Gatland Backs Unchanged Lions, All Blacks Roll Dice
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Sports FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017 43 I’m ‘back to Ringo’ jokes Rory McIlroy PORTSTEWART: Rory McIlroy joked want to be. But I feel like there’s been One putter week not only at Portstewart and he was now like Beatles drummer a couple of things that have been out Four-time major winner McIlroy nearby Royal Portrush, which will be Ringo Starr having fallen to number of my control this year that have led to said he was realistic about his form the venue for the 2019 British Open, four in the world rankings ahead of that with the injuries and stuff.” having missed so much of the season, but also Royal Birkdale which hosts this week’s Irish Open. The defend- McIlroy had to adjust to new clubs but was still determined to get into the third major of the year in a fort- ing champion and host for this this year after Nike stopped manufac- contention every time he tees it up. night’s time. week’s event at Portstewart on the turing equipment, suffered a rib injury “The good thing is I know where I am McIlroy has struggled with his rugged Northern Ireland coastline, which has limited him to just three and I realise that I’m a long way off putter this year, changing clubs fre- had dropped to third in the world tournament appearances since the where I want to be, but I can’t think quently, so it was notable that he after missing the cut at the US Open Masters and had the happy distraction about that at the minute,” said the was accompanied at Birkdale last last month. of getting married in April. “Like I’ve 28-year-old. week by putting coach Phil Kenyon. He then fell a further place behind said all along, winning golf tourna- “I just have to think about trying “With Phil’s help I have whittled it number one Dustin Johnson and sec- ments and playing well takes care of to win golf tournaments, trying to down to just one putter I want to use,” ond-ranked Hideki Matsuyama when the rankings,” said McIlroy. “It’s funny, I get in contention again at golf tour- McIlroy said. “Phil walked around 18 Jordan Spieth won the Travelers don’t look at it as much now as I would naments, first of all. “And then just holes with me at Birkdale last Thursday Championship to move into third. “I if I was number one. If I was Dustin playing well, and playing well takes and then I spent a little bit of time with am back to Ringo,” McIlroy said smil- Johnson, I would be looking at that care of a lot of that stuff.” McIlroy him on the putting green after that. It ing. “It only bothers me I’m not where I thing every Monday morning.” played practice rounds in the past feels good.” — AFP South Africa will name ‘casualties’ JOHANNESBURG: South Africa will reveal today which two of their six Super Rugby franchises are to be axed at the end of this season from a competition being cut from 18 teams to 15. Central Cheetahs from Bloemfontein and Southern Kings from Port Elizabeth are the media favorites for the chop. Should that scenario unfold, Coastal Sharks from Durban, Golden Lions from Johannesburg, Northern Bulls from Pretoria and Western Stormers from Cape Town will compete next year. Rising costs, exhaustive travel across 15 time zones, dwindling crowds and TV audiences, and a hard-to- understand format are among the reasons for cutting the number of teams. Cheetahs and Kings are the anticipated casualties because they have the lowest average atten- dances and poorest overall playing records among the South African sextet. The other victims of the cull will be either the Melbourne Rebels or the Perth-based Western Force from Australia. New Zealand will have five of the 15 teams next sea- son, Australia and South Africa four and Argentina and Japan one. There has been media speculation that Cheetahs and Kings may join the Pro12, a European com- petition currently including Irish, Italian, Scottish and WELLINGTON: British and Irish Lions’ Jonathan Davies is tackled by New Zealand All Blacks’ Jerome Kaino (L), Sonny Bill Welsh teams. But no rugby officials, bar one at the Williams (2nd L) and Beauden Barrett (R) during their second rugby union Test between the British and Irish Lions and Cheetahs, are talking ahead of the Friday announcement. the New Zealand All Blacks. — AFP Internal process “The Cheetahs have a participation agreement with Gatland backs unchanged South African Rugby to participate in Super Rugby until 2020,” Cheetahs spokeswoman Ronel Pienaar told reporters. “SANZAAR (Super Rugby governing body) and Lions, All Blacks roll dice SA Rugby decided to minimize the number of teams in Super Rugby from 18 to 15. “SA Rugby started with an AUCKLAND: The British and Irish Lions work everyone has put in. “It is their and insisted that Barrett, who is likely to internal process to determine which two teams to drop named an unchanged team yesterday chance to make Lions history.” face an aerial bombardment from the from 2018 onwards,” said Pienaar. for the decisive third Test against the All While the composite team are finally Lions, could handle the pressure. She did not comment on reports that the Cheetahs Blacks, who gambled on rookies in a settled at the end of their tour, the All Barrett, is a “cool, calm collected kid and are pondering legal action to ensure Super Rugby sur- reshuffled backline. Visiting coach Blacks were forced into changes with we wouldn’t have put him there if we vival given the participation agreement has three sea- Warren Gatland urged his team to coach Steve Hansen giving Jordie Barrett didn’t think he was up to it. He wouldn’t sons to run. TV analyst and former Springboks coach “make Lions history” as he had the luxu- and Ngani Laumape their first Test starts. be put in the position if we didn’t trust Nick Mallett, one of the most outspoken voices on South ry of picking the team’s first unchanged Prolific winger Julian “The Bus” Savea him,” Hansen said. African rugby, favours a radical solution. “Divide the line-up since 1993. returns after being dropped for the first “Ngani’s the guy we see going forward country into four regions,” suggested the coach of the The All Blacks, who are back-to-back two games with Barrett, fly-half is going to play a big part in our selection Springboks that finished third at the 1999 Rugby World world champions, won the first Test 30- Beauden’s brother, named at fullback and process and we’ve got a lot of confidence Cup. “Let us have Gauteng (Bulls and Lions), KwaZulu- 15 but lost 24-21 last week, when the Laumape at centre. It comes after Sonny in him.” The last time the All Blacks Natal (Sharks), Eastern Cape (Cheetahs and Kings) and Lions came from nine points down in Bill Williams was suspended following his played a rookie fullback against the Lions Western Cape (Stormers) making up the four South the final 20 minutes. The Lions will now red card in the second Test. Hansen said was in 1977, when Bevan Wilson came in African franchises.” bid to complete their first New Zealand Rieko Ioane was unwell and his fellow after New Zealand lost the second Test. Kings vice-president Bantwini Matika backed series victory in 46 years on Saturday at wing Waisake Naholo was dropped as a His penalty-kicking prowess steered the Mallett. “I believe that this is a golden opportunity for Auckland’s Eden Park-where the All precaution after a head knock. All Blacks to victory in the remaining two SA Rugby to re-examine and revamp what I consider to Blacks are unbeaten in 38 Tests. “It is not Tests of that series. Hansen also attempt- be a racist rugby landscape,” he wrote in the City Press very often on a Lions Tour that you get ‘Cool, calm, collected’ ed to play down the importance of the newspaper. “The allocation of the four franchises to pick the same 23 for the following Jordie Barrett and Laumape have game, insisting it would not be the end should move away from historical apartheid rugby game,” Gatland said. “We are all aware just 70 minutes of international rugby the world if the Lions win only their sec- structures and look to the future.” New Zealand teams of how big this game is and we are between them, and Anton Lienert- ond series in New Zealand. “I’ve heard a have dominated Super Rugby since its introduction in expecting a backlash from the All Brown, who will partner Laumape in the lot of stories this week that you’d think 1996 with three-time champions the Bulls the lone Blacks,” he added. “This is a huge chance centres, only made his debut last year. the All Blacks have never lost a game and South African winners. — AFP for this group of players to show their Hansen denied reports of scuffles at the sky’s fallen in” after losing the second abilities and reap the benefits of the training as tensions mount pre-game, Test, he said. — AFP.