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.

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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.

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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

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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.''

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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.

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Djokovic given forfeit into semis

Novak Djokovic progressed to the semi-finals in Dubai when his opponent withdrew. Source: MARWAN NAAMANI / AFP

NOVAK Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals of the Dubai Open more quickly than he would have wished when his opponent, Mikhail Youzhny, was taken ill and withdrew on Thursday.

The sixth-seeded Russian had twice reached the final in Dubai and would have provided a good test for the seven-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia, and Djokovic would certainly have preferred to experience that.

Returning to the tour more than five weeks since the loss of his Australian Open title, his greatest need is match practice.

However, he approaches a possible semi-final meeting with Roger Federer after little more than two hours court time from two encounters.

Djokovic was pleased enough with his performance after a very routine 6-1 6-3 win on Wednesday against Roberto Bautista Agut, a Spaniard just outside the top 50, and suggested that accumulated knowledge helped make up for ring rustiness.

"The experience that I have playing, you know, the top players for many years helps me to understand what I need to do and what kind of approach I need to have," he said.

Nevertheless a maximum possible four matches here is less than he wanted going into the back-to-back high prestige American hard court tournaments, in Indian Wells and Miami, which can be physically and mentally very demanding.

Mikhail Youzhny was forced to pull out when he fell ill.

Djokovic's greatest gain so far has possibly been the working relationship between his long-time coach Marian Vajda, and his new coaching consultant, Boris Becker, the six time former Grand Slam winner from Germany.

Djokovic originally admitted that this arrangement was "a potential risk", but here he has been more upbeat about it.

"They are getting along really well," he claimed. "That means a lot to me, because Marian is more than just a coach to me."

Djokovic was joined in the semi-finals by Philipp Kohlschreiber, the sixth-seeded German who capitalised on the withdrawal of the injured second-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro by winning 6-2 6-3 against Malek Jaziri, the wildcard from Tunisia.

Kohlschreiber will play the winner between Tomas Berdych, the in-form third-seeded Czech, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the fifth-seeded Frenchman who contested the Marseilles final on Sunday.

Djokovic will meet the winner of the fourth-seeded Federer, who holds a record five titles here, and Lukas Rosol, an unseeded Czech who was the surprise conqueror of Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012.

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Marquez to miss Phillip Island test

MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will miss Phillip Island. Source: Lai Seng Sin / AP

HONDA'S Marc Marquez said he would miss next week's Phillip Island test due to his broken leg.

Marquez, who is also absent from Malaysia's Sepang circuit this week, said his surgeon had advised him against taking "unnecessary risk" so that he is fit for the season's opening race on March 23.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who last year became the youngest rider ever to win the world title and the first rookie in 35 years, suffered the broken leg during dirt bike training last week in Spain.

"I'm obviously disappointed that I'm not in Sepang at the moment and to miss Phillip Island is also unfortunate," Marquez said in a statement.

"So I will take time to rest and get myself as fit as possible to return to Qatar for the first race."

Since 2009 no premier-class rider has won the MotoGP title back-to-back.

It came as teammate Dani Pedrosa set the pace on day two of MotoGP testing in Malaysia.

Marc Marquez (L) and Dani Pedrosa (R).

It was a solid run for Pedrosa, who is seeking to capture an elusive first MotoGP world title, after hitting the top of the time sheet in 2 minutes 00.039 seconds and ahead of Yamaha pair Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

"My performance today was better than yesterday. The bike was stable on the corner. We will work on the rear tyre tomorrow," Pedrosa said.

But the Spaniard's best lap time was 0.5 seconds slower than the marker set down by Marquez in the previous Sepang test as riders again complained the track was greasy forcing the 22 riders to throttle back.

Yamaha's Aleix Espargaro who dominated early testing came in second at 2:00.320 while Honda's Alvaro Bautista who posted the fastest time on day one of a test session in this notoriously tricky circuit was in third position — 0.461 seconds behind Pedrosa.

Nine-time Italian world champion Rossi came in fourth, 0.566 seconds slower than rival Pedrosa.

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso who came in fifth with a time of 2:00.787 was again the fastest in the Italian team.

Lorenzo — a two-time MotoGP champion — came ninth with 2:01.049.

The current session ends on Friday. Another three-day session follows at Phillip Island from Monday, followed by another at Qatar's Losail circuit.

The new season kicks off at Losail on March 23. Malaysia will host the championship on October 26.

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Brazilian job to help Frosty

Winterbottom will do a one-off V8 race in Brazil in March. Source: Tim Hunter / News Corp Australia

AN already hectic start to the V8 season will be even busier for reigning Bathurst winner Mark Winterbottom.

Already committed to four events in the next six weeks, starting with this weekend's Clipsal 500, Ford's leading title hope is squeezing in a fifth — halfway around the world.

Between the Australian Grand Prix and the Tyrepower Tasmania 400, the man they call 'Frosty' will fly to Brazil to co-drive in the local version of V8 Supercars, Stock Car Brasil, at the Interlagos F1 circuit.

So far he is the only full-time V8 Supercars driver to sign on for the race, but he doesn't expect the South American trip will hurt his bid for a maiden championship.

"No, I don't think so," Winterbottom told SPEED. "It's not a money making thing or anything like that, I'm actually using it to get a bit of experience."

Entering his ninth campaign with Ford Performance Racing, he believes that the one-off gig could be the spark he and his team need.

"I think it's actually quite good to go and work with another team. If you can get another run in a different category and learn something it's probably going to benefit you.

"I'm using it as a positive, not a deterrent from winning the championship."

Winterbottom will head to Brazil with the blessing of his team, who could easily have shot down his plans given their title goal.

"I was pretty lucky that they have (let me). Obviously when you sign to a team you're fully focused on trying to win a championship here.

"But I've never raced anything overseas away from our category, and they knew how much I wanted to do it.

"They've been great to let me go."

He admits, though, that the logistics of flying to Brazil and back during a busy time of the season are "not that flash."

"I leave on Tuesday after the Grand Prix and get back on Tuesday before Tasmania.

"We rock up to Tassie on Thursday, so that'll give me two days before practice starts to get back on the timezone.

"As long as you stay awake and sleep when you have to you should come back pretty fresh, but that will be the hardest part."

Winterbottom will swap his Falcon for a Peugeot, getting his first taste of his new ride on simulator software sent to him by the team, but his focus remains on the task at hand.

"I'll concentrate on trying to win Clipsal and the Grand Prix, then on the Monday after I'll sit on the simulator and have a play and try and learn the track.

"The cars are a little bit more technical than what our cars are, but they're still a sedan and a V8. It's a paddle shift but still a sequential gear change, and there are driver changes, so there are a lot of similarities."

The trip will see Winterbottom banging doors with a who's who of Brazil's best racers, headlined by ex-F1 star Rubens Barrichello, in a series that is as close and competitive as our own.

"It's pretty cool that they picked an Australian as their most competitive chance.

"They went looking for international co-drivers with sedan experience and tried to get the best they could.

"The engineer from the team sent an email and put the feeler out and it went from there.

"It's pretty cool to get the call up, especially when you look that guys like Bruno Junquiera, maybe Felipe Massa and Bruno Senna will also be on the grid."

Although the series might be unfamiliar to Australians, Winterbottom said its one of many he keeps an eye on.

"I watch F1 and stuff but it's not as appealing as what these sort of categories are.

"It's really competitive — I think 40 cars were covered by a second in their last race — so it's kind of like NASCAR and V8s."

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Dumbrell goes back for future

Dumbrell won with Whincup at Sandown last year. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

TWELVE years ago, Paul Dumbrell was king of the kids, so to speak.

A then 19-year-old Dumbrell romped to the 2002 V8 development series crown, stepping up to the big leagues with Perkins Motorsport the following year.

But flash forward to 2014 and you will find the 32-year-old Bathurst-winner's name on the entry list for this year's Dunlop Series.

Why? The astute businessman, who by day runs the vast Autobarn automotive group, knows it's his best chance of returning to the top step of the Mount Panorama podium.

He returns to partner V8 champ Jamie Whincup at this year's Enduro Cup. After a couple of crucial errors last year, the Dunlop gig is to make sure he's match fit for Bathurst.

Dumbrell won the 2002 Konica V8 Series. Source: News Limited

"After Gold Coast last year Roland (Dane, Red Bull team boss) and I were talking about what to do this year," Dumbrell said.

"Certainly my preference was to do a couple of other races throughout the year, and obviously the Dunlop Series was an option."

Crucial to the plan was for Dumbrell to compete in the supporting Dunlop race at Bathurst, but to be eligible a driver must do all the preceding rounds.

"So we through 'hey, if we're going to do that we might as well do the whole year!'"

Dumbrell made a couple of crucial errors in last year's Enduro Cup. Source: News Limited

He lines up this weekend for Egglestone Motorsport in a car with fine pedigree: it's one of Craig Lowndes' Bathurst winning Holdens.

Despite the quality equipment, and a resume that includes three V8 Supercars wins to his name, Dumbrell isn't expecting to mop the floor.

"There's some really good talent there," he conceded.

"I understand it's the feeder series and I'm at the other end if my career, but we'll have a real crack to win as many races as we can.

"We're in a good car with a good team, but I reckon it'll be a really hard slog out there this year."

Although his growing business commitments forced him out of the cockpit full-time at the end of 2011, Dumbrell explained that it wasn't hard to fit a full Dunlop Series schedule into his calendar.

"I was already going to be at three of the rounds for the Enduro driver practices, plus Bathurst. I was planning to come to Clipsal as a spectator and I always go to Homebush, so it's only really a couple of rounds I've had to squeeze in.

"And anyway, racing a car is not a bad weekend hobby to have."

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Glasgow signs ‘rugby’s fastest man’

Signed ... USA player Carlin Isles is the fastest man in Rugby. Source: Richard Gosling / News Limited

GLASGOW have signed United States sevens star Carlin Isles, dubbed Rugby union's "fastest man", subject to visa and a medical, the Scottish club said.

A former track athlete before taking up rugby, the 24-year-old Isles' best 100 metres time of 10.13 seconds would have seen him qualify for the semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympics.

Isles had a brief practice contract with the Detroit Lions American football team but earlier this month committed himself to Rugby union and learning the differing skills of the full 15-man game as opposed to the abbreviated format in which he made his reputation.

"I can't wait to fly over to Glasgow and join up with my new teammates," Carlin said in a club statement.

"Everything has happened so quickly for me over the last couple of years and I'm just happy to be playing rugby and getting the opportunity to play at the highest level.

"I hope to score tries for the Warriors, but I also want to continue to try and help grow the game and encourage young players to take up rugby.

"It's very exciting to be moving to the 15-a-side game. It's a lot different to sevens but I want to work hard and do everything I can to succeed.

"I'm up for the challenge, I've been doing a lot of challenges in my life so this is just another obstacle and I'm ready to take it on."

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend, the former Scotland back, was in no doubt Isles would adjust to the demands vof full format rugby.

"Carlin is an exceptionally gifted athlete, who has picked up the game of rugby in a very short period of time and has had a huge impact on the sevens circuit over the last couple of years," Townsend said.

"He is really eager to learn and develop as a winger in the fifteen-a-side game. With his lightning pace and evasion skills, he already has an excellent base to challenge for a starting place until the end of the season."

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Teen Shaw named in England side

Named in team ... Southampton's English defender Luke Shaw has been called into England's side to play Denmark. Source: LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP

ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has awarded 18-year-old Southampton left-back Luke Shaw his first senior call-up for next week's friendly match against Denmark at Wembley Stadium.

Shaw, an England Under-21 international, is one of three left-backs named in the 30-man squad alongside Chelsea's Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines of Everton.

"Everyone who's watched him play recently will not deny that he deserves a place in a large squad list. He's been playing extremely well,'' Hodgson said of Shaw.

"It's a position where we're very well off, but he's a player who wants to compete with the other two for a place on the plane to Brazil and I thought it was the right time to bring him in and give him a chance to show us what he can do.''

Striker Jermain Defoe retained his place in the squad despite his imminent move from Tottenham Hotspur to Toronto FC, while Cardiff City centre-back Steven Caulker came in for injured Everton man Phil Jagielka.

There was a recall for winger Raheem Sterling, following some excellent recent displays for Liverpool, but Sunderland winger Adam Johnson and Everton midfielder Gareth Barry were overlooked despite each advancing strong cases for call-ups in recent weeks.

However, Hodgson said that it was not too late for players not selected, including West Ham United striker Andy Carroll, to force their way into his plans for the World Cup.

"This is the 30 I've chosen today and I'll stand by it, but but it's not a definitive squad,'' he told a press conference.

"Andy Carroll has hardly played, but we'll keep an eye on him. Johnson of course we know, but with the competition at the moment (in wide areas) I decided not to include him in the squad.

"Gareth Barry has not been with us for these past two years, but I know him and I'd not be averse to calling him up if there was a place in the team.''

England's friendly against Denmark next Wednesday will be Hodgson's last opportunity to assess the players at his disposal before he names his squad for the World Cup in Brazil, which begins on June 12.

England 30-man squad to play Denmark in friendly game at Wembley Stadium on March 5, announced by manager Roy Hodgson on Thursday:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic/SCO), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City/WAL), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC/CAN), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

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