|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:52:00 +0200 De Villiers safe for now, but faces review |
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers's job is safe for now although the South African Rugby Union (Saru) will review his side's poor run of form and some of his controversial comments later this month.
Defending champions South Africa lost their fifth match out of six in this year's Tri Nations on Saturday, a 41-39 defeat by Australia, fuelling media speculation that De Villiers would be sacked.
"All rugby followers are extremely disappointed with results in the Tri-Nations, as are the Springbok team and management, of course," Saru president Oregan Hoskins said in a statement on Sunday. "We take the situation very seriously but there is a process in place and we will follow that through."
He added that the Springboks' poor Tri-Nations performance would be subject to an annual review, "as per normal", with De Villiers later this month.
De Villiers, whose three-year tenure has featured several fiery tirades, has found his comments under scrutiny again this week after saying the team fully supported Bees Roux, the Blue Bulls prop accused last week of murdering a policeman.
Hoskins said his organisation would hold "formal discussions" with De Villiers about "some of his reported comments" and added that Saru had written to the policeman's family.
De Villiers was last month cleared of misconduct by southern hemisphere governing body Sanzar following television comments suggesting New Zealand were being given preferential treatment by referees because they were hosing next year's World Cup.
He was also widely criticised last year when he defended flanker Schalk Burger, who was banned for eye-gouging during the British and Irish Lions tour. -- Reuters |
| Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:41:00 +0200 Murray limps out of US Open |
Andy Murray hobbled out of the US Open on Sunday, beaten 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the third round by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka after his ailing body and his mind failed him when he needed it most.
Struggling to run at full speed after requiring treatment to his legs, elbow and neck, the Briton appeared powerless to stop Wawrinka, who was battling his own injury problems but still played superbly, from pulling off the biggest upset of the championship.
"I was struggling physically and I got frustrated with that," Murray said. "Maybe I felt like my chance of doing well here was slipping away. I've worked very hard to give myself a chance of winning tournaments.
"It happens to everyone in life at different points."
Murray's limp departure was in stark contrast to an incredible fightback from Australia's Samantha Stosur, who saved four match points to beat Elena Dementieva 6-3 2-6 7-6 in a nail-biting centre court match that did not end until 1.35 am local time, the latest finish for a women's match at the US Open.
"That's definitely one of the most exciting matches I've ever played. The atmosphere out there was just awesome," said Stosur. "I think we both played a great match. It just came down to playing good tennis. We gave it our best shot."
World number one Rafa Nadal, playing before Murray's defeat, sent an ominous warning to his rivals about his plans to complete his collection of Grand Slam titles in New York.
The Spaniard, getting better with each match on the back of a new and improved serve, overpowered France's Gilles Simon 6-4 6-4 6-2 to steam into the fourth round without dropping a single service game in three matches.
"It was important not to lose without dropping a set," Nadal said. "Every day I seem to play much better, which is good for my confidence."
Venus advances
Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters passed their first real tests at Arthur Ashe Stadium with flying colours to safely book their places in the quarterfinals.
The pair could hardly have been more impressive as they brushed past tricky opponents to remain on course for a blockbuster semifinal showdown as the season's last Grand Slam enters its second week.
Williams, the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, defeated Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer 7-6 6-3 in an ideal preparation for the more difficult matches ahead of her.
"It's always good to have a tougher match, a kind of a match where you have to challenge yourself against your opponent and the conditions," said Williams, who played in a red sequined dress.
Clijsters, who won the title in 2005 and again last year, thrashed Serbia's former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 in just under an hour. Like Nadal and Williams, she is yet to drop a set in the championship.
"You always want to do well at tournaments where you've done well, and obviously, the US Open is a special tournament for me," Clijsters said.
"Tennis-wise, I feel that I've been improving every match."
Clijsters's next opponent is Stosur, who is developing a reputation as one of the toughest players in women's tennis.
She saved a match point to beat Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the French Open in June and another four in beating Sara Errani in New Haven last week.
"I don't want to make a habit of doing this all the time," the fifth seed said. "But it's amazing what experiences a week ago, a month ago, whatever, can really help you through the next one."
Schiavone cruises
Italy's Francesca Schiavone, brimming with confidence after she beat Stosur in the final at Paris to capture her maiden Grand Slam title, also cruised through to the last eight, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-0. Schiavone will play Williams in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
Spain are already assured of at least one men's semifinalist after Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Felciano Lopez joined their countryman Nadal in the same section of the draw.
Nadal will face Lopez next with the winner to play either Ferrer or Verdasco.
Another two Spaniards, Albert Montanes and Tommy Robredo, are also through to the last 16, giving Spain a total of six, easily the most by any one country this year.
"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds," said Verdasco, who advanced with a four-set win over Argentine David Nalbandian.
Wawrinka, seeded 25th, advanced to play Sam Querrey, the only American left in the men's competition, although the big winner could well be Nadal, who was drawn to face Murray in the semifinals.
Murray's loss was another disappointment for the Scotsman, who arrived at Flushing Meadows seeded fourth, in great form, and holding genuine hopes of ending Britain's 74-year wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion.
Murray was at a loss to explain his lacklustre performance against Wawrinka, who teamed up with Roger Federer to win the Olympic gold medal in doubles at Beijing in 2008.
Murray had sailed through his first two matches and looked to be heading to another victory when he won the first set tiebreaker then served for the second set when all of a sudden his game fell apart at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
By the start of the third set he was clearly in discomfort and protecting his left thigh but did not ask for a medical timeout and allowed his frustrations to effect his game.
The 23-year-old made the final at Flushing Meadows in 2008 and in Australia earlier this year but is still chasing his first Grand Slam title.
"I have no idea whether I'll win a Grand Slam or not," he said. "I want to, but if I never win one, then what?" -- Reuters |
| Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:10:00 +0200 Nadal serves notice to his US Open rivals |
Rafa Nadal sent an ominous warning to his rivals about his intentions to win the US Open and complete his collection of grand slam titles with another impressive straight-sets win on Sunday.
The Spanish world number one, getting better with each match on the back of a new and improved serve, overpowered France's Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to steam into the fourth round without dropping a service game in three matches.
"It was important not to lose without dropping a set," Nadal said. "Every day I seem to play much better which is good for my confidence."
Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters passed their first real tests of the championship with flying colours to safely book their places in the women's quarterfinals.
The pair could hardly have been more impressive as they swept past tricky opponents to remain on course for a blockbuster semifinal showdown when the last grand slam of the season enters the second week.
Williams, the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, defeated Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer 7-6, 6-3 in an ideal test for the more difficult matches ahead of her.
"It's always good to have a tougher match, a kind of a match where you have to challenge yourself against your opponent and the conditions," Williams said.
"We always have had very competitive matches, so I know it's not going to be something I just walk through when I play against her.
"I have to stay focused and ready to take every point or else she will. It was a good challenge."
Clijsters, who won the title in 2005 and again last year, thrashed Serbia's former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1 in just under an hour. Like Nadal and Williams, she is yet to drop a set in the championship.
"You always want to do well at tournaments where you've done well, and obviously, the US Open is a special tournament for me," Clijsters said.
"Tennis wise, I feel that I've been improving every match. I want to try and keep it going."
Schiavone cuises
Italy's Francesca Schiavone, brimming with confidence after winning her maiden grand slam title at this year's French Open, also cruised through to the last eight, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-0.
Schiavone will play Williams in Tuesday's quarterfinals while Clijsters will face the winner of Sunday's late match between Australia's Samantha Stosur and Elena Dementieva of Russia.
"I feel better than when I was in French Open, but just because I know how to do it and how to win a match like this," Schiavone said.
"So I'm very curious, I'm interested to see [if I can] write a new history."
Spain are already assured of at least one men's semi-finalist after Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Felciano Lopez joined their countryman Nadal in the same section of the draw.
Nadal will face Lopez next with the winner to play either Ferrer or Verdasco.
A fifth Spaniard, Albert Montanes, is already through to the last 16 on the bottom half of the draw with a sixth, Tommy Robredo, yet to play his third-round match.
"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds," said Verdasco, who advanced with a four set win over Argentine David Nalbandian. - Reuters |
| Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:17:00 +0200 ICC cricket fixing inquiry includes fourth mystery player |
The first meeting between Pakistan and England since fixing allegations plunged cricket into crisis began under appropriately dark skies in Cardiff on Sunday, amid claims the International Cricket Council's fixing inquiry had been widened to include a fourth player.
After last week charging and suspending the three players at the centre of the alleged betting scam – Test captain Salman Butt, fast bowler Mohammad Asif, and highly regarded teenager Mohammad Amir – the ICC said it would not comment further on any ongoing investigation.
It is understood that the ICC has written to Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal in connection with a separate inquiry that does not relate to the current tour. However, there is no suggestion that he is the mystery fourth player claimed to be under investigation.
The three players are likely to appeal against the provisional suspension imposed last week under the ICC's code, which will see them unable to play for months while its investigation takes place.
But new claims by the News of the World that opening Test batsman Yasir Hameed had claimed fixing was rife among his teammates were immediately called into question by the player and Pakistan media outlets that said he had been asked leading questions and mistranslated.
Hameed, who did not play on Sunday and is not in the one day squad, said he had not given any interview -- the exchange was filmed by an undercover reporter posing as a potential sponsor -- and that he had not alleged any Pakistan player was guilty of match fixing.
"They were doing it in almost every match," Hameed was quoted as saying. "God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages."
But Hameed said he was merely admitting that the players had discussed the allegations.
"I was approached by this guy about a deal for sticker sponsorship on my bat. It was a general discussion and I just repeated what had already been published in the News of the World," said Hameed.
"I was tricked into this interview, I never knew they were recording it, which is a serious offence and I am talking to the Pakistan team management about it."
The batsman was on Sunday summoned to see the Pakistan high commissioner and Pakistan Cricket Board chairperson Ijaz Butt and is believed to be considering the possibility of legal action.
The ICC could still investigate Hameed for his claim that he was approached by a middle man during the Champions Trophy in 2004, which under the commission's code should have been reported to anti-corruption investigators.
Police interviewed the three Pakistan players, alleged to have agreed to bowl no balls at specific moments of the fourth Test at Lord's, under caution on Friday before releasing them without condition or charge.
They are examining phone calls and SMSes between the three and middle man Mazhar Majeed, as well as looking to link money found in their possession to £150 000 handed over by the News of the World. All three players maintain their innocence. Majeed was arrested and bailed a week ago. - guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2010 |
| Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:44:00 +0200 Mosimane frustrated, but happy with win |
Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane admitted there was plenty of room for improvement despite his side outclassing Niger 2-0 in their opening 2012 African Nations Cup Group G qualifier played at a packed Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.
Mosimane said after the match his players could expect the campaign to hot up in more ways than one when they travel to Freetown for a showdown against Sierra Leone next month.
Mosimane was happy with the win but conceded he was concerned by the number of easy chances his players missed in the second half.
“The result was not a true reflection of the game. We should have scored a lot more goals. I was frustrated by the chances we missed.”
Mosimane said his strikers showed anxiety and lacked experience. “We played well and created those chances so I am not complaining but, we also lacked maturity in front of goal.
“We achieved our aim of collecting three points from the opening match. I am satisfied with the commitment and the way we passed the ball around and created countless chances. It was entertaining stuff and a good experience.
On Sierra Leone, he commented: “We can expect totally different conditions. I was there with Bafana last year [as assistant coach] and know we will not get the type of conditions we enjoy at home. It will be extremely hot and humid and it will be a lot tougher than this [Niger]. But I am confident we can go to Freetown and get a result.”
The new Bafana head coach now has two wins from two matches in charge without conceding a goal after Bafana edged out World Cup quarterfinalists Ghana 1-0 in a warm-up match played at the FNB Stadium last month but Bafana lost 1-0 in Freetown in the 2010 Afcon qualifying campaign.
“We won't get the same amount of chances we created against Niger. But we will be ready.”
While describing Bafana as “brilliant” in the second half against Niger, who looked like a side ranked 145th in the world, he was confused as to why they missed numerous easy chances in that period.
“Sure we have to improve. But it was a good start and overall and it went according to plan. What amazed me was that we scored a really difficult goal when Bernard Parker scored [with a wonder
volley] to make it 2-0 and yet we missed open goals. We practised finishing during the week.
"I admit I was frustrated. But at the end of the night we have three points and that is what is important.”
However, Mosimane said he hoped the glaring misses from Siphiwe Tshabalala, Katlego Mphela, Parker and substitute Kermit Erasmus to name a few culprits would not come back to bite Bafana.
“I hope we can win the group cleanly and not have to reply on goal difference. But that is still a way down the road.”
Only the group winner is guaranteed a place in the finals to be staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and with African champions Egypt also in the group, it could be a tight finish. Egypt play Sierra Leone in Cairo on Sunday night.
Mphela scored his 18th Bafana goal in 37 appearances for his country to put Bafana 1-0 ahead in the 17th minute and then Parker scored a scorcher in first-half injury time to make it 2-0.
Despite having Niger on the rack, Bafana missed chance after chance and should have won by a cricket score but instead they were foiled by some superb goalkeeping from Daouda Kassali and poor finishing.
But Mosimane said he has a platform to build on.
What was impressive was the way Bafana kept possession and controlled the midfield where Russian-based Macbeth Sibaya and Everton playmaker Steven Pienaar were outstanding.
At the back Bafana gave little away and when they had to deal with Niger's bulky striker Amazon Moussa they were able to contain him.
“Moussa is a dangerous striker but we coped well,“ said the coach. - Sapa |
|
Sooccer / Football WorldCup 2010 |
|
|
|
|
![[logo]](http://www.fifa.com/imgml/rssheader.gif
"FIFA.com")
