Springbok coach Jake White is relying on South Africa's Super 14 coaches to make sure key players are in condition for the rugby World Cup.
Unlike New Zealand and Australia, whose national rugby coaches will oversee restrictions on playing time in the Super 14 for their best players, White was leaving those decisions to the coaches of the Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.
"There is no such thing as me saying to them they must rest certain players and only play him for a certain number of games," White told the South African Press Association on Monday.
PHOTO: AFP
"The reality this year is that there are 13 Super 14 games [excluding the semi-finals and final]. If a guy plays the whole Super 14 and makes the final, the next Saturday we play England, followed immediately by another Test against England, Samoa, and then the Tri-Nations against Australia and New Zealand," White said.
"It's not rocket science that if a guy plays the whole season that by the time he gets to the World Cup he is going to have nothing left to perform. That's why the decision was taken to rest players on last year's end-of-season tour," he said. "My message to the coaches is to please be honest and fair to the player that you know will go to the World Cup and make sure you give him the opportunity to perform in the World Cup."
The Super 14 starts next week and ends in mid-May.
White met with the five Super 14 coaches and four members of the South African union's presidents council, including vice president Mike Stofile, on Sunday in Johannesburg, and all promised to assist White when he needs it.
"Those people have a right to be there from a custodian point of view," SA Rugby manager of national teams Andy Marinos said.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and