A late fightback hasn't been enough to prevent the Tall Blacks from defeat to Australia in the semifinals of the Asia Cup.
Tall Blacks big man Sam Timmins. Photo: Photosport/FIBA Basketball
Trailing by 12 going into the final quarter, New Zealand battled back to within four points with four minutes left in Jakarta.
But it wasn't quite enough, the Boomers holding on for an 86-75 win to advance to the title decider.
Big man Sam Timmins led the way for the Tall Blacks, pouring in 16 points (including 10 in the fourth) and bagging eight rebounds
Jordan Hunt also had 16 points, inclduing four-from-four from three-point range, while Flynn Cameron had a busy night with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Tall Blacks play Jordan in the playoff for third later on Sunday night, while Australia face Lebanon in the final.
Boks recall experienced duo
South Africa have recalled experienced duo Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn as they prepare to host the under pressure All Blacks to start the Rugby Championship.
Number eight Vermeulen (knee) and utility back Steyn (hamstring), who both won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2019, have recovered from injuries that kept them out of the 2-1 home series win over Wales this month.
South African Duane Vermeulen during the Rugby Championship Test Match New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa. Wellington. 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Fullback Aphelele Fassi and loose-forward Marcell Coetzee have been released from the squad, while Kolbe is recovering from the broken jaw he sustained against Wales and will be available for selection again in September.
The Boks play back-to-back tests against New Zealand in Nelspruit on August 6 and Johannesburg a week later, before they head to Australia for two matches.
South Africa squad:
Props: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane
Hookers: Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi
Locks: Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, Marvin Orie
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Duane Vermeulen
Utility forwards: Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Grant Williams
Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard
Midfielders: Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel
Outside Backs: Warrick Gelant, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi
Utility Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Frans Steyn, Damian Willemse
- Reuters
Tonga book World Cup berth
Tonga have advanced to next year's Rugby World Cup finals after crushing Hong Kong 44-22 on Australia's Sunshine Coast.
Sonatane Takulua scored a hat-trick of tries as the Tongans claimed the final berth in Pool B, where they will face defending champions South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania.
Sonatane Takulua during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Tongans were dominant throughout, seeing two opportunities to open the scoring overturned by the video referee before William Havili slotted over a penalty for the Pacific Islanders.
Takulua extended Tonga's advantage when Solomone Funaki bulldozed through the Hong Kong defence to set up the scrumhalf for the first try.
Hong Kong responded quickly when Gregor McNish released Alex Post to score in the corner and reduce the deficit to five points, but the Tongans were soon back on the offensive.
Takulua claimed his second try from the back of a ruck on the Hong Kong try line before McNish and Havili traded penalties after Tongan prop Siua Maile had been shown the yellow card.
Tonga highlighted the gulf in class in the second half, however, with Takulua completing his hat-trick soon after the restart.
Further tries from Sigfried Fisihoi, Telusa Veainu and Anzelo Tuitavuki extended Tonga's lead before Matt Worley grabbed two late consolation tries for Hong Kong.
- Reuters
Dane all but seals Tour de France title
Jonas Vingegaard was poised to claim his maiden Tour de France title as the Dane retained his overall lead after avoiding a freak crash in the final time trial.
The 25-year-old Jumbo-Visma rider finished second in the 20th stage, a 40.7-km solo effort from Lacapelle-Marival won by his Belgian team mate Wout van Aert, who clocked a best time of 47 minutes 59 seconds.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
There was a heart-in-mouth moment, though, when Vingegaard nearly crashed into rocks after overcooking a turn on a descent before finishing 19 seconds behind Van Aert.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar took third place, 27 seconds off the pace.
Overall, Vingegaard leads Pogacar of Slovenia by 3:34 and Britain's Geraint Thomas by 8:13 ahead of the final stage, a largely processional ride from La Defense to the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Vingegaard set the foundations for his victory in the 10th stage after attacking Pogacar relentlessly with his team mates before the last climb up to the Col de Granon, where the Slovenian cracked and lost the yellow jersey.
- Reuters
Leclerc on pole for French GP
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc received a boost from team mate Carlos Sainz that helped him beat Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen to pole position at the French Grand Prix.
Spaniard Sainz, who already knew he would be starting at the back due to engine penalties, 'towed' Leclerc in his slipstream at Le Castellet's smooth-surfaced Circuit Paul Ricard.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The pole was the seventh of the season and 16th of his career for Leclerc, who is second overall but 38 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings after 11 of 22 races.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez qualified third while Mercedes' seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton will start his 300th grand prix from fourth.
McLaren's Lando Norris split the Mercedes drivers by taking fifth place on the grid, ahead of Hamilton's team mate George Russell.
Ferrari are seeking their third win in a row, and fifth of the season, after Leclerc triumphed in Austria two weeks ago and Sainz the weekend before that.
- Reuters
County player hits quadruple century
Glamorgan's Sam Northeast struck the highest score in the English County Championship for 28 years as he made 410 not out against Leicestershire.
Sam Northeast. Photo: Photosport/cricketpix
Northeast reached his quadruple century before lunch but Glamorgan declared on 795-5, depriving him of the chance to go past Brian Lara's record 501 not out for Warwickshire in 1994.
It was the third-highest innings in championship history with West Indian Lara top of the list followed by Archie MacLaren's 424 for Lancashire against Somerset in 1895.
Northeast resumed on 308 in Leicester and brought up his quadruple century with one of three sixes.
His mammoth knock spanned 450 balls over 10 hours and he struck 45 fours, sharing an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 461 with Chris Cooke who made 191 not out.
- Reuters
