SPORTMATTERS • RACING • SOCCER 26, 27 • RESULTS • CRICKET • RUGBY Tough calls to be made A bit better by the Boks
F1 championship thriller down to the wire for Mercedes pair
MARK Alexander, the SA Rugby president, has apologised to all stakeholders for the “disappointments we have all suffered” this year, but said while it would be easy to make knee-jerk decisions, “we must resist that”.
He warned that if tough decisions had to be made in the coming weeks, SA Rugby “will not shy away from making them”.
Coach Allister Coetzee is under pressure to hold on to his job after the Boks lost seven out of 11 Tests in 2016.
Last weekend’s 20-18 reverse against Italy in Florence could’ve been regarded as the death knell for Coetzee ahead of last night’s final game of the year against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
It followed a record 57-15 loss to the All Blacks in Durban, while they also went down to Ireland at home and Argentina away for the first time.
Alexander said yesterday a comprehensive review of the Springbok team and an overhaul of the SA Rugby administration would take place in the coming weeks, which could include allowing third parties to be majority shareholders in Super Rugby franchises.
Even if SA Rugby decides to let Coetzee go – which is highly likely – at a general council meeting on December 9, the evaluation of the game will still take place.
Following last month’s coaching indaba, a fitness and conditioning workshop between the SA Rugby fitness staff and Super Rugby biokineticists is scheduled for December 7, while the Bok coaches and their Super Rugby counterparts will get together on December 12 to decide on the best way forward for South African players.
“It has been a disappointing season in terms of results, and we are acutely aware that we have failed to live up to the Springboks’ proud heritage,” Alexander said yesterday.
“We have collectively let down our supporters, our commercial partners and our broadcast partner, SuperSport.
“I would like to apologise to all our stakeholders for the disappointments we have all suffered this season. We are all feeling very raw and let down, and it would be easy to make knee-jerk decisions. But we must resist that.
“For instance, our playing fortunes have been declining since the Outgoing Tour of 2014 – despite a fine fightback to win a bronze medal at the Rugby World Cup – and we must coolly and coldly analyse what have been the main factors contributing to those results before determining what remedies are at our disposal to solve them.
“We will start by speaking to the coach and other team role-players for their assessment and to provide our feedback. We will take feedback from forthcoming indabas and must critically review our selection policy relating to overseas-based players.
“We’ve seen a high number of injuries to key players this year, and we’ve lost many experienced Test players to overseas clubs, both of which have had major repercussions for the Springboks. We have to find ways to manage these challenges. But I can assure our supporters and stakeholders that if tough decisions have to be made, we will not shy away from making them.”
In terms of SA Rugby’s structure, Alexander said some of the changes planned included setting up rugby committees for franchise and non-franchise teams, allowing third parties to be majority shareholders in the commercial arms of provinces, doubling independent representation on the executive council to four, and terminating the post of vice-president in 2018, when incumbent James Stoffberg’s term ends.
A “sounding board” for rugby, dubbed an Advisory Board, may also be created, consisting of “eminent individuals from business and civic society”, although it wouldn’t have any official role on the executive council. ABU DHABI: Lewis Hamilton lapped in a league of his own yesterday to seize pole position for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, with Mercedes teammate and championship favourite Nico Rosberg joining him on the front row.
Rosberg has a 12-point lead and can afford to let Hamilton win today’s race, knowing a podium finish at Yas Marina will secure him a first championship to match father Keke’s 1982 triumph.
Hamilton, who now has 61 career pole positions, and 12 for the season, as well as four in a row, has to be in the top three to have a chance of becoming Britain’s first four-time world champion.
He gave himself the best chance under the floodlights, setting a series of fastest sector times that left little doubt about his determination to try to beat the overwhelming odds against him.
“It’s been such a privilege driving this car,” he said. “This weekend so far I’ve got the car in a real sweet spot ... and yeah, I’m in a perfect position for tomorrow.”
His time of 1:38.755 was a real statement of intent, the champion a mighty 0.303 faster than Rosberg’s best effort.
It was the first time Hamilton had out-qualified his teammate in Abu Dhabi, with Rosberg on pole in the last two years, but it could all come to nothing, with the title outcome out of the Briton’s hands.
“I’m not ecstatic today. Lewis just did a great job and was a couple of tenths quicker,” said Rosberg. “I got a good lap in at the end of Q3 (the final phase of qualifying,) but not good enough.”
Hamilton could end the season with 10 wins to Rosberg’s nine, and needs rivals to get between him and his teammate, but Rosberg will be reassured that Mercedes again looked in complete control.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo qualified in third for Red Bull, more than half a second off Rosberg’s pace, and will share the second row with Ferrari’s 2007 world champion, Kimi Raikkonen.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who secured his first championship against the odds at the circuit with Red Bull in 2010, starts in fifth place, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sixth.
Britain’s Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, will line up for his farewell race in 12th position for McLaren. “It’s not a bad place to be in my last race,” said Button, who will be handing over to Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne after his 305th start.
Brazilian Felipe Massa, also leaving after Abu Dhabi, qualified 10th for Williams. – Reuters Wales ..................... (12) 27 South Africa ............ (6) 13
A NEW-LOOK Springbok line-up continued where the old hands had left off against Italy as they crashed to defeat against Wales in Cardiff last night.
While the South African team was outplayed by a strong Wales side, there were glimpses of improvement from the visitors, who have had the worst year on record. Last night’s 27-13 defeat was a record eighth this year for the Springboks.
Former internationals now commentating on the game rated the performance as lacking in confidence and attitude.
“As soon as the tide turns, the heads drop,” said former Bok No 8 and national coach Nick Mallett.
Second-half tries from hooker Ken Owens and flanker Justin Tipuric, plus 17 points from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny, saw Wales to victory.
Tipuric, who scored the deciding try three minutes from the end, was also named man of the match for an all-action performance which showed the value of having a fetcher in the No 7 jersey.
The Welsh forwards also showed the value of contesting the opposition lineouts – a trait that South Africa seem to have forgotten – and it was their steal in the 74th minute which laid the foundation for Tipuric’s try.
Springbok debutant Uzair Cassiem did manage a try 10 minutes from time, which kept the South Africans within seven points at that stage, but in the end it was too little, too late for the visitors.
Bok coach Allister Coetzee tried to put a posititve spin on the game, saying in the post-match interviews that he felt South Africa had played well and he was optimistic that things would improve going forward.
He acknowledged that SA rugby had problems that urgently needed to be addressed, but said that he would not be stepping down.
However, according to informed sources, Coetzee will be axed by the rugby authorities on his return to South Africa.
Failure to do so would be too costly, as several sponsors are demanding action, and this would be the fastest way of seeing some progress being made.