Summit Meeting Mark Schwarzer Russian Riddle
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AUSTRALIA’S SPORTING MAGAZINE World Cup SPECIAL Summit Meeting WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN WHEN THE PLANET COMES TO PLAY Mark Schwarzer UNDERDOG SOCCEROOS CAN SURPRISE Russian Riddle A HOST WRAPPED IN AN ENIGMA #319 JULY 2018 • NZ $10.99 $9.99 07 Pedal to the mettle A conversation TOUR DE FRANCE with Rod Laver SPRINT KING OUR GREATEST LIVING 9 771037 164003 MICHAEL MATTHEWS SPORTSMAN LOOKS BACK NOW AVAILABLEOUTSTANDING FOR LONG DISTANCE RIDING AND FAST COMMUTING Upgrade to 1 Vantage Endurance 3.0 Disc 3 4 1 Smooth Welded Alloy 2 Full carbon fork 3 Shimano Frame with Endurance Ultegra R8000 gearing Geometry 6 2 5 4 FSA Gossamer Pro 5 Shimano RS 505 6 Continental Grand Sport compact crankset hydraulic disc brakes Race 700 x 25c puncture (50/34) resistant tyres EDITOR'S LETTER TM AUSTRALIA’S SPORTING MAGAZINE SINCE 1991 UR STORY this month with Rod Laver is one In the Australian context, football has long been we’ve been looking forward to running ever chided as the sport of the future – one that’s O since Linda Pearce, an ace of the tennis beat, always about to happen, just not yet. But as Optus EDITOR Jeff Centenera pitched it when the Rocket was in the country Sport’s Richard Bayliss notes in our cover story, jcentenera@insidesport .com.au earlier this year for the Australian Open. Quite the issue is the limits of our imagination – we just simply, Laver is our greatest living sportsman, a don’t see the Socceroos as legitimate contenders ART DIRECTOR Allan Bender true heir in the legend stakes to Bradman. The at a World Cup. Too many better, deeper football [email protected] opportunity to speak with the California-based nations have tried, and failed, before us. Laver, who turns 80 this year, is a precious one. But if it ever were to happen, whether that’s a ASSISTANT EDITOR James Smith The hook for our feature is the 50th anniversary decade down the line or half a century, it starts [email protected] of the first Wimbledon of the Open era, in which with holding open the possibility. There are no the professional Laver was allowed guarantees, of course, but nothing is CONTRIBUTING WRITERS to return to the All England for the immutable in sport. We used to Robert Drane, Curtis Figon, Brooke Longfield, first time in six years. He won – how BEST QUOTE IN produce the best tennis players Andrew Marmont, Kieran Pender, else was the story meant to go? – THE MAG THIS in the world; now, a place like ConStamacostas,KathyStone MONTH: and it set him on the path the Switzerland can. following season to his second GROUP EDITOR Kevin Airs Grand Slam. Laver’s reflections “Oftenitis F YOU WANT to talk about people [email protected] on that transitional era in tennis with an appreciation for historic Inside Sport on the web are a veritable time capsule of the wood I change, go no further than the www.insidesport.com.au anachronisms, particularly about Russians. The hosts of the 2018 notions of sportspeople actually that World Cup come into focus at an EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: getting paid. awkward political moment, and one [email protected], (02) 9901 6100 However, the other big takeaway throws that obscures their own relationship is to think about how things have a spanner to football. Our resident Russophile, changed in tennis, and more Kieran Pender, explores the issues ADVERTISING specifically, the place of Australian in the in his terrific piece on p.58, as well players in it. A half century ago, it as recalling his own brush with Adam Jackson Head of Sport would have been fanciful to suggest Russian propaganda. Tel: (02) 9901 6109 Mob: 0431 212 504 works.” [email protected] that Harry Hopman’s nation would Another mark of change: it was – Timbersports' someday be competitively irrelevant once unthinkable that someone Ryan Coombs Advertising Sales Manager at many of the world’s biggest Mitch Argent, from outside of Europe would make Tel: (02) 9901 6379 Mob: 0449 671 738 tournaments. And yet, here we are. p.88 an impression on the Tour de France, [email protected] The nature of immutability is but it’s now routine with the likes of QLD: Damian Martin Queensland Ad Manager something of a theme this month, as Aussie Michael Matthews. Pender Mob: 0417 168 663 we head to another historic marker of sporting has pulled double-duty in profiling him this month. [email protected] time, the football World Cup. The contest for Jules And as far as not changing for change’s sake, Rimet’s trophy is an argument for how things don’t we present the case of the AFL and its activist change in sport – almost 90 years and 21 editions administration. We’ve been waiting for a while to in, the tournament stubbornly remains the hear again from suburban footy legend Belter Associate Publisher Hamish Bayliss property of the elite circle of Brazil, Germany, et al, Brogan, and his good mate Bob Drane lined him up Production & Digital Services Jonathan Bishop who seemingly win on the basis of their deep to get his inimitable take. Production Manager Peter Ryman football heritage. And you’ll find few observers Jeff Centenera Circulation Director Carole Jones predicting this will change in Russia. 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You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590 4 INSIDE SPORT | JULY 2018 YOUR HOME OF FOOTY EVERY GAME OF EVERY ROUND LIVE IN HD WITH NO AD-BREAKS DURING PLAY. Foxtel Now requires internet, data & a compatible device. Foxtel and some services not available to all homes. Foxtel marks are used under licence by Foxtel Management Pty Ltd. 58 6470 78 46 JULY 2018 46 WhenTheWorld ComesToPlay Why the biggest prize of the world game remains thepropertyofanelitecircleofnations. Plus: the top players from across the globe. BY JEFF CENTENERA 58 ToRussia.WithLove? Thehostofthe2018WorldCupwantstoproject an image. But Russia is a football country, too. BY KIERAN PENDER 64 IsTheAFLDoingItsJob? Meaning:whatshouldafootyleaguedo,anyway? BelterBroganreturnstoofferhiscritique. BY ROBERT DRANE 70 FlashingTheGreen Michael Mathews, king of the sprints at last year’s Tour de France, is fast company. BY KIERAN PENDER 78 RodLaver’sEra Fityyearsago,tennis’sbestplayerreturnedto Wimbledon and helped change the game forever. A chat with our greatest living sportsman. BY LINDA PEARCE 8 THE BREAKDOWN 28 THE NUMBERS 52 YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ... 10 20 THINGS YOU MISSED 30 PUB DEBATE 56 ONE ON ONE: JACKSON IRVINE 12 FREEZE FRAME 32 FOUR THINGS YOU MUST NOT MISS 76 ANATOMY OF A CHAMP 20 INSIDE AFL 34 THE CLUBBIES 87 INSIDER 22 INSIDE RUGBY 36 HOT SHOT #1 94 HOT SHOT #2 24 INSIDE TENNIS 38 PUNTER’S CHANCE 96 SUBSCRIBE, SAVE & WIN 26 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 40 IN HINDSIGHT: MARK SCHWARZER 98 MY FINEST MOMENT 6 INSIDE SPORT | JULY 2018 STADIUM SOUND FROM YOUR COUCH Love NRL, AFL, Football, Motorsports, All Sports or high energy Movies? Want to feel like part of the action? JBLs new range of Soundbars deliver thumping bass performance and superior HD sound. jbl.com.au. Available at Harvey Norman and JB HI FI. THE BREAKDOWN The Drought Is Over A PAINFUL 722-DAY SUPER RUGBY LOSING STRETCH FOR AUSTRALIAN TEAMS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND-BASED OUTFITS ENDS WITH A RELIEVING 41-12 WIN BY THE NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS OVER THE HIGHLANDERS. Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper runs his team out onto Allianz Stadium seeking to achieve what no Australian side had been able to do in the last 40 trans-Tasman Super Rugby clashes ... win. Down 8-0, the Highlanders’ disappointing start to the match continues when Tevita Nabura is red-carded for a fl ying kick to the face of young NSW back Cameron Clark.