MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 SPORTS

BRIGHTON: ’s Tim Nanai-Williams scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match against USA at the Brighton Community Stadium. — AP Samoa see off US challenge to get first World Cup win

BRIGHTON: Samoa captain Ofisa Treviranus ment. A scrappy opening few minutes, with However, when Samoa came under pres- points to the Samoans with an infringement tained. Samoa left the Americans needing two led from the front as the Pacific islanders the Samoans largely testing the USA defence sure for the first time Clancy awarded the and Pisi added the three points for a half-time converted tries to even force a draw with 10 opened their World Cup campaign with a 25- resulted in a penalty to the Pacific islanders United States a penalty after a Samoan went 14-8 lead. The Pacific islanders extended their minutes remaining as Mike Stanley-who had 16 win over United States in Pool B yesterday. and fly-half Pisi slotted it over for 3-0. offside. Ireland-born fly-half AJ MacGinty con- lead early in the second-half NManai-Williams replaced Tusi Pisi-kicked a superb penalty from Treviranus scored a battling try and Tusi Pisi turned creator in the 20th minute. He verted it for 11-3. ripping the ball free of wing Takudzwa wide out on the left for 25-11. They scored one Pusi kicked four penalties as Samoa stayed produced a delightful grubber kick behind the MacGinty, who sprang from the same alma Ngwenya close to the Americans tryline. try as replacement Chirs Baumann went over comfortably ahead of the Americans through- American defence for fullback Tim Manai- mater as iconic Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll The ball ran loose captain Ofisa Treviranus but MacGinty failed to convert. out the game in Brighton. Williams-cousin of All Blacks great Sonny Bill Blackrock College, showed he is not just there picked it up and went over the line-Pisi’s Samoa next play South Africa on Saturday, “Our discipline was excellent today and the Williams-to run onto and touch down for his for kicking as his vision created a superb try curates egg of a day with the boot continued which promises to be a bruising encounter boys were brilliant,” said the captain after both first try for his country. after the US won a Samoan lineout. He took as his conversion attempt came off the post. after the Springboks humiliation by Japan on teams knelt and said prayers together follow- Pisi failed to convert to leave the score 8-0 the ball just outside his 22 and burst through Pisi and MacGinty exchanged penalties to Saturday. The United States face Scotland. ing the final whistle. Predicted big hits quickly but added a penalty seven minutes later for the Samoan defence before offloading to see the score tick over to 22-11 with just over “Scotland will be a tough game but this materialised after the start with American cen- 11-0 with the Americans once again penalised. Seamus Kelly, who cut inside and found cap- 20 minutes to go. The game began to peter out game will have been useful for it,” said US tre Thretton Palamo leaving opposite number The famously ill-disciplined Samoans by con- tain Chrius Wyles who went over for the try- with 15 minutes remaining, a succession of set coach . “Frustrating errors and Rey Lee-Lo shaken on the turf in less than a trast had by contrast yet to attract referee MacGinty sent his conversion wide. pieces prompting the crowd into a rendition of our lack of discipline did for us. I am disap- minute. Lee-Lo was sent for a head assess- George Clancy’s ire. The Americans, though, again donated ‘Sweet Chariot’ to keep themselves enter- poiunted.”— AFP South Africa reels from ‘humiliation’ by Japan

JOHANNESBURG: The Springboks’ stunning the South African to transform defeat by Japan in their opening match of the the Springboks team will grow from many Rugby World Cup has shocked South Africa, quarters” Even labor unions waded in, with casting doubt on the team’s chances of pro- the powerful confederation of trade unions, gressing to the final stages of the tournament. Cosatu lambasting Meyer. “The ‘old’ injured “Ultimate Bok Humiliation”, “Boks Humiliated”- white men were just useless and gave Japan were some of the headlines in South Africa’s the space to play a great game,” said a state- main newspapers yesterday. ment by the Western Cape branch of Cosatu. The Sunday Times stated that the defeat “In the first half, Heyneke had all white players by the team ranked 13 in the world “rocked except the back three, and they were com- the game to its very foundations”-South pletely outplayed by Japan.” Africa are ranked number three and have Social media was a mix of criticism for the twice won the World Cup. Springboks, particularly the obsession of Under the headline “Bok heads to roll”, the coach Heyneke Meyer with veterans, and paper said the future of coach Heyneke Meyer praise for Japan. may be in doubt following the shock defeat. “Most appalling effort I have ever seen ... It also said the explosive match exposed flaws you should be ashamed,” tweeted Vlam in Meyer’s “old man” game plan. Meyer’s team Viljoen. “Boks are the new Bafana Bafana,” said included world cup veterans like Victor Fana Mokoena, referring to the national foot- Matfield and Bryan Habana and was the most ball team that suffered a humiliating Africa experienced South African outfit ever to take Cup of Nations qualifying defeat in Mauritania the to field with a combined total of 851 caps two weekends ago. across the 15 starters. “Thinking of the great Bok coaches and In his column, former Springbok Ashwin captains we have had and how most would Willemse wrote that the impact of the defeat have resigned after a loss to Japan,” was the “may be so devastating that we might not view of Lusty Len.“Old men should not have even make it past the quarter-finals or be played. Why not use young talent?” asked lucky to even reach that stage”. As a rugby- Heidi Middleton. mad country, the 34-32 defeat also drew “Tough, painful and, most of all, humiliat- widespread shock and surprise from fans, ing,” was the summary of Fire Cracker. “Meyer who expected the Springboks to cruise past a has a cunning plan to finish second in group Japan side that had not won a World Cup and avoid New Zealand in semi-finals,” joked match since 1991. “I thought it was an Wordfish. Chris Lee hailed Japan: “This is what absolute farce, I was expecting South Africa to sport is all about ... a huge victory for team : ’ is tackled by Uruguay’s Francisco Bulanti (left) during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match at the Millennium win by a way, way big margin,” said Wayne spirit and hard work.” Stadium. — AP Saralina, a 46-year-old fan. “I admire and respect dedication, determi- The Springboks went to the World Cup nation and heart,” tweeted Esme Nortje, say- under the usual cloud of a race row over the ing Japan were now her second favourite Allen hat-trick helps selection of the team. Critics, including top World Cup team after the Springboks. government officials have repeatedly accused Japan play Scotland on Wednesday in their the sport’s administrators of maintaining elit- second Pool B game while South Africa have ism by mostly selecting white players. an additional three days to recover before The Sunday Times said “the pressure on meeting Samoa on Saturday. — AFP Wales past Uruguay

Salford secure status CARDIFF: scored a hat-trick as Wales riority started to show. “They were going to be defence, the centre squirming past Rodrigo Silva laboured to a 54-9 victory over minnows extremely passionate,” said Wales captain Sam to score. Berchesi kept Uruguay in the game MANCHESTER: Junior Sa’u and Cory which is a play-off between fourth and fifth Uruguay and suffered new injury scares in the Warburton. “It was just weathering that storm in with a third penalty after another high. Ball tack- Paterson enjoyed try-scoring returns as for the last top-flight spot for 2016. World Cup yesterday. the first 10 minutes, being accurate and being as le before Allen was played in for his second after secured their Super League Victories for Wakefield and Bradford over It was not the avalanche of points against the patient as we could. “I’m a little bit disappointed Scott Williams broke the line of a well-organised status with a bruising 24-10 win at Widnes the weekend did at least guarantee a play-off world’s 19th ranked nation that the 71,800 we didn’t look after the ball well enough so defence. Vikings. The two sides headed into their chance and in the process condemn Halifax, crowd in the wanted. But it there’s a lot we can improve on,” the flanker Worryingly for Wales, first prop fourth meeting of the season level on eight Leigh and Sheffield to life in the second tier ensured a crucial bonus point in the battle with added. went off and then full-back Liam Williams, mak- points, knowing that victory for either would next season. Michael Sio helped himself to and Australia for top place in Pool A. But Warburton was confident Wales’ failure to ing his comeback from a long injury lay-off and cement their status for next season. two tries for Wakefield on Saturday to help his With the Salford pack on top from the out- side see off Halifax 30-12. The Welsh scored four first-half tries, Samson run up a massive score would not come back to seen as the natural successor to the injured set, they found themselves 18-4 up at the The Samoan international crossed twice in Lee’s effort preceding Allen’s hat-trick. Hallam haunt his side. “The main thing was winning and Leigh Halfpennny. break thanks to tries from Josh Griffin, Scott the first half alongside Michael Simon to put Amos, Gareth Davies (2) and getting a bonus point and we managed to do Allen got his hat-trick on the stroke of half- Taylor and Australian Paterson. the home side 18-6 ahead at the break - Jack crossed in the second period, that,” he said. “The most important thing in this time, Tipuric and Amos combining to hand the New Zealander Sa’u added a fourth try Eccleston responding for Halifax. But while hitting seven conversions. Wales now move on group is picking up your bonus points. player the easiest of run-ins to shortly after the break while Lloyd White reg- Scott Murrell would also cross for the sev- to much tougher pool matches against England “It’s unlikely to come to a (match) points deci- guarantee Wales a bonus point in what promises istered Widnes’ second try of the afternoon enth-placed visitors, Wakefield extended at Twickenham on Saturday, followed by Fiji in sion.” Uruguay, whose previous tournament to be the tightest of pools. following former NZ Warriors star Patrick Ah their advantage thanks to further tries from Cardiff on October 1 and then Australia on appearances saw them notch up wins over With Wales completely dominant on set- Van’s first-half effort. and Max Jowitt. Earlier in October 10, again at Twickenham. Just the top Spain in 1999 and Georgia in 2003, got off to an piece, Gatland brought on for Lee, But there would be no late fightback from the day, Bradford had put the pressure on two are guaranteed of automatic qualification ideal start with a second-minute Felipe Berchesi the tighthead having made a successful come- the hosts with Salford’s Josh Griffin and Halifax to win against Wakefield with a 32-16 for the quarter-finals from the so-called ‘Pool of penalty after Tipuric failed to stay on his feet at back from a ruptured achilles tendon in March. Widnes’ Kevin Brown both red carded for win at Leigh. Danny Williams and Matty Death’. the first ruck. Berchesi, one of the rare Uruguay Tipuric was denied a try early in the second fighting late on. Blythe were both in good touch, crossing Wales coach rested key for- players to play in Europe - for Caracassone in period after a good cover tackle dislodged the The result sees Salford leapfrog their twice each to ensure the visitors stayed fifth wards Alun , and France’s second division, failed with a 53-metre ball as he crossed the line, but Amos was the opponents into second place in in the Qualifiers. Jake Mullaney opening the , and a crucial trio of backs in Dan effort but was on target minutes later after Jake beneficiary of a break by scrum-half Davies, the table while Widnes are two points clear of try-scoring first, while Williams extended the Biggar, and , and in Ball’s high tackle. Priestland spurned two penal- winger extending the home side’s lead. Allen Wakefield Wildcats and with all lead to ten points with his first try. Leigh did their absence the Welsh team struggled to click ties from very kickable ranges to go for the cor- then limped off injured as a visibly flagging three still in with a chance of automatically not go down without a fight though and lev- in a scrappy display against a team with just four ner, and from the second driving line-out, Lee Uruguay stuck gamely to their task. Davies dart- securing their Super League status with one elled through Adam Higson and Gregg professionals. crashed over for the opening try. ed over for two deserved tries of his own either game remaining. The remaining two teams McNally before Williams and Blyth restored will instead contest the , the Bulls’ lead. —AFP Uruguay held firm for almost 15 minutes, Allen was the recipient of a delicate side of a Tipuric five-pointer after the flanker was indeed leading 6-0, before Wales set-piece supe- Priestland dink over the South Americans’ driven over. — AFP