Other sports news in brief
Court denials
MOTOR SPORT:Four of the women involved in a sado-masochistic session with Formula One boss Max Mosley strenuously denied yesterday there had been any Nazi element to their activities. The women each went into the witness box at the High Court in London to give evidence as witnesses in Mosley's groundbreaking breach of privacy action, which is being hotly contested by the News of the World.
IRB plan for next two World Cups
RUGBY:The International Rugby Board will allocate the next two World Cups venues in 2015 and 2019 at the same time. The IRB will commence the tender process this month with the twin announcement scheduled for July 2009.
"The IRB believes that awarding two tournaments together will provide a better timeframe for tournament planning and provide longer term certainty for hosts and commercial partners," said IRB and World Cup Ltd chairman Bernard Lapasset.
Interested parties will be able to tender to host either tournament or just one.
SA to target England middle order
CRICKET:South Africa will target England's vulnerable middle order in the opening match of the four-Test series starting at Lord's tomorrow.
At a news conference yesterday, coach Mickey Arthur said the South Africans thought Ian Bell at number five and Paul Collingwood one place lower would be under pressure.
Neither batsman was convincing in the recent three-Test series against New Zealand, won 2-0 by England, nor in the following one-day series which the Kiwis won 3-1.
Firing the opening salvos in the propaganda war before a keenly-awaited series, Arthur said the England pace bowlers would also be aware that all-rounder Andrew Flintoff would return to the side at some stage once he proved his fitness.
Two changes for All Blacks
RUGBY:New Zealand have made two changes to the starting side for the second Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Dunedin on Saturday.
Lock Anthony Boric will make his first appearance in the run-on side while Auckland tighthead prop John Afoa returns from a knee injury.
Boric comes in for Brad Thorn, who was suspended for one week for an illegal tackle on hooker John Smit during the All Blacks' 19-8 win in the first Test in Wellington on Saturday. Afoa, who injured his knee in the Test against Ireland in June, replaces Greg Somerville.
NEW ZEALAND:M Muliaina; S Sivivatu, C Smith, M Nonu, R Wulf; D Carter, A Ellis; T Woodcock, A Hore, J Afoa, A Boric, A Williams, A Thompson, R So'oialo (capt), J Kaino. Replacements: K Mealamu, N Tialata, K ONeill, S Lauaki, J Cowan, S Donald, L MacDonald.
Chambers case gets hearing
ATHLETICS:The British Olympic Association is to appear at the High Court in London today for a Directions Hearing on the case issued against it by Dwain Chambers. The judge will duly set a date for the full hearing with Chambers (30) hoping the case can be decided before the Olympic trials start on Friday.
Chambers is challenging the BOA's by-law which bans athletes who have failed drug tests from the Olympics. Kelly Holmes and Steve Redgrave have backed the BOA's stance.
Chambers, who served a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003, is favourite to win the trials after running the fastest 100 metres by a British athlete this year when he recorded an Olympic qualifying time of 10.05 seconds in Sofia on June 30th.
Gregan wins 400m heat in Poland
ATHLETICS:Brian Gregan underlined his outstanding potential over 400 metres in easing through the first round heats as the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships got under way in Bydgoszcz, Poland, yesterday. The Dublin athlete won the fifth of the seven heats in 47.32 seconds, and goes into this evening's semi-finals with every chance of making the final, writes Ian O'Riordan.
There was also an impressive performance for Westport high jumper Pamela Hughes, who finished fifth in her group and thus qualified for her final with a height of 1.78 metres - giving every indication she can go even higher in tomorrow's final.
California-based shot putter Colin Quirke exited the qualifying round with a best of 18.21 metres. Elsewhere, Niamh Whelan and Joan Hughes failed to advance from the heats of the junior women's 100 metres, although both now turn their attention to the Friday's 4x100 metre relay.
Tara Jameson placed 15th in her heat of the 3,000 metres steeplechase posting a personal best of 10.57:47, although this wasn't good enough to advance, while Ciara Everard ended up eighth in her heat of the 800 metres, clocking 2.09.85.
