The Times-120221

the times | Friday February 12 2021 2GM 51

Versatile Welsh harpist Register
who played with the Goons
Osian Ellis
Page 52

Obituaries

Larry Flynt

Self-proclaimed ‘smut peddler’ who became an unlikely champion of free speech and, after being shot, the subject of a Hollywood film

MARK RALSTON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

To his critics, of whom there were Flynt launched Hustler and the story of a libel battle inspired a film. His marriage to Althea Leasure, below, ended in tragedy tians while waiting for his pink Learjet,
many, Larry Flynt represented the he reported seeing a vision of Jesus,
most degraded excesses in modern was sentenced to 25 years on obscenity caricature of his earlier incarnation as him along with four of his five children: “sandals and all”, on the concourse.
society, a pornographer guided by what charges) took on the aura of a crusade the ultimate agent provocateur. Theresa, who worked in marketing for
one commentator called his “almost and soon he was being embraced in Hustler; Tonya, who began the Coali- He decided to bring Christian values
pathological need to give offence”. Yet the establishment circles he had so Born in Magoffin County in the tion Against Pornography, Larry Flynt to his publishing empire — or as he put
as the multimillionaire publisher of abhorred, and which had so abhorred backwaters of Kentucky in 1942, Larry Jr and TJ, from whom he was estranged. it, “hustle for the Lord”. To the acute
Hustler, a sexually explicit magazine him. Claxton Flynt grew up in extremely Lisa died in a car crash in 2014. embarrassment of the White House he
whose satirical contents were implicitly straitened circumstances, referring to enlisted the help of Ruth Carter Staple-
anti-establishment and class antago- In 1996 this prodigal interpretation of the area as so poor that “the main in- From its launch in 1974, Hustler stood ton, the evangelist sister of President
nistic, he became an unlikely and unor- his life became the subject of an Oscar- dustry was jury duty”. His parents, apart from top-shelf favourites such as Carter, to assist him in his mission. The
thodox champion of free speech who nominated film, The People Versus Lar- Claxton Flynt and Edith (née Arnett), Playboy and Penthouse, which had gin- association deteriorated, however,
successfully took his case to America’s ry Flynt, which provided further en- were sharecroppers. His family fell gerly pushed back publishing bounda- when he proposed that Hustler branch
Supreme Court. dorsement from mainstream America. apart when he was ten, precipitated by ries with ever more revealing photo- out into explicit biblical illustrations.
He was played by Woody Harrelson. the death of his sister from leukaemia shoots. Hustler offered its readers full-
In his desire to cause offence, Flynt Among a host of actors in cameo parts, and his father’s drinking; his parents colour gynaecological “pink shots”, In constant pain and fearfully para-
was an unparalleled success. His which included Flynt himself playing a separated and he moved with his provoking a storm of criticism and in- noid after he had been shot, Flynt re-
vicious lampooning of all colours and judge, were James Carville, manager of mother to Indiana while his brother valuable publicity. Flynt upped the nounced his religious beliefs and,
creeds, interspersed with taboo-break- Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential cam- stayed with maternal grandparents. In tempo further by publishing intimate hooked on powerful sedatives, he spent
ing pornographic imagery, was the paign, and Donna Hanover Giuliani, his early teens, giving a false age, he en- pictures of Jackie Onassis sunbathing hours locked away in his Bel-Air man-
bane of moral America from the mo- wife of the mayor of New York. listed in the US army, but was dis- nude in Greece. In little time sales had sion. Initially Althea proved a compe-
ment Hustler hit the shelves in 1974. charged after a year because of low test passed into millions and he was run- tent guardian of his business empire,
Whether depicting the outgoing In later life Flynt continued to rile as scores. He returned to his mother who ning the fastest-selling men’s magazine but, frustrated at his detachment, she
Reagan administration as participants best he could, but a more liberal climate had moved to Ohio, but after trying in the world. too soon descended into drug use,
in an orgy or a naked woman being fed and his cosier profile denied him the several blue-collar jobs he returned to which spiralled into a $20,000-a-week
into a meat grinder, the magazine gen- bite he had so enjoyed in Hustler’s hey- military life, this time joining the navy. Realising the power of confronta- cocaine habit.
erated sufficient outrage to leave Flynt day. Seen out and about at society occa- tional publishing, he introduced sick
fighting a stream of lawsuits. sions, he cut a strange figure, a dissolute After five successful years of service, parodies and scatological humour and Eventually Flynt was able to return to
culminating in a position aboard the later branched into more serious jour- work after pain-numbing laser treat-
Yet his legal expenses, which he put USS Enterprise, he returned to Ohio nalism. The pieces were sensational ment on his legs. In little time he was
at $40 million, were nothing to the per- and bought a local bar which he turned and aggressive, covering incidents such also back in court for refusing to hand
sonal price he paid: in 1978, while leav- into a strip club. Its popularity paved as the assassinations of the Kennedys over an incriminating video he had ac-
ing a court hearing in Georgia, he was the way for a chain of clubs, creating and Martin Luther King and brutality quired of the arrest of the businessman
Flynt’s first fortune and feeding his ap- in Vietnam, but they also occasionally John DeLorean on cocaine-trafficking
He attended a court petite for profligate living. By 1974 he broke new ground tackling issues charges. His defiance cost him $10,000
had been married and divorced three of which mainstream publica- a day in fines. He had dustbin bags of
wearing a nappy made times and had fathered four children, tions were wary: in the Seven- one-dollar bills delivered to the court,
all by different mothers. He then met ties Flynt ran full-page photos which he attended in a nappy made
from the American flag Althea Leasure, a 17-year-old dancer. In of cancerous lungs alongside an from the American flag. He was event-
Althea, a promiscuous bisexual, he article on the deceit of ually sentenced to five months in a fed-
shot in the stomach by a white suprem- found his perfect soulmate and an as- tobacco companies. eral penitentiary.
acist angry at an interracial photoshoot tute business partner who helped him
that had appeared in Hustler. It left him build up the Hustler empire. In 1976 the To the incredulity In the wake of Althea’s death in 1987,
paralysed from the waist down and couple married, although the relation- of his growing army Flynt threw himself into his First
confined to a wheelchair at the age of ship was to end in tragedy a decade later of “moral majority” Amendment crusade, culminating in
35. He had a gold-plated one. when Althea, by then a drug addict with opponents, he then the Falwell verdict. Larry Flynt Publi-
Aids, overdosed on heroin and found God in an air- cations Inc continued to thrive into the
Whether Hustler aimed any higher drowned in the bath. port in San Antonio. 1990s despite the turbulence of its pro-
than pornography remains debatable. On agreeing to pray prietor’s pagan lifestyle. Flynt event-
Declaring the publication to be “a fo- In 1998 Flynt married his former with two funda- ually built up a portfolio of more than
rum for the kind of dark humour that nurse Elizabeth Berrios. She survives mentalist Chris- 30 magazines, including other porno-
characterised the mills, factories and graphic titles such as Barely Legal, but
workplaces of ordinary people”, Flynt also covering less salacious interests
argued that it was his politics not his such as speedboating.
prurience that his critics could not
stomach, views he was entitled to His inflammatory touch became
express in his right to free speech under dampened by an internet age rife with
the First Amendment of the country’s ever more offensive exponents of his
constitution. The defence did little to art and from a sales peak of three mil-
appease his critics, who remained lion copies in the late 1970s, Hustler’s
appalled at the magazine’s degrading circulation tumbled to a few hundred
treatment of women and inflammatory thousand.
portrayals of minority groups.
At a time when, under President
In 1988 Flynt found the unlikeliest of Clinton, White House life began to imi-
allies, however, when the Supreme tate Hustler art, Flynt amused himself
Court upheld his appeal against defa- by launching investigations into the
mation damages awarded to Jerry Fal- affairs of Clinton’s more hypocritical
well, a televangelist. Parodied in a Hus- enemies, while praising Kenneth Starr
tler cartoon having sex with his mother for his impressively “salacious and vo-
in an outhouse, Falwell launched a yeuristic” report. Needless to say, he
$45 million libel action which resulted offered Starr a job. His maverick incur-
in a more modest $200,000 award to sions into politics continued, including
Falwell for emotional distress. Despite an offer of a $10 million reward in 2017
his millions, the publisher decided to for information leading to the impeach-
contest the ruling. In a landmark deci- ment of President Trump.
sion, the Supreme Court upheld Flynt’s
right to publish “outrageous opinions” Despite his increasingly comic
about public figures on the grounds turns, Flynt never quite lost his darker,
that any emotional distress caused was
not sufficient to deny the First Amend- seedier edge, with various allega-
ment protection of free speech. tions surfacing in later years.
He was never prosecuted,
The ruling triggered a partial trans- but his rasping denials and
formation in the perception of Flynt. In faintly reptilian smile did lit-
liberal circles his years of defiance came tle to calm his accusers.
to be seen as the actions of an anti-
censorship martyr. His battles against Larry Flynt, publisher, was
fines and prison (on one occasion he
born on November 1,

1942. He died of a heart

attack on February 10,

2021, aged 78

52 1GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Register

Osian Ellis

Versatile harpist who played with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Goons and was admired by Benjamin Britten

RICHARD WILLIAMS

Osian Ellis’s musical accompaniment goalkeeper for Denbigh County School. Ellis was a likeable musician who could play alone or as part of an orchestra and I recorded a lot of his work,” said
for the riotous Goon Show during the The boys used to say I was better at foot- Ellis, pointing to the War Requiem and
1950s was the gift that kept on giving. “I ball than the harp.” films. He also appeared with Peggy nally had two harp parts, but when the the composer’s church operas. There
did two Royal Variety Performances in Ashcroft, who on a journey to the Hag- second harpist withdrew just before the was also a Harp Suite (1969), the last
the pit at the London Palladium involv- He was soon giving concerts with his ue for a concert found him in a corner premiere Ellis suggested to Britten that movement of which is a set of variations
ing Bob Hope and many other top mother and later he had lessons with of the ship acutely seasick and crying: the parts be combined. “The ink was on the Welsh hymn melody St Denio,
stars,” the harpist reminisced in 2018. “I Alwena Roberts, a highly regarded “Sink the boat, sink the boat.” still wet as I climbed into the pit for the and The Death of St Narcissus (1974), a
also joined the Wally Stott Orchestra teacher who travelled across north dress rehearsal,” he recalled. canticle based on a poem by TS Eliot in
and we played on the original Goon Wales by train and bus giving lessons. A Having come to the attention of Brit- which Ellis performed alongside Brit-
Shows starring Spike Milligan, Harry prize at the 1943 National Eisteddfod in ten, he was rarely out of the composer’s Music featuring Ellis continued to ten’s partner, the tenor Peter Pears.
Secombe and Peter Sellers and, for a Bangor led to a scholarship at the Royal mind during the 1960s. The opera A appear. “He wrote the harp parts for a
short time, Michael Bentine.” Academy of Music, where he studied Midsummer Night’s Dream (1960) origi- number of his works with me in mind By then Britten was an ill man and El-
with Gwendolen Mason, who he would lis began to accompany Pears’s recitals,
Ellis was a versatile and likeable succeed as professor of harp in 1959. adapting the piano parts for the harp.
musician who appeared alone, as an His partnership with Pears was a happy
accompanist or as an orchestral player. Knowing that National Service was one. On tour they normally travelled in
He was a member of the London Sym- imminent, Ellis turned down an invita- Ellis’s car because of the need to trans-
phony Orchestra for almost 30 years, tion from John Barbirolli to join the port his harp and he recalled that Pears
recalling how the composer Igor Stra- Hallé Orchestra. Yet when his call-up was a relaxed companion, reading
vinsky was once conducting but sent papers came he registered as a consci- poetry aloud or performing his musical
his assistant Robert Craft to take the entious objector, serving instead as a warm-up exercises as they drove along.
rehearsals. “Craft would say, ‘The mae- porter at St Asaph Hospital. Thereafter
stro will conduct this movement in he planned to live an academic life, Other composers also showed an in-
eight, and he’ll start by beating five, six, composing and teaching, but demand terest, including his Welsh compatriots
seven, eight’. On the night, though, for his playing was too high to ignore. Alun Hoddinott, who wrote a harp con-
Stravinsky didn’t do anything of the certo for the 1957 Cheltenham Festival,
sort. He went straight into the move- In 1951 he married Irene (Rene) and William Mathias, who wrote one
ment, and everybody was baffled . . . Jones, a viola player. That same year he for the 1970 Llandaff Festival. In the
Stravinsky called out ‘Eight in a bar’. joined Leslie Bridgewater’s theatre or- early 1970s Ellis was a fellow at Gregyn-
And all this was being broadcast.” og Hall, a centre for the arts in mid-
‘I was not told Britten Wales, where he produced a small vol-
The composer Benjamin Britten was ume entitled The Story of the Harp in
a great admirer after hearing Ellis in his was there, so I was quite Wales (1980).
choral piece A Ceremony of Carols at
Westminster Cathedral in January exhilarated to meet him’ He retired to northwest Wales
1959. “I was not told that Britten was where, after a 15-year break to care for
there, so I was quite exhilarated to meet chestra at Stratford-upon-Avon during Rene, who died in 2012, he returned to
him after the performance,” Ellis re- the Festival of Britain. “I shared a house the harp. “I play the organ in the chapel
called in his lilting Welsh accent. “We with two Welsh actors, Hugh Griffith at Pwllheli where I have lived for a
were taken to the back of the cathedral, and a good boy from the valleys, Rich- number of years now,” he said in 2018,
the vestry, and I was so struck, almost ard Burton, and his first wife Sybil,” he when he was honoured at the Wales
shocked, to be offered drinks by the recalled. International Harp Festival in Caer-
young priests as they carried their trays narfon. “I’m enjoying writing music
of alcohol to the guests. I couldn’t be- They remained close. “In the 1960s, again and of course playing.” His
lieve my eyes — and on a Sunday, too.” as a family, Rene, our two sons, Tomos younger son, Tomos, a tenor Ellis often
and Richard, and I visited Richard Bur- accompanied, died in 2009 and he is
Osian Gwynn Ellis was born in Ffyn- ton, who was by then with Elizabeth survived by Richard, who leads a pri-
nongroyw, Flintshire, in 1928, the son of Taylor, on the set of Where Eagles Dare vate life.
a Methodist minister; he had a brother at Elstree Studios,” he said. “We
and two sisters, one of whom, Elfrys, watched them shoot a scene and then The Goon Show remained popular
survives him. As a boy he was obsessed went back to his trailer. Elizabeth Tay- throughout his career. “It’s still repeat-
with playing the harp and playing foot- lor kept feeding Tomos and Richard ed on radio so often today, which is
ball. “I chose the harp because we had chocolate.” amazing,” he said a couple of years ago.
one at home,” he said. “My mother, Jen- “In fact, I’m a bit embarrassed that each
nie [née Lewis], was a good amateur When Griffith and Burton went to year I still get a royalty cheque for
harpist. My father was the Rev Tomos New York, Ellis and his wife lived in around £100 from the BBC.”
Griffith Ellis, so we moved around quite Griffith’s flat in London. It was a busy
a lot as a family. We did spend some time for the young harpist. He gave his Osian Ellis, CBE, harpist, was born on
years living in Denbigh and I was the own recitals, often singing as he played,
and worked with Charlie Chaplin, who February 8, 1928. He died on January 5,
was correlating new music for his old
2021, aged 92

Robert Rowland

Fund manager for George Soros who was compared to Action Man and became a combative and outspoken Brexit Party MEP

When a London bus inspector discov- East England from July 2019 until Janu- land, who owned an engineering firm, oped uncompromising views, railing Marine who had been expelled from
ered that Robert Rowland was travel- ary 2020, when the UK left the EU, and and Mary, a nurse. against what he called “the football- Repton School, served in Afghanistan
ling without having paid his £1.50 fare served on the economic and monetary terrace behaviour of the fascist left”. and took up sports such as parascend-
he refused to accept Rowland’s expla- affairs committee and the industry, Robert attended Beech Hall prepara- ing and off-piste skiing. After Johnny
nation, starting a chain of events in research and energy committee. tory school in Macclesfield, Cheshire, After graduating he became a regular died in a motorcycle accident in 2004,
2016 that led to a £750 fine. then Sedbergh School, Cumbria. stock market trader and with help from Robert supported his regimental char-
Rowland told the Lakeside meeting: his stepfather, the late Johnny Willi- ity and was a director of Tickets for
He had forgotten his wallet and the “The last three years have seen Britain’s His friend James Heeley said: ams, the former England and British Li- Troops, which distributes free music
conductor could not take cash, so as a establishment do their damnedest to “ ‘Knobby’ Rowland was seen as an in- ons rugby player, he started work at and sports tickets to members of the
regular on that route he had been al- delay, defuse and dilute Brexit. There solent, lippy southerner with a high- Lazard Brothers Asset Management armed forces.
lowed to travel free. Luckily Rowland might not be tanks on the streets, but pitched voice, knobbly knees and too and trained as a stockbroker.
was a friend of Richard Littlejohn, the make no mistake: this is a coup against much self-confidence. But he was fear- Rowland ran funds for several firms,
Daily Mail columnist, who took up the democracy.” That combative tone was In 1992 Rowland married Elizabeth including $1 billion (over £500 million
case in his column. TfL promptly a trademark of his political career, un- less, could never be moulded by Ashton, a dentist he had met at univers- then) for the US billionaire George So-
dropped the fine and apologised. derlined by framing his Twitter picture the system and was a rebel ity. They divorced the following year. ros but he felt he could achieve more
in the gun-barrel motif used in James throughout his time there.” through politics than finance. “What
Littlejohn lent his support again Bond films. He excelled at shooting, When changing planes at Madrid led him into the Brexit Party,” said Hee-
three years later, when Rowland was cross-country running, athlet- airport he bumped into Lisa Marie, a fi- ley, “was his frustration at how Britain
unveiled by Nigel Farage at the Lake- On the coronavirus pan- ics, tennis, rugby, cricket nancial services executive he had ad- had been managed.”
side Country Club as one of 70 Brexit demic, he demanded that and water polo. Nearly mired from afar at a conference. They
candidates in the European election. China pay “some form of repa- every day of his adult married in 1997 at Lake Tahoe and hon- Heeley added: “Although Robert was
“They are free from the stench of insti- rations for the economic Ar- life he swam 50 eymooned paragliding in Mexico. loud-spoken and could come across as
tutionalised decay and entitlement,” mageddon they have un- lengths, no matter arrogant, he spoke his mind and
said Littlejohn, “which clings to the leashed on the West.” how short or long “The first day we flew,” said Lisa Ma- shirked nothing. As a friend he was
other parties like a cheap suit.” the pool. rie, “Robert caught a thermal which always unflinchingly loyal, constant
Robert Andrew In the sixth form took him far away. I wondered what had and supportive.”
Rowland, who a Guardian writer said Rowland was born in he became an avid happened to him until the evening,
had “the face, haircut and stiff demean- 1966 in Bowdon, a vil- reader of the broad- when he returned with a bunch of calla Robert Rowland, fund manager, was
our of a freshly bought Action Man”, lage near Altrincham sheets, Private Eye lilies in his arms, talking about his
described the 2019 European election in Greater Manches- and The Spectator. amazing cross-country flight, being born on February 28, 1966. He drowned
as “one of the proudest moments of my ter. He was the middle At Newcastle Uni- chased by dogs and cattle and trying to
life, to be part of a movement that child of John Row- versity he read poli- find his way back to the village.” Their while diving near his home in the
changed the course of history and led to tics, economic his- four children, Mathew, Luke, Emily and
our departure from the EU”. Rowland became an tory and East Asian Alexander, are all still at school. Bahamas on January 23, 2021, aged 54
studies and devel-
He was a Brexit Party MEP for South MEP in 2019 Rowland was deeply affected by the [email protected]
death of his brother Johnny, a Royal

the times | Friday February 12 2021 1GM 53

Court Circular Register

Births, Marriages and Deaths newsukadvertising.co.uk

Clarence House via telephone. DO not think that I have come to abolish DERHALLI Muawiya Muhammad, died PARIS Andrew Martin Ingledew, OStJ, WATSON Peter George Watson FCIS
11th February, 2021 His Royal Highness later the law or the prophets; I have come not to peacefully at home on 29th January 2021 FRCS, retired consultant urological passed away on 25th January 2021, aged
The Prince of Wales this abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until at the age of 93. Dearly beloved husband of surgeon, The Royal London Hospital, died 87. A man of great faith.
morning held a Meeting with spoke to Ms Jane Kennedy heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, Hoda, and father of Jenan and Kerim. peacefully at home on 7th February 2021,
Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Prime (Duty Manager), Borders not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the Private family burial. Donations in his name aged 80. Much-loved husband of Sue, WENHAM
Minister of the Hellenic General Hospital, Melrose, law until all is accomplished. to Medical Aid for Palestinians. Please visit father of Claire, and grandfather of Olivia Roger passed away on 25th January
Republic) via telephone. Roxburghshire, via telephone. Matthew 5.17-18 (NRSV) the tribute page on muchloved.com to and Izzy. Private funeral. Memorial service
leave donations and tributes. to follow. 2021, aged 91. Funeral service at
His Royal Highness this The Duke of Cambridge Deaths Mortlake Crematorium on Thursday
evening held a Meeting for the subsequently spoke to Ms Sally HARRISON William Edward Morton PEARSON Helen Eyre Persse (née
Sustainable Markets Initiative Owen (Head of Workforce: ARNOTT Caroline passed away (Buster) on 7th February. Much-loved Studdert) on 2nd February 2021, aged 84, 18th February 2021.
via video link. Recruitment and Equality, peacefully at Solent Mead, Lymington, on husband of Colette and father of Adrian after a short illness. Beloved wife of Family flowers only. Donations to
Diversity and Inclusion), 1st February 2021, aged 86. Much-loved and Charlotte. Funeral service private. A Christopher, mother of Clare, William and Guide Dogs UK c/o Lodge Brothers &
Kensington Palace Hywel Dda University Health aunt of Mark, Christopher and Victoria. memorial service to be advised at a later Oliver, and grandmother. Funeral at St
11th February, 2021 Board, Carmarthen, via Private funeral 25th February. Donations date. Martins Church, New Buckenham. No Keates 020 8941 4022.
The Duke of Cambridge this telephone. can be made to All Saints Church flowers please but donations to New
morning spoke to Mr Adrian Somerford Keynes c/o Cowley & Son HUGHES Josephine Myra (Jo) (née Buckenham PCC would be welcome. WRIGHT Hugh William died suddenly on
Leggat (Technical Delivery St James’s Palace Funeral Directors, 01285 650699. Deahl) on 9th February 2021, aged 92. 7th February 2021, aged 74, at home in
Manager), St James’ Hospital, 11th February, 2021 Much-loved mother and grandma who as STEVENS Tynron (Dumfriesshire). Beloved husband
Locksway Road, Southsea, The Earl of Wessex, Chairman BARRON Derek Donald. Much-loved a nurse dedicated her life to helping of the late Chrissie, father of Andrew,
Hampshire, via telephone. of the Trustees, The Prince father and father-in-law to Andrew and others and had a passion for gardening. Robert Bocking, died peacefully on James and Anna, and grandfather of Max.
Philip Trust Fund for the Amanda, Adam and Susanne. Grandfather She will be greatly missed. 30th January 2021, aged 87. Noted Due to current circumstances, private
His Royal Highness Royal Borough of Windsor and to Alex, Katharine, Christian, Sophia, funeral.
afterwards spoke to Ms Maidenhead, this morning Maddie, Linnea and Miranda. Passed away IMPEY Jane (née Mellanby) died legal scholar; master, Pembroke
Candice Scott (Community held a Meeting with Mr peacefully on 24th January 2021, aged 91, peacefully on 8th February 2021, aged 82, College, Oxford; chancellor, UC Santa Life and Times
Receptionist), the Royal United Christopher Aitken (Secretary to be reunited with his beloved wife at home. Beloved mother and Listen to
Hospital, Bath, Somerset, via and Trustee) and Mr Ross Rosemary. Funeral at Randall Park grandmother. Private funeral service due Cruz; president, Haverford College; Mariella
telephone. Wilson (Treasurer) via video Cemetery, 1st March. Inquiries to funeral to Covid; a memorial service will be held at professor, Yale Law School; barrister, Frostrup
link. directors T. H. Sanders of Barnes, a later date. Donations if desired for Sobell discuss great
The Duke of Cambridge tel: 020 8876 5255. House Hospice Charity c/o Edward Carter Essex Court Chambers; of counsel, lives on Times
later spoke to Ms Claire Jukes His Royal Highness this (FD), 107 South Avenue, Abingdon, Covington & Burling. Survived by his Radio,
(Patient Services Manager), afternoon attended a Wiltshire BENNETT Jane Elisabeth on 6th February Oxfordshire, OX14 1QS. Monday to
University Hospitals Plymouth and Swindon Strategic 2021, aged 86, died peacefully at Bramley wife, Kathie, three children, Carey, Thursday
NHS Trust, Devon, via Co-ordinating Group Meeting House, Mere, formerly of Fontmell Magna. LLOYD-THOMAS David William Richard and Robin, and two at 1.45pm
telephone. via video link. A full life well lived; she leaves great Courtney on 9th February 2021, aged 98.
memories with her many friends. Funeral at Died peacefully at home. Lovingly grandchildren. Memorial service to be
His Royal Highness St James’s Palace St Andrews Church, Fontmell Magna. remembered father, grandfather and announced.
subsequently spoke to Ms Jane 11th February, 2021 Donations to Alzheimer’s Society c/o great-grandfather.
Buchanan (Domestic Team The Princess Royal, Patron, Merefield & Henstridge F/D Ridgemount, WARDROP-WHITE Carolyn Mary Rose,
Leader), Lings Bar Hospital, Save the Children UK, this Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, The simple way to place your much-loved wife of David, mother and
West Bridgford, Nottingham, morning held a Meeting with Dorset, SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532. announcement in The Times. stepmother to Andrew, Allan, Jonathan and
via telephone. Mr Kevin Watkins (Chief Available 24 hours a day, Adam, passed away peacefully in Biggar,
Executive Officer) via video BIRD David Michael Gordon passed away seven days a week. South Lanarkshire, aged 72, on 7th
The Duke of Cambridge link. peacefully on 7th February 2021, aged 91, newsukadvertising.co.uk February 2021, surrounded by her loving
afterwards spoke to Mr John surrounded by his loving wife and family at family. A proud and devoted grandmother
Brown (Portering Supervisor), Kensington Palace home in Kent. Legal Notices to Lottie, Lili, Charlie and Bertie. She will be
Craigavon Area Hospital, 11th February, 2021 deeply missed by all whose lives she
Portadown, County Armagh, The Duke of Gloucester, BOWER Colin Frank (D.L.I.) on 7th touched with her kindness, love, generosity
Patron-in-Chief, Scottish February 2021 died peacefully, aged 90. and wisdom.
Veterans Residences, this Beloved husband, father and grandfather.
morning held a Meeting with Funeral takes place on Wednesday 3rd Legal Notices
Brigadier George Lowder March and given current conditions will be
(Chairman) and Brigadier attended by close family only. Inquiries to
Martin Nadin (Chief Merefield & Henstridge F/D. Tel: 01747
Executive) via telephone. 853532

Calls to the Bar: Lincoln’s Inn CARDEN Shione. The family is sad to
announce her sudden and unexpected
death, aged 86, on 4th February 2021.
“What will survive is love.” Private burial.
Donations to Oxfam or WWF c/o Richard
Steel & Partners, Alderman House,
Winchester SO23 8SD.

CLEMETSON John Byerley CBE died
peacefully on 1st February 2021, aged 100.
Beloved husband of Peggie (decd) and
much-loved father of Jane. Formerly official
receiver and head of the Insolvency
Service. Private funeral on 18th February.
No flowers please. Inquiries to A. B. Walker
0118 957 3650.

School Notices

The following have been Maria Veimou, Alina Gul
called to the Bar this Hilary Memon, Annetta Deborah
term: Aiman Rahman Khan, Jackson, Md Rokan Uddin
Shahrukh Kabir Bhuiya, Bhuiyan, Lydia Chong Nien
Rakshita Thosadu Ramdu, Chee, Ho Jia Hui, Omar
Saadman Rahman, Tasbir Faruque, Ho Yung Wei,
Sharif, Rafsan Mahaboob Alexandra Elizabeth Scott
Chowdhury, Parsa Quazi, Hampton, Shaheen Begum
Neel Kanwal Shahnawaz, Zaman-Khan, Jonathan Khoo
Ghazanfar Ahmed Nawab, Boo Wern, Debbie Tang Sze
Michael Abiodun Temidayo Yen, Thomas William Hayes,
Olatokun, Zafar Shahaan Mei Zi Tan, Eleanor Jade
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58 1GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Weather

Today Bitterly cold but largely dry for most places. Cloudier with drizzle or snow in Ireland. Max 8C (46F), min -13C (9F) Weather Eye
Paul Simons
Around Britain Five days ahead Wind speed Sea state Orkney Shetland
Cold in the east over the 34 (mph) 26 The temperature plunged to
Key: b=bright, c=cloud, d=drizzle, pc=partly cloudy weekend, but turning Temperature Calm 29 1 an astounding minus 23C
du=dull, f=fair, fg=fog, h=hail, m=mist, r=rain, milder and unsettled Slight at Braemar in the
sh=showers, sl=sleet, sn=snow, s=sun, t=thunder more widely next week 28 (degrees C) Moderate Highlands in the early
*=previous day **=data not available Rough hours yesterday, the coldest
Tomorrow night since December 1995. Such
Temp C Rain mm Sun hr* 3 14 2 intense cold may seem historic, but
Strong winds, heavy rain, sleet and the UK record for the lowest
midday yesterday 24 hrs to 5pm yesterday snow will spread across Ireland into Flood alerts and warnings 2 C temperature is minus 27.2C, also at
western Britain, perhaps reaching -2 35 Braemar, on February 11, 1895. It
Aberdeen -6 PC 0.0 2.9 some central areas later. Remaining At 17:00 on Thursday there were 3 Aberdeen 30 was equalled again in January 1982
0.0 3.5 dry and cold in eastern Britain. 83 flood alerts and seven warnings 25 at Braemar and yet again at
Aberporth 0 C 0.0 7.1 Max 10C, min -10C in England, and no flood alerts or 20 Altnaharra in the Highlands in
0.0 5.9 warnings in Wales or Scotland. 15 December 1995.
Anglesey 2 PC 0.0 ** -1 For further information and updates 10
0.0 ** in England visit flood-warning- It is not difficult to see why
Aviemore -8 S 0.0 4.7 4 information.service.gov.uk, for Wales 5 Braemar can feel like the North
0.0 ** -1 naturalresources.wales/flooding and 0 Pole. It is the highest and coldest
Barnstaple 1 ** 0.0 1.8 for Scotland SEPA.org.uk -5 F parish in Britain, 342m (1,122ft)
0.0 ** 1 -10 95 above sea level and nestled in a
Bedford 0B 0.0 4.0 -15 86 valley surrounded by mountains in
0.2 0.8 Sunday 77 the Cairngorms, some 60 miles
Belfast 2C 0.0 5.1 68 inland from Aberdeen. On a clear,
0.2 3.8 Mild and windy with outbreaks of 59 calm winter night cold air slides
Birmingham 1 B 0.0 4.6 heavy rain in the west, perhaps falling NORTH 50 down the mountain slopes like
0.0 7.0 as sleet in some central areas. Dry and SEA 41 water, filling the valley below with
Bournemouth 1 C 0.0 ** cold in the east, although rain may 32 frigid air. With deep snow lying on
0.2 2.1 begin to push in towards the evening. Edinburgh 23 the ground, and under a clear night
Bridlington 5 S 0.0 4.6 Max 13C, min -4C 14 sky, any warmth on the ground
0.0 4.8 rapidly radiates away into space.
Bristol 0C 0.0 ** 2 1 5
0.0 5.7 Glasgow The last time Braemar reached
Camborne 2 DU 0.0 ** 11 the record low temperature of
0.0 6.9 2 minus 27.2C was on January 10, 1982
Cardiff 0C 0.0 ** 3 when The Scotsman newspaper
0.0 6.3 5 announced, “Braemar Colder Than
Edinburgh -3 S 0.0 0.2 The South Pole”, noting that the
0.3 7.0 Monday temperature at the South Pole that
Eskdalemuir 1 PC 0.0 ** -1 26 day was a mere minus 21C.
0.0 4.6 Cloudy with showery rain clearing
Glasgow 1S 0.0 5.2 eastern and southern England. Bright Carlisle Newcastle Buses couldn’t reach the village in
0.0 6.3 spells and showers elsewhere, turning 2 2 the snow and the main street was
Hereford -1 B 0.0 1.6 heavy in places. Remaining quite ATLANTIC Londonderry littered with stranded cars. “There is
0.0 ** breezy near the coastlines. OCEAN 33 York a touring bus stuck in the village
Herstmonceux 0 B 0.0 ** Max 13C, min 0C Belfast with frozen diesel fuel, and they
0.0 6.0 1 3 have been lighting a fire under it to
Ipswich -0 PC 0.0 7.7 2 try to get it going,” John Stammers,
0.0 ** of the Braemar Mountain Rescue
Isle of Man 2 PC 0.0 ** 12 Team, told The Scotsman.
0.0 ** 6
Isle of Wight 1 C 0.0 ** That night the temperature
0.0 1.9 9 plunged to its record low in the
Jersey -1 C 0.0 7.2 clear, calm weather. It was also
0.0 ** Tuesday bitterly cold over the rest of Britain.
Keswick 3S 0.0 3.0 On the Firth of Forth, fishermen
0.0 ** Unsettled and generally cloudy with returning to harbour reported fish
Kinloss -3 S 0.0 4.9 outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards, freezing instantly as the nets were
0.0 7.6 although there should be some drier hauled in. Along the M4, cars were
Leeds -0 S 0.0 4.3 and brighter spells in places. abandoned and mountain rescue
0.0 ** Max 12C, min 0C teams brought out to recover people
Lerwick 1 PC 0.0 5.4 Manchester Hull trapped in their vehicles, while
6 police rolled huge snowballs on to
Leuchars -4 PC Galway IRISH Liverpool 2 the motorway entrances to stop
10 SEA people driving on it.
Lincoln 1 PC 8 28

Liverpool 2 PC 10 Dublin 2 Sheffield
Llandudno
London 0 PC Wednesday

Lyneham -0 C A few scattered showers spreading
from the west, but generally staying
Manchester 1 PC dry with bright or sunny spells. 1 Nottingham
Max 11C, min -2C
Margate -1 B Shrewsbury
6
Milford Haven 2 C Norwich
10
Newcastle -1 S 6 26 0

Nottingham 1 S 8 Birmingham Cambridge

Orkney 3S The Times weather Cork 4
page is provided Channel Islands
Oxford -0 B by Weatherquest Swansea Oxford 0
23
Plymouth 2 C

Portland 1C CELTIC Cardiff 1
SEA
Scilly, St Mary’s 4 C 3 Bristol London
Exeter
Shoreham -0 PC Southampton
Brighton
Shrewsbury 1 PC

Snowdonia -1 PC 3
Plymouth
Southend -0 B

South Uist 3 PC

Stornoway 3 S

Tiree 3 PC 3

Whitehaven -1 S CHANNEL 26

Wick -1 PC 29

Yeovilton 1 DU

The world General situation: Cloudy and breezy NW Scotland, Glasgow, SW Scotland, NE Eng, Borders, Edinburgh & Dundee,
in the west with spots of rain or sleet.
All readings local midday yesterday Generally drier farther east with sunny Argyll, Lake District: Dry and cold with Moray Firsth, Aberdeen, Cen Highland,
spells, but remaining bitterly cold. plenty of lengthy spells of sunshine.
Alicante 22 B Madeira 20 PC E Anglia, London, SE Eng, Cen S Eng, Patchy cloud at times. Moderate NE Scotland, N Isles: Sunshine and
southeasterly winds, strong to near snow showers. Dry in the western
Amsterdam -1 PC Madrid 13 B Channel Is, Midlands, Cen N Eng, IoM gale force near the coasts. Maximum Highlands. Fresh southeasterly winds,
3C (37F), minimum -11C (12F). strong on the coast. Maximum
Athens 18 PC Mallorca 18 S N Wales, E Eng, NW Eng: Staying dry S Wales, SW Eng: Cloudy at first with 2C (36F), minimum -13C (9F).
but bitterly cold with a mixture of a few odd spots of drizzle or light Republic of Ireland, N Ireland: Cloudy at
Auckland 21 C Malaga 21 S patchy cloud and sunny spells, lengthy snow. Dry with sunny spells later. first with snow showers in the north,
in places. Milder in the Channel Is. Moderate to fresh southeasterly falling as rain farther south. Drier and
Bahrain 22 PC Malta 16 PC Moderate southeasterly winds, fresh winds, strong at times. Maximum brighter from the north later. Fresh to
to strong near the coasts. Maximum 5C (41F), minimum -7C (19F). strong southeasterly wind. Maximum
Bangkok 31 PC Melbourne 31 S 4C (39F), minimum -8C (18F). 8C (46F), minimum -2C (28F).

Barbados 29 PC Mexico City 24 PC

Barcelona 15 S Miami 28 B

Beijing 7S Milan 11 S

Beirut 18 PC Mombasa 30 B

Belgrade 0 B Montreal -8 PC

Berlin -2 PC Moscow -14 SN

Bermuda 20 SH Mumbai 33 S Tides Noon today

Bordeaux 8 DU Munich -8 PC 1032 LOW

Brussels -2 PC Nairobi 22 B Tidal predictions.
Heights in metres
Bucharest 12 S Naples 15 PC HIGH LOW
1000
Budapest -4 B New Orleans 18 M Today Ht Ht 1008
Aberdeen 4.2 4.3
Buenos Aires 26 B New York 0 PC 01:48 13.2 13:49 13.1 1016
3.6 20:04
Cairo 21 S Nice 15 PC Avonmouth 07:40 12.1 --:-- -- HIGH 1024
5.5 19:56 12.0
Calcutta 27 S Nicosia 20 PC Belfast 11:41 6.5 18:38 5.2 1040
4.1 23:58 6.7 1032
Canberra 26 S Oslo -10 S Cardiff 07:35 5.1 --:--
3.3 17:59 --
Cape Town 26 S Paris 0 PC Devonport 06:10 4.0 13:02 4.9
5.7 --:-- 3.6
Chicago -10 SN Perth 24 PC Dover 11:46 7.2 23:14
5.5 18:49 --
Copenhagen -4 C Prague -5 PC Dublin 12:03 9.5 15:09 5.4 968 LOW 984
6.8 --:-- 7.6 976
Corfu 11 R Reykjavik 3 C Falmouth 05:34 2.4 14:32 5.5
7.0 22:02
Delhi 21 S Riga -10 S Greenock 00:50 9.5 19:04 --
6.6 --:-- 7.1
Dubai 24 S Rio de Janeiro 28 PC 12:15 7.0 --:-- 2.6 992 LOW Cold front
4.1 17:54 6.8 1016 Warm front
Dublin 2B Riyadh 24 S Harwich 5.5 18:28 HIGH Occluded front
4.5 17:25 -- Trough
Faro 16 B Rome 16 PC Holyhead 10:46 6.2 --:-- -- 1000
4.4 --:-- 6.8 1008
Florence 13 B San Francisco 15 PC Hull 06:52 9.4 13:37 3.8 1024
5.2 19:09 5.3 HIGH
Frankfurt -2 PC Santiago 28 S Leith 02:59 2.2 16:14 -- 1016
19:43 --
Geneva 1B São Paulo 26 B Liverpool 11:43 4.3
9.2
Gibraltar 18 B Seoul 8S London Bridge 02:12 5.4 Synoptic situation Highs and lows Hours of darkness
2.0
Helsinki -17 PC Seychelles 26 R Lowestoft 10:07 A strongly built area of high 24hrs to 5pm yesterday Aberdeen 17:31-07:11
pressure centred over southern
Hong Kong 18 PC Singapore 31 PC Milford Haven 06:43 Norway will continue to bring Warmest: Bridgefoot, Belfast 17:55-07:18
largely dry weather to much of Cumbria, 4.9C
Honolulu 26 PC St Petersburg -12 SN Morecambe 11:47 Britain in a cold southeasterly Coldest: Braemar, -23.0C Birmingham 17:44-06:56
flow, although troughs may Wettest: Balmoral, 6.2mm
Istanbul 15 S Stockholm -9 SN Newhaven 11:40 bring a few showers to Sunniest: Kirkwall, Cardiff 17:52-06:59
Scotland. A deep area of low Orkney, 7.7hrs*
Jerusalem 21 S Sydney 26 PC Newquay 05:33 pressure will attempt to push Exeter 17:55-06:59
fronts and milder air in from Sun and moon
Johannesburg 23 B Tel Aviv 21 S Oban 06:11 the Atlantic, bringing patchy Glasgow 17:44-07:15
rain, sleet or snow to the west. For Greenwich
Kuala Lumpur 31 PC Tenerife 20 B Penzance 05:04 Sun rises: 07.18 Liverpool 17:46-07:03
Sun sets: 17.09
Kyiv -6 SN Tokyo 12 PC Moon rises: 08.11 London 17:40-06:47
Moon sets: 17.51
Lanzarote 20 B Vancouver -1 SN Portsmouth 11:41 First quarter: February 19 Manchester 17:43-07:00

Las Palmas 21 B Venice 7R Shoreham 11:49 Newcastle 17:36-07:02

Lima 21 S Vienna -5 PC Southampton 01:20 Norwich 17:31-06:44

Lisbon 15 R Warsaw -10 SN Swansea 06:49 Penzance 18:05-07:05

Los Angeles 15 PC Washington 4 C Tees 04:08 Sheffield 17:40-06:57

Luxor 28 S Zurich -7 B Weymouth 07:11

the times | Friday February 12 2021 2GM 59

Sport

Ainslie can tame Italian ‘Pitbull’

Sailing Two boats, one ambition: to qualify for the America’s Cup

Ed Gorman The AC75 class

The Prada Cup final is arguably the Luna Rossa Length 75ft Britannia
most important event in British sailing
in nearly 40 years and can open the Skipper Max Sirena Width 16ft Skipper Ben Ainslie
door to a tilt at the America’s Cup,
something that a British team have not Mast height 87ft
competed for since 1964.
Designer Luna Rossa design team Total crew 11 Designer Nick Holroyd (NZ)
Standing between Ben Ainslie and
his Ineos Team UK and the chance to Owner Patrizio Bertelli, Prada Weight (loaded) 7,600kg Owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos
win the championship at the pinnacle
of world sailing is a well-organised, Estimated wealth £3.5bn Top speed 50+ knots Estimated wealth £12.15bn
well-funded and experienced Italian
team in Luna Rossa, who are appearing America’s Cup challenges 6 America’s Cup challenges 1
in the challenger final for a fourth time
and aiming for their second victory. Yacht Circolo della The design race Yacht Royal Yacht
club Vela Sicilia club Squadron
But much as Ainslie continues to Main areas for continuous and
portray himself and his crew as the secretive development
underdogs, his supporters have every
right to see him as the favourite to take Hull shape Mast
another big step towards fulfilling his
dream of winning the America’s Cup at Estimated budget Foils Rudder Estimated budget
the helm of the much-improved British
AC75, Britannia. £83m Sails Crew layout

In a sport in which the vagaries of the Luna Rossa Control systems and
weather play a critical role, there are software programmes
ways in which the Italians can win,
but the crew, led by co-helms Jimmy Race courses £110m
Spithill and Francesco Bruni, will need
conditions on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf Britannia
to be heavily slanted in their favour.
A NEW
In their final press conference B ZEALAND
before the series gets under way tomor-
row with the first two heats in this best- CD Hauraki Gulf
of-13 series, Ainslie and Max Sirena, the Auckland E
Italian skipper, did a good job of
whetting our appetites. Difference-makers AC75 hull shapes compared Difference-makers

The Italian emphasised that Luna Jimmy Spithill, 41 Luna Rossa Britannia Ben Ainslie, 44
Rossa were now up to the task, having Co-helm/tactician Helm
been beaten by Ainslie on each of the Two America's Cup titles V-shaped keel Flat-bottomed keel One America's Cup title
three occasions that the two met in the One match racing world Four Olympic golds
opening round-robin phase. championship The smoothest and sleekest of the The most complex and radical hull of all One Olympic silver
challenger hulls. An aerodynamic the challengers with multiple Eleven world
“We know where we went wrong in Francesco Bruni, 47 profile like a paper dart, with a much changes of shape and contours and championships titles
the races against them,” Sirena said. Co-helm/tactician less pronounced skeg than the British featuring a pronounced skeg running
“We know we can sail on a higher level. Three-times boat and a hull shape that has proved down the centreline of the bottom of the Giles Scott, 33
We need to perform to the max if you Olympian very effective, especially in light airs boat to aid take-off and flight Tactician
want to win and especially if you want One Olympic
to beat these guys,” he added. “They are Prada Cup format beat the Italians and buoyed by the or eight on the Italian boat. This frees gold medal
top-level sailors and have a good boat, momentum shift since Christmas. up Scott to concentrate on his tactical Six world
so we need to sail well.” Best of 13-race series, with the Ainslie and his design group have taken role and Ainslie on helming. On Luna championship titles
winner facing Team New Zealand in full advantage of the 20-day gap Rossa, by contrast, the helming duties
Asked how this clash compared to the America’s Cup between the round robin and the final are shared between Spithill and Bruni, Expert opinions
the great battles of a sailing life in which to improve Britannia, while their who are part-time drivers and
he has won the America’s Cup with Tomorrow Races 1 and 2 opponent had to go through the mis- part-time tacticians who only ever see Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, first man
Oracle Team USA in 2013 and four gold Sunday Races 3 and 4 match of a semi-final against American the racecourse from opposite sides of to sail solo, non-stop around the
medals at the Olympics, Ainslie under- Wednesday Feb 17 Races 5 and 6 Magic, the team from the United States. the Luna Rossa mainsail. world 7-5 to Ineos Team UK
lined his appetite for performing on the Friday Feb 19 Races 7 and 8 If it comes down to similar boat
biggest stage in the sport. Saturday Feb 20 Races 9 and 10 The British boat has always looked While Spithill will be a player in the speed, then I’d back Ben and Giles —
Sunday Feb 21 Races 11 and 12 quick in the breeze. The big question is pre-start, Ainslie is more than a match those two are just so good.
“It’s going be a fantastic fight — that’s Monday Feb 22 Race 13 whether the team funded by Sir Jim for him and the crew communications
why you compete because you want to Ratcliffe, the Ineos billionaire, has in the so-called “speed loop” on Tim Robinson, former 18ft Skiff
be up against the best and you want to TV details All races shown on Sky, cured its sluggishness in light winds. In Britannia are more fluent than on the world champion 7-3 Ineos
challenge yourself in these situations,” with programming expected to Italian boat. In light winds, the Italians Ben is just on a different level to the
the Englishman said. “I expect that we start at 2am UK time Ainslie the British crew have the may be quicker but they could be Italians and that will shine through
are going to have some amazing races. outstanding leader in this fight, outsailed by Ainslie and his team, who in the end.
We showed that in the final race we had he will try to ensure that his a man whose ability to deliver are particularly quick going downwind,
against Luna Rossa [in the round robin]; team take control more under pressure is second to which has always been Ainslie’s forte. Ian Walker, racing director at Royal
we had nine lead changes and it was aggressively than they none. His partnership with Yachting Association 7-3 Ineos
pretty even most of the time.” have previously. Giles Scott in the tactician’s role Grant Dalton, the chief executive of Superior British teamwork and the
has produced near faultless TNZ, who is openly cheering for Ineos interaction between Giles and Ben
The Italian boat has been on the pace The British outfit go sailing especially in lighter, Team UK, has always said: “Show me will tell in Ineos’s favour, as will the
from the outset. The team took full into this clash confi- the weather forecast,” when asked who whole team package.
advantage of their early sight of the dent in the know- shifty conditions. will win. This weekend looks like being
AC75 class rule, which they helped to ledge that they can Possibly the biggest light winds that could favour the Dave Reed, editor Sailing World
create alongside the champions Team Italians — but the winds may pick up magazine 7-6 Ineos
New Zealand (TNZ), and they have Ainslie expects differential between when racing resumes on Wednesday. Ineos to win because of the
been able to follow a developmental “amazing races” the two teams is the development they achieved after
process that has been smooth and superior British crew Prediction Ineos Team Christmas and the developmental
untroubled by major performance defi- layout, with only six UK to win 7-3 potential of the long break they had
ciencies. Luna Rossa have been the best men working the before the final.
performers in light airs, getting up on pedestal grinders,
their foils faster than either of the other
challengers and the team believe they compared with seven
have significantly improved their
medium-air pace as well.

In Spithill the Italians have an ace in
the hole. A tenacious and gritty
competitor known as the “Pitbull”, the
41-year-old Australian, who has won the
America’s Cup twice, is giving the crew
a real edge. Spithill will look to engage
aggressively in the pre-starts and force
the British boat off its foils. Once ahead,

60 1GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Sport Football

Newcastle fear Wilson MB MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES Ogbonna facing month
may miss eight weeks on sidelines with injury
Wilson tore
his hamstring West Ham United fear that
in the win over Angelo Ogbonna could be out for
Southampton more than a month after he
on Saturday suffered an ankle injury in the FA
Cup defeat by Manchester United
Callum Wilson “I’ve said all along on Tuesday (Gary Jacob writes).
could be out for we’re all struggling
up to two with the injuries and The defender injured himself
months after tearing the muscle injuries while blocking a shot from
his hamstring during and the sheer weight Anthony Martial. However, the
Newcastle United’s 3-2 of games and no rest knee injury Andriy Yarmolenko
victory against in between. When you sustained in the same game
Southampton on see somebody go off should only keep him out for a
Saturday (Martin half an hour into a few weeks.
Hardy writes). game there’s only one
thing for that. He’s not Pavard completes the
The forward, who playing at 100 per cent sextuple for Bayern
signed from and he’s fatigued.”
Bournemouth for Bayern Munich won the Club
£20 million last year, is The injury is part of World Cup — their sixth trophy
a key member of Steve a triple blow for in less than nine months — with
Bruce’s team, and has Newcastle and Bruce. a 1-0 victory over Tigres UANL of
scored ten Premier Mexico last night.
League goals this The Switzerland
campaign. defender Fabian Schär Benjamin Pavard scored the
and the Spanish full game’s only goal in the 59th
“Callum has a tear back Javier Manquillo minute, pouncing after Nahuel
to his hamstring and are also facing two Guzmán blocked a Robert
that could be six to months on the Lewandowski header and VAR
eight weeks he will be sidelines with knee ruled the Polish striker onside.
missing for,” Bruce, and ankle ligament
the manager, said. injuries respectively. Bayern are the first team to
match Barcelona’s 2009 sextuple.

Bruce: Vile messages hoping I die of Covid

continued from back The open letter to Twitter and Face- tory messages feeds on itself: the more No action for PSG walkoff The Manchester United players
book, which also owns Instagram, was it is tolerated by Twitter, Facebook and Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe,
number of players have been targeted signed by the chief executives of the FA, Instagram the more it becomes normal, Uefa has given the effective green Anthony Martial and Lauren James are
with racist abuse within the past month, Premier League, EFL, PFA and League accepted behaviour.” light for teams to walk off the pitch among those who have been targeted,
while the referee Mike Dean reported Managers’ Association, as well as the in response to racism after deciding along with West Bromwich Albion’s
death threats against him via social director of the women’s professional The letter urges the platforms to not to take action against Paris Romaine Sawyers and the Chelsea
media to the police. game, Kelly Simmons, the referees’ install mechanisms to block posts Saint-Germain and Istanbul defender Reece James, Lauren’s
chief Mike Riley and Kick It Out’s containing racist or discriminatory Basaksehir for abandoning a match brother.
Bruce disclosed that his family, chairman Sanjay Bhandari. material and make it easier for police to on December 8 after two Romanian
including his son Alex, had received identify who the holder of an account is. officials referred to Basaksehir’s A Facebook spokesman said: “We
“vile messages” wishing him dead from The letter states: “We have had many assistant coach Pierre Webo by the don’t want hate and racism on our plat-
Covid-19. “It’s really horrible stuff,” he meetings with your executives over the Instagram said on Wednesday that it colour of his skin. Disciplinary forms and remove it when we find it.
said. “Things like someone saying they years but the reality is your platforms would start to disable accounts that proceedings have been opened The new measures we announced
hope I die of Covid and all of this. It’s remain havens for abuse. sent racism on direct messages but that against the two officials, but for yesterday, which include tougher
absolutely vile and obscene, it has to be only an unspecified number of general misconduct, not racism. action when we become aware of
stopped. These big companies should “Your inaction has created the belief repeated abusive messages would lead people breaking our rules in DMs
start policing it better than they are in the minds of the anonymous perpe- to a ban. Its policy is only to impose [direct messages], further build on the
doing, that’s for sure.” trators that they are beyond reach. The immediate bans for those promoting work we do to tackle this.”
relentless flow of racist and discrimina- terrorism or child exploitation.

Chelmsford 6.15 Handicap (3-Y-O: £3,105: 1m 2f) (7) 7.45 Fillies’ Handicap (£5,531: 1m) (6) Southwell 2.15 Handicap (£3,429: 6f) (6)

Rob Wright 1 (1) 041-1 LADYWOOD 38 (CD) M Johnston 9-4 J Fanning 1 (4) 500-0 AL RASMAH 20 R Fahey 4-9-7 T Hamilton Rob Wright 1 (3) 430-3 TOO SHY SHY 34 R Spencer 4-9-5 H Doyle
2 (1) 3-214 VIVENCY 6 (BF) L Carter 4-9-3 H Russell (5)
2 (5) 0-331 BABY SHAM 18 (P,C) S C Williams 9-2 M Ghiani (3) 3 (5) 5560- BLAUSEE 149 P McBride 4-8-13 2 (5) 31-15 REQUINTO DAWN 23 (P,CD) R Fahey 6-9-5 B Garritty (5)
C Shepherd
5.15 Under Wraps 7.15 Kentucky Kingdom 3 (7) 26-0 BLUE BERET 13 S Dow 9-1 C Shepherd 12.45 San Juan 2.45 Atomic Jack 3 (6) 6516- GLOBAL HOPE 108 (P,D) G Kelleway 6-9-4 G Bass (5)
5.45 Shenu 7.45 Al Rasmah 1.15 Abrag 3.15 Blackcurrent (nap)
6.15 The Bay Warrior 8.15 Noble Queen 4 (6) 503-4 INFINITE BEAUTY 14 (BF) J Tate 9-0 R Kingscote 4 (6) 0-341 LADY ALAVESA 13 (D) M Herrington 6-8-9 T Eaves 1.45 Dr Jekyll 3.45 Deb’s Delight 4 (2) 11412 NICK VEDDER 10 (V,CD) R Brisland 7-9-4 K Shoemark
6.45 Ritchie Valens 2.15 Vape (nb)
5 (2) 33-33 MAXINE 14 H Dunlop 9-0 L Morris 5 (2) -3111 VELVET VISTA 8 (B,T,C) M Murphy 5-8-9(10ex) Rossa Ryan 5 (1) 31-61 VAPE 18 (CD) A Carroll 4-9-3 C Noble (3)

6 (4) 406-4 SERGEANT MAJOR 13 (BF) R Hannon 8-13 Rossa Ryan 6 (3) 33-06 EPONINA 16 (D) M Appleby 7-8-8 T Ladd (3) 6 (4) 13-31 EXCESSABLE 10 (P,T,CD) T Easterby 8-9-2(4ex )D Fentiman

7 (3) 00-42 THE BAY WARRIOR 14 (P) M Usher 8-9 C Bennett 6-4 Velvet Vista, 2-1 Lady Alavesa, 5-1 Vivency, 10-1 Al Rasmah, 12-1 others. 9-4 Excessable, 3-1 Nick Vedder, 7-2 Vape, 6-1 Requinto Dawn,

Going: standard Racing TV 13-8 Ladywood, 4-1 Baby Sham, 6-1 Sergeant Major, The Bay Warrior, 7-1 others. Wright choice: Al Rasmah had a breathing operation Going: standard to slow Sky Sports Racing 8-1 Too Shy Shy, 10-1 Global Hope.
Draw: 5f-1m, low numbers best before his latest run; drops in class here Danger Vivency Draw: no advantage
Wright choice: The Bay Warrior raced too keenly over
2.45 Handicap (£3,429: 2m 2f) (5)
5.15 Handicap (3-Y-O: £3,752: 6f) (9) farther at Wolverhampton Danger Sergeant Majot 8.15 Classified Stakes (£3,105: 1m) (13) 12.45 Handicap (£2,782: 5f) (5)

6.45 Handicap (£5,531: 1m 2f) (9) 1 (1) /010- ATOMIC JACK J11 G Baker 6-10-3 B Curtis

1 (1) 2-303 BLACK SPARROW 31 P McEntee 9-8 1 (5) 060-0 ACHILL QUEEN 42 M Appleby 4-9-0 T Ladd (3) 1 (1) 30211 COMEATCHOO 9 (D) P McEntee 4-10-0(10ex) 2 (2) 630/2 BE MY SEA 28 (C) A Carroll 10-9-12 D Probert
Grace McEntee (5) C Hutchinson (7)
1 (6) 635-5 RITCHIE VALENS 21 (CD) Tom Clover 5-9-8 2 (2) 26-20 DORS TOYBOY 10 D Ivory 4-9-0 G Downing 3 (5) 653-1 BILL CODY 24 (C) J Camacho 6-9-7 C Rodriguez
Grace McEntee (5)
2 (9) 404-4 DACESA 22 P Evans 9-8 Rossa Ryan 3 (7) 000-0 EMOJIE 13 J Chapple-Hyam 7-9-0 S W Kelly 2 (5) 00-00 MOVEONUP 21 (B,CD) G Kelleway 5-9-7 Doubtful 4 (3) 4000/ NIVEN J23 (P) P Kirby 8-9-4 K Stott
2 (8) 000-6 NONIOS 21 (CD) D M Simcock 9-9-7 H Turner
3 (8) 15-35 DONNY MARLOW 17 (B) A Keatley 9-7 D Costello 4 (11) 05-50 FUWAIRT 20 (P,C,D) H Evans 9-9-0 C Murtagh (3) 3 (2) 0006- ANDRE AMAR 346 (D) R Brisland 5-8-13 K Shoemark 5 (4) 0/60- LUDUAMF J32 M Chapman 7-8-7 D Fentiman
3 (5) 532/0 KING’S PROCTOR 18 M Harris 6-9-7 A Kirby
4 (3) 30-25 WUDASHUDACUDA 13 R Teal 9-5 O Lewis (7) 5 (12) 06-66 NICKY BABY 13 (B,CD) D Ivory 7-9-0 L Morris 4 (3) 000-1 SAN JUAN 23 (T,CD) S L Keightley 4-8-12 10-11 Bill Cody, 3-1 Be My Sea, 10-3 Atomic Jack, 10-1 Niven, 100-1 Luduamf.
4 (3) 1255- PUNTING 150 (D) R Hughes 4-9-6 S W Kelly Josephine Gordon
5 (4) 046-4 POWER ON 37 J Butler 9-5 A Kirby 6 (9) 13-02 NOBLE QUEEN 17 (T,BF,CD) E Walker 5-9-0 E Greatrex
5 (1) 2446- GLOBAL ART 57 (CD) E Dunlop 6-9-5 R Havlin 5 (4) 3-555 MANSFIELD 12 (D) Mrs Stella Barclay 8-8-8 C Hardie
6 (5) 23-05 ONE DAY 7 Mrs L Mongan 9-4 D Muscutt 7 (13) 500-2 PARKNACILLA 37 (P,CD) H Spiller 5-9-0 3.15 Classified Stakes (£2,782: 5f) (9)
6 (7) 030-2 MY TARGET 32 M Wigham 10-9-5 J Fanning Grace McEntee (5) 5-4 Comeatchoo, 6-4 San Juan, 5-1 Mansfield, 12-1 others.

7 (7) 3-54 OUT OF THE EAST 20 R Fahey 9-2 T Hamilton 7 (4) 661-3 KENDERGARTEN KOP 34 (D) D Flood 6-9-2 R Kingscote 8 (6) 6-000 PASSING NOD 17 (B) H Spiller 4-9-0 D Brock 1 (5) 1-631 BLACKCURRENT 5 (B,CD) A Brown 5-9-5 H Doyle

8 (2) 05-3 UNDER WRAPS 16 J Gosden 9-1 R Havlin 8 (9) 616-1 BAYSTON HILL 34 (P,CD) M Usher 7-8-10 D Muscutt 9 (8) 0040- PRINCESS CARLY 171 J Best 4-9-0 O Lewis (7) 1.15 Maiden Stakes 2 (7) 40303 BLUELLA 5 (B,E,T,CD) M Appleby 6-9-0 B Curtis

9 (6) 5-630 ANGEL MILL 13 P McEntee 8-12 L Morris 9 (2) 0-154 VISIBILITY 17 S Dixon 4-8-7 L Morris 10(10) 0-106 ROCHFORD 14 (P,T,D) H Spiller 4-9-0 H Turner (3-Y-O: £3,429: 1m) (7) 3 (8) 040-0 CATAPULT 37 (P,CD) S L Keightley 6-9-0
Miss Molly Presland (7)
5-2 Under Wraps, 4-1 Out Of The East, 9-2 Power On, 5-1 Black Sparrow, 8-1 7-2 Bayston Hill, 4-1 My Target, 5-1 Ritchie Valens, Kendergarten Kop, 11 (4) 0-350 STOPDWORLDNLETMEOF 6 D Flood 7-9-0 J Haynes
1 (2) 4-42 ABRAG 22 A Balding 9-5 D Probert 4 (3) 4/00- DUE A DIAMOND 165 (V) D Shaw 4-9-0 C Hardie
Dacesa, 10-1 Donny Marlow, 14-1 Wudashudacuda, 20-1 Angel Mill, 25-1 One Day. 6-1 Global Art, 8-1 Punting, 10-1 Visibility, 20-1 King’s Proctor, 25-1 Nonios. 12 (1) /400- SURRAJAH 129 (C) A West 4-9-0 R Havlin
5 (6) 26-04 ESSAKA 5 (D) A Carroll 9-9-0 Sophie Ralston (5)
Rob Wright’s choice: Under Wraps could appreciate this Wright choice: Ritchie Valens did not get the clearest of 13 (3) 000-0 TAVRINA 28 S C Williams 5-9-0 Rossa Ryan 2 (4) 43 CHEEKY AZ 16 R Varian 9-5 J Mitchell
drop to six furlongs Dangers Black Sparrow, Power On runs at Lingfield Dangers Kendergarten Kop, Visibility 6 (4) 0600- NAVAJO DAWN 68 (W,V,CD) R Brisland 4-9-0
15-8 Noble Queen, 7-2 Parknacilla, 8-1 Dors Toyboy, 10-1 Rochford, 12-1 others. 3 (5) ELEVEN ELEVEN I Furtado 9-5 J Hart K Shoemark

Wright choice: Noble Queen, second at Wolverhampton, 4 (7) 60 GOT NO DOLLARS 30 R Hughes 9-5 K Shoemark 7 (1) 0-340 POPPY JAG 12 (B,D) K Frost 6-9-0 C Lee
can take a weak race Dangers Parknacilla, Dors Toyboy
5.45 Novice Stakes 7.15 Handicap (£3,105: 1m 2f) (10) 5 (6) 06-23 JACK OF TRADES 22 (BF) S & E Crisford 9-5 H Doyle 8 (2) 564-0 SECRET IDENTITY 39 (H) M Mullineaux 4-9-0 P Dennis
6 (3) 4 KABUTO 17 M Appleby 9-5 B Curtis
(3-Y-O: £3,429: 1m 2f) (7) 1 (10) 2404- PARADISE ON EARTH 87 Mrs L Mongan 4-9-7 D Muscutt 9 (9) 605-5 TRUE HERO 8 (BF,D) D Brown 5-9-0 K Stott

2 (2) 322-6 BEALACH 15 G L Moore 4-9-6 S W Kelly Blinkered first time: Chelmsford City 5.15 Donny Marlow; 7 (1) 05 TARNEEMAT 14 (B,T) K Burke 9-0 C Lee 9-4 Blackcurrent, 9-2 True Hero, 6-1 Bluella, 7-1 Navajo Dawn, 8-1 others.
8.15 Passing Nod. Southwell 3.15 Bluella; Navajo Dawn.
1 (1) GOONER BOY J Gosden 9-5 Rossa Ryan 3 (7) 10-34 ENGRAVE 23 (P,CD) J Feilden 5-9-4 D E Hogan (3) 13-8 Jack Of Trades, 15-8 Cheeky Az, 10-3 Abrag, 10-1 Kabuto,

2 (5) 54- JUSTICIALISM 52 C Fellowes 9-5 S Donohoe 4 (6) 0220- PROSILI 52 M Botti 4-9-4 S Cherchi (5) 20-1 Tarneemat, 33-1 Got No Dollars, Eleven Eleven. 3.45 Handicap (£2,782: 7f) (7)

3 (2) 60- RUMI 58 R Charlton 9-5 T Greatrex (3) 5 (4) 216-4 KENTUCKY KINGDOM 34 (CD) H Evans 5-9-4 D Costello 1 (7) 0-134 IVA REFLECTION 3 (P,CD) Mrs L Stubbs 4-9-6 H Doyle

4 (6) SEA THE SHELLS M Johnston 9-5 F Norton 6 (3) 3-325 VOI 16 (P,T,D) C Allen 7-9-3 Grace McEntee (5) Course specialists 1.45 Maiden Handicap (£2,782: 1m) (5) 2 (1) 054-6 MONSIEUR PATAT 38 R Brisland 4-9-6 K Shoemark

5 (4) 3 SHENU 15 D M Simcock 9-5 J P Spencer 7 (5) 00-16 MELGATE MAJEURE 19 (BF,D) D Brooke 5-9-3 Chelmsford: Trainers J Gosden, 57 from 234 runners, 1 (3) 4333- BLACK BOX 79 R Brisland 4-9-9 K Shoemark 3 (4) 13-03 EQUIDAE 17 (P,T,CD) I Jardine 6-9-5 A Mullen
JP Sullivan 24.4%; J Tate, 21 from 114, 18.4%. Jockeys A Kirby, 53
6 (3) 5 THE GUVNOR 13 Tom Clover 9-5 R Havlin from 297 rides, 17.8%; J P Spencer, 18 from 103, 17.5%. 2 (2) 6/34- DR JEKYLL 358 D M Simcock 5-9-8 G Bass (5) 4 (3) 55-02 DEB’S DELIGHT 17 (T) R Fahey 4-9-4 B Garritty (5)

7 (7) 4 COUNTESSA 18 H Palmer 9-0 L Morris 8 (8) 000-0 FAIR POWER 34 (CD) J Butler 7-9-3 L Morris Southwell: Trainers T Easterby, 21 from 102, 20.6%; K 5 (2) 02-45 CUSTARD THE DRAGON 17 (P,CD) J Mackie 8-9-3
Burke, 44 from 222, 19.8. Jockeys C Lee, 25 from 115, P J McDonald
13-8 Shenu, 3-1 Gooner Boy, 9-2 Justicialism, 6-1 Sea The Shells, 12-1 Rumi, 9 (9) 416-0 DYAGILEV 7 (B,CD) S Pearce 6-9-1 J Haynes 21.7%; B A Curtis, 58 from 276, 21.0%. 3 (5) 5-520 CALCULUS 7 (B) L Egerton 4-9-6 P Dennis

14-1 The Guvnor, 20-1 Countessa. 10 (1) 500-5 AVORISK ET PERILS 34 (D) G L Moore 6-9-1 T P Queally 4 (1) 45/35 MORLAIX 18 D M Simcock 4-9-5 K Stott 6 (5) 12-65 LUSCIFER 17 (CD) A Carroll 4-9-2 B Curtis

Wright choice: Shenu showed ability on his debut at 9-2 Melgate Majeure, 5-1 Kentucky Kingdom, Voi, 6-1 Avorisk Et Perils, 7-1 others. 5 (4) 5530- ALL OF THE LIGHTS 52 (P,T) R Spencer 4-9-2 H Doyle 7 (6) 22-31 PALAZZO 10 (V,CD) B Smart 5-9-2(5ex) G Lee
Newcastle and should relish this trip Danger Gooner Boy
Wright choice: Kentucky Kingdom was a good fourth in a 13-8 Black Box, 5-2 Dr Jekyll, 11-4 Morlaix, 10-1 All Of The Lights, 15-8 Palazzo, 4-1 Deb’s Delight, 9-2 Iva Reflection, 7-1 Equidae,

better race here last time Dangers Voi, Bealach 12-1 Calculus. Custard The Dragon, 10-1 Luscifer, 12-1 Monsieur Patat.

Yesterday’s racing results

Kempton 1.35 (2m) 1, Chalgrove (R Johnson, 11-4 fav); 2, 4-1); 2, Mega Yeats (11-2); 3, Bellevarde Davies, 7-2); 2, Le Ligerien (22-1); 3, Shut The 4-9 fav); 2, Skulk (2-1); 3, Tarneemat (16-1). Qatar (2-1 fav); 3, Rebel Redemption (12-1).
Presenting Pete (10-3); 3, Toutatis (11-2). 12 Express (28-1). 13 ran. 2Kl, 2Nl. P F Nicholls. 8 ran. NR: Asamosa. 3l, 2Ol. A Watson.
Going: standard / slow ran. Sh hd, ns. P J Hobbs. Box (16-1). 13 ran. Ol, 2Kl. S Thomas. 8 ran. NR: Good Night Mr Tom, Reely Bonnie.
3.40 (2m 2f) 1, Young Lieutenant (G Sheehan, 5.30 (7f 14yd) 1, Tadleel (T Hamilton, 5-1);
12.35 (2m) 1, Galore Desassences (Kieren 2.05 (2m 2f) 1, Floy Joy (Jonjo O’Neill Jr., 25-1); 20-1); 2, Jarveys Plate (7-1); 3, Birchdale Placepot: £88.00. Quadpot: £12.90. 2, Dutch Decoy (9-4 fav); 3, Daafr (7-1). 8 ran. ns, nk. B Smart.
Buckley, 16-1); 2, Earth Company (9-2); 2, Dorking Lad (5-2 fav); 3, Leylak (11-4). 11 ran. (11-2). 12 ran. NR: Top Notch. 2l, Ol. Ol, 1l. R A Fahey.
3, Lavorante (12-1). 11 ran. 1l, 3l. N J Hawke. NR: Kemble’s Cascade. Hd, 1Ol. C L Tizzard. W Greatrex. Newcastle 7.00 (6f) 1, Billy Wedge (Jason Hart, 13-2); 2,
6.00 (5f) 1, Kind Review (T Eaves, 2-1 fav);
1.05 (2m) 1, Sheila Nsh (Alan Doyle, 9-1); 2.40 (2m 2f) 1, Royal Pretender (Thomas 4.15 (2m) 1, Golden Taipan (P J Brennan, 16-1); Going: standard / slow 2, North Wind (9-2); 3, Be Proud (9-4). 5 ran. Kilconquhar (12-1); 3, Gigi’s Beach (9-2). 10 ran.
2, Ballybough Mary (9-4 fav); 3, Kimmins (7-2). Bellamy, 11-2); 2, Quiana (14-1); 3, Iron Heart 2, Millers Bank (5-1); 3, Belargus (11-1). 14 ran. NR: Another Angel, Tathmeen. Ol, hd.
11 ran. NR: Pop The Champagne. Nk, 1N.l (9-2). 12 ran. Nk, Kl. A King. Kl, 2Nl. F O’Brien. 4.30 (1m 4f 98yd) 1, Madeeh (Billy Garritty, Miss Tracy Waggott. NR: Shamarouski. Hd, 3Nl. Miss Tracy Waggott.
H Whittington. 3.10 (2m) 1, Tomorrow Mystery (H Cobden, 5-2); 2, Alborkan (7-2); 3, Systemic (6-5 fav).
4.45 (2m) 1, Before Midnight (Sam Twiston- 4 ran. NR: Arctic Fox. Kl, 2Nl. P A Kirby. 6.30 (6f) 1, Fendale (G Lee, 7-2); 2, Pearl Of 7.30 (7f 14yd) 1, Mudawwan (Gianluca Sanna,
5.00 (1m 5yd) 1, Sherbet Lemon (Hollie Doyle,
14-1); 2, Dramatista(11-4); 3, Bobby Joe Leg (5-4

fav). 6 ran. NR: Broctune Red. Sh hd, 8l. E Bethell.

Placepot: £36.40 Quadpot: £9.40.

the times | Friday February 12 2021 2GM 61

Matt Dickinson Sport

Chief Sports Writer

European reforms MATTHEW ASHTON/AMA/GETTY IMAGES
just a power grab
– but do we care?

Do we accept the growing might of the best for wider English football. England stands That Bale even
European superclubs or try to resist to benefit more than any nation from this new entertained a
their insatiable grasping of power route for two clubs into football’s most move to China
and wealth by whatever limited prestigious, and increasingly lucrative, said a lot about
means available? competition, which yielded Bayern Munich an his motivation
This is not just a practical question but, long- estimated €130 million (about £114 million) for
term, potentially an existential one raised by winning it last year. Bale’s China bid was a warning sign
Champions League reforms that are not some
procedural tweak but a fundamental alteration Taking in the five-year club ranking of I t was not that fan’s banner could have been playing in the Mourinho can bring
to what we value in our much-loved game. European performance, the Premier League has (“Wales, Golf, Madrid — Chinese Super League. Bale’s unnecessary bickering to any
six teams — City, Manchester United, Liverpool, In That Order”) and representatives may say that club but on this occasion I
The news that Uefa is set to award two Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea — in the continent’s Gareth Bale merrily laughing they were dutifully looking may just cut him some slack
Champions League places on historic success top 16. Only Spain gets close with four. There is along with it that should have after their client in negotiating given how frequently he is
rather than finishing league position is, I would a strong chance of England grabbing the alarmed any future employer. a deal worth even more than asked why he is not picking a
suggest, worth your consideration. To put it in maximum allocation of six sides in the expanded It was the fact that he was his weekly £600,000 in Spain player who was brought in by
real terms, Tottenham Hotspur would have been Champions League — 36 clubs rather than 32 even considering a move to but they might as well have Levy, swallowing about
elevated into this season’s Champions League and 225 matches rather than the present 125 via China. announced that his next £1 million per month in salary
from sixth place in the Premier League. the new “Swiss” system from 2024 — provided target was to get his golf that could have gone to
Leicester City would have stayed in the Europa that the established “big six” finish in the Jiangsu Suning is not where handicap down to scratch. recruiting another defender.
League despite finishing fifth. Premier League’s top seven to enable themselves you go to resurrect your
to be bumped up from the Europa League if career as one of Europe’s For Daniel Levy, the Neither Bale’s physical
This goes under the dry guise of “Uefa club necessary. They normally manage seventh, even most celebrated footballers. Tottenham Hotspur prowess nor his mental
coefficients” but strikes me as revolutionary in indifferent seasons. The likes of Leicester are China is not where you prove chairman, ignoring those application is said to amount
given the break from the age-old simplicity of fighting the justification that no one has lost a anyone wrong about your signs for what now seems to much in training, to the
points and finishing positions. In a sporting Champions League place by this expansion — priorities but demonstrably uncharacteristic extent that Mourinho has
world in which every single alteration seems just that others can benefit. show that they were right to sentimentality looks like decided that he has no duty to
designed to favour the wealthy elite (largely believe you are a fading force proving to be a £10 million protect the player’s reputation
because it was designed and driven through by They are being asked to accept that a five- looking for one last payday error. The way José with his own under scrutiny.
them), this is not just going with that flow but year coefficient, rather than ten years, which is and not to put too much Mourinho cast doubt on
hurtling down the road irreversibly. how some Champions League revenues are strain on the hamstrings. Bale’s attitude in midweek, We are left asking what is
distributed to the advantage (inevitably) of the you have to suspect we will left for Bale, 31, aside from
Where does it end? Not with competition wealthy elite, offers some hope that the “big six” It told you everything about see even less of him over the another few months of
growing any easier or fairer for the aspirational is impermanent — though, of course, the Bale’s career trajectory that, rest of Spurs’ season than in keeping fit for Wales at the
middle classes — and if we are going to judge proposed change has every chance of making had Real Madrid not shifted the first five months of a European Championship?
the grand sweep of football history, Aston Villa the “big six” even more secure. the goalposts in the summer depressingly anonymous loan. Even his value in yuan must
have more claim to being “big six” than Chelsea of 2019 by asking for a fee, he have fallen.
or Manchester City. Perhaps you have limited sympathy for any
team finishing fifth. Maybe you want the biggest
How long before the next demand from the European clubs facing off more regularly. But if
wealthiest and most powerful? Why not a this move sails through Uefa, it is not just
nation such as Italy being bumped into the acknowledging that we are locked in the age of
World Cup finals, even though they failed the superclub but also embracing it in a firm
dismally in qualification for Russia 2018, on the clinch. Such a move serves an obvious purpose
basis that the four-times champions had not in providing a safety net for the richest and
missed a tournament since 1958? most renowned clubs, increasing the broadcast
value of the Champions League as a whole and
We probably do not need to canvas the views averting the most recent threats of a European
of fans of Leicester, Everton, Wolverhampton Super League (until the next time) but it also
Wanderers or perhaps West Ham United who, calls to mind that quote from an unnamed “big
on present positions, would be the most likely to six” executive to The Independent: “We don’t
end up feeling denied by a system that rewards want too many Leicester Citys.”
clubs based on five-year records in Europe.
Where will it end? And given that you are
The potential complication for those teams being offered many more big Champions
arguing against this significant change — which League nights, potentially involving more
several senior football figures have described as English clubs, will you care?
highly likely to be approved this spring — is that
the “big six” will challenge them over what is

Liverpool’s Anfield leg may move abroad ‘I need more games for Spurs’

Paul Joyce leg, scheduled for March 10, amid Borussia Mönchengladbach has Gary Jacob by Everton on Wednesday, according to
concerns about new strains of the coro- already been switched from Germany José Mourinho, the head coach.
Northern Football Correspondent navirus. That means the Bundesliga to Budapest, on February 24. The Gareth Bale believes that he needs a
side will be unable to travel so, as it return leg at the Etihad Stadium is run of matches at Tottenham Hotspur Bale, 31, who arrived in London with
Liverpool face more Champions stands, both legs may be played at slated for March 16. to prove his worth. a knee injury and has not yet completed
League disruption with the Anfield leg neutral arenas. 90 minutes in the league this season,
of their last-16 tie with RB Leipzig at risk Chelsea’s last-16 first leg against The Wales forward retains an appe- has hinted in the past that he is espe-
of being switched to a neutral venue. The complications raise doubts Atlético Madrid on February 23 has tite to play but hardly featured in the 18 cially keen to avoid injury and build
about whether Uefa can continue with been moved to the Arena Nationala in months before he joined the club on match fitness because he will captain
Tuesday’s first leg has been moved the two-legged format for the remain- the Romanian capital of Bucharest. loan from Real Madrid in September. Wales at Euro 2020 this summer.
from the Red Bull Arena to the Puskas der of the competition. When last
Arena in Budapest, Hungary, after season’s Champions League resumed In the Europa League round of 32, Bale struggled 12 days ago to make an “Leading into the Euros in the sum-
Liverpool were refused entry into after lockdown last August, one-off ties Arsenal’s away first leg with Portuguese impact in only his second league start, mer, that’s where I want to be peaking,”
Germany by the country’s authorities. were played from the quarter-finals side Benfica will be played at the Stadio was an unused substitute in the next Bale said. “The more games I’m playing
onwards in Portugal. Olimpico in Rome, and Manchester two matches and asked to do strength- the better the body is adapting. It takes
Now the German government has United will face Real Sociedad, of ening work rather than travel for a bit of time when you’re a bit older, but
told Leipzig that they will need to quar- Manchester City’s first-leg tie with Spain, in Turin. Tottenham’s FA Cup fifth-round defeat I am excited to get back to full fitness.”
antine on their return from the second

62 2GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Sport FA Cup fifth round 15

Chelsea stars toil Since, and including, the
as Tuchel tinkers year 2000, Chelsea have
his way to victory
reached the FA Cup
quarter-finals 15 times —

more than any
other side

Henry Winter 20 Quarter-final draw images of Danny Wilson’s Premier
1 League team next to a large sign
Chief Football Everton v reading: “It’s like watching Brazil”,
Writer Manchester City which Barnsley fans started singing
when Neil Redfearn scored a famous
Barnsley Bournemouth v goal against Bolton Wanderers at
Southampton Burnden Park in the 1996-97 promo-
Chelsea tion season.
Leicester City v
Abraham 64 Manchester United Barnsley are proud of their history,
and their head coach, Valérien Ismaël,
This was a close-run thing for Chelsea, Chelsea v had promised a “swarm” coming at keeper’s resolve. Cramp began to seep different structure. We got a very nice
who were constantly troubled by Sheffield United Chelsea and they certainly alarmed the into Mowatt’s right leg but he ignored goal but after that the opponents took a
Barnsley’s ferocious desire to continue visiting side. Mowatt, Doncaster-born, any pain and focused on willing his lot of risk and we had trouble coping
in the FA Cup. The Premier League side Ties to be played over the formerly of Leeds United, seemed on a players forward again. Ismaël sent on with the first challenges and the second
were indebted to Thomas Tuchel’s weekend of March 20-21 mission to repel any insurgents on Daryl Dike, who caused Chelsea a few balls. We were lucky today but in the
ability to turn the tide and tie with Yorkshire soil. His cross was flicked on late worries with his direct running. cup it is sometimes like this. I don’t want
significant changes to tactics and As Barnsley complaints floated away by Conor Chaplin, catching Chelsea’s to be too harsh with the guys.”
personnel at the break, and also to their in the freezing night air, James ran to defence out, and Callum Brittain side- “We can clearly play better,” Tuchel
academy. Abraham to celebrate and Gilmour footed straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga. It said. “It was not our best performance. He praised Gilmour and James for
leapt on the pair. It was a snapshot that was a huge let-off for Chelsea. We did some changes at half-time and their contribution to the goal, adding of
The only goal of a game in which deserves to adorn the wall of Chelsea’s played better in the second half in a Abraham: “He scores decisive goals in
Barnsley, and their outstanding cap- academy, to remind everyone of the im- Gilmour did slide the ball in to
tain, Alex Mowatt, deserved extra time, portance of development and pathway. Abraham, who fell under a challenge
at least, came in the 64th minute and from Toby Sibbick. There was contact,
was crafted in the Chelsea academy. Abraham and James are clearly in Abraham screamed for a penalty but
After a meandering move, the attack Tuchel’s plans but Gilmour’s contribu- Martin Atkinson waved play on. The
climaxed with Billy Gilmour taking a tion confirmed why the 19-year-old inconsistency of using VAR in some
touch in midfield, then a look, spotting deserves to be in the new head coach’s FA Cup games, those at Premier
the gap behind Callum Styles, who was thoughts, even if he is fourth in the League grounds but not EFL ones,
frantically urging his team-mates to be- pecking order for the two central mid- needs to be looked at. All ties should be
ware Reece James’s presence out wide. field places behind Jorginho, Mateo played under the same rules.
Kovacic and N’Golo Kanté (with
Gilmour threaded his pass perfectly Mason Mount also able to play there). Tuchel was decisive at the break,
for James, who angled the ball across withdrawing Marcos Alonso and
for Abraham to score with his left foot Chelsea were poor for an hour, failing Andreas Christensen, with James and
from close range. Despite Barnsley to match Barnsley’s work rate. They Antonio Rüdiger coming into a recon-
appeals for offside, Abraham was just seemed almost uninterested, a contrast figured back four. After scoring, Chel-
onside, and such an experienced assist- to the committed Championship hosts. sea seemed to believe they could coast
ant as Sian Massey-Ellis called it right. On the day that Chelsea came to Oak- towards the final whistle, totally forget-
well there was Meatloaf on the speak- ting the character of Ismaël’s side. The
Abraham knows these sort of games, ers, groundstaff working hard on the substitute Michael Sollbauer almost
these sort of grounds, and was one of divots, and advertisements fringing the scored but Abraham did brilliantly to
the few Chelsea players, along with pitch for the Calypso Cove Water Park clear off the line with a header.
Gilmour, who appeared up for the at Barnsley Metrodome and BAPP
challenge. The striker had played here industrial supplies down the road. “I grew up being a defender and it was
before, scoring for Bristol City as a 19- an instinctive reaction,” Abraham said.
year-old on loan from Chelsea in 2016. The old Ponty End was full of Barn- “I saw the ball coming and I knew I had
“Coming here is never easy,” Abraham sley fans’ flags and the walls of the corri- to try to do something. And it worked.”
told the BBC afterwards. “I’ve experi- dors in the East Stand were festooned
enced it myself in the Championship.” with pictures. Pride of place went to Mowatt refused to let this tie go,
driving his team on, dropping balls
down on Arrizabalaga, testing the goal-

the times | Friday February 12 2021 2GM 63

LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/GETTY IMAGES; RUSSELL HART/FOCUS IMAGES; LEE SMITH/REUTERS Sport

Cup brings relief for Southampton

Wolves 0 convinced about what they are doing. Silva and Romain Saïss sent efforts
In the end we deserved to win. It’s not wide. But in between, Ings tested Ruddy
Southampton 2 easy to create chances against them, with a shot on the turn, then the Wolves
but we had the better ones. This time we goalkeeper excelled himself with a
Ings 49, Armstrong 90 had luck with the VAR for the first time superb block to deny Nathan Redmond
in a long time.” after Armstrong had put him in the
Tim Nash clear.
But if Hasenhüttl was relieved at the
Southampton eased into the quarter- welcome shutout, then he was equally The first time Wolves tested Fraser
finals of the FA Cup but after their happy with his team’s attacking play. Forster, the Southampton goalkeeper,
recent struggles with conceding goals was in the 79th minute, when Adama
their manager Ralph Hasenhüttl was Wolverhampton Wanderers had a Traoré, the substitute, fired a shot that
perhaps just as relieved to have kept a let-off when Ryan Bertrand missed his was blocked by Forster’s legs.
clean sheet. kick from a loose ball after James Ward-
Prowse’s first corner. Then the England Southampton wrapped it up when
Southampton went into this match midfielder’s shot was parried by John Armstrong picked his spot with a shot
having suffered five defeats in a row in Ruddy and held at the second attempt in off the inside of the post after Ruddy
the Premier League and conceded 18 with Ings ready to pounce. had fluffed a back-pass from Leander
goals. Little wonder then that Hasen- Dendoncker to Nathan Tella, the
hüttl fielded most of the first team only Southampton continued to domi- substitute, who teed up the midfielder.
three days before the teams meet in the nate and Armstrong’s shot was blocked
Premier League at St Mary’s Stadium, by Max Kilman, before Moussa “It was a frustrating night for us,”
while Nuno Espírito Santo, his counter- Djenepo’s effort into the ground flew Nuno said. “We are out of the competi-
part, made six changes. straight at Ruddy. Southampton tion because we didn’t compete so well
threatened again shortly before half- and we conceded easy goals.
The away side were rewarded as time when Ings poked wide from Ryan
goals from Danny Ings in the 49th Bertrand’s cross. “It’s a big concern among others
minute and Stuart Armstrong in the we have. We didn’t create enough and
90th set up a tie away to neighbours The visitors’ dominance continued we will keep on trying and looking
Bournemouth. after the break. Armstrong slid the ball to improve.”
wide from an unmarked position six
“We are still in the cup which is yards out from another Bertrand cross. Wolves (3-5-1-1): J Ruddy 5 — L Dendoncker 5,
fantastic,” Hasenhüttl said. “We said R Saïss 6, M Kilman 7 — K-J Hoever 6, R Neves 6,
when we were more comfortable in the The goal Southampton deserved V Ferreira 5 (P Neto 69, 7), J Moutinho 5, J Castro
league we can focus on the cup. We finally came when Bertrand played Otto 6 (R Ait-Nouri 46, 6) — M Gibbs-White 6
want to go for the FA Cup and this is for Ings through and his shot went in off (A Traoré 63, 6) — F Silva 6 (W José 63, 6).
everyone a chance to win something. himself after cannoning back off Booked: Gibbs-White, Traoré.
Ruddy. Ings was initially flagged offside Southampton (4-2-2-2): F Forster 7 — K Walker-
“We haven’t had an easy time in the but VAR ruled that Kilman had played Peters 7, J Bednarek 7, M Salisu 7, R Bertrand 8 —
past few weeks and it was important to him on. O Romeu 6, J Ward-Prowse 7 — S Armstrong 8,
win and the players have been M Djenepo (N Tella 87, 6) — D Ings 7 (C Adams 82,
The goal sparked an improvement 6), N Redmond 8. Booked Walker-Peters, Romeu.
from Wolves in front of goal and Fábio Referee J Moss.

Abraham was a Results
hero at both ends
for Chelsea, Football Bangladesh XI T Iqbal, S Sarkar, A L Phehlukwayo c Ali b Rauf 14 (8) bt H Watson (GB) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2; S Rogers
turning home the N H Shanto, *M Haque, M Rahim, (US) bt O Danilovic (Serbia) 6-2 6-3; (18)
winner, above, FA Cup fifth round M M Ali, †L K Das, M H Miraz, D Pretorius not out 15 (6) E Mertens (Bel) bt Lin Zhu (China) 7-6(8)
while also Wolves 0 Southampton 2; Barnsley 0 M N Hasan, T Islam, A J Chowdhury. 6-1; (6) K Pliskova (Cz) bt D Collins (US)
clearing a Chelsea 1. Umpires R K Illingworth and S I S Saikat B C Fortuin not out 17 (9) 7-5 6-2; K Kanepi (Est) bt (4) S Kenin (US)
Barnsley effort Fifa Club World Cup final 6-3 6-2; (28) D Vekic (Cro) bt N
off the line, right. B Munich (0) 1 Tigres (0) 0 Extras (w 2) 2 Podoroska (Arg) 6-2 6-2; (22) J Brady
Arrizabalaga, left, (US) bt M Brengle (US) 6-1 6-2; K Juvan
also caught the Pavard 59 Total (6 wkts, 20 overs) 166 (Slovenia) bt M Sherif (Egypt) 3-6 7-6(2)
eye as Chelsea C J Dala, L Sipamla and T Shamsi did not 6-3; J Pegula (US) bt S Stosur (Aus) 6-0
kept a fourth Lahore Pakistan v South Africa, first 6-1; (26) Y Putintseva (Kaz) bt A van
clean sheet from bat. Uytvanck (Bel) 6-4 1-6 6-2; (5) E Svitolina
five games since T20I (Ukr) bt C Gauff (US) 6-4, 6-3.
Tuchel took over Fall of wickets 1-53, 2-61, 3-83, 4-115,
Gaddafi Stadium (South Africa won Fixtures
cup games and this was very decisive. 5-134, 6-139.
The stop on the line was crucial for us.” toss): Pakistan beat South Africa by Football
Bowling Nawaz 4-0-21-0; Rauf
Chelsea’s reward is a home quarter- three runs Sky Bet Championship
final against Sheffield United, whom 4-0-44-2; Afridi 4-0-37-0; Qadir Blackburn v Preston (7.45).
they beat 2-1 at Bramall Lane last week- Cricket Pakistan (balls) Scottish Championship
end. “Last Sunday I said it felt like a cup 4-0-21-2; Shah 1-0-6-0; Ashraf 3-0-37-1. Queen of South v Hearts (7.45).
game,” Tuchel said. “I was very happy †M Rizwan not out 104 (64) Women’s Super League
that we adapted the way we did and Dhaka Bangladesh v West Indies, Tennis Man City v Man Utd (7.0).
took away a deserved win. We will *M B Azam run out 0 (1)
prepare for an intense game.” second Test Rugby union
H Ali c Snyman b Phehlukwayo 21 (16)
Gallagher Premiership
Shere Bangla National Stadium (first day M H Talat st Klaasen b Shamsi 15 (11) Melbourne Australian Open, second Gloucester v Bristol Bears (7.45); Sale
round (selected results): v Bath (8.0).
of five): West Indies have scored 223 I Ahmed c Hendricks b Fortuin 4 (8) Guinness Pro14
Men’s (7) A Rublev (Russ) bt T Monteiro Dragons v Edinburgh (7.35).
runs for five wickets K Shah c Fortuin b Sipamla 12 (12) (Bra) 6-4 6-4 7-6(8); F Lopez (Sp) bt (31)
L Sonego (It) 5-7 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4; (24)
West Indies: First Innings F Ashraf c Miller b Phehlukwayo 4 (5) C Ruud (Nor) bt T Paul (US) 3-6 6-2 6-4
7-5; (4) D Medvedev (Russ) bt Roberto
*K Brathwaite c Shanto b Sarkar 47 M Nawaz not out 3 (3) Carballes Baena (Sp) 6-2 7-5 6-1; (5)
S Tsitsipas (Gre) bt T Kokkinakis (Aus)
Barnsley (3-4-3): B Collins 6 — T Sibbick 7 J D Campbell lbw b Islam 36 Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 2) 6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1 6-7(5) 6-4; (19) K
(M Sollbauer 76min), M Helik 7, M Andersen 7 — Khachanov (Russ) bt R Berankis
C Brittain 7 (J Williams 73), H Kane 7 S A R Moseley b Chowdhury 7 Total (6 wkts, 20 overs) 169 (Lithuania) 6-2 6-4 6-4; (9) M Berrettini
(R Palmer 73), A Mowatt 8, C Styles 7 — U Qadir, S S Afridi and H Rauf did not bat. (It) bt T Machac (Cz) 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-3; (16)
V Adeboyejo 6 (D Dike 59, 6), C Woodrow 7, N E Bonner not out 74 F Fognini (It) bt S Caruso (It) 4-6 6-2 2-6
C Chaplin 6 (D Frieser 59, 6). Fall of wickets 1-1, 2-37, 3-69, 4-99, 6-3 7-6(12); (21) A De Minaur (Aus) bt P
K R Mayers c Sarkar b Chowdhur 5 Cuevas (Uru) 6-3 6-3 7-5; C Norrie (GB) bt
Chelsea (3-4-3): K Arrizabalaga 7 — M Alonso 5 5-134, 6-143. R Safiullin (Russ) 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6(3;) (2) R
(R James 46, 7), A Christensen 5 (A Rüdiger 46, 6) J Blackwood c and b Islam 28 Nadal (Sp) bt M Mmoh (US) 6-1 6-4 6-2.
K Zouma 6 — C Hudson-Odoi 7, N Kanté 5, Bowling Fortuin 3-0-25-1; Pretorius
B Gilmour 7, Emerson 5 — H Ziyech 4 (F Anjorin †J Da Silva not out 22 Women’s (1) A Barty (Aus) bt D Gavrilova
69, 6), T Abraham 8, C Pulisic 4 (M Kovacic 80). 2-0-13-0; Phehlukwayo 4-0-33-2; (Aus) 6-1 7-6(7); (21) A Kontaveit (Est)
Extras (lb 2nb 2) 4
Referee M Atkinson. Sipamla 4-0-37-1; Snyman 1-0-12-0;
Total (5 wkts, 90 overs) 223
Dala 2-0-25-0; Shamsi 4-0-20-1.
R R S Cornwall, A S Joseph, J A Warrican,
South Africa (balls)
and S T Gabriel to bat.
J N Malan b Qadir 44 (29)
Fall of wickets 1-66, 2-87, 3-104, 4-116, R R Hendricks run out 54 (42)

5-178. G J Snyman b Qadir 2 (6)
D A Miller c Rizwan b Ashraf 6 (10)
Bowling Chowdhury 18-5-46-2; Miraz *†H Klaasen c Talat b Rauf 12 (10)

22-5-39-0; Hasan 12-1-42-0; Islam

30-5-64-2; Sarkar 8-1-30-1.

64 2GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Sport Australian Open LOREN ELLIOTT/REUTERS; MARK METCALFE; CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES

Norrie: I will Rafa has
pick Murray’s abusive fan
kicked out

brain on how

to beat Nadal An abusive spectator, above left, called Nadal an “OCD f***” and raised her middle finger at the Spaniard, who
responded with a smile, above right, before helping the Melbourne Park security staff to eject the offender, below

Stuart Fraser His reward is a first meeting with Rafael
Nadal, in the Rod Laver Arena tomor-
Tennis row.
Correspondent
“It’s going to be an unbelievable
Cameron Norrie (GB) 3 7 6 77 experience,” Norrie said. “He’s such a
Roman Safiullin (Russ) 6 5 3 63 legend of the game, but on Saturday he
is just another player. He’s a human
During a concerning 13-month period being. I just have to go out there and Last surviving British singles player at grand-slams in past four years was merely able to step on to the court
of underperformance by British players give it to him and see what happens. I in Melbourne after two weeks of hard
at grand-slams, Cameron Norrie has will try to enjoy it as much as I can and 2017 French Open 2018 Wimbledon 2019 US Open quarantine during the build-up. She has
emerged as a rare shining light. The 25- show him what I have got.” Andy Murray (SF) Kyle Edmund (R3) Johanna Konta (QF) suffered physical issues, including back
year-old’s second-round victory at the and pelvis spasms during a doubles
Australian Open yesterday took him This will also be Norrie’s first experi- 2017 Wimbledon 2018 US Open 2020 Australian Open match on Wednesday, and had to take
through to the last 32 for the second ence of facing a member of the fabled Johanna Konta (SF) Cameron Norrie (R2) Harriet Dart (R2) painkillers before returning to the
time in the past three major tourna- “big three” of Nadal, Roger Federer and court for her singles yesterday.
ments. Novak Djokovic in an official tour 2017 US Open 2019 Australian Open 2020 US Open
match — he lost to Federer at the Hop- Kyle Edmund (R3) Johanna Konta (R2) Cameron Norrie (R3) “When I came I didn’t expect the
There will have been great relief at man Cup, an exhibition event, in 2019. quarantine,” Watson, 28, said. “I don’t
the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in While he is accompanied in Melbourne 2018 Australian Open 2019 French Open 2020 French Open know what I would have done if I had
Roehampton, southwest London, that by his Argentine coach Facundo Lugo- Kyle Edmund (SF) Johanna Konta (SF) Heather Watson (R1) known that I had to do a two-week
at least one of the six British singles nes, a message will be sent to Murray — quarantine. It might have been differ-
players in Melbourne progressed who has played Nadal 24 times — wise- 2018 French Open 2019 Wimbledon 2021 Australian Open ent mentally. But with that being said, I
farther than the second round. But this ly requesting some tactical advice. Kyle Edmund (R3) Johanna Konta (QF) Cameron Norrie (R3) have got through a round here in Aus-
is certainly no cause to get the bunting tralia. I am pleased with how I handled
out as this cash-rich, grand-slam host- “That would definitely be a good going to be the toughest test yet, with- “Maybe she took too much gin or everything from being in the quaran-
ing nation — mainly funded by the thing to do,” Norrie said. “I have out a doubt. I need to be playing at a tequila,” Nadal said. “Honestly it was a tine and after. I am just proud of myself
£40 million-plus annual profits of watched Rafa so much over the years. high level if I want to keep having strange situation, but funny at the same for how I have handled it all.”
Wimbledon — is not punching its I’m going to leave that up to my coach chances to be through.” time. I was surprised, yes, but at the
weight on the court. The consistency of and he’ll get a good plan together. I will same time I was thinking, ‘Poor girl,’ These were tough circumstances for
Andy Murray on the sport’s biggest maybe message Andy and see what his The only trouble Nadal faced during because probably she was drunk or Watson, but this is the 33rd time in 37
stages is sorely missed. thoughts are. We obviously play pretty yesterday’s night session was abuse something like this.” grand-slam appearances that she has
different, me being a left-hander, but he from an intoxicated female spectator. lost in the first two rounds, and never
To the credit of Norrie, he has definitely got some good tips.” “Hurry up, you OCD f***,” she shouted The only other British player to reach has she gone farther than the third
has shown Murray- during Nadal’s pre-serve rituals, before the second round, Heather Watson, round. She will know she has more
esque fight in recent Nadal claims his much-discussed television cameras caught her giving bowed out with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2 talent than this record suggests, and it
times. The world sore back is “not under control” but he him the middle finger. He smiled, while defeat by Anett Kontaveit, the world would be a great disappointment if she
No 69 reached the has still been far too strong a player for security guards escorted her out of the No 22 from Estonia. Still, she could not never experienced the second week of a
third round of a major arena to applause from the crowd. help feeling some satisfaction that she major singles tournament.
for the first time at the the lower-ranked opponents in his
US Open in September opening two matches. The 20-
and has done so again in times grand-slam champion,
Melbourne, defeating 34, cruised through again with
Roman Safiullin, a 23- a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory against
year-old Russian quali- Michael Mmoh, the world
fier ranked No 183, 3-6, No 177 from the United States,
7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in but expects more of a chal-
tricky conditions after lenge from Norrie.
the match had been paused “He has won two good
midway through because of matches,” Nadal,
rain and moved indoors. whose sole Austra-
lian Open title
Norrie is the only Briton came in 2009,
said. “Winning
left in the singles events against [Dan]
Evans [in the first
round] — I know
how good Evans
is. Norrie is a good
player and has
experience on the
tour already. It is

Jockey banned for betting Helpline for gymnasts Alonso hit by car while cycling
suffering abuse to close

Racing showed a loss of £591 on £1,205 worth of Gymanstics The NSPCC helpline Motor racing morning, at which time another update
bets. He is unable to reapply for his established to deal with claims of would be given. According to a report in
Rob Wright Racing Editor jockey’s licence for nine months but will abuse in gymnastics will close at the Rebecca Clancy Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport,
still be able to work in a stable. Tissier end of this month, having referred Alonso was on a training ride near
A jockey has been banned for nine was shown some leniency as the British more than 100 cases to external The double Formula One world cham- Lugano, where he lives, and is said to
months after confessing to placing 15 Horseracing Authority accepted that agencies (Rebecca Myers writes). The pion Fernando Alonso is in hospital have suffered possible fractures, includ-
bets in a betting shop in Newmarket in the bets placed did not raise a funda- dedicated phone line has received after being hit by a car while cycling ing a broken jaw. If correct, that would
November 2019. mental issue of integrity. more than 200 calls in the past seven near his home in Switzerland. leave his return to the grid in doubt.
months and passed evidence to the
French-born Maxime Tissier Rory Mac Neice, who was represent- Whyte Review, an independent The 39-year-old Spaniard, who is It comes only a month before three
claimed that he mistakenly thought ing Tissier, had argued that the jockey’s review commissioned by UK Sport returning to Formula One this season days of pre-season testing is due to
that he was allowed to bet on races in poor grasp of English was a contribut- and Sport England. Louise Exton, after a two-year break, is “conscious begin in Bahrain. The first race of the
which he was not riding. ing factor. head of NSPCC’s helpline services, and well within himself”, according to a season follows only two weeks later,
stressed that the closure did not mean statement from Alpine F1 last night. also in the kingdom.
He certainly did not try to hide his His bets came to light when a betting the end of support for gymnasts.
identity, placing the bets while still in shop employee recognised Tissier in Alpine, previously known as Renault, Alonso won his two world titles with
his riding gear in a William Hill shop on the Racing Post. added that Alonso was “awaiting Renault in 2005 and 2006.
Newmarket High Street. His bets further medical examinations” this

the times | Friday February 12 2021 1GM 65

Bitter blow for Macleod as Six Nations Sport
Wales ravaged by injury
BEN EVANS/HUW EVANS/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

Steve James have them celebrate and give him a pat to Cardiff in 2016 and qualifies on
on the back, then go out training half an residency and has been preferred here
to the veteran Jamie Roberts, who is
Unlucky does not come close to hour later and be stretchered off is not desperate to add to his 94 Wales caps.

explaining how Josh Macleod must feel great for him, not great for any of us,” “We go through loads of stats, we
look at a lot of footage . . . Willis is at the
right now. The 24-year-old Scarlets Pivac said. “We are really sad and top of the tree,” Pivac said.

flanker must think that he is simply disappointed for Josh because a debut “Jamie has a power game but Willis is
by far the best in the collision area
fated never to appear for Wales. against Scotland would have been because of his footwork. He beats
defenders and gets over the gainline.
He was selected last year by Wales for something he had dreamt of.” That’s what we are looking to utilise.”

the Autumn Nations Cup but then Indeed it sums up Wales’s injury-

injured a hamstring playing for his ravaged plight. As well as Lydiate and

region just before the players went to Navidi they have also lost the scrum

camp. He recovered, though, and given half Tomos Williams (hamstring), Williams, returning after a red-card ban, replaces the concussed Amos on the wing

how well players such as Jim Botham centres Johnny Williams (concussion)

and Shane Lewis-Hughes had done in and George North (foot), and wing

the autumn, he was actually a rather Hallam Amos (concussion) from the

surprising choice in this year’s squad that beat Ireland 21-16 on

Guinness Six Nations squad. Sunday. The centre Jonathan Davies

But Wayne Pivac, the Wales head (ankle) remains absent, as does the

coach, clearly likes his physicality and wing Josh Adams, having last week

been suspended for a Covid breach.

Wales team A small ray of optimism comes in the
return of the wing Liam Williams after

Wales L Halfpenny (age 32, caps 94); a ban for a red card. “To have a British
L Rees-Zammit (20, 5), O Watkin (24, 26),
N Tompkins (25, 9), L Williams (29, 67); Lion like him to come back in means it
D Biggar (31, 88), G Davies (30, 58); W Jones is not all doom and gloom,” Pivac said of
Williams’s return. But there can be no

(28, 31), K Owens (34, 78), T Francis (28, 53); denying this is a patched-up Wales side
A Beard (25, 22), A W Jones (capt) (35, 144); already battling with the demands of a
A Wainwright (23, 27), J Tipuric (31, 81), six-day turnaround.
T Faletau (30, 82).
Replacements E Dee (26, 33), Rhodri “There has been a lot of time in the

Jones (29, 18), L Brown (24, 13), W Rowlands medical room I can assure you,”
(29, 6), J Botham (22, 3), K Hardy (25, 2), Pivac said. “I think we’ve got
C Sheedy (25, 5), U Halaholo (30, 0). about 21 players unavaila-

presence over the ball Scotland v ble from the first Six
because once it became Wales Nations [match last
year]. It’s a high num-

known that Dan Lydi- BT Murrayfield ber.”

ate, who has an ACL Kick-off: Tomorrow, 4.45pm For North, who had a

knee injury that puts TV: BBC One fine game at outside
him out of the tourna- Radio: BBC 5 Live centre against Ireland,
ment, and Josh Navidi (a there is the added dis-

neck problem) were appointment of missing

unavailable for tomorrow’s out on his 100th Wales cap.

match with Scotland at Murray- Nick Tompkins and Owen Wat-

field, he had no hesitation in handing kin come in as the two centres.

Macleod a Test debut. There is likely to be a first cap for

That was on Wednesday. Macleod Cardiff Blues’ New Zealand-born

was in the team, and understandably centre Willis Halaholo, who is named

cock-a-hoop. Wales then went out to on the bench, alongside Botham and

train and within half an hour, profes- Lloyd Williams, the scrum half.

sional sport had performed one of its Halaholo, 30, was at the Auckland

cruellest turns as Macleod snapped an academy with Pivac and was selected in

achilles tendon. He will be out for about Pivac’s very first Wales squad, for the

six months. Aaron Wainwright will non-cap match against the Barbarians

wear the No 6 jersey tomorrow instead. in 2019, but then suffered a knee injury

“To be named in front of his peers, that put him out for 11 months. He came

Redpath out as Scotland
are forced to ring changes

Alasdair Reid land should be fit again in time for the
team’s clash with France in Paris on
Scottish Rugby Correspondent Sunday, February 28. The nature of
Redpath’s injury made a prognosis diffi-
Scotland’s plans for tomorrow’s clash cult to establish but Townsend suggest-
with Wales at Murrayfield have been ed that he was hopeful the 21-year-old
disrupted by confirmation that three of might be able to play a part in the latter
the players who started in the 11-6 stages of the championship.
victory over England at Twickenham
have been ruled out by injuries. “Blade has been in very good form for
his club and he just missed out on
Cameron Redpath, the Bath centre selection last week,” Townsend said.
who had an outstanding debut against “Darcy would have been in the mix too,
England, has a nerve problem in his but he’s not played as much rugby in the
neck and is replaced by James Lang, of last few weeks.
Harlequins. Jamie Ritchie, the flanker,
has been ruled out by a tight hamstring, “James has gone back and played well
with his place going to Blade Thomson, for Harlequins. All three have trained
of Scarlets. Finally, the achilles problem well, they’re fit and raring to go.”
affecting Saracens wing Sean Maitland
has opened the door for Edinburgh’s Scotland S Hogg (capt) (age 28, caps 81);
Darcy Graham to return. D Graham (23, 15), C Harris (30, 24), J Lang
(25, 5), D Van der Merwe (25, 6); F Russell
While not on the same scale as the (28, 52), A Price (27, 38); R Sutherland (26, 12),
Welsh injury crisis, the disruption G Turner (28, 13), Z Fagerson (25, 35),
caused by the changes could rob Scot- S Cummings (24, 18), J Gray (26, 62),
land of momentum as they seek to open B Thomson (30, 9), H Watson (29, 37),
the championship with back-to-back M Fagerson (22, 10).
wins for the first time in 25 years. Replacements D Cherry (30, 1), O Kebble
(28, 6), W P Nel (34, 41), R Gray (31, 66),
Gregor Townsend, the Scotland head G Graham (28, 3), S Steele (27, 2), J van der Walt
coach, suggested that Ritchie and Mait- (27, 1), H Jones (27, 27).

66 1GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Sport Six Nations

Jones’s faith in his Will trio of
favourites starting playmakers
to look misplaced steady ship?

Low success, attack in decline
and plenty of kicking

George Ford, Owen Farrell and Henry
Slade have started together four
times for England under Eddie Jones.
They have won two of those, kicking
more and breaking less in each
successive game

Owen Slot Watson: Vital No 8. If Jones is prepared to stand by Match Clean Kicks
to take knee players such as Vunipola and Farrell, breaks from hand
Chief Rugby who played so far beneath their often v South Africa
lofty standards against Scotland, then (9 Jun 2018) 13 17
Correspondent why not stand by Lawrence, who played L42-39
neither above nor below the standards
After three starts for England and only he would have wanted because he v South Africa 9 20
ten touches of the ball, a game against didn’t really get to play at all? (16 Jun 2018)
Italy might have been considered the L23-12
opportunity for Ollie Lawrence to play Mark Wilson, the Newcastle Falcons
his way into the international game at Owen Slot flanker, is the other unfortunate, along v Wales 7 40
last. However, Eddie Jones has gone the with Lawrence, to have made a drama- (28 Nov 2020)
other way — as is his wont — and Anthony Watson has started using tic exit from the starting team and out W24-13
elected to drop him. Twitter to tackle opinions that of the match-day squad altogether. The
criticise the England team and, in difference, here, is that Wilson was in v France 4 48
The omission of the young Worces- particular, the players who take a the midst of the forwards battle that (6 Dec 2020)
ter Warriors centre from the team to knee before kick-off. England lost so convincingly to Scot- W22-19
play Italy tomorrow is as brutal and land; Lawrence just didn’t get near the
heartless as England selection can go. “The importance of kneeling to battle at all. Three of the top five most kicks from
Jones may argue that “heart” should raise awareness of social injustice hand in a Test by England under Jones
not come into it, but whatever the is still massively important,” he Omitting Wilson and sticking by have come since the 2019 World
young man’s sensitivities, this is the said. “So to see people on social Vunipola is a further illustration of Cup final
most perverse of decisions because media trying to discredit its Jones’s vaunted opinion of his favourite
Italy is the right game at the right time. importance — I can’t let that slide. No 8. Wilson has had one bad game; Most kicks in a game since 2016
Or, at least, it would have been. It was Vunipola hasn’t been at his best for
the wrong time to reintroduce Law- “If people were educated fully years. Jones played Vunipola through- v France (6 Dec 2020) 48
rence, 21, to the drawing board; it is not on why kneeling started, then they out the World Cup to try to disinter the v France (10 Feb 2019) 47
that he has been left out of the starting would be in a much better place to best in him; 15 months later, that search v Scotland (8 Feb 2020) 47
XV, he isn’t in the 23-man squad at all. comment. Not everyone who is goes on. v Italy (31 Oct 2020) 44
kneeling is directly associated with v Australia (18 Nov 2017) 44
Jones said that “this is all part of the Black Lives Matter This team is, in effect, a vote of faith
learning his trade”. In which case, what organisation. Some of their views, for the trusted lieutenants. The back Five of seven fewest clean breaks made
a strange and painful trade it has in my opinion, are extreme. But three remain untouched, George Ford in a Test by England under Jones have
become. Jones also mentioned that the importance of kneeling is to is back in the starting XV, the two props, been since the World Cup semi-final
“there are areas of his game that he raise awareness of social injustice.” Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler, who against New Zealand
needs to improve”, which seems contra- missed the Scotland game for differing
dictory because England have yet to see How they line up reasons, return to the front line too. Fewest clean breaks in a game
his game. since 2016
ENGLAND ITALY The only exception is Jamie George,
“There are areas in his development E Daly 15 J Trulla the Saracens hooker. After 24 appear- v Scotland (last week) 3
we want him to work on,” Jones said, ances off the bench and only three 0 3
“because we want him to be a 50-cap A Watson 14 L Sperandio starts, Luke Cowan-Dickie has been v Scotland (8 Feb 2020) 3
player and that’s what we’re trying to H Slade 13 J Ignacio Brex picked ahead of George for the first 3
develop with him.” This may sound time. This is a high-level rivalry and, 2
reassuring for the young man until you O Farrell (capt) 12 C Canna arguably, a well-earned boost for v South Africa (2 Nov 2019)
consider that Jones also once talked of J May 11 M Ioane Cowan-Dickie.
Semesa Rokoduguni, the Bath wing, as G Ford 10 P Garbisi 2
a potential 40-capper, gave him one cap There was an argument, for this Italy v Ireland (21 Nov 2020)
and then never went near him again. It B Youngs 9 S Varney game, for the inclusion of other players
nevertheless seems inconceivable that M Vunipola 1 A Lovotti who have been pushing for a starting v Ireland (18 Mar 2017)
Lawrence should befall such a fate. L Cowan-Dickie 2 L Bigi (capt) spot. Bristol duo Ben Earl and Max
Malins have both been accumulating v Scotland (6 Feb 2016)
So there we were, yesterday morning, K Sinckler 3 M Riccioni appearances off the bench and the
awaiting the 11 o’clock team announce- M Itoje 4 M Lazzaroni comparably straightforward challenge v Ireland (23 Feb 2020)
ment and wondering if Jones’s response J Hill 5 D Sisi posed by Italy would have been an
to the Scotland defeat would be to back opportune moment to start them.
the team or to change it. To a large C Lawes 6 S Negri
extent, he chose to back it. T Curry 7 J Meyer Jones has resisted this temptation.
B Vunipola 8 M Lamaro He has decided, not unreasonably, that
A number of players who underper- he now needs to use Italy to rebuild
formed were thus given the chance to confidence for the Wales game that Source: Opta
set things straight. Jones’s overall mes- follows and the others thereafter.
sage was: don’t panic, we’ve got this. He Replacements Replacements Again, if that is the intention, then why ‘I made bad decisions but
was very clear that Scotland was a one- J George G Lucchesi not also retain the midfield that played I’m excited to put it right’
off, a blip. That is why his approach was: E Genge D Fischetti against Scotland? The 10-12-13 combi-
we won’t make wholesale changes W Stuart G Zilocchi nation of Ford, Farrell and Henry Slade
because we have the right personnel; C Ewels N Cannone to which he has reverted, has always
these are the right people to play their B Earl F Ruzza struggled for impact.
way out of the hole they got us into. J Willis G Palazzani
D Robson T Allan What is the noise from in the camp?
No 8 Billy Vunipola is the luckiest to M Malins F Mori It is positive — not that you would
receive the reprieve. Owen Farrell may expect otherwise.
be considered fortunate by some and Kick-off 2.15pm, Referee M Adamson Alex Lowe and unable to play with their heads up
officially undroppable by others. (Scot). Assistants R Poite (Fr) & B Blain Anthony Watson talked yesterday of and identify space. Farrell disagreed
“shifting our mindset and trying to Review meetings after a defeat are with that notion. “It was a bad decision,”
This may or may not be encouraging (Scot). TMO J Neville (Ire). TV ITV. exploit space better”. He also avowed never pleasant. For Owen Farrell, the he said. “That ball should have been
to England fans, but Jones doesn’t see his faith in the team’s playmakers to see post-mortem of England’s 11-6 defeat moved. We are massively disappointed,
this as a big turnaround job. “Just get “I’ve coached teams like this before,” the space that they seemed blind to last by Scotland would have been a particu- as am I with my performance.
our thinking right,” is the solution that Jones said. “Things click and it weekend. “I trust Owen, I trust George larly uncomfortable experience.
he has prescribed. “We’ve just tried to happens.” and I trust Ben Youngs with everything “It’s definitely not nice. You go
get the information right, this week, that I have got,” he said. Scotland were superior in every area through a range of thoughts and emo-
which can get us back playing on the The faith that Jones has that things of the game, winning the set-piece tions, from disappointment to being a
front foot, playing front-foot rugby. will click is increasingly extreme. The Have we heard this kind of thing battle and the physical collisions, but bit frustrated to excited about putting it
That’s when we’re at our best, that’s team he has selected speaks of his trust before? Indeed. “We are looking for- when England did have opportunities right. We’ve definitely been through all
when we are one of the most damaging in his players and his belief that they ward to showing it,” Farrell said, “rather to attack they were let down by poor of them this week.”
teams in the world.” Hey presto! can repay him. For those such as Billy than talking about it.” decision-making, inaccurate execution
Vunipola, he is now right out on a limb. or both. Farrell, the England captain, The key for Farrell is that word “excit-
Jones likened his England to Liver- acknowledged he had a poor game and ed”, that England emerged from that
From the sidelines, many England pool: two champion teams who have held up his hand to his mistakes. review process determined to go on the
fans have lost this faith. As Jones said: lost their touch. The comparison is attack against Italy and back them-
“The team have been criticised from being horribly stretched; it is far longer The Times published on Monday a selves with ball in hand.
North to South Pole — and probably in since England were really in the groove. screenshot of the moment Farrell
between.” This is not the first time when ignored a six-on-three overlap and grub- “So far, it feels like there’s an excite-
he has covered his ears, ignored the ber-kicked the ball to Stuart Hogg. It was ment around the place, especially when
noise and insisted: “I am right.” seen as indicative of England’s kick-first we have been out there on the field. We
mentality, of a team attacking by rote have to make sure that carries on and
The volume will be greatest around keep that excitement for the game.”
Lawrence at centre and Vunipola at

the times | Friday February 12 2021 1GM 67

Owen Farrell Sport

Age: 29 To drop Lawrence
Club: Saracens is unfair – Farrell
Position: Inside centre remains the issue

Caps: 89
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight: 14st 6lb

Henry Slade Stuart Barnes added. Here is what is most interest-
ing: “We have to make sure that no
Age: 27 ‘As always we picked what penalties come from that area.”
Club: Exeter Chiefs we think is our strongest
Position: Outside centre 23 to try and win the In summary, when not in posses-
game.” These were the sion, England like to force mistakes.
Caps: 35 initial comments of Eddie When they have control, the prefer-
Height: 6ft 2in Jones on England’s team selected for ence is to force penalties. Townsend’s
Weight: 13st 10lb tomorrow’s game against Italy — a analysis got to the nub of the English
side that conceded half a century at preference for negativity over the
George Ford home to France six days ago; a side creative. There were no English line
that have lost 30 of their past 31 Six breaks last Saturday. The easy option
Age: 27 Nations fixtures. is to say that the new attack coach,
Club: Leicester Tigers Simon Amor, isn’t up to it. The truth,
“We just had one of those days,” however, is that line breaks will be
Position: Fly half Jones said immediately after the Scot- limited when the creative aspect is
Caps: 73 land loss. “Just” one of those days. held in such contempt.
Well, it was rotten enough to result in
Height: 5ft 10in Ollie Lawrence being dumped from It doesn’t much matter whether the
Weight: 13st 3lb the match-day 23. It is as illogical — out-of-form Farrell or George Ford
as craven — a selection as the Austra- wears the No 10 jersey. Both play to
England vow to be ‘on the money’ lian has made during his six years in instructions. Lawrence has a running
charge of England. game to eclipse the outward-shifting
continued from back “He understands there are areas of get everyone thinking in a positive way Saracen but Jones will not readily
his game that he needs to improve. His and we’ve done that. The young Worcester Warrior drop a captain who speaks for the
Calcutta Cup defeat by making five ability to go away and work on that will touched the ball once in the 66 min- coach on the field. It took a long time
changes to the team to face Italy, with be the test of his resilience. We want “From Monday the energy has been utes he was on the field. He got the and unfortunate injuries before the
George Ford restored at fly half and him to be a 50-cap player and that’s good. We take responsibility for the cold shoulder too on his first Twick- hooker Jamie George ousted Dylan
Owen Farrell moved to inside centre to what we’re trying to develop with him.” performance, no excuses. This week I enham start against Georgia in the Hartley, another coach conduit.
partner Henry Slade. can guarantee we are on the money. autumn. Now he has paid the price
England were unable to gain a foot- for the non-stop array of penalties If an unspoken bias isn’t the reason
A game against Italy, to whom hold against Scotland because they lost “Courtney gets us on the front foot in conceded by the team. These deprived for Lawrence’s demotion and the
England have never lost, was seen by the physical battle and were outplayed defence and attack. He will make a sig- England of possession against Scot- return to the old guard, how do we
many as the perfect opportunity for in the set piece. nificant contribution to the game. land and the inside centre of the ball; explain the logic of last week’s deci-
Lawrence, a powerful ball-carrier with “the basics of the game”, as Jones told sion to pair Farrell and Lawrence?
sharp footwork. Instead, Jones has Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler, “[Sinckler and Vunipola] bring a lot of ITV’s Martin Bayfield afterwards. The rusty and form-free No 10 and
gone with three playmakers, naming two British & Irish Lions props, return experience and nous. The scrum has the inexperienced No 12, as opposed
the back line that started the Autumn to the team, with Luke Cowan-Dickie traditionally been difficult against Italy Let’s be clear. The 21-year-old has to the seasoned partnership he has
Nations Cup final against France, promoted to start at hooker and Court- so they’ll bring their scrummaging plus done nothing wrong. He wasn’t the picked to face Italy? The one that has
which England won in extra time. ney Lawes picked at blind-side flanker. their aggression and calmness. We are bloke throwing passes that checked been playing it for territorial kicks for
back on the front foot and ready to go.” the runners outside him. He wasn’t years.
“Scotland was a difficult game for England have selected six forwards the one playing as if in a state of dis-
Ollie, but he’s a young guy who is learn- on the bench. “We are at our best play- Jonathan Joseph is one of three array. No, that was his fly half and If Jones “always” selects the best 23
ing his trade. He is going to be a great ing front-foot rugby, that’s when we are Premiership players to have been sus- captain, Owen Farrell. to win a game, it was the oddest of
player for us,” Jones said. “With the one of the most damaging teams in the pended for breaching Covid-19 rules. calls for the Calcutta Cup. If the team
internet and the way life is now, every- world and that’s what we want to get The Bath lock Elliot Stooke and Wasps Jones has informed us that he picked for Italy are the best-suited
one is in a hurry but being a great back to,” Jones said. hooker Gabriel Oghre were also wasn’t prepared to drop his skipper side, one cannot but ask, how was
player, there are some times when you banned after the three met socially. after one bad game. He could have Lawrence more suited to the Scottish
don’t get exactly what you want at that “This week, because we’ve had a loss Joseph received a two-game ban, the dropped him on the back of a bad 12 test? It doesn’t stack up.
particular time. and the team have been criticised from others three. Joseph’s ban was months. Instead he axed a gifted,
North to South Pole, the mood is not as backdated and he will miss his second hard-running inside centre who — a One way or another the mix-and-
upbeat so you’ve got to work harder to game tomorrow night. week ago — Jones believed could match at No 10 and No 12 is a fudge. If
deliver England front-foot ball Lawrence hasn’t been damaged by the
beyond the all-important gainline. manner in which he has been ejected,
he’s a tough man. A while ago, I sug-
But selection isn’t simply about the gested he might have to consider
best 23. It is about balance, about leaving Worcester if he wanted a
selecting a side to beat the next oppo- successful international career. After
nent. Lawrence lacks experience. the events of the last week he may
Farrell has it in abundance. Could wonder whether he can be bothered
the England head coach be con- with an England set-up where selec-
cerned that inexperience will tion lacks any form of logic.
cost England against Italy?
It is Italy, for heaven’s sake. One of
Or does he believe those games we journalists like to call
England need to field their a “no-win” game. If England run up a
best array of kickers
behind the scrum? A case cricket score, it is due to opposition
of conservatism gone ineptitude while any narrower
crazy. Before the Scot- than that expected margin of vic-
land match, their head
coach Gregor Townsend tory — as witnessed last season
said England “might have a — is a reflection on a sub-
plan [to deal with Russell], standard performance.
they’ll be coming up hard I prefer to think of
in defence”. Without the such a game as an
ball, the England template opportunity that
is based on the brutal comes, free of risk,
press. to develop and estab-
lish whether Lawrence
Scotland, in defence,
didn’t want to “allow and the 23-year-old Wasps wing
the [England] pack to Paolo Odogwu have the potent-
dominate”, Townsend ial to be long-term inter-

Lawrence carried the national assets. Jones’s deci-
sion to go for Ford and Farrell
ball once against Scotland is an opportunity for his cap-
tain to play his way back into
form against second-rate oppo-
sition. A reaction to a dreadful
performance with England seek-
ing to squeeze the fall guys before
running over them. The proactive
choice was Ford at No 10, Lawrence
at No 12 with Farrell officially and
deservedly “rested”.

68 2GM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Sport India v England: Second Test

Scene set for pulsating

Mike Atherton Squads for second Test Three quick
men, one
Chief Cricket India Age Tests Runs Bat ave Wickets Bowl ave Test spot
Rohit Sharma
Correspondent Shubman Gill 33 35 2,288 44.00 2 112.00 Olly Stone X
Cheteshwar Pujara Age: 27 Tests: 1 Wickets: 3
The longer the format, the greater the Virat Kohli (c) 21 4 338 48.28 - - Pro: The closest to Jofra
opportunity for the best players to put Ajinkya Rahane Archer in terms of pace
their stamp on the game. In a way Rishabh Pant (wk) 33 82 6,199 47.68 0 - Cons: Very inexperienced and
simply not possible in T20 cricket, the Washington Sundar lacks competitive action
span of Test matches allows for great- Ravichandran Ashwin 32 88 7,401 53.24 0 -
ness to flourish, as it has for Joe Root in Shahbaz Nadeem James Anderson W
Galle and Chennai, where he has Ishant Sharma 32 70 4,472 41.79 - - Age: 38 Tests: 158 Wickets: 611
scored 644 runs in three Tests, a run of Jasprit Bumrah Pros: England’s greatest and
form that ranks alongside some of the Kuldeep Yadav 23 17 1,190 44.07 - - in exceptional form after the
best streaks ever. Axar Patel first Test
21 2 169 56.33 4 67.00 Con: A certainty for the
Much of the game’s interest lies in the day-night third Test and three
occasional friction between individual- 34 75 2,507 27.54 386 25.47 in a row may be too much
ism and the team collective, and the
debate about what has more influence 31 2 1 0.50 8 34.12 Chris Woakes V
on results, individual talent or team Age: 31 Tests: 38 Wickets: 112
harmony, is as old as the hills. It would 32 98 729 8.37 300 32.32 Pros: Reliable, experienced,
be hard to argue that England would can utilise reverse-swing
have won any of the past three Tests 27 18 42 2.62 83 21.87 Cons: Lack of recent cricket
without Root, no matter how well the and can struggle abroad
team are playing. 26 6 51 8.50 24 24.12

Nor indeed, the previous victory 27 38 181 12.92 45 31.31
away from home, against South Africa
at Newlands, which was fashioned out England Age Tests Runs Bat ave Wickets Bowl ave
of Ben Stokes’s immense competitive Rory Burns
spirit above all. Without Stokes’s Dom Sibley 30 22 1,266 31.65 - -
second-innings charge with the bat and Dan Lawrence
bone-shattering spell towards the end Joe Root (c) 25 15 851 37.00 0 -
of that match, England would not have Ben Stokes
won. In Test cricket, great players Ollie Pope 23 3 117 23.40 0 -
matter more than anything. Ben Foakes (wk)
Dom Bess 30 100 8,507 50.33 31 47.64
Richie Benaud once said that a team Stuart Broad
with two great players at the top of their Jack Leach 29 68 4,517 37.95 159 31.38
game should be hard to beat; three Olly Stone
great players on song should make Moeen Ali 23 14 707 37.21 - -
them near invincible. India, too, have James Anderson
their champions and the second Test in Chris Woakes 27 5 332 41.50 - -
Chennai, starting tomorrow and played
in front a decent-sized crowd, praise be, 23 13 314 26.16 36 32.00
should be fascinating, as these alpha
males lock horns, like buffaloes fighting 34 144 3,346 19.12 517 27.56
for the right to the watering hole.
29 13 247 17.64 50 30.46
One of those alpha males, Stuart
Broad, returns to the team, while 27 1 19 9.50 3 9.66
another, Jofra Archer, misses out,
having sustained an injury to his right 33 60 2,782 28.97 181 36.59
elbow requiring an injection between
Tests. It is said the injury is not related 38 158 1,222 9.54 611 26.49
to the previous stress reaction he
suffered at the end of the South Africa 31 38 1,321 27.52 112 29.30
series but it must be a concern nonethe-
less given the strain on a fast bowler’s First Test: Chennai England won by 227 runs. Second Test: Chennai Day one, tomorrow
elbow, the amount of cricket from 4am. Third Test: Ahmedabad Feb 24-28. Fourth Test: Ahmedabad Mar 4-8.
England have coming up
and the importance of returned home, they may want the — England will be reluctant to offer
Archer as a multi-for-
mat player. extra cushion of Woakes’s batting and Ravichandran Ashwin another left-

Whether Broad now his ability to reverse-swing the ball — a hander to attack — as was Steve Smith’s
partners another alpha
male, James Anderson, key function in the first Test. It is a liking for off spin. Since then, Ali has
again is not quite so
straightforward as it would tricky dilemma, and an educated guess played only two first-class games and
seem at first.
Anderson was outstanding is that Stone, as a straight swap for none for 17 months. His frame of mind
in the first Test, of course, but
with the third Test to take place Archer, may get the nod. having spent weeks in the bubble not
in Ahmedabad under lights with
a pink ball — potentially ideal Either way, Broad is confirmed as a playing, post-Covid, is hard to gauge.
conditions for Anderson, you
would have thought — certain starter and will be eager to grab If Bess is considered risky, and
England may be reluctant to ask
him to play three consecutive back a little of the limelight showered Stokes’s knee suspect, England could
Tests, given his age of 38. If over-
burdening Anderson is a on Anderson this week — for all that alter the balance of the team and bolster
concern, neither Chris Woakes
nor Olly Stone have had any these two are great friends, they are the bowling by bringing in Ali for Dan
competitive cricket for months.
competitive too. Stokes has a Lawrence, say. That would
England may still be keen on
the extra pace that Archer slight niggle to his right necessitate moving Ollie
showed occasionally last
week, which may open the knee, but is not deemed a Pope to No 3, with Foakes
door for the inexperienced
Stone, or, with Jos Buttler risk, and as such should India v and Ali occupying the
not affect the balance of England slots at No 6 and No 7,
Root’s run of form is among the the team unduly. which may be seen to

best streaks ever in Tests England announced Chennai involve too much tin-
a full-strength T20 Second Test, from 4am kering after such a vic-
squad yesterday with tory, given the enforced
the focus on the World tomorrow changes already made.
T20 in India later in the TV: Channel 4 India must look at their
year. That is the rationale Radio: talkSPORT spinners too. While Virat

behind Buttler’s return home Kohli was firm in his backing

— England gave no for his underperforming batsmen

thought to altering their plans — and especially of his deputy, Ajinkya

after the victory in Chennai — Rahane — he was less sanguine about

so Ben Foakes will come in for the support offered to Ashwin from

his first Test since the tour of Shahbaz Nadeem and Washington

the Caribbean in 2019. By Sundar. The left-arm orthodox spinner

common consent, Foakes is Axar Patel, or the wrist spinner

the best wicketkeeper in the Kuldeep Yadav, will be given a go in

country, but offers less place of Nadeem, with Sundar’s batting

threat with the bat than considered important to the overall

Buttler. balance of the side.

Another selection head- In these pages yesterday, N Ram, the

ache is the identity of the Indian journalist, gave us a flavour of

second spinner to partner the reaction in India, which has been

Jack Leach. On the less intense than expected after a home

numbers alone, there defeat. Nevertheless Kohli himself

is no debate to be had, represents an intriguing story, given

given that Dom Bess that he has now led India to four

has produced valuable consecutive defeats. His manner in the

runs (20s and 30s to field in the first innings of the first Test

frustrate the opposi- was un-Kohli-like, to be sure, and there

tion) and wickets (17) was a bit more of the old intensity and

in the past three Tests. fire in the second. That is likely to be

Nevertheless, his loss ramped up again.

of control on the final So many intriguing questions are set

day of the first Test was to be answered, but for all the selection

disturbing, with an array dilemmas, it is likely the outcome of the

of full tosses and long Test will revolve around the contribu-

hops camouflaged to some tions of the big names. Both teams are

extent by the final result. well served in that department, but it is

Set against that is Moeen England riding high at the moment.

Ali’s absence from the Test Screenshot it if you can, as right now

team since the first Ashes Test of England are top of the World Test

2019, when his vulnerability Championship and top of the T20 and

against Nathan Lyon was exposed ODI rankings too. No, it’s not April 1.

the times | Friday February 12 2021 2GM 69

Sport

clash of the big beasts

ANDREW FOSKER/BPI/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK; PANKAJ NANGIA/SPORTZPICS/BCCI; DAN MULLAN/GETTY IMAGES

Foakes eager to grab his
chance with both hands

John Westerby The great team Root’s men are trying to emulate

Ben Foakes’s experience of Test cricket Joe Root’s team are whose record for most was one of the great all-
has been distinctly bittersweet so far aiming to do something first-class runs (61,760) rounders and averaged
but he is hoping to make a similar that England have not and centuries (199) will 62 in those Tests,
impact in the second Test in Chennai to done for more than 100 surely never be broken, although bowled little
the most recent time he played for years: win seven was at the height of his of his left-arm spin at
England on the subcontinent. consecutive Tests away powers, making three that period.
from home. The team centuries and averaging
It was just over three years ago that that achieved that feat 81 across the seven SF Barnes, who some
Foakes made one of the more between December 1911 matches. His opening still credit as the
memorable Test debuts in recent years and January 1914 partner Wilfred Rhodes greatest bowler of all,
for England, hitting a century against included some of the took 65 wickets at an
Sri Lanka in Galle, keeping wicket best players in the average of 15. The rest
beautifully and finishing as man of the country’s history. of the team was laden
series. with evocative names:
The team won Tests the elegant Frank
Not unreasonably, he thought he was against Australia in Wolley, CP Mead and
due a decent run in the side, only to be Melbourne twice, George Gunn to
dropped after two Tests of the next tour Adelaide and Sydney on name three.
to the West Indies. He will return to the the 1911-12 Ashes tour —
team tomorrow, glad to be back, but this winning the series 4-1 The captain for all
time under no illusions about the having gone 1-0 down — seven Tests was JWHT
nature of sport at the highest level. and then in the Douglas, or “Johnny
winter of 1913-14 Won’t Hit Today” as the
“After my debut, with it going quite comprehensively beat Australians called him
well, I did think I’d get a bit longer run,” South Africa in Durban on account of what Alan
Foakes said yesterday. “But inter- and twice in Gibson, a Times cricket
national cricket is quite cut-throat and, Johannesburg. writer, called his
after a couple of bad games, I was “exceptionally dour
dropped. That’s the way it is. My mind- Jack Hobbs, above, approach to batting”.
set has shifted a little bit. Every game
and opportunity I get, I want to take it was hit hard by his early international doubt where your game is, because you
and prove what I can do, rather than experiences. After he had been haven’t been tested for a while,” he said.
looking too far ahead.” dropped in 2019, he endured a lean “But I’d like to think I’ve been training
summer with the bat for Surrey and well and hopefully I’ll be able to get
He is back in the side as Jos Buttler opted out of an England Lions tour to back into it quite quickly.
has returned home to spend time with Australia that winter, preferring a clean
his family before the Twenty20 series break to recharge his batteries. “It has just been so impressive to
next month and Jonny Bairstow, who watch how well the guys have played
batted at No 3 in the recent series in Sri He has not played much cricket and it’s probably a good thing to come
Lanka, will not be available until the recently, two intra-squad games at the into a side like that. Winning in India is
third Test. “It’s been frustrating, but Jos start of the Sri Lanka tour his only pretty special, so when you come in you
has done an amazing job over the last involvement so far. “Without playing so want to try and replicate that and help
couple of years,” Foakes said. “Watch- much, you always have that slight in any way possible.”
ing the level he’s been able to perform
at, it’s quite clear he is No 1.”

Foakes, who turns 28 on Monday,

Exiled Hales may get his continued from back
shot at England redemption
Test hopes hit by Archer injury
John Westerby Highlights put on TV schedule
said. “He’s been rested and we talk
Alex Hales could be offered the chance Highlights of England’s Test series in about that rotation policy being crucial
to revive his international ambitions India will now be given a scheduled to our team’s performance, so they’re
next summer, two years after his slot on television by Channel 4. fresh when they come in. He’s been
England career ground to an abrupt extremely professional, he’s bought
halt after a ban for recreational drug Four of the five days of England’s into the whole bowling group and he
use. victory in Chennai attracted peak always adds a huge amount.”
audiences of more than one million,
Hales, 32, who was the leading while more than 600,000 viewers Ben Stokes, who was also rested for
runscorer in the recent Big Bash tour- downloaded highlights via the All 4 the tour to Sri Lanka, bowled ten overs
nament in Australia, was not included streaming service. This prompted during the first Test and has reported
in the England squad named yesterday the broadcaster to put highlights on pain in his knee, but Root expects him
for the series of five Twenty20 interna- More 4. Ebony Rainford-Brent, the to be able to play a full role this week.
tionals against India next month, but former England fast bowler, will “Ben has trained hard and looks fitter
Ed Smith, the national selector, said provide analysis of the second Test and stronger for it,” Root said.
Hales could be involved this summer. alongside Sir Andrew Strauss.
England must also decide whether to
“It’s coming up for two years this has been contact between Hales and retain Dominic Bess, the off spinner,
summer [since Hales last played],” the England management, and Smith’s who took four wickets in the first
Smith said. “In the summer, we’ll look indication that he could be invited to innings, but struggled for consistency
at inviting some people to training in training sessions offers further hope to in the second. The alternative would be
the run-up to the series. We might look the batsman that he may yet play in the Moeen Ali, England’s most experi-
at something like that in the summer. T20 World Cup in India later this year. enced spinner, but whose last Test
We’re aware of everything players do in came back in August 2019. “It’s great to
franchise cricket around the world.” There was no place in the T20 squad have a spin department working so well
for Joe Root, who has not played for together,” Root said. “Dom has played
Eoin Morgan, the England white-ball England in the shortest form since May his part , and it’s great to see Moeen in
captain, reiterated last year that Hales 2019, but he has not given up hope of a such a good place with his game.”
had caused a “huge breakdown in trust” recall. “In terms of my T20 ambitions,
with the squad with his failed drugs test, they’re still there,” Root said yesterday. Root expects a big reaction from
which led to his expulsion from the India this weekend — in particular his
2019 World Cup squad. opposite number, Virat Kohli — with a
crowd of 15,000 permitted to attend.
It is understood, though, that there “The guys will be excited about having
crowds back,” he said. “They’re very
passionate in India and to get that inter-
action with fans is going to be brilliant.”

2GM RM Friday February 12 2021 | the times

Sport Last night’s FA Cup action

Abraham strike sends Chelsea
through to quarter-finals

Reports, pages 62-63

England Test SAIKAT DAS/BCCI/SPORTZPICS

Football calls

out Facebook

hopes hit by Martyn Ziegler, Martin Hardy
Archer injury
The pressure on Twitter and Facebook
Recalled Broad raring to go, says captain Root to tackle online abuse has been stepped
up after football’s leaders launched a
John Westerby Archer, 25, was rested for the Test Broad returns for the second Test starting tomorrow but with Archer, inset left, direct attack on the platforms’ chief
series in Sri Lanka last month, but injured England will have to decide whether to retain or rotate out Anderson executives for their failure to act,
Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the returned to the side impressively for the and the Newcastle United manager
second Test against India, starting first Test in Chennai, dismissing both Steve Bruce revealed that messages
tomorrow, after requiring an injection India’s opening batsmen in the first had been sent to his family wishing him
to ease discomfort he felt in his right innings, then claiming the wicket that dead.
elbow during England’s comprehensive completed England’s victory, despite
victory in the first Test. suffering from a stomach bug on the An open letter from all the game’s
final day. Stone, 27, would be the closest major stakeholders to Jack Dorsey and
It is hoped that the treatment will to a like-for-like replacement, capable Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executives
allow Archer, who missed training in of generating pace of 90mph, but the of Twitter and Facebook respectively,
Chennai yesterday, to recover in time Warwickshire bowler has played only states that their inaction has meant the
for the third and fourth Tests in platforms remain “havens for abuse”
Ahmedabad. one Test, against Ireland at with “a relentless flow of racist and
Lord’s in 2019. discriminatory messages”.
The injury is not thought Ben Foakes, the Surrey
to be related to the stress wicketkeeper, will make Facebook insists that it will only close
fracture to the elbow his first Test appear- accounts for repeated offences of hate
that affected Archer ance for almost two speech because users should be given a
on the tour to South years, replacing Jos chance to learn from their mistakes. A
Africa last winter. Buttler, who has
returned home to Continued on page 60
His absence dis- spend time with his
rupts England’s family before the Lawrence ‘can
carefully laid plans five-match Twenty20
with their bowling series against India next win 50 caps’
attack, with Stuart month, part of England’s
Broad due to return to player-management scheme Alex Lowe
the side for the second Deputy Rugby Correspondent
Test after being rested for whilst the squad are spending
the first game, as part of a time under Covid-secure restrictions. England head coach Eddie Jones has
scheme to rotate him with James An- defended his controversial decision to
derson. England must now decide whe- Broad, 34, rated second in the ICC drop Ollie Lawrence from the squad to
ther to play both of their senior fast rankings for Test bowlers, played the play Italy tomorrow. Jones said that it
bowlers, or draft in Olly Stone or Chris first Test on the recent tour to Sri was a test of resilience for the Worces-
Woakes. Lanka, before sitting out the second ter Warriors centre — but backed him
Test and the game last week in to win 50 caps if he passed it.
“Guys are going to have to come in Chennai. At the start of last season, he
and rotate,” Joe Root, the captain, said bridled at being left out of the side, but Lawrence has been jettisoned by
yesterday. “They will have to come in Root says he had fitted in well with England despite being limited to a
and be fresh and deliver when they’re England’s rotation plans. peripheral role in a back line that failed
given an opportunity. So there might be to fire a shot in anger in Saturday’s 11-6
a few changes from the previous game, “It’s not like he’s been dropped,” Root defeat by Scotland at Twickenham.
but that’s exciting as well.”
Continued on page 69 The 21-year-old started at inside
centre against Scotland but had to wait
until the 63rd minute for his only carry
of the game. In three Test starts, the
man picked for his powerful ball-
carrying has touched the ball only ten
times. Jones reacted to England’s

Continued on page 67

Times Crossword 27,899 across down Yesterday’s solution 27,898

1234567 8 1 Bachelor with a single friend in 1 Scottish town to make suffer T O P NO T CH E S CH EW
Worcester, perhaps (4,5) prosecutor? (5) I ENLBTEA
9 MON T E C A R L OR A L L Y
6 Protective garment being worn 2 Some American people’s BPRSUOL F
10 11 RA UCOUS D I P L OMA
12 after thirty days (5) unfamiliar, clumsy, and I would add ESU GH R
9 Wonky regulation’s been scrapped: welcome customs (15) PHYS I QUE EYR I E
13 14 3 Pair of hacks get a move on! (4,4) IE UO IR
15 that’s what I want to hear! (3,5,7)

16 17 10 Bomber following one in the role of 4 Ultimate failure of one to pick NORTH ANNOUNCE
18 peace protester (6) Bond up is concerning (2,2) T EN PEA
ENF I ELD PARAPET
19 20 11 Put out left-leaning workers’ 5 Sweet son coming across bitter, RRDAUA A T
22
organisation: it goes against the following a flogging (10) P L AYF I RST F I DDL E
23 grain (8) 6 Old supporter of Sky TV kicking ONUY T SDN
13 Purge after bribe by house of old LOCA L E W I DEEYED
dramatist (10) off eventually (2,4)
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giving something to don for

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(4,2,4) 12 Poorly after swallowing tablet, support recycling

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different! (8) 13 Teams place computers in UK newspapers in 2019 was 63.2%

20 Before repair, initially aim to stop Canadian building (4,5)

very old machine giving out (6) 15 Maybe cricket nets touching under
21 23 Celebrate? It might be deflating for
cover? (2,6)

a Cockney (3,4,4,4) 18 Spirit of Belfast radio presenter? (6)

24 British-Italian music man recruits 21 Row involving furious Pole? (5)

others to back shows (5) 22 Close hostilities with ultimatum,

25 Give up, when empty, some little finally (4)

cup (9)

24 25