Tuesday 13th September, 2011 15 Boks captain Goalkickers struggle on not shocked at cliffhangers 1st weekend of World Cup WELLINGTON, New nine minutes from fulltime two people who can really BY STEVE MCMORRAN Zealand (AP) — which might also have won say it,” he said of the lines- Goalkicking wins Rugby the game. He kicked four of men who stood beneath the WELLINGTON, New games and it was the World Cups. In the last three six attempts while young fly- uprights when Hook took Zealand (AP) — Nobody teams with that had a finals — in London in 1999, half Rhys Priestland missed aim. De Villiers said South was less surprised than knack of winning those Sydney in 2003 and Paris in a handy dropped goal Africa goalkicker Morne 2007 World Cup-winning games which went on to 2007 — only four tries have attempt late in the match Steyn wasn’t always 100 per- captain John Smit that become world champi- been scored and 71 of 91 which could also have cent sure if his kicks in his Springboks beat ons. points have come from kicks. altered the outcome. practice were accurate. Wales by only a point in “It’s a big occasion, Already, after only three Hook was bemused at the “I stood there when their opening match of it’s different to any other days of the 2011 tournament, linesmen’s decision on the Morne did his warmups and the 2011 tournament. test that you play,” he the arcane art of the kicker penalty goal that wasn’t some of them supposedly he Smit, who was cap- said. “It only happens has assumed center stage, “I was running back thought were over and tain of South Africa for a every four years and it’s not because its practicioners because obviously I thought weren’t. Some can be but record 80th test, knows a unique experience: the have dazzled their audience it was over,” he said. “If also could be behind the better than most that buildup, the hype, it but because of their mount- there was any doubt I would posts,” de Villiers said. World Cups produce and takes it’s toll in different ing failures. have stayed there and “That’s the reason we pay are often defined by close ways on everyone. Goakickers are often per- watched it go over. big bucks (to referees). To games. “So I think the play- fectionists who spend hours “(Referee) Wayne Barnes get it right.” With only a touch of ing field is a bit more honing their craft, learning was in the same position as De Villiers acknowledged bravado, tempered by level at the World Cup the characteristics of every me. He obviously didn’t give goalkicking may become a relief at his team’s 17-16 because there is so much brand of ball and the it and I thought it was over bigger and bigger factor at win Sunday, Smit said “to at stake. The way people nuances of the wind which so I thought that (to ask the this tournament as it moves win at a World Cup like deal with pressure deter- affects its flight in any stadi- television match official) into its knockout stages and that is probably better mines how far they get.” um. would be the best thing to defenses became more diffi- than running away with South Africa faces But even the master, do. Obviously not.” The IRB cult to penetrate. it by 40 points.” dangerous underdog England’s Jonny Wilkinson, issued a statement Monday “If you look at all the England, the 2003 Samoa in its next Pool D who has kicked 158 conver- England’s Jonny Wilkinson. (AP Photo) confirming that Barnes and games and you get to kick- world champions, beat match. Wales, which had sions, 236 penalties and 35 his linesmen could have ing, you’ve already assessed Argentina by only four chances to clinch a late dropped goals in his test nor rain affected his aim. ful penalty attempt by Welsh referred the decision to the the fact that defense will be points on win but missed with career, found his skill desert- The Argentina goalkickers fullback James Hook was TMO if they were in any very hard at this tourna- Saturday and penalty and dropped goal ed him in his first appear- also missed a handful of flagged away the linesmen. doubt, but didn’t think it ment,” he said. “So the more even matches attempts, picked up a ance at this tournament. He chances. The ruling was crucial in a was necessary. this tournament does between rugby’s bonus point for missed five of eight attempts Goalkicking even became match won by a single point South Africa coach Peter progress, the more people superpowers and losing by fewer in England’s opening 13-9 an issue of contention in by reigning world champi- de Villiers was also bewil- are going to struggle to cross minor nations than seven win over Argentina; played Sunday’s match between ons South Africa. dered by the incident. the gainline and looking have been much points but still in a roofed and enclosed sta- South Africa and Wales Hook also missed the last “I can’t say (whether it after the ball will become closer than ana- must win its dium in which neither wind when an apparently success- penalty attempt of the match was over). There are only very, very important. lysts would have remaining three guessed. group matches Smit said the to advance. unique pres- sure of the England draw the match but clinch Series World England recorded their second of the match, following the run-out SCOREBOARD Cup tie in the space of six months of Graeme Swann by Patel, caused a pro- against India but clinched the D/L recalculation which brought the India innings Ben Stokes c and b Ashwin 7 duced NatWest Series thanks to Ravi teams level and cancelled out the Parthiv Patel c Bopara b Broad 27 Tim Bresnan b Singh 27 close Bopara’s career-best 96. advantage England had held for Ajinkja Rahane lbw b Broad 38 Graeme Swann run out (Munaf Patel) 30 Rahul Dravid c and b Swann 19 James Anderson not out 0 Confusion reigned for several much of the previous half-hour. Virat Kohli c Kieswetter b Swann 16 Steven Finn not out 0 minutes as to the outcome at Lord’s A stand of 169 between Suresh Raina c Stokes b Finn 84 Extras: (5lb, 2w, 1nb) 8 following a third interruption for Mahendra Singh Dhoni (78 not out) Mahendra Singh Dhoni not out 78 TOTAL: (for eight wickets) 270 rain ended England’s chase of 280 and Suresh Raina (84) had carried Ravindra Jadeja not out 0 Overs: 48.5. for five, on 270 for eight. India to a defendable total - which Extras: (5lb, 13w) 18 Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-27, 3-61, 4-159, Eventually it was confirmed that, England challenged strongly thanks TOTAL: (for five wickets) 280 5-173, 6-220, 7-270, 8-270 with England and the Duckworth- to Bopara and Ian Bell (54). Overs: 50. Did not bat: Stuart Broad. Lewis pair score re ading identically, After the early loss of both Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-70, 3-109, 4-110, Bowling: Praveen Kumar 9-0-35-1, RP the two teams could not be separated England openers to RP Singh, and 5-279. Singh 9-0-59-3 (1nb, 1w), Munaf Patel Did not bat: Ravichandran Ashwin, 9.5-0-54-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 10-0- - just as at Bangalore in their Jonathan Trott soon afterwards, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, RP Singh. 44-1, Ravindra Jadeja 9-0-60-1, Suresh World Cup match in March. Bopara and Bell’s stand of 96 gained Bowling: James Anderson 10-2-57-0 Raina 2-0-13-0 The hosts therefore lead a favourable position. (3w), Steven Finn 9.4-0-54-1 (1w), Tim Toss: won by England. 2-0 with only one match to Bell was then caught by substi- Bresnan 10-1-51-0 (2w), Stuart Broad 9.2- Result: Match drawn based on play, at Cardiff on Friday. tute fielder Manoj Tiwary and it 0-52-2 (3w), Ravi Bopara 2-0-12-0, Duckworth-Lewis method. England would have won by was time for Bopara to prove his Graeme Swann 9-1-49-2 (1w). Series: England leads 2-0 with one match the narrowest of margins had worth. England innings remaining Bopara not been caught on the In 62 one-day internationals, his Alastair Cook c Kohli b Singh 12 Umpires: Marais Erasmus, South Africa, deep mid-wicket boundary off previous best was 60 whereas here Craig Kieswetter c Jadeja b Singh 12 and Richard Illingworth, England. Jonathan Trott b Kumar 23 Third Umpire: Billy Doctrove, West Munaf Patel, the last twist in a see- he very nearly won the day with a Ian Bell c substitute (Tiwary) b Jadeja 54 Indies. John saw match. 111-ball innings including six Ravi Bopara c Jadeja b Patel 96 Match Referee: Jeff Crowe. Smit Bopara’s dismissal to the last ball boundaries. NEW YORK (AP) — Feeling wronged What followed was nowhere near as again at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams menacing as 2009, when Williams berat- couldn’t let it go. ed and brandished her racket at a line “That’s totally not cool,” she shouted judge who called a foot fault in her semi- at the umpire. Then, a few minutes later, final against Kim Clijsters.