Springbok Bryan Habana will be a notable absentee when Northern Bulls launch their defense of the Super 14 title this weekend. The 2007 World Rugby Player of the Year has been lured to rivals Western Stormers after helping the Bulls win the southern hemisphere championship twice in the last three seasons.
A last-gasp Habana try snatched victory over Coastal Sharks in an all-South Africa 2007 decider and he crossed the line twice last May in the final rout of Waikato Chiefs. The blow of losing Habana has been softened slightly by the return from Japan of utility back Jaco van der Westhuyzen while former hooker Gary Botha has quit England to bolster the pack.
Locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha have no peers in world rugby, No. 8 Pierre Spies is a fearsome sight when he storms toward the tryline and the champions can choose their hooker from three top-class performers.
After visiting Central Cheetahs today, Bulls have four consecutive home fixtures which offers a chance to build a sizeable points tally before travelling to Australasia, where they often struggle.
The second most powerful South African challenge traditionally comes from the Durban Sharks, but perennial underachievers Western Stormers may step into that role this year. Apart from Habana, the Cape Town Stormers have also wooed ’Boka and Golden Lions center Jaque Fourie to compensate for the loss of Jean de Villiers to Munster.
Flanker Schalk Burger has replaced De Villiers as skipper and if the pack maintain the improvement of last season, Stormers can realistically hope for a top-four finish and a semi-finals slot.
Filling the shoes of Argentina fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez poses Sharks a major challenge with unproven Steve Meyer being touted for the pivotal role.
Taiwan’s Lee Hao-yu on Friday went 0-for-3 in his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, becoming the 19th Taiwan-born player to reach the big leagues. The Tigers ultimately lost 1-0 in 10 innings, ending their six-game winning streak. The 23-year-old started at third base and batted eighth for Detroit. He was promoted from Triple-A Toledo ahead of the four-game series against the Red Sox at the latter’s home stadium, replacing injured utility player Zach McKinstry. “Being right-handed, and given our schedule, I think six of the next 12 games are going to
Matheus Cunha on Saturday fired Manchester United toward the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur remain in the relegation zone after twice blowing the lead to draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea failed to take advantage of a United defense ravaged by injury and suspension as a fourth straight league defeat for the Blues left their Champions League hopes in ruins. United have missed out on the riches of Europe’s elite competition for the past two seasons, but are closing in on a return thanks to an upturn in fortunes under interim manager
Italian soccer is at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years after a wholesale European exodus at club level followed the nation’s failure for the third successive time to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and compounded a leadership and structural crisis. The exits suffered by Bologna and ACF Fiorentina on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League respectively meant no Italian teams are left in European competition this season. Italy’s last remaining UEFA Champions League contenders, Atalanta BC, went out in the round of 16 last month. It is the first time since the 1986-1987 campaign that Italian clubs
The Detroit Tigers’ Lee Hao-yu on Monday collected his first and second MLB hits in their 8-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, who batted eighth, had an RBI single and a double in four at-bats at Fenway Park, raising his batting average to .182. “He was super thrilled to get his first hit,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after the game. “There’s only one first, you know, and for him, it’s been a couple of games where he’s really been wanting to do it. I’m glad he did it here.” “Young guys settle in when they start
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