Sports FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 42 Three changes for Australia in Rugby Championship test CAPE TOWN: Australia recalled hooker Saia starting places at Newlands this weekend. The NSW Waratahs teammates Nick Phipps and around its lineout and scrum. “The set-piece is Fainga’a and wings Joe Tomane and Adam Wallabies said Thursday that Tomane had Bernard Foley. Former captain and scrumhalf always an important area of focus for us, even Ashley-Cooper for tomorrow’s Rugby recovered from a broken cheekbone and a Will Genia missed out on the 23-man match- more so when you play South Africa, and we Championship test as the Wallabies chase a hamstring problem to make his first appear- day squad after being recalled for the tour to know the outcome of the scrum and lineout first win in South Africa since 2011. ance this year. Ashley-Cooper, a veteran of 97 South Africa and Argentina. will be crucial to the final result,” McKenzie said Fainga’a was due to return to Australia’s tests, is back after a neck injury forced him out McKenzie said the selection of Fainga’a in in a statement announcing his selection. squad for the South Africa game in Perth on of Australia’s victory over Argentina in its last the run-on team and Robinson on the bench The 24-year-old Tomane made the team Sept. 6 but missed out to return home for the outing. Coach Ewen McKenzie also gave a would boost the Wallabies’ set-piece and for- ahead of Rob Horne, who dropped to the birth of his first child. Tomane and vice-captain place on the bench to experienced prop Benn ward effort against a typically muscular South bench as Australia aims to combat the physi- Ashley-Cooper recovered from injury to earn Robinson and retained the half-back pairing of African team that bases much of its game cality of the Boks. —AP Tiger remains Ryder Cup one-win wonder GLENEAGLES: Injured star Tiger Woods has 14 major titles and 79 career PGA crowns, second-most all-time in both areas, but when it comes to Ryder Cups, he’s only a one-trophy won- der. The former world number one, who turns 39 in December, is absent from this year’s Ryder Cup, back surgery in March to ease a pinched nerve having caused him to miss most of the rest of the season and tell US captain Tom Watson not to con- sider him as a captain’s pick. “The US team and the Ryder Cup mean too much to me not to be able to give it my best,” Woods said. “I’ll be cheering for the US team. I think we have an outstanding squad going into the matches.” Watson says the Americans miss Woods’ intimidation fac- tor, which has dimmed of late due to recent injuries and his eight-year major win drought. “I said right from the beginning, I would love to have Tiger GLENEAGLES: Phil Mickelson of Team US (R) and Keegan Bradley of Team US speak during a practice session at on the team,” Watson said. “He brings an element of intimida- the Gleneagles golf course in Gleneagles, Scotland, yesterday, ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup golf competition tion. Even though he’s not on the team, he is here in spirit.” between Europe and the USA. —AFP While Woods ranks second to the all-time major win mark of 18 by Jack Nicklaus and career win mark of 82 by Sam Snead, he has found little success in the Ryder Cup. The only winning side Woods has played for was the 1999 Europe shrugs off squad that rallied for 8 1/2 points in singles to edge Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2 at Brookline. He missed the 2008 US team that won in Valhalla with an injury after winning his most recent major, the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, on a broken leg. Mickelson remark Woods was still an teen amateur in 1993 when Watson guided the Americans to a Cup victory in England, the most recent US triumph on European soil as this week’s showdown GLENEAGLES: European golf stars brushed laugh at the comment. thing extra to that is not going to help the in Scotland is set to begin at Gleneagles. off a Phil Mickelson barb aimed at Rory “I don’t think it’s a big factor. I don’t think cause. It comes down to being professional. McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, saying yes- mind games come into play. There are no It comes down to getting the job done on terday that such banter will have no impact personal vendettas. There are no grudges the golf course.” Ball of energy on the Ryder Cup. against anybody out there.” Germany’s Poulter, whose emotional fightback Woods has a 13-17-3 (win-loss-halved) Ryder Cup record. On the eve of the 40th biennial matchup Martin Kaymer, the reigning US Open cham- sparked Europe’s 2012 winning rally at Only Phil Mickelson has more losses, 18 as he enters his 10th between US and European squads at pion, said the remark was set aside almost as Medinah, took being made a US target by Cup start, three more than Woods. Gleneagles, 2013 US Open winner Justin it was brought up. “It’s not really a topic for American captain Tom Watson as high “I’ll tune in to the Ryder Cup to see how our guys do,” Rose of England said the five-time major us. It’s one of those things you read it, you praise. Woods said in a blog posting last week on his website. “I think champion’s remark might have been a bit of laugh about it and that’s it,” Kaymer said. “I “I take Tom Watson’s comment as a huge Tom Watson made three great captain’s picks. Hunter Mahan bolstering by the Americans for their own think in the end of the day, we should just compliment to me as a player, as someone hits the ball on a string and is one of the best ball-strikers out benefit. “I can imagine just to spice things up play golf. It’s fairly simple. If things like this that has loved the Ryder Cup,” Poulter said. here. And when he putts well, he wins, hands down. and have a bit of fun with it,” Rose said. start, it’s a little-I don’t know if that’s neces- “For Tom, accomplished as he is, to pay me “Webb Simpson is a great grinder. He’s a great person to “Maybe looking for that spark themselves. sary.” Rose said Mickelson and McIlroy spoke that compliment is amazing.” have in these team events because he can get up and down ‘Don’t forget about us, we’re here.’ And at a concert Wednesday night in Glasgow. that’s something the European team certain- “It’s a bit of banter and getting things going. Europe owns US lately and make putts. And Keegan Bradley is just a ball of energy. ly have not forgotten.” We don’t have a problem with that at all,” The US team leads the all-time rivalry 25- He’s the guy you want on the team because he’s fired up.” On Wednesday, Mickelson was asked Rose said. “There’s no real angst between the 12-2 but Europe has won seven of the past Little mention has been made of Woods this week at the about US teamwork and replied, “Not only players and in our team room it’s a non- nine meetings and owns a 9-7-1 edge since Cup, although British star Justin Rose was asked about racial are we able to play together, we also don’t issue. expanding beyond a British-Irish team. diversity in golf and said the full measure of Woods’ impact on litigate against each other and that’s a real “Of course it was mentioned last night. The Americans have not won a Ryder Cup developing elite talent and wider fan followings has yet to be plus, I feel, heading into this week.” Phil came up to Rory and was like, hey, this on European soil since Watson captained the fully seen. The barb was in reference to a lawsuit by and that. It’s no real big deal. “Phil likes to 1993 US triumph at The Belfry in England. “It is reflected a lot of times of who the kids see on TV and I world number one McIlroy, who won the sort of be that guy that will throw a good Watson, who won four of his eight career think there’s going to be a bit of a lag effect obviously with the British Open and PGA Championship in the line, especially amongst friends, which I major titles on Scottish soil, becomes the Tiger effect,” Rose said. past two months, against his former man- assume that was his intent. Amongst friends oldest captain in Ryder Cup history at age 65. “I think the people he has encouraged to start playing the agement company, one still used by good he loves the banter and he loves to throw a McIlroy sparks a Europe side that includes pal McDowell. Both players said the issue is few barbs out there, which is great.” Poulter, Kaymer, third-ranked Spaniard game, I’ve definitely seen a huge change in the States, espe- behind them and they are better friends Don’t look for Europe to build it into extra Sergio Garcia and Sweden’s fifth-ranked cially with people coming out to watch golf.