RUGBY

Nick Koster was the shock inclusion when coach Rassie Erasmus named his Vodacom Stormers team for their opening Super 14 match of the season against the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday. The Stormers side is Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (captain), Nick Koster, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Schalk Brits, JD Moller. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Wicus Blaauw, AJ Venter, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Joe Pietersen, Percy Montgomery. Springbok inside centre Jean de Villiers is pleased that the man who wore the national No12 jersey at the 2007 World Cup is set to specialise in his position this season.

CRICKET

South Africa's cricket selectors showed great initiative on Wednesday when they named a 12-man squad for the first test against Australia over two weeks before the start of the match and in so doing cooling an impending media frenzy over whether JP Duminy or Ashwell Prince would be selected in the number six spot. Duminy, of course, is now a superstar of world cricket after his top-class performances in Australia and a riot probably would have broken out if the elegant left-hander had suddenly been dropped.

CRICKET

The Chevrolet Warriors succumbed to the rain and the Gestetner Diamond Eagles as they lost the first leg of their Standard Bank Pro20 semifinal by nine wickets with 11 balls to spare in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

CRICKET

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been formally banned for one year from the lucrative Indian Premier League for testing positive for nandrolone during last year's inaugural tournament.

GOLF

He leads the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, and Anders Hansen of Denmark flew into South Africa under the radar to see if he can stretch his lead when he plays in the Vodacom Championship at the Pretoria Country Club.