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☆ Springboks start with Pollard, go 7-1 on the bench
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In the end, Pollard proved the match winner again as he kicked over a 48 metre penalty to hand South Africa a place in the final. South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber surprised with his choice of replacements, going with seven forwards and a single back for the third time in the last two months. It means South Africa are gambling on fresh forward power winning them the game but risking having no cover should there be any injury among the backs. New Zealand, who like South Africa have won three previous World Cups, will name their team later on Thursday. South Africa: 15-Damian Willemse, 14-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Cheslin Kolbe, 10-Handre Pollard, 9-Faf de Klerk, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6-Siya Kolisi (capt.

Persons: Handre Pollard, Pollard, Faf, Klerk, Jacques Nienaber, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt, Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter, Steph du Toit, Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff, Deon Fourie, Trevor Nyakane, Jean Kleyn, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Willie Le Roux, Mark Gleeson, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Rugby, Springbok, New Zealand, South, England, Libbok, Blacks, Twickenham, Ireland, Leinster, Thomson Locations: COURCELLES, France, South Africa, Japan, flyhalf, scrumhalf, Africa, South Africa’s, Zealand

☆ Forget Twickenham’s record win for Boks, it’s this weekend that counts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

This weekend is the one that counts. "If you look at our bench, even back in 2019, it has had a massive impact for the Springboks," he said. "For us, when we are on the bench, we know we've got a massive responsibility to fulfil. The nice thing is for us is that we can watch the first half and see where we could be falling short as Springboks," Smith added. You've got to be ready and make sure that you use your opportunity when you get it."

Persons: Kwagga Smith, Smith, Scott Barrett, It's, we've, You've, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby, All Blacks, Twickenham, Blacks, Kiwis, Kiwi, Springboks, Thomson Locations: COURCELLES, France, Africa, New Zealand, London, South Africa, Japan, England

☆ Springbok focus on final despite Mbonambi controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rugby Union - Championship - New Zealand All Blacks vs South Africa Springboks - Auckland, New Zealand - September 16, 2017 South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi reacts after their loss to New Zealand. REUTERS/Nigel Marple/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPRESLES COURCELLES, France, Oct 25 (Reuters) - South Africa have no problem focusing on Saturday's Rugby World Cup final despite the controversy hanging over hooker Bongi Mbonambi and World Rugby's investigation into alleged discriminatory behaviour, assistant coach Felix Jones said. World Rugby are formally reviewing the allegation that Mbonambi directed a racial slur at England's Tom Curry in Saturday's semi-final, where South Africa secured a 16-15 win to set up a final against New Zealand this weekend. "Everyone, as you can expect for a World Cup final, is hugely excited and there is a high level of focus. World Rugby said separately an investigation into the allegations was being conducted by its disciplinary structures but no time line on the process was known.

Persons: Mbonambi, Nigel Marple, Bongi Mbonambi, Felix Jones, Tom Curry, Jones, Curry, Ben O'Keeffe, Malcolm Marx, flyhalf Handre Pollard, Deon Fourie, Marco van Staden, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby Union, Zealand, Blacks, South Africa Springboks, REUTERS, Saturday's Rugby, Rugby, South, New Zealand, Springboks, South Africa Rugby, Stade de France, England, France, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand, COURCELLES, France, South Africa, Saturday's, England, South, flyhalf

☆ World Cup expands to 24 teams amid radical new calendar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 2027 World Cup in Australia will expand from the current 20 to 24 teams, split into six first-round groups containing four sides each. LATER DRAWWR said the draw for the next World Cup would be made in January 2026, the latest it has ever been held before a tournament. WR said they had addressed this by the introduction of a Nations League competition, with two 12-team divisions. There will be a second division with a further 12 teams, which will be run by World Rugby. There will also be a new, annual expanded Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2024 featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.

Persons: ”, Sir Bill Beaumont, Beaumont, WR, Mitch Phillips, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Biennial Nations League, Rugby, Nations League, Six Nations, Rugby Championship, World Rugby, WR, Nations, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Paris, Australia, France, Japan, Fiji, Canada, Samoa, Tonga, United States

☆ Pollard gamble pays off for South Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - An injury to hooker Malcolm Marx early in the Rugby World Cup threatened a major blow to South Africa’s hopes of retaining the title but the opportunity to call up Handre Pollard was a gamble that paid off handsomely in Saturday’s semi-final. Pollard, who kicked South Africa to the title at the last World Cup in Japan, was left out of the original 33-man squad after failing to prove his fitness. "We needed some energy and that's why we decided to bring on the bench early," the Springbok coach said. When South Africa won a scrum penalty two metres inside the England half with two minutes to go, the stage was set for Pollard. "Firstly the scrum penalty, that is what got us the opportunity," said Pollard.

Persons: Malcolm Marx, Africa’s, Handre Pollard, Pollard, Libbok, Jacques Nienaber, Siya Kolisi, ” Kolisi, It’s, Ed Osmond Organizations: Rugby, Springboks, New Zealand, Stade de France, Tonga, France, Springbok, South Africa, England, Leicester, Thomson Locations: Saturday’s, England, South Africa, Japan, Yokohama, France

☆ Wales crash out in quarter-finals but show improvement through tournament
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Wales produced an impressive comeback at the Rugby World Cup from a litany of recent woes and, although they ultimately crashed and burned in Saturday's quarter-final, leave the tournament in a better place than when they arrived in France. "There's some exciting players coming through, players who aren't here. Hopefully they're inspired by this," he said after Saturday's quarter-final defeat"We're all gutted about that as it slipped away from us. Gatland has seen Wales through previous highs and lows, although more highs in the time he coached from 2007-2019, finishing his first stint by taking Wales to the semi-final at the last World Cup in Japan. He signed a five-year deal on his return in December which allows him another tilt at the next World Cup in Australia four years from now and Wales will surely keep him on, given his undoubted acumen.

Persons: Warren Gatland, you've, We've, Gatland, they're, they've, Muralikumar Organizations: Rugby, Wales, Six Nations, England, Fiji, Thomson Locations: Wales, France, Argentina, Marseille, Japan, Australia, UNDERCOOKED Wales, Bordeaux, Lyon

☆ Tight margins made the difference for Springboks in win over France
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We knew it was going to be this tight. South Africa’s replacements outmuscled the tiring French and after Etzebeth’s try they went ahead and held on in the end to extinguish home hopes. “I must give credit to the guys that came off the bench, they came and made a huge difference,” added captain Siya Kolisi. In the knockout rounds anything can happen, there are going to be small margins right to the end," added Nienaber. And Mbonambi warned that South Africa’s defence of the title was not yet complete.

Persons: Jacques Nienaber, Eben Etzebeth, they’ve, Nienaber, Etzebeth’s, “, ”, Siya Kolisi, Mbonambi, “ We’ve, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: France, South Africa, England, Stade de France, Springboks, Thomson Locations: South Africa, France, Paris

☆ Wales tone down preparations as World Cup quarter-final looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOULON, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Wales coach Warren Gatland has deliberately toned down his side’s preparations this week, even though they face their most important game in four years, against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. We purposely had a heavier week last week as we knew we were in the quarter-finals. Asked about the peculiarities of the knockout stages, Gatland said: “I think the first challenge is the pressure you’re under, firstly to make the knockout stages. “The quarter-final then poses pressure as you’re either here until the end of the tournament or you’re going home on Monday. Gatland said Wales faced a “big challenge” from Argentina despite their failure to impress at the tournament so far.

Persons: Warren Gatland, Gatland, “, ”, We’re, Wales, they’ve, They’ve, We’ve, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Georgia, Marseille, England, Thomson Locations: TOULON, France, Wales, Argentina, South Africa, Japan, Samoa, Marseille, Paris

☆ Cubelli back as Argentina make double change for Wales quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But Isa will play at number eight against Wales with Juan Martin Gonzalez moving to the open side in place of Matera for the clash in Marseille. I love the fellas, they’re always together, they’re a very committed team and I know that they’ll really enjoy this occasion," Cheika told a press conference. Cubelli was the undisputed first-choice scrumhalf for the Pumas between 2017 and 2021 but he was sidelined after suffering a torn left thigh muscle before Scotland's tour of Argentina last year. “Obviously I think a lot of Tomas Cubelli because he’s in the team for Saturday," added the coach. He’s tough, he’s committed and he loves playing for Argentina and I think that sums him up,” said Cheika.

Persons: scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, Michael Cheika, Pablo Matera, Facundo Isa, Isa, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Cubelli, Gonzalo Bertranou, Lautaro Bazan, they’re, Cheika, Tomas Cubelli, he’s, ”, Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Marcos Kremer, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya, Thomas Gallo, Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matías Moroni, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Pumas, Matera, PARIS, Wales, Japan, Lautaro Bazan Velez, England, Samoa, Chile, Argentina, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Nantes, France, Matera, Marseille, Cheika, Paris

☆ Biggar back for Wales in boost for World Cup quarter-final with Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOULON, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Wales' influential flyhalf Dan Biggar will start this weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Marseille with Tommy Reffell named on Thursday in place of the injured Taulupe Faleatu. Along with Biggar, Wales also named experienced fullback Liam Williams for Saturday's match despite him being taken off with a knee injury in their final pool match last weekend, a 43-19 win over Georgia in Nantes. Williams was later seen using crutches but coaching staff this week said it was a precautionary measure to take weight off his leg. “It’s exciting to enter into the knockout stages of the tournament and we are ready for the challenge of a quarter-final. We haven't had the perfect performance yet, but we have shown that we are a hard team to beat.

Persons: Dan Biggar, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faleatu, Biggar, Liam Williams, Williams, Faleatu, Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Gareth Anscombe, Sam Costelow, “, Warren Gatland, “ We’re, haven't, ”, Louis Rees, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Gareth Davies, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas Replacements, Dewi, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Tshiunza, Tomos Williams, Rio Dyer, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby, Argentina, Georgia, ” Wales, Thomson Locations: TOULON, France, Wales, Marseille, Biggar, Nantes, Georgia, Argentina, Zammit, Paris

☆ Lukaku backs Belgium return for Courtois after spat with coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Belgium's stand-in captain Romelu Lukaku said he would welcome Thibaut Courtois back into the national team with open arms after the goalkeeper walked out of the squad in June. Courtois tore knee ligaments and underwent surgery in August, delaying any resolution, but earlier this week Belgium fullback Timothy Castagne said he did not think Courtois could return to the squad without any explanation. “The day Thibaut decides to return, he will simply return. You know, I would like to call on the media not to constantly write that Thibaut Courtois or any other player said this or did that. Lukaku was chosen ahead of Courtois as captain in June, standing in for the injured Kevin De Bruyne.

Persons: Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Courtois, Domenico Tedesco, Timothy Castagne, “, ”, Thibaut, “ Thibaut, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Castagne, I've, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Estonia, Real Madrid, Austria, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Belgium, Vienna, Paris

☆ France flanker Jelonch continues rapid recovery from surgery
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - France flanker Anthony Jelonch will likely continue his remarkable recovery from injury in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa and may find time to swap notes with Siya Kolisi. The world champions' captain also won a tight race against time to be fit for the tournament after injury. Jelonch, 27, had initially been given little chance of making the tournament, the same as Kolisi, who suffered a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear in April. I gave myself the means to be able to play this World Cup. This injury did me a lot of good and made me grow," Jelonch added.

Persons: Anthony Jelonch, Siya Kolisi, Jelonch, I’ve, ”, Jacques Nienaber, Ed Osmond Organizations: Sunday’s Rugby, South, Uruguay, Springbok, Wales, Thomson Locations: France, South Africa

☆ Alldritt warns France need to increase intensity in World Cup quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - France will need to increase their intensity to match the physical challenge posed by South Africa in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, eighthman Gregory Alldritt said on Wednesday. It's up to us to put in more intensity than usual for 80 minutes," Alldritt told a press conference. "As we saw in Marseille last year they're a team that stays in the game for 80 minutes. One of the key battle in the game will be that between the loose forwards and Alldritt praised the opposing trio. "I think they're a reflection of the team, a back row that gives a lot in defence and attack for 80 minutes.

Persons: eighthman Gregory Alldritt, Alldritt, they're, We've, I'm, We're, we're, it'll, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Sunday's Rugby, Stade de France, Springboks, South, Thomson Locations: France, South Africa, Marseille, Paris

☆ Feyenoord add to Ajax woe by completing victory in suspended match
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ajax were trailing 3-0 in the second half when the game was initially suspended in the 56th minute before being abandoned. It was only the second time Feyenoord had scored four goals away against traditional rivals Ajax and took them up to third in the standings. The defeat adds pressure on new coach Maurice Steijn whose future has been the subject of much speculation. Ajax, who have had a poor start to the season with just one win, sit 14th in the 18-team league. They finished third last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 13 seasons.

Persons: Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez, Mats Wieffer, Johanna Geron, Santiago Gimenez, Johan Cruyff, Gimenez, Igor Paixao, Maurice Steijn, Sven Mislintat, Steijn, Pier Eringa, Mark Gleeson, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer, Europa, Feyenoord, Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord Stadium, Rights, Ajax Amsterdam, Wednesday, Ajax, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Rotterdam, Netherlands, Mexican, Amsterdam, Cape Town

☆ Morocco and East African co-bid to host future Africa Cup of Nations finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Morocco won by default after Algeria, Zambia and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew before the vote of the Confederation of African Football's executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday. The north African country was a runaway favourite and will see the decision as a boost to their hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain. It is only the second time that Morocco will host Africa's most popular sporting event, almost four decades after the previous time in 1988. The joint East African bid for 2027 returns the finals to the region for the first time since 1976. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Mark Gleeson, Christian Radnedge, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Soccer Football, Africa, of Nations, Olembe, Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Portugal, CAF, Thomson Locations: Senegal, Egypt, Yaounde, Cameroon, Rights CAIRO, Morocco, Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria, Zambia, Benin, Nigeria, Cairo, Spain, Botswana, Cape Town

☆ Algeria withdraw bid to host Cup of Nations finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

“The FAF will now focus its efforts on the reorganisation and revitalisation of football in Algeria, as it reiterates its unwavering commitment to the development of African football. Algeria built new stadiums and upgraded other infrastructure to host the African Nations Championship at the start of the year. Algeria, Morocco, Zambia and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria were in the running for the 2025 finals. Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Senegal and a joint candidacy from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda submitted bids to host the 2027 tournament. In 2014 Guinea were award the right to host the 2023 finals, along with Cameroon (2019) and Ivory Coast (2021).

Persons: Thaier, Ivory Coast, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Soccer Football, Africa, of Nations, Olembe, Nations, REUTERS, Algerian Football Federation, “, African Nations, CAF, Guinea, South, Thomson Locations: Senegal, Egypt, Yaounde, Cameroon, Algeria, Cairo, Morocco, Guinea, Zambia, Benin, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Libya, Ivory Coast, Ivory, West Africa

☆ Klaasen guides South Africa to one-sided win over Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PRETORIA, Sept 15 - Heinrich Klaasen bludgeoned the ball to all corners in a blistering knock of 174 to lead South Africa to a comprehensive 164-run victory over Australia and level the five-match one-day series to 2-2 on Friday. Klaasen hit 13 sixes in an awe-inspiring display of power hitting to help South Africa to a total of 416-5 – their second highest against Australia – after they had been put into bat. Australia were always going to be up against it after Klaasen’s innings had ensured a mammoth tally after a tepid start by the home side. South Africa had scored 120-3 halfway through their innings, on an unusually slow wicket, and were looking at mediocre total when Klaasen came to the crease. It ended with the last ball of the innings when Klaasen was caught in the deep.

Persons: Heinrich Klaasen bludgeoned, Klaasen, Travis, Head, Gerald Coetzee, Kapil Dev’s, Rassie van der, David Miller, Miller, Josh Hazelwood, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Tim David, Carey, Quinton de, Mark Gleeson, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Australia, Zimbabwe, Tunbridge, Warner, Wanderers, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA, South Africa, Australia, Tunbridge Wells, Quinton de Kock, Johannesburg, Cape Town

☆ Australia opener Head’s World Cup in jeopardy as he breaks hand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Cricket - Second ODI - South Africa v Australia - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein, South Africa - September 9, 2023 Australis'a Travis Head walks after losing his wicket, caught by South Africa's David Miller off the bowling of Tabraiz Shamsi REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsPRETORIA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Australian opener Travis Head's participation at next month’s World Cup is in doubt after he broke his hand during Friday's one day international against South Africa. Head had to retire hurt in his country’s 164-run defeat to South Africa at Centurion on Friday after being hit on the hand by Gerald Coetzee. “It's a confirmed fracture but as to the nature of the break and what sort of timeframe to heal, that will be assessed tomorrow,” said Australia coach Andrew McDonald. The 29-year-old Head, who has been a spearhead at the top of the innings for Australia in one dayers, would be sorely missed if he is to be ruled out of the World Cup, which starts in India on Oct. 5“He's going to go in for some more scans tomorrow... We have fingers crossed, clearly with the World Cup, fast approaching,” McDonald added. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Travis, Africa's David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Siphiwe, Travis Head's, Gerald Coetzee, “ It's, ”, Andrew McDonald, ” McDonald, Mark Gleeson, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Mangaung, Tabraiz Shamsi REUTERS, Rights, South Africa, Centurion, Australia, Thomson Locations: Africa, Australia, Bloemfontein, South Africa, Rights PRETORIA, India, Cape Town

☆ Australian players have to get used to neck protectors, Inglis says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PRETORIA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis says he will have no problem wearing a neck protector on his helmet from next month despite not using them previously. Governing body Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Thursday that all their players will have to wear neck protectors on helmets when facing fast or medium pace bowling from October. Inglis said he would have to get used to a piece of equipment he had previously disliked. CA had recommended the use of neck protectors since the death of Phillip Hughes in 2014 but a number of top batsmen, including David Warner and Steve Smith, have resisted wearing them. CA's Head of Cricket Operations & Scheduling Peter Roach said in a statement earlier that protecting the head and neck was extremely important.

Persons: Josh Inglis, Inglis, I'm, ”, Phillip Hughes, David Warner, Steve Smith, CA's, Peter Roach, Roach, Cameron Green, Green, Mitchell Marsh, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Cricket Australia, South, of Cricket Operations, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA, South Africa, Pretoria, Australia, Cape Town

☆ Maharaj bouncing back to World Cup after horror injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 33-year-old suffered the injury while celebrating a wicket in a test against the West Indies in Johannesburg and had to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher. "I put my head down and sacrificed a lot, from a diet point of view, from a rehab point of view, from a recovery point of view, making sure I was getting eight to 10 hours of sleep every night. Maharaj was still in a 'moon boot' hobbling around four months after surgery. "Then at five months, I started to believe once I started to run again. Maharaj was one of the stars on Tuesday as South Africa beat Australia by 111 runs in Potchefstroom to reduce the deficit in the series to 2-1.

Persons: Keshav Maharaj, rupturing, Maharaj, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: West, Australia, Thomson Locations: PRETORIA, South Africa, India, West Indies, Johannesburg, Africa, Potchefstroom, Pretoria

☆ Onana the hero as Cameroon qualify for Cup of Nations finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GAROUA, Cameroon, Sept 12 (Reuters) - A nervy Cameroon scored twice in the second half to beat Burundi 3-0 in Garoua on Tuesday and qualify for January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, overcoming their plucky opponents as Andre Onana marked his return to the team with a series of key saves. Cameroon had needed to win the game to ensure a place in the finals. Victory saw them finish top of three-team Group C and also ensured that Namibia would qualify with them while Burundi missed out. With Group C settled, the field for the 24-team Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast from Jan. 13-Feb. 11 next year is complete. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andre Onana, Victory, Bryan Mbeumo, Christopher Wooh, Wooh, Karl Toko Ekambi, Vincent Aboubakar, Onana, Caleb Bimenyimana, Rigobert, Mark Gleeson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Cameroon, January’s Africa, Nations, Lions, Manchester United, Thomson Locations: GAROUA, Cameroon, Burundi, Garoua, Namibia, Qatar, Brazil, Ivory, Cape Town

☆ Markram ton and spin twins see South Africa to ODI win over Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Aiden Markram's century and a successful spin attack saw South Africa beat Australia by 111 runs in the third One Day International at the JB Marks Oval on Tuesday to win their first match of the five-game series. However, South Africa did get lucky when David Warner was run out and Tim David then given out after a review of a catch that looked to have been dropped but was ruled fair by the fourth umpire after a TV review. Markram also had a touch of fortune about reaching his second ODI century, dropped in the deep on 95 which allowed him to reach the three-figure milestone. But it was a vital innings that propelled South Africa to a formidable total after they lost their way mid-innings. Bavuma went quickly thereafter for 57 and the home team’s run rate slowed markedly as Australia pinned them back.

Persons: Aiden Markram's, Markram, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Warner, Tim David, Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, De Kock, Travis Head, Bavuma, David Miler, Warner, Maharaj’s, Marnus Labuschagne, David, Bjorn Fortuin, George Coetzee’s, Seamer Coetzee, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: South Africa, Australia, JB, Warner, Wanderers, Thomson Locations: POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, South, Australia, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town

☆ Wales's victory over Fiji raises hopes of emulating 2019 semi-final spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australia are the other Tier 1 nation in the pool and fancied to advance with the pre-tournament expectation that either Fiji or Wales would take the other qualifying spot. England are one of two teams that Wales managed to beat in eight internationals played this year before the World Cup. Although it is still a long way off, the Welsh could be eyeing a semi-final spot thanks to Sunday’s success in Bordeaux. This is despite a year of mediocre returns as they lost four of five games in the Six Nations and two of their three World Cup warm-up internationals. So that's exciting,”Gatland had taken them to the 2019 World Cup semi-final where they narrowly lost to eventual winners South Africa.

Persons: ”, Warren Gatland, We've, Gatland, Mark Gleeson, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wales, Rugby, Fiji, Six Nations, eventual, South, Thomson Locations: BORDEAUX, France, Fiji, Bordeaux, Australia, Wales, Georgia, Portugal, Argentina, England, Cape Town

☆ DR Congo, Mauritania and Mozambique qualify for Cup of Nations finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAPE TOWN, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania and Mozambique qualified for the next Africa Cup of Nations finals with wins on Saturday, but the games were overshadowed by the earthquake in Morocco that killed more than 1,000 people. The Gambia and Congo teams had to evacuate their hotel rooms when the quake hit on Friday and spent the night sleeping next to their respective hotel swimming pools. Mozambique booked their place earlier on Saturday with a last-gasp 3-2 home win over Benin in Maputo. On top of hosts Ivory Coast and Saturday's successful trio, the other finalists are Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pierre, Emerick, Jean Noel Amonome, Theo Bongonda, Saturday's, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: Democratic, Africa, Nations, U.S . Geological, Reuters, Confederation of African Football, DR, Belgium, Congolese, Clesio, Ivory Coast, Thomson Locations: CAPE, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Mozambique, Morocco, Liberia, Gambia, Congo, Marrakech, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Sudan, Gabon, Kinshasa, Mayele, Benin, Maputo, Senegal, Burundi, Cameroon, Namibia, Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Cape Town

☆ Ake available to play for Dutch in Dublin
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Nathan Ake is available for the Netherlands’ European Championship qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sunday after being replaced in their last match on Thursday with a hamstring problem. The defender went off after the first half of the Netherlands' 3-0 Group B win over Greece in Eindhoven. Coach Ronald Koeman said Ake had felt a twinge in his hamstring and been replaced as a precautionary measure but that the Manchester City centre would be available for Sunday’s match. The Dutch and Greeks have six points each while the Irish have only three. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nathan Ake, Ronald Koeman, Ake, Mark Gleeson, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Greece, Manchester City, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Eindhoven, Manchester, France, Germany, Cape Town

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