Plenty is conspiring against South Africa's Northern Bulls as they attempt to defy the odds and upset favorites NSW Waratahs in tomorrow's Super 12 rugby semifinal in Sydney.
The Bulls are charging along on the back of six consecutive wins to leapfrog Wellington Hurricanes into third spot and earn a shot at playing in their first Super 12 final.
Five-time winners Canterbury Crusaders and the Hurricanes face off for the second successive weekend in Christchurch in today's other play-off match.
It all looks stacked against the Pretoria-based Bulls with only one victory in Australia in 10 years of Super 12 and a dodgy away record of five wins out of 17 hit-outs in three years of the southern hemisphere provincial series.
Coach Heyneke Meyer's team also have to battle the effects of jet lag from their 12-hour flight and the body-clock adjustment to the eight-hour time difference.
The Waratahs are bidding to play in their first Super 12 final and they will be hoping that the table-topping Crusaders lose their semifinal so the Sydney franchise can seize home advantage for the May 28 final, should they down the Bulls.
The Bulls were soundly beaten 42-12 by the Waratahs in Sydney on March 26 and the Sydney franchise are a much-improved outfit this season under the coaching of Ewen McKenzie.
Their forwards are more competitive as a pack and their lineout jumpers, South African-born Daniel Vickerman and Justin Harrison, are among the best in the business.
"When we left here last time, nobody respected us," Meyer said this week. "We were losers and had lost badly. Suddenly it is a different story. There were reporters waiting for us when last time nobody spoke to us. You can see there is a bit of respect for us.
The Waratahs have tagged center Ettienne Botha as the player to watch in tomorrow's semifinal.
"Ettienne Botha, their inside-center, is a great player, an outstanding player and a real talisman for them, they go well when he's on the field," center Morgan Turinui said.
All Black flanker Richie McCaw is back in the starting lineup for the Crusaders in their seventh semifinal in 10 seasons. They haven't lost a Super 12 playoff match in that time.
It will be McCaw's first start since being concussed against the Bulls in Pretoria on April 9, and team mate Chris Jack believes his return will lift the Crusaders an extra notch.
The Crusaders, who downed the Hurricanes 40-20 last Friday and who will field 13 All Blacks in their starting 15, will be hot favorites, but Jack said both teams have learned plenty from last week's game.
"I guess they are going to find a lot more ways to figure us out and find gaps, especially with Tana Umaga coming back and the way he draws in a lot of players and gets his offloads away," Jack said.
"But to be honest I think this week's a totally different challenge. I think the intensity was down from both sides last week -- it will be different on Friday [today]," he said.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has signalled his team will take the Crusaders' pack on and has made five changes to his forwards, with blindside flanker Jerry Collins returning and the bigger Chris Masoe ousting openside flanker Ben Herring.
Masoe can act as the hard man to thwart attacks and combined with back-rowers Collins and Rodney So'oialo form a rugged defensive unit.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely