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Home , Billy Vunipola, CJ Stander, George Kruis, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Mark McCall

SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017

RUGBY McCall says agony will spur on Saracens

DUBLIN: Saracens boss Mark McCall sure in a quest to reach next month’s Saracens bidding for a “double double” after have the best defensive record in the believes the heartache several of Murrayfield final against the winners of last season’s Premiership and Champions Guinness PRO12 (Celtic League) and the his side suffered playing for England in Sunday’s clash between Clermont and Cup triumphs. Champions Cup. They are hard to break will benefit the team come Leinster in Lyon. “We are accustomed to All six Saracens selected in the British down.” The past two seasons have seen today’s European Champions Cup semi-final these occasions,” said McCall. “The fact some and Irish Lions squad announced Munster suffer pool stages exits, with their in the Irish capital. of our English players were at the Aviva Wednesday for the tour of New Zealand- 2014/15 European campaign featuring a 33- Title-holders Saracens will be taking part (Lansdowne Road) a few weeks ago is a Farrell, , , Itoje, 10 group phase defeat by Saracens. in their fifth successive major European last- good thing. and -will start But this term, following the shock death four clash when they face two-time conti- “The players won’t be surprised by what against Munster. of coach on the eve of a pool nental champions Munster. is waiting, albeit it will be a very special But Munster scrum-half match in Paris in October, their European The likes of , Billy Vunipola atmosphere,” the former Ireland centre remains out with the shoulder/neck problem fortunes have been transformed. and will hope to enjoy success added. London club Saracens, also the reign- that sidelined the Lions call-up since he was “We always pride ourselves on how we with Saracens at Lansdowne Road a few ing English champions, have plenty of expe- injured playing for Ireland in a Six Nations do in Europe and we let ourselves down weeks on from being involved in England’s rience of knockout rugby and McCall said: defeat by on March 10. over the past couple of years,” said 13-9 defeat by Ireland at the ground, a loss “We’ve got a group who know they can rely Fellow Lions CJ Stander and Peter Munster captain O’Mahony. “But we have a that denied the visitors back-to-back Grand on each other and if it’s 40,000 Munster men O’Mahony will take the field as Munster look different group now and we are a different Slams. Irish province Munster will have the and us, then we will back each other. to get to a European final for the first time animal. “We’ve learnt a lot of lessons and bulk of the crowd behind them but McCall is “These occasions bring out the best in the since 2008. “Munster are an unbelievably we now go about our business in a differ- confident his side can retain their compo- group,” said the director of rugby, with well-organised side,” said McCall. “They ent way.” — AFP

Threatened Kings stun MOTOR RACING Waratahs in SYDNEY: ’s endangered rose above the turmoil of their very Super Sceptical Villeneuve Rugby existence with a spirited 26-24 upset win over the Waratahs in Sydney yes- terday. The Port Elizabeth-based Kings, who are lauds Alonso’s Indy bid fighting to stay in next year’s competition, fought back from 17-0 down to win only their fourth game in two years. LONDON: Jacques Villeneuve has The Kings, who are consigned to the scrapheap applauded Fernando Alonso’s gladiatori- in 2018 as part of SANZAAR’s restructuring, trailed al spirit in chasing motorsport’s ‘Triple 17-7 at half-time but scored the next 19 points Crown’ but the retired Formula One before the woeful Waratahs scored a last-minute world champion and Indianapolis 500 converted consolation try to claim a losing bonus winner said he was sceptical about the point. It was a sterling effort from the Kings and a Spaniard’s chances. performance that was hailed by their captain and Alonso, who races for Honda-pow- fly-half Lionel Cronje. ered McLaren in Formula One, will be at “It has been an absolutely emotional tour for us Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, with all the news regarding ,” Cronje Alabama, this weekend to soak up the said. “There has been a lot of pressure on our Indy Car atmosphere before competing administrators, our families at home and you can in the Indy 500 in May. imagine all the pressure on our players hearing all A win on the famed Brickyard oval the news being away from home. would be sensational but the double “It’s amazing to be able to pull a game through world champion will still have to con- like this and to get a victory against the Waratahs quer the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar who have been Super Rugby champions. “It just race to match the unique Triple Crown gives so much credit to our team and the manage- achieved by the late Briton Graham ment for fighting through a good game and to Hill in 1972. come away with the win.” The Kings, despite the Villeneuve, who won Indianapolis in huge off-field distractions, have been competitive 1995 and the Formula One title in 1997 on their Australian tour, losing 46-41 to Western before finishing second with Peugeot at Force and 47-34 to the and this Le Mans in 2008, felt the likelihood of BRISTOL: Crew members push #31 Grainger Chevrolet, driven by Ryan Newman time they claimed their biggest scalp. The South Alonso succeeding was “tiny”. (not pictured), through the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy African strugglers reversed a record 72-10 loss to “But he will go for it, and that’s what’s NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway yesterday in the Waratahs in their only previous meeting in Port great. That’s what makes it exciting,” the Bristol, Tennessee. — AFP Elizabeth four years ago. The Waratahs looked on Canadian told Reuters at the recent track for a much-needed bonus-point win after Bahrain Grand Prix. “It’s typical gladiators Indianapolis in the same year. Hill, father pen. I’m 46 and you need to be 18 to opening up a 17-0 lead with three first-half tries and that’s what built the sport, made it of 1996 world champion Damon, won race now,” he said, with some exagger- before the Kings hit back with tries to Justin what it is today. So it’s good that there’s the Formula One crown in 1962 and ation about the younger end of the Forwood, Masixole Banda and Michael Willemse. But the Kings clinched victory with a penalty try someone going back to its roots like this, 1968, the Indy 500 in 1966 and Le Mans spectrum given that nine times Le awarded after a succession of scrum binding errors it’s amazing. “What I find disappointing is in 1972. “If you are a pure race fan and Mans winner Tom Kristensen of in the final minutes. The Waratahs grabbed an how many (F1) drivers say ‘why bother, are passionate and a racer at heart, you Denmark retired at 47. after-the-siren bonus point with a consolation try to it’s only an oval race...it’s dangerous, why have to be interested in Le Mans and McLaren won Le Mans in 1995 against winger , who opened the scor- would I race there?’ Well, you’re a racer.” Indy 500 as well as F1. It’s the three main faster prototypes in wet conditions but ing with the first try of the night. things in racing,” said Villeneuve. the race has been dominated for more Captain Michael Hooper was scathing about his JIM CLARK “For drivers it was always important ... than a decade by major manufacturers. team’s dreadful showing before their home fans. Indianapolis was part of the Formula I finished second in Le Mans which is a “There’s doing Le Mans, and there’s “It was a pretty embarrassing performance from One world championship from 1950 shame, that really kills me. That hurts.” trying to win Le Mans. And there’s only us,” he said. “There was a lot of talk, not much through to 1960 but the winners were all The Canadian competed in Le Mans two or three cars that can do it and action. It’s going to be a tough weekend.” The sorry Americans unfamiliar to European audi- only after retiring from Formula One, there’s no way you can get in there,” said defeat leaves the Waratahs languishing eight points ences and did not compete in grands with Alonso - who will be 36 in July - like- Villeneuve. adrift of the on the Australian conference prix elsewhere. ly to follow the same route. “A constructor would not want a big standings. The Kings now return home with their In 1965 Jim Clark missed the show- Villeneuve said he would love another name to win the Triple Crown because next game against the in Port case Monaco Grand Prix - as Alonso will go at the French race but was not kid- ultimately it’s not their publicity, it’s the Elizabeth on April 30, while the Waratahs have an also do this year - to race at Indy. The late ding himself about his chances, and sug- driver’s publicity,” he added. “They want Australian derby against the Queensland reds in Scot won, becoming the only driver to gested Alonso should not either. to win as a constructor. So there’s that Brisbane on April 29. — AFP take the Formula One championship and “I’m waiting for the call. It won’t hap- aspect also that blocks it.” — Reuters