Daniel King: On the line

Rose has flown to London for tests on his back by a Harley Street specialist.

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Meanwhile, his former coach, David Leadbetter, and his current swing guru, Nick Bradley, are still bickering over who or what is responsible for the recurrence of Rose's problems.

Rose has not played since finishing fifth in the US Masters, when he returned after four weeks away because of the injury.

Leadbetter followed his suggestion on US television that Bradley's methods may have contributed to the problem by saying: "When someone has a history of a dodgy back like Justin, you have to make sure you don't put too much strain on it. He's made certain swing changes and seems to be more bent over the ball than he was in the past. It puts a lot of strain on the lower back."

Not surprisingly, Bradley, once Leadbetter's assistant, begs to differ. "Golfers and back problems go together like strawberries and cream," he said. "I respect David Leadbetter, but we have no plans to change Justin's swing. is now biomechanically more sound than it has ever been."

The way AC Milan disposed of Manchester United suggests Liverpool will need every favourable omen and good-luck charm they can get come the Champions League Final. So Rafael Benitez will be pleased to hear UEFA have asked Sky to direct the television coverage of the game on May 23, just as they did in Istanbul two years ago when his team staged their improbable comeback from 3-0 down to win on penalties.

Williams take lead in challenge to F1 rules

Behind the happy facade of the most exciting start to a Formula One season in years, negotiations for a new Concorde Agreement to govern the sport for the next 10 years continue to be fraught.

Most significantly, Williams, Ferrari and BMW are adamant they will not accept the customer regulations' which would allow new independent teams to buy chassis from existing manufacturers, rather than have to build and design them themselves.

A number of teams are keen on the idea, although the employers of Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, have denied they already have a deal in place with 2008 entrants Prodrive. The opposition is led by Williams, who want to preserve their status as the only independent team on the grid.

Calls last week for the Olympic brand to be used in a nationwide get-fit campaign ahead of London 2012 may not have been as naive as they appeared. The world's biggest sporting event has always protected its logos and name so zealously that schools have been prevented from using the word olympics' to describe sports days. But Joanna Manning-Cooper, head of media at the London 2012 organisers, said: "We are looking at the non-commercial use of the brand to make sure it can be used in an appropriate and proportionate way." Whether that means community clubs and governing bodies will be able to stick the five rings on promotional material will become clearer once the London 2012 brand is unveiled on June 4.