19 Aug 2022

In today's sports news: What you need to know

10:00 am on 19 August 2022

There's plenty of respect, but Sail GP's trans-Tasman rivalry has gone up a notch ahead of this weekend's event in Denmark.

The New Zealand SailGP Team in action.

The New Zealand SailGP Team in action. Photo: SailGP

The New Zealand team come into Copenhagen after a breakthrough first event win at Plymouth in England last month.

It was a statement performance, which had rival teams digging deeper into the data to see how they could copy the Kiwis this weekend.

Asked about the drought-breaking, New Zealand skipper Peter Burling said they didn't do "anything out of the ordinary".

But it wasn't a comment Australian counterpart Tom Slingsby was buying.

"We knew they were lurking and improving [with] every event.

"Contrary to what Pete says, it looks like they did change their set-up a little [in Plymouth]. They were definitely sailing quite high and the look of the boat was different...

"We knew the Kiwis were coming to the top of the fleet soon ... it was just matter of time before they got it off their back that they hadn't made a final. They're going to be real contender this year for sure."

New Zealand sit third after three rounds.

Racing in Denmark starts at 1.30am NZ time on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Proteas push ahead at Lord's

A fiery spell from captain Ben Stokes dragged England back into the match but South Africa remained the happier side as they reached 289 for seven at the close on the second day of the first test at Lord's.

Stokes removed Sarel Erwee for 73 and the dangerous Rassie van der Dussen (19) just as the game was drifting away from the home side, but South Africa lead by 124 runs after taking the attack to the wilting home bowlers late in the day.

Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada Photo: Photosport

Tall all-rounder Marco Jansen (41 not out) was promoted to number six in the batting order and did not disappoint, putting on 72 for the seventh wicket with Keshav Maharaj (41) to re-establish the visitors' dominant position.

Jansen will resume on the third day with Kagiso Rabada (3 not out) and England three overs away from the new ball.

England were bowled out in the morning session, having resumed on 116 for six.

Fast bowler Rabada took 5-52 and was the pick of a four-pronged seam attack who all troubled the home batsmen with their pace and aggression.

England have won only two of their last 25 tests in which they have scored under 200 when batting first.

- Reuters

NZ A squad for India tour named

NZ A squad for India tour named, Foley back for Wallabies, Raducanu romps on in Cincinnati and Wilder confirms return to ring.

Seven players with senior international experience have been named in the New Zealand A men's cricket squad for their tour to India in September.

Wicket keeper Dane Cleaver of New Zealand in action.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Headling the squad are recent Black Caps Rachin Ravindra, Dane Cleaver, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy and Michael Rippon.

Tom Bruce, who has played 17 T20 internationals, has been named as co-captain alongside Auckland's Robbie O'Donnell.

The latter was one of five with a chance to represent New Zealand A for the first time, alongside Chad Bowes, Matt Fisher, Ben Lister and Joe Walker.

Wellington pace-bowler Logan van Beek returned after stints with the Netherlands, with the ICC eligibility rules allowing him to play for both sides concurrently.

The red and white ball matches, all against India A, will be the first time a New Zealand A side has played overseas since the 2018 tour to the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan A.

New Zealand A last toured India in 2017 and this visit will feature a similar structure, with three four-day matches and three one-day matches in Bangalore and Chennai, respectively.

New Zealand A squad: Tom Bruce (cc) (Central Districts), Robbie O'Donnell (c) (Auckland), Chad Bowes (Canterbury)

Joe Carter (Northern Districts), Mark Chapman (Auckland), Dane Cleaver (wk) (Central Districts), Jacob Duffy (Otago), Matt Fisher (Northern Districts), Cameron Fletcher (wk) (Canterbury), Ben Lister (Auckland), Rachin Ravindra (Wellington), Michael Rippon (Otago), Sean Solia (Auckland), Logan van Beek (Wellington), Joe Walker (Northern Districts)

Foley back for Wallabies

Bernard Foley has been named in his first Australia squad since the 2019 World Cup as coach Dave Rennie ponders his flyhalf options for the Rugby Championship tests against South Africa.

Foley was former coach Michael Cheika's go-to man in the position but has spent the last three years playing in Japan.

Australia first-five Bernard Foley scores his team's second try during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Australia at Twickenham stadium, south west London, on October 3, 2015

Australia first-five Bernard Foley scores his team's second try Photo: AFP

With Quade Cooper suffering a long-term Achilles' injury and Rennie not sold on back-up options James O'Connor and Noah Lolesio, 32-year-old Foley may have a chance to add to his 71 Wallabies caps.

Rennie has welcomed back a number of reinforcements to his 35-man squad named on Thursday after a horror run of injuries that saw a depleted Wallabies side smashed 48-17 by Argentina last weekend.

Winger Andrew Kellaway and props Angus Bell and Scott Sio are back from injury, while Allan Alaalatoa, Hunter Paisami and Dave Porecki all return after leaving the Argentina tour early for personal and injury reasons.

- Reuters

Raducanu romps on in Cincinnati

Emma Raducanu stormed into the third round of the Cincinnati Open with a 6-0 6-2 thrashing of Victoria Azarenka, signalling she will be well prepared for her US Open title defence.

World number one Iga Swiatek beat former US Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-4 7-5 to start her campaign at the WTA 1000 tournament, the last big tune-up event before the hardcourt major kicks off in New York.

British tennis player Emma Raducanu

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

It was a Tour-leading 50th win of the season for two-time French Open champion Swiatek, who will meet Madison Keys in the third round after the American beat Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 7-5.

Meanwhile American Taylor Fritz has bashed the ATP Tour's trial of off-court coaching, saying that allowing players to receive instructions during a match was a "dumb rule" that went against the concept of tennis being an individual sport.

The ATP started a trial of the rule last month, with players allowed to receive instructions in qualifying and main draw matches in tournaments including the US.Open and the ATP Finals.

Fritz, who beat in-form Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3 6-2 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Open, said he had not taken advantage of the rule.

Kyrgios has also come out against the rule, saying in June that the beauty of the sport was being taken away by the new rule, which permits an individual to coach a player both verbally and non-verbally from a designated seat.

- Reuters

Wilder confirms return to ring

Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will return to the ring against Finland's Robert Helenius on October 15, his first fight since the completion of his trilogy against Tyson Fury last year.

The American (42-2-1) was stopped in the 11th round by Fury in Las Vegas for his second straight loss to the Briton, who retained the WBC heavyweight title. Their first fight in December 2018 ended in a split draw.

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury box during their WBC heavyweight title bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena. 2020.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

"It's been a long journey for me and as of today it continues," the 36-year-old, who was honoured with a statue in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama earlier this year, said in a statement.

"I thought so many times about whether I should stay out of the business or come back. Once I got my statue in my hometown and saw so many people arrive and celebrate with me ... made me feel like my job is not done."

The fight will take place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, the setting for Wilder's knockout wins against Dominic Breazeale, Luis Ortiz and Bermane Stiverne.

Helenius (31-3) last fought on the card of the third Fury-Wilder fight, securing a sixth-round win against Poland's Adam Kownacki.

- Reuters

Quintana denies banned substance usage

Nairo Quintana has denied using the banned substance tramadol after the Colombian rider was stripped of his sixth-place finish at this year's Tour de France by cycling's governing body (UCI).

The pain medication is prohibited under UCI Medical Rules and banned only in competition. Its usage does not qualify as an anti-doping violation.

"I have learned with surprise of the UCI's announcement of an infraction for the use of tramadol. I am totally unaware of the use of this substance, and I deny having used it in my career," Quintana said in a statement on Twitter.

"With my team of lawyers, we are exhausting all the processes for my defence."

Quintana, a former Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana winner, can appeal the verdict within the next 10 days but is free to compete in future races.

The Arkea-Samsic rider added that he intended to participate in this year's Vuelta, which begins on Friday.

"I also want to confirm that I will stay at the Vuelta, get on my bike and give the best of my ability for my team, for my country and for my supporters," the 32-year-old said.

- Reuters