In riding to victory in the Paris-Nice stage race last weekend, Bradley Wiggins not only strengthened his credentials as a major force in global cycling; he followed in the tracks of the late, great Tom Simpson, the only previous British winner of the race.

It's been a long road to the top for Mouritz Botha. Laid off from his office job, he begged for a chance with Sarries. Now all the hard work has paid off. He talks to Chris Hewett

Thanks to the rule changes, most tackles at rucks are now made higher on the body

Malawi's government yesterday sent troops into cities as President Bingu wa Mutharika threatened to "smoke out" those opposed to his strong-armed rule after an unprecedented wave of protests left 18 people dead.

The Melbourne Rebels said yesterday that they expect former England fly-half Danny Cipriani to honour his two-year deal with the Super 15 club despite ongoing disciplinary issues and reports that he is being sought by Bath.

Nosizile Shweni's eyes glisten as she watches a coffin being set down in front of her. This is the closest the 81-year-old has come to seeing her husband Nontasi for nearly half a century. Inside the coffin is what little is left of him: a few crumbling bones painstakingly exhumed from an unmarked grave miles from home. Nontasi Shweni died at the gallows in Pretoria in 1967 aged just 36 and, until a few months ago, his wife could not even be certain whether he had been killed – let alone where he was buried.

The life of South Africa's most famous and most controversial woman is being adapted for a new opera, to open next year in Pretoria.

Australia won an extraordinary Tri-Nations match in Bloemfontein yesterday. The Wallabies, who beat South Africa 41-39, scored five tries to three, gained revenge for last week's 44-31 defeat in Pretoria and secured second place in the tournament table. They will play New Zealand, the runaway winners, in the final match in Sydney next Saturday.

The Australia coach, Robbie Deans, has beefed up his pack in an effort to match the physicality of South Africa's set-piece in Saturday's Tri-Nations test in Bloemfontein following the 44-31 defeat in Pretoria last weekend.

South Africa and Australia came close to producing a new version of rugby on Saturday in Pretoria.

The Bulls prop Bees Roux has been arrested on suspicion of beating a police officer to death, a South African police spokeswoman said yesterday.

Naomi Campbell's former agent has been accused of telling a "complete pack of lies" about a gift to the supermodel of alleged "blood diamonds". Testifying at The Hague, Carole White said Ms Campbell was given the stones by the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor. Ms White said Ms Campbell knew she was to receive the diamonds. But Mr Taylor's defence team suggested she invented her story to support a $600,000 (£375,935) legal dispute with Ms Campbell over alleged unpaid royalties from a perfume deal. Mr Taylor's defence lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, said: "Quite frankly, Ms White, I suggest that your account is a complete pack of lies." Ms White repeatedly denied making up her account of what happened at a party hosted by Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1997.