Double dream alive for Toulon
Matt Giteau makes some hard yards for Toulon Toulon remain on course for a Heineken Cup and French league double after beating Toulouse 24-9 in the first Top 14 semi-final in Nantes.
Toulon will now face either Clermont or Castres in the final at the Stade de France on June 1.
The defending champions ensured the clash was a highly entertain spectacle, throwing the ball around like a hot potato in the classic Toulousain tradition, but in the end it was Toulon’s more pragmatic approach that prevailed.
Toulon led 8-6 at the break thanks to a try from ex-Springbok Danie Rossouw, before a late score from English full-back Delon Armitage sealed victory for the newly-crowned European champions.
These teams played out a try-less final this time last year, but it took just two minutes for Rossouw to find is way over the whitewash after a pinpoint kick-pass from former Toulouse stalwart Frederic Michalak.
A weak scrum cost Toulon the Top 14 title a year ago and they were dealt two heavy blows before kick-off with the last-minutes withdrawals of props Carl Hayman and Gethin Jenkins, both due to calf injuries.
And it was a scrum penalty that gave Toulouse their first points via the boot of Luke McAlister.
Jonny Wilkinson kicked his first three-pointer to restore the five-point gap only to see McAlister reply in kind on the half-hour mark.
Controversy RCT would hold a two-point lead until the break thanks to a controversial TMO decision to deny Toulouse a try for an apparent forward pass.
Toulouse moved ahead early in the second period when Census Johnston got the better of Andrew Sheridan at scrum time and McAlister hit the target from the kicking tee.
The English prop would soon have his revenge however as the next penalty went against Johnston and Wilkinson could put Toulon back in front at 11-9.
Wilkinson landed a crucial blow just after the hour mark with a trademark drop goal to give his team a bit of breathing room.
The pressure began to tell as unforced errors put a stick in the spokes of Toulouse’s expansive gameplan.
A knock-on from McAlister gave Toulon a scrum from which they claimed another penalty which Wilkinson landed from long range.
Again Toulouse would pay the price for pushing their attacking intention too far as Gurthro Steenkamp coughed up a loose pass, handing Armitage the opportinuty to race home to secure the win for Toulon.
Seven F1 teams face crisis over looming bill for extra 1.32bn
British driver Paul Di Resta driving for Sahara Force India – who are among the teams facing potential financial crisis.
Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Formula One is in crisis as it faces up to a $2bn ( 1.32bn) bill that it cannot afford to pay and which could spell the end for a number of teams.
The warning has come from one of the sport’s biggest players, Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team principal who is also chairman of the Formula One Teams’ Association, on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix.
The teams, who are absorbing the terms of the next Concorde Agreement, are already angry that the private equity firm CVC Capital, who hold a controlling stake in F1, take out more than half of the sport’s $1.5bn income.
With so much money going out, the teams cannot cope with rising costs and Bob Fernley, Force India’s deputy team principal, claimed that CVC are “the worst thing that had happened to the sport.” The 11 teams pay a fortune to be involved in Formula One.
The smallest, Marussia, has an estimated budget of $65m and that goes up to about $250m for Red Bull, who won last year’s constructors’ championship.
Now they have to come to terms with rocketing costs to cover new engines that will be introduced next year, a hike in entry fees to the FIA, the sport’s governing body, and a new in-season testing initiative that is due to be approved next month.
Whitmarsh said the situation “really is a threat to the sport,” and added: “Formula One works best in a crisis but it is a shame that we have to create a crisis to deal with.
This sport needs 10 or 11 teams and we should fight to keep the 11 teams we have now.
But we are not good at doing these things.
We seem to drop the ball.
I fear that we will have a crisis and then we will have to get real and sort it out.
I cannot see in their shoes the seven smaller teams how you can construct a sustainable business model.” These seven teams are already incensed that most of the money goes to the four biggest operations, Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren.
CVC are scheduled to increase payments to the teams from 47.5% to 60% of the sport’s income but the extra money will go to the big four.
Fernley said: “There should be a more equitable distribution.
It’s quite right that Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes get recognition.
I would like to see Red Bull recognised in 20 years’ time but not after five years of pumping money into the sport.” To make matters worse, teams complain that there is a lack of leadership from the FIA while Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s chief executive and commercial rights holder, faces the possibility of prosecution over allegations that he paid a $44m ( 29m) bribe to a German banker.
Ecclestone, who will be 83 in October, already faced an uncertain future and CVC are believed to have drawn up a short list of names to succeed him.
If he is charged, it could potentially jeopardise the planned $12bn ( 7.9bn) flotation on the Singapore stock exchange later this year.
But it is the spiralling costs which have focused the teams’ attention.
Between them, them will have to find $2bn over the seven years of the three-cornered Concorde Agreement, which will tie them to Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone and the international racing authority, the FIA.
The biggest bill is for engines, as Formula One moves from the 2.4-litre V8s to 1.6-litre V6 units in 2014.
It is understood that each team will have to find an extra $15m per season.
Over seven seasons, and multiplied by the 11 teams, that comes to $1.155bn.
Whitmarsh said: “What is frightening is that we have adopted important new engine regulations.
They are the right thing to do in many regards.
They are technologically interesting and relevant to society.
But F1 badly mismanaged the cost of the development and supply of those new power plants.
We allowed the engineers to be unfettered in dreaming up the regulations, which means teams are now facing big bills.
We got costs down to 10m and now we are talking about double that.
That is with all the other cost challenges we have.” Those challenges include the FIA’s move to permit in-season testing, which would cost the teams $770m over the new agreement.
The FIA are also putting up their team entry and driver super licence fees by $7m a year or $49m over seven years.
Whitmarsh said: “In addition, under the new agreement, the teams will to pay Pirelli $105m over the seven years.” Fernley added: “Everything we’re doing at the moment is about increasing costs.
There is no initiative at all about reducing costs.
If we don’t sit down and address it very carefully we’re going to lose teams.
“I think all teams are struggling.
You would be surprised by how high up they are.
We should never underestimate the resolve of Formula One teams.
But it will be tougher and tougher.
“If we do in-season testing that will be a massive increase.
But look at our basic operations.
Do we really need to be running wind tunnels 24/7?” He reserved his most scathing remarks for CVC.
“I think CVC have done an absolutely awful job.
In my view they are the worst thing that has ever happened to Formula One.” Inevitably, the smaller teams are most vulnerable.
Graeme Lowdon, the chief executive of Marussia, said: “Sharp fluctuations in revenues and increasing costs is a recipe for serious trouble.
If there are no constraints, it becomes an exercise in profligate spending.” CVC refused to comment on Fernley’s claims but a FIA spokesman said of the concerns over costs: “The FIA has supported the resource restriction agreement but that failed because the teams could not agree.
The FIA would still like to help teams to cut their costs.
However, it cannot intervene in the discussion on the costs of the new engines.
That is between the constructors and their customers.
On entry fees, any organisation charges a fee that helps pay for the event.
Entry fees had not risen in a long time and they have been revised to keep pace.”
Dettori wants quick resolution
Dettori: Hoping for clearance early next week Frankie Dettori is hoping to get clearance early next week from the French authorities to return to race-riding after his six-month worldwide ban.
The 42-year-old was back home on Friday after spending the previous two days trying to sort out an issue with France Galop, with the aim of returning to the saddle in time for the Investec Derby meeting at Epsom.
Dettori had planned to be back in action this week after the conclusion of the suspension he was given after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September.
However, a “private matter” between Dettori and the Medical Committee of France Galop has so far prevented the French regulator from clearing the jockey to return, with the British Horseracing Authority reciprocating that stance.
“There will not be any resolution of the situation until the beginning of the week,” said Dettori’s French agent Herve Naggar.
“He returned home this morning.
“The timetable of events next week is just the meeting with the Medical Committee of France Galop.
“This is a private matter between Frankie and the doctors and I don’t want anything to disturb that.
“He is still confident they will give him a green light, but it is their decision.
“Doctors do not care about the calendar of racing.
Their main concern is to have somebody fit to ride according to their opinion.
“We’ve done our best.
There was a problem, but I really think, and hope, that it is going to be sorted as soon as Frankie sees them.” The BHA will await the outcome of that meeting before deciding on the best course of action.
“If France Galop contact us early next week and say they have signed Frankie off and are happy and he meets all the criteria we will then license him based on that, basically straight away,” said BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey.
“It will have to processed and the admin go through, but it will just be a rubber-stamp exercise and be licensed pretty much straight away.
“If France Galop don’t sign him off, but if they or Frankie come back to us with some new or further information we then have the option of licensing him based on that or more likely he would have to go in front of the licensing committee.
“If he does to have to do that we are aware that the Derby is coming up and of the timescale.”
UNESCO pitches golf ball into Runkerry bunker Slugger O'Toole
It took a long time to work through the planning process, but in February 2012 the Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa finally received planning permission1. A year later in February 2013, the National Trust lost its judicial review of the decision2 and have not appealed.
Minister of the Environment Alex Attwood invited Unesco to visit the Giant s Causeway and the Causeway Coast. Quotes from their inspection report have been released3 and will be considered by Unesco s World Heritage Committee which meets next month in Cambodia.
BBC] The report, carried out for Unesco by one of its advisory bodies, states that the planned resort 550 metres outside the boundary of the Causeway site in north Antrim would create an irreversible change of landscape character in a protected area of outstanding natural beauty.
It also criticises the fact that it was not kept fully informed about the development before decisions were taken by Environment Minister Alex Attwood
But Unesco believes it does not comply with heritage-led development given its scale and location and would impact on important views in the landscape setting . It adds the resort should not be permitted in its proposed scale and location.
The report also calls on the government to consider strengthening the law to ensure the impact of any proposed development near world heritage sites are adequately assessed.
The National Trust have responded to the Unesco report5 by confirming that they will not be appealing the Court s decision .
Instead it will be actively seeking ways to influence changes to the Planning Bill currently going through the Northern Ireland Assembly which it believes should give full protection to World Heritage Sites.
Shutting the door before the next horse bolts since we only have one World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. (Marble Arch Caves counts as a Unesco-recognised Geopark6.)
The Unesco report7 states:
Given the scale and location of the proposed golf resort development project, it is recommended that it should not be permitted at its proposed scale and location in order to avoid adverse impact on the landscape setting and important views of the property, which are part of the property s Outstanding Universal Value.
Unesco calls for consultation on modifications and alternatives to the existing golf resort plans, and has requested that the state reply to them by next February.
The developer plans to start work later this year.
Interviewed today on Radio Ulster s Good Morning Ulster, Alex Attwood was confident that due process had been followed, and pointed to inaccuracies in Unesco s report.
It ll take a giant to overturn the decision unless Unesco s Cambodia meeting can convincingly threaten to remove the Causeway s World Heritage status, or the developer voluntarily offers to make modifications to better buffer the golf resort from the surrounding landscape.
Update a few tweets from the News Letter s Mark Rainey8 who s been looking into the story.
As someone commented on Facebook:
they paved Par-adise and Putt up a parking lot
References
- ^ finally received planning permission (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ lost its judicial review of the decision (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ Quotes from their inspection report have been released (whc.unesco.org)
- ^ BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
- ^ National Trust have responded to the Unesco report (ntpressoffice.wordpress.com)
- ^ a Unesco-recognised Geopark (www.unesco.org.uk)
- ^ Unesco report (whc.unesco.org)
- ^ Mark Rainey (twitter.com)
Frankie Dettori wants return from drugs ban next week
As the return door threatened to open for Frankie Dettori today, another narrowed as his Derby-ride options on Saturday week seemed to be reduced.
Dettori’s solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said progress had been made in securing the jockey’s return after he spent the last two days at France-Galop, the French racing authority which has so far failed to sanction his return from a six-month ban for testing positive cocaine.
A test irregularity has stalled Dettori’s comeback but Stewart-Moore said: ‘The matter has moved forward and we are expecting a positive result.
Comeback: Dettori aims to return to action next week for the Derby meeting ‘We are hoping that the glitch has been ironed out so that he can get his English licence in time for the Derby.’ Spokesman Robin Mounsey said the BHA had agreed to consider another Licence Committee hearing for Dettori if the Italian’s legal team can present fresh evidence.
However, news that Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and best backed horse in the Derby ante-post betting, misses the Classic because of injury means his jockey Ryan Moore is now likely to be snapped up by Aidan O Brien who had seemed the best source of an Epsom mount for the Dettori if he is cleared for a comeback.
O Brien has only committed Derrinstown Stud Trial winner Battle of Magengo and 2,000 Guineas sixth Mars to Epsom, although Chester Vase winner Ruler Of the World and Flying The Flag, unplaced in the French Guineas, also appear possibles.
Delay: Dettori’s comeback has been delayed because of a ‘private matter’ with the medical committee O Brien, who has also has Seamus Heffernan and Colm O’Donoghue on his jockey roster, is dropping Dee Stakes winner Magician back to a mile for tomorrow’s Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Telescope, who had to miss the Dante Stakes at York last week and failed to impress in a gallop at Lingfield on Wednesday, has a shin problem.
In his absence Jim Bolger’s unbeaten Dawn Approach is now 4-5 favourite with Coral.
Andre Fabre’s Ocavango, who looked a well-balanced colt when galloping around the track yesterday, is 7-1 and Chopin, trained by Andreas Wohler and due to be a first Derby runner from Germany, 8-1.
Meanwhile, the BHA have welcomed Sheik Mohammed’s order to make use of anabolic steroids on horses in the UAE a criminal offence with immediate effect.
Tougher: Sheik Mohammed has called for the use of anabolic steroids on horses in UAE to be a criminal offence with immediate effect after trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was banned The Sheik has acted in the embarrassing aftermath of the Godolphin drug scandal involving by disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni.
The drugs are banned in Britain but, in a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs, allowed in the training regime of some countries including Australia as long as they clear the system by raceday.
Had the Sheik not acted, the image of Dubai racing would have been undermined as would his attempts to re-build Godolphin’s battered reputation.with the policy of shuttling Godolphin stock between the two countries.
The Sheik must now ensure his new decree is rigorously and transparently enforced.
Sheik Mohammed said: “I have always believed in the integrity of horse racing and all other horse sports.
Regrettably, one of my stables in Europe has recently fallen below the standards that I expect and will tolerate.
As soon as the internal investigations are complete and the requisite preemptory rules are put in place, Godolphin will go from strength to strength and lead, once again.’ Mounsey said: We welcome any moves by other nations to tighten the restrictions on the use of prohibited substances in international regimes.
Dettori hopes for Derby return
Frankie Dettori: Visited French authorities Frankie Dettori still hopes to be able to ride at next week’s Investec Derby meeting after making some progress towards having his licence reinstated.
The 42-year-old rider had planned to be back in action this week after serving a six-month ban handed out by France Galop after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September.
However, a “private matter” between Dettori and the Medical Committee of France Galop has so far prevented the French regulator from clearing the jockey to return, with the British Horseracing Authority reciprocating that stance.
Dettori has been in France for the last two days trying to iron out the problem with France Galop and his solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore believes progress has been made.
He told Press Association Sport: “The latest position is that Frankie Dettori has been in France for the last two days at France Galop.
“The matter has moved forward and we are expecting a positive result.
“We are hopeful that the glitch has been ironed out so that he can get his English licence in time to ride in the Derby.” BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey confirmed they are still awaiting the relevant information from France Galop and there has been no change in the position of racing’s rulers.
Frankie Dettori expected to get ride in Derby at Epsom next week
Frankie Dettori is now expected to get his licence back in time to be booked for a ride in the Epsom Derby next week.
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Frankie Dettori still hopes to be able to ride at next week’s Investec Derby meeting after making some progress towards having his licence reinstated in the last two days.
The 42-year-old rider had planned to be back in action this week after serving a six-month ban handed out by France Galop after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September.
However, a “private matter” between Dettori and the Medical Committee of France Galop has so far prevented the French regulator from clearing the jockey to return, with the British Horseracing Authority reciprocating that stance.
Dettori has been in France for the last two days trying to iron out the problem with France Galop and his solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore believes progress has been made.
He told Press Association Sport: “The latest position is that Frankie Dettori has been in France for the last two days at France Galop.
The matter has moved forward and we are expecting a positive result.
“We are hopeful that the glitch has been ironed out so that he can get his English licence in time to ride in the Derby.” BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey confirmed they are still awaiting the relevant information from France Galop and there has been no change in the position of racing’s rulers.
EA Sports used Tim Tebow's name in NCAA Football 10
The use of an active college football player’s name contradicts the NCAA’s statements in the Ed O’Bannon case.
EA Sports used Tim Tebow’s name in a playcall in its NCAA Football 10 game, which was released in July 2009, prior to Tebow’s senior season at Florida. The use of Tebow’s name, discovered by an SB Nation reader1 and verified by SB Nation, comes in a handful of plays out of a formation called Shotgun Twin QB Tebow:
Using a player’s name while he was still playing college football contradicts statements made by both the NCAA and EA Sports regarding the licensing of player names and likenesses. On May 9, 2009, just over two months before the game was released2, an NCAA spokesman said3, “Our agreement with EA Sports clearly prohibits the use of names and pictures of current student-athletes in their electronic games.
We are confident that no such use has occurred.” Eight days after the game debuted, the NCAA “categorically denied any infringement on former or current student-athlete likeness rights.”
The NCAA again denied real players have been used4 in NCAA-licensed video games a month ago.
The formation and playcalls are exclusive to Florida’s playbook (the player in question was using Florida’s playbook at West Virginia). While the full formation name is shortened during gameplay, the full title is revealed in the Game Prep feature in Dynasty mode. The name of the play also shows up on the left side of the screen during gameplay in this mode (again via @Dr_Doughstax5 and later verified by SB Nation):
The formation, with the quarterback in the shotgun and two running backs placed two yards ahead of him, was a formation commonly used by Florida6 during Tebow’s time in Gainesville.
Former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon, former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller7, and a number of other players have sued the NCAA and Electronic Arts for violation of antitrust laws, based on their use of player likenesses in video games and other NCAA-licensed items.
EA Sports, which lost an appeal in a related case Tuesday after arguing it had a First Amendment right to use player numbers8, has also denied use of player likenesses or names.
A former EA Sports producer has claimed the company did9 use player likenesses.
More from SB Nation:
Matt Barkley and Denard Robinson review Star Trek Into Darkness10
How the hell do you stop Baylor s offense?11
Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans13
National recruiting coverage14
Today s college football news headlines15
References
- ^ discovered by an SB Nation reader (twitter.com)
- ^ just over two months before the game was released (en.wikipedia.org)
- ^ NCAA spokesman said (www.ncaa.org)
- ^ again denied real players have been used (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ via @Dr_Doughstax (twitter.com)
- ^ a formation commonly used by Florida (youtu.be)
- ^ Sam Keller (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ lost an appeal in a related case Tuesday after arguing it had a First Amendment right to use player numbers (kotaku.com)
- ^ claimed the company did (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ Matt Barkley and Denard Robinson review Star Trek Into Darkness (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ How the hell do you stop Baylor s offense? (www.footballstudyhall.com)
- ^ FINEBAUM BACK? (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ Bill Connelly previews Auburn: Please be patient, Tigers fans (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ National recruiting coverage (www.sbnation.com)
- ^ Today s college football news headlines (www.sbnation.com)
Father of Afghanistan national cricket team captain kidnapped
Afghanistan cricket captain Mohammad Nabi’s father Khobi Khan was abducted by gunmen near his home in Jalalabad.
Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Gunmen kidnapped the father of Afghanistan’s national cricket team captain near his home in an eastern city, officials have confirmed.
There has been no ransom demand since Mohammad Nabi’s 60-year-old father Khobi Khan was abducted from his car in the city of Jalalabad, cricket board president Shazada Masoud said.
Police are searching for Khan, but there have been no leads or any contact since he was taken Tuesday morning, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for of Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital.
Masoud said he has spoken to Nabi, who says his family has no personal disputes and he is shocked at the abduction.
Kidnapping is fairly common in Afghanistan amid the violence of the Taliban insurgency.
Nabi has been influential in promoting Afghan cricket.
He learned to play while at age 10 while living in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan.
The 28-year-old Nabi was the architect of Afghanistan’s progress to cricket World Cup qualifiers in South Africa in 2009 and was named national team captain in March.
Roberto Mancini’s voice is deleted from the Manchester Metrolink
Manchester City fans may have promised never to forget Roberto Mancini, but it would appear that others have taken a rather different view.
Within days of his sacking last week, the Italian’s voice was deleted from the station-stop announcement for the Etihad Stadium on Manchester’s Metrolink tram service.
Scroll down to listen to the recording made just three months ago…
Hear no more: Roberto Mancini;s voice has been deleted from the Manchester Metrolink All change please…
The new Etihad Campus (below) tram stop opened on Monday, providing City fans with a direct link to Manchester city centre.
Anyone wanting to go and watch United can get off at Old Trafford (below).
Enlarge Transport for Greater Manchester, 2013 Mancini made the Etihad Campus recording in February when City players Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and James Milner were also asked to announce station names on the new East Manchester line.
But Mancini’s voice had disappeared when fans took the tram to Sunday’s final game of the season against Norwich.
A spokesman for Transport for Greater Manchester confirmed: Following Roberto Mancini’s departure from the club last week, we have taken his clip off the match day stop announcements.
We have not yet had any discussions with Manchester City about recording a replacement.
It might be the end of the line for Mancini, but perhaps Manuel Pellegrini can be persuaded to follow suit.
The former Malaga boss is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s replacement soon.
City are currently in the USA for a post-season tour.
City slickers: The recording for the tram extension was made just three months ago Taking Hart: The City and England No 1 can also be heard on the Metrolink
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