WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015 SPORTS Hamilton heeds father’s words as title nears SOCHI: Lewis Hamilton has his father’s remaining. The points gulf make it incon- “My mind’s set on crossing the line at Schumacher and Alain Prost. the team you want to be battling with.” words in mind as he stands on the brink ceivable, even if mathematically possible, the last race and being ahead, that’s Finishing one-two, with the German Hamilton spoke warmly of Vettel of a third Formula One world champi- that the 30-year-old will not join the elite what matters to me. Whether it’s before overtaking Rosberg in the standings, afterwards, the two champions joking in onship. “I don’t think about ‘nearly’,” the group of triple champions-possibly in then or not is kind of irrelevant to me,” hinted at plenty of battles ahead next the post-race news conference after Mercedes driver told British reporters, Texas in two weeks’ time. said the Briton. season as Ferrari close the gap. inviting the podium hostesses in to join after celebrating his ninth win of the sea- If Hamilton wins in Austin, and Vettel He would still be a championship “They are both in very performing them, and described the German as an son in Russia, when it was suggested that fails to take second place, he will have behind Vettel, who won four with Red cars and it could be one of the great original. “What you see is what you get. the job was nearly done. “You either are matched the three titles of the late Bull, but the Sochi podium spoke of a rivalries in the sport-in different teams,” A great driver and just a good personali- or you’re not. I’m not there yet. That’s Brazilian Ayrton Senna, his boyhood changing dynamic that has even had said Mercedes motorsport head Toto ty. I’m looking forward to racing him for what my Dad would always say. You hero. Hamilton’s team bosses rubbing their Wolff, without underestimating Rosberg’s many more years,” he said. “If I hung up either do or you don’t and I don’t yet.” It should be in the bag by the time he hands in anticipation. With his 42nd potential to battle his team mate. my gloves and was just a fan I would Hamilton is 66 points clear of Ferrari’s gets to Brazil for the penultimate race of career win, Hamilton equalled Vettel’s “Lewis has his own rivalry within the want to see the two of us up against Sebastian Vettel and 73 ahead of his own the season but Hamilton said the loca- career tally and the two of them are third team so that is good. It is great for the each other. I am super excited to do team mate Nico Rosberg with four races tion was not important. in the all-time lists behind Michael sport and it is going to push us, as it is that.” —Reuters Springboks focus on discipline BAGSHOT: South Africa will work hard on all along that defence wins World Cups and their on-field discipline and try to force Australia illustrated that point when they Wales into losing theirs in the Rugby World held their line heroically with 13 players in Cup quarter-final at Twickenham on the 15-6 win over Wales on Saturday. Saturday. “Everybody was so impressed with Springboks defence coach John Australia, not just their goal-line defence McFarland believes try-scoring opportuni- but the way they defended the scrum and ties will be limited in what is likely to be an kept them out at the line-out,” McFarland arm wrestle between the packs. said. “That’s what World Cups are about.” That means, just like Wales’ victory over South Africa appear to have got their England and loss to Australia in the pool defensive structure in shape after the shock stages, the match could be decided by 34-32 loss to Japan in their opening game penalties. of the tournament. “The key to Saturday and any playoff They have conceded just a single try in game is your discipline with and without three games since and that came from an the ball, and you how you don’t give the intercept against Scotland. “We are in a opposition the chance to build the score- good space, we have certainly improved board through penalties,” McFarland told and we have set a marker in terms of our reporters on Monday. physicality,” McFarland said. “It’s essential. If you look at the England “It will be a tough game on the week- game (against Wales), the score was 28-25 end, knockout rugby always is, so it will be with one try each, but the chance to build who works hardest, who dominates the the score through penalties influenced the collisions and who takes their chances.” game. “We have to improve there and be Wales beat a second-string South Africa better, we don’t want to give away penal- 12-6 in a friendly in Cardiff in 2014 but the ties when they have the ball. We obviously Springboks are bullish about their chances want to force them to give penalties away of revenge. “We are pretty confident that in that situation.” we are going to beat them,” McFarland Bok head coach Heyneke Meyer has said said.—Reuters CARDIFF: France’s Sebastien Tillous-Borde (left) claims a ball that was dislodged from the grasp of France’s Mathieu Bastareaud (centre) by Ireland’s Sean O’Brien during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match. —AP Ireland target Pumas after loss of ‘warrior’ CARDIFF: Ireland must re-focus on doing their “He hasn’t left anything out on the pitch. reacted well after seeing both the blindside homework on Argentina ahead of Sunday’s “Hopefully he’ll be around for the next couple of flanker and O’Connell stretchered off in the quarter-final after inspirational skipper Paul days.” Like Henshaw, McGrath added: “It’s a France game. O’Connell was ruled out of the World Cup. chance for other guys to step up.” Argentina “I’m sure the lads will know to fulfill what’s O’Connell, capped 108 times by Ireland, is to went down 26-16 to defending champions New expected of them and if Paul or someone goes undergo an operation on a hamstring injury sus- Zealand in their opening Pool C game but then off the field they need to step up and I think tained in the brutal 24-9 Pool D victory over went on to rack up the highest number of points that’s what we saw at the weekend,” said France. With a move to European heavyweights in easily seeing off Georgia (54-9), Tonga (45-16) Ruddock, the Irish-born son of former Wales Toulon pending, it means the end to the 35- and Namibia (64-19). coach Mike. year-old stalwart’s international career. Allied with their traditional forward strength “In an 80-minute performance the team were “Paul was a true leader and a true character based around an immovable front five and outstanding last weekend.”But in terms of inten- off the pitch,” said centre Robbie Henshaw. “He dynamic yet bruising back-row, Nicolas Sanchez sity and physicality, this week will probably be at was a truly inspirational leader. Each time he has ignited an exciting backline. least the same level if not more.” spoke he said the right thing. “I loved and With wingers Juan Imhoff and Santiago Ruddock added: “Argentina have scored over admired the fact that he was not always intense Cordero feeding off quick, go-forward ball and 20 tries already in the tournament, they’re look- or worked up.” clever decision-making from scrum-half Tomas ing to play rugby and they’ve got the footballers O’Connell’s withdrawal follows those of Cubelli, Sanchez and play-making inside centre to do it now. flanker Peter O’Mahony, who was ruled out after Juan Martin Hernandez, Los Pumas promise to “They’ve come on a long way (from the game suffering knee ligament damage in the brutal be a handful come Sunday, according to I played in 2014), they’ve also got some real victory over France, and first-choice centre Jared McGrath. “Argentina pride themselves on their quality backs as well.” Flanker Chris Henry, who Payne (foot fracture). And doubts remain over physicality and we know we’ll have to be ready,” impressed when he came on against France, fly-half Jonny Sexton, who went off after 25 min- the prop said. “We toured there two years ago added that there would be extra motivation to utes of the France game with a groin injury. and know them well. perform for O’Connell and O’Mahony. “Paul O’Connell really was a true warrior,” “They pushed New Zealand in their first game “We want to do it for those players, they’ve prop Jack McGrath said, adding the shaven- so we can’t take them lightly.”They’ve got some given so much not just in the last five weeks, but headed lock’s forte was mastering the “minor great footballers and we’re going to have do our in the last decade,” Henry said. “It would be details”. “Every time Paul’s pulled on an Irish jer- homework.” Rhys Ruddock, called up as a incredible to do something special for Paul and NBA, TISSOT announce sey over the last 15 years, he’s never let it down.