Friday 30 November 2007

Minnows Rewarded

The IRB announced today that the 2011 Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand will still have 20 teams competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.

After the success of the Minnow nations at this years World Cup the IRB have gone back on an earlier agreement to cut numbers to 16.

Hosts New Zealand will be aggrieved by this decision as it will complicate the logistical organisation of the tournament.

The All Blacks also feel the lack of competitive matches they had in this year's pool games directly resulted in their early exit from the tournament.

For rugby as a global sport this is a huge decision from the IRB, and after their weakness in giving the 2011 tournament to New Zealand instead of Japan, it is a fresh vote of confidence for the emerging nations.

Exciting Emergents

"The developing nations at Rugby World Cup 2007 have produced significantly enhanced performances since RWC 2003." said IRB chairman Dr Syd Millar.

Every team in the recent World Cup provided excellent entertainment for the French crowds.

All of the South Sea Island teams competed ferociously, while Georgia, Romania, Portugal and Namibia also turned in some massive performances.

Hopefully the IRB will also recognise the need for improved investment in these developing rugby nations and a more equal playing field can be created for the greatest sport in the World.

Sunday 25 November 2007

Scotland Beat Boo

Scotland won the Golf World Cup this weekend for the first time in its 54 year history.

Having just lost out to Germany in a play off last year, this time they clinched the title on extra holes against the US.

Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren played superbly all week and held off the nerves to beat an unfancied American pairing of Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum.

In a hotly contested final round the French team finished a shot behind with the English pair of Justin Rose & Ian Poulter one behind them.

Guinness Back on Tap


Also this weekend the Guinness Premiership roared back into action after a lengthy European lay off.

Leicester, Gloucester, Bath and Saracens all won, but victories from Wasps and Sale stole the headlines.

Danny Cipriani led Wasps to a convincing win against Newcastle who struggled without a fly half.

And Luke McAlister stole the show on his eagerly anticipated debut for the Sharks in a comprehensive victory over Worcester.

Both Sale and Wasps should mount a strong challenge for the championship now with full squads back in place, although they will not be looking forward to the 6 Nations.

Sunday 18 November 2007

Bent Straight In

Second chances are rare things in sport but England were given a massive life line this weekend as Israel maintained an impressive home record by beating Russia 2-1 in Tel Aviv.

Now all England need to do is not lose to current group leaders Croatia
on Wednesday at Wembley.

This whole qualifying campaign has been embarrassing, but now England have the unexpected opportunity to top the group if they can win 2-0 or by a three goal margin.

That is far from certain however as England's goal scoring options look set to be based on a giraffe and a couple of North London bench warmers.

Crouch will play, but if he has a partner up front he is unlikely to have played much football this season.

Between them, Defoe and Bent have made 10 starts and scored 7 goals, not great figures, but then choices are limited.

The leading English goal scorer in the premiership is U21 player Agbonlahor with 5 and fans favourite Lee Bowyer one behind with 4.

A Long Journey

It has been more than two years since McClaren kicked off his tenure with the England team in the first game of the qualifying tournament.

That day England beat Andorra 5-0 with Defoe scoring twice and Phillip Neville getting an assist. Hmmm.... Phillip Neville....

Anyway, two years and a string of disappointing results later and England look set to have another chance of letting us down at a major championship.

Sadly they look likely to be the only British team, unless David Healy can once again inspire N.Ireland to an historic win in Spain and Latvia win in Stockholm.

Thursday 15 November 2007

Premiership Pitfalls

This weekend the Barclays Premier League will take a rest for some International games but should they carry on regardless?

In football, the top clubs and their managers dominate the game, what they says goes and the rest just follow like sheep.

The Guinness Premiership doesn't stop for anyone, whether there is a World Cup or the annual Six Nations, they keep playing.

This has a two fold benefit to the league.

Firstly it gives the teams lower in the league with less internationals, a chance to gain some momentum and confidence, and record some wins.

Talent Development

It also gives the more successful teams a chance to field some younger players and give them game-time at the top level.

It is accepted in rugby, and the teams have to prepare for these times by trying to make sure they have strength in depth.

There is no doubt that it helps develop domestic emerging talent in the country.

Money Matters

Football is obviously a whole different world, run on ridiculous amounts of money and with entirely different motives.

There are other issues too, many more nations play football and international weekends would hit the lower teams to a similar extent as the top teams.

The real problem with the football league system is the vast divides between the top tier and the rest.

Vicious circles are in abundance, the top teams have more money, brought about by success and this then feeds more success.

Secret Circle

Teams outside the European elite don't stand a chance of ever making a serious impact, and if a team does break through then investment is key, look at Leeds.

They made it, then gambled and then lost it, in the most dramatic of ways.

Even teams just trying to make an impact in the Premier League after promotion from the Championship struggle.

So maybe they shouldn't follow suit of the Guinness Premiership on international weekends but change could definitely make the game more exciting.

Tuesday 13 November 2007

Seeds Struggle in Shanghai

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have dominated world tennis over the past two or three years, but now their dominance is under threat.

The season's finale in Shanghai has already thrown up some unexpected results, with Nadal losing to compatriot David Ferrer and Federer losing to Fernando Gonzalez.

Novak Djokovic, the third seed, has already been knocked out following losses to the on form Ferrer and Richard Gasquet.

With the top seeds all struggling to make the semi finals and after David Nalbandian beat Federer and Nadal in back to back Masters Series wins in Madrid and Paris, mens tennis is looking as competitive as ever.

Match Fixing

Although match fixing controversy is lurking over the sport like a menacing storm cloud, the tennis being played is as good as it has been for 20 years.

It seems as if the ATP have taken the easy option of banning a less well known player for betting scandals.

Alessio di Mauro, world number 124 was the player chosen to feel the flex of the ATP's muscles and hopefully it will stem any further scandal in the sport.

How sportsmen who are already making more than enough money could gamble all of their success and morals for a few extra dollars is incomprehensible, and the ATP are right to stamp it out, lets hope the damage done is not irreversible.

Sunday 11 November 2007

Heineken Cup Kicks Off With A Bang

This weekend one of the greatest competitions in world rugby kicked off in superb form.

The Heineken Cup pits the top European club teams against each other in Test like conditions.

This weekend the first round of pool matches began, and a standard was set that wouldn't disappoint the International game.

Defending champions London Wasps sneaked a thrilling victory against perennial hopefuls and past winners, Munster, 24-23.

In the best game of the round a young and dynamic Wasps team twice came from behind to inch past a Munster side full of Irish internationals keen to prove a point following a dire World Cup.

Having made a poor start to the domestic season, Wasps, back with a near full strength team, look like they will once again be fighting to the end for some silver ware.

Danny Cipriani, James Haskell and Tom Rees are the leading force in a young and exciting team which along with some bright prospects at Gloucester are set to form the back bone of the future England squad.

Gloucester themselves won their first round encounter this weekend with a 32-14 away win at Ulster, in a mixed weekend for English teams.

The beauty of the competition is the depth, at least ten teams have a reasonable chance to win it, and nothing less than the best will be enough.

With the prospect of Argentina joining the 'Six Nations', Europe and the Northern Hemisphere is looking like maintaining a formidable opposition to the ever imposing South.

Tuesday 6 November 2007

BBC Sports Personality Awards

Six months ago, there wouldn't have been a bookies in the land who didn't have Lewis Hamilton as their favourite for this year's award, however now the field is wide open, and the contest looks set to be the most exiciting for years.

Careers and seasons are made in moments and as one rash overtaking move at Interlagos undid all of Hamilton's good work, one putt on a play off hole made Justin Rose's season.

Hamilton is still favourite to win the prize on Sunday 9th December and he probably will, however he faces stiff competition from competitors in a wide range of sports.

Two boxers stand a good chance, and if Ricky Hatton wins his big fight against Floyd Mayweather the night before the awards, he is sure to improve his odds.



The other boxer, Joe Calzaghe, affectionately know as 'The Italian Dragon', has been a dominating force in boxing for an entire decade, 44 undefeated bouts is incredibly impressive and there have been few boxers in the world to come close to this feat.

Other athletes in with a chance include: Paula Radcliffe, Frankie Dettori, Jonny Wilkinson, Justin Rose, Christine Ohuruogu and the now retired Tim Henman.

However this throws up the age-old problem of, what requirements are there to win the award?

Is it a personality award, for the person who has brought the most to sport? Or is it an award for the greatest achievment in sport over the past year?

Personally I feel it should go to the individual who has consistantly achieved the most over the year in their sport.

Therefore I don't think Hamilton should win because... well he didn't win, he choked. You can't give the award to a loser!

Harsh maybe, but either Calzaghe or Rose should win in my book, consistantly at the top of world sport and both winners.

Who do you think should win?

THE PAST TEN CHAMPIONS:

2006: Zara Phillips
2005: Andrew Flintoff
2004: Kelly Holmes
2003: Jonny Wilkinson
2002: Paula Radcliffe
2001: David Beckham
2000: Steve Redgrave
1999: Lennox Lewis
1998: Michael Owen
1997: Greg Rusedski

Rose Finally Blossoms


Justin Rose tried his best to emulate Lewis Hamilton on Sunday by throwing away a four shot lead on the final round of the Volvo Masters.

In the end Rose hung on to win a three-way play-off against compatriot Simon Dyson and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen.

In doing so, the 27 year old did enough to snatch the European Order of Merit from the controversially absent leader Ernie Els.

Els' absence was a further sign of the power of money and sponsorship disrupting the world of sport.

The Big Easy was obliged to leave the European Tour for the final weekend and fulfil a three year commitment at the Singapore Masters, where he missed the cut.

Money Matters

Ernie won the Order of Merit in 2003 and 2004 and after winning the World Matchplay at Wentworth (£1mill) held a slender lead over Rose and last years winner, Padraig Harrington.

It was never going to be enough though and Rose, who has been one of the most consistent players at the Majors this season fully deserved the crown.

Now he needs to really focus his game on winning a Major, he definitely has the swing and composure to do it, so good luck to him.

Friday 2 November 2007

Tv Picks

This weekend marks the closing stages of some long seasons, and maybe the defining moments of those recently underway.

The MOTOGP season comes to a close in Valencia on Sunday at 12.45 and the New York Marathon featuring Paula Radcliffe follows on BBC TWO.

There is more EDF cup rugby this weekend on BBC ONE, Leicester hosting Cardiff in what should be a humdinger, sensible money on the Tigers though, kick off Saturday 2.15pm.

ATP tennis is on the tennis channel and it is a crucial weekend, the closing stages of the Paris Masters which will decide who reaches the end of season finale in Shanghai, Murray in with a good shout if he can beat Gasquet.

Make sure you grab updates on BBC Sport online.

The New Boys

Setanta continue to build their way in the sports market with some tasty treats this weekend.

From the SPL they have Celtic vs Kilmarnock at midday on Saturday and the Edinburgh derby between Hearts and Hibs on Sunday at one.

Premiership wise they are showing Blackburn vs Liverpool on Saturday evening.

They also have some Magners league action Saturday evening and a variety of European football over the weekend if that is your thing.

The big event for Setanta this week however is the Joe Calzaghe fight which should start about half one Sunday morning, either set your alarm, or leave the club early!

The Big Game

The second rugby league test between Great Britain and New Zealand is again on Sky, Saturday evening with Sunday Highlights on the Beeb 1130-1230.

SkySports also have full coverage of the Volvo Masters from Valderrama where Justin Rose, currently 4 shots ahead, is battling it out with Padraig Harrington to win the European Order of Merit aka the 'richest guy on tour'.

Sky's coup de grace however is 'the big game', Arsenal vs Man United, Saturday lunchtime.

Personally I will be getting geared up for my big game, St Lawrence Reserves vs Chipstead 3rds, come on the Saints!

Oh just incase you were wondering what ITV are up to this weekend... bugger all... they seemed to peak a couple of weeks ago and are still recovering.