South African coach Mickey Arthur described the second day of the first Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at Supersport Park on Sunday as a mixed day, after South Africa had the visitors on the ropes on 89 for six, and then were unable to prevent them taking a first innings lead of 51.
The Canterbury Crusaders stamped their authority on the Super 14 rugby competition with a record breaking 16th straight win as a bottleneck of teams just outside the top four found themselves running out of time to cement a semifinal spot.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti says he knows everything about FC Barcelona, his team’s opponent in the semifinals of the Champions League. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is just happy to be playing Villarreal this late in the tournament. Six-time champion Milan hosts 1992 winner Barcelona in the first leg of the semifinals on Tuesday, and Arsenal hosts Villarreal on Wednesday.
Roger Federer admits he would have preferred a more low-key way to start his clay court season, but remains content to take his chances as top seed at the high-profile Monte Carlo Masters Series tournament starting on Monday. ”Here I’m a favourite, but the draws are tough and you have to back it up every other day, ” said the seven-time Grand Slam winner.
The South African government needs to wake up to the reality and brutality of crime, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday. The opposition party’s call came after Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, reported that 52 people are killed daily, 1Â 566 per month and 18Â 793 annually in South Africa.
Jonny Wilkinson has admitted he has struggled to cope with a series of injuries since kicking England to World Cup glory. The 27-year-old made his sixth comeback from injury since landing the drop-goal that won England the Webb Ellis trophy, coming on as a second-half replacement in Newcastle’s 32-21 Premiership win over Sale at Kingston Park.
Former Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) leader Vusi Make died at the HF Verwoerd hospital in Pretoria on Saturday night. PAC national chairperson Joe Mkhwanazi said his party was shocked by the news of his death. Mkhwanazi, who worked under Make in Tanzania, said Make was in and out of hospital since he was involved in a car accident years ago.
Post-war stringent diamond mining rules have bolstered export earnings in Sierra Leone, but the country’s nationals, rated among the poorest in the world, are yet to benefit from the boom. Diamond exports, the West African country’s major source of hard currency earnings, have increased fivefold in as many years.
World leaders, as well as Americans close to George Bush’s administration, called for calm over Iran’s nuclear programme on Sunday amid persistent reports that the United States is considering a military attack. In his Easter message from the Vatican, Pope Benedict spoke of ”international crises linked to nuclear power” and urged: ”May an honourable solution be found for all parties, through serious and honest negotiations.”
Zimbabwe celebrates 26 years of independence from Britain on Tuesday with a shadow of seven years’ economic woes hanging over its freedom day. Zimbabwe gained independence from colonial master Britain on April 18 1980 after a protracted liberation war against white Rhodesian settlers, with President Robert Mugabe then winning plaudids for his conciliatory attitude to minority whites.