The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Welsh Lions possess right attitude and confidence to defeat France
- Unheralded golfer takes surprise opening round lead in India
- A whale of a time
| Welsh Lions possess right attitude and confidence to defeat France Posted: 13 Oct 2011 05:15 PM PDT WALES bring form, confidence and a fearless attitude to the first rugby World Cup semi–final against France at Eden Park tomorrow. A generation of Welsh players struggled in the shadow of the team who ruled Europe in the 1970s and as recently as last November the national team were assailed on all sides when they drew 16–16 with Fiji. This year, Fiji, who eliminated Wales from the 2007 World Cup, were drawn in Wales' group again along with defending champions South Africa and Samoa, who upset Wales in the 1991 World Cup and again eight years later. Pessimists feared the Welsh could fail to advance from the group stages. However, instead of faltering under the pressure they have flourished. They lost by a point to South Africa in a match they should have won and then swept Samoa and Fiji aside to set up a quarter–final against Ireland. Last weekend's 22-10 victory over Ireland, who defeated Australia in the group stages, revealed a team hitting their peak with a tough forward pack setting a platform for a backline combining brute strength with old–fashioned Welsh subtlety and invention. One major plus for Wales has been the belated return to form of a group of players who performed so well in a losing Lions' series in South Africa two years ago and who now form the spine of the Welsh side. Jamie Roberts, bristling with muscular authority and aggression has been the outstanding centre of the tournament. Mike Phillips is once again a commanding figure at scrumhalf, Alun Wyn Jones is back to his best in the second row and Adam Jones has shown why he is regarded as one of the most skilled tighthead props. Even the loss of flyhalf Rhys Priestland with an injured left shoulder sustained in the Ireland match will not weaken Wales. His replacement James Hook is a splendid all–round footballer who has been selected ahead of the dependable Stephen Jones. Wales arrived at the tournament with the best–conditioned team in their history after a gruelling training camp in Poland and they have been fortunate with injuries. "The conditioning the players did early mornings and last thing at night, training four or five times a day, was not pleasant at the time but, when you look back, it has paid dividends," Hook said yesterday. "I found it tough physically. It was tiring and taxing. We had not done it before but everyone came through it for the better." France, enigmatic as ever, became the only second side to reach the quarter–finals after losing two group matches but then sent England packing last weekend. Coach Marc Lievremont, who was barely on speaking terms with his players after they lost to Tonga, has kept faith with scrumhalf Morgan Parra at flyhalf and may also entrust the converted scrumhalf with the kicking duties. Parra's halfback partner Dimitri Yachvili, the first choice kicker, is carrying a thigh injury which could be aggravated if he is asked to kick. France are burdened with the reputation of a side who play one big game in a tournament, as they have shown by beating New Zealand (twice), Australia and England in the knockout stages, but then go no further. "We mustn't rest on our laurels. Getting to the semi–final is a very big deal and I'm very happy with the performance of my players," Lievremont said. "As you may have noticed after the last match, there was no extreme euphoria, the players began straight away focusing on the rest of the tournament." France have won six of their last seven matches against Wales although historically, there is nothing between two teams who meet for the first time in a World Cup. Since their first encounter in 1908, Wales have won 44 times, France 43 with three draws. – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Unheralded golfer takes surprise opening round lead in India Posted: 13 Oct 2011 05:14 PM PDT NEW DELHI: Unheralded Chiragh Kumar of India fired a sparkling eight–under 64 to take a surprising one shot lead in the first round of the Hero Indian Open yesterday. Chiragh upstaged the stellar Asian Tour stars gathered at the Delhi Golf Club with a flawless round highlighted by eight birdies in the US$1.25mil event. Veteran Zaw Moe of Myanmar was a further stroke back with Scotland's Ross Bain and Lin Wen-hong of Taiwan, who is eyeing to make amends from his disqualification for signing the wrong score card in the final round of the Yeangder TPC last week. Chiraggh, 27, a 2006 Asian Games team silver medallist, could have extended his lead by two but missed a 15–foot eagle putt on the last hole. "I wanted to keep it simple. I didn't have a score in mind but I read my putts well. The Asian Tour has staged quite a number of events in India this year and I've definitely improved playing with Asia's best," said Chiragh, a two–time winner on the local circuit. "I don't have any expectations in this tournament but I hope I can continue my form and hopefully I'll still be on top the leader board on Sunday," said Kumar, whose best finish was tied for 10th at the 2006 Indian Open when he was still an amateur. Zaw Moe, 44, has enjoyed two top–10 finishes since changing to a belly putter in the Macau Open in September and needed only 25 putts in a round of six birdies and one eagle on the par–five 14th hole where his seven wood approach landed six feet from the hole. "One of the reasons to my good form is my belly putter which has helped me a lot. "My putting has been very consistent since I changed it and my confidence is really high at the moment," said Zaw Moe, whose last victory on the Asian Tour was in 1997. Wen–hong would have finished joint third if he did not sign for the wrong score last week but he bounced back with a flawless round today highlighted by five straight birdies starting from the 13th hole. "I was really sad after last week but it looks like I've recovered," said the Taiwanese player, who shot five consecutive birdies from the 13th hole. "To be honest, I didn't expect to play well here. I came here without thinking of winning at all. I'm here just to play hole by hole and hopefully get a good result," added the younger brother of Asian Tour winners Wen–tang and Wen–ko. The Dubai–based Bain, who finished second in the Indian Open in 2001, carded his best score at the Delhi Golf Club highlighted by birdies in his opening three holes. He added four more birdies, one eagle and two bogeys to share the first round lead. "I got off to a fast start and started playing better as the round went on. I played very well on the par–fives, which you have to do on this course. "I've played here a lot over the years and it is nice to feel that I got the better of Delhi Golf Club," said Bain, who is searching for a maiden Asian Tour victory. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Posted: 13 Oct 2011 05:13 PM PDT Spain's Azahara Munoz is hoping to clinch her first LPGA title by winning the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia – and give herself an early birthday present. The Malaga-born golfer, who turns 24 on Nov 19, fired a sensational four-under 67 on the opening day of the US$1.9mil tournament to lie one shot off the leaders at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC). She attributed her good score to the changes she has made to her swing this year. "I've yet to achieve my aim for the year as I made a few swing changes in the beginning of the year. "I have been changing my swing to get a better grip on my game," she said. "It has taken me a long time to hit a good shot. Now, I'm hitting the ball better and that has given me greater confidence in my game. "This is a good tournament as nine of the top 10 players are here. It won't be easy (to win). If the top players play well, they will top the leaderboard on all four days. "However, golf changes every day and if you nail your putts, then the chances of winning are good. I'm hoping to hit the greens and fairways and sink the putts to put myself in contention here." Munoz, however, reckons that the scorching weather could have a big say in the title race. "Obviously, the weather is hot and the ball will play different, but I'm happy with the way I've started today (first round). The main thing is to keep it going and be consistent out there," she said. Munoz will play in Taiwan next week before rounding off her season in Japan, Mexico and Orlando, United States. Yesterday, she fired six birdies but bogeys in the first and the 14th holes saw her ending up sharing fifth spot with American Paige Mckenzie. Her birdies came in the sixth, seventh, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes. The world No. 51 also revealed that she is a big football fan – with a soft spot for Real Madrid. "Yes, I'm a Real Madrid fan and I like the way Cristiano Ronaldo plays. He's good-looking, but I've seen better!" she quipped. "Besides football, I enjoy music, especially Spanish and American pop." If Munoz can hit the right notes on the KLGCC fairways, she will not only bag her maiden title but also sing all the way to the bank. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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