RUGBY

If Springbok coach Peter de Villiers wants to get an extended opportunity to see how Frans Steyn fairs as a flyhalf in a top international match, he now has it courtesy of his predecessor Jake White. The former Springbok coach teams up with his erstwhile World Cup technical adviser as coach and assistant coach of the Barbarians team that will play Australia at Wembley on Wednesday night. The team has a strong South African flavour, with John Smit captaining the side and several other Bok World Cup winners featuring.

RUGBY 7’s

The beautiful city of George is once more gripped in Sevens fever as the final preparations get underway for the 2008 Emirates Airline SA Sevens tournament at the Outeniqua Park Stadium. The thrilling victory of the Springbok Sevens team last weekend in Dubai has no doubt added an extra element of excitement and local rugby fans have welcomed the sixteen international teams with open arms.

SOCCER

Telkom Knockout finalists Ajax Cape Town are unhappy over the three venues put on the table by the cup committee for the showpiece against Orlando Pirates on December 13.  Ajax said the three venues, Orlando Stadium, Atteridgeville's Super Stadium and Rustenburg's Olympia Park suggested by the committee, are not acceptable to the Urban Warriors.

CRICKET

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson has continued his rapid rise in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Player Rankings by breaking into the top 10 for the first time in his career following another good performance against New Zealand at Adelaide. The 27-year-old left-armer took match figures of 5-85 as Australia registered a comfortable victory over the Black Caps and as a result he has gained another four places in the rankings. He now sits in eighth place, level with Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas.

GOLF

Chris Williams built on Monday’s form to take pole position on the leaderboard with a seven-under-par 65 in the second round of the Nedbank Affinity Cup played at the Lost City Golf Club on Tuesday. Although Williams struck a bogey on the second, a streak of four birdies topped with an eagle on the 528-meter 18th saw the Modderfontein pro conquer the slow greens on the Pilanesberg course.