D Friday, January 15, 2010 SPORT 21 Ronnie laughing all way to semis SNOOKER: Ronnie OSullivan described his game as laughable despite making the Masters semi-finals. The Rocket (pictured) beat Peter Ebdon 6-3 in yesterdays quarter-final at Wembley. But OSullivan, 34, said: Peter could have won quite easily. Most of the time Im missing a lot of shots and the long game Ive got at the moment is just laughable. Dream suits Schu FORMULA ONE: Race legend Michael Schumacher has targeted an eighth world title. The German has come out of retirement on a three-year deal to drive for Mercedes and, at 41, says he would not have done so had he not felt competitive. Schumacher said: We have a clear aim in our long-term plan and that is for me to become world champion with Mercedes GP. Maybe it wont happen in the first year, but it is a realistic aim over the three years. sportdigest Unable to compete: Semenya Testing wait leaves Semenya in limbo ATHLETICS: South African Caster Semenya will not be allowed to compete until a resolution has been reached in her gender case, the countrys athletics association said yesterday. Semenya underwent gender verification tests after she won the womens world 800 metres title last August, following a rapid improvement in her performances. The IAAF has yet to reveal the results of the tests, but Athletics South Africa administrator Ray Mali said the 19- year-old would be allowed to race only once the IAAF had cleared her. We can only allow her to participate in events once we get clarity from the IAAF, not at this stage. England upbeat CRICKET: Paul Collingwood insisted England are still confident of victory in the final Test against South Africa despite a horror show in their first innings yesterday. England went into the match knowing a draw would be enough to secure victory in the series but they were skittled for 180, with Dale Steyn taking five wickets and Morne Morkel three. South Africa then reached 29 without loss before bad light ended play. Collingwood said: Were disappointed with a total like that but I think we can cause problems for them. Obviously we have to do better second time around. RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP Return of Jennings will not faze focused OBrien Shane JenningS may be making a wel- come return to the Leinster squad for tomor- rows heineken Cup clash with Brive, but for Sean OBrien the ireland forwards 12-week suspension provided yet another opportunity to show off his burgeoning talents. The Tullow man filled in admirably in Jen- nings openside spot as Leinster got their euro- pean campaign back on track, earning his first ireland caps during the international series in november. OBriens versatility means he can cover all three back-row positions, an asset that is likely to ensure he plays a role against Brive, whether off the bench or from the start. he said: Jenno coming back in doesnt really change much for me. My mental approach is the Brive encounter: Leinster captain Leo Cullen trains ahead of tomorrows Heineken Cup clash Picture: Sportsfile exact same. i still have to go out and perform the way i do and play the way i always play. OBrien has been training exclusively at seven during Jennings absence and admits the posi- tion is continually a learning experience. The way the game had gone now, around the ruck area especially, you have to learn all the tricks of the trade as they say. Thats something ive been working on, different approaches to rucking and techniques. So i would say you have to be learning all the time at seven. Coach Michael Cheika must decide between OBrien and Jennings when he names his team today, while Jonathan Sexton is certain to make his return from injury. Prop CJ van der Linde is also a likely starter after coming through a full week of training. and Cheika is confident his players will not be caught napping by a much- improved Brive side. he said: its easy for some people to overlook their team, but knowing the players involved is our business, and we make sure we try to know what they bring. By Gareth Makim You have to be learning all the time at seven Cave and Pollock named in Ulster side for Edinburgh clash TENNIS Worry: Del Potro US Open champion Juan Martin Del potro and French Open finalist Robin Soderling are both injury doubts for next weeks Australian Open after pulling out of the Kooyong Classic lead- up event yesterday. Del potro, the fourth seed at Melbourne park, did not appear for his match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga due to a wrist injury, while Soderling retired from his clash with Ivan Ljubicic following a recurrence of the elbow tendonitis that plagued him last year. The Swede said: A lot of times, it gets better in just a couple of days, so with some rest, I really hope I will feel good next week. elsewhere, world no.3 novak Djokovic insists his Open preparations remain on track despite a straight-sets defeat at the hands of Fernando Verdasco in the exhibition event. After thrashing the Serb 6-1, 6-2, Australian Open winner in 2008, said: The results dont really matter. The point of my participation here is to get a good practice, get some points and games before the Open, which is my main priority. Del Potro a major doubt for Melbourne GOLF Hitting form: Clarke Darren CLarkeS lowest european Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open yesterday. The 40-year-old irishman shot an eight- under-par 63 over the easier West Course at royal Johannesburg and kensington, but little-known South african neil Schietekat then went one better. ranked only 1,074th in the world, Schietekat, 25, grabbed nine birdies and kept a bogey off his card. its all about putting. i changed my grip last month and its started to pay off now, said Schietekat. The last time Clarke shot lower was his Tour record-equalling 60 in the 1999 european Open at The k Club. i hit it close a lot of times and the only putt i really holed was on 17 from about 20 feet, he said. On a day of low scoring there were four other 63s, from englands Simon khan, and David Lynn and South african pair Charl Schwartzel and Jbe kruger. race to Dubai money list leader Schwartzel fired seven birdies in a row from the fifth to be eight under, but any thoughts of a 59 disappeared after he four-putted the next. Michael hoey is next best of the irish on three under after a 68. Clarkes super start falls short of lead ULSTeR coach Brian McLaughlin has made two changes to the side which beat Munster two weeks ago for the visit of edinburgh to Ravenhill tonight. Darren Cave is recalled to partner paddy Wallace in the centres, while David pollock comes into the back row in place of the injured Willie Faloon. Ulster must win if they are to have any hope of reaching the knockout stages or winning a place in the Challenge Cup, and McLaughlin said: The last two games [we have played] have been very close, but we let them slip away, so from our point of view, weve got to play from first whistle to final whistle. Weve got to take the opportunities when they arise. Its a really huge game. Ulster team (v Edinburgh): J Smith, A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli, I Humphreys, I Boss, T Court, N Brady, B Botha, D Tuohy, E ODonoghue, S Ferris, D Pollock, C Henry (capt). Replacements: A Kyriacou, B Young, R Caldwell, T Anderson, D Fitzpatrick, C Willis, N OConnor, T Nagusa index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html