Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 42 Burger to lead Namibia at rugby World Cup CAPE TOWN: Saracens loose forward “I think it is the strongest group of players Jacques Burger and (flank) Renaldo Bothma, group that is more together, a more commit- Jacques Burger will captain Namibia in the we could have picked to select Namibia at the but in some areas where we lack a bit of ted group.” rugby World Cup in England after coach Phil Rugby World Cup,” Davies said in a news depth. We are looking at developing some Davies named a 31-man squad yesterday. release from the Namibia Rugby Union yester- young players for the future in those posi- Namibia squad: Burger is among four players who will be day. “There’s some good versatility and a big tions.” Davies admits the challenge for his side Forwards - Renaldo Bothma, Jacques appearing in their third World Cup, along with number of players are in good form as we at the World Cup will be both physical and Burger, John Coetzee, Wian Conradie Leneve prop Johnny Redelinghuys, loose forward showed recently when we won four test mental, but adds they go into the tournament Damens, AJ de Klerk, Tinus du Plessis, Jaco Tinus du Plessis and scrumhalf Eugene matches in a row and moved up to number in high spirits. Engels, Rohan Kitshoff, Raoul Larson, Johnnie Jantjies, while a further 10 have experience at 20 in the world rankings.” “I feel the players that have put their hand Redelinghuys Tjiuee Uanivi, Louis van der the event. Namibia have lost all 15 of their Davies admitted he was given some selec- up have been rewarded with selection. Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, PJ van Lill previous World Cup matches, conceding tion headaches and said will use the tourna- There’s a lot of courage and character, and we Janco Venter Casper Viviers. Backs - Chrysander almost 1000 points in the process, and go into ment to blood younger players at rugby’s will be doing everything to get that first ever Botha Eneill Buitendag, Darryl de la Harpe, the Sept. 18- Oct. 31 competition with the greatest stage. “It was tough, we have good win at a World Cup,” the Welshman said. Johan Deysel, JC Greyling, Eugene Jantjies, daunting prospect of having to face champi- depth in the midfield and lots of talent in the “I am pleased with the dynamics of the Theuns Kotze, Conrad Marais, David Philander, ons New Zealand in a pool that also includes back three, and in our back row,” Davies said. players who are based in Namibia and those Heinrich Smith, Damien Stevens Johan Tromp, Argentina, Tonga and Georgia. “We do have some world class players in who play professionally. We couldn’t ask for a Danie van Wyk, Russell van Wyk. —Reuters Race for $10m gets Asian Tour says Europe merger will under way at Plainfield be game-changer HONG KONG: The merger of EDISON: The points are slightly different get at least two tournaments, maybe three, to peak, we’ve sat back over the last week two of the world’s major golf for the FedEx Cup playoffs. The principle to play better golf and wind up at East and said, ‘How can we get that same kind tours will see the largest remains unchanged. For those who nar- Lake for the Tour Championship. Jordan of momentum to where we can try and shake-up of the professional rowly got into the top 125 to qualify for Spieth? peak for the Tour Championship?’” Spieth game since the European golf’s ultimate bonus series, it’s time to That’s a tricky one. The No. 1 player in said. The playoffs begin Thursday at The Tour was created more than play well or go home. That applies to play- the world, and No. 1 in the FedEx Cup, all Barclays with a 120-man field because five 40 years ago, Asian Tour CEO ers such as Lee Westwood and Jason that really matters is winning the Tour players chose not to play for various rea- Mike Kerr told AFP. The Dufner, Stewart Cink and Luke Donald, and Championship to capture the $10 million sons. For all the points that will be tossed European and Asian tours possibly Adam Scott. prize. Spieth could win three straight play- around on television, the only math func- declared last week that they Those with mediocre seasons on the off events and finish runner-up at East tion that really matters is subtraction. Only intend to combine their play- PGA Tour - Phil Mickelson and Henrik Lake and finish second. “After the major 100 players advance to the Deutsche Bank ing memberships and busi- Stenson are two who come to mind - they season is over, which is where we wanted Championship. From there, only 70 players ness dealings into a mega- move on to the BMW Championship. And tour that will stretch from the that gets whittled down to the top 30 play- Atlantic coast of Ireland to the ers who reach the Tour Championship. shores of the Pacific in the Far Here’s what to look for when The East. Barclays begins at Plainfield Country Club. “I can’t think of anything Mike Kerr bigger,” Kerr said in a phone LONELY AT THE TOP interview, when asked whether it was golf’s most important develop- The No. 1 seed at the start of the play- ment since the European Tour’s creation in 1972. Kerr said details of the offs has gone on to claim the $10 million new tour could be announced very soon as talks to hammer out the prize just two times since the FedEx Cup details were already at an advanced stage. “We are working through this began in 2007. This might not come as sur- as fast as we can,” he said. “I don’t envisage it will be a protracted and prise, but both times involved Tiger prolonged process. Woods. “In some way we’ve been through at least some of the tough discus- Woods has been No. 1 in the standings sions and negotiations between us and now it’s about coming together a record five times, including in 2008 when and making this a reality. “When we get further details that we are able he stopped playing in June because of to deliver I think we will do that. There’s no reason for us to hold back.” knee surgery. That’s because the points are Kerr said discussions were “confidential” but did confirm that there reset going into the Tour Championship to would in future be just one tour with a single membership comprising give all 30 players a mathematical chance the current players on the European and Asia Tours. at winning the FedEx Cup. For all the top seeds, it’s a matter of having your best ‘Fractured’ scene week at East Lake. It’s not that simple. “This will involve the merger of the memberships and the merger of Here’s where the eight FedEx Cup champi- the business,” he said. “You can make that leap, yes, to say there will be a ons were seeded going into the playoffs: 1- single membership. “It will be based on merit and the Asian Tour mem- 7-1-3-15-19-9-69. bers will effectively get access to the entire schedule of tournaments that would be included in any future tour.” TOUR’S WORST NIGHTMARE Kerr says ultimately the tours are there to benefit their members-the Because the points are quadrupled in players-and the merger will ensure long-term stability in a sport which value for the playoffs, there is a mathemat- has seen some events disappear from the calendar in recent years. “I ical possibility that a player can win the don’t think that we would have embarked on this had we not believed FedEx Cup without ever having won a that actually it would satisfy our core purpose, to deliver more earnings tournament all season. It hasn’t happened and more opportunities for all of our members,” he said. - yet. But it’s not that far-fetched. Paul He said that the announcement had been well received within the Casey nearly pulled it off in 2010 when he game and it now was a case of talking to the players and ensuring they was at No. 5 going into the Tour understood the plan and were comfortable with it. Championship and made a late surge at “We are now starting that process on both sides. Everything that I East Lake. If he had finished alone in sec- have heard, either through the media, through partners, sponsors or ond at the Tour Championship, he would from players has been very positive. Quite honestly there has been no have won the cup. He was in position late negativity whatsoever. “Most importantly we need to get to our mem- until tying for fourth. One candidate this bers, to ensure they understand these details, to ensure they’re comfort- year might be Kevin Kisner. He is No. 17 able with them and effectively approve them going forward.” going into The Barclays. A couple of top 3s He would not be drawn on whether this would mean the end of their EDISON: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during to get in range and a runner-up finish at struggling rivals, the OneAsia Tour, which has staged just six tourna- the first round of The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club yesterday in Edison, East Lake could make him a footnote in ments so far in 2015.