia under Hiddink.

Zhikov is a highly rated left-sided player and was wanted by Juventus recently. But the 25-year-old remained in the Russian capital, although he is expected to move in the summer.

After last summer's Euro 2008 tournament Hiddink said of Zhikov: "He plays a very modern game - he's capable of covering all the left side of the pitch alone.

"A player can only do this if he has brilliant technical skills and physical condition. He's a top-class footballer."

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BELLETTI: HIDDINK HAS IMPROVED CHELSEA ALREADY

Juliano Belletti has revealed that life at Chelsea is more focussed now that Guus Hiddink has taken over as manager.

The Dutchman took over from the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari last week - and Belletti has admitted that training is already much more intense.

The 32-year-old was part of Scolari's World Cup winning Brazil squad in 2002 - but the right-back concedes that Chelsea are more likely to succeed now that his countryman has left.

"Hiddink has changed the system of training and, with respect to Scolari, from the first day he arrived we have been asked to show the same intensity in training as in the games," said the former Barcelona man.

"Hiddink talks much more with the players and has insisted we are all important to the club. He also said that there is plenty of time ahead and that we can win titles this year.

"In these early days [of Hiddink's reign] it seems more fun and fast. People have embraced change with a good heart. In the last weeks with Scolari there was too much tension in the atmosphere - this has changed now.

"I hope that our training will translate into success against our next two opponents (Aston Villa and Juventus). These two games will go a long way to determining our future.

"But I notice a confidence and belief among my team-mates."

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BARNES: LIVERPOOL WILL WIN TITLE

Anfield legend John Barnes admits he is surprised Liverpool are doing so well in the Premier League - but he is backing his old team to win their first title in 19 years.

The Jamaica-born winger, 45, who played more than 300 games for the Reds, believes Liverpool are reaping the rewards for sticking by manager Rafael Benitez.

The former Valencia manager is in his fifth year at the club and Barnes reckons that, in this age of craving instant success, the Liverpool directors should be applauded for showing patience.

Barnes hopes that the Spaniard and the club come to an agreement over the his contact very soon. And ahead of Sunday's game at home to Manchester City, he said: "They should give Rafa even more time at Liverpool because he's done well."

Barnes, who won 79 caps for the Three Lions and is now manager of Jamaica, added: "Consider Sir Alex Ferguson when he first started at Manchester United - he was given time and look what's happened.

"Liverpool are probably punching above their weight. I didn't expect them to be five points off the lead at this stage, so they're doing really well.

"If the team get behind Rafa and support him, and have a lot of belief in the squad - like he does - not just in Fernando Torres, then they will push Manchester United all the way."

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REINA DENIES ATLETICO MOVE

Jose Reina has dismissed rumours that he will be moving to Atletico Madrid at any time soon - but he did concede that were he to move back to Spain, Atletico would be his first choice.

The Liverpool goalkeeper, who has won 13 caps for Spain and is in his fourth season at Anfield, is known to be a lifelong fan of the Rojiblancos.

And his father was recently quoted in the Spanish press saying that the 26-year-old was desperate to secure a move to the club.

But former Barcelona stopper Reina said: "It's my father who made this declaration because he wants me to play for Atletico, but as far as I'm concerned, I don't.

"If one day I was to think of moving back to Spanish football, Atletico would be my first option because it's a club I love.

"Nevertheless, saying that I want to move to Atletico right now is wrong because I'm happy at Liverpool."

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QPR VICE-CHAIRMAN - CREDIT CRUNCH IS BITING

Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia claims the credit crunch is hampering the club's Premier League ambitions.

When Formula One supremos Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone teamed up with steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal - Bhatia's father-in-law - to buy QPR 18 months ago, the West London outfit were hailed as the richest club in the world.

Briatore said at the time that QPR would be challenging the likes of AC Milan in Europe within four years but it seems the goalposts have moved because of the global financial crisis.

QPR are currently 10th in the Championship, and have, in Paulo Sousa, their fifth manager since the takeover.

"When we got involved with the club we were last, [and] we finished 14th [at the end of the season]," said Bhatia. "That was success. We were 14th last season so if we finish seventh [one place outside the play-offs] this season we've definitely shown improvement.

"We are heading in the right direction but, just the same as any other supporter, I wish we could do better than seventh - I wish we could make the play-offs.

"We've shown progressive success and as long as we continue to do well there's no reason we shouldn't be playing Premiership football soon, and I hope that we will happen."

Bhatia explained that the downturn in the global economy has changed football, and predicts substantial problems for even the biggest clubs.

He continued: "A lot of the top clubs are sponsored by financial institutions - Manchester United and AIG, Northern Rock and Newcastle.

"And as we find ourselves in a crisis I think not only will the clubs lose sponsors, which means they'll have less money to spend, but they'll be less money spent on players.

"In other aspects, also, I think clubs have been over-leveraged in the past and that's one of the things that we came in and tried to fix at QPR. But these are tough times and the industry is definitely being affected by what's happening."

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WE ARE NOT SCARED OF VILLA - ZHIRKOV

Yuri Zhirkov, CSKA Moscow's coveted playmaker, has claimed the Russian side are not afraid of Premier League high-fliers Aston Villa, who many are backing to win the UEFA Cup.

Left-footer Zhirkov, who was wanted by Juventus in the recent transfer window, believes that if CSKA are going to win the UEFA Cup then it makes little difference whether they face Villa now, in the last 32, or later.

The 25-year-old Russian international, whose club became the first Russian side to win a European trophy when they took home the UEFA Cup in 2005, said: "Aston Villa are a good team with strong players - I know almost all of them, since they are so well-known.

"Why should we be afraid of them? If you are frightened, you lose the match far before the first whistle.

"I don't care at all which team are our opponents in the UEFA Cup. CSKA set the highest goals in all competitions, which means we must be ready to fight any team.

"If we have been pitted against one of the UEFA Cup favourites now, it means that we should defeat them now. I am sure that we will try our hardest to knock out Aston Villa."

For CSKA, Wednesday's clash at Villa Park will be their first competitive game since their domestic season ended before the winter - something that Zhirkov is relieved about.

He said: "I am looking forward to the first official match of the season, because it will mark the end of our pre-season preparations. This year I was tired of our training since the first day, because I couldn't spend any time with my wife and my little son.

"But I am professional and I feel that we have a good team that is capable of achieving great success."

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VAGNER FEELING THE LOVE FOR VILLA

CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love says Aston Villa have been a "revelation" this season as he prepares to face Martin O'Neill's men in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday.

The Brazilian striker hopes CSKA can emulate rivals Zenit St Petersburg, who won the UEFA Cup last year.

But he admits that Villa's form so far this season makes them a difficult proposition in the last 32 clash.

"The match against Aston Villa is not easy," said Love, who has won 21 caps for Brazil. "They are the revelation of this season's Premier League.

"This round of the UEFA Cup will be hard for us against Villa, but I am optimistic and believe that the second leg in Moscow will be very important for us.

"We have a great team at CSKA and we dream of winning the UEFA Cup this year - that is our goal."

CSKA are about to start their domestic season after a long winter break. But Love believes that they will be sharp and ready for their game against Villa, who are third in the Premier League.

"I do not think the break in the winter affect us too much," he continued. "This team is very professional and has responded positively when we have had to play early in the season in previous years.

"The key for us is to score at least one goal in Birmingham."

And Love, who almost moved to Tottenham in the January transfer window, has said that he in not interested in putting himself in the shop window for the summer by playing well against Premier League opposition.

He added: "I have nothing to prove in this round. It is true that there have been rumours about English clubs being interested in me, but I am in Moscow at the moment."

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IRISH SLIP UP AGAINST QUINS

London Irish slipped up at home in the Guinness Premiership to Harlequins, after hooker David Paice was dismissed after only 22 minutes.

Irish lost 9-14 and dropped to third, but took the lead after Peter Hewet's penalty in the 11th minute.

Quins' fly-half Nick Evans replied with a penalty before Paice was show the red card for scrapping in the front row and backchat to referee Tim Wigglesworth.

Evans slotted the resulting penalty and Hewet levelled again, before he hobbled off with medial ligament damage five minutes before the interval.

Irish went ahead after 43 minutes when Alfredo Lalanne kicked another penalty.

But visiting prop Ceri Jones scored the decisive try to make It 11-9 with 30 minutes remaining. Evans kicked a penalty with four minutes left and his team moved up to fifth.

"We disrupted them and the sending off disrupted them," said Quins coach Dean Richards. "Their defence was pretty strong even though they only had 14 men. I was very pleased with the performance. We deserved the victory."

Irish coach Toby Booth said: "Playing 60 minutes with 14 people is not easy. We knew that we would not have the ball for long periods of time but I am proud with the way they stuck at it."

Teams

London Irish: 15. Peter Hewat 14. Adam Thompstone 13. Elvis Seveali'i 12. Seilala Mapusua 11. Topsy Ojo 10. Mike Catt 9. Alfredo Lalanne 1. Clarke Dermody 2. David Paice 3. Tonga Lea'aetoa 4. Gary Johnson 5. James Hudson 6. Richard Thorpe 7. Steffon Armitage 8. Chris Hala'ufia

Replacements: 16. Alex Corbisiero 17. James Buckland 18. Matt Garvey 19. Jon Fisher 20. Charlie Gower 21. Warren Fury 22. James Bailey

Penalties: Hewet 2, Lalanne

Harlequins: 15. Mike Brown 14. Tom Williams 13. Gonzalo Tiesi 12. Jordan Turner-Hall 11. Ugo Monye 10. Nick Evans 9. Andy Gomarsall 1. Ceri Jones 2. Gary Botha 3. Mark Lambert 4. Ollie Kohn 5. George Robson 6. Chris Robshaw 7. Will Skinner 8. Tom Guest

Replacements: 16. Chris Brooker 17. Peter Bracken 18. Jim Evans 19. Neil McMillan 20. Junior Poluleuligaga 21. Waisea Luveniyali 22. David Strettle

Try: Jones
Penalties: Evans 3

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TOTTENHAM CLOSE TO LOVE

Tottenham sent CSKA Moscow's Brazilian striker Vagner Love a Valentine's Card - but no present, so he did not move in the January transfer window.

The striker, 24, has over 20 caps for Brazil, and was interested in a move to the Premier League.

However, Tottenham's bid fell short of CSKA's valuation of the player.

Love said: "Tottenham were very interested in me. I received an offer from the club and went to the president of CSKA (Yevgeny Giner) to ask to leave.

"But he decided that the conditions Spurs offered to CSKA didn't meet his expectations.

"He reminded me that I have a contract with CSKA. I will continue playing for the Russian side, but someday I hope I will go to one of the big clubs in Europe."

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CHELSEA FAIL TO CATCH ZENIT GOALKEEPER

Chelsea came close to signing Zenit St Petersburg goalkeeper Kamil Contofalsky in the January transfer window, the Slovakian international has revealed.

Instead, after selling Carlo Cudicini to Tottenham, the Blues did not dive in and have to put up with second-choice Henrique Hilario.

And while No1 Petr Cech is out with a back injury, Chelsea's decision not to draft in another stopper leaves dodgy 33-year-old Hilario with the gloves for now - and with no recognised cover.

Contofalsky, 30, who has over 30 caps for his country and has been with the Uefa Cup winners for six years, said that he was one of a number of goalkeepers lined up to deputise for Cech.

"There were rumours that I might be going to Chelsea, but I did not pay attention to them until my agent spoke to me a week before the transfer window closed," he said.

"He then told me that I was going to be the Chelsea goalkeeper very soon, and we were waiting for the call from (CEO) Peter Kenyon.

"I learned that I was on the list of 10 goalkeepers they were looking at, and then that was decreased to two. Apparently Cech gave me a good reference.

"Eventually Chelsea chose not to fill their squad with another goalkeeper - it was a strategic decision.

"I am sure I could have been handed a chance to play for Chelsea, because they are playing in three tournaments and the rotation of players is vital."

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SCOLARI FOR SAUDI ARABIA?

Luiz Felipe Scolari may only have been sacked by Chelsea on Monday, but the Brazilan is already being lined up for the Saudi Arabia national job, according to the Arabian press.

The 60-year-old, who was dismissed after only seven months at Stamford Bridge, has already managed a national team in the Middle East - he had a spell with Kuwait in 1990 - and also took charge of club sides Al Qadisiya Kuwait and Saudi side Al-Ahli (Jeddah) in the early 1990s.

On Wednesday Saudi Arabia, currently coached by Nasser Al-Johar, lost 1-0 in their World Cup qualifier with North Korea - a result that leaves them fourth in their group, Asia Two, after four games.

Rumours are circulating in the Middle East that Al-Johar will be sacked and Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, will be installed as the new manager. His job will be to steer the country to South Africa 2010.

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RUSSIANS WELCOME HIDDINK APPOINTMENT

Guus Hiddink's appointment as Chelsea coach until the end of the season has been welcomed in Russia, where he will remain in charge of the national team.

Fellow Dutchman Dick Advocaat, manager of Zenit St Petersburg and assistant coach of the Russian national team, backed the move, saying: "This is Hiddink's decision. I need to respect it and all Russian society must do the same. I think he made the right step."

Star Russian wing-back Yuri Zhirkov, of CSKA Moscow, has also given his blessing, adding: "I don't think that the national team will be harmed. Anyway, the national team and Chelsea are playing on different dates. I am sure he will manage with everything."

Zenit midfielder Igor Semshov believes that the 62-year-old will improve with his duel responsibilities, though he does not envisage Hiddink taking any Russian players to London.

He said: "I am sure of one thing - that Guus is a professional and he will give all of himself to his work. It is of no small importance that he knows us, his players, very well.

"Hiddink is very experienced. I even think that the job with Chelsea will benefit him as well. He will keep his vitality. I am not worried about him. Will he take any of us to Chelsea? I don't think he will mix the national team and the club."

Defender Vasiliy Berezuckiy added: "I don't think that Hiddink combining the two roles will affect the results of the national team. I am interested why other managers weren't allowed to combine the two roles, but Hiddink can do it. I think it will benefit Hiddink, because he will have training sessions almost everyday."

Goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev is hopeful that Hiddink honours his contract with Russia, and will take the national team to the World Cup next year.

Malafeev said: "I don't think that Hiddink will leave the national team for Chelsea at the end of the season. He has a contract that is very important in this situation. We, the players, would regret it if that happens. We want him to stay.

"But if he wants [to combine the two roles], then I don't see reasons not to do it. Anyway, it is very hard to do. The one who will be harmed in this situation is the club, but not the national team. So I would keep my eye on Chelsea's performance."

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BARNES BLASTS IMPATIENCE IN FOOTBALL

England legend John Barnes has blasted the impatient attitude of club chairmen - and believes the blueprint for a successful club is Manchester United who have stuck with Sir Alex Ferguson for 23 years.

Barnes, who won 79 Three Lions caps, is now manager of Jamaica - the country of his birth. But nine years ago he experienced the cut-throat nature of club management when he was sacked by Celtic after only six months in charge.

Barnes believes that the impatience with Premier League managers will have a knock-on effect, and filter down to the lower leagues.

He said: "You look at the dismissals of Paul Ince and Tony Adams, and it is very sad because they haven't been given enough time. It's very frustrating.

"But more frustrating for me is the fact that Luiz Felipe Scolari has been sacked. And if someone who has achieved all that he has achieved doesn't get an opportunity, what chance has a first-time manager got?

"People have to be realistic in what they expect, and as much as the sacking Paul Ince and Tony Adams is disappointing, the fact that Scolari has been dismissed just sums up for me what football is about at the moment.

"Even if you look at [Scolari's predecessor] Avram Grant, he was a penalty kick away from winning the European Cup. And they also went close to winning the league - and yet he lost his job.

"I can understand that Chelsea, and maybe even Portsmouth, need to be doing well in the Premier League. But then you look down to League Two where these teams have no money at all, and sack managers after two months. What do they expect?

"Look at Sir Alex Ferguson when he first started at Manchester United - he was given time and look what's happened. Who knows what could happen in 15 years time?"

But Barnes has backed Guus Hiddink to be a success at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of the season.

"Guus Hiddink is very strong, very organised, the players will play for him and respect him because he's a tough manager - he knows his stuff. I'm sure he will do a very good job at Chelsea because he's a good manager, a good coach and he'll get the results.

"If you don't win matches you're always under the spotlight; you could always be sacked. I'm under no illusions and I'm no different to anyone else. Everyone is under pressure to win matches whether it's Jamaica, Chelsea or someone in League One."

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HARRY AND ANDY HAVE GOODE THING GOING

For five seasons Harry Ellis and Andy Goode were the names inked on the Leicester Tigers’ team sheet at No9 and No10. Fly-half Goode headed to Brive in south France in the summer but, as lady fortune intervened, the duo rekindled their partnership at Twickenham last Saturday in England’s 36-11 win over Italy.

Last month Goode, who had been in the international wilderness for over two years, was pulled into the England squad by former Tigers team-mate Martin Johnson, and – following an injury to Toby Flood, and with Danny Cipriani being dropped to the Saxons – was handed the No10 jersey against the Azzurri. He duly crossed for a try after only 94 seconds to announce his return.

Similarly with 26-year-old Ellis, two years Goode’s junior, an element of kismet played a part in his re-elevation to the England team. After being overlooked for Harlequins’ Danny Care in the autumn, he was then banned for six weeks after he dropped Daniel Carter dangerously in a Heineken Cup game. When Care slipped on an icy step before the Italy game, Ellis was promoted from the Saxons and won plaudits for his two-try, man-of-the-match showing.

“I was on the bench for the autumn internationals and then was banned, so I was away from rugby for a while,” says the 26-year-old. “So I was delighted to get the chance to get back in the England team, alongside Andy, and I enjoyed the victory against Italy.

“It’s been great to link up with Andy again – the last time we played together was in the Guinness Premiership final back in May (which Leicester lost 26-16). It is good to be playing with him again – he is a very talented fly-half.

“We communicate well and I have been lucky enough to play alongside him for a number of years. I just try and give a good service to whoever is playing No10, but it helps when you know what to expect from them – where they will be and what sort of pass they want. It’s just funny how things work out.”

Ellis, who made his Tigers’ debut in 2001 and was named young player of the season that year, is determined to make the most of his good fortune – and hopes to inspire England to victory over Wales.

He continues: “I came in late because of Danny’s injury, but I am just trying to take my opportunity because that chance does not come round too often. We have very high standards and a good work ethic, and I thought I could have improved against Italy. Hopefully we can all iron out the mistakes we make against Italy in time for this Saturday’s match. We need to improve in pretty much every area against the Welsh.


“I can’t wait to play against Mike Phillips, or the other two scrumhalves – they are all great. Wales have a very talented team and they are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. The Millennium Stadium is a difficult place to play, too. There will be a great atmosphere but we are all relishing the opportunity to play against them in their back yard.”

Goode, currently the leading points scorer in France’s Top 14, is far more comfortable having Ellis inside him. “I have played with Harry for a countless number of years and we have built up a good relationship,” he says. “He naturally knows where I will be, and I know what to expect from him.

“He probably picks up my voice more quickly than other No9s, without having to look, and he knows my game-plan. He knows that I like to stand flatter than most, and knows the depth that I like to take the ball at.”

In order for England to get quick ball, Goode believes that his pal at scrum-half needs to be protected by the forwards. In particular, Wales’ openside flanker, Martyn Williams needs to be stopped.

“We need to target Williams, because he will be trying to get over and slow the ball down. He is a very intelligent player. He gets in and around the breakdown and he does slow up a lot of ball. We need to target their backrow and give Harry a good platform to play from and get some good, quick ball away.

“If Harry is digging in the ruck because we are not clearing out as well as we can, then it makes everything that much harder. But it was good to play with Harry last week, and hopefully we can do even better at Cardiff this week.”

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DALLGLIO: ENGLAND NEED TO GET FIT AND ON-PLAN BLOODY QUICKLY

It may have been over a year since Lawrence Dallaglio hung up his boots for England, but the former captain still feels as though he needs to harangue the current Red Rose team after a stream of dismal displays, and shake them from their torpor. Their collective fitness and mindset need to change, and fast, as they are hosted by Wales – the nation Dallaglio and his team-mates used to ridicule – this Saturday.

The 36-year-old, who won his 85th and last cap for England in the World Cup Final on October 20, 2007, believes that while the 36-11 RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy last weekend was a poor performance, the victory will have been a fillip for the dressing room, who – after three “spankings” in the autumn – will have been glad to remember what winning tastes like.

“There are two emotions in rugby,” explains Dallaglio. “There is ecstasy of victory or agony of defeat; the joy and pain. So far it has just been pain, pain, pain for England. After the Italy match they will have been down about their performance in the changing room – as they should be – but ultimately they still won.

“I have been involved in losing England teams, so I know how they would have been feeling after the autumn. But you would have thought that they would have been bottling that feeling up and there would have been an explosion of emotion against Italy on Saturday. There was nothing like that and there was nothing England showed that Wales will be overly worried about.”

Against reigning grand slam champions Wales, Dallaglio suggests that England need to change their mindset, and banish their insecurities – in essence they need to front up. Gone are the days when the super-fit England players would sneer at their over-weight opponents from over the Severn Bridge – now it is the complete opposite, and it is the Welsh who are drinking less of the Brains bitter and adding more brawn and fitness.

“We always used to look at the Welsh team and take the piss, really,” says World Cup winner Dallaglio, speaking on behalf of Greene King IPA, the Official Beer of England Rugby. “We would tell them how unfit we all thought they were, and wonder how they could even come to Twickenham and even think about beating us if they couldn’t run for 40 minutes. It’s sad for me to say, but I think it is the other way around now.

“That is the main thing that concerns me – England’s level of fitness. Really, when you are the best player in your position in the world – which is what all the England guys should be trying to do – you have to be one of the fittest players in the world, too.

“Guys like Jonny Wilkinson and Neil Back drove our fitness and made me even question myself on a number of occasions. I want to know who is doing the finger-pointing within the England dressing room now.

“If you want to aspire to be the best player in the world in your position, you have got to do more on the odd sprint session. You have to get there by hard work. I would let the fitness coaches have them for the next six months and put them through some really hard work, as I don’t think it is being done at their clubs; not to the level it needs to be.

“The standards were set in 2003, and five, six years later we should have moved on – not gone backwards. There has been no evolution. When I was playing I used to get up at 6am and meet Will Greenwood and Jason Leonard and the fitness coach Dave Reddin and do an hour-and-a-half training session even before we went to the club. Of course there is an extra sacrifice involved in that, but what are you trying to do? Are you trying to be the best in the world, or just the best in your club?”

On Saturday’s hosts at the Millennium Stadium Dallaglio adds: “Wales have made huge strides in the last 12 months with their fitness, and we have the staff to do it, but there has to be a mindset change with the players. Let us not forget that it is, more or less, the same Wales team that are performing so well now who got dumped out of the World Cup by Fiji. All Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards have done is opened their minds a little bit. That is something that needs to take place with England very, very quickly.

“Each player has to set his sights on being the best player in the world in their particular position – we are nowhere near that. At the moment if you were to pick the top four or five players in every position then I don’t think man England players would feature. The trouble is, in their own minds I think they think that. You just want someone to grab that team forward by the scruff of the neck.

“If you are Martin Johnson you would be pointing your fingers at some of the guys and telling them that international rugby is not for the mentally weak, that you don’t get a second chance, and that some of you owe me, and the rest of the country a special performance. Martin has done very well to keep his temper in front of the media – because I would have been going mental by now at some of the performances I have seen from the players.

“Against Scotland last week Wales showed they had a pattern and understood the way they were trying to play. When England have the ball they don’t, at the moment, look like a team who know exactly what they are trying to do. Martin said that people had gone off-plan after the game; well I suggest that people get back on-plan, and bloody quickly.”

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DALLAGLIO BACKS HIDDINK APPOINTMENT

Lawrence Dallaglio believes that Luiz Felipe Scolari was right to have been sacked by Chelsea - and that Guus Hiddink should be the man who replaces him.

The England rugby legend, who hung up his boots last May, is an avid Blues fan, thought that the Brazilian should have been shown the door some time ago.

"Football is a results-driven business and the results have not been good enough," said the 36-year-old. "It is pretty clear that Scolari's methods did not suit the club week in, week out.

"I think it was pretty clear that he had lost the dressing room quite a while ago."

He continued: "Chelsea's defence has not been good since [Scolari's assistant] Steve Clarke left, while West Ham's has become decidedly improved. Clearly he added massive value to Chelsea.

"I think that Jose Mourinho is proving to be a tougher man to replace than they thought. He has gone on to Inter and he is top of the table there.

"Added to that, if Chelsea don't spend in the transfer window then they can't be expected to be a top four club any more. They have been crying out for another striker, they miss Michael Essien, and they have been found out this season."

On Scolari's successor Dallaglio added: "You need someone at Chelsea now who has a good track record and someone who can handle the players well - that is the most important thing. Someone like Hiddink would be ideal."

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HADDEN SLAMS SCOTLAND PERFORMANCE

Under-pressure Scotland manager Frank Hadden branded his team's display in their RBS 6 Nations opener against reigning champions Wales as their worst for almost three years.

Asked why they were so comprehensively out-manoeuvred up front in the 32-16 loss at Murrayfield, Hadden said: "That's one of the things that we're going to have to look at very closely during the course of the week.

"There could be a number of reasons for that. It could be technical problems. But, for me, it just seemed as if we were too passive.

"I haven't seen us look so passive or tentative. The last time I saw that was South Africa 2006.

"Maybe they're thinking too hard about the shape instead of just getting wired in.

"It's early days in this competition. You can never be sure how you're going to start.

"One thing I do know is that we'll definitely get better."

He added: "We knew we were playing the best side in the northern hemisphere today but we're bitterly disappointed that we allowed them to show it so easily.

"I felt we were outmuscled, especially in the first half an hour.

"But for me, the killer blow was just after half-time. We were always chasing after that.

"It was inevitable we were going to come strong at some stage and, sadly, like too often before, it was too late before we got going."

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WILLIAMS WORRIED ABOUT INJURY

Shane Williams hopes to be back in RBS 6 Nations action next Saturday when Wales host England. But the winger, 31, is worried that he might not recover from in injury sustained to his left ankle.

"I went over on my ankle tackling Jason White," said the IRB Player of the Year who hobbled off in the 32-16 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

"I don't know how bad it's going to be. I've iced it up and compressed it.

"It's a short turnaround this week and I just hope I can come back and be in the selection for next week.

"Hopefully, it's not as bad as I first thought. I am more determined than ever to play against England. I'll be gutted if I have to miss it."

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GATLAND SATISFIED WITH OPENING WIN

Warren Gatland believes there is much more to come from his Wales team in the Six Nations, after they recorded a 32-16 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

While Wales dominated the game for large periods, the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions failed to really punish the Scots - and fly-half Stephen Jones missed a number of kicks.

But New Zealander Gatland said: "I am happy with the result because Murrayfield is a hard place to come. It is a good position for me to be in because there a number of things that we can work on and improve.

"This week we will work on a little bit of line speed defensively, and look for a bit more accuracy in the line-out.

"I thought we showed some nice touches in periods, we had them under a lot of pressure and the game was there for us to lose, not for us to win.

"Apart from the sun-binning at the end that put us under a little bit of pressure, I thought we controlled the game and were very disciplined."

Defending fly-half Jones's kicking Gatland added: "It was a difficult pitch to kick on - it was a bit slippery and it took it out of the legs. But [the misses] are not something that I am concerned about. Sometimes these things happen."

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CHAMPIONS WALES KICK-OFF WITH VICTORY OVER SCOTLAND

Warren Gatland's Wales began their defence of the RBS Six Nations Championship with a comfortable 13-26 victory over a battling Scotland side in Edinburgh.

The visitors may have been without centre Gavin Henson due to a calf complaint and blindside flanker and captain Ryan Jones, who also suffered with a similar problem just 90 minutes before kick-off, but last year's grand slam winners comfortably managed without them.

The match got off to a quiet start and the game was 10 minutes old before its first real moment of drama when Scotland winger Simon Webster knocked himself unconscious after tackling Wales' stand-in skipper, Martyn Williams.

He flew at the Welsh captain and forced him to knock on after a chest-high collision but he hit Williams so hard he momentarily did himself more damage. Yet it was a superb indicator of the level of commitment being displayed by Scotland in defence.

A straightforward Stephen Jones penalty soon after finally got Wales on the scoreboard before Scotland were once again involved in a self-inflicted injury crisis when debutant prop Geoff Cross repeated Webster's trick and also knocked himself out following an appalling late tackle on full-back Lee Byrne.

Cross caught the Wales No15 in mid-air and clattered into Byrne's knee and not only was he stretchered off the field he also rightly received a yellow card for his troubles.

Wales immediately took advantage of their extra player as centre Tom Shanklin managed to collect a simple Byrne pass just five metres out to finally get Wales the try they deserved.

It went from bad for worse for Scotland close to the half-hour mark as lock Alun-Wyn Jones then crashed over from just one metre out after an impressive scrummaging effort put Scotland on the defensive.

The Welsh pack completely overwhelmed the opposing pack just inside Scotland's 22, Stephen Jones took the resulting ball forward and almost scored himself before the ball was passed out to Jones who could not fail to score, although Stephen Jones was less successful with his conversion, missing his second of the match.

Webster's replacement Chris Paterson kicked a penalty for the home side as half-time approached and it ignited the Scotland side as they repeatedly went close to scoring.

However they could not quite get past some awesome Welsh defending and their failure to score was made to hurt even more when Jones slotted a penalty on the whistle to extend Wales' lead to 16-3.

That lead became 21-3 just 47 seconds into the second half when young winger Leigh Halfpenny managed to stretch over the Scottish tryline in the right hand corner. But a further penalty from Paterson soon after ensured Scotland were not entirely finished.

However, they continued to offer very little in attack and allowed Wales to completely dominate them, a point underlined when IRB Player of the Year Shane Williams finished off 14 phases of play by crossing for 45th international try with 20 minutes to go.

Williams was then sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and Scotland used his absence to their advantage as substitute Max Evans jinked through the Welsh defence to finally give Murrayfield something to cheer.

Paterson easily kicked the conversion to close the gap to 26-13 but a dramatic comeback was not to be as Wales managed to close the game out without further loss.

Scotland: Southwell, Webster (Paterson 21mins), Cairns (M Evans 52), Morrison, Lamont, Godman, Blair (Cusiter 62), Jackson, Ford (Hall 62) , Cross, White (Dickinson 27), Hamilton, Hogg (Brown 74), Taylor, Barclay (Gray 56)
Scorers: Tries: Evans Pen: Paterson 2 Con: Paterson

Wales: Byrne, Halfpenny, Roberts (Bishop 62mins), Shanklin, S. Williams (Davies 71), S. Jones (Hook 62), Phillips (Peel 60), Jenkins (Yapp 62), Rees (Bennett 62), A. Jones, Gough (Charteris 62), A. Jones, D. Jones, M. Williams, Powell.
Scorers: Tries: Shanklin, A Jones, Halfpenny, S Williams Pen: S Jones 2
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland)

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Saturday, February 07, 2009

CAPELLO IMPRESSED BY BECKHAM

David Beckham looks likely to make his 108th appearance on Wednesday when England play European Champions Spain, after head coach Fabio Capello dropped a big hint on Friday, saying that has been impressed by the midfielder's fitness since joining AC Milan on loan.

Beckham, who turns 34 in May, will equal Bobby Moore's Three Lions record number of caps for an outfield player if he takes to the field in the friendly at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in Seville. And Capello has been delighted with the form of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star since being loaned from Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy to the Serie A club.

The former England captain, initially discarded by Capello's successor Steve McClaren, has scored twice in his first five appearances having joined the Rossoneri on a three-month loan in January.

He believes he is fitter than he has been in some time, and in an obvious plea to Capello to select him he said in midweek: "When I came to Milan, my body fat was at 13.7 per cent. Now, it is down to 8.5 per cent. The training regime has helped."

While the Italian coach, who managed Beckham at Real Madrid in 2006-07, insists that he has no interest in anyone's personal milestones - "I never think about this when I choose a player or make a substitution" - he admits he has been pleased with Beckham's physical improvement in Italy.

"He is better than he was six months ago," said the 62-year-old. "He is fit now. This is important for David and for us. And every player in the squad has to play, not just train.

"He is a very important player and I've watched him in one game in Milan and (deputies) Italo Galbiati and Franco Baldini saw his other games. He is getting better and better with each game."

Capello said that he could understand Beckham's desire to remain at Milan, a club he himself spent three years at as a player and managed for six years when he collected nine items of silverware including the Champions League trophy in 1994.

"The game is different in Serie A [compared to the America MSL]," continued Capello. "There is more pressure. It is stronger. That is the difference. I think he wants to stay for those reasons - it's exciting, Milan are a good team.

"But he has to choose. I've never spoken to him about it - that is not my job. It's AC Milan or Los Angeles' problems. David is very fit now and this is important [for me]."

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Tuesday, February 03, 2009

KEITH-ROACH ON LIONS

One man will be watching closer than most when the British and Irish Lions pack down against South Africa for the first time in the opening Test at the Absa Stadium in Durban on June 20. Phil Keith-Roach, the man who single-handedly made England’s set-piece the stuff of legend in the last decade and steered them to the World Cup in 2003, believes that Ian McGeechan’s team’s best chance of defeating the world champions is by targeting the scrum.

Also the former Dulwich College economics teacher, now in his 60s, thinks that Graham Rowntree – a player he worked closely with for years – is the right man to have been appointed specialist scrum coach for the Lions, in addition to his identical role with England. And he is excited by the prospect of the Lions turning the screw on the Springboks at the set-piece. Central to that could be Phil Vickery, who Keith-Roach backs to be McGeechan’s captain on tour.

The former Roslyn Park hooker predicts that 37-year-old Rowntree, who won 54 caps for his country and two Lions caps on the successful 1997 tour to South Africa, will have a great pool of players from which to select from come June.

“The Lions should have a formable scrum against South Africa – and I think it is an area where the Boks have a slight weakness that can be exploited,” says Keith-Roach, who read social anthropology and economics at Cambridge and won three blues. “But it is important that Graham gets those excellent component parts – especially the front row – working together in a short space of time.

“But, like in 1997, you never really know which combination will work in the front row until you get out there, so you have to take tried and tested players. Graham will be hoping to work with players who have had a good Six Nations and have an impressive international curriculum vitae.”

A bevy of players who have already tasted Lions action are expected to be jostling for the front-row positions. Vickery, Julian White, and John Hayes, who all featured in the ill-fated New Zealand tour in 2005, will be vying for the berth at tighthead prop (though Matt Stevens will not figure, after failing a drugs test in December). In addition, Keith-Roach earmarks Northampton Saints’ Euan Murray, “who has being playing very well for Scotland for a couple of years,” to make the trip.

At loosehead former Lions Andrew Sheridan and Gethins Jenkins should travel, while Tim Payne, Marcus Horan and Duncan Jones are also in with a shout, says Keith-Roach. He notes that there will be a new Lions hooker, however, and while Munster’s Jerry Flannery is many people’s favourite for the Test shirt, he believes that any of the British hookers can get the nod if McGeechan thinks they have improved in the Six Nations.

“A consistently efficient, reliable and strong scrum is the foundation stone of any team,” continues Keith-Roach, “and the Lions can definitely attack the South African scrum. Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira should play loosehead for the Boks while on the tighthead side, which is the vital side of the scrum, South Africa have a number of different combinations. They can use Jannie Du Plessis, whose brother Bismarck could play at hooker as well as John Smit, or Brian Mujati – both are good, legal scrummagers.

“But that is not the case with CJ van der Linde. It is extraordinary that he has won so many caps (54). When he is under pressure on South African ball he regularly moves his right arm and collapses the scrum. Referees around the world have to wise up on what he is doing. The forwards coach Gary Gold will have to sort out that deficiency and make him bind properly, but I think that CJ has a lack of confidence – and the Lions can capitalise on that. They should target him as he is a liability. If selected loosehead Gurthro Steenkamp also has a questionable technique.

“Further back in the scrum the South Africans have huge, powerful men, but unless you get the props right then the scrum will be no good. The Lions will have the men who can cope with the physicality of the Boks, but, with the right technique and guidance – as provided by Graham Rowntree – they could more than match them in the scum and gain a great advantage.”

On the appointment of Rowntree, Keith-Roach continues: “I’m not at all surprised that Graham has been chosen by the Lions. He used to take charge of the scrum on match days for England and proved himself as an international player.

“He was tough, durable and unbelievably determined and a really decent bloke to boot. There is no doubt there are many people more determined than him. There might have been people who could run faster and do this or that, but he has got a remarkable resolve and has a great knack of getting on with people. He has got it all in the bank, all the knowledge is there and he gets on with people – what more do you need, frankly?”

And why, in Keith-Roach’s opinion, should Phil Vickery skipper the Lions? “He is a remarkable guy and a great leader who has done it all before,” he says of the Wasps prop, who turns 33 in March. “He is a wonderful player who performs time after time, very straight-talking, and he took England to the World Cup Final in 2007. It is always good to have a captain in the front-row. Indeed consider that South Africa won the World Cup with a hooker as captain.”

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NARRAWAY HOPING TO MAKE IT THIRD TIME LUCKY

When Gloucester host London Irish in the Guinness Premiership's top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, home No8 Luke Narraway is hoping to make it third time lucky as captain. Club skipper Mike Tindall has missed the last two matches due to a dead leg, and - in the centre's absence - 25-year-old Narraway's team have lost to Cardiff Blues and Biarritz and been dumped out of the Heineken Cup.

Now out of Europe's premier competition and after three successive losses, the England international is determined to ensure the second-placed cherry and whites' season gets back on track this weekend - and to stop the ribbing from his team-mates who have joked that Narraway is destined to never win as their skipper.

"I've enjoyed being captain, it has filled me with pride," said the King's School Worcester alumnus, "but the boys have given me some stick, as my record is nought from two!

"This is my seventh season for Gloucester and I've come through the academy, so I know what Gloucester's all about. But we've got a great captain in Mike and I'm he's got more seasons in him yet. However if one day the opportunity arises, it would be a great honour to take on the captaincy full time.

"Everyone believes that we're good enough to go on and win this competition, and we've got the belief there, too. But confidence is a funny old thing in rugby and we are putting 110 per cent in, yet something's not quite clicking.

"We've just strayed off our lines a bit at the moment; we're struggling for a little bit of form and on the back of a few defeats this is where we really want to show our worth. This is where the squad is being pushed to the limit and we've got to show our mettle, grind out some wins and get us back on the road."

Narraway, who made his England bow in the last Six Nations, has been away with Martin Johnson's squad in Portugal this week, but he knows that the next month - while he and his international team-mates are on duty - will be crucial to his club side's hopes of attaining their first silverware since the European Challenge Cup three year's ago.

In February, Gloucester take on high-flyers Sale Sharks and Bath at Kingsholm, and Harlequins at the Stoop in between. The five-cap Red Rose continued: "We've got a lot of internationals going away to various countries and got a lot of injuries, but we're not using that as an excuse.

"The next month is massive. We're going to do everything in our power to make sure, before the Six Nations, we pick up as many points as we can and that we're still in the top four when the international guys come back. I hope the injured players come back to form so we're there with a full squad at the end of the season and the confidence is running high."

Narraway has hit out at those critics who reason that the Gloucester pack is too lightweight to dominate a game - he believes it is an easy get out for them, and that they are not fully appreciating the game that Dean Ryan is trying to utilise.

"The media have been going on about it for so long that people start to think it without actually saying what they're seeing," he said. "Guys from the pack are coming off with bumps and bruises, taking big hits but never seem to get the praise for it. It is annoying when you open up the papers and see people saying you're not physical enough. The way we play the game, we like to play with the ball. We're not a team that's going to go with forwards lining up and sometimes it's hard to impose a
physical and stereotypical forward game on the opposition."

Narraway believes that the Kingsholm factor will play a part if Gloucester are to overcome league leaders Irish, who defeated them 42-12 at the Madejski Stadium in December. "We pride ourselves on our home form and probably this year it hasn't been as good as we hoped," he added.

"Irish are a great team - they've been threatening to do what they've been doing this year for a couple of seasons. What they offer is an incredibly enthusiastic and aggressive way of playing, and a good kicking game on the back of that.

"In the last fixture we lost the cohesion up-front and ultimately our kicking game wasn't very good and they pinned us back and made us make mistakes. We've got to make sure, at home, our cohesion is there right from the off and we pin Irish back and maybe we can force the mistakes for once."

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JOHNSON ON STEVENS

Matt Stevens's positive drugs test is a big blow to England’s Six Nations campaign, admitted manager Martin Johnson. The Bath prop was been dropped from the squad after it was found that he had been taking a recreational drug, thought to be cocaine, and is likely to be disciplined with a two-year ban.

“It is a very sad situation,” said Johnson of the 26-year-old’s predicament on Wednesday morning. “When I heard I felt surprised, disappointed and let down. We don’t want guys taking drugs – it is not good for them and it is not good for the sport.

“We hope Matt sorts himself out, but he won’t be playing for us for a fair old while. It is a blow to us, to him as a player and as a person. But we have to deal with that as a team.”

England last won the Six Nations six years ago – the same year that Johnson lifted the World Cup. And the former Leicester Tigers lock knows that after the disappointment of the autumn internationals, a big win at Twickenham against Italian next Saturday is imperative if they are to succeed this year.

“It has been too long since England won the Six Nations,” said the 38-year-old. “The Welsh are champions and the French are always strong, so it is going to be tight. We have to start the tournament well. Off the back of three losses we need some confidence and momentum.

“We have to improve from the autumn, and learn the lessons. We had new, young players playing the best teams in the world. So they have more experience now.

“We gave away points too easily and we didn’t take our chances. But we are now a more experienced squad that we were four or five months ago.”

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MALLETT JEALOUS OF ENGLAND’S RICHES

Martin Johnson's dilemma of who to play at fly-half – either Toby Flood or Danny Cipriani – for England, is a problem that Italy coach Nick Mallett would love to have. The Azzurri take on Johnson’s side next Saturday at Twickenham in their Six Nations opener, and the South African admits that he is jealous of the half-back talent at Johnson’s disposal.

"As usual we have a very good tight five and a good pack of forwards, but the perennial problem is settling on a good half-back combination,” the 52-year-old, who is considering playing veteran flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half.

“It's fantastic for Johnson to have two players of Flood and Cipriani’s quality. Flood is very good defensively, has a good kicking game, very courageous, while Cipriani has flashes of brilliance which on a good day gets all the headlines and when there's a charged-down kick gets all the headlines as well.”

Captain Sergio Parisse hinted that Johnson’s team will have to be inventing in attack, and not squander as many openings as they did in the autumn series, if they are to defeat Italy.

“We want to try and beat England with our defence so we are working hard and hoping we can win our first match,” the Stade Francais No8, who led Italy to only one Six Nations victory last year, said.

“England’s players will really want to win this first match. They have some problems because they lost some Tests in November, so it’s been difficult for them.”

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:37 pm | | Comments

DANAHER CONFIDENT AHEAD OF TOP-OF-TABLE-CLASH

London Irish travel to second-placed Gloucester on Saturday for their
top-of-the-table clash, and flanker Declan Danaher is confident his team
can remain head of the Guinness Premiership going into the Six Nations.

The 29-year-old, currently Irish's longest-serving player, thinks that
Toby Booth's side have the momentum to inflict another victory on the
cherry and whites - even at their Kingsholm stronghold.

Five days before Christmas Irish smashed Gloucester 42-12 at the
Madejski, and they have racked up two big wins to secure a home tie in
the last eight of the European Challenge Cup while Gloucester were
bombed out of the Heineken Cup last Friday.

"It was mission accomplished in the European Challenge Cup - we were top
of the group, and that is what we wanted," said Danaher. "If we can play
well again on Saturday and convert the opportunities that we are given,
then we have a good chance of winning.

"They are a very proud team and they will be hurting after our defeat
earlier in the season. But Dean Ryan will have them fired up and
Kingsholm is a daunting place to play.

"It should be an explosive encounter. If we keep our game plan nice and
simple then hopefully we can get the win. If we can win it will make it
all that much more special."

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:36 pm | | Comments

IRISH INDISCIPLINE PUNISHED BY GLOUCESTER

Toby Booth believes that the citing officer will have a busy time looking at the tape of his London Irish team’s 23-21 loss to Gloucester. Irish squandered at 15-point lead in a bruising encounter at Kingsholm – and the cherry and whites leapfrogged Booth’s club to go top of the Guinness Premiership.

Irish raced to a 18-3 lead thanks to tries from wingers Adam Thompstone, who was making his debut, and Topsy Ojo, and the boot of Peter Hewat. But Irish’s indiscipline was penalised and Gloucester flyhalf Olly Barkley clipped over six kicks, while fullback Iain Balshaw crossed for winning try nine minutes from time.

While each team had one player sin-binned - Gloucester hooker and skipper Olivier Azam and Irish number eight Chris Hala'Ufia – Booth reckons there may be more punishment to be dished out. "I thought there were quite a few leading elbows from various aspects,” he said. "It will be a very interesting review for the citing commissioner.

"I knew we would have to be on the edge. Were we on the edge too much? I don't think we were, to be honest.

"We penalised ourselves out of the game. We didn't have any ball in the second-half, and the ball we did have we kicked poorly away. We stopped doing the things we had been doing well.

"If it turns out we've been penalised for the same thing two or three times, then we've been pretty dull.

"We knew it was a massive challenge. What I am pleased about is the physicality we showed to live with people on their own patch.

“Gloucester is not the easiest place to come, and I am pleased with our physicality to live with them - it is just disappointing we didn't turn pressure into points.”

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:30 pm | | Comments

MALCOLM ON ENGLAND ODI SERIES IN CARIBBEAN

If England’s one-day team are to succeed in the West Indies and bounce back from November’s whitewash at the hands of India, they will have to target No1 one-day batsman Chris Gayle, believes former Test star Devon Malcolm.

The five-match series, which begins on March 20 in Guyana, will see a return to the shorter form of the game for new England captain Andrew Strauss, who has not featured since England’s miserable World Cup campaign two years ago.

Middlesex batsman Strauss’s main job will be to pick up his players who were defeated 5-0 by India before Christmas, knowing that good results will breed confidence ahead of the 20Twenty World Cup on home soil in June and also for Australia’s Ashes visit a month later.

But Windies captain Gayle, who, in January, jumped five places in the International Cricket Council’s one-day rankings to first, will have to be halted if England are to prevail. The 31-year-old, who has a One-Day-International average above 40, was central to his team’s 2-1 series victory in England two years ago.

“Chris Gayle is a fantastic cricketer,” says Jamaican-born Malcolm, a veteran of 40 Tests for England. “He is so laid back that no situation seems to faze him. He just turns up and does his thing.

“He is the number one batsmen in one-day cricket at the moment, so England will have to focus right and aim to get him out very early. There could be trouble if not, because he will really start to punish the bowlers if he gets going.”

Malcolm, 45, reckons Durham quick Steve Harmison, who terrorised Gayle while on tour in the Caribbean five years ago, will have to be firing on all cylinders again, if the powerful batsman is to be stopped.

If the 30-year-old can rekindle the form witnessed in 2004, when he claimed a career-best seven for 12 in the Sabina Park Test, then England will be difficult to beat. Gayle averaged 26 against England in that Test series and Harmison, in particular, was impressive against the Jamaican, dismissing him four times in seven innings.

Harmison retired from ODIs after the World Cup only to be recalled for the autumn series against South Africa, and showed his worth as a re-ignited England stormed to a 4-0 win under the captaincy of Kevin Pietersen.

“A firing Steve Harmison will be a vital part of the England side in the ODIs against the West Indies, and will be important if they are to win the Ashes again in the summer,” continues Malcolm. “To get him firing, Steve needs to prove that he has completed his rehabilitation. I feel going back to the Caribbean, with the memories he has of the place, will have a good and positive effect on him.

“Hopefully he can feed from that energy that he felt in the Caribbean five years ago, and really get his bounce and pace back. He needs to build up some momentum bowling in the West Indies, and take that into the Ashes series.

“When he is at the top of his game, with that bounce and pace, and with the players that Australia have lost – Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Mathew Hayden, Glen McGrath – England should win that series.

“You could say that the West Indies are the ideal team to play at the moment – ahead of the Ashes and after what has gone of following the India tour. But they will want to really lift their game against England – everyone wants to do well against the old colonial master.”

The former Derbyshire bowler believes that, with the Ashes a mere six months away, it was better that the public falling out of captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores happened when it did rather than at a later date.

“It was good to sort out those problems when they did,” Malcolm adds. “It is very important that England have a good tour of the West Indies and get back to winning ways.

“If there has ever been a time when Australia have been ripe for a beating, then now is the time – even though England have been having problems with the coach and the captaincy. But I think KP will turn up and play even better than before.

“Now Kevin can concentrate on what he knows best, especially in the one-day series. He is a showman and that is his oxygen – he needs to perform. When he really performs, England win. I am not worried one bit about his performance.

“It should be a great series, and I am hopeful that England, with Harmison firing, can beat the West Indies. That will set them up for the 20Twenty World Cup and give them the momentum to go on and beat Australia and regain the Ashes.”

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:51 pm | | Comments

STEFFON DETERMINED TO GIVE IT HIS ALL

While Steffon Armitage concedes that his inclusion at openside flanker for England’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy on Saturday is by virtue of injuries to others, he is certainly determined to make the most of his opportunity.

The 5’9” London Irish No7 may not have the traditional frame for an international backrower, or indeed the experience of the sidelined trio of Tom Rees, Lewis Moody and Michael Lipman.

But what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in dynamism and ubiquity, and has – in the eyes of punters and pundits alike – fully earned his first cap, following a number of scintillating displays for his club that has helped lift them to second in the Guinness Premiership.

Dismissed by Saracens in 2006 for being too small, Armitage was snapped up by Irish, where older brother Delon was already starring at full-back. Injuries, once more, played their part and when he eventually broke into the first team he vowed to give his all, so that he would be impossible to drop.

“I finally got my chance to play at Irish through injuries, and all the boys stuck with me,” says the 23-year-old. “And I didn’t want to let the guys down at all, so I gave it everything I had in every single game. I would go out there and give it 110 per cent, every single time. I can't sleep before any game because I get so nervous and go into it thinking it's my last one.

“I’ve also got my England chance through injury and I hope I can go out there and take my opportunities with both hands. I will be trying to do the things I have done over the years – driving and getting stuck in, giving the opposition a hard time.”

Perhaps Martin Johnson sees in Armitage something of his former Leicester Tigers, England and Lions team-mate, Neil Back, who was similarly pint-sized in comparison to most other international backrowers. Regardless of the thinking behind the decision, the Trinidad-born No7 admits that he was delighted to be told by one of his heroes that he would be playing for England, alongside his brother.

“My heart is still pumping having got the call,” he continues. “It really hasn't sunk in yet. Martin and I sat down after dinner on Monday and he said: ‘Steffon, I have been really impressed by you, and we are going to give you a start this weekend.’

“I stopped breathing for a second! And then he said: ‘We have picked you because you are one of the form players in the Premiership, and we have faith in you.’ And that is the bit that got me the most. It was coming from an absolute legend – Martin Johnson, a World Cup-winning captain. It was a bit emotional.”

When he runs out on to Twickeham with Delon, who made his international bow in the autumn and was named England’s player of the series, Steffon will become part of only nine brothers to have played together for the Red Rose.

“I'm pretty happy we're both in there and so proud of Delon for getting there before me,” he adds. “But I want to do my best in every game. I am going to go into Saturday’s game with the same mentality.”

BOX OUT

The Armitages are the first brothers to represent England on the same pitch since Rory and Tony Underwood in 1995. Reginald and Louis Birkett started the trend back in 1875.

Delon, 25, is delighted that his younger brother has been given the nod to play alongside him against Italy. “Playing on my own [for England] was brilliant,” he says, “but to have my brother there now, I'm speechless.

“If we get a chance to stand next to each other at the national anthem we probably will sing together and probably shed a couple of tears.

“I have tried to let Stef take all the England stuff in himself, like I got the chance to. The last thing you want is an older brother telling you what to do, what will happen. But I want him to learn it all on his own. Obviously I will be the elder brother and there if he needs any advice.

“He was disappointed not to get picked in the autumn and he worked on his fitness and played even better. He has worked really hard and I am glad he has the chance, like I did, to see if he is good enough to compete at international level. Hopefully he can improve even more and we can both keep our shirts now.”

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Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:46 pm | | Comments