08/03/2014 Saturday Sportsday

Hello and welcome to the BBC sports centre. Over the next 15 minutes we

will have all the latest news, previews and interviews ahead of a

busy weekend. This is Saturday Sportsday.

Hello. Here's what's coming up: On the Eve of England and Wales at

Twickenham in the Six Nations we look back on the same classic

fixture 40 years ago and meet the Irish referee who made a decision so

controversial it was immortalised in song. Sport and culture on

International Women's Day, we will be finding out why girls from some

of the world's poorest countries are visiting the UK. And you know the

phrase you are never too old? When it comes to athletics, it's true. We

visit the pensioners in track and field. All that to come. First,

let's look at some of today's headlines.

She was on the show last week and now she's won Great Britain's first

medal of the Winter Paralympics. Jade Etherington finishes second in

the downhill this morning. We will have more in a few minutes.

Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell and Wales Jamie

Donaldson are one shot off the lead in the Golf Championship in Miami.

And as game set and match for the new doubles partnership as the two

Wimbledon champions claim their first win in round one of the Indian

Wells Open. Lots going on today. Let's start with the Winter

Paralympics and that first medal of the games for Britain's Jade

Etherington with the aid of her guide Caroline Powell. She has taken

silver in the visually impaired downhill skiing.

An incredible achievement by Jade Etherington and her guide Caroline

Powell. Silver on the opening day. You couldn't ask for much better.

Let's put that into some perspective. She's from

Lincolnshire, which isn't exactly renowned for its snowy mountains and

she also has glaucoma, she effectively has only 5% vision,

travelling at speeds of over a hin kilometres an hour -- over 100

kilometres an hour must make for a scary experience. Together with her

guide they were fantastic together. They came down in second position,

got that silver medal and understandably were delighted when I

spoke to them later. It hasn't really sunk in yet. Hopefully today

when we get the medal it will be when... Yeah, I am really excited

and I am an official proud Paralympian now, it's a great

feeling and it's good to get the flowers and get into that and I am

proud of me and Caroline working together today and our performance

and hopefully we can continue. Understandably delighted after that

historic achievement. Kelly Gallagher was also in action in the

same event but finished 6th. On the bright side she does have her

stronger events to come later in the week. Let's talk about curling. In

2006 the wheelchair curlers won silver in Italy. They're going for a

medal here in Sochi. It hasn't got off to the best start. They lost 6-3

to Canada. It's worth pointing out Canada are the two-time Paralympic

champions and a medal favourite here at these Games in Russia. An

incredible achievement for Jade Etherington and her guide, they'll

hope they can carry that momentum to their next event, they have four

more to come and it could be the cat alist for further -- catalyst for

further success for Great Britain. Nick Hope there in Sochi and you can

keep up-to-date on all the latest from the Winter Paralympics by

checking out the BBC Sport website. Now when it comes to sporting

rivalries they don't get much bigger than England against Wales in rugby

union. This Sunday the two will go head to head again - in the last but

one round of the Six Nations Championship. It's always a huge

game with plenty of needle, but 40 years ago a certain Irish referee

made a decision in the fixture against Wales - so controversial it

was made into a song. Patrick Geary went to meet him.

It's Twickenham in 1974, the great Welsh team of the era are looking

for a win that would give them the Five Nations championship and John

West, a young referee from Ireland is making his debut. To be appointed

to a match like this is absolutely brilliant. Obviously I would be

heightly nervous and pumped with adrenalin. -- highly nervous. The

game is in the balance when Williams sees an opportunity.

The referee has awarded a 25. The whole of Wales is up in arms. Wales

lost and an entertainer named Max Boys immortalised West's performance

The sunshine... A blind Irish referee. All these years on and with

perfect eyesight West has no regrets. I don't spend a time

turning at night saying, oh, I should have done this and that. You

make a call, you back your judgment to make a call. How rugby's changed.

Now John would be able to refer to any number of angles to check

important decisions. He now uses video to spot stamping and other

dangerous play as a commissioner. The players are aware they're under

surveillance. It's probably cleaner than when we were doing it when

almost - they all had a psychopath lurking around in the background.

Now they tend to be identified a little quicker! As well as bad

behaviour referees can check a number of decisions during the game

using video technology. Can it be used too often? I was at a game

recently and I think there was 57 minutes for the first half which was

ridiculous. They were asking all sorts. The guy could just make up

your mind, you know. There wasn't as if they were critical decisions or

anything. This weekend John is back at Twickenham Twickenham. What does

he think when he hears that song? # A blind Irish referee... I must get

the royalties! Ireland play Italy in today's action and then Scotland

take on France, both are live on the BBC. That match we have been talking

about at Twickenham gets under way tomorrow at 3.00pm.

Something tells me the score there will be a bit closer than the

women's Six Nations result yesterday - where England beat Wales 35-3. And

we're sticking with the women and rugby theme because today is

International Women's Day and to mark it a unique project is going on

involving nearly 100 girls from India, Africa, South America and the

Carribbean - all from deprived areas - all coming together to play rugby.

Our Correspondent Joe Wilson was there when they met up in London.

There are millions of children in the world with next to nothing, a

few have a rugby ball in their hands. From eight of the most

disadvantaged communities around the world teams of young rugby players

have descended upon London and they are all girls. They're here to

express themselves through sport, through dance, to find Common Ground

and find confidence. Already there is a change, confidence, which they

didn't have at home. They can freely speak. They can freely talk to

anyone which they didn't have. I think something good coming out. All

the girls are being hosted by schools in and around London and

staying with local families. The idea is that they exchange ideas,

exchange culture and then next week they'll play a rugby tournament. Who

is the best player in the team? I am. I am also the Captain of the

team. Most Mostly we try our best to try to win. We will win on the day.

The charity running the project is called Tour Aid and the value of

coming on tour will be felt when the girls get home, that's the idea.

They should go away as ambassadors for their generation because they

are representing their generation. What I will say is that it is OK

when they get back they will feel different because the change must

come from within. Young players today, global role models for the

future? Those are big aspirations and young girls having fun. Good for

them. We're halfway through the World

Indoor Athletics Championships - which is going on in Sopot in Poland

this weekend and it's been a pretty good day for Britain so far. The

BBC's Phil Jones and Colin Jackson have been watching this morning's

action. Fascinating morning on day two of

the World Indoor At yet licks Championships here -- Athletics

Championships. Colin can talk about this It's

important to get the outdoor champions that people know,

recognisable faces to come indoors and Shelley san a big personality.

It's the only sprint title she hasn't won. It will be a serious

challenge. She had her game face on through the interview area, you know

she means business. Veronica Campbell Brown coming badge from a

drugs suspension -- coming back from a drugs suspension. A long way off

her personal best. For all of us wondering why she choose this to

return, but she is the defending champion, so she is having a go. It

was a good morning for Britain, it gave us as boost over

disappointments yesterday especially in the hurdles, your event. It was a

successful day for us, both our athletes in the hurdles, Andy and

Will ran personal bests and you can't ask for much more. That sets

them up nicely for tomorrow's semifinal. Thank you very much

indeed. There was good news from a British point of view for the relay

teams, the men's and women's teams are through to tomorrow's final. We

have had an enjoyable morning Colin and I and hopefully you can join us

again for BBC2 coverage that starts at 5. 10pm.

What happens when those athletes Phil was talking about retire from

the top level? Well, just like in tennis and golf, there's another

world of competition for them once they get to a certain age. It's

called Masters Athletics but it's not just for the ex-pros. Alex Webb

went to meet some track veterans ahead of this weekend's British

Masters Indoor Championships. Inspire a generation, that was the

slogan of London 2012. Perhaps we shouldn't just be looking at schools

or youth clubs to uncover our nation's talent. They're younger

than me! There are other generations breaking records and winning medals.

Angela is a relative newcomer to the world of athletics. I wanted to

raise money for heart research. I run the marathon on my 60th

birthday. You are never too old to do anything. You can start slowly

but I have to say I did feel embarrassed going out running when I

first started training for the marathon. I used to go out in the

dark. We need to be more switched on. Around half of us fail to do the

recommended weekly amount of exercise. Inactivity is having a

negative effect on our economy. We tend to do less and less physical

activity as we get older. With an ageing population events like this

could be the answer. Angela has gone on to become the best marathon

runner in the world in her age cat combree -- category and only came to

the sport seven years ago. Some athletes here competed in their

youth. I have raced a lot of names going over the years, Colin Jackson,

Tony Jarrett. All the top hurdlers. Later this month some of these

athletes will be travelling to Budapest to the championships. They

might find themselves up against a former Olympian. It took me six

years or so before I really became any good. Don't expect quick-fixes

but if you keep at it and you have to work and train hard, you have to

train night nightly, train just like athletes. Whether it's track and

field, cross-country or marathon running there is a world of

athletics to get involved in. It's never too late to reach the very

top. Time to tell you about this

lunchtime's football. Arsenal are beating Everton 1-0. Raith Rovers

are drawing with St Johnston. It's 0-0 with West Brom and Manchester

United. There is full coverage on the BBC Sport website. I am back on

Sportsday at 6. 30pm on BBC News. Bye.