SARU has recently confirmed that the announcement that will name the next Springbok coach will take place earlier. The announcement scheduled for 14:00 on Friday, 27 January will now take place at 12:00.

Released on Thursday morning in a media statement, SARU confirmed that Friday’s conference has been advanced by two hours to 12:00, following the expected conclusion of SARU’s Special General Meeting at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town.

Heyneke Meyer, formerly Head Coach at Leicester Tigers, is the overwhelming favourite to be named as Peter de Villiers’s successor.

Even recently retired Blue Bulls and Springbok star Victor Matfield has said he would come out of retirement should Meyer be named the next Springbok coach. Matfield, who is the most capped Springbok with 110 caps, captained the Bulls to Super 14 and Currie Cup victories under Meyer’s mentorship. A possible return to rugby by Matfield is likely to lure the likes of Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Botha and Gurthrö Steenkamp back to the national team since they left for opportunities abroad.

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Inter Malan board member, Marco Tronchetti Provera has revealed that the Nerazzurri are no longer interested in luring Manchester City attacker Carlos Tevez to the Gisueppe Meazza in the January transfer window.

The winners of the 2010 Champions League put in an offer for the Man City player only to have it rejected and have no intention of putting in another bid for the Argentine especially since the improved form of Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder’s return from injury.

Tronchetti Provera commented that ”Our own stars have returned from injury and are back in top form. We have recovered our own champions and don’t need Tevez or anyone else any more, regardless of the fact that Tevez remains a great champion.”

Inter Malan’s decision to no longer bid for Tevez comes just one day after the director of Paris Saint-Germain revealed that they have ended talks with the attacker about a winter transfer.

AC Milan are still interested in Tevez, however Man City stressed earlier this week that the forward will not move to San Siro under the conditions the Rossoneri have offered.

Source: Goal.com

During a match in the New Zealand domestic HRV Twenty20 competition, team mates Bevan Small, a substitute fielder, and Michael Mason of Central Stags made what the international media are calling one of the greatest cricket catches ever.

After batsman Brad Wilson of the Northern Knights hit the ball for what looked like a six, substitute fielder Bevan Small leapt into the air at the boundary and before he could hit the ground, threw the ball to team mate Michael Mason who dived to take the catch in what was perfect timing and a display of extraordinary skill and coordination.

Before calling Wilson out, umpires turned to a re-play to confirm the final ruling.

Watch the incredible catch in the video below:

Queens Park Rangers Football Club has sacked its manager Neil Warnock on Sunday after the team has been left without a victory in their last eight Premier League matches and on the very edge of the relegation zone.

Warnock, who was appointed in March 2010 and won 33 of his 84 matches while in charge, has guided the West London club back to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years last season.

QPR owner, Malaysian Tony Fernandes commented in a club statement that the board felt it was the right time to make a serious change as recent poor form has seen the team slip down the table. Fernandes continued to say that “Neil Warnock has acted with honesty, professionalism and integrity throughout his time at the club and I would personally like to thank him for his significant contribution to Queens Park Rangers over the last 22 months.”

Philip Beard, Chief executive, told Sky Sports television that staying in the Premier League was key to the club’s ambitions and that they would move as quickly as possible to appoint a new manager.

In total, QPR have only won four of their 20 League matches with only one victory at Loftus Road, when they beat Chelsea 1-0 in October.

QPR said assistant manager Mick Jones and first team coach Keith Curle had left with Warnock.

Source: Supersport

Manchester City Manager, Robert Mancini, has raised his first concerns about the new spending restrictions placed on him by Manchester City. The concerns were brought about after it was revealed that he could have only one striker and two fully fit central midfielders available for the FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United on Sunday.

This is particularly upsetting for Mancini who has lost players Yaya and Kolo Touré who will be reporting to the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow, when the Ivory Coast reneged on an agreement previously made with the club to delay the brothers’ preparations by 24 hours. With Mario Balotelli having been ruled out with an ankle injury, Gareth Barry suspended and Edin Dzeko receiving treatment for a knee problem, the richest club in the world are struggling to fill their substitutes’ bench for the FA Cup.

As a result Mancini is looking for at least one new signing, needing three, but he has since been informed that the club will not be providing the necessary money to do so due to reported losses of £200 million in the last financial year. At first, Mancini believed that the club would be willing to sign new players if others were sold but unfortunately that is not the case.

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Vodacom Bulls lock Fudge Mabeta will be missing the 2012 Super Rugby campaign due to an injury sustained from a car accident.

Team doctor, Org Strauss commented on Wednesday that Mabeta will be out of action for at least six months as he is scheduled for an operation and recovery time for a ruptured knee ligament. During the medical check-ups when the Bulls re-assembled in Pretoria after the holiday season break, Mabeta was the obvious casualty. Other players are also at various places of recovery and will join the team as soon as Strauss approves of their fitness level.

Juandré Kruger (10 days), Bjorn Basson (14 days), Gerrit-Jan van Velze and Wesley Dunlop (7 days) will join sooner rather than later, while Dewald Potgieter, Francois Venter, Warwick Tecklenburg and Wynand Olivier are among those who will be returning to full training next month.

Commenting on the gathering of the Bulls in the new year for the Super Rugby campaign, captain Pierre Spies commented that “We have big plans and big dreams for 2012. The Bulls have established a proud record in Super Rugby in recent seasons and that acts as a great motivating factor. Everybody is keen to go.”

The Bulls begin their Super Rugby campaign in a match against the Sharks in Pretoria on 24th February.

Source: Supersport

Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has denied that now is the time for him to panic after the Premier League champions were defeated by Newcastle United 3-0. Ferguson insists that his team have the ability to bounce back after two consecutive losses.

Manchester United fell behind after a Demba Ba volley and a free-kick from Yohan Cabaye brought them 2-0 down after which Phil Jones netted an own goal.

United’s first away defeat of the campaign has left them three points behind league leaders Manchester City. Tottenham also have the chance to level the points with Man-U if they win their upcoming  game against Everton.

Despite a promising start, which saw Dimitar Berbatov head against the post, Ba’s opener gave the hosts confidence to pin United back in their own half and Sir Alex conceded his side were wastful on the ball.

Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports: “This is not a time to be panicking. We’ve got the personal experience to cope with that. Losing the game at this time of the year – you don’t want it, it sometimes can happen, you’ve seen some of the results recently. But obviously we need to get the show on the road in terms of the run-in, particularly in March and April.”

Source: Goal.com