WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 SPORTS

Giles replaces injured Hungary votes to strip its Foot fracture rules Amos in squad Olympic Committee of powers Kroos out for Germany BUDAPEST: Hungary approved yesterday a sweeping BERLIN: Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos is the latest Germany star ruled out of HENSOL: Newport Gwent back Hallam Amos has reform of its sports laws that will see the national Olympic Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier away to San Marino with a fractured foot. withdrawn from Wales’s squad for the end-of-year Tests Committee stripped of most of its powers and roles, as The 26-year-old misses the qualifier, four days before Germany’s friendly due to a shoulder injury, the Welsh Budapest vies to host 2024 Games. The changes, due to against Italy in Milan, with a hairline fracture of the announced yesterday. Amos, who can play wing or full- come into force on January 1, 2017, follow reports in local metatarsal bone. Spanish sports daily Marca say the back, sustained the injury during Saturday’s one-sided media that sports-mad Prime Minister Viktor Orban was German international may need surgery and claims 32-8 loss to Australia at ’s Principality Stadium. unhappy with the Hungarian team’s performance at the Kroos could be ruled out for up to three months. He His place in the squad has been taken by uncapped suffered the injury in Sunday’s 3-0 Spanish league win 18-year-old wing Keelan Giles, who has been Olympic Games in Rio in August. Until now, the national Olympic Committee (MOB) had been in charge of budget over Leganes and can not train for the next ten days, training with the group since the start of the campaign. the German Football Association (DFB) announced Scrum-half Rhys Webb is a doubt for this Saturday’s clash planning and allocation for all competing sports branches. It was also responsible for appointing the heads and senior yesterday. Kroos had the injury confirmed after with Argentina after hurting his ankle against the a scan in Munich with the national team figures of Olympic sports federations. But the new changes, Wallabies. has been called up to doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt. provide cover. Wales are without a win since approved by a large majority of lawmakers, mean that all The attacking midfielder joins centre- beating Italy in their final game of this these major decisions will now fall to a government depart- back Jerome Boateng, who was forced year’s Six Nations Championship and have ment. Historically an Olympic powerhouse despite a popula- out of Germany’s qualifier after injur- won just three of their last 12 Tests. They tion of less than 10 million, Hungary won 15 medals in Rio ing the groin and knee on his right are also due to host Japan and South — eight golds, three silvers and four bronzes-and finished leg in Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw with Africa later in November. — AFP 12th in the medal table.—AFP Hoffenheim on Saturday. —AFP

CHICAGO: File photo shows Ireland’s players score against New Zealand during the first half of a rugby match, Nov 5, 2016, in Chicago. — AP ’ star Barba Coetzee’s Boks up for fails drugs test SYDNEY: Cronulla Sharks star fullback family. “I hope to return to the game at physical England clash Ben Barba has failed a drugs test, the some stage and am very grateful for the club said yesterday as it released him support of the Cronulla Sharks and I from his contract to seek treatment over- hope that one day I can again play : South Africa’s Allister Coetzee has seas. The National Rugby League champi- beside this terrific bunch of guys.” promised the Springboks will relish the “physical ons said the player needed to deal with It is not the first time he has courted battle” when they face an England side coached by “some significant personal issues”, con- trouble, having been suspended by for- his former colleague Eddie Jones at Twickenham firming the positive test in a statement. mer club Canterbury Bulldogs in 2013 on Saturday. It did not detail what drugs were over “behavioural issues”, reportedly The Springboks have lost five of their last nine involved but the Sydney Daily Telegraph involving gambling and anger problems. Tests, including last month’s record 57-15 defeat by reported that he took cocaine just days Sharks chief executive Lyall Gorman world champions New Zealand in . after the Sharks beat Melbourne Storm to said the club felt it was “absolutely neces- That prompted calls for Springbok coach finally end their 49-year NRL title drought sary” to part ways with Barba, who had a Coetzee’s resignation, with some critics arguing last month. “I know and accept I need to stellar season. “While Ben will be a major South Africa had moved too far away from their take some time away from the game to loss to our football club, the far greater traditional power game in trying to play a more deal with some personal issues,” said priority is for him to focus on his long- expansive style of rugby that did not suit their Barba. “I am accountable for myself and term future away from football,” he said. players. The pressure on Coetzee increased as my actions and if I don’t address them “We will continue to support Ben South Africa, albeit without several first-choice now I will certainly ruin my career and throughout that process in any way we picks, started their tour of Europe with a 31-31 more importantly my life and that of my can.” —AFP draw against the scratch Barbarians at Wembley on Saturday, where only two tries in the closing min- utes prevented defeat. England, by contrast, have won all nine of their ‘Too Predictable’ All Tests since Jones, like Coetzee appointed after the World Cup, took charge. “As Eddie says, you’ve got Blacks suck up criticism to match South Africa’s physicality, Coetzee told Allister Coetzee reporters at South Africa’s London hotel on Monday. “It will be a physical battle, I can guaran- to the way England plays. We have more New world at this point in time,” said Coetzee. : All Blacks coach Ian Foster admits the a lot of freshness to get our performance Zealand flair but as the coach says it’s going to be “They are on a nine-game winning streak, they world champions paid the price for being right. “Coming off a loss - that hurts. But it tee you that,” added Coetzee, who worked along- side Jones when they were both members of the all about set-piece (on Saturday).” went down to Australia and won all three Tests so “too predictable” when they went down to a doesn’t change our attitude about using the England have not beaten South Africa since there’s a lot of confidence in the English side.” landmark defeat by Ireland at the weekend. full resources of our squad to get through this South Africa backroom staff under then coach that helped the Springboks win the 2007 2006 — a run spanning 11 wins and a draw. “I’m England will be without their injured first-choice The charge has been levelled by Bryan tour. “If you bring guys over you really want to sure that with their history of winning (against second row duo Maro Itoje and George Kruis on Lochore and Foster said yesterday he had no give them an opportunity.” Foster says he has World Cup. “Rugby’s about physical dominance,” explained England) since 2006, they’ll be confident of what Saturday but Coetzee said: “It’s a strong side, irre- problem with the All Black legend’s damning been impressed by how Italy have started life they’re about,” said Youngs. spective of the so-called ‘lock crisis’ they profess to verdict. “I think it is fair based on the Irish under Irish coach Conor O’Shea. Coetzee. “I feel comfortable with the words ‘physi- cal dominance’. “It’s about coming out on top at But Coetzee said history counted for little com- have. “They have lost two quality locks but then game. I think the Irish probably found us a bit “He seems to want to use the traditional pared to England’s recent form under Australian you get Joe Launchbury back. He’s a seasoned predictable too,” the number two to head (pack-led) strengths of Italian rugby but he scrum-time and mauling. England maul a lot as well. “We’re looking for more variation at line-out boss Jones. “We’re definitely underdogs in this case. campaigner. “There are hardly any weaknesses if coach Steve Hansen told reporters in Rome. has certainly added a few other things We’re playing against the second best team in the you look at the way they’re going to play.” — AFP “We struggled early in terms of ball supply around the park,” Foster said. “So I think there time but the maul has always been a strength of and we were not able to paint some pictures will be some surprises for us on Saturday and ours. “In terms of South African rugby, we want to that we needed to paint. “So when we did that is not a bad thing for us because we have find that balance and not let go of what made us a eventually get the ball we did become pre- to go in there with our eyes open and make powerhouse before. We’d like to keep that and England and South Africa dictable.” Weakened by injuries, the All Blacks better decisions on the run. build on that.” were out-fought and out-thought in a 40-29 unite to praise Ireland defeat in Chicago that represented Ireland’s RETALLICK RETURN? ‘BEAT US UP’ It’s a view that resonates with England scrum- first triumph over New Zealand in 111 years “We have played Italy enough to know LONDON: England and South Africa may be of northern and southern hemisphere rugby half Ben Youngs, whose personal Test record of matches between the two countries. that if we allow their strengths to get on top in opposition this weekend but both camps union, a matter of concern ahead of the British against the Springboks is played five, lost five. Mental fatigue also looked to have played a of us that we can struggle against them.” The were united in lauding Ireland’s stunning vic- and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand next year, “Everyone knows the biggest thing they bring is part in a record 18-Test winning streak com- All Blacks’ line-out, which malfunctioned bad- tory over world champions New Zealand. was smaller than often suggested. physicality,” said Youngs at England’s Bagshot train- ing to an end at Soldier’s Field. “It was not ly against the Irish, could be bolstered by the Ireland’s 40-29 win in Chicago on Saturday “It shows the gap isn’t as big as people ing base southwest of London on Monday. what we have been doing for most of the return of Brodie Retallick. The giant lock has was their first victory over the All Blacks in 111 think. Far play to Ireland — 111 years they “I think they’ll go back to tradition and try to year but we have to recognise that it was our joined the squad in Rome after missing the years of trying and also ended New Zealand’s hadn’t won (against New Zealand). Incredible.” beat us up to a degree. “I’ve never come off the 11th Test of the year,” Foster said. Chicago trip due to the concussion he suf- record-breaking run of 18 straight Test wins by After such a long drought, the Irish could beat field feeling there has been a massive gap, just “So while we were feeling pretty good fered after being struck by Australia flanker a top-tier nation. New Zealand twice in a matter of weeks that we haven’t been able to match them physical- about how things were going, the opposition Dean Mumm as the All Blacks notched up “The biggest thing that Ireland did was should they defeat the All Blacks in on ly.” This season has seen Youngs playing alongside had plenty of time to look at us and we have their 18th consecutive victory in Auckland last they came out of the blocks,” said England November 19. “I am sure they are looking for- Springbok wing JP Pietersen at Leicester, not that got to be smarter than that.” month. “So far, so good,” Retallick said of his scrum-half Ben Youngs, whose side start their ward to two weeks’ time and doing it again,” he has derived much insight into South Africa’s recovery from an incident which he admitted end-of-year international campaign against said Youngs. play as a result. ‘O’SHEA SURPRISES EXPECTED’ had left him suffering from severe headaches the Springboks this coming Saturday. “They “The Aviva (Stadium) will be rocking; it’ll be “I sit next to JP at training and he hasn’t given Foster said the defeat would not howev- and disconcerting pressure in the head. “I am were very clear, it looked like everyone was on mad.” Meanwhile, South Africa coach Allister anything away,” said Youngs. Pietersen too believes er affect Hansen’s plans to use Saturday’s running fine but have not done any contact or the same page in terms of what they were Coetzee said the match at Chicago’s Soldier club knowledge will count for little at Twickenham. clash with Italy as an opportunity to give collision stuff yet,” he said. Saturday’s match doing.” Field helped underline the worth of his side’s “I’ve only been in England for four months,” he said some of the less experienced members of his may come too early for Retallick’s usual sec- The Leicester No 9 said Ireland’s success hard-fought 2-1 series win at home to Ireland while seated alongside Coetzee. squad playing time. ond-row partner Sam Whitelock, who is recov- proved the so-called difference in the quality in June.—AFP “Our belief has always been that we need ering from an ankle sprain.—AFP “The way my club plays is completely different