Cup Final:


South Africa have won the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens, beating New Zealand in the final to take an early lead in the 2006/07 IRB Sevens World Series.

The Boks had playmaker and Player of the Tournament Stefan Basson, plus tireless forwards Jonny Mokwena and Schalk van der Merwe largely to thank as they came from 12-0 down at half-time to score 26 unanswered points and take the title. New Zealand started well and kept up a high intensity level for the first 10 minutes of a fine final in devilish conditions to lead 12-0 at the break following tries for Edwin Cocker and captain Nigel Hunt. Demas had a golden opportunity to score on the stroke of half-time but was unlucky to see his kick ahead stray wide. No matter, though, as Paul Treu's men responded to his every half-time word of advice. Mdaka, Demas and Basson all going over for second half scores to leave spirited New Zealand grasping at shadows.

New Zealand had South Africa on the backfoot through the entire first half. Cocker again opened up the scoring for his team just like he did against Fiji, this time made a lot easier through a desperate inside pass from Hunt before being dragged into touch. The ball was left sitting in the South Africa danger zone, only for Cocker to dive on and score. Some verbal disagreement from Hunt towards the referee soon followed, and the big man was shown a yellow card for his efforts. However, South Africa failed to capitalise with six New Zealand players on the field and paid the price. Within minutes of Hunt returning to fray, the player suffering from verbal diarrhea made up for his earlier blunder by diving into the mud that was almost as filthy as his dirty mouth. The conversion was successful but that was to be the last points New Zealand would score in the competition.

South Africa responded immediately in the second half after a superb break from Philip Burger saw the Cheetahs flyer send a chip kick ahead, only for him to regather, hold off a tackle and offload to the speeding replacement Mdaka to touch down under the poles. Kabamba Floors was next on the scoresheet as the recently capped Springbok finished off a move from some great turnover play from the other side of the field. A New Zealand player was left stranded with no support and South Africa only needed to reclaim possesion, which they did, and send the ball wide. Floors did the rest. It was game on when Mdaka went over for try number two. This time it took some strong running from the replacement to break though the midfield and beat a racing defender to dot down under the posts once again. But it didn't stop there as the game was put out of New Zealand's reach after Basson made a small break from a scrum on the half way line, only to find an unmarked Demas on his right. The thin dreadlocked player turned on the gas to score in the corner and bury the Kiwis. Basson added further insult by nailing a brilliant dropkick conversion from the touchline. And if that wasn't enough, Basson made sure New Zealand were really stuck in the mud after racing through to score on full-time from a fantastic piece of magic between himself and Floors at the line-out.

:am:

unny: a little bit shy today....

What are you are doing today. Christmas shopping... raking leaves.... watching sport.... nothing?

Enjoy your weekend!

:daisy:

He has played no more than five minutes for South Africa, but on Sunday he will captain the national rugby team in a festival match against a World XV in Leicester.

Long-touted as a future Springbok captain, Chiliboy Ralepelle will become the first black African to lead the senior side.

It is an extraordinary rise to the top for the young man from Tzaneen, who at just 20 years also is one of the youngest in history to lead an international rugby team.

The sturdy hooker made his way into the senior national set-up only this season, having represented South Africa at both under-19 and under-21 level.




He captained both sides, taking the under-21s to the final of this year's world championship, where they lost to hosts France.

Regular Bok captain John Smit has been a crucial factor in Ralepelle's rise to prominence having paid part of his school fees at the Pretoria Boys' High where he himself went to school.

"He had a lot to do with my upbringing as a schoolboy and he has helped me a lot," Ralepelle said earlier this year.

"He was always there for me. With any fees or whatever my parents could not afford, he was willing to help.

"He is a big brother, friend, captain and a great leader and mentor. Since then our relationship has grown immensely," he said.

Ralepelle's real first name is Mahlatse ("the blessed one" in Sotho), but it was his grandmother who, for unknown reasons, one day called him Chiliboy.

His Bok teammates simply call him "Chili".

The well-built 95kg hooker grew up in Limpopo and from a young age enjoyed rugby, having learned about the game from his grandfather, who also played rugby in his youth.

He attended small rural schools in the area where his passion for the game grew.

Wanting to learn English, he decided to move to Pretoria, where he was soon spotted as a future first-team player. He later led his school team. He also represented the province at the annual Craven Week.

Ralepelle has yet to start for the Springboks, but made his debut from the bench at his home ground, Loftus Versfeld against the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations earlier this season.

He has been a bench-sitter behind Smit and made only his second appearance last weekend when the Boks beat England 25-14 for the first time in nine years at Twickenham.

Built like a tank, Ralepelle is considered one of the brightest prospects in South Africa.

He will take charge of a side this weekend that includes veterans such as Albert van den Berg (32), Johan Ackermann (36), Danie Rossouw (28), Wikus van Heerden (27) and De Wet Barry (28).

This weekend's match in Leicester is an unofficial Test, which means no caps will be handed out. Gary Botha is expected to take over the captain's armband in the second half. - Sapa-AFP

Anyone for tennis? European ski season starts without snow
By Sam Knight

nowtime:The hills were alive with late blooming flowers and the sound of confused, warm birds today as Europe's ski season prepared to open on green meadows.

A weekend of rain is forecast across much of the Alps, where early season World Cup ski races have already been cancelled in Austria, France and Switzerland for lack of snow. The unusually mild weather has put races in doubt until the middle of December.

Earlier this week, meteorologists in France declared this year's autumn to be the warmest since 1950, with average temperatures 2.9C higher than usual. Ornithologists in Switzerland have observed birds delaying their winter migration to take advantage of the pleasant temperatures and late-surviving flowers.

In the UK, ski operators have cut their prices for early season holidays. Today, a week-long, presumably non-skiing trip to Les Deux Alpes, a French resort currently basking in temperatures of 10C with zero snow at lower levels, was on offer at Crystal Ski Holidays for £89.

"Our staff are doing snow dances in the office every night," said Angus Kinloch, the managing director of Skiline, an online travel agency that offers holidays at around 7,000 chalets in Europe and the US. "Europe is looking pretty ropey at the moment".

Mr Kinloch said that the market for December holidays was "a little bit flat" as skiers waited for the first snows to come.

A promising flurry in the Alps in November has given way to a week of warm, wet weather that has washed away hopes for a good, cold start. But, like other ski operators, he said the conditions were not unusual for this time of year and fit a recent pattern for the European ski season to start, and finish, later than it has in the past. nowtime:

Source: The Times Online

Hopefully July will be hot.. and fellow smokers will simply cram the outside areas

As for winter.. :mmm:

My only concern is the 'cigar and port brigade' :wall:

:am:

Good morning..... very dark and :rainy: here today!

Our last 31 days to still make the most of 2006!

Have a great day everyone and a restful weekend.

:daisy:

a splendid Happy Birthday to Moemfie

:bday3:

My father always used to tell me, "fight fire with fire"



Thats probably why he was kicked out of the fire brigade.

I have just had the honour of seeing the Queen in real life! I was about 2m away from her :cloud9:

I always 'ho hummed' about people being so excited and here I am just as excited

Prince Phillip was with her.

So....bit of useful information....please do carry on with your lunch.... :p

Congratulations!! :hooray:

May you have a wonderful day and may this next year be filled with loads and loads of blessings!!

Appreciate you loads - you are one of the best!

:bunch: