The All Blacks will be searching for answers on Sunday after their 20-15 upset loss to trans-Tasman rugby rivals Australia. The problem for the Wallabies, and the rest of the rugby nations heading to this year’s World Cup, is that Graham Henry’s New Zealand team will very likely find them.
The Lions shrugged off a spirited effort by the Sharks to win 14-0 in their Absa Currie Cup match at Ellis Park on Saturday night. The Sharks had most of the try-scoring opportunities, but they went into half-time without scoring as the Lions led 3-0. The visitors created all the play.
After leading 13-3 at half-time, Griquas defeated the Blue Bulls 26-18 in a hard-fought Currie Cup fixture at Absa Park on Saturday afternoon. The visitors were most unfortunate to lose the services of their lively and capable scrumhalf Heinie Adams, who had the misfortune to break his left fibia in a tackle.
Swiss defender Alinghi beat challenger Emirates Team New Zealand to win the sixth race of the America’s Cup in Valencia on Saturday and take a 4-2 lead in the best-of-nine series. Alinghi crossed the line 28 seconds ahead of their rivals in perfect sailing conditions off the coast of Valencia.
Brazilian Felipe Massa ended Lewis Hamilton’s two-race domination of Formula One by taking pole position ahead of the young Briton on Saturday for Sunday’s French Grand Prix. The Latin-American Ferrari driver clocked a fastest lap in the final segment of qualifying with a time of one minute, 15,034 seconds.
Protectionism is making a comeback. At least, that is the fear of many influential figures — from senior officials at finance ministries to politicians and independent economists. These experts are, generally speaking, pointing their fingers from West to East, from the United States and Europe to China, Russia and the Persian Gulf.
Seven-time world champion Italian Valentino Rossi, riding a Yamaha, won the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen on Saturday ahead of championship leader Casey Stoner of Australia and American reigning champion Nicky Hayden. It was a remarkable victory for Rossi, who started 11th on the grid.
Australia stunned New Zealand with two second-half tries to storm home for a 20-15 win in the Tri-Nations rugby tournament in Melbourne on Saturday. The Wallabies looked second-best to the World Cup favourites for more than an hour before unleashing two converted tries to keep their hopes alive.
Polish gay rights groups claim thousands of homosexuals have fled the country to escape increasing persecution. Robert Biedron (27), the head of the Polish Foundation against Homophobia, said "huge numbers" of Polish gay people have left the country following the rise to power of the right-wing government.
Nowhere, perhaps, will be more important than Shanghai. One of eight cities hosting Live Earth concerts for Al Gore’s crusade against climate change on Saturday, it will help deliver a vast audience across China. And with the world’s most populous country on board, organisers believe they can reach two billion people.