The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- All Blacks to tone down razzle-dazzle as must-win attitude takes precedence
- Button signs new deal with McLaren
- Pumas: Opening quarter key against the Kiwis
| All Blacks to tone down razzle-dazzle as must-win attitude takes precedence Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:10 PM PDT RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 Expect the All Blacks to tone down the razzle-dazzle as as a must-win attitude takes precedence over entertainment in their sudden-death World Cup clash against Argentina on Sunday. It is a game that is likely be decided in the forwards, where the powerful Argentinians back themselves, and when All Blacks hardman Brad Thorn talks about the pressure of knockout matches the rest of the team take notice. Although a fearsome competitor on the field, it is hard to get the powerful lock excited off it but when questioned about what to expect in a play-off the 36-year-old dual code international lights up. "I find it real refreshing, it's do the business or see ya later. To me I find that exciting," the veteran of a combined 400 first-class games of rugby union and league drawled in his trade-mark gravelly voice, a legacy from being hit in the neck. All Blacks coach Graham Henry rates Thorn's experience as invaluable to the side, many of whom are playing in their first major tournament and have no experience of the cut-throat nature of knockout fixtures. "He's the back bone of the team, one of the major back bones if you like," Henry said. "He's been there and played a lot of professional sport, he knows what it's about." The New Zealand-born Thorn appeared in four Australian National Rugby League Grand Finals winning two of them with the Brisbane Broncos, featured in the tough State-of-Origin series and represented Australia in the 13-man game. "In pool play you're trying to progress into the finals. Once you get to the knockout footy it really is if you don't do the business this week you're on your way home," he said. "So from my experience from finals footy there is more intensity, it gets a lot more serious and for me as a player. " I've enjoyed the last month but to me this is what it's about from now on." Fellow rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams, who clashed with Thorn in a preliminary Grand Final playing for the Sydney-based Bulldogs in 2006, would like New Zealand's backs to play with their customary freedom but knows that may not be possible. "We've got to acknowledge this is knockout football and there's no tomorrow. You've got to find the right balance, not go into your shell but still express yourself, but obviously know it's finals time," he said. The All Blacks pack were never fully tested in their pool matches, apart from a brief period in the second half of the match against Tonga, and Thorn welcomed Argentina's warning of an intense battle in the forwards. "I think that's great. For me this level of footy is all about challenge and we've massive respect for Argentina, the scrum, lineout, forward play in general. "So for me it's a great thing to come up against a really good opponent and test yourself and that's why it's called a Test match. I've a lot of respect for what they're going to bring and looking forward to a tight contest." — AFP |
| Button signs new deal with McLaren Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:08 PM PDT LONDON: Former world champion Jenson Button has committed his long-term future to McLaren after signing a new contract with the British constructor yesterday. Button, who won the world title in 2009, is in his second season with the team and is now set to continue for several more years, although the exact length of the deal has not been disclosed. The 31-year-old has won a total of four races for the team and is second to Sebastian Vettel in the 2011 standings, with a slender chance of depriving the German of the world title. Button had previously suggested he would be willing to extend his spell with McLaren and he admits the atmosphere in the team was crucial to his decision. "I've never felt more at home at a team than I do at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes," the 31-year-old told his team's official website. "I've won four of the greatest races of my life here, I'm currently lying second in the drivers' world championship, and I feel that I'm driving better than ever. "You can only achieve that with the right level of support – and I truly believe that the passion and determination to win are stronger here at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes than anywhere else. "As a Grand Prix driver, those are incredibly powerful feelings to share and be part of, and they've only reinforced my desire to commit my long-term future to this team. "I've made no secret of my ambition to continue winning races and world championships, and I fully believe this is the place where I can achieve those aims. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh is confident that Button will be able to improve on his already successful time at McLaren in the coming years. "Jenson is a great driver and a great guy," Whitmarsh said. "In fact, I can safely say that he's one of the most capable and respected drivers we've ever had, and I'm therefore absolutely delighted that he'll continue to work with us into the future. "He's a considerable credit to this organisation, and I'm proud to be his team principal. "I feel sure that he'll now build on the considerable success he's already achieved with us, and will be even more successful with us in years to come." — AFP |
| Pumas: Opening quarter key against the Kiwis Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:07 PM PDT RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 It was the late American artist Andy Warhol who predicted everyone would be famous for 15 minutes. But Argentina centre Marcelo Bosch believes that if the Pumas are still in the game against New Zealand in their last eight World Cup clash when a quarter-of-an-hour has ticked by at Eden Park here on Sunday, then they will have a shot at sporting immortality. For the Pumas to beat hosts New Zealand would qualify as one of the all-time stunning rugby upsets. But for Bosch, who never expected to be at this World Cup, victory over the mighty All Blacks would not be as far-fetched as the chain of events that has taken him into a starting role in the Pumas' midfield. Bosch's was seen largely as a back-up to Gonzalo Tiesi when Argentina named their original 30-man World Cup squad. But Tiesi's knee injury early in the Pumas' first pool game against England thrust Biarritz Olympique midfielder Bosch into the spotlight. The 27-year-old, who came to New Zealand with only five Tests under his belt, went on to feature in all four of Argentina's group fixtures. "This is a great moment for me, a great year, I cannot ask for more," Bosch saidyesterday as the South Americans began tapering off ahead of their clash with the top-ranked All Blacks. "A few months ago I was dreaming of living this experience. I had confidence in myself but in the end I can play because of an injury to my team-mate and you have to take advantage of the situation." Bosch said Argentina could not afford to be rattled by the pace of the All Blacks' game and needed to focus on their traditional strength of setting a platform through their forwards. "We need to play our game, to slow down the pace. If we follow their pace, it will be bad for us," he said. "We need to control the ball, and give it everything for the first 15 minutes and not concede any points. "If in those 15 minutes they do not score, we could show them that we are there and that everything is posible". — AFP |
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