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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (AP)—A drunken driver responsible for a 2009 crash that seriously injured United States forward Charlie Davies has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Maria Alejandra Espinoza was sentenced Friday at a hearing in federal court. She tearfully apologized for her actions during the hearing.

Espinoza was legally intoxicated as she drove Davies and Ashley Roberta on the George Washington Parkway on their way back to Davies’ hotel. She drove off the road and the crash seriously injured Davies and killed Roberta.

Davies, now a member of DC United, missed the 2010 World Cup as he recovered from his injuries.

Espinoza had pleaded guilty in November to involuntary manslaughter in the case.

Labels: crash, Davies, Driver, injured, years

BEN YOUNGS has been named as the man Wales must stop if they are to beat England in Friday’s Six Nations opener.

The 21-year-old scrum-half starts his first championship match in a side which shows three changes from the last outing against South Africa.

Northampton flanker Tom Wood is given his debut in place of injured captain Lewis Moody, with fellow crocks Tom Croft and Courtney Lawes replaced by James Haskell and Louis Deacon respectively.

Mike Tindall, the 66-cap World Cup winner, is captain for the first time, as Mirror Sport revealed on Saturday.

But Leicester star Youngs is the chief threat, according to Dragons legend Jonathan Davies. “In this England squad Youngs is the key,” said Davies, now a BBC pundit.

“If England get on the front foot he controls the tempo of the game, he’s very clever.

“He runs into gaps, sucks defenders in, puts team-mates through holes, who then suck defenders in, then England go wide with pace.

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“England traditionally look to their fly-half to call the shots but, to my mind, Youngs has taken over as the player controlling their game.”

The Norfolk-born youngster is braced for a fierce battle with Wales No.9 Mike Phillips – and a fiery reception from the home crowd inside the Millennium Stadium.

The Welsh public have not forgotten the sight of Youngs hushing the Llanelli crowd and indicating to them to calm down after he scored a try against Scarlets in the Heineken Cup. “I did it in the heat of the moment, but I’ve learned from it,” he admitted last night. “I got told off by my mother. She told me never to do it again and I won’t.”

Youngs suspects he will have his hands full just dealing with Phillips, one of the stars of the 2009 Lions series in South Africa.

“He’s very experienced and there may be a bit of banter around the scrum, a bit of sledging,” he said. “He might try to push me around a little. I’m expecting a big physical challenge.

“But as long as you know what’s coming your way you can get yourself in the right place (mentally) not to be put off by it. I think that’s why Martin Johnson told us what we can expect at the Millennium Stadium, so no one runs on to the pitch thinking, ‘Blimey, why’s that guy doing that’ ?”

Labels: Davies, England, legend, Mirrorcouk, Wales, Youngs

SkySports

Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies proud despite FA Cup defeat to West Ham Goal.com Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies was full of praise for his players after they came up short in a thrilling FA Cup tie against West Ham at Upton Park, where only an inspired Victor Obinna hat-trick stopped his side ... Obinna earns Grant praiseSkySports Davies proud but points to experienceYahoo! Eurosport UK Victor Obinna hat-trick sees West Ham overhaul Nottingham ForestThe Guardian BBC News -Telegraph.co.uk -The Press Association all 140 news articles »

Labels: Billy, Davies, defeat, despite, Forest, Goalcom, manager, Nottingham, proud