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Blues Face Coaching Crisis in SUPER Rugby

Blues Face Coaching Crisis in SUPER Rugby

Sports FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Netherlands set to get 2019 European Games

PARIS: The European Olympic Committee will tomor- in the sporting calendar, the EOC has been anxious to negotiations with all interested parties, to ensure we row nominate the to host the 2019 settle the hosts for the second event. have a 2019 plan that fits the needs of the European European Games as it seeks to build the event into a “The host city selection process for the 2019 Olympic family and the needs of the host country. major international date, officials said. European Games is firmly on track. “While the EOC has identified our preferred hosts for The EOC will hold a special assembly in on “The EOC has identified its preferred hosts, the 2019, we will continue to have conversations in parallel Saturday to hear final proposals from Dutch Olympic Netherlands Olympic Committee, and they will present with other national Olympic committees who have officials and give approval, said EOC president Pat their proposed European Games concept to the general expressed an interest in bringing a European Games to Hickey. More talks are to be held with the Dutch gov- assembly in Belek on Saturday,” said Hickey. their country.” ernment however on financial guarantees and other “The general assembly will then vote on whether to European officials had said six candidates were details, officials said. ratify in principle the Netherlands as hosts of the next interested in hosting the 2019 Games. But the Dutch Amsterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven are expect- European Games. bid is the only serious one remaining. ed to be the centrepiece of a nationwide bid for the “If the Netherlands’ proposal is ratified, the EOC will The EOC has sought to group European champi- Games. Rotterdam and Utrecht have withdrawn howev- continue its private negotiations with all stakeholders - onships for various sports at the Games. But it now er because of the cost, according to Dutch media. including the Dutch government - until a definitive faces competition from sports-including athletics, European sports are keeping other countries sporting, commercial and financial plan is finalised.” cycling and swimming-who plan to hold a European in mind in case a replacement is needed. Hickey said the EOC had sought “flexibility” in find- Sports Championships in Glasgow and Berlin. Hickey The first European Games are to be held in ing a host for 2019. has said the European Sports Championships is not a in June and as it faces growing competition “We have taken a collaborative approach to our threat as it is a different year and fewer sports. — AFP

Joshua is fast learner but tougher tests loom

LONDON: As flashbulbs illuminate his cast-iron torso in a gym wedged under a railway arch near London Bridge, Anthony Joshua paws at a punchbag with considerably less force than he used to demolish his first dozen opponents. The 25-year-old then levers himself into the ring and is intro- duced as “the future heavyweight champion of the world” by a suit- ed executive from the latest company to sign up the Londoner her- alded as British boxing’s next big thing. With 12 knockouts in 12 fights, all inside three rounds, since leaving the amateur ranks and moving into the shark-infested waters of professional boxing in 2013, Joshua is hearing those kind of endorsements quite often. Reigning three-belt world heavy- weight champion Wladimir Klitschko, another former super-heavy- weight Olympic gold medallist, recently sparred with Joshua and described him as the “future” of the division. With the heavyweight section crying out for a box-office fighter TURIN: Wissen, captain of the team “La Drola Rugby”, a team exclusively composed of inmates, poses in his cell prior after years of unspectacular dominance by Wladimir and Vitali the match against the Rugby Club Biella for the Italian championship (regional C series), on May 9, 2015 at the penitentiary ‘Lorusso Klitschko, no wonder eyes are turning to Joshua. e Cutugno’ near Turin. La Drola takes part in a regular playing real matches against real teams made by free players. — AFP Two metres tall, packing 106 kilos of pure muscle and a smooth mover, he looks the part. He says, however, that he is a learner in the toughest of all trades. “I’m not going to start piping up and shouting myself from the face coaching rooftops,” he told Reuters in an interview. “Whatever Klitschko says about me it’s all just potential until I make it a reality. “I’ve got a world champion backing me so that’s great. I must be crisis in doing something right but my job now is to do something extra to make that a reality,” he added at an event arranged by ORS Hydration Tablets. : The Blues will try to ease a mounting controversy Kirwan said. “It doesn’t worry me. “I’ve presented. I’m confident in the around coaching appointments when they face the -based process,” he added. “I’m concentrating daily to get the boys ready for “Right now I’m crawling, they’re seeing if I can walk and once I’ve today in the opening match of the 14th round of Super Rugby. the Bulls.” started to walk they’ll see if I can run, then after that we’ll see how The -based Blues and the Bulls are each three-time champi- high I can fly.” Joshua handed out his latest beating to ’s ons, though the Blues successes are distant memories and their cur- Out of contention Zumbano Love last weekend but his next fight, against seasoned rent season is looming as the worst in their history. They won the The Blues are last in the conference and the only American Kevin Johnston at London’s o2 Arena this month, is the Super Rugby title in each of the tournament’s first two years and, Kiwi team out of contention for the . The first-place start of phase two of the Briton’s education. most recently, in 2003. The Bulls won three championships between have a chance to extend their already formidable lead atop the con- 2007 and 2010. Blues management is expected later this year to ference and the overall championship standings when they play the Knockout prediction announce the reappointment of as head coach, though second-place Chiefs on Saturday. Johnson, 35, went 12 rounds with Vitali Klitschko in 2009, has the franchise has won only two of 12 games this year after finishing The Hurricanes have a 10-point lead over the two-time champion never been stopped in 36 fights and predicts he will knock out the 10th under Kirwan in each of the last two seasons. Chiefs in the conference ahead of their last home game in Wellington Londoner. Joshua seems genuinely excited by the prospect of At the same time, the Blues are reported to have approached for- in the regular season, and a win would go a long way to securing being able to showcase more than just his power, even if he knows mer All Black - currently an assistant coach with the home matches throughout the playoffs. “I’d like to think we do the in the professional game “you cannot afford to lose”. -based - to join Kirwan’s coaching team. The business and come back here with a playoff game,” captain Conrad “He is just another guy I’m going to knock out,” he said of his mid-season approach is believed to have angered the Crusaders, Smith said. “That’s a massive motivator for me.” 13th opponent. “But Johnson is someone I can work with. making Matson’s position tenuous while doing little to silence calls for The defending champion New South Waratahs need to “He will cause me some difficulties but I will be able to prevail. I Kirwan’s removal. recover from last weekend’s surprise loss to the last-place Western can’t display my attributes in a round or two. If we start going four The Crusaders backline has been inconsistent under Matson’s Force when they host the -based on Saturday. Veteran or five and he’s in my face then we’ll see that. I actually wanted my watch, despite containing three All Blacks flyhalves, and he is not con- backrower said the Waratahs aren’t shocked to find them- last fight to go longer. “I was a latecomer. I’m still learning my trade. sidered as a short-term solution to the Blues’ form problems. selves still struggling for a playoffs place near the end of the regular But then there is pressure to advance isn’t there? I’m between a rock Kirwan is an immensely respected figure in New Zealand - knight- season. “I wouldn’t say it shocks us,” he said. “We always knew it was and a hard place. The main thing is to win because pro boxing is a ed last year for his services to sport and to the public - but his critics going to be harder (this season than last). “We are more disappointed lot different to the amateurs, you can’t afford to lose. believe he has had long enough to effect change at the Blues. with the way we have been playing really. There are still five games to “If Johnson knocks me out, they’ll say ‘Look I told you, he’s not Kirwan on Wednesday said no decision on his future is likely to be go. There are a lot of points up for grabs. We should be pretty confi- that good after all’.” There is a cautionary tale. That of Audley made before the season ends in August. If the Blues can find a little dent still.” Elsewhere in Round 14, the struggling Reds Harrison. He claimed the super-heavyweight Olympic gold medal at form in their remaining matches against the Bulls, Hurricanes, host the Rebels on Friday in an Australian derby and the 2000 and then won his first 19 pro fights against a motley Crusaders and Highlanders they might lessen pressure on Kirwan, two matches in on Saturday feature the Lions at home crew of no-hopers and journeymen before the losses started piling though his reappointment already seems inevitable. against the ACT and the in against up.—Reuters “That’s up to the board. August is the date and we’ll stick with it,” the Highlanders. — AP

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