Today's other stories in brief
Venter made to apologise
RUGBY: Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter has apologised to referee David Rose after being found guilty of "implying criticism of the match referee by stating that he had been influenced at half-time" by an RFU disciplinary panel.
Venter was handed a four-week ban, suspended until December 31st. The South African faced a charge of “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union” after criticising Rose for his performance during his side’s 22-15 Premiership defeat by Leicester on January 2nd, suggesting the official had been influenced during the interval due to a huge rise in the number of penalties conceded by Sarries during the second half. But in an apology on the Saracens website, which was required as part of his punishment, he said: “I apologise unreservedly for making a statement which caused offence to David Rose during my post match comments to the media after our game against Leicester at Vicarage Road on January 2nd, 2010.”
Greipel in control
CYCLING: Germany's Andre Greipel bolstered his chances of winning a second Tour Down Under after cruising to a second straight stage win yesterday.
The HTC Columbia rider won the sprint finish into the town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills at the end of the 133-kilometre stage starting from the town of Gawler northeast of Adelaide.
It’s nice to win in a German town,” said Greipel, referring to the village where he also won the stage two years ago.
Iley joins McLaren
MOTOR SPORT: Former Ferrari head of aerodynamics John Iley has joined McLaren in the same role, a spokesman for the British-based Formula One team said yesterday. The Briton, who left Ferrari last July after the Italian team's 2009 car was eclipsed by eventual champions Brawn GP and Red Bull, took up his new job at the start of the year.
Ferraris new chief aerodynamicist is Marco de Luca while Nikolas Tombazis, who returned to the Italian team from McLaren in 2006, is chief designer.
Mercedes-powered McLaren, fined a record €80 million in 2007 after a spy controversy involving leaked Ferrari technical data, have reigning world champion Jenson Button and 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton as their drivers.
Parks back for Scotland
RUGBY:Scotland yesterday recalled Dan Parks and named uncapped Glasgow team-mates Ruaridh Jackson and Richie Gray in their squad for the Six Nations games against France and Wales.
Parks was controversially omitted for the three autumn internationals, while fellow outhalf Jackson (21) was still recovering from a serious shoulder injury.
Flanker Gray (20) has been rewarded for his performances this season, including his Scotland A debut against Tonga two months ago.
SCOTLAND (Squad): Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow), Thom Evans (Glasgow), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Alex Grove (Worcester), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow), Dan Parks (Glasgow), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais). Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow), Kelly Brown (Glasgow), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow), Dougie Hall (Glasgow), Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester).
Gambhir puts India in control
CRICKET: Gautam Gambhir became the fourth batsman to hit centuries in five Tests in a row to put India firmly in control of the opening Test against Bangladesh on the fourth day in Chittagong yesterday.
The opener matched the feat achieved by Don Bradman, Jacques Kallis and Mohammad Yousuf when he made 116 as India declared on 413 for eight to set Bangladesh an unlikely target of 415 to win.
The home team were then reduced to 67 for two at the close of play. Pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma took one wicket apiece to leave Bangladesh facing a fight to save the match.
The in-form Gambhir recorded his ninth Test century and Vangipurappu Laxman added 69 not out.
Bastareaud is recalled to France Six Nations squad
RUGBY: Mathieu Bastareaud has been recalled to the France squad for the Six Nations Championship, little more than six months after causing a diplomatic outcry.
The Stade Francais centre sparked controversy when he claimed he had been attacked following a night out in Wellington on France’s tour to New Zealand last summer when, in fact, he sustained a suspected broken eye socket and needed four stitches in his cheek after a drunken fall in his hotel room.
Bastareaud, who returned to France following the incident, admitted his story was a lie concocted to hide the fact he had injured himself.
France travel to Edinburgh for the opening weekend of the championship before entertaining Ireland, the reigning champions and Six Nations favourites, in Paris on February 13th.
FRANCE SQUAD: Forwards: T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalcon (Castres), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), W Servat (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), S Chabal (Racing Metro), R Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), L Nallet (Racing Metro), P Pape (Stade Francais), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), A Lapandry (Clermont Auvergne), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), L Picamoles (Toulouse). Backs: JB Elissalde (Toulouse), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), B Boyet (Bourgoin), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), F Estebanez (Brive), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), B Fall (Bayonnais), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), A Palisson (Brive), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse).
