■ 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.
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning