5 h. ago England captain Harry Brook admits heavy South Africa loss is ‘not good enough’

South Africa needed less than 46 of the scheduled 100 overs to confirm a thumping seven-wicket win in the first match of the Metro Bank ODI series.

Politics

6 h. ago England bowled out for just 131 in embarrassing first ODI loss to South Africa

England’s chosen XI turned in an error-strewn and incoherent effort at Headingley

Politics

6 h. ago Markram smashes South Africa to big first ODI victory after England collapse

England 131; South Africa 137-3; SA win by seven wicketsSonny Baker endures nightmare debut with ballThey say that if you fail to prepare you should prepare to fail, and it turns out that is what England were doing across the two understaffed days of training with which they launched themselves into this series. They proceeded to get bowled out for 131 in 24.3 overs, losing their last seven wickets for just 29 runs, before Aiden Markram humbled their bowlers in propelling South Africa towards victory by seven wickets, sealed with 175 balls to spare.A week ahead of this match Temba Bavuma’s team were in the middle of a convoluted, lengthy journey from Queensland to Yorkshire via Sydney, Singapore and London. But it was England who looked jetlagged by the less long-distance but more recent whiplash turnaround from the Hundred, in which several squad members, if only two of those selected for this series opener, were engaged 48 hours earlier. In their absence the team’s first training ...

Politics

6 h. ago Sonny Baker endures nightmare debut as South Africa dominate first ODI

England 131; South Africa 137-3; SA win by seven wicketsMarkram smashes 55-ball 86 after England collapseThey say that if you fail to prepare you should prepare to fail, and it turns out that is what England were doing across the two understaffed days of training with which they launched themselves into this series.England proceeded to get bowled out for 131 in 24.3 overs before Aiden Markram humbled their bowlers – picking on the debutant Sonny Baker – and propelled South Africa towards victory by seven wickets, sealed with 175 balls to spare. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Sonny Baker endures nightmare debut as sorry England crushed by South Africa

Baker served up seven wicketless overs for 76.

Politics

6 h. ago England thrashed by South Africa with 175 balls to spare: first men’s one

England are skittled for 131 at HeadingleyBaker set for debut as Overton takes ‘indefinite break’1st over: England 8-0 (Duckett 0, Smith 8) Burger with the first over. Tall, broad, left arm, a shadow of a moustache, a doormat of a goatee, and Smith plays the first three balls watchfully away. Balls five and six however, go for four, one sent away at 27 minutes past the hour, one at 27 minutes to.Our man on the ground, Simon Burnton, reports a ground half full and filling up quickly, as the players prepare to walk through a welcoming committee of flag-waving women over 40. Just add that to our skill set. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago 3 men deported by US are being held in an African prison without charge, lawyers say

Three men deported by the U.S. to Eswatini in July have been held in a maximum-security prison without charge for seven weeks

Events

8 h. ago England bowled out for just 131 by South Africa on their return to ODI duty

Jamie Smith (54) top-scored as he continued his new role as opener but it was a solitary effort as the rest of the order toppled in timid fashion

Politics

8 h. ago Stag party reveller fights off hyenas who tried to eat him after crashing out in tent

Hyenas set upon Nicolas Hohls after a stag party at a game reserve in South Africa when he was rudely awoken by two wild beasts looking for a late-night snack

Events

15 h. ago All Blacks turn to ‘The Professor’ ahead of Springboks showdown in Rugby Championship

Wayne Smith has been providing extra coaching support in New Zealand camp ahead of their clash with South Africa

Sport

4 d. ago Nigel Owens defends himself amid public row as World Rugby delete video

South Africa beat Australia 30-22, but there was a game-defining moment that has been at the centre of a controversy.

Politics

4 d. ago Biggest rugby players in the world as England star's young nephew makes list

South Africa are world renowned for producing some of the biggest athletes on the planet.

Sport

5 d. ago South Africa commissions an inequality report for G20 summit

South Africa is commissioning a report on global wealth inequality in time to present at the Group of 20 summit it hosts in November

Politics

7 d. ago Mismatches will not halt Women’s Rugby World Cup momentum, insist organisers

24-point margin the closest game in opening fixtures‘Watch and wait. The arm wrestles will come’Women’s Rugby World Cup organisers have insisted that the high number of mismatches so far will not dampen the tournament’s momentum after hailing an “electric” first week.More than 85,000 spectators watched the opening eight group games, with England’s 69-7 thrashing of the United States attracting a peak TV audience of 2.4m. Meanwhile France’s 24-0 win over Italy also broke records with 3.2m watching on TF1 in France. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Analysing the early form of three Women’s Rugby World Cup favourites

England, New Zealand and Canada kicked off with victory but there were areas of concern amid the positive resultsThe three main contenders to win the trophy at Twickenham next month came through their opening group matches at the Rugby World Cup with dominant scorelines but far from perfect performances. England, the hosts, thrashed USA 69-7, Canada overcame Fiji 65-7 and New Zealand beat a resolute and determined Spain 54-8. Have any of them emerged as clear favourites? Let’s take a look at each performance.The Red Roses admitted they had room for improvement with two particular areas letting them down: restarts and handling errors. When the England head coach, John Mitchell, was asked about the restarts he said: “There is always something to work on, this game is never finite. We will move that into the next preparation. It’s good that we’ve got something to work on.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago White South African 'refugee' farmer praises US work ethic having fled his homeland after Trump said Afrikaners were facing 'racial discrimination'

The first batch of 59 Afrikaners, a white minority in South Africa , who opted to flee for the US arrived in May after the White House fast-tracked their refugee applications.

Events

8 d. ago Eddie Jones calls for World Rugby law change as Rassie Erasmus accused

Jones believes a late change to the Springboks’ back row was crucial in deciding the game between South Africa and Australia

Events

9 d. ago Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: New Zealand make early statement as Ireland and South Africa win

Day three of the Women's Rugby World Cup has seen the holders put their rivals on notice

Politics

9 d. ago Brazil fans enjoy carnival atmosphere despite World Cup rout by South Africa | Luke McLaughlin

Just seeing the first Brazil team to reach a Rugby World Cup was enough for fans as South Africa roared to 66-6 winIn certain other sports, Brazil’s absence from any World Cup tournament would be regarded as downright bizarre. It’s not quite like that in rugby, and their women’s 15s team created history simply by running on to the turf.The first Brazil team to qualify for a men’s or women’s Rugby World Cup had played only 16 times before this, winning five matches, including a playoff against Colombia that secured qualification. Their prize, if you can call it that, was an intimidating opener against the famously powerful South Africa. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Australia stack up runs and salvage pride with huge win over South Africa

3rd ODI: Australia, 2-431, bt South Africa, 155, by 276 runsTravis Head hits 142, one of three home centurionsTravis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green smashed blistering hundreds as Australia steamrollered South Africa by 276 runs in the third and final one-day international of the series in Mackay.South Africa had already clinched the series, leaving the 50-over world champions to play for pride in the last match. Australia’s opening pair set the tone with a 250-run partnership between player-of-the-match Head (142) and Marsh (100), before an incendiary unbeaten 118 from Green powered Australia to a mammoth 2-431. Continue reading...

Politics