OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Wednesday 6.00pm. SPRINGBOK fly-half hero Jannie de Beer warned on Wednesday that it would be silly to expect a repeat performance of his world record five drop goals when South Africa face Australia in the World Cup semi-finals at Twickenham on Saturday. De Beer kicked a total of 34 points as […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 4.15pm AN unusually large amount of diamond exports during September is behind an unexpected swing to a R1,37-billion trade surplus for the month, a senior customs official said on Thursday. The official, who asked not to be identified, said that diamond sales worth roughly R1,9-billion has been included in the […]

SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett, the master tactician whose drop goal strategy sank England’s World Cup hopes, has commiserated with his England counterpart Clive Woodward. Mallett said it was unfair that two of rugby’s heavyweights should have clashed in the quarter-finals. “I still believe England should be in the semi-finals,” said Mallett. “I think New Zealand […]

AUSTRALIAN hooker Michael Foley said on Wednesday that the Wallabies will have to put their heads together to counter the Springbok scrum when they play their World Cup semi-final on Saturday. Foley, who has played 27 Tests for Australia, said South Africa’s pack would present a different challenge to that of Wales who the Australians […]

THE Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday reiterated that the four days from December 31 to January 3 will be public holidays. It said in a statement many people still appear to be confused about the matter. The Friday of December 31 and the Sunday of January 2 were declared public holidays in a notice […]

FRANCE have a ready-made excuse if they lose to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the World Cup at Twickenham on Sunday, French agriculture minister Jean Glavany said Thursday. Glavany, tongue firmly in cheek, was responding to reports that the French squad had feasted on British beef earlier in the week at their hotel outside […]

THE Egyptian Football Federation on Thursday announced they had appointed Frenchman Gerard Gili as technical dirctor to the national side on a two- year contract. Gili, former coach of French giants Marseille, is charged with ensuring Egypt qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Egypt’s Anour Salama will assist him, Federation president Harb Al Dahchoury said. […]

THE recovering spot gold price is pressing up against resistance at $300 a troy ounce in early European business on Thursday. Analysts said that this level, briefly exceeded in Asian trading, looked set to prove tough but had to be clearly overcome before gold could aim for the next upside targets at $305,00, $315,00 and […]

FORMER Australian national team coach Bob Dwyer believes South Africa will make a major error if they start Saturday’s World Cup semi-final with Jannie de Beer at fly-half instead of Henry Honiball. Springbok coach Nick Mallett has said De Beer will start the match ahead of Honiball after his 34-point haul in the quarter-finals against […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Thursday 11.50am. JOOST van der Westhuizen leads a side that have never known defeat in a World Cup match but the Springbok scrumhalf, captain and leading try-scorer says the past counts for nothing. ”We are proud to be World Champions but 1995 is ancient history,” he says. ”This season’s Tri- Nations […]