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Monday, 23 September 2019
"New Zealand deserved to win."
Rassie Erasmus, Springbok coach
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Springboks fall to All Blacks in Rugby World Cup opener
After their loss to New Zealand, the Springboks suffered another blow with news that Trevor Nyakaneâs World Cup is over due to a calf injury he sustained against the All Blacks. He will be replaced by Sharks utility prop Thomas du Toit.
Namibia, the only other African country at the RWC â whom the Springboks next play â were downed by Italy. Having got off to the best possible start with a try from Damian Stevens, Namibia conceded three tries within the space of 10 minutes, either side of half-time, as the Italians sought to give themselves breathing room against a stubborn Namibian side. The Italians eventually clinched it 47-22 at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka on Sunday.
England were expected to run riot against Tonga and make a statement to their contenders for the ultimate crown, however, that did not materialise. They only secured a bonus point in the 77th minute, thanks to tries from Manu Tuilagi. The English eventually ran out 35-3 victors, however Eddie Jones will be looking for a more clinical performance when they face a plucky USA side on Thursday.
Scotland, who were blitzed by world number one Ireland in their first game having also suffered a major injury blow, as one the their most important players, [Hamish Watson, has also been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup]( with a knee injury. Irish star man, Johnny Sexton also picked up a minor injury, but will still be available to help try make it past the quarter final in their history.
In sevens rugby, South Africaâs captain captain, Siviwe Soyizwapi, led from the front, scoring a try at the death to see the Blitzbokke beat Fiji 12-10 in the final of the Oktoberfest7s in Munich, claiming their first title in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The invitational Oktoberfest 7s, held against the backdrop of the famous beer festival, was used by top teams as a warm-up for the World Series, which kicks-off in Dubai this December, as Germany hope to host a leg in the future.
South Africans might have been severly gutted by the Boksâ loss to New Zealand, however Moto GP bound South African Brad Binder put on a super performance in Moto 2 to fend off the duel Spanish threat of Jorge Navarro and championship leader Alex Marquez and clinch victory at Aragon GP. The victory was his second in a row at Aragon after he won there for KTM last year as well. With five more races to go this year, Binder now sits just 15 points off of second-placed Navarro.
[The Proteas, who are currently on tour in India, levelled the T20 with a majestic nine-wicket victory.]( South African fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Beuran Hendricks were instrumental in restricting India to a low total in the third and final Twenty20 international on Sunday.The two next play in two weeks time in the first test of three tests.
In the premier class Moto GP, Marc Marquez continued to leave his challengers for the world title choking on smoke after powering to yet another victory on Sunday. Marquez, who started from pole, held his nerve to see off Andrea Dovizioso and Jack Miller. The victory means that the Spaniard is that much closer to his sixth world title, at just 26 years old. Is he dominance personified?
Water Cooler Talking Points
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The Premier League rolled on, and Liverpool earned the biggest win of the week when it downed Chelsea 1-0. The victory put Liverpool at 18 points, five more than second place[Manchester City (who, by the way, beat Watford 8-0)](. Leicester City earned an impressive 2-1 win over Tottenham to move up to third in the table. Manchester United woes continued as they were humbled 2-0 by West Ham.
In the Absa Premiership, the big news was Orlando Pirates falling once again. The Bucs lost 4-3 to Bidvest Wits, who have now won four of five and are in second place, just one point behind the league-leading Polokwane City. In third place are Mamelodi Sundowns, who also earned a win this week.
Week three of the NFL season is nearly wrapped up, and the undefeated teams are falling like flies. After three weeks, only the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers are 3-0. If you're looking for a new favorite team, you might want to start here.
Or start with our favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, who earned a big win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. There's always room on the bandwagon!
Formula 1 saw Ferrariâs Sebastian Vettel clinch his fifth career victory in Singapore, and return to the podium for the first time ages. Vettelâs in-form teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished second thanks to a technical call by the Ferrari team which saw the Vettel pit before the Leclerc, who was leading the race at the time.
Mercedes also made a call which saw their better driver on the day finish behind his teammate. Despite driving really well on the day, Valtteri Bottas was instructed not to overtake his championship leading Lewis Hamilton, much to his irritation. The duo finished fourth and fifth respectively, with Hamilton extending his lead at the top by 65 points.
In boxing, South Africa's Kevin Lerena defended his IBO cruiserweight title by 3rd round knockout against Sefer Seferi -- last seen pretending to fight Tyson Fury in his comeback fight last year -- in an easy night of work. We've written about Lerena before, but the bottom line is this: he's a legit contender for a world title, but he needs to go fight the best fighters in the division. Fighting journeymen at home is not going to advance his career.
[Danny Willet produced a brilliant final-round performance to card a five-under-par 67 despite testing conditions](. Willett clinched his seventh European Tour title and his first since winning in Dubai last year, with this also his first home triumph. South Africaâs Christiaan Bezuidenhout finished third on the standings. World number two Rory McIlroy finished tied ninth with Andrew âBeefâ Johnston to clinch his 16th top-10 finish in 21 events this season, ending nine shots behind winner Willett.
Alexander Zverev won the final match for Team Europe in last year's Laver Cup and put in a repeat effort on Sunday in Geneva. The German defeated Milos Raonic 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 to complete a successful title defence for the home team. Team Europe defeated Team World 13-11 after three exciting days of play and has won the Laver Cup crown in all three years of the competition.
In Play
By EPA-EFE/Sebastiao Moreira
Brazilian Pamela Rosa in action during the 'street' category of the World Skateboarding Championships at the Anhembi Parl, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 22 September 2019.
Coming Up This Week
Rugby World Cup
Russia vs Samoa (Tuesday 24 September, 12:15 SAST)
Fiji vs Uruguay (Wednesday 25 September, 7:15 SAST)
England vs USA (Thursday 26 September, 12:45 SAST)
South Africa vs Namibia (Saturday 28 September, 11:45 SAST)
Australia vs Wales (Sunday 29 September, 9:45 SAST)
Golf
Safeway Open (Thursday 26 September - 30 September)
Formula 1
Russian Grand Pix (Sunday 29 September, 13:10 SAST)
Absa Premiership
Amazulu vs Kaizer Chiefs (Tuesday 24 September, 15:00 SAST)
Golden Arrows vs Stellenbosch (Saturday 28 September, 15:00 SAST)
Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town City (Saturday 28 September, 15:30 SAST)
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In Numbers
300
The number of goals 37-year-old Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored for club and country since turning 30 years old. What's that line about fine wine?
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Featured Articles
[All Blacks draw first blood in an eye-wateringly intense match](
[All Blacks draw first blood in an eye-wateringly intense match](
By RWC Correspondent
[Australia weather Fijian storm to win Rugby World Cup opener](
[Australia weather Fijian storm to win Rugby World Cup opener](
By Reuters
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