SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014 McCaw wants to avoid another England slip-up LONDON: New Zealand captain Richie for a number of reasons. “For me I think you lift the Webb Ellis Trophy again at by referees at the contested breakdown McCaw said the memory of what happened think back two years ago when we got Twickenham, the venue for next year’s final. area. However, McCaw said this had to the All Blacks at Twickenham two years tripped up here,” added McCaw, speaking at “We have talked about it a little bit, that it’s more to do with common sense than the ago would ensure there was no complacency New Zealand’s London hotel yesterday. “Two the last time that we are here in England play- All Blacks’ ‘aura’. “I think having an in the world champions’ camp come today’s years ago going into a month off having had ing at a place where hopefully we will get a understanding of the guy with the whis- clash with England. The All Blacks have won a loss, which in the end was quite a few crack to play at next year. tle is pretty key,” said McCaw. “At the end their last four Tests against England, including points, made it an interesting old (southern “As we have seen even this year, a week’s of the day I go out there and do my bit a 3-0 series win in New Zealand in June. But in hemisphere) summer,” said the 33-year-old a long time in footy let alone ten months,” he for the team within what he will allow 2012 they arrived in London as equally firm McCaw, the outstanding openside flanker of added. “But I guess at a venue against an you to do. That’s always the way I have favourites only for England to upset the form- his generation. “I don’t want to have that opposition we could potentially play next played. book in stunning style with a 38-21 victory. summer again so let’s get the job right this year it would be nice to go away with a bit of “You’re an idiot if you get on the McCaw, asked if this weekend’s clash rep- week.” Today’s match will also be the last time off and a good feeling.” wrong side of him and give away a resented the “focal point” of a tour that start- time New Zealand play at Twickenham penalty.” All Blacks great John Kirwan ed with a 74-6 rout of the United States in ahead of next year’s World Cup in England. REFEREE UNDERSTANDING recently suggested the current New Chicago last week and also features Tests McCaw, who led his side to World Cup McCaw has a reputation among Zealand side were the best in the coun- against Scotland and Wales, replied: “Yeah, glory on home soil in 2011, will be looking to opposing sides for rarely being penalised try’s illustrious rugby history. —AFP Rudisha tops winners at all-new awards show BANGKOK: Kenyan Olympic champion David Rudisha said he was “honored” yesterday as he led the prize-winners at a star-studded inaugural ANOC awards gala in Bangkok. The 800 metres gold medallist and world record-holder beamed as he was named best male athlete from London 2012, among the all- new Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) awards. Chinese table tennis champion Li Xiaoxia was best female athlete of the 2012 Games and biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, the most deco- rated winter Olympian of all time, was best male from Sochi 2014. Legendary Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina, and former Olympics boss Jacques Rogge were also honoured for their achievements at a glitzy, televised awards show in the Thai capital. “I feel really honoured this evening to win this award. It means a lot for me and it’s really very special,” Rudisha said, calling his 2012 record- breaking win his “greatest moment” in athletics. Rudisha said he was hoping to use next year’s world champi- onships as a “stepping stone” to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics as he pursues his comeback from a knee injury. “I’ve been going up and down with injury and just coming back. I’m really looking forward and see how my rehabilitation will go because that is the most important thing,” he said. The awards, aimed at becoming the “Oscars” of the sports world, are a product of a revamped and newly ambitious ANOC under its influential president, Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. The United States was named best national Olympic committee from 2012, when they topped the medals table, and Russia was best NOC from this year’s Winter Games in Sochi. Canada’s men’s and women’s ice hockey squads won the best male and female teams from Sochi. France’s men’s handballers and Brazil’s female volleyball team won the SHANGHAI: Julia Lipnitskaia of Russia performs during her ladies’ short program event of the Cup of China equivalent awards from 2012. —AFP ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. —AFP Lipnitskaia leads Cup of China SHANGHAI: Russian teenager Julia It was enough to keep them ahead of my best,” he said. “I don’t think it was a Lipnitskaia scored a 69.56 to light up the current world champions Anna good idea to start the season with the opening day of the Cup of China Grand Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy, who Grand Prix. I should have taken part in Prix event yesterday. finished second with a 62.70 score in the national games.” Months after becoming the youngest their season debut. It wasn’t all bad news for China, who modern skater to win Olympic gold, the After finishing runner-up at last year’s will look to complete a sweep of the 16-year-old immediately landed a triple event, Russia’s Maxim Kovtun currently Pairs category tomorrow. Three-time toe-triple toe loop at the beginning of leads the men’s race. He scored an 85.96 national champions Peng Cheng and her program. after landing a quadruple sow-cow to Zhang Hao currently lead with 69.11, “I was really nervous training and it triple loop and a quadruple toe loop. after finishing third at Skate America. felt like it was my first competition, so However, he stumbled while doing a “Performing before a home crowd I’m very pleased with the results,” she double axel. brings pressure and motivation,” Zhang said. Trailing right behind her with 67.99 “Today I landed two quads which said. “We were very pleased to have our points is teammate Elizaveta didn’t work so well in practice, but I was best performance today.” Tuktamysheva, who continues her hot able to execute in the programme,” he Fifty-four of the world’s best figure start to the season, which includes three said. “The opposite was true with the skaters from twelve countries are com- Challenger series event victories and a axel. When I return to Moscow, we will peting in the Cup of China, which is the silver medal finish at last month’s Skate look at changing the program. My coach third leg of the six-stop Grand Prix America. said I could do better and I agree.” series. 2014 Four Continents winner Kanako Neither of his closest competitors Skaters are looking to gather points Murakami of Japan is in third after scor- were especially pleased with their and medals to reach the finale in ing a 60.44 on her 20th birthday. In ice results. In his season debut, world cham- Barcelona, Spain in December. Many BANGKOK: David Rudisha, Olympic champion middle dance, Skate America runner-ups Maia pion and Olympic gold medallist Yuzuru will return to Shanghai next March to distance runner from Kenya, poses with the Best Male Shibutani and Alex Shibutani scored Hanyu scored an 82.95. In third is take place in the World Figure Skating Athlete of London 2012 award during the ANOCAwards 65.20 points dancing flamenco to China’s Yan Han, who became the first Championships, the first time in histo- ceremony as part of the annual meeting of the ANOC in “Asturias Variations” and pasa doble to singles skater from the host country to ry that the event will take place in Bangkok. —AFP “The Last Corrida”. win the event last year.” “I didn’t skate China. —AFP.