The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Lions selection headaches aplenty for Gatland
- Ferrari bitter over Vettel's sweet success
- Vettel becomes F1’s youngest triple champion as Button wins thriller
| Lions selection headaches aplenty for Gatland Posted: 25 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST CARDIFF: Next year's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia is nothing but gruelling, the 35-strong squad expected to come together in a short space of time before playing six games and three Tests. Head coach Warren Gatland will take a back seat from his main Wales coaching job during the Six Nations in a bid to scout for potential players to fill the highly cosseted red Lions jersey. And the Kiwi certainly faces a tough task, as has been proved by the domination of southern hemisphere teams over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales so far in the autumn series of internationals. Injuries, non-selection for national set-ups and loss of form all take their toll, which leaves Gatland with a mountain to climb when it comes to drafting 35 players together for the nine games including three tests in Australia next June and July. "I've just been forming some opinions," said Gatland of his decision to miss Wales' opening November defeats by Argentina and Samoa to take in other internationals as part of his Lions brief. "At this initial stage it's about going to games, looking at players and trying to establish where players are at the moment and where teams are, too. "There's a long way to go before final selection and a lot of rugby to be played," said Gatland, who was an assistant coach on the Lions' last tour to South Africa in 2009. The Wallabies at home are a tough prospect, as shown by Wales' losing three-Test series last summer. And Australia coach Robbie Deans will hope to have scrum-half Will Genia and openside flanker David Pocock, undoubtedly the country's two best players, back from injury and motoring the home side. The battle with Pocock in the loose will be key, and at the moment there is only one outstanding number 7 in British rugby and that is Wales captain Sam Warburton, who is just about emerging from an alarming dip in form since the World Cup. Arguably the best contender for the Lions openside slot is a player who is ignored by England, but who performs fantastically well for Toulon week-in, week-out in the highly competitive Top 14: Steffon Armitage. Welshman Dan Lydiate and Ireland's Stephen Ferris may both be currently injured, but it will likely be that duo battling to make up the back-row, with Jamie Heaslip and Scotland's Zimbabwe-born David Denton surely in the running for the No 8 shirt. The boiler room could feature two giants in Scotland's Richie Gray and Perpignan-based Luke Charteris of Wales, but Gatland could also fall back on experienced duo Paul O'Connell and Alun Wyn Jones. Australia's scrum weaknesses have again been targeted during their tour in the northern hemisphere, but apart from the France game they lost 33-6, it has pretty much held its own. The Lions' front-row in South Africa was an all-Welsh one of Adam Jones, Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins. Jenkins has fallen behind Andrew Sheridan in the Toulon pecking order, and it would be no surprise to see the former England loosehead prop included if he continues his exceptional form. Cian Healy of Ireland and England tighthead Dan Cole should also be considered, with Rees, injured Irishman Rory Best and Kiwi-born Englishman Dylan Hartley the potential trio of hookers. The halfbacks are perhaps the biggest conundrum for Gatland on current form. Nailing down Genia will be a monumental task, so Gatland might be tempted to go for Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips over the slicker ball passers, with Ireland's Jonny Sexton in the driving seat for the keys for No 10. The centre combination of Jamie Roberts and veteran Brian O'Driscoll worked well in South Africa, but England's Manu Tuilagi will likely tour for his direct running, alongside fleet-footed Welshman Jonathan Davies. On current form Leigh Halfpenny of Wales is a shoo-in at full-back, while his two wingmen at national level, Alex Cuthbert and George North, have both performed well. Ireland's Rob Kearney played the final two Tests in 2009 but is currently injured. Scotland's flying Dutchman Tim Visser and England's rugby league convert Chris Ashton should add spice in their bid to break up a potential all-Welsh back three. - AFP |
| Ferrari bitter over Vettel's sweet success Posted: 25 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST SAO PAULO: Ferrari gatecrashed Sebastian Vettel's triple world title party by insisting that Spaniard Fernando Alonso should have been crowned champion in an acrimonious, season-finale parting shot. Red Bull driver Vettel's sixth-placed finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday allowed him to become the youngest three-time champion in the sport's history as the 25-year-old German claimed the title by just three points. But Ferrari insisted that Alonso, who was second at Interlagos, should have been the man celebrating a third career title, pointing to controversial races in Belgium and Japan to support their argument. Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said that Alonso paid a heavy price for first lap exits in Belgium and Japan where he was shunted out of contention by Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen respectively. The Italian giants had been further aggrieved when Vettel, accused of blocking Alonso in qualifying in Japan before going on to win the race, escaped with just a reprimand. "We are proud of Fernando," Domenicali told www.autosport.com. "But we are very disappointed because the one who deserved this championship was really him. "It is a shame because, after such a long season that we really fight in all conditions, we raced 18 races and not 20 - and being second by three points is not a lot. "Watch the facts. Zero points in two races (Belgium and Japan) so we have done what we have done with 18 races. The others had 20 - and the points were over 20 races. These are facts, not words." But Domenicali remained gracious in his praise of Vettel who had collided with Williams driver Bruno Senna on the opening lap and was sent spinning to the rear of the field in Sunday's rain-lashed race before recovering. "Sometimes there is a sign of destiny where you really can appreciate what is the direction of the wind," he said. Alonso, who was second behind Jenson Button of McLaren in the race, also insisted his campaign had been undermined at Spa and Suzuka. "The championship was not lost here," said the two- time champion. "The championship was lost when (Romain) Grosjean flew over my head (at Spa) or when Vettel surprisingly only got a reprimand after qualifying in Japan." Vettel refused to get involved in a war of words although he did allude to his rivals' controversial decision last weekend in Texas to change the gearbox on Felipe Massa's Ferrari in order to allow Alonso to enjoy a starting advantage on the grid. "A lot of people tried to play dirty tricks but we did not get distracted by that and kept going our way and all the guys gave a big push right to the end," Vettel told the BBC. The German struggled with his emotions and wept on Sunday's final lap which was completed behind the safety car. "It is difficult to imagine what goes through my head now even for myself. I am full of adrenaline and if you poke me now I wouldn't feel it," he admitted. "It was such an incredible race. When you get turned around at Turn Four for no reason and it becomes like heading the wrong way down the (British motorway) M25 it is not the most comfortable feeling." Vettel became only the third driver in history to win three successive titles, equalling the feats of the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and childhood idol Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh for Mercedes in his final race before retiring. After 21 years, seven drivers' championship triumphs and 91 victories, the 43-year-old Schumacher recovered from an early puncture to score points in his final outing. "I think it's a nice ending," he said. "I'm finishing off and he's (Vettel) clinching his third title. I'm very proud of him." Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton blasted Nico Hulkenberg after the Force India driver sent the former world champion crashing out of his final race as a McLaren driver. Hulkenburg lost control as he attempted to squeeze into the lead on lap 55 of the 71-lap race and rammed into Hamilton's McLaren. "The dude did not even come and say sorry," fumed Hamilton. |
| Vettel becomes F1’s youngest triple champion as Button wins thriller Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:34 PM PST SAO PAULO: Sebastian Vettel became the youngest triple champion in Formula One history yesterday when he finished sixth behind the victorious Jenson Button in a tumultuous Brazilian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old German, who was involved in an opening lap collision, made light of the damage to his Red Bull car as he fought through the field in a dramatic race run in treacherous rain-swept conditions at the Interlagos circuit. Vettel's only title rival, two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, finished a fine second after a courageous drive for Ferrari, but it was not enough to overhaul a pre-race 13-point deficit as his German rival won the crown by just three points. The race was littered with accidents and incidents and ended behind a Safety Car with Vettel bringing his car home in the rain in tears, unable to respond to the screamed congratulations from Red Bull team chief Christian Horner. Vettel became only the third driver in history to win three successive titles, equalling the feats of the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and his own childhood idol Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh for Mercedes in his final race before retiring. Alonso's Ferrari team-mate, local hero Brazilian Felipe Massa, drove brilliantly to finish third ahead of Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India. "We lost communication at the start but Sebastian stuck at it. He drove with determination," said Horner. "He just never gives up. After the first lap spin I thought that was it because we knew Fernando would be on the podium. But he got back to the top six, the rain came, we went to inter (tyres) and then slicks. "It was maximum stress throughout the race, but Seb stayed cool. Fernando did a great job but he knew he was up against one of the best. What Seb achieved was incredible." Hulkenberg played a prominent role in the race, not only leading for a spell but also crashing into Lewis Hamilton's McLaren to wreck the Briton's hopes of a triumphant conclusion to his career with the British team just when he looked sure of winning. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton had led from pole position but could not shake off team mate Button, who made a wise decision to do a long first stint along with Force India's Nico Hulkenberg. Hamilton's last race for McLaren before he joins Mercedes ended when he and Hulkenberg collided on the 54th lap as they came up to lap back markers into turn one. Hulkenberg, who had led for much of the race, was able to rejoin but was given a drive through penalty that ended his hopes of a podium finish. Vettel was sixth, Schumacher seventh and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne eighth for Toro Rosso ahead of Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber and Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus. Vettel, whose Red Bull team took a third constructors' championship in succession last weekend in Texas, finished with 281 points and Alonso with 278. It was Briton Button's first win in Brazil, his third of the season and the 15th of his career. Alonso paid tribute to his Ferrari team. "First of all I'm very proud of the team. We lost the championship before today, not in Brazil, this is a sport after all," said the Spaniard. "When you do something with your heart and do it 100 percent you have to be proud of yourself and your team and we'll try again next year." Button added: "First of all I want to congratulate the whole team. This is the perfect way to end the season. We have had ups and downs and to end on a high bodes well for 2013." Out of the points, Caterham celebrated 11th place for Russian Vitaly Petrov that lifted them back ahead of Marussia into 10th place overall in the championship - a finish worth millions to the team. — Agencies 1. Jenson Button (Bri) McLaren Mercedes 1'45:22.656, 2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Scuderia Ferrari 2.754 seconds behind, 3. Felipe Massa (Bra) Scuderia Ferrari 3.615, 4. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull Racing 4.936, 5. Nico Hlkenberg (Ger) Force India 5.708, 6. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull Racing 9.453, 7. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes AMG 11.907, 8. Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 28.653, 9. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Sauber 31.250, 10. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Lotus at 1 lap, 11. Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Caterham at 1 lap, 12. Charles Pic (Fra) Marussia 1 lap, 13. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Scuderia Toro Rosso at 1 lap, 14. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Caterham 1 lap, 15. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes AMG at 1 lap, 16. Timo Glock (Ger) Marussia at 1 lap, 17. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) HRT at 2 laps, 18. Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) HRT at 2 laps, 19. Paul di Resta (Bri) Force India at 3 laps. n Overall final standings Drivers: 1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) 281.0pts, 2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) 278.0, 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) 207.0, 4. Lewis Hamilton (Bri) 190.0, 5. Jenson Button (Bri) 188.0, 6. Mark Webber (Aus) 179.0, 7. Felipe Massa (Bra) 122.0, 8. Romain Grosjean (Fra) 96.0, 9. Nico Rosberg (Ger) 93.0, 10. Sergio Perez (Mex) 66.0, 11. Nico Hlkenberg (Ger) 63.0, 12. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) 60.0, 13. Michael Schumacher (Ger) 49.0, 14. Paul di Resta (Bri) 46.0, 15. Pastor Maldonado (Ven) 45.0, 16. Bruno Senna (Bra) 31.0, 17. Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) 16.0, 18. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) 10.0. n Constructors: 1. Red Bull Racing 460.0pts, 2. Scuderia Ferrari 400.0, 3. McLaren Mercedes 378.0, 4. Lotus 303.0, 5. Mercedes AMG 142.0, 6. Sauber 126.0, 7. Force India 109.0, 8. Williams 76.0, 9. Scuderia Toro Rosso 26.0. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan