RUGBY

Star Springboks Schalk Burger and Conrad Jantjes will remain on the sidelines when the Vodacom Stormers tackle Boland Cavaliers in a Super 14 warm-up fixture in Wellington on Saturday. The pair missed the opening warm-up game against Saracens last Sunday, and were expected to return for the Boland game, which is the last official fixture of this type before the Super 14 kicks off with a match against the Sharks in Cape Town on St Valentine’s Day. However, coach Rassie Erasmus explained that both have experienced minor setbacks in their recovery from the slight injuries that have kept them from taking contact recently.

CRICKET

The Nashua Cape Cobras were bowled out for 88, loosing by the same run count against the Eagles in  their Standard Bank Pro20 match played at De Beers Oval in Kimberley. Adrian McLaren's chance finally bore fruit as he inspired a challenging Gestetner Diamond Eagles total of 176 for three, whilst Morne Van Wyk marched on to his second successive half-century reaching 59 off 43 balls. The Cobras last five wickets fell in 18 balls scoring only 17 runs with CJ de Villiers taking 3 for 15 in his bowling spel.

GOLF

Ernie Els is looking to one of his favourite tournaments, the Dubai Desert Classic, to kickstart his year and focus his latest bid to win a first Masters title in April. The big South African will be seeking a record fourth win in the Gulf tournament, a feat that has narrowly escaped his clutches in the last two years.

GOLF
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie was named on Wednesday to captain the European team to contest the Ryder Cup against the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales next year. Montgomerie replaces Nick Faldo, who came in for a barrage of criticism for his captaincy during the European loss to the United States in Louisville, Kentucky last September.

FOOTBALL

David Beckham has said he is having doubts about returning to Los Angeles Galaxy after making a strong start to his two-month loan stint at Italian club AC Milan. "Playing here is every footballer's dream," Beckham told Italian paper Corriere della Sera on Wednesday when asked if he would go back to the United States in March.  "But it's not easy to decide. It's a matter that requires time. I'm under contract with, and have lots of respect for, Galaxy," he added.