22 METROSPORT Thursday, October 8, 2009 D BOXING: Irish middleweight John Duddy will return to Madison Square Garden this Saturday confident he has the all-round style to get back into contention for a world title shot. Duddy, 30, will step into the ring against Mexican Jorge Michi Munoz (21-3, 14 KOs), for his first bout since losing his first professional fight last April against unheralded American Billy Lyell. Duddy (26-1, 17 KOs) has returned to trainer Harry Keitt after two years apart says he is looking forward to returning to some of his old ways. I know what Im capable of, I know what Im good at and I think the days of me being a pretty dancer are long, long behind me, Duddy said. Ive got to work on whats right for me and whats good for me. FORMULA ONE: Robert Kubica will replace Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso at Renault next year. The Pole, 24, is currently at BMW Sauber who are set to quit the sport at the end of the season. Kubica said: Im very happy I will be joining Renault. I share with Renault a strong winning mentality and feel comfortable with their friendly and open attitude. Im highly motivated and optimistic that together we can be at the front of the grid next year, and hopefully fighting for the world title. Renault team principal Bob Bell added: Renault has high ambitions for the future and we feel that Robert can play a big role in fulfilling them. SNOOKER: Defending Grand Prix champion John Higgins held his nerve to see off world No.1 Ronnie OSullivan 5-4 during a classic encounter in front of his home crowd yesterday. The unusual unseeded draw threw the pair together in Glasgow, and it proved to be a tense encounter. OSullivan led 4-3, only to miss a chance to clinch the match in a nervous eighth frame. Higgins, though, showed no fear in the decider, producing a break of 94 to book a place in the quarter-finals. I thought I was all over the place and felt really on edge, Higgins said. I felt if Ronnie upped it a bit, I would get beat. I missed a few, but that is what it has been like against Ronnie recently. People expect high quality, but sometimes you do not produce. CRICKET: Ireland have been drawn in the same group as England for the 2011 World Cup. The ICC have changed the format for the tournament, to be jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, after the previous set-up, used in the Caribbean in 2007 came in for heavy criticism. The 14 competing nations divided into two initial groups of seven teams. Phil Simmons Ireland side will also face South Africa, India, West Indies, Bangladesh and Holland. After a round-robin series, the top four teams in the groups will progress to a Super Eights stage, from which the top four will move into the semi-finals. SPORTDigest Renault move: Kubica GAA Rules move now unlikely Cooney GAA president Christy Cooney has hinted that the heavy promotional drive to introduce new disciplinary rules this year is unlikely to be repeated next term. A raft of temporary regulations were introduced for the national leagues on an experimental basis to address growing cynicism and persistent fouling. Former Leinster Council chairman Liam ONeill was head of the task force responsible for the new rules, and along with Head of Games Pat Daly embarked on a nationwide campaign to build support. The regulations needed a two-thirds majority at last Aprils Annual Congress to be implemented on a permanent basis but fell short, despite securing an overall majority, 177 votes to 100. The GAA has not commented on the future of the rules until president Christy Cooney signalled yesterday he would be bringing something to Saturdays Ard Comhairle meeting. I think this year went very well, he said yesterday. We had no major instances of note we had one game where things were fairly tough but outside that, the standard of sportsmanship was excellent. So, maybe that might give you a clue as to how things are going to go. Tipp on top in GPA shortlist ALL-IreLAND finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary dominate the shortlist for the GPAs Hurling AllStars announced yesterday. Champions Kilkenny earned 11 nominations but were trumped by the Premier County, who have 12 names in the frame. Leinster finalists Dublin did well with six nominations, including full-back Toms Brady, captain Stephen Hiney and star midfielder Alan McCrabbe. The three nominees for Player of the Year are Kilkennys Tommy Walsh, Tipps Lar Corbett and John Mullane of Waterford. NORTHAMPTON Saints and Ireland back row forward Roger Wilson knows just what a tough task lies ahead of his side as they open their Heineken Cup campaign against 2006 and 2008 champions Munster on Saturday. Last years Challenge Cup winners have made a solid start to their season and sit fourth in the Guinness Premiership, but with Munster keen to get last weeks defeat at Leinster out of their systems Wilson is aware of the step up in class that awaits. I was hoping to get one of the Irish provinces and I didnt really mind which one, the ex-Ulster forward said. Its just nice to play against either old team-mates or players you played against at age level or have been competing with to try and get in the national set-up. We know that if you want to get out of the group stages, youve got to win your home games. So well definitely be targeting our home games, starting with Munster, and itll be a great occasion and were looking forward to it. Wilson has high hopes of adding to his solitary Ireland cap and senses the opportunity to put his name back in the picture at international level. He said: Whenever you play against Munster, theyve got a whole pile of internationals in the squad, so you know the Irish selectors are going to be there and I still havent ruled out getting another couple of caps. I remember playing in the Heineken Cup with Ulster those matches were always big occasions a big step up from the domestic league and just a small step down from international rugby. Saints Wilson prepared to step up Ireland ambitions: Wilson RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP Fitzgerald sees pitfalls in daunting pool drawBy gARETH MAKIM LeINSTeRmaybereigningHeineken Cup champions but Luke Fitzgerald has admitted he was a bit apprehen- sive when the draw was made for this years competition in June. The holders begin the defence of the trophy at home to high-flying London Irish tomorrow evening but must also see off French side Brive and Magn- ers League rivals Llanelli Scarlets if they are to reach the knockout stages. Leinster have already lost a pre-sea- son friendly to the exiles at the RDS and were defeated by the Scarlets on the opening weekend of the season, while england centres Jamie Noon and Riki Flutey are among nine sum- mer signings at big-spending Brive. To be honest with you, a bit appre- hensive, admitted Fitzgerald of the draw. The French clubs have recruit- ed very heavily and very well and you look at London Irish and it looks pret- ty daunting as well. London Irish are coming off a few good wins in the Premiership and they are the form team now. But Im looking forward to it now. Its going to be a very big challenge but everyone is looking forward to it. There have been some reports that Brive will be concentrating their at- tentions on the French league, but Fit- zgerald insists nobody can afford to take the 1997 european champions lightly. Always with French teams you have to be very careful, he said. You cannot take them lightly. They have fantastic players and they play such an exciting brand of rugby. They are always very strong at home no matter what the say about development. To be honest I think the group looks very strong. I dont think there are any easy games home or away. Beating Munster set an early bench- mark for Leinster and Fitzgerald in- sists they must use that confidence to good effect tomorrow. He added: We were really happy [with the Munster performance]. It was something to be proud of. At the same time we got to shelve that now. Thats a big chal- lenge for us. That result means noth- ing if we dont back it up. Challenge awaits: Luke Fitzgerald knows Leinster are in a dangerous group Picture: Sportsfile With the French teams you always have to be careful index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html