Netball World Cup 2015: England beat South Africa to reach semis
England beat South Africa 62-46 to book their place in the Netball World Cup semi-finals in Sydney.
The Roses look set to progress as Pool F runners-up, with two wins from three games, and are likely to face four-time winners New Zealand in Saturday's semi.
Tracey Neville's side produced a strong first-half against world number five South Africa, and led by 10 goals at the break.
The Proteas improved in the second half, but England prevailed.
Wales, currently bottom of the pool, face holders and hosts Australia in their final group qualification game on Friday (11:20 BST).
An Australia victory will see them progress as pool winners to the semi-finals where they would face Jamaica, who edged a 63-62 win againstMalawi.
New Zealand, currently unbeaten in the competition, beat Uganda 76-33 to finish top of Pool E and progress as group winners.
Greg Rutherford blasts ‘ridiculous’ British kit for world championships
After tweeting a picture of the new kit on Thursday afternoon, Rutherford called the decision “stupid” and jokingly threatened to bring British vests with the flag stitched on it to Beijing with him. “I’m proud to be British, so this is a terrible choice,” he said. “If I could take a flag-loaded British kit with me for everyone I would. This new kit is ridiculous. It isn’t a British kit anymore. It’s promoting British Athleticsthe company.”
Rutherford also tweeted: “I’m yet to find an athlete who wanted the change. EVERY athlete I’ve spoken to wants the Union flags.” He followed that with some comments from his followers, which included one from the British steeplechaser Eilish McColgan, who said: “It looks really odd without the GB flag. Now looks like you’re representing British Athletics instead of GB!”
The last British kit for a world championships – made for the team by Adidas for Moscow in 2013 – featured a union flag prominently in its design but shortly afterwards a seven-year deal was signed with Nike. But while some were quick to blame the American sportswear firm Rutherford rejected suggestions that the new kit, which many on Twitter described as looking like the French or Czech Republic strip, was down to them. “British Athletics buy from Nike, so they make what they’re asked to make,” said Rutherford. “So I think it’s not their fault at all. I think where the issue arrives is federations not talking to the athletes first.”
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