SCOOP 72 hour sports round-up

SCOOP 72 hour sports round-up...

AUSSIE legend rugby's Tim Horan quits test play - Boks sure to be fired up - NPC starts with style - Black Caps beat Queensland on Monday but lose today - Silverstream to play Wgtn College in Capital college rugger final - Kiwi may skipper Yank America's Cup boat - Reformed armed robber to fight for US at Olympics - Holyfield wins WBA title - Hakkinen wins Hungarian Grand Prix - This time Serena beats Lindsay - Salas returns for Brazil game - Fiery captain sums up Red Devils - Nth Korea declines Olympic invite - Eels and Roosters in NRL semis - Titans get slight revenge for Super Bowl loss to Rams.

AUSSIE legend rugby's Tim Horan quits test play: World class Wallaby midfielder Tim Horan - 1999's World Cup MVP - has confirmed a severe foot injury has forced him to retire from test rugby pre-maturely. The 30-year-old centre made his debut in 1989, won two World Cup and his widely regarded as one of if not the greatest 2nd five eighth world rugby has ever seen.

Boks sure to be fired up: Like any wounded, desperate beast the besieged Springboks will fight for their lives on the high velt this Saturday when they meet the favoured All Blacks in Johannesburg. But while the NZer's will start favourites the knowledgeable fan and especially the Kiwi players and coaches will undoubtedly recognise the huge danger they face against what is sure to be a highly motivated "backs to the wall" Springbok team. And while the Boks may have looked vulnerable away this season putting on the green at home on the high velt is a different story altogether and the All Blacks will have withstand ferocious pressure to have any hope of leaving Ellis Park victorious.

NPC starts with style: After the excitement of the Super 12 and early Tri-Nations including that phenomenal display in Sydney the NPC could have been excused for spluttering to a quiet start at least until the brouhaha of the Tri-Nations had died down. But fortunately it is crazy to underestimate the talents and desire of NZ's provincial players and the NPC was launched by 1st division side Canterbury and Wellington battling out a superb close game of rugby where the 27-20 advantage to Wellington was almost immaterial alongside the glee created by the quality of the game. Auckland and Northland then followed up with impressive, 42-14; 41-25; wins over Taranaki and Southland respectively and then North Harbour turned on the talent to demolish Counties-Manakau 58-15 while the Mooloo proved they have what it takes to defend the shield with a gritty 29-14 win over Otago at the House of Pain in Dunedin.

Black Caps beat Queensland on Mon but lose today : New Zealand with Chris Cairns and Craig MacMillan both hitting tonnes beat a Queensland XI on Monday by 127 runs but lost in a rematch today by 24 runs.

Silverstreams to play Wgtn College in capital college final: Led by New Zealand schoolboy standout Thomas Waldron and with outstanding forwards Joe Ritchie and Mathew Egan 'Stream' are sure to be hard to beat on Friday But Wgtn Boys will not lay down and with talented centre Hone Patrick, pacy wing Brendon Watt and a big physical pack it should be a tremendous climax to the college rugby season.

Kiwi may skipper Yank Americas Cup boat: Chris Dickson may steer the next American boat to win the Auld Mug as he is a leading prospect to skipper the challenge being mounted by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison.

Reformed armed robber to fight for US at Olympics: Heavy weight boxer Michael Bennett was released from prison in July 1998 now just a little over two years later the gaol trained fighter is about to represent his country in the marque heavyweight boxing competition at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Holyfield wins WBA title: Evander Holyfield just keeps on coming as he again demonstrated last weakened when he beat John Ruiz to collect the vacant WBA heavyweight boxing title.

Hakkinen wins Hungarian Grand Prix: Mika Hakkinen used a daring start to capture the Hungarian Grand Prix Sunday, a win that lifted the McLaren driver past Michael Schumacher in the tight Formula One drivers' title race.

This time Serena beat Lindsay: After suffering twice recently at the hands of Venus Williams Lindsay Devenport had to contend with her sibling Serena who rallied to beat Devenport 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-1) to win the estyle.com Classic for second straight year.

Salas returns for Brazil game: Striker Marcelo Salas is set to return to the team when Chile faces Latin giants Brazil at home in this weeks South American World Cup qualifying matches.

Fiery captain sums up Red Devils: Sent off in Sunday;s Charity shield game against Chelsea Man U skipper represents all that is great and grim about the famous club.

Nth Korea declines Olympic invite: North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has declined an invitation by IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch to attend the Sydney games, reports said on Monday.

Parramatta Eels continued toward NRL glory: The young, upstart Parramatta Eels continued toward NRL glory over the weekend by making the semi finals courtesy of an impressive 28-10 over the Penrith Panthers while Parramattas victim's - Sydney City Roosters - of a week ago got back up to beat the Canberra Raiders 38-10 to ensure a semi-finals berth.

Titans get slight revenge for Super Bowl loss to Rams
: Losing to the Rams in the last Super Bowl was a huge disappointment for the Tennessee Titans but today they got a little respect back by beating the St Louis Rams 30-3 in a pre-season NFL match-up.

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