D Tuesday, August 4, 2009 METROSPORT 21 SPORTDigest Sensational start: Boks Heinrich Brussow Brussow making it tough for Burger, says Wallaby RUGBY: Australias George Smith claims South Africa face an interesting dilemma once flanker Schalk Burger returns from suspension. Burger, whose eight-week ban for making contact with the eye of British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald, ends on August 23, will be available for South Africas away matches in the Tri Nations. But Burgers replacement Heinrich Brussow has made a sensational start to his test career, starring against the Lions and in two straight Tri Nations wins over New Zealand. Schalk Burger inspires his team and it will be interesting to see what the South African selectors do when a player of his ability comes back, said Wallaby openside Smith. Things seem to be working for the Springboks with Heinrich in that position, so it will be an interesting decision for them. Carter fit for All Blacks RUGBY: Canterbury coach Rob Penney is confident Dan Carter is ready to return to the New Zealand squad for the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Sydney in three weeks. The fly-half showed no signs of a recurrence of the Achilles tendon problem that sidelined him for six months against North Harbour in the opening round of the Air New Zealand Cup last week. He grew nicely into the game and added a lot as his confidence grew, Penney said. Hes ready for an All Blacks call-up. He can lift to any level that is required. Hes ready to go whenever they need him. Vino back in the saddle CYCLING: Alexandre Vinokourov will return to cycling after serving a two-year doping suspension in a low- key race in France today. Kazakh Vinokourov, whose ban ended last month, has entered a race in southwestern Castillon-la-Bataille, organisers said on their website. Vinokourov, third in the 2003 Tour de France, was banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping in the 2007 Tour. The 35- year-old has denied any wrongdoing. Woods a winner again in time for US PGA tilt GOLF: Tiger Woods put the disappointment of missing the cut at The Open behind him by winning the Buick Open and making himself firm favourite for the new weeks US PGA Championship. For the first time in his career, Woods (pictured) will play back-to-back weeks before heading into a major, with the World Golf Championship in Ohio, which begins on Thursday, an event he has won six times. I know what Im doing wrong, its just a matter of getting enough reps in. In the next few days, Ill be able to do that and solidify my game, he said. fixtures TODAY SOCCER EA SPORTS Cup Semi-Final UCD v Waterford Utd ................ 7.45 HORSE RACING Catterick, Chepstow, Newton Abbot, Roscommon TENNIS (all week) ATP Legg Mason Classic (Washington D.C) WTA East West Bank Classic (Los Angeles) WEDNESDAY SOCCER UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg Dinamo Moscow v Celtic .......... 5.00 HORSE RACING Pontefract, Newcastle, Gowran Park, Yarmouth, Brighton, Sligo, Kempton THURSDAY SOCCER UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round - Second Leg Derry City v CSKA Sofia............ 7.00 Fulham v FK Vetra ..................... 8.00 Krylya Sovetov v St Patricks ..... 3.00 Motherwell v Steaua Bucuresti.. 7.45 Olomouc v Aberdeen................. 7.00 GOLF (until Sunday) WGC - Bridgestone Invitational (Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio) HORSE RACING Bath, Brighton, Folkestone, Haydock, Sandown, Yarmouth FRIDAY SOCCER (7.45pm unless stated) Coca-Cola Championship Middlesbrough v Sheff Utd ....... 8.00 League of Ireland Premier Division Bohemians v Cork............................ Drogheda Utd v Shamrock............... League of Ireland First Division Sporting Fingal v Mervue Utd........... UCD v Athlone Town ........................ Wexford Y v Monaghan Utd ...... 8.00 CRICKET Fourth npower Test Match (day 1 of 5): England v Australia (Headingley) HORSE RACING Worcester, Musselburgh, Newmarket, Brighton, Haydock, Lingfield, Wexford SATURDAY SOCCER (3pm unless stated) Coca-Cola Championship Cardiff v Scunthorpe ........................ Crystal Palace v Plymouth ............... Derby v Peterborough ...................... Leicester v Swansea ........................ Preston v Bristol City........................ QPR v Blackpool .............................. Reading v Nottm Forest ................... Sheff Wed v Barnsley ....................... Watford v Doncaster......................... West Brom v Newcastle ............ 5.30 Coca-Cola League One Brighton v Walsall............................. Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient.......... Carlisle v Brentford........................... Charlton v Wycombe........................ Gillingham v Swindon.............. 12.30 Leeds v Exeter.................................. Milton Keynes Dons v Hartlepool..... Norwich v Colchester....................... Oldham v Stockport ......................... Southampton v Millwall ........... 12.45 Southend v Huddersfield.................. Yeovil v Tranmere.............................. Coca-Cola League Two Aldershot v Darlington...................... Bury v Bournemouth ........................ Cheltenham v Grimsby..................... Crewe v Dag & Red .......................... Lincoln City v Barnet ........................ Morecambe v Hereford..................... Northampton v Macclesfield ............ Notts County v Bradford .................. Port Vale v Rochdale ........................ Rotherham v Accrington Stanley...... Shrewsbury v Burton Albion............. Torquay v Chesterfield...................... League of Ireland Premier Division Sligo v Dundalk ......................... 8.00 League of Ireland First Division Finn Harps v Limerick 37........... 7.45 Kildare County v Waterford Utd 7.30 Longford Town v Shelbourne .... 7.30 HORSE RACING Ascot, Ayr, Haydock, Lingfield, Newmarket, Redcar, Kilbeggan RUGBY UNION Tri-Nations Series: South Africa v Australia (1.00) SUNDAY SOCCER FA Community Shield Chelsea v Man Utd.................... 3.00 Coca-Cola Championship Coventry v Ipswich.................. 12.45 HORSE RACING Leicester, Redcar, Windsor, Downpatrick, Tipperary England captain andrew Strauss admitted he was disappointed at not being able to force a victory in the third ashes Test at Edgbaston yesterday. Michael Clarkes 103 not out and 96 from Marcus north helped the visitors reach 375 for five before the sides shook hands on a draw. We are pretty disappointed, we came to the ground with high hopes we might be able to force victory, Strauss said. But the wicket died, I cant fault the bowlers. all credit to north and Clarke, they got australia out of a hole and took them to safety. asked about the fitness of andrew Flintoff ahead of the fourth Test which begins on Friday, Strauss added: He seems okay. Well have to see how things settle down for Headingley but we are pretty optimistic hell be okay. australia captain Ricky Ponting was delighted with his batsmen in the second innings. We knew it would be hard work but the north and Clarke partnership was pretty special, Ponting said. Clarke keeps England at bay Honours even: England captain Strauss (left) and Michael Clarke cricket formula one Determined look: Massa boards a private jet back to Brazil yesterday after leaving hospital Massa seeking quick comeback Piquet fury at Briatore axe NELSON PIQUET has fired a damning parting shot at Renault boss Flavio Briatore after being released from his contract. After 28 grands prix without scoring a point, including ten races this season, it is no shock Piquet finds himself out of Formula One. But the Brazilian driver, who claimed the team set-up gave him no chance in qualifying, said: If I now need to give explanations, I am certain it is because of the unfair situation I have been in the last two years. A manager is supposed to encourage you, support you. In my case it was the opposite. Flavio Briatore was my executioner. Picture: PA FElIPE MaSSa is supporting Ferraris decision to recruit F1 legend Michael Schumacher to drive in his absence but vows to make a quick return to racing. However, Ferrari were rocked yesterday by Red Bull and Wil- liams moves to block seven- times world champion Schu- machers bid to test the car ahead of his F1 comeback. Massa has no recollection of the freak crash during qualifying for last weeks Hungarian grand Prix that saw him require life- saving surgery in a Budapest hospital. He was discharged and flew home to Sao Paulo yesterday to continue his recuperation from a fractured skull with the only question mark appearing to be when he will return to the track. Until then, Schumacher, 40, will be behind the wheel, start- ing in Valencia with the Europe- an grand Prix on august 23. The german visited Massa in hospital, who said: It was him who gave me many tips during my career when we were racing together, so Im not really in a position to say something to him. He knows how to win, he knows how to drive. It was the best choice handing over the car to such a fantastic person. Im sure everybody will be happy to see him back on the track but I am hoping Ill be back as soon as possible. Ferrari last week wrote to the other nine F1 teams, and the FIa, requesting Schumacher be granted a day behind the wheel of the F60, despite the current ban on in-season testing. Seven other teams gave Ferrari the go-ahead but Williams and Red Bull objected, citing the re- cent arrival of rookie Jaime alguersuari, who was unable to test when he replaced Sebastien Bourdais for Toro Rosso. BY ADAM HAY-NICHOLLS index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html