Wiggins to support Froome at Tour

Chris Froome (left) and Bradley Wiggins during the 2012 Tour de France. Source: News Limited

BRADLEY Wiggins says he will be a support rider at Team Sky and his role at this year's Tour de France will be helping teammate Chris Froome win a second straight title.

Wiggins won cycling's biggest race in 2012 but was unable to defend his title after pulling out because of injury.

Froome won the 2013 Tour and will be Team Sky's main hope this year.

In an interview in Thursday's edition of British newspaper The Independent, Wiggins says "Froome's got the mantle (of leadership) now, which is good. There were a couple of times last year when Chris was really isolated and I want to be in a position that I can be there (in support) when that happens."

The Tour takes place from July 5-27.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

O’Driscoll to break Gregan’s record

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll will become the most-capped player in Test rugby. Picture: AFP Source: IAN KINGTON / AFP

BRIAN O'Driscoll will become the most-capped player in Test rugby after being selected in Ireland's team for Saturday's Six Nations match against Italy.

The centre will make his 140th Test appearance, beating the record he held jointly with former Australia scrumhalf George Gregan. Eight matches for the British and Irish Lions are included in O'Driscoll's total.

Jonathan Sexton has recovered from a thumb injury to keep his place at flyhalf.

The only change from the team that lost 13-10 to England at Twickenham in Round 3 sees Iain Henderson starting as blindside flanker, replacing the injured Peter O'Mahony.

Rhys Ruddock and Eoin Reddan are new faces on the bench.

Ireland is one of four teams with four points after three matches. The Irish finish the tournament at France.

---

Team: Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Dave Kearney, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry, Iain Henderson, Paul O'Connell, Devin Toner, Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy. Reserves: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Jackson, Fergus McFadden

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Spain’s World Cup hero predicts repeat

Spanish side with Andres Iniesta fourth from left, front row. Source: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP

BARCELONA and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta believes his country can continue their unprecedented run of success with a fourth consecutive major tournament win at the World Cup in Brazil later this year.

Iniesta scored the solitary goal in the 2010 final against the Netherlands to give La Roja their first ever World Cup and was also a key member of the sides that won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

Vicente del Bosque's men have been handed a handed a difficult group alongside the Dutch once more, Chile and Australia for the showpiece event in Brazil.

Spain's Andres Iniesta, right, scores a goal past Netherlands' Rafael van der Vaart, left, during the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain in 2010. Source: AP

However, Iniesta is hoping to relive the joy he experienced after netting the most important goal of his career in Johannesburg four years ago.

"It is the greatest feeling of happiness, joy and pride to be able to score the goal and win a World Cup, which is something very few countries have won,'' he said as he helped launch Nike's new Magista boot for the World Cup on Thursday.

"It was a beautiful thing and now we have the chance to defend it.

"We are going with the intention to retain it. We know we have to go step by step because a World Cup is incredibly difficult, but I think we should be confident that we will be able to do something significant at the World Cup.''

Before Iniesta even gets to Brazil, though, he could collect another few medals as Barcelona are still alive in three competitions.

The club's long-serving captain Carles Puyol announced earlier this week that he would leave the club at the end of the current campaign after being plagued by injuries in the last couple of seasons.

And Iniesta said Puyol's departure would provide even more motivation to end the season successfully in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

"There is no one who represents what he does. It is sad news for what he is as a player and a person.

"We will try between now and the end of the season to ensure he leaves on a high note.

"We have the highest expectations in all three competitions. We have the desire and wish to win titles and we will fight until the end to achieve it.''

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Injured Wilshere to miss six weeks

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere will miss six weeks with injury. Source: BULENT KILIC / AFP

ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere will be sidelined for at least six weeks after sustaining a hairline fracture to his left foot.

The 22-year-old central midfielder, who has a history of injury problems, picked up the fracture in a 50-50 challenge with Daniel Agger in the early stages of England's 1-0 friendly win over Denmark on Wednesday.

After collapsing to the ground in apparent agony and receiving treatment from England's medical staff, he was able to continue playing until being substituted in the 59th minute.

Both England manager Roy Hodgson and Wilshere himself claimed after the game that his foot was only "bruised'', but further scans revealed the full extent of the injury.

"Jack Wilshere has sustained a hairline fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot,'' read a statement on the Arsenal website.

"Wilshere suffered the injury during England's international match with Denmark on Wednesday night at Wembley Stadium, in which he played 59 minutes.

"Following initial scans carried out by the FA (Football Association) on Wednesday night, further investigation by Arsenal's medical team has discovered a crack to a small bone in Jack's left foot - the navicular, an area of his foot which has not been previously injured.

"Jack will now require a period of approximately six weeks' rehabilitation, before starting to regain his match fitness.''

News of Wilshere's injury arrives at an untimely juncture for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side are competing for honours on three fronts and host Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

They then visit Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week, when they will seek to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg of their last 16 tie.

As well as those games, Wilshere stands to miss key Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City later this month.

However, the initial prognosis suggests that his chances of playing at the World Cup in Brazil are not at risk, with Hodgson due to name his 23-man English squad for the tournament on May 13.

Arsenal have already seen one of their England players succumb to a season-ending injury, with winger Theo Walcott having been ruled out of the World Cup after damaging knee ligaments in January.

23.34 | 0 komentar | Read More