TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 SPORTS Tonga take aim at Namibia in race for third place

EXETER: Tonga face Namibia today with their aim will captain the side coached by Welshman Phil Georgia, so we’re making sure that we address this faced a tough test against the South Sea islanders. reset on finishing third in Pool C to seal automatic Davies to make his 10th World Cup appearance, game first and foremost, hence the changes. This is “The Tongans have had a good rest. There will be a qualification for the 2019 World Cup while the which leaves him one shy of the team record of 11 the team that we believe is going to do the job in lot of emotion flying around their team and they will southern Africans will simply be after a first-ever held by Hugo Horn. Tonga, an ever-present at the the game coming up against Namibia. “On the day be very physical,” the former Llanelli and Wales for- win. Tonga went down to a shock 17-10 defeat by World Cup bar one absence in 1991, have nine we’ve got to be prepared, regardless of who we’re ward said. Georgia in their opening match, throwing the scrap changes, coach Mana Otai explaining that decision playing and I think we learned our lessons from “They are number 11 in the world and we are for third place wide open behind heavyweights New by pointing to the short timespan between the next Georgia.” Otai warned that their favorites’ tag would number 20. That’s a huge difference, so it will be a Zealand and Argentina. While Tonga mathematically games. count for nothing following England’s 28-25 defeat massive, massive challenge for us.” Davies said many remain in the hunt for second place, they have still “There’s always been a plan about how we take by Wales. “It could have been either one’s game, but positives could be taken from their defeat by cham- to play the All Blacks and the Pumas, who finish up on these four games and take into consideration the if you look at the build-up to it, I think the favorites pions New Zealand. “There was inevitable excite- their pool campaign against Namibia. Namibia have two four-day turnarounds in the upcoming two were England-we’re in the same dilemma (being ment about our performance but this is a level- made eight changes to the starting line-up that lost games, but having said that, we also take into con- favorites)... It highlighted that at the World Cup any- headed group,” Davies said. “I was pleased with the 58-14 to New Zealand last week. sideration now the situation that we’re in,” Otai said. thing could happen.” performance but a bit disappointed that we didn’t Indefatigable Saracens flanker Jacques Burger “We haven’t had success in the last game against Namibia coach Davies warned that his team impose ourselves a bit earlier.” — AFP De Villiers bows out

JOHANNESBURG: Jean de Villiers ended Johannesburg-born former world No.1 Els 13 years as a Springbok by sipping wine in has won four Major championships. De the middle of the night with team-mate Villiers said the middle-of-the-night talk and former schoolmate Schalk Burger, centred on what would be the perfect end- childhood idol Danie Gerber and golfer ing to a Springbok career Ernie Els. The skipper and cen- “After such a tough week following the tre fractured a jaw on Saturday in a 46-6 defeat to Japan, being part of the team that Rugby World Cup mauling of Samoa in got back on track and played with such Birmingham that got the twice champions’ pride and determination to win well is campaign back on track after a stunning good enough for me. “As a former loss to Japan. Ruled out of the tournament Springbok now, I am supporter No 1 and I by the injury, 34-year-old De Villiers later do not want the guys to feel sorry for me. announced his retirement, drawing the cur- “This week is about the team replicating tains on a 109-Test career. the urgency shown against Samoa, and It was a heartbreaking ending for the beating Scotland.” De Villiers said he hoped Cape Town-based star who had overcome a to have surgery in South Africa and then serious knee ligament injury and the frac- return to England for the closing stages of ture of the other side of his jaw to make the the World Cup to provide moral support World Cup squad. De Villiers has had rotten and advice. South Africa sports minister World Cup luck-missing the 2003 tourna- Fikile Mbalula said the Springboks will miss ment because of a shoulder injury and their inspirational leader. “Jean is a great being ruled out of the Springboks 2007 leader and a patriot to be celebrated all the campaign after one match with a biceps time. He put his body on the line despite injury. But as his Springbok team-mates criticism and has shown great leadership slept in north-east England city Newcastle, qualities. where they face Scotland Saturday in a top- “It is a setback for South Africa and for of-the-table Pool B clash, De Villiers gath- him. I wish him a speedy recovery. He was a ered special friends in his hotel room. soldier who was injured on duty trying to “Danie and Ernie have become great do better for his country, his family and friends of mine.” De Villiers told the South everybody.” Former Springbok skipper and African media. “Gerber is the best centre loose forward Corne Krige described the South Africa ever produced and I am hon- loss of De Villiers as a huge blow. “That is a ored to have played in the same position massive setback for Jean after coming back he once did. from a horrific knee injury and a cracked “It is funny how things worked out with jaw. “To be injured again is actually beyond two legends commiserating with me, and belief-he must be devastated. “I think the Schalk being at his philosophical best for team relies on him in a big way. But I also that time of the night.” Gerber was capped think that after their win against Samoa, 24 times between 1980 and 1992 and spirits will be a lot higher.” — AFP

RICHMOND: Peter Sagan, of Slovakia, crosses the finish line first in the men’s elite road circuit race in the UCI Road World Championships cycling races in Richmond, Va on Sunday, Sept 27, 2015. — AP Cycling champ Sagan casts spotlight on migrant crisis

RICHMOND: Peter Sagan had just climbed to the my girlfriend, if I win the rainbow jersey, I want two stages and the overall title at the Tour of top of the podium at cycling’s world champi- to tell this so people are thinking about the California, or his fourth straight green jersey as onships on Sunday when the Slovakian star turned future,” Sagan said, “and that we have to change the top sprinter at the Tour de France. “I was win- the spotlight on issues far greater than a bike race. something.” ning a lot, and it got boring for the people and Might as well use that podium as a pulpit, after all. In many ways, Sagan has become the new the riders,” he said jokingly, when pressed on all Thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in face of cycling. He’s young, charismatic and his near-misses. “I’m always fighting. In the Tour the Middle East, Africa and Asia have flooded exciting, capable of winning any kind of race - a de France and this year at some of the classics, I through the Balkans and into Western Europe over flat-out sprint or over a punchy course like he was at the front but just not the best.” the past year, creating tensions among nations try- found at the world championships. His flair for There was no disputing he was the best on ing to respond to the crisis. the dramatic has endeared Sagan to older fans Sunday. Sagan hid safely in the peloton as riders The situation has turned many people into who weathered the doping scandals of Lance kept attacking throughout the 260-kilometer nomads, searching not only for borders willing Armstrong and others, and young fans only race, only popping to the front in the last few to let them cross, but a country willing to give learning about the sport. His relationship with kilometers. On the penultimate climb, Sagan them a fresh start. “We live in the moment now,” fans was on full display in Richmond, where jumped to the front and roared away, getting Sagan said, “but maybe in the future, I don’t Sagan in some ways became an adopted into an aerodynamic tuck to leave the rest of the know. Maybe we’re not here. That is why it’s American. Fans lining the course shouted his field behind. “He was really strong,” said important. I want to tell the people thinking name, urging him on during the decisive final Australian sprinter Michael Matthews, who about how we’re going to change the world - lap, and roared their approval when he rode wound up taking silver ahead of Lithuania’s OK, one man, maybe nothing, but if we have hands-free across the finish line. Sagan respond- Ramunas Navardauskas at the finish on Broad more, we can change.” ed by flipping his helmet into the crowd and Street. By the time they crossed the line, Sagan The 25-year-old Sagan was born in the former raising his arms in triumph. was hopping off his bike. He whooped up the Czechoslovakia less than a year after the Velvet The victory was also validation for Sagan, crowd, gave his girlfriend a kiss and even high- Revolution restored democracy in the country. who was near the front in every race he compet- fived some of the other riders straggling in after Though he was still an infant when the nation ed in this season, but always seemed to come up him. Then, he remembered the bigger message peacefully separated into the Czech Republic short. Those second- and third-place finishes he wanted to get across. “It is about the future,” NEW DELHI: South Africa’s AB de Villiers (2nd left) and (right) and Slovakia, his family lived through turbulent even began to draw the ire of his trade team Sagan said. “This is very nice, I am very happy for take part in a training session for the practice cricket match between the Indian times. Perhaps it was no surprise that such world owner, who lamented about how much Sagan this, but I want also for another generation that Board President’s XI and South Africa at the Palam A Ground Model Sports Complex issues weighed on his mind Sunday. “I told Kate, was getting paid. Never mind that Sagan won can ride and be here.” — AP in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP England try to regroup; ‘that South Africa banking on decision’ casts long shadow IPL skills for India tour LONDON: England’s Rugby World Cup “I got the sense that England were pan- defeat by Wales, and the decision not to icking,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live on attempt the late shot at goal that could Monday. “I don’t blame Chris as much as I NEW DELHI: South Africa hope their players’ have prevented it, remained the topic of blame others. I blame the environment.” experience in the Indian Premier League will choice in workplaces around Britain yes- The England camp were endeavoring enable them to turn the tables on their hosts at terday, two days after the memorable to “move on”, knowing that a win over the start of a grueling 10-week tour of India, Twickenham clash. While Wales were Australia would probably still be enough coach Russell Domingo said yesterday. The basking in the glory of their remarkable to send them into the quarter-finals. tourists are due to play three Twenty20 interna- 28-25 comeback win and trying to recov- There was good news too on Monday tionals and five one-day matches up until er in time for Thursday’s match against when flanker Tom Wood escaped a pos- October 25, before starting a four-Test series on Fiji, England were doing their best to sible ban for accidentally kicking Wales’s November 5. switch the focus to their next challenge- Liam Williams in the head. However, Ten members of their Twenty20 squad turn the all or nothing Pool A meeting with Lancaster faces an anxious wait on sever- out for various franchises in the glitzy cash-rich Australia on Saturday. al other players before naming his team IPL, and Domingo said that will benefit his But there was no escaping the events on Thursday. Both specialist number wards. “We are fortunate to have quite a few of last Saturday, when England blew a eights Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola players who know Indian conditions because of 10-point second-half lead with a series of have knee injuries, as does lock the IPL,” Domingo told reporters in New Delhi. bad decisions, culminating in that by Courtney Lawes, who went off at half- “They understand what is required to play in captain Chris Robshaw not to ask Owen time against Wales. these conditions. “We expect tough and uncom- Farrell to take on the difficult 78th- Scrumhalf Ben Youngs, who had an promising cricket during the tour. That is also minute kick that would have leveled the excellent game at Twickenham before how we play. The players are used to tough scores. Robshaw opted for a lineout and also being forced off, is struggling to places. “South Africa is not for sissies. We enjoy England then inexplicably threw to the overcome an ankle problem, while different cultures. We enjoy meeting and mixing front, allowing the Welsh to surge for- Jonathan Joseph is considered unlikely with new and different people.” ward and shove their attempted driving to have recovered from the torn chest South Africa have separate captains for all maul into touch. muscle that ruled him out of the Wales three formats, with leading them The Times on Monday described it as game. Lancaster will also need to decide NEW DELHI: South African team coach Russell Domingo (left) speaks as T20 captain Faf Du in Twenty20 cricket, AB de Villiers in one-day Plessis looks on during a press conference in New Delhi yesterday. South Africa are on a 72-day a “moment of madness” while former whether to retain Owen Farrell and Sam internationals and in Tests. Du England flyhalf turned pundit Stuart Burgess, drafted in to deal with the tour of India during which they play three T-20, five One-Day International (ODI) and four Test Plessis insisted the arrangement worked perfect- matches. — AFP Barnes said the decision was the “worst heavyweight Welsh midfield, or recall ly for the Proteas. “The three of us play all for- piece of captaincy I can remember in my George Ford at flyhalf and hand a second mats and when one is not the captain, we can and 20-year-old fast bowler Kagiso ing day in and day out. And at the same time it playing or media days.” start to slippery centre Henry Slade as enjoy cricket without the extra responsibility. Rabada. offers an opportunity to develop younger play- Former England captain Will Carling, England seek to create more attacking This way we are always fresh. “It has worked real- Domingo justified the decision to rest pace ers. “It is a win-win situation for us because it the only man to lead the country more threat. “There’s a huge sense of frustra- ly well for us. It’s never been an issue, we contin- spearheads and Morne Morkel from allows us to look at options and keep players times than Robshaw, lumped much of the tion around the camp that we let it slip ue to learn from each other and support each the Twenty20 games to keep them fresh for the fresh at the same time.” The tourists will play a blame on Lancaster and the “classroom- away,” Lancaster said. “But it’s still all to other.” The three captains are among only six one-dayers and the Tests. “It is going to be a long practice Twenty20 match in New Delhi on orientated environment” he has created. play for.” — Reuters players who are part of all three squads, the oth- tour and we have to decide how to manage our Tuesday before travelling to Dharamsala for the ers being all-rounder JP Duminy, leg-spinner players,” the coach said. “It is tough to be practic- first T20 international on Friday. — AFP