South Africa do it again!

Death. Taxes. South Africa choking at the World Cup.

The Proteas wrote another chapter in their tale of tragedy in cricket's biggest one-day tournament when they butchered a certain win against England tonight.


South Africa looked certain winners when they reached 3-124 in reply to England's meagre 171 all out before they lost their last seven wickets for 40 runs.

The traumatic collapse included a shambolic mid-innings sequence during which four wickets fell for just one wicket, reducing the Proteas from 3-124 to 7-127.


Keeper Morne van Wyk and paceman Dale Steyn looked to have rescued their side when they reduced the equation to just 12 runs with three wickets in hand.

England, who had sweated through a thrilling tie with India and humiliating loss to Ireland to start the tournament, then reclaimed the upper hand by having van Wyk bowled (chopping on Tim Bresnan) with the first ball of the 47th over.

The Saffers then reduced the equation to eight off 18 balls, before Stuart Broad trapped Steyne plumb in front. Steyne had the decision reviewed, but the third umpire found he was out. Eight runs off 17 balls, one wicket in hand.

Number 10 Morne Morkel then edged Broad behind to leave South Africa stranded six runs short, all out for 165.

In isolation, this defeat wouldn't be THAT bad - plenty of teams chasing modest targets have fallen short after middle order collapses - but in South Africa's case, it's a disturbing trend that goes all the way back to 1996, which was also held on the subcontinent.

Then, the Proteas cruised through Group B undefeated, earning many pundits' nod as the tournament favourite when the knock-out stage began. With a side boasting Hansie Cronje, Gary Kirsten, Dave Richardson, Brian McMillian, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald, it was easy to see why.

Drawn against the unfancied West Indies - who suffered a humiliating loss to minnow Kenya earlier in the tournament - in the quarter-final, the Saffers posted a competitive 245 batting first.

However, Brian Lara slammed a century to catapult his side into the semi-finals and open up the first of many psychological wounds that would plague the South Africans - namely, being the best team in a given tournament and coming away empty-handed.

In 1999, South Africa managed the mother of all chokes - twice. They finished atop their group, only losing to Zimbabwe. After being anointed favourites at the start of the Super Six stage, they beat Pakistan and New Zealand before facing Australia, who had a difficult run through the pool phase.

At Headingly, South Africa racked up 7-271 and had reduced the Aussies to 3-48 - surely, they were safe and the only team they feared was going to be on a plane home within hours. However, a funny thing happened - Australian skipper Steve Waugh chose the perfect time to play his best ever ODI knock, finishing with an unbeaten ton to snatch an unlikely one-wicket win. Waugh was aided in his awe-inspiring effort by being dropped by centurion Hershel Gibbs on 56. Gibbs grassed a simple chance trying to pull off a schoolyard trick of throwing the ball in the air the instant he caught it.

The result meant the sides would meet again in the semi-final at Edgbaston, with the Aussies holding the advantage in the event of a tie. South Africa, hell-bent on avenging their shock last-start defeat, had the Aussies in trouble before Waugh and Michael Bevan dragged them to a moderate 213.

South Africa started brightly, reaching 0-48 off 10 overs when Waugh called upon Shane Warne, who ripped out two quick wickets (and a run-out) to have South Africa tottering. After a few twists and turns, South Africa looked home when Lance Klusner blasted the first two balls of the final over to the fence, thus levelling the scores. After a near run-out next ball, Klusner and Donald didn't have a midwicket conference.

What happened next sealed South Africa's reputation as chokers - Klusner hit the ball to Mark Waugh, who flicked it on to Damien Fleming, who was waiting at the non-striker's end. Klusner had charged up the pitch looking for the winning run while Donald remained in his ground. Fleming underarmed the ball to the striker’s end, where Adam Gilchrist whipped off the bails to seal ... a tie. Australia were through to the final (which they won convincingly) while South Africa were ruing what could have been - again.

South Africa had a chance to atone on home soil in 2003, but the dark clouds gathered when they lost first-up to 1996 nemesis the West Indies. Normal service resumed when they thrashed eventual semi-finalists Kenya by 10 wickets. They were then unlucky to post 306 versus New Zealand, only to lose via the Duckworth-Lewis Method of deciding rain-shortened matches. The hosts then took out their frustrations on Bangladesh (winning by 10 wickets).

Then came arguably the greatest example of nincompoopery in the history of, well ... nincompoopery. Chasing Sri Lanka's 9-268 in the final group game, South Africa were well aware rain at Durban could disrupt or even curtail their reply. This would mean the Duckworth-Lewis method would be applied to decide the winner in a match South Africa had to WIN to advance. Knowing what the DLM had done to them earlier in the tournament, South African management gave their players a table showing what they needed after each ball to TIE, not WIN. One ball before the fatal deluge, South Africa's batsmen, Mark Boucher and Klusner reached the total printed on the sheet. The total to TIE, not WIN, remember. They could have taken an easy single with the final ball before the rain came, but chose to stay put. Of course, the heavens opened, washing away the chance of any more play and leaving the South Africans TIED with the Sri Lankans via Duckworth Lewis Method. That result meant the Proteas didn’t even reach the Super Six stage of their tournament.

The moral of the tale? If you’re near a South African cricket team at the World Cup, make sure you know the Heimlich Manoeuvre – it could come in very handy.

2011 NRL Previews - Melbourne and Newcastle

Uh oh ... another looming season, another disaster. Benji Marshall - who launched the 2011 season and is hailed the best player in the game - will soon report to police for questioning about an alleged brawl outside a Sydney McDonald's in the small hours of Saturday morning. Marshall, acclaimed as a rare rugby cleanskin earlier in the week, is said to have punched a 24-year-old in the face after a series of racial slurs. 

While NOTHING justifies racism, Marshall, as the face of the game, should have worn the provocation on the proverbial chin. If he has come out swinging, then all he achieved was give the code yet another black eye. 

Remember, this incident has come in the same week a leading player agent and former star have been charged with an attempted betting sting, a current player fronted court over the same allegations and the reigning Dally M Medallist moved a step closer to ending his career. 

Oh, here's some predictions on last year's Scandal of the Year winner - the Melbourne Storm - and the Newcastle Knights, which are soon to be taken over by a billionaire Bond villain mining magnate. One will have a good year, the other, not so much. Know which is which?

Melbourne Storm

Home Ground: AAMI Park

Coach: Craig Bellamy

Premierships: 3 (1999, 2007*, 2009*) *Stripped for salary cap violations

2010 finish: 16th* Did not play for points in 2010

First five rounds: Sea Eagles (h), Titans (h), Cowboys (a), Bulldogs (h), Eels (h)

IN: Adam Woolnough, 29, prop (Out of retirement), Beau Champion, 24, centre (South Sydney), Elijah Niko, 20, wing (Warriors), Jaiman Lowe, 27, prop (South Sydney), Maurice Blair, 26, centre/five-eighth (Penrith), Troy Thompson, 31, prop (Canberra).

OUT: Aiden Tolman (Canterbury-Bankstown), Jeff Lima (Wigan Warriors - Super League), Ryan Hoffman (Wigan Warriors - Super League), Brett Finch (Wigan Warriors - Super League), Brett White (Canberra), Greg Inglis (South Sydney).

Why they can win it: Still have three (Slater, Cronk, Smith) of the best six players in the game. Bellamy knows how to unearth talent and get the very best out it. They will be PISSED about last year, where they looked like the best team going around before they were busted for salary cap violations.

Why they can’t: The exodus caused by salary cap violations. Losing Greg Inglis was bad enough, but the likes of White, Tolman, Lima, Hoffman and Finch were the guys who added depth and made Melbourne so formidable. Champion is a decent pick-up, but Woolnough and Lowe are average at best, while the other new faces carry the dreaded ‘unfulfilled potential’ or ‘journeyman’ tags.

Bottom line: 6th

Newcastle Knights

Home Ground: Energy Australia Stadium

Coach: Rick Stone

Premierships: 2 (1997, 2001)

2010 finish: 11^th

First five rounds: Panthers (a), Cowboys (a), Sea Eagles (a), Dragons (h), Broncos (a)

IN: Beau Henry, 20, halfback (St George Illawarra), Chris Houston, 25, back row/prop (Suspension), Korbin Sims, 19, back row (Brisbane Broncos), Kyle O'Donnell, 20, utility (Cronulla), Maipele Morseau, 19, fullback (Melbourne Storm), Neville Costigan, 25, back row/prop (St George Illawarra), Siuatonga Likiliki, 22, centre (Warriors), Steve Southern, 28, back row (North Queensland Cowboys)

OUT: Cooper Vuna (Melbourne Rebels - Super Rugby), Scott Dureau (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Ben Cross (Leeds Rhinos - Super League), Steve Simpson (Retired).

Why they can win it: Akuila Uate is one of the best finishers in the game. Kurt Gidley will do the job wherever he plays – fullback, half or pivot. Decent pack bolstered by the return of Houston after he successfully defended drugs charges. If Neville Costigan brings his 2010 finals form to Newcastle he could put their pack on his back and drag them over the advantage line.

Why they can’t: Major, major questions over the halves. Jarrod Mullen is decent enough at half, but his choice will either be journeyman Ben Rogers or untested rookie Beau Henry. If neither option works, Stone might be forced to bite the bullet and play Gidley in the halves.

Prediction: 13th

2011 NRL Preview - Manly and Gold Coast

Today are two teams from regions known for beaches, sun, surf and sand - Gold Coast and the mighty Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, which just happen to be my favourite sporting team ON THE PLANET. The Titans haven't really put a foot wrong since joining the competition and came within one game of a grand final last year. Manly's resurgence after a dark era that included a failed merger with mortal enemies North Sydney was complete with a 40-0 nil thrashing of Melbourne in the 2008 decider. Since then, well, it's been downhill. As much as I love the men in maroon and white, I fear this year could be the one where the bottom drops out.

Gold Coast Titans

Home Ground: Skilled Park

Coach: John Cartwright

Premierships: Nil

2010 finish: 4^th

First five rounds: Dragons (h), Storm (a), Broncos (h), Raiders (a), Cowboys (a)

IN: Joe Vickery, 21, wing (St George Illawarra), Luke Capewell, 21, fullback/five-eighth (South Sydney), Richie Williams, 24, five-eighth (Burleigh Bears - Queensland Cup).

Out: Jordan Atkins (Parramatta), Mat Rogers (Retired), Ryan Tongia (Cronulla), Selasi Berdie (Released), Aaron Cannings (Released), Marshall Chalk (Released), Josh Graham (Released).

Why they can win it: In Scott Prince, Greg Bird, Nathan Friend and Preston Campbell, the Titans have one of the most dynamic spines in the league. Their back row (Ashley Harrison, Anthony Laffranchi and Mark Minichiello) provide the right mix of workrate, impact and creativity. Coach John Cartwright is right on the threshold of the league’s elite. Finished only one win from the grand final last year.

Why they can’t: The Titans big players (Campbell, Prince, prop Luke Bailey) are a year older. They probably still don’t have the star centres or wingers who can create something out of nothing.

Prediction: 5th

Manly Sea Eagles

Home Ground: Brookvale Oval

Coach: Dale Hasler

Premierships: 7 (1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1996, 2008)

2010 finish: 8^th

First five rounds: Storm (a), Roosters (a), Knights (h), Rabbitohs (a), Sharks (a).

IN: Daniel Harrison, 22, back row (Canterbury-Bankstown), Liam Foran, 22, five-eighth (Newtown Jets - NSW Cup), Tim Robinson, 22, back row (Parramatta).

OUT: Chris Bailey (Harlequins - Super League), Josh Perry (St Helens - Super League), Trent Hodkinson (Canterbury-Bankstown), Ben Farrar (Catalans Dragons - Super League).

Why they can win it: Brett Stewart. In the Williams’ (Tony and David), two of the most dangerous outside backs in the comp. Jamie Lyon was Dally M Centre of the Year last season and seems to only be getting better. Anthony Watmough is this generation’s Gorden Tallis. Matt Ballin is the fifth best rake going around (Cameron Smith, Robbie Farrah, Michael Ennis and Isaac Luke are the others).

Why they can’t: For the first time in many seasons, the Eagles boast a workmanlike, rather than devastating, forward pack. That will create pressure on young halves Dale Cherry-Evans and Keiran Foran and give the explosive backline less space and time to wind up. Centre Steve Matai and second rower Glenn Stewart will miss the all-important start of the season with suspension, while David Williams and Brett Stewart are still not fully recovered from injuries that wrecked their 2010 season.

Prediction: 12th

2011 NRL Preview - Canterbury and Cronulla

Today, we look at two teams who have vastly different histories - and futures. In the blue and white corner, the eight-time heaveyweight champions Canterbury-Bankstown; a club I don't particulary love but certainly respect for their culture of winning. In the, uh, light blue and black corner, Cronulla, a club I pity. They've been around for more than 30 years and have made only a handful of grand finals, getting knocked out each time. While the Doggies had a difficult season in 2010, they are set for a big year. Cronulla have been down-and-out since the end of 2008 and things won't change a lot this season. Keep leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt, Sharks fans.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Home Ground: ANZ Stadium

Coach: Kevin Moore

Premierships: 8 (1938, 1942, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1995, 2004)

2010 finish: 13th

First five rounds: Wests (h), Rabbitohs (a), Roosters (h), Storm (a), Dragons (a)

IN: Aiden Tolman, 22, back row (Melbourne Storm), Frank Pritchard, 27, back row (Penrith), Grant Millington, 24, back row/prop (Cronulla), Greg Eastwood, 23, back row/prop (Leeds Rhinos - Super League), Jonathan Wright, 23, centre/wing (Parramatta), Kris Keating, 22, five-eighth (Parramatta), Michael Lett, 23, centre/wing (St George Illawarra), Trent Hodkinson, 22, halfback (Manly).

OUT: Ben Hannant (Brisbane Broncos), Nathan Massey (Canberra), Daniel Harrison (Manly), Luke Patten (Salford City Reds - Super League), Brett Kimmorley (Retired), Blake Green (Hull Kingston Rovers - Super League).

Why they can win it: Look to have the balance (strong forwards, slick backs, depth) needed to win it all. Added much-needed strike power in Pritchard, Eastwood and Tolman. In Michael Ennis, they have one of the three best rakes in the game. Josh Morris and Jamal Idris headline a top backline. Canterbury have a premiership-winning culture and could well rediscover it in 2011.

Why they can’t: Questions will remain about the halves – Hodkinson and Ben Roberts. Old stagers like Andrew Ryan aren’t getting any younger. Arguably the hardest five five rounds in the comp.

Prediction: Minor premiers

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Home Ground: Toyota Park

Coach: Shane Flanagan

Premierships: None

2010 finish: 14th

First five rounds: Raiders (a), Dragons (h), Panthers (a), Warriors (h), Sea Eagles (h)

IN: Andrew Clayton, 20, prop (Brisbane Broncos), Colin Best, 32, centre/wing (South Sydney), Jeremy Smith, 30, back row (St George Illawarra), John Williams, 25, wing (North Queensland Cowboys), Kose Lelei, 22, utility back (Canterbury-Bankstown), Ryan Tongia, 20, fullback (Gold Coast Titans), Wade Graham, 20, five-eighth (Penrith).

OUT: Kyle O'Donnell (Newcastle Knights), Grant Millington (Canterbury-Bankstown), Blake Ferguson (Canberra), Adam Cuthbertson (St George Illawarra), Trent Barrett, Luke Covell, Reece Williams (Retired), Josh Lewis (Tolouse), Lancen Joudo (North Queensland Cowboys), Luke Harlen (released).

Why they can win it: In Paul Gallen, Anthony Tupou and the newly signed Smith, the Sharkies have one of the best back rows going around. Luke Douglas and Kane Snowden are two of the best young props in the country. Wade Graham has a chance to live up to his potential – and pricetag.

Why they can’t: Everyone else. Save for Graham and dynamic fullback Nathan Gardner, the Sharks backline wouldn’t look out of place in the Bundaberg Cup. A lack of depth and inability to score points will prove telling against the best teams in the comp.

Prediction: 14th

2011 NRL Preview - Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders

The 2011 NRL season season is just eight days away season, but in typical fashion, any goodwill and hype has been overshadowed by off-field scandal.

Less than 24 hours after the NRL launched the new season – complete with a veiled swipe at AFL attempts to invade league’s western Sydney heartland – it was plunged back into disgrace.

On a day of unprecedented drama:

·                     Leading player agent Sam Ayoub – whose clients include Jonathon Thurston, arguably the game’s best player – and former NRL player John Elias were charged with “attempt to obtain financial advantage by deception” as part of a long-running investigation into a failed betting sting on a Bulldogs-Cowboy match late last season.

·                     Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy – another of Ayob’s clients - pleaded not guilty to four charges providing false evidence to police in relation to the game in question.

·                     NRL chief David Gallop threatened life bans for anyone involved in match-fixing.

·                     Reigning Dally M Medallist Todd Carney was fined $10,000 and warned his career was in jeopardy after being caught drink-driving last Saturday.

·                     The Newcastle Knights board debated a $100 million takeover bid from billionaire mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.

·                     And the Melbourne Storm attempted to exorcise the demons of last year’s salary cap scandal by launching their 2011 campaign.

All this, in the space of a few hours!

The links can take you to the in-depth stories on all the tumult; I am merely here to start my eight-part series of predictions on how the 16 teams will fare.

First up: the Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders – two former powers heading in opposite directions, fast.

Brisbane Broncos

Home Ground: Suncorp Stadium 
 

Coach: Anthony Griffin 

Premierships: 6 (1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006)

2010 finish: 10th

First five rounds: Cowboys (h), Raiders (a), Titans (a), Panthers (h), Knights (h)

IN: Ben Hannant, 25, prop (Canterbury-Bankstown), Dane Carlaw, 30, back row (Catalans Dragons - Super League), John Te Reo, 24, hooker (Wynnum Manly - Queensland Cup).

OUT: Israel Folau, Ashton Sims, Korbin Sims, Tariq Sims, Antonio Winterstein, Lagi Setu.

Why they can win it: Darren Lockyer remains the best five-eighth in the game not named ‘Benji’. Solid-offseason recruiting in the form of Hannant and Carlaw. Loss of Folau tempered by return of Justin Hodges.

Why they can’t: Absolute farce earlier this month when they sacked Ivan Henjak as coach only three weeks before kick-off. Anthony Griffin will have to put his stamp on the club, and quickly. Will the Broncs subconsciously be looking to next year and the expected return of the messiah, Wayne Bennett? Many had Peter Wallace pegged as the next big thing at halfback, but he’s been disappointing.

Prediction: 10th

 

Canberra Raiders

Home Ground: Canberra Stadium 

Coach: David Furner

Premierships: 3 (1989, 1990, 1994)

2010 finish: 7th

First five rounds: Sharks (h), Broncos (h), Wests (a), Titans (h), Penrith (a).

IN: Blake Ferguson, 20, wing (Cronulla), Brett White, 28, prop (Melbourne Storm), Matt Orford, 32, halfback (Bradford Bulls - Super League), Nathan Massey, 19, fullback (Canterbury-Bankstown).

OUT: Justin Carney (Sydney Roosters), Scott Logan (Retired), Troy Thompson (Melbourne Storm), Adam Mogg (Retired), Marc Herbert (Bradford Bulls - Super League), Joel Monaghan (Warrington Wolves).

Why they can win it: Forget Souths – THIS is the biggest, baddest pack in the league. Shillington, Leahroyd-Lars and White will form a fearsome troika at prop. Josh Dugan is the game’s next superstar at fullback. Orford guided a team to a premiership and Terry Campese won’t miss the whole season, as was first feared. Canberra also boast one of the fastest, most dynamic backlines in the comp.

Why they can’t: It’s going to take time for the likes of Orford to gel – Canberra can’t afford a slow start to the season. Campese won’t be as good when he does get back onto the field. Lacked creativity in opposition red zones last year.

Prediction: 3rd


Tomorrow: Canterbury-Bankstown and Cronulla-Sutherland.

North Queensland Fury 2009-2011

When then A-League expansion club North Queensland Fury unveiled their in augural playing strip in 2009, EVERYONE winced. 

A retina-scraping mix of lime, forest green and white made the Townsville-based club an instant eyesore.

Despite the god-awful threads, the future was bright for the men for the deep north.

They – along with Gold Coast – were to be at the vanguard of the A-League’s growth; two bright, vibrant sides offering top-class football to two areas of strategic importance to Football Federation Australia.

A little under two years later, the Fury are dead.

The FFA decided to switch off the life support yesterday after the club they owned haemorrhaged $2.5 million last year and was expected to lose $2 million the next.

Like any death in any family, the Fury’s demise triggered rage and grief among the nation’s football fraternity, especially given the North Queensland advisory board claimed it had raised the $1.5 million needed by the FFA for 2011-12.

A mystery $500,000 major sponsorship was to be announced in the near future, according to Fury loyalists.

People are calling for independent inquiries. Players, coaches and staff are out of jobs. The Fury’s modest but passionate fan base don’t have a club to call their own. 

A lot of the debate centres around what the Fury board claimed to have raised. What they claimed was capital, the FFA said was sponsorship. There’s a fair old gulf between the two. 

The FFA said the capital – defined as “material wealth in the form of money or property” or “money that can be used to produce further wealth” raised by an extensive ‘Retain the Fury’ (nice name, by the way) campaign totalled just $275,000. 

Sponsorship and pledges didn’t count. Fair enough. Businesses supporting sporting clubs go bust all the time. People forget to pay what they promise. 

However, the FFA also said it had pumped $9 million into the club since taking over. Hmmmm. No balance sheets, no itemised account. Just a bland statement, at the end of a typically bland press release.

I got it at my real job but forgot to e-mail it home. My bad.

People will cane the FFA for this decision – more so given the Fury claim they would have been able to stand on their own two feet by 2013.

One school of thought is that the FFA shouldn’t be hammered for cutting the Fury down now – they should be for deciding to go to Townsville in the first place. 

We’re not exactly talking about football heartland – think the Adelaide Rams of Super League infamy or the now-defunct Singapore Slingers of the NBL. 

Bids from stronger football regions such as Canberra and Wollongong were knocked back so the FFA could increase its footprint in Queensland. Fair call, it’s their competition. And the Fury were making promising strides in terms of support - til yesterday.

Maybe the FFA should be caned for allowing the Fury to go ahead under its original – and the FFA’s preferred – model: one private, all-powerful owner.

That man, Don Matheson, pulled the pin after one season when the Fury lost close to $6 million. Fair call, it was his money.

However, where did that leave the club? At death’s door, of course. The FFA were not interested in pumping money into another club after taking care of Adelaide for so long and still – STILL – owning part of the Brisbane Roar.

Yesterday, the FFA acknowledged their poor planning and poor judgment by killing off the Fury. That’s why they should be vilified. 

… and for approving those disgusting jerseys.

North Queensland Fury 2009-2011

A sporting team died yesterday. Not cool. Rest in Peace, team with silly lime green jerseys.

We hardly knew ye.

I'll write something full of bile and venom later on today, after some work and proper job.