Matt Renshaw scores 190 runs in first Test match against South Africa in Durban

The Stormers team demonstrated impressive play in the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby, securing a convincing 39-22 victory over the Sharks on Saturday afternoon in Cape Town. The home side dominated from the start of the match, utilizing powerful mauls and scrums to avenge two losses suffered against the Durbanites last season.

The game was a special event for DHL Stadium, as over 40,000 spectators were present, welcoming the Stormers' new 'Men in Black'-inspired kit, which the team had not worn since 1999. Thanks to this win, which brought bonus points, the Stormers interrupted the Sharks' two-match unbeaten streak and climbed higher in the league table.

Winger Seabelo Senatla opened the scoring just six minutes into the game, scoring the first try from a corner and celebrating with a bicycle kick, reminiscent of the legendary Stormers and Springbok winger Breyton Paulse. This player, representing the 2026 class, debuted in the black jersey.

Captain Bok Siya Kolisi and tighthead Wilco Louw also returned during the match, and injured utility back Cheslin Kolbe made an appearance. Kolbe briefly came on before the start, while Kolisi displayed skill along the sideline during the game.

Dominance in Scrums and Mauls

Wilco Louw was one of the standout figures of the match, as his battle in the scrum against Ox Nché was entirely in favor of his new team. Together with loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu and hooker André-Hugo Venter, the Stormers heavily pressured the Sharks' front line. Nché and teammate Bok Thomas du Toit struggled with the powerful scrum, although Du Toit managed to win a defensive scrum for his team.

The home team also excelled in the mauls, gaining meters on every launch and scoring three tries as a result. The Sharks failed to find effective solutions, while hookers André-Hugo Venter and JJ Kotzé, along with eight Hacjivah Dayimani, scored brilliant tries following powerful mauls.

Dayimani scored his second five-pointer in the second half after the scrum pushed the Sharks over their own goal line, supported by Mchunu and Louw. The Stormers secured their bonus point just a minute into the second half when winger Leolin Zas scored a try. At that moment, the Sharks were playing with 13 men after yellow cards issued to Matt Romao for a dangerous tackle on Jonathan Roche and Tshituka for stopping a maul.

The Sharks regained a full complement of players and managed to advance towards the goal line, scoring a try from a maul, which was their second in the match, slightly livening up the game. Head coach JP Pietersen decided to bring on six substitutes simultaneously, and this seemed to work, as the Sharks scored another excellent try, scored by Phepsi Buthelezi.

Impact of Substitutions and Match Conclusion

This try occurred at a time when the Stormers were playing somewhat relaxed and experienced a defensive dip. However, when rugby director John Dobson introduced the substitutes, they injected fresh energy into the team. The try scored by substitute hooker JJ Kotzé from a maul effectively decided the outcome of the game while the Sharks tried to catch up.

Dayimani, who also played outstandingly, nearly completed a hat-trick in the final 10 minutes after a brilliant play by the home team, delighting the spectators. Nevertheless, before he could score, fullback Damian Willemse dropped the ball. Despite it being a brilliant first home performance for the Cape Town side, they acknowledged that they could have scored more points. Nonetheless, they can use this exciting display in upcoming matches.

Score at the end of the match: Stormers 39 (13): Tries: Seabelo Senatla, Hacjivah Dayimani (2), André-Hugo Venter, Leolin Zas, JJ Kotzé. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalties: Mngomezulu. Sharks (8): Tries: Manu Tshituka, Matt Romao, Phepsi Buthelezi. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2). Penalties: Lombard.

The Iranian men's and women's wheelchair basketball teams have determined their opponents in the group stage of the fifth Asian Para Games, which will be held in Nagoya, Japan. Both teams are preparing for the continental-level competition, aiming to achieve high results.

The teams face different challenges in the preliminary round, and their goal is to secure positive results to strengthen Iran's position among leading nations in Asian wheelchair basketball.

The Iranian men's national team has been placed in Group B alongside representatives from Iraq, South Korea, and the Philippines. The Iranian team will begin its campaign against Iraq on Friday, October 16. This match could play an important role in determining their standing before the remainder of the group stage.

After the game against Iraq, the 'Tami Melli' team will meet South Korea on Saturday, followed by a match against the Philippines on Monday, concluding the group stage. Before these three challenging matches, Iran will need to maintain a high level of concentration, demonstrate stability, and maximize its opportunities to score points to advance to the next stage.

The Iranian women's national team will participate in a group of six teams, including the host country Japan, Cambodia, China, Laos, and Thailand. The round-robin format implies a demanding schedule, making physical fitness, energy management, and stability key factors throughout the competition.

Iran will start its tournament against Japan on Friday, October 16, and then play Thailand on October 17. Subsequent matches are scheduled against Cambodia on October 19, Laos on October 20, and China on October 21. The encounter with the host Japan will be an early test for the Iranian squad, while the following matches will provide additional chances to build momentum and fight for a spot in the next stage.

Both Iranian teams aim to demonstrate their abilities and deliver strong performances at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. The results of the group stage will be crucial in determining prospects for further advancement in the tournament. Iran's success will depend on preparation, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure, given that the best teams in Asia will gather for the competition. The men's and women's teams hope to leave their mark in Nagoya and add another successful chapter to Iran's history in wheelchair basketball at the Asian Para Games.

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself in a new controversy, resulting in the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) taking disciplinary action and temporarily suspending him. The FPF has taken strict measures against its 41-year-old captain.

This dispute arose during a UEFA Nations League match against Norway. Ronaldo left the national camp without permission because he was not given an opportunity to play on the field, despite having a disagreement with the coach. However, he later apologized, admitting his mistake.

The entire incident began after the match against Norway. Before the game, Ronaldo expected to get playing time in the second half and had warmed up. Conversely, head coach Jorge Jesus kept him on the bench for the entire match and did not put him on the field.

Ronaldo claimed that the coach had promised him 30 minutes of playing time as part of discussions regarding his role after the 2026 World Cup. Annoyed by the coach's refusal and breaking of this promise, Ronaldo left the national camp without authorization.

As the matter escalated, Ronaldo apologized to teammates and fans for his behavior and admitted that disciplinary action was natural given his actions. The football federation clarified that any player representing the country, regardless of their fame or stature, cannot be above the rules, considering the matter extremely serious.

This is a delicate time in the history of Portuguese football, as Ronaldo is not only the team captain but also the all-time top scorer in international football. It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo can return to the national team after the disciplinary committee's investigation or if he will face a long ban.

Despite this controversy, Ronaldo continues to play for Al-Nassr and recently scored a goal in a 3-0 victory against Al-Dhariyah. However, the threat of a potential six-month suspension looms over his international career.