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Last Updated: Sunday, 22 June, 2003, 00:20 GMT 01:20 UK
The back pages
For the second day running David Beckham struggles to hold his own on the back pages in the face of heroic performances elsewhere.

After James Anderson and England's cricketers on Saturday, it is the turn of Clive Woodward's rugby union squad to steal the limelight from Real Madrid's new man on Sunday.

If victory in New Zealand last week seemed to good to be true, England's first-ever win in Australia receives fulsome praise.

"World beaters" is how The Observer describes Martin Johnson and co, while The Independent revels in the completion of a "magical history tour" Down Under.

THE HEADLINES
Sunday Telegraph: Top of the world
News of the World: Stabbed - Beckham feared life in Utd reserves
The Observer: World beaters
The Independent: Woodward's wizards of Oz
Sunday Times: Wizards of Oz
Sunday Express: Beckham's facing Real trouble
Daily Star: Beck-lash
Sunday Mirror: Real heroes
Mail on Sunday: History men
But there is no doubt what is the phrase of the day - as The Independent, The Mail and The Sunday Times all go for "Wizards of Oz".

The rise of rugby union's popularity is clear as nearly all the papers lead on England's triumph, but there is still plenty of room for Beckham updates.

And if the man himself manages to get hold of the tabloids in Japan he may change his mind about going to Madrid after all.

According to The Daily Star, Real talisman Raul is fuming after his wife was doorstepped by the press over the imminent arival of the Beckhams.

The Sunday Express goes further, claiming the Real players have told the club that they "don't rate Beckham as a great player".

All of which is slightly at odds with the The Sunday Mirror exclusive that has Raul saying: "I can't wait for Becks".

If so, he should be delighted to hear that Beckham's medical at Madrid on 1 July will, according to the same paper, be televised on the club's pay-per-view television station.

One man who is clearly still a fan is Tim Henman who, on the eve of Wimbledon, tells The People that he "wants to be like Becks".

That does not mean Britain's number one will be sporting a mohican when he steps on to Centre Court next week, but that he admires the way Beckham handles pressure.

Henman admits in The News of the World that the pressure could make him "go crackers".


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The gossip column
22 Jun 03  |  Football

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