Yearly Archives: 2003

It took 16 days, but finally the 2003 Rugby World Cup came to life on Sunday, with two games worthy of a tournament that was meant to identify the world’s best side, but had begun to seem more like the ritual humiliation of some of the world’s worst.

South Africa could be on their way home after losing to Samoa if the Springboks make the same mistakes against them as they made against Georgia, coach Rudolf Straeuli said on Monday.

KwaZulu-Natal provincial nature conservation has received at least 20 offers from people who want to become involved in a breeding project for the endangered black rhino.

Gary Kirsten led a solid South African fightback on Monday with an unbeaten half century on the fourth day of the second cricket test against Pakistan. The Proteas progressed to 224 for four in its second innings — an overall lead of 154. South Africa had conceded a 70-run lead after Pakistan scored 348 in reply to the visitors’ first innings of 278.

Mike Hercus scored a try, four conversions and two penalties as the United States ended their record of 10 World Cup losses with a 39-26 beating of Japan on Monday. It was the Americans’ first victory since beating Japan at the first World Cup in 1987 and now they are tied for that loss record with Japan.

Fast bowlers should have a compulsory three-month lay-off from cricket every year to recover from injury, according to a proposal aired at an Australian sports medicine conference on Monday.

Arsenal reclaimed first place in the English Premier League with a 1-1 draw at Charlton on Sunday while both AC Milan and Juventus posted easy wins to stay tied at the top of the Serie A. In Spain, Deportivo de La Coruna took over first place, while Bayer Leverkusen moved into the lead in the Bundesliga.

I just came back from a visit to the doctor. Things were going haywire in my life, in my house, in my family. My wife had urged me to take specialist advice before things got out of hand. She could see I was going bonkers.