SPORTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013

Springboks thrash Scotland Photo of the day

EDINBURGH: showed their pedigree as the weekend’s 24-15 victory against Wales. world’s number two side, despatching Scotland 28-0 with clini- They did suffer one setback, Bath flanker cal efficiency in a one-sided contest at a rainswept Murrayfield departing in a neck brace with four minutes remaining, but yesterday. The Springboks scored their first try from a line-out they move on to finish their tour against France in Paris next drive in the fifth minute, courtesy of openside flanker Willem Saturday still yet to concede a try. Alberts, and added two more before half-time, full back Willie Meyer made four changes to the team that beat Wales, le Roux crossing the home whitewash on the half hour and bringing Gurthro Steenkamp and into the then setting up JP Pietersen. front row, recalling veteran in the second row South Africa had the match won at half-time, the visitors and installing le Roux at full-back, with leading 21-0, with replacement prop switched to fly half. Scotland made six changes to the team adding a fourth try as ’s team made it two wins that overcame Japan 42-17 eight days previously. out of two on their November tour of Europe, following last There were recalls in the pack for locks Richie Gray and Jim Hamilton, for openside flanker John Barclay and for props Alasdair Dickinson and Moray Low-and a first start for Saracens utility back Duncan Taylor at inside centre. For all of the increased ballast in the home pack, however, there was no stopping South Africa when they put their line- out maul into operation. With five minutes on the clock, Lambie kicked a penalty to touch in the left corner, No 8 plucked Strauss’s throw out of the air and the Springbok pack drove Alberts over the home try-line for an easy score. Lambie landed the conversion to give South Africa a 7-0 lead but the outside-half, who has Scottish grandparents, was wide of the mark with a penalty attempt ten minutes later, after Tommy Seymour obstructed . It took Scotland 29 minutes to break out of their own half and mount their first attack, but in doing so they handed South Africa their second try. In attempting to find Richie Gray with an outside pass, Ruaridh Jackson merely succeeded in slamming the ball off Sean Maitland’s shoulder, allowing le Roux to gather posses- Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN), Miikka Anttilla (FIN) race during the FIA World Rally Championship in Salou, Spain sion and gallop 70 metres for his fourth international try. on October 27, 2013. — www.redbull.com Lambie nailed the conversion and did so again two minutes later after the outstanding le Roux fashioned a third Springbok try, breaking from deep before angling a kick to the right cor- ner for Pietersen to celebrate his 50th cap with a five-point Stenson wins in Dubai score. That left Scotland 21-0 down at the interval and facing a mountainous challenge. South Africa could afford to take their foot off the gas, with one eye on their trip to Paris, and still DUBAI: World number three Henrik looking forward.” He fluffed that eagle chance, but coast to victory. Their fourth try came in the 53rd minute, Stenson blasted a final round 64 to Stenson was unrelenting over four tapped in for a birdie to move to 22- Oosthuizen scoring from a line-out drive in the left corner and clinch Dubai’s DP World Tour days on the Greg Norman-designed under. Lambie once again converting. Championship yesterday, also topping Earth course despite nursing a wrist “It was mine to lose from there,” The biggest cheer from the home crowd came in the 61st Europe’s money list for 2013 after his injury. He ended the first round two said Stenson, who eventually ended minute when Gray was replaced by his 19-year-old brother six-stroke victory in the desert finale. shots off the lead, but ahead of his on 25-under par 263 following a final- Jonny, the Glasgow lock becoming Scotland’s first teenage cap The Swede, who followed up his money list rivals and by the halfway hole eagle. “It’s tough when you’ve since Henry Inglis in 1951. Scotland finish their November triumph at the U.S. PGA Tour’s end-of- stage he had moved a stroke clear of got a five or six-shot lead with only in action in this file photo. series against Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday. — AFP season FedExCup in September, pock- the field and was never really trou- two or three holes to go because you eted the $1.33 million first prize and bled. “I have to take my hat off to him,” probably would have to break your an additional $1 million from the said Poulter, 37. “I’ve tried to run him leg to mess that up, but you’ve still Old heads, wise words bring tour’s bonus prize pool. Victory in Dubai - his first on the European Tour this year caps an amaz- All Blacks home again ing turnaround for Stenson, who 12 months ago was ranked outside the LONDON: made his 100th test appearance but troops around him for a pep-talk as Owen Farrell was lining world’s top 100. was still only the fourth-highest capped player in the New up the penalty that took England into the lead. “Winning our final in Dubai in front Zealand team on Saturday and that case-hardened experi- “We just talked about how we needed to play some of all my family and loads of friends, ence was key to their victory over a feisty England. field position and look after the ball,” he said. “There’s no it’s a dream finish,” said Stenson. After racing into a 17-3 lead after 17 minutes it looked point worrying about blowing the lead, you have to stick “There have been a lot of small bits as if the visitors were going to trample England into their to what you do next, hold on to the ball. Once we started and pieces I’ve addressed with my own turf and gain ample revenge for last year’s 38-21 to control that, and put some pressure on at lineout time, team and they deserve huge credit in my success,” he said, naming his cad- reverse — their only defeat in 33 previous matches. we got back some control and were able to get that try.” dy, coach, physio and psychologist. England, however, battled back superbly to lead 22-20 Saturday’s victory was New Zealand’s 13th from 13 The 37-year-old began the day on going into the final quarter, only for the All Blacks to regain games this year and they now travel to Dublin to play 17-under, four shots ahead of Ian control with winger Julian Savea’s second try of the match next week seeking a remarkable clean sweep. Poulter, his only realistic challenger for as they eventually triumphed 30-22. Having come through “We’ve given ourselves the opportunity but the key is not the Race to Dubai crown, formerly the a similar scare before emerging victorious over France in turning up thinking it will happen,” said McCaw. European Order of Merit, while Paris a week ago, it was another example of how the All “It would be pretty nice in December to reflect on that France’s Victor Dubuisson teed-off on Blacks’ combination of experience — their starting XV had and we have a week to get our minds right for that game.” 16-under. over 800 caps between them — and ability to do the right Carter looks a doubt for the match having departed with Earlier in the season, Poulter bet things under pressure so often brings them home. an Achilles problem 26 minutes after leading the teams on Stenson $100 at odds of 10-1 he could “What happened today and last week in Paris, that men- to the pitch in golden boots embossed with “DC100”. overtake his friend on the money list, DUBAI: Henrik Stenson of Sweden poses with his trophy after winning the tal fortitude, that is important and that’s what brought us “It was disappointing for him again, he’s had a wretched but Sunday’s conditions worked season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. — AFP through,” coach Steve Hansen told reporters after avoiding time with injuries, but he made a major contribution when against the Englishman as a sand what would have been only the second defeat on his he was on,” said Hansen. storm and swirling winds replaced the down as hard as I possibly could, he’s got to focus and try and play simple.” watch since he took over after the 2011 World Cup tri- McCaw, who was winning his 123rd cap on Saturday, stifling clear skies of the first three been in incredible form the last six Poulter shook his head after suc- umph. was also full of praise for the flyhalf, who missed the latter days. months and even today in the wind cessive pars at holes 14 and 15 and “We have a lot of experience but we have a few young stages of the World Cup in 2011 through injury. Poulter made a dire start, bogeying he kept his head down and pressed the world number 15’s disconsolate players ourselves. The bench today too was massively “His contribution has been phenomenal,” he said. “I’ve the first to drop only his sixth shot of on through. body language showed he knew his important. It’s one of the things we talk about - that they played alongside him for a lot of those tests and as a cap- the entire tournament. The 2012 “I couldn’t get close enough. He’s challenge was futile, even if he did are not there to make up the numbers, they are there to tain that calm head he has makes my job a lot easier. “We Ryder Cup hero recovered with suc- the best player on the planet right sink birdies on the last two holes. cessive birdies at holes 2-3, but was now.” On the final day in Dubai, Poulter (66) and Dubuisson (71) change things, or to lift the intensity. That happened today take for granted how good he is, we expect great things unable to pressure the serene Swede. Stenson crushed any fears he might carded 269 and 271 respectively. and there was a lot of energy and spark from those guys.” every time, and he’s one of the reasons the All Blacks “He’s my servant now,” said falter with birdies on four of the open- Dutchman Joost Luiten scored a Captain Richie McCaw also played his part, gathering his have had so much success in recent years.” — Reuters Stenson. “That’s the hardest I’ve had ing seven holes. fourth round 66 to end 272, while to work to win a $100 in my whole At the 12th, the Swede lofted an Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (67) professional career. It was great, we exquisite 190-yard iron to within a few and English duo Luke Donald (67) pushed each other this whole final feet of the pin in what he later and Lee Westwood (68) were tied on series - he was motivated and kept me described as his best shot of the year. 273. — Reuters Scott bags Australian Masters

MELBOURNE: World number two the right clubs and ground his way to the course with three straight pars. Adam Scott stood firm in the face of a the turn on even-par as Kuchar soared Wearing the winner’s ‘gold jacket’, fierce charge from Matt Kuchar to to four-under for the day. Australia’s answer to the more presti- defend his home Australian Masters The 33-year-old Scott stumbled gious green one given at Augusta, by two strokes yesterday as the badly on the par-three 14th, his sand Scott beamed as he pondered his sec- American’s challenge crumbled over wedge off the tee coming up short ond title in a week following his the closing holes. and burying itself in a green-side Australian PGA Championship win at Overnight leader by four strokes, bunker. the Gold Coast last week. US Masters champion Scott had Faced with a “fried egg” lie, Scott’s Scott has a chance to sweep all appeared poised to canter to victory recovery raced off the green, leading three of Australia’s marquee tourna- on a breezy day at Royal Melbourne, to a double-bogey that handed ments when he lines up at the nation- but was forced to grind out the win as Kuchar a two-stroke advantage. al Open in Sydney later this month, Kuchar roared into contention with a “That one was completely on me but will return to Royal Melbourne in scintillating front nine. because (caddy) Steve (Williams) a few days to team up with compatri- After forging two strokes clear by wanted me to hit wedge but I just did- ot Jason Day for the World Cup start- the time he reached the 16th tee, n’t have the feel for a wedge,” Scott ing on Thursday. Kuchar fell back into a share of the said. Unbowed, Scott bounced back “Come back next week and see me lead with a bogey on the tough par- with a birdie on the next hole to put and Jase,” Scott urged fans at the tro- four and then handed the initiative to the heat back on Kuchar and was a phy presentation. “We’ll win the World Scott with a double-bogey six after model of composure as he completed Cup.” — Reuters finding sand on the last. Playing a couple of groups behind the American, Scott was in no mood to give up the two-shot lead he sud- denly inherited and was able to soak up the adulation of a massive home LLANDUDNO: France’s Sebastien Ogier (right) and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (left) celebrate with the trophy after gallery when he tapped in a three- winning the Wales Rally GB, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship. — AFP foot par putt on the last to seal victo- ry. “I guess today, sometimes you kind Ogier caps season with Wales win of win a little bit ugly,” Scott told reporters after carding a scratchy even-par 71 for a 14-under total of LLANDUDNO: World champion the Finn finishing ahead of Thierry and the end of a perfect season. It’s 270 and a winner’s cheque worth Sebastien Ogier won the Wales Rally Neuville’s Ford Fiesta RS. going to be a hard challenge to do A$186,000 ($174,100). GB for the first time yesterday to Neuville’s podium place saw the better next year.” Latvala, who finished “All of the good stuff I’d done in the crown an impressive debut season Belgian clinch second position in a 21.8 seconds behind his team-mate, first three rounds counted for a lot. with Volkswagen. championship long since won by said: “I’m disappointed because I won “Even though it wasn’t the prettiest The Frenchman’s victory in the Ogier. “I’m so happy, and big thanks to this rally in 2011 and 2012 and I was golf today... I got away with it, but I’ll 13th and final round of the world the team once again-the car was per- hungry for the third victory, but it did- have to learn not to do it next time.” championship was his ninth of the fect,” Ogier told WRC.com. “I came n’t work out this year. “Speed-wise it Former world number one Vijay season. Only outgoing champion here knowing this rally was not the was good but there have been too Singh, joint second overnight, was Sebastien Loeb, who won 10 out of 13 best for me in the past, and even with many little mistakes, and a bit of hesi- quickly out of the picture after toiling stages in 2005, can boast a better that we managed to win a battle with tation. “It’s like I haven’t had the early, leaving the title to be decided campaign record than his 29-year-old a team-mate who feels at home here,” rhythm all the weekend. That’s the by a shoot-out between Scott and compatriot added Ogier, whose previous best fin- problem and that’s what I need to Kuchar. Ogier’s team-mate Jari-Matti ish in Wales was the 11th place he concentrate on next year. “The speed Having played the famed sandbelt MELBOURNE: Adam Scott of Australia poses with the trophy after winning Latvala, winner of the last two edi- managed in 2011. is there, that’s the main thing, now the course with aplomb on the opening the Australian Masters golf tournament played at the Royal Melbourne tions of the British rally, was second, “It was another great victory for us rhythm needs to be right.” — AFP three days, Scott had trouble selecting course. — AFP