D Friday, November 20, 2009 METROSPORT 21 Duel in the desert: McIlroy, right, and Westwood battle in Dubai yesterday Pressure on Rory as first round goes to Westwood RoRy McIlRoy admitted he will be glad to see the back of lee Westwood after coming off second best in the opening round of their European Tour order of Merit decider in Dubai. The two stablemates will be in separate groups for todays second round but were playing partners yesterday as Westwood drew first blood in the Dubai World Championship. Westwood, more than 128,000 behind the young Irishman entering the final lap, carded a six under par 66 to finish a stroke behind Australian leader Robert Allenby. McIlroy matched his rivals back nine 32, but had made the slower start and, with a 68, is in a tie for fifth. If they maintain their current positions, it will be the Englishman, champion in 2000, who just comes out on top on Sunday. And McIlroy, trying to become the youngest money-list winner since Seve Ballesteros in 1976, admits their face-off had caused him a few problems. I didnt think I would find it as difficult as I did, to be honest, he said. lees been around a lot longer than me. you want to try and concentrate on the tournament, but at the same time youre seeing what hes doing. It will be nice not to play with him tomorrow, just to concentrate fully on my own score and on my own game. It will be good for both of us not to play together. Were both just trying to win [this event] and whatever happens after that then so be it. Today almost felt like a last group final round sort of thing. Were the top two in the Race to Dubai and its hard to get away from that. Two other players are also in with a chance of finishing No.1, but German Martin Kaymer has to be top four and, following a 71, is joint 22nd, while Englands Ross Fisher stands 40th in the 56-strong field after a 73. Padraig Harrington also made a good start the three-times major winner is level with McIlroy in the group, on four under, while Gareth Maybin and Peter lawrie are both one under par. GOLF dubai wOrLd champship South AfricA coach Peter de Villiers has made four changes from the team beaten by france last weekend for tomorrows clash with italy. Loosehead prop Wian du Preez will earn his first test cap while Adriaan Strauss replaces the injured Bismarck du Plessis at hooker. Schalk Burger is also sidelined so Danie rossouw starts on the flank with Andries Bekker at lock. Prop tendai Mtawarira and lock Victor Matfield are on from the bench while Jean Deysel and francois hougaard are in line for their first caps. BJ Botha, who joined the squad as cover for the injured cJ van der Linde, has also been included on the bench. AuSTRAlIA have made just one change to their starting XV for Saturdays game against Scotland. Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans has elected to rest Sundays man of the match in the 20-20 draw in Ireland, David Pocock, with George Smith returning as openside flanker. Deans believes 21-year-old Pocock needs time to recharge his batteries after starting the recent Tests against New Zealand and Ireland. David had an outstanding game, and was deservedly man of the match in Dublin, but he did get knocked around a bit, said Deans of Pocock, who spent the final eight minutes of Sundays game in the blood bin with a chin gash that required stitches. South Africa switch fourWallabies rest Pocock ruGby InternatIonals Biding his time: sexton has taken his chance at leinster and earned his first Ireland cap tomorrow against Fiji Picture: Sportsfile Sexton reaps benefits of patient approachBy john DonnellyIRElANDS new fly-half Jonathan Sexton is hoping a calmer approach will enable him to make a successful start to his international ca- reer tomorrow against Fiji at the RDS. Sexton admits he was often guilty of trying too hard in the past, but his career took a ma- jor step forward after coming on as an early substitute for Felipe Contepomi in leinsters Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Mun- ster earlier this year. A hugely composed display helped leinster to a surprise win and Sexton then played just as well in guiding his side to success in the final against leicester. The 24-year-old could yet emerge as a seri- ous challenger to Ronan oGara for the number 10 jersey during the RBS 6 Nations Championship, a far cry from the situation he found himself in this time last season. Sexton said: obviously Id be lying if I said I was happy to be sitting on the leinster bench rath- er than playing. But, looking back, I appreciate that I had to bide my time. I learned a lot from Felipe Con- tepomi and am probably better off having gone through those experiences. Sextons prospects of doing well on his full international debut should be helped by the fact that virtually all of the Irish back division is made up of leinster players. The exception is Munsters Keith Earls on the left wing. otherwise, Sexton will have Eoin Reddan partnering him at half-back, Brian oDriscoll and Gordon DArcy in the centre, Shane Hor- gan on the right-wing and Rob Kearney at full-back. Its nice to have Eoin [Reddan] inside me, weve played five or six times together for leinster now and were getting used to each other, Sexton added. Meanwhile, ulster winger Timoci Nagusa has been named on the Fiji bench for tomor- rows game. Fiji team (v Ireland): N Ligairi (Brive), V Goneva (Vaturu), G Lovobalavu (Toulon), S Baikeinuku (ASM Clermont), N Roko (Yokogawa), N Little (Bath), M Rauluni (Saracens), A Tarogi (Suva Highlanders), V Veikoso (Mavoci), V Seuseu (Korovuto), W Lewaravu (London Welsh), I Rawaqa (Fighting Bulls), A Satala (Gloucester), A Qera (Gloucester), A Boko (Tau). I appreciate that I had to bide my time. I learned a lot from Contepomi athLetics cASter SeMenyA will keep the gold medal she won at the World championships in Berlin, South Africas Department of Sport and recreation said yesterday. the 18-year-old (pictured) is currently waiting to hear whether she can continue competing as a woman after being asked to undergo gender tests the iAAf on Wednesday insisted an announcement was not imminent. She will definitely keep the medal she won last summer, however. Because caster has been found to be innocent of any wrong, she will then retain her gold medal, retain her title of 800m world champion, retain her prize money, the department said in a statement. this was agreed upon during deliberations between the government, the iAAf and Semenyas lawyer. Semenya to keep her world 800m gold index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html