Rugby - Gori ready for step up in class
Italy debutant Edoardo Gori is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing him when he runs out for his debut against Australia today. Scrumhalf Gori has been handed his chance against the Wallabies after a lackluster performance from Tito Tebaldi in the 22-16 loss to Argentina. The 20-year-old Gori says “I have to start strongly from the first minute and earn the trust of my teammates. Then hopefully the rest will follow.” Australia coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to his team following the record 35-18 loss to England and the 15-6 defeat by Irish province Munster in midweek. Previously in its autumn internationals Australia beat New Zealand 26-24 and Wales 25-16.
Football - Obasi to miss three
months after leg surgery
Hoffenheim’s Nigeria striker Chinedu Obasi will be out for three months following surgery on his left shin. The Bundesliga club says Obasi will have an operation next week. Obasi sustained a stress fracture in his left shin during the World Cup in South Africa. The injury appeared to have healed and Obasi made four brief appearances in the Bundesliga before reporting problems again.
Asian Games - Uzbek judo silver
medallist fails Asiad doping test
In the first doping case at the Asian Games, Uzbekistan’s Shokir Muminov was disqualified and stripped of his judo silver medal yesterday for failing a drug test. Dr. Mani Jegathesan, chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia’s medical committee, said Muminov’s urine sample showed traces of the banned stimulant Methylhexaneamine. The 27-year-old Muminov lost the gold medal match in the 81-kilogram division to South Korea’s Kim Jae-bum on Sunday night.
Football - Seedorf expects Inter
to bounce back
Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has warned his teammates that city rival and reigning European and Italian champions Inter are not out of the Serie A title race. Milan are top of the standings with 26 points following a 1-0 win over Inter in the Milan derby on Sunday and are six points ahead of Inter, in fifth place. “It is only November and Inter is trying to find its identity under a new coach,” Seedorf told yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport. “It is easy to criticise a new coach in a team that has won everything. Let’s not forget that Benitez led Liverpool to its first Champions League in years and he is certainly not a poor coach,” Seedorf said. “He just needs to find the right balance for his team. We are first, but Inter is the defending champion.”
Fotball - Rooney set for Man United return against Wigan
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said yesterday fit-again Wayne Rooney could be among the team's substitutes for today's Premier League match against Wigan. The England striker last appeared for United when he came off the bench in the 2-2 draw with West Brom on 16 October. But after recovering from an ankle injury following a period of recuperation in Dubai and the United States, Rooney is set to make his return. "I don't think he'll start tomorrow. Maybe he will reach the bench," Ferguson said. Ferguson added yesterday that Rooney will definitely play in United's Champions League match at Rangers on Wednesday.
"Wayne's done a week of intense work, so he's not done a lot of football work. We need to assess that a little more closely. We sent him to America to isolate him in an intensive situation so the concentration was purely on the training." Wigan have lost all of their previous 11 encounters with United and Rooney has scored nine times against the club, leading manager Roberto Martinez to hope the striker's comeback is delayed.
"You don't want Wayne Rooney to come back against you," Martinez said. "If Rooney plays then the task will be harder because he is one of the best players in world football.”
Since his last match for United, Rooney has threatened to leave the club before changing his mind and signing a new five-year contract.
Tennis - Frenchman Benneteau out of Davis Cup final
Julien Benneteau has not recovered in time from a left wrist injury at the U.S. Open and will not be available for France in the Davis Cup final against Serbia next month.
Benneteau, who was bidding for a doubles spot, said yesterday he is not fit enough even though he started training last month. He made his cup debut this year and was 4-0 in singles and doubles with Michael Llodra.
Veteran Arnaud Clement could now partner Llodra in the final. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has also been ruled out of the 3-5 December final with a knee injury, and Gael Monfils seems all but guaranteed to play singles. Llodra is fighting with Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet for the other singles spot. France captain Guy Forget will announce his squad on Tuesday.
Football - Injured Inter playmaker Coutinho could miss month
Inter Milan's 18-year-old playmaker Coutinho has injured a muscle in his right leg and could miss up to a month, the latest in a series of injuries for the European champion. Coutinho was injured in training yesterday and could miss the Club World Cup next month. Inter defender Cristian Chivu also injured a muscle while playing for Romania in a friendly with Italy on Wednesday, and goalkeeper Julio Cesar is also still out. Interare tied with Juventus for fourth in Serie A, six points behind leader and city rival AC Milan.