Carter Returns to All Blacks for Boks

Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has recalled flyhalf Dan Carter for the All Blacks' first Tri-Nations clash against an injury-ravaged South Africa in Wellington on Saturday.

Carter, rested for the warmup test against Fiji last week, replaces Colin Slade in one of four changes to the lineup named on Thursday.

Carter has only to score two points against the Springboks to surpass England's Jonny Wilkinson (1,195) as the highest points scorer in tests.

Cory Jane comes into the right wing after recovering from a finger injury, shifting Zac Guildford to the left wing, while lock Sam Whitelock returns to the second row in place of Jarrad Hoeata, who debuted in the All Blacks' 60-14 demolition of Fiji.

Jerome Kaino returns to blindside flanker, demoting Liam Messam to the bench, with loose forward Adam Thomson shifted to number eight.

Explosive inside centre Sonny Bill Williams is poised to make his test debut for the Tri-Nations champions on home soil after replacing Ben Smith on the bench.

Coach Henry said the Springboks would be keen to hit back after their 39-20 loss to Australia in the Tri-Nations opener in Sydney last week and would come out firing.

"They are a proud rugby nation and won't want a repeat performance so we will have to be ready for that challenge," Henry said in a media release.

"But we have had a good build-up this week and have picked a team we know that will be up for that challenge."

New Zealand won all of their Tri-Nations matches last year to snatch the title from world champions South Africa who spluttered to five losses from six matches.

The Tri-Nations has been reduced to six matches this year from the usual nine due to the World Cup starting in September.

Phelps Wins First Shanghai Gold

Olympic champion Michael Phelps won a thrilling 200m butterfly race to secure his first gold medal of the World Swimming Championships in Shanghai.

Phelps, the defending champion, clocked one minute 53.34 seconds to edge out Japan's Takeshi Matsuda, with China's Wu Peng picking up bronze on Wednesday.

Britain's Jemma Lowe and Ellen Gandy won their respective 200m butterfly semi-finals to make Thursday's final.

"I'm loving the fact we're both in the final," Gandy told BBC Radio 5 live.

Phelps, who won the 200m butterfly gold in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2009, led after 100m but faced pressure from Matsuda, who touched first at 150m.

But the 14-time Olympic champion found another gear in the final 50m to make up for his defeat in the 200m freestyle final on Tuesday and a disappointing bronze as part of the United States' 4x100m freestyle team.

Phelps's victory was never in doubt. He owns this event and has won it five times in a row. That really was fast swimming and one of the fastest we've seen since the high-tech bodysuits were banned. The dolphin is back in the water

"The race felt good. I wanted to do what I usually do when I'm in better shape," said Phelps, who had arrived in China on the back of a string of defeats.

"I wanted to step on it from the get-go. I saw the other swimmers at the 150 and I put my hips into it. I know there's a lot more I can do in that race."

Lowe, 21, clocked two minutes 06.30 seconds to make the 200m butterfly final as the fastest qualifier, with Gandy qualifying fourth fastest.

"I'm very happy with that as it was quite comfortable," Lowe told BBC Radio 5 live. "I'll try and get some sleep tonight but I probably won't because I won't be able to stop thinking about the final."

Georgia Davies, 20, missed out on a place in the women's 50m backstroke final by 0.07 seconds after finishing fifth in her semi-final with team-mate Gemma Spofforth coming home seventh.

"I'm really disappointed," Davies told BBC Radio 5 live. "I went quite a bit quicker at the trials in Sheffield so I think maybe I've peaked at the wrong time."

Great Britain are currently 10th in the medal table in Shanghai with one gold and one silver. Hosts China lead the way with 13 gold, 11 silver and five bronze

Britain's James Goddard qualified for Thursday's 200m individual medley final alongside Phelps and 200m freestyle world champion Ryan Lochte after finishing fourth in his semi-final.

Italy's Federica Pellegrini retained her women's 200m freestyle title to become the first female swimmer to complete the 200m-400m freestyle double at consecutive World Championships.

Felipe Franca da Silva won the 50m breaststroke world title ahead of Italy's Fabio Scozzoli and defending champion Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa.

And China's Sun Yang won the men's 800m freestyle title with Canada's Ryan Cochrane taking silver and Hungary's Gergo Kis bronze.

Tseng Ricoh Favourite at Carnoustie

Defending champion, Yani Tseng, will start out as the firm favourite when the Ricoh Women’s British Open gets underway over the Championship course at Carnoustie early on Thursday morning.

The 22 year-old World No 1 travelled to Scotland having won once in Taiwan, twice on the Ladies European Tour and three times on the LPGA Tour so far this season and harbours high hopes of becoming the first person to defend the Ricoh Women’s British Open title since America’s Sherri Steinhauer back in 1999. 

Tseng started the season with four successive victories, at the Taifong Ladies Open on the LPGA of Taiwan Tour, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and the ANZ Ladies Open on the LET, followed by the Honda LPGA Thailand Open, the season opener on the LPGA, but her most significant triumph came at the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Rochester, New York, where, at the tender age of 22 years, 5 months and 3 days, she became the youngest woman in history to claim four Major titles.

Tseng’s rise has been positively meteoric and she sees no reason why she cannot take her tally to five Majors in just 15 starts at Carnoustie.

“I feel very confident right now, I feel comfortable,” Tseng said as she completed her preparations for what will be her fourth tilt at the Ricoh Women’s British Open title. “I just feel very relaxed, and tomorrow I’m just going to try to be positive and smile and be patient. That’s all I can control. You can’t control the wind, or the bounces you get, you just have to go out and play the golf course.”

The defending champion is just one of numerous competitors who have had nothing but for praise for the golf course. Car-nasty has been transformed into Car-nicey, it would seem.

“I love this course,” she said. “I think it’s one of my favourite golf courses. As soon as I played a couple of holes, I knew I’d like it. I don’t know if I’m going to shoot a good score, but I just feel I will have lots of fun on this golf course.”

2010 US Open champion, Paula Creamer, is one of the very few competitors to have played Carnoustie prior to this week. She played the Championship course twice prior to heading to France for last Week’s Evian Masters and also and understands why it is regarded as one of the world’s best tests of golf.

“I think it’s by far one of my favourite links courses I have played,” said the American. “I think it’s very fair, hard but fair. I think it tests every aspect of your game. You have to hit all kinds of shots, and that’s what I like. I like the harder, the better. But, of course Mother Nature is in control out here. That’s going to dictate the scores, for sure.”

Creamer has not won since claiming the 2010 US Open at Oakmont CC but, after a string of good performances, including a runner-up finish at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup and ties for third place at the LPGA State Farm Classic and the Wegmans LPGA Championship, she feels a tenth Tour victory might be just around the corner.

“I feel really good,” she admitted. “In the last several tournaments I have played in, I have felt right in there. This past week I have hit the ball very well and I have started to make a bunch of putts, which is nice.

“But it’s just about putting myself into contention, that’s all I can really ask for. But I do feel good.

The ever-popular Michelle Wie arrived in Scotland armed with a new long putter she put in her back straight after finishing tied 55th at the recent US Open over the East Course at The Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs, and is still experimenting to see how best to wield it.

“I just thought it was time for a change,” said Wie, who is currently juggling Tour life with finishing a Communications degree at Stanford University, and whose best performance at the Ricoh Women’s British Open remains her share of third place at Royal Birkdale in 2005, when she won the Smyth Salver, awarded to the leading amateur.

“I’m a tall person. It’s kind of funny, actually. It’s a belly putter for me but yesterday I saw (Jiyai) Shin putting on the practice green and, when I put my putter next to her, it came up to her shoulders.

“Obviously, I’m just trying out different grips and different ways to do it, but I just thought it was time for a change. We’ll see, I like it so far.”

There will be no such imponderables for home hope, the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open champion, Catriona Matthew, who won the Scottish Ladies’ Championship on the Championship course back in the early 1990s and has more links experience than any other golfer in the field.

“I played a lot here as an amateur,” said the Scot, whose best finish this season came when she claimed fourth place at the Shoprite LPGA Classic. “I think it’s probably one of the best links in Scotland. I think you have to drive the ball well and keep it out of the bunkers. If you can do that, you have a great chance.

Matthew will starts as the favourite among the home players but a dark horse may well be England’s Melissa Reid, who won the Deloitte Dutch Ladies Open last month and has discovered a new inner calm ahead of this week’s Championship.

“I don’t really know why I feel so calm but I do,” said the former Curtis Cup international, who won the Smyth Salver at this Championship back in 2007, just before turning professional.

“I mean, I’ve got a lot of good people behind me. I’ve got my manager here and my family, I’ve got my Mum and Dad coming, my coach is here, my best mate is here, so maybe that’s why I’ve got this sense of calmness.

“Actually, last year, I felt pretty confident last year (at Royal Birkdale) but just got off to a bad start. I’m just going to try to be patient. I’m not really paying very much attention to anything else apart from what works for me.”

The first round gets underway at 06.30 (BST) on Thursday morning when Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, a two-times winner on this year’s LET and last year’s recipient of the Smyth Salver just before she turned pro, tees off in the company of German amateur, Sophia Popov and compatriot, Anna Nordqvist.

Matthew heads out in the third group at 06.52 alongside America’s Cristie Kerr and Momoko Ueda from Japan while Reid is just behind in the company of Steinhauer and 16 year-old amateur, Lauren Taylor, from Woburn, who recently became the youngest ever winner of the Ladies British Amateur Championship at the age of 16.

Creamer and Tseng are both among the later starters. The American tees off at 11.37, alongside Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Japan’s Sakura Yokomine, while Tseng begins her defence at 11.59 in the company of American Morgan Pressel and another Japanese player, Mika Miyazato.

Crusaders Out of Super League

Crusaders will not play in Super League for the next three seasons after the Welsh outfit withdrew their application for a licence.

The Rugby Football League announced the 14 clubs to take part in the 2012-14 seasons at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Wakefield Wildcats had been expected to lose their place to make way for Championship side Widnes, who were granted a new licence back in March.

Halifax had also hoped to be granted a berth but were unsuccessful.

RFL chairman Richard Lewis, who made the announcement of the licence winners, disclosed that Crusaders only decided to withdraw from the process on Monday.

"The Crusaders situation had been part of the licensing process for many months," he said.

"It came as no surprise over the last week that things were coming to a head. The final decision from Crusaders came yesterday and the RFL made its decision yesterday."

The withdrawal of Crusaders follows a troubled time for the Welsh outfit, who narrowly avoid a winding-up order after being placed in administration last November.

They were subsequently deducted four points at the start of the 2011 campaign.

The Welsh franchise were awarded a place in Super League in 2008 in a bid to expand the appeal of the 13-man code beyond its traditional heartland.

But they have struggled this term, currently lying bottom of the Super League table with only four wins from 22 games and, coincidentally, face second-from-bottom Wakefield on Sunday.

Crusaders chief executive Rod Findlay said: "This has not been an easy decision but after a lengthy and exhaustive examination of the club's finances, our view is that Crusaders is not sustainable as a Super League club at this stage.

"Every other aspect of the application was strong and we now need to work to ensure that we retain those elements, particularly the community and player pathway programmes in North Wales, an area where no rugby league was played two years ago.

"A lot of people have done a lot of work to get us to where we are now but it has become clear that we cannot continue in our current guise and so a decision was taken to withdraw our licence application.

"We will now sit down with the Rugby Football League to consider our options for 2012 and beyond. In the meantime we remain committed to finishing the current season on a high and I am sure Iestyn Harris, his coaching staff and the players will do all they can to move us up the table."

Lewis added: "The RFL will now enter into discussions with Crusaders regarding their possible participation in the Co-operative Championship."

Former Leeds and Great Britain centre Keith Senior, who recently signed a two-year deal with Crusaders, told BBC Radio 5 live he had no idea why the club had withdrawn their application.

He now believes his contract with the club is null and void as he was under the impression he would be playing in the top flight next season.

The RFL's five-strong independent board judged the franchise applications against five key criteria: commerce and marketing, facilities, finance, governance, playing strength and player performance.

Wakefield were many people's favourites to miss out on a licence after being placed in administration before being taken over by new owner Andrew Glover.

In addition, the Wildcats have endured delays to their planned new stadium.

However, their survival in the top flight was assured by the withdrawal of the Crusaders and Halifax's failure to make the grade.

Halifax chairman Michael Steele told BBC Radio Leeds he was shocked that his club had been overlooked in favour of the Wildcats.

He said: "If you compare Belle Vue with The Shay, it's no contest; if you compare playing records, it's no contest; and if you compare the financial position, we have kept our head above water and they haven't."

CRUSADERS SUPER LEAGUE FACTS

Won their franchise in the initial round of licences in 2008

Played their first season in 2009 based at Bridgend

Six players were deported in August 2009 for breaching visa regulations

After suffering financial troubles move north to Wrexham, based at The Racecourse Ground

Finish eighth in Super League XV

Deducted four points at the start of the 2011 season for going into administration in November 2010

Clarke Looking for Open Double

After achieving one dream following his win at The Open, Darren Clarke returns to action this week hoping to make another reality.

Clarke's victory at Sandwich came 20 years after his debut in the championship, but his first attempt to lift the Irish Open was even longer ago.

It was as a 21-year-old amateur in 1990 that the Northern Irishman made his maiden European Tour appearance at Portmarnock, making the cut before finishing in 50th place 18 strokes behind Jose Maria Olazabal.

'I've been close on a number of occasions and never quite got the job done - a bit like in The Open you could say,' Clarke told the Tour website.

'It would be a hell of an achievement - a dream come true - to have The Open and Irish Open trophies on display back at home.

'It has already been an amazing month for me and to do the double would be unbelievable.'

Not that he would be the first to do it. At Killarney in 1992 Nick Faldo had the second of three successive victories in the Irish Open and a month later captured his third Open title in six years, while four years ago at Adare Manor Padraig Harrington ended a 25-year wait for a home winner and two months later triumphed at Carnoustie for the first of his three major titles.

Clarke does already have a victory on Irish soil, though. That was the European Open at The K Club near Dublin 10 years ago.

Back then the only Irishman to win a major was Fred Daly in the 1947 Open, but in between Harrington's hat-trick and Clarke's success were, of course, the back-to-back US Open victories of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.

All four compete this week, prompting Clarke to say that the scenes 'could be like nothing we've seen before'.

Despite Irish golf being on an unprecedented high, however, the prize money has been cut in half to £1.32million following the withdrawal of telecommunications company 3, title sponsors for the previous three years.