New South Wales secured a home Super 14 semifinal with an 18-11 win over Queensland in a derby match on Saturday that was short on attacking creativity or endeavour. The win, coupled with Wellington’s loss to Auckland on Friday, ensured the Waratahs will host a semifinal in Sydney next weekend.
Lewis Hamilton got an early psychological edge over Kimmi Raikkonen, winning pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix while the world champion will start near the back of the grid. McLaren’s Hamilton had the fastest times in the second and third runs of the three-phase qualifying session.
![]()
There’s no disguising this one. South Africa against Fiji should be a mismatch of a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. Fiji would have to produce the perfect game to upset South Africa and advance to the semifinals. So that’s what coach Ilie Tabua is asking his squad to do. Fiji qualified for their first World Cup quarterfinal since the inaugural edition in 1987 with a 38-34 upset over Wales.
No image available
/ 30 September 2007
![]()
After pacing the sidelines for two weeks, Schalk Burger gets another chance to wreak havoc for South Africa at the World Cup. The bustling blonde backrower was switched from the flank to number eight in a strong Springboks lineup unveiled by coach Jake White for Sunday’s match against the winless United States in Montpellier.
![]()
Sanath Jayasuriya clubbed a vintage hundred and Sri Lanka all but ended the West Indies’ World Cup semifinal hopes with a 113-run Super Eights win on Sunday. Jayasuriya’s 115 from 101 balls and his 183-run third-wicket partnership with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (82) set up Sri Lanka’s imposing 303 for five.
![]()
Pakistan rallied around Inzamam-ul-Haq on Wednesday to ensure his last match was a proper tribute for late coach Bob Woolmer and not another debacle. Imran Nazir clobbered 160 and Inzamam added 37 from 32 balls in Pakistan’s rain-interrupted, 93-run World Cup win over Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 24 January 2007
Kim Clijsters had another quarterfinal win over Martina Hingis despite a rash of unforced errors, and moved into the Australian Open semifinals against top-seeded Maria Sharapova. Fourth-seeded Clijsters won 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday, breaking Hingis’ serve in the last game and ending the match with a forehand passing shot.
No image available
/ 20 January 2007
Top-seeded Maria Sharapova got another taste of the elements, ignoring the saunalike conditions in Rod Laver Arena to advance to the second week of the Australian Open. While often heavy rain prevented play on outside courts, the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed on Saturday for Sharapova’s 6-3, 6-1 third-round win over 30th-seeded Tathiana Garbin.
No image available
/ 28 December 2006
Another demoralising loss has England captain Andrew Flintoff facing a scenario he can’t even bear to contemplate. Sixteen months after ending its Ashes drought with a 2-1 series upset in England, the English are staring down the barrel of a 5-0 series whitewash in Australia.
No image available
/ 12 November 2006
A relatively unknown South Korean golfer ended Tiger Woods’ streak in stroke events, winning the HSBC Champions tournament on Sunday. Yang Yong-eun, a regular on the Japanese tour who has played infrequently outside Asia, closed with a three-under 69 on Sunday at the Sheshan International Golf Club for a two-stroke win at 14-under 274.