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SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 Unpredictable England baffle All Blacks HAMILTON: The All Blacks are wondering what England ball at pace and always looking for counter-attacking Big backrower Billy Vunipola, lock Courtney Lawes and will have to offer for today’s third Test in Hamilton as they opportunities. Only a couple of injury-forced changes have New Zealand-born hooker Dylan Hartley have been added look to crush the tourists’ confidence ahead of next year’s been made to give the team a solid, familiar look. England, to bolster England’s pack. The return of backrower Kieran World Cup. It’s a dead rubber that still carries highly motiva- however, made five changes for the second Test and, with Read should strengthen the All Blacks’ running game with tional elements for both sides, with the All Blacks looking to the late withdrawal of lock Geoff Parling, eight for the third his talent for lingering out wide to create opportunities for equal the world record of 17 consecutive Test victories, and in a wide-reaching search for the elusive win. his wings. This leaves the powerful Jerome Kaino, back in England desperate to leave New Zealand with a win. his familiar blindside role, free to mop up any problems that Although the All Blacks were down on the level of perform- Ending on a high may arise close to the ruck. ance they aspire to in winning the first two Tests, it was still In a last throw of the dice to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, After inconsistent performances in the first two weeks, enough to beat a team that was ahead in both matches at Lancaster was giving little away ahead of the match other in which the third quarter of the second Test was the only half-time. than talking up England’s rush defense as “clearly part of time the All Blacks were in total control, captain Richie England favored a solid set-piece and kick-chase game our armory and we’ll obvious try to shut the space down.” McCaw said they wanted a complete performance in in the first Test and attempted to attack out wide in the sec- England assistant coach Andy Farrell added that their moti- Hamilton. “It would be horrible to go away from this three- ond, but neither of coach Stuart Lancaster’s plans worked. vation was to end the season on a high and to do that they match series saying ‘Yeah, we won it but haven’t performed “So what are they going to do now?” All Blacks coach Steve need to ensure the All Blacks “can’t play at the pace that in that last one’. That’s what the driver is,” McCaw said. “We Hansen wondered. “I have heard Stuart say in the paper they want to play”. Kyle Eastmond and Manu Tuilagi have showed in that 20 minutes (of the second Test) when we that they shouldn’t play too much rugby down their end. been reunited in the centre of a rejigged England backline started to believe in what we’re doing more, and it started So are they going to kick it a wee bit more?” The All Blacks’ and will test All Blacks rookie Malakai Fekitoa in his first Test to happen, it shows the skills and the guys showed what game plan has not varied, with an emphasis on moving the start. they can do. It would be nice to do that for longer.” — AFP 10 years on, Sharapova Murray Djokovic on semi-final still the ‘brightest star’ collision course LONDON: Ten years ago, Maria Sharapova LONDON: Defending champion Andy Murray and Novak routed Serena Williams in the Wimbledon Djokovic, the man he beat in 2013 to capture Britain’s first final, climbed into the players box to tear- Wimbledon title in 77 years yesterday landed in the same half fully embrace her father Yuri and was of this year’s draw, leaving Roger Federer the biggest winner. immediately propelled into a life of stag- Murray, who has been seeded three, could face top-seeded gering riches. Just 17 at the time, Djokovic in the last four while seven-time champion Federer, Sharapova was the third youngest the fourth seed, is scheduled to renew his rivalry with world women’s champion after Lottie Dod and number one Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. Martina Hingis. If she was a virtual But Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, has been seeded unknown in 2004, the statuesque Russian second this year after losing in the first round in 2013 and blonde is now the world’s most widely- getting knocked out in the second round 12 months earlier. recognized and richest sportswoman, The 28-year-old Spaniard, who won a ninth French Open ear- coining in comfortably around $30 million lier this month, has already expressed fears over whether or last year from earnings, off court and on. not his famously brittle knees will stand up to two weeks of “You know, at that stage you’re 17 grasscourt tennis. His mood will not have been helped by the years old and of course you think it was a draw which lined him up for a possible second round clash great tournament. Can I do that again? against big-hitting Czech Lukas Rosol who knocked him out Can I win more majors? You always have in 2012. those question marks,” admitted Nadal starts against Slovakia’s Martin Klizan with big-serv- Sharapova, after winning a second French ing Ivo Karlovic a potential third round foe. Murray, now Open and fifth major in Paris this month. coached by former Wimbledon women’s champion Amelie “Ten years later and to have five under my Mauresmo, will start his title defence on Monday against belt and to keep going, it’s quite emotion- Belgium’s world number 104, David Goffin. Murray could face al.” Ten years before her life-changing a quarter-final against seventh seed Spaniard David Ferrer, Wimbledon afternoon, Sharapova, leaving who has been battling injury, or Queen’s Club champion and her mother behind in Russia, had headed 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov. Top seed Djokovic, the 2011 for the famed Bollettieri tennis academy in champion, will meet Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan, also on Forida. Neither she nor father Yuri spoke Monday, with the Serb possibly facing France’s Jo-Wilfried WIMBLEDON: In this file photo, Russia’s Maria Sharapova holds the winner’s trophy any English and they arrived in the United Tsonga in the fourth round and former runner-up Tomas after defeating Serena Williams in the women’s Singles final tennis match on the States with just $700. Yuri took a string of Berdych in the quarter-finals. Centre Court at Wimbledon. — AP manual jobs, including washing dishes, to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek, who beat Murray at last make ends meet. Those dirtpoor days are But Sharapova’s determination and single- interview with ‘I’m so happy. I’m so lucky’- week’s Queen’s Club event, could be a second round oppo- long gone. mindedness have not been always been it’s so boring. She’s still not going to be nent. Federer and Nadal will begin their campaigns on She now has 32 titles, including five welcome. Her megaphone grunting and invited to the cool parties. And, hey, if she Tuesday. Federer, looking to break free from his seven-title majors - 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open, shrieking has caused consternation wants to be with the guy with a black tie with Pete Sampras, opens against Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 2008 Australian Open and 2012 and 2014 amongst fans as well as rivals, leaving the heart, go for it.” and could then face Julien Benneteau or Gilles Muller. Roland Garros titles. She was the WTA Russian to admit she is close to few players Ouch. Back came Sharapova who was Qualifier Muller beat Nadal in the second round in 2005 while Championship end of season winner in on tour. As a result, she is never afraid of engaged to former NBA player Sasha Benneteau had match points against Federer in the third 2004 and 2012 Olympic silver medallist speaking her mind, a razor-sharp put Vujacic until they split in 2012. “If she round in 2012 before losing in five sets. Women’s top seed and has been world number one. The down never too far away. “Isn’t she back in wants to talk about something personal, Serena Williams, a five-time winner, and Maria Sharapova, the Sharapova juggernaut shows no sign of Poland already? When did she get the maybe she should talk about her relation- champion in 2004, were drawn in the same quarter. suffering a breakdown although it has hit chance to say that?”, she asked when told ship and her boyfriend that was married Sharapova, who beat Williams in the 2004 final to win her a few bumps along the way. In late 2008, of Agnieszka Radwanska’s criticism of her and is getting a divorce and has kids,” said first major title, opens against British wild card Samantha she was was forced out of the game until on-court grunting. Sharapova, after Williams was romantically Murray, while Williams is up against Anna Tatashvili of May 2009 due to shoulder injuries. She But her most spectacular clash came on linked with French coach Patrick Georgia. The other potential quarter-finals are French Open eventually rebounded by winning the the eve of last year’s Wimbledon when she Mouratoglou. There’s been a thaw in the runner-up Simona Halep against Jelena Jankovic, former 2012 French Open, completing a career and Serena Williams, whom the Russian cold war between the two women, both world number one Victoria Azarenka, just back from a three- Grand Slam and triggering a string of even hasn’t beaten for 10 years, crossed swords amongst the favorites for this year’s month injury lay-off, playing Agnieszka Radwanska while more lucrative deals.

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