■ ARGENTINA
Eusebio Guinazu called up
Argentina have called hooker Eusebio Guinazu into their World Cup squad as a replacement for the injured Mario Ledesma, team sources said on Monday. Ledesma suffered a leg injury in the 37-13 semi-final defeat by South Africa on Sunday and will be replaced in the team by Alberto Vernet Basualdo for the third-place playoff against France on Friday. Guinazu, who plays for French club Agen and was part of Argentina's pre-tournament squad of 41 before missing the cut for the World Cup, is likely to be on the bench when coach Marcelo Loffreda names his side today.
■ NEW ZEALAND
Kiwis support Henry
Most New Zealanders say All Blacks coach Graham Henry should be retained despite the team's worst ever rugby World Cup performance, according to a survey released yesterday. New Zealand were beaten by France in the quarter-finals this month, leaving Henry in a tenuous position as the New Zealand Rugby Union reviews the failed campaign. While history shows failed World Cup coaches are not retained, the poll by UMR Research found 61 percent of New Zealanders thought Henry deserved to be reappointed. If he is given the axe, the poll found a majority of people were unsure who should replace him, with Canterbury Crusaders coach Robbie Deans seen as the best of the pack. As for the 18-20 loss to France, nearly two thirds of respondents put that down to one bad game by an otherwise champion team, the All Blacks having gone into the World Cup as the overwhelming favorites. That compared to 27 percent who said the result was down to a deep-seated weakness in the team.
■ FRANCE
Laporte changes nine
Coach Bernard Laporte yesterday made nine changes to his starting line-up for what will be last match in charge against Argentina in the World Cup third place play-off at the Parc des Prince in Paris on Friday. Laporte will stand down after eight years and 98 games at the helm hoping to bow out on a positive note one week after their 14-9 semi-final defeat to England last Saturday. Four of the changes come in the pack with the return of Jean-Baptiste Poux at loose-head prop, Lionel Nallet at lock and Yannick Nyanga and Imanol Harinordoquy in the back row. Among the backs, Frederic Michalak takes over at flyhalf with David Skrela at center, Christophe Dominici and Aurelien Rougerie on the wings and Clement Poitrenaud at fullback. Damien Traille, who played fullback against England returns to his more customary center position. It will be the second meeting between the two teams at this World Cup, Argentina having won the tournament opener 17-12 on Sept. 7. The Pumas lost 37-13 to South Africa on Sunday.
■ FRANCE
Sebastien Chabal cleared
France forward Sebastien Chabal was cleared on Monday night of a dangerous tackle charge by the Rugby World Cup disciplinary commission. Chabal had been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on England second-row Simon Shaw during France's 14-9 semi-final loss on Saturday. He can now play in France's match for third place against Argentina on Friday. Judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar determined that the actions of Chabal in the tackle on Shaw in the second minute of the second half "could not of themselves be construed to be an act of foul play," a RWC statement 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