■ ITALY
Troncon to captain team
Scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon will captain Italy on his 101st appearance tomorrow after lock Marco Bortolami was ruled out of their decisive Pool C match against Scotland in St Etienne. In a major blow to the Italians, Bortolami has not recovered from a thigh strain and a neck problem and is replaced by Santiago Dellape for the match which will decide who goes through to the quarter-finals as runners-up behind New Zealand. Coach Pierre Berbizier named his team on Thursday, making wholesale changes from the lineup used to beat Portugal 31-5 on Sept.19.
■ JAPAN
Media laud John Kirwan
Japan's media yesterday called for the country's rugby coach, John Kirwan, to be given the job for life after the team's battling World Cup performances. Japan's "Brave Blossoms" bowed out of the tournament in France with their pride intact after a dramatic 12-12 draw with Canada in their final Pool B game. Under a picture of Koji Taira's stoppage-time try in Bordeaux, the Nikkan Sports daily ran the headline: "Eternal power for Kirwan!" Although trounced 91-3 by Australia and 72-18 by Wales, Kirwan's side were unlucky not to beat Fiji, losing 35-31 to the Pacific islanders in a see-saw battle. The Nikkan Sports was not alone in calling for Kirwan to be granted control through the the 2011 World Cup in his native New Zealand. "Another four years please, Kirwan!" the Sports Nippon demanded.
■ IRELAND
Simon Best in hospital
Ireland World Cup prop Simon Best was still in hospital in Bordeaux yesterday after suffering a mystery loss of feeling down his right side. The 29-year-old was admitted to hospital on Wednesday evening after falling ill while walking around town. An Irish spokesman said: "Simon Best has remained in hospital overnight where he is being closely monitored. He will undergo further tests this morning. There are no clear indications as yet as to the cause of his illness." Best, who plays his club rugby for Belfast Harlequins and Ulster, had been named on the bench in the side to face Argentina on Sunday.
■ NEW ZEALAND
Keith Robinson gets a start
Lock Keith Robinson will get his first World Cup start for the All Blacks in their final Pool C match against Romania tomorrow after recovering from a calf injury that has kept him out for three weeks. The 30-year-old Waikato player will partner former captain Reuben Thorne in the second row for the match in Toulouse, while Chris Jack drops to the bench and Ali Williams is rested. There is an all-new front row comprising of Greg Somerville, hooker Keven Mealamu and the giant Neemia Tialata. Dan Carter remains at flyhalf after a poor goalkicking display in last week's 40-0 win over Scotland, with Andy Ellis at scrumhalf. Fijian-born wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu start with a new center combination of Aaron Mauger and Isaia Toeava inside them, while Nick Evans slots in at fullback.
■ ICE HOCKEY
Kings beat Farjestad BK
Anze Kopitar scored with 46 seconds remaining to give the Los Angeles Kings a 4-3 win over Swedish champion Farjestad BK in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday in the final of a friendly ice hockey tournament. Kopitar, who had just returned to the ice after a two-minute penalty, scored after a rush through the Swedish defense. It was the last exhibition game for the Kings before opening the North American National Hockey League season with a two-game series against the Anaheim Ducks in London on Saturday and Sunday. Earlier on Wednesday, Red Bull Salzburg defeated Swiss champions HC Davos 5-3 to finish third in the Red Bull Salute tournament.
■ BASKETBALL
Marion wants to leave Suns
Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion, the team's highest-paid player and a four-time All-Star, says he wants to be traded after eight years with the club. Marion said he decided to ask to leave because the team considered trading him over the summer and won't talk about a contract extension. Marion told the Arizona Republic late on Tuesday that he had informed the team of his desires and has struggled with the decision. "I'm tired of hearing my name in trades. I love my fans in Phoenix, but I think it's time for me to move on," Marion said by phone from his Chicago home.
■ BASEBALL
MLB suspends umpire
Umpire Mike Winters was suspended by Major League Baseball for the remainder of the regular season on Wednesday because of his confrontation with San Diego's Milton Bradley last weekend. The Padres claimed Winters baited Bradley, who has a history of losing his temper. Bradley tore a knee ligament when his manager spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after the umpire during Sunday's 7-3 loss to Colorado in San Diego. Winters was suspended because the commissioner's office concluded he had used a profanity aimed at Bradley, a baseball official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the reasoning for the suspension was not announced.
■ TENNIS
Oregon to host Davis Cup
It's official. The US and defending Davis Cup champion Russia will contest this year's final at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. The US Tennis Association formally announced on Wednesday the site for the matches from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. It's the first Davis Cup final in the US since the US won the 1992 championship by defeating Switzerland at Fort Worth, Texas. Andy Roddick is expected to join fellow top-10 player James Blake in singles against Russia, with the top-ranked doubles pairing of Bob and Mike Bryan completing the US team.
■ FOOTBALL
Judge cracks down on Vick
A federal judge placed tighter restrictions on onetime gridiron star Michael Vick in Richmond, Virginia, on Wednesday after he tested positive for marijuana. Because of the result, US District Judge Henry Hudson placed special conditions on Vick's release, including restricting him to his home between 10pm and 6am and ordering him to submit to random drug testing. Vick was placed under pretrial release supervision by US Magistrate Dennis Dohnal in July. His restrictions included refraining from use or unlawful possession of controlled substances.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two