NST Online: Sports

Australia unchanged for New Zealand clash

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 05:56 PM PDT

SYDNEY: Australia named an unchanged side for tomorrow's daunting Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand in Auckland as they go in search of a rare victory at Eden Park.

The only changes to the squad which beat South Africa 39-20 in Sydney two weeks ago are the return to the bench of lock Dan Vickerman, halfback Luke Burgess and winger Lachie Turner.

Both sides recorded bonus-point wins in their first Tri-Nations outings, with the All Blacks fresh off a 40-7 thumping of South Africa in Wellington, and the Wallabies face a formidable task.

New Zealand have not dropped a test at Eden Park in 17 years, but Australia coach Robbie Deans said he did not feel overwhelmed by the record.

"It's about now rather than the history," he said.

"The All Blacks do draw strength from their record at the ground, but playing at Eden Park is not something to be feared. It's a challenge, and an opportunity to be embraced and enjoyed.

"A lot of visiting teams will be aspiring to achieve something special at Eden Park this year (it is the venue of October's Rugby World Cup final). This weekend we're the lucky ones -- we get first crack."

Burgess returns to understudy Will Genia, after completing his recovery from a fractured hand, which he suffered in training before the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby semi-final defeat.

After performing strongly through 80 minutes for his Sydney University club last weekend, Vickerman is back on the bench, from where he made his return to test rugby last month against Samoa.

The 30 minutes Vickerman played from the bench during that match represented his first taste of test rugby since 2008.

It was his 56th cap, which means the Wallabies have traded one experienced campaigner for another, as Vickerman has taken the place previously allocated to veteran Nathan Sharpe.

The third change amongst the run on reserves sees NSW Waratahs wing/fullback Lachie Turner slot in, with selectors reverting to the traditional four-forward, three-back split on the substitutes bench.

Deans said the changes represented a "horses for courses" approach.

"Burgess and Turner have both worked their way back into contention and have shown that they are now ready to go, while Vickerman really stepped up in training last week, and reinforced that for Sydney Uni on the weekend," he said.

"This is a contest we believe he is well suited to."

The change in emphasis on the bench, Deans added, highlighted the difference in nature between an Australia-New Zealand and Australia-South Africa Test.

"You saw the differences in approach last weekend," Deans said.

"For the South Africans, it's physicality first, second and third.

"The All Blacks employ more width and rely on speed of recycle and movement. They play the game wider and faster, which is why the extra speed and additional backline resources are required on the bench."

Australia (15-1): Kurtley Beale, James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu.

Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Pekahou Cowan, Dan Vickerman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Anthony Faingaa, Lachie Turner. -- AFP

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Tiffany says she's no 'plastic Brit'

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 05:55 PM PDT

LONDON: Tiffany Porter insisted she was not running under a "flag of convenience" after switching allegiance from America to Britain.

The timimg of the changes by the likes of Tiffany and fellow American-born 400 metres runner Shana Cox, with the Olympic Games in London next year, have led to accusations they are 'Plastic Brits' who have only changed nationalities because they have little or no prospect of competing for the United States.

But 23-year-old sprint hurdler Tiffany was adamant Wednesday she was proud of her British heritage and that there was nothing cynical in her decision.

"I'm very excited and very fired up to compete for GB right now," said Tiffany, who broke Angie Thorp's 15-year British record in the 100m hurdles earlier this year -- something Angie claims left her "absolutely distraught".

"I look at it as a year to let the media and the public know who I am and to dispel any myths there are about me," Michigan-born Tiffany said.

Asked what those "myths" were, she replied: "The fact that people think I switched allegiance because it would be easier to make the team, or I'm doing it for money.

"Anybody who knows me knows that those are as far from the truth as possible. I've always had dual citizenship since birth. I've always been proud of my heritage. My mom has always told me about my British-American-Nigerian background. It's who I am.

"The financial aspect was not a motivational feature at all. I am sponsored by Adidas (one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports equipment) so financially I'm OK.

"I didn't do it for the money, so if anybody thinks that I just hope that they understand that it's not the reason why -- not even by a long shot."

Tiffany made her British debut in the European Indoor Championships in Paris earlier this year, winning a silver medal in the 60m hurdles, and recently lowered her British 100m record to 12.60 seconds.

That places her fifth on the world rankings in 2011 and Tiffany is determined the controversy over her nationality won't detract from her performance at next month's World Championships in Daegu, or during the Olympics.

Tiffany, speaking ahead of this weekend's London Grand Prix, added: "I don't really pay much attention to what goes on in the media. I'm focused on competing." -- AFP

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Khamis, 4 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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