■ South Africa
Burger set for comeback
South Africa flanker Schalk Burger makes his comeback from a severe neck injury when he plays for the Stormers in a Super 14 warm-up this weekend. Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe has named the 23-year-old in his team to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. Burger, the 2004 world player of the year, needed a neck operation after being injured in the second Test against Scotland in June. In his absence, the Springboks lost their next five matches and only won five games the entire year. "Schalk has been working very hard and his recovery has been pleasing," Van der Merwe told the Cape Times.
■ Scotland
Mike Blair injured
Scotland scrumhalf Mike Blair will miss the start of the Six Nations campaign with a shoulder injury that will keep him out for up to two months. Blair suffered the injury in Edinburgh's win over Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League last Friday and tests on Tuesday revealed the seriousness of the ligament damage, the official Six Nations Web site (www.rbs6nations.com) said. He looks sure to miss Scotland's first two games against England on Feb. 3 and Wales a week later while their third game, against Italy on Feb. 24 may also come too soon. Blair's main rival for the No. 9 shirt, Chris Cusiter, is also out with a shoulder problem.
■ New Zealand
Somerville to miss Super 14
All Black and Canterbury Crusaders prop Greg Somerville will miss the Super 14 competition and is doubtful for the All Blacks' initial Tests this year after an achilles tendon operation, a report said yesterday. Somerville snapped the tendon while played for the All Blacks against South Africa in August. He was operated on in September but the discovery of a cyst on the tendon last month required a second operation, All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson told The Press. Robinson said 29-year-old Somerville would need up to six months to recover. But Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said he was confident the 55-Test veteran would be fit for Test selection later in the year.
■ Australia
Chris Latham determined
Wallaby fullback Chris Latham remains confident of playing at the Rugby World Cup in France later this year after confirmation yesterday that he will undergo knee reconstruction on Saturday. Australian rugby's outstanding player last year tore both his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments at Queensland Reds training last weekend and he is expected to miss the entire Super 14 provincial series. Queensland Reds medical staff yesterday said his recovery was likely to take six months. "We suspect it is a high grade tear, but if there are still some fibres attached we may leave it to repair itself, otherwise we will intervene to reattach the ligament," a Queensland Reds spokesperson said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care