News & Neuigkeiten » tour to South Africa - plenty of pace and power

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina is challenging the NCAAs jurisdiction to pursue charges in the schools long-running academic fraud scandal and is holding off on self-imposed penalties.The school on Tuesday publicly released its response to five potentially top-level NCAA charges, which include lack of institutional control. UNC acknowledged problems tied to irregular courses in a department popular with athletes but also available to non-athletes on the Chapel Hill campus, though it argued that its accreditation agency -- not the NCAA -- was the proper authority to handle such a matter.That agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, sanctioned the school with a year of probation that expired in June.UNC made several procedural arguments before responding to each charge outlined in a Notice of Allegations (NOA) sent in April. Its response is a procedural step that will eventually lead to a hearing followed by a ruling in a case likely to push into 2017.The NCAA enforcement staff now has 60 days to respond.We had classes that didnt meet our rigor, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a teleconference with reporters, but whether or not thats a violation of a bylaw is what were asking the Committee on Infractions to determine.None of the charges was tied solely to the existence of the problematic classes in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies (AFAM) department. UNCs response cites an internal NCAA report from March 2013 that stated as much, but adds that the document wasnt provided to school officials.Rather, the response states, UNC representatives discovered it by happenstance after traveling to NCAA headquarters to review case files in person in July 2015.The multiyear case grew as an offshoot of a 2010 probe into the football program. UNCs response referenced that earlier case, noting the NCAA investigated whether academic counselors had provided improper assistance to athletes before issuing sanctions in March 2012.UNC argued that a ruling is final, binding and conclusive according to NCAA bylaws, so the March 2012 sanctions should have precluded later charges that could have been resolved previously. That points to a current charge against former faculty chairwoman and womens basketball academic adviser Jan Boxill for providing improper assistance and suggesting a grade in a course on at least one occasion between February 2003 and July 2010.The school also cited an expired four-year statute of limitations.UNC raises these jurisdictional and procedural issues not to excuse the underlying conduct or to escape accountability for those events before its accreditor or elsewhere, the response states, but rather to ensure mutual adherence to the rules that govern NCAA enforcement actions, including this one.As a result, the jurisdictional and procedural issues make it difficult ... to assign appropriate penalties for the alleged violations, the response states.Individually, UNC disputed the institutional-control charge. It accepted that Boxill provided improper assistance in 15 of 18 cited instances, though it disagreed that she engaged in unethical conduct and suggested the charge be treated as a less-severe Level III case instead of a Level I.It also accepted that it failed to properly monitor Boxill as part of a broader oversight charge that spanned from fall 2005 to summer 2011, but suggested it be a Level II violation.Randall Roden, a Raleigh-based attorney representing Boxill, provided The Associated Press with a copy of Boxills separate response. It denies wrongdoing in the opening sentence.It did not happen, it states. Not one of the allegations against Jan Boxill is true.The case centers on independent study-style AFAM courses requiring a research paper or two while offering GPA-boosting grades. Many were misidentified as lecture courses that didnt meet.A 2014 review by former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein estimated more than 3,100 students were affected between 1993 and 2011, with athletes across numerous sports making up roughly half the enrollments.The NCAA reopened its case in 2014 and first filed charges in May 2015. UNC was near its response deadline when it reported additional information for review, pausing the process for eight months until the arrival of a new NOA.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap Will Grier Jersey . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Custom Carolina Panthers Jerseys . 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I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue.England may be looking for their 11th win in a row but their recent record against South Africa is not good. Will that all change on Saturday? South Africa have won 11 of the 12 Tests between the countries since 2006, the other being a 14-14 draw in 2012. England vs South Africa November 12, 2016, 2:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass However the Springboks are coming off the back of a disappointing season having lost four out of their last five Tests including a humiliating 57-15 defeat to New Zealand in the Rugby Championship. England have won all nine of their Tests under Eddie Jones, moving from eighth in the world up to second, and are firm favourites to win on Saturday. The story behind Englands meteoric rise under the guidance of their coach Eddie Jones. Jones, who worked with Jake Whites 2007 World Cup winning Springboks, knows a thing or two about their mentality and famously masterminded one of the greatest Rugby World Cup shocks ever when Japan beat South Africa last year. England know what is coming; a bruising, physical battle as South Africa will look to their traditional strengths - dominate the set-pieces and use big ball carriers to get over the gainline to keep the momentum going.We look at the key areas where the game will be won or lost...Mako Vunipola v Vincent Koch Mako Vunipola charges through Australias defence Where else to start but in the front row where the tone of the game will be set. Mako Vunipola has always impressed with ball in hand and is always high up on the tackle count. There have been concerns over his scrummaging in the past but not anymore after working hard on his technique and he will be confident he can handle Koch.England know that the set-piece is where South Africa are going to apply pressure but if Koch cannot anchor the scrum from tighthead then their gameplan will be severely stunted.Koch, who plays for Saracens with Vunipola, has come on leaps and bounds since his international debut against Argentina in 2015. His confidence was badly shaken that day after veteran Pumas loose head prop Marcos Ayerza used all his guile and experience to manipulate the set-piece and Koch was substituted at the break after coming under huge scrutiny by referee Romain Poite.Like Vunipola, Koch has knuckled down and worked hard on his craft but there are still question marks surrounding him and Vunipola will be looking to exploit them as much as he can. Courtney Lawes v Eben Etzebeth Eddie Jones expects a physical battle against South Africa. We profile the Springboks giant lock Eben Eztebeth South Africa love an enforcer in their side and Etzebeth was made for the role. At 6ft 8in and 118kg, he does not shy away from the rough stuff and never backs down. If there are going to be any handbags thrown, Etzebeth will be right in the middle - just ask the likes of Irelands Donnacha Ryan, Argentinas Tomas Lavanini, Australias Allan Alaalatoa, New Zealands Brodie Rettallick and Englands Ben Youngs. He even came to blows with his Bok second-row partner Lood de Jager when the Stormers clashed with the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition. Eben Etzebeth clashes with the Youngs brothers Hes no thug though - he plays close to the line and has plenty of skills that make him one of the best locks in world rugby - great hands, plenty of pace and one heck of an engine will make him a formidable opponent on Saturday.Lawes will win his 50th cap for England on Saturday and will be a key maan if they are to end their 10-year losing streak against South Africa.dddddddddddd.Like Etzebeth, he loves the physical stuff and is renowned for his hard-hitting tackles. South Africa will also be targeting the lineout and Lawes will need to disrupt them as much as he can as well as look to carry the ball. Back rows Chris Robshaw of England will play a key role against South Africa Both sides have suffered injuries in this area with England without the likes of James Haskell, Sam Jones, Jack Clifford and Mike Williams.Tom Wood is the man England have called upon to wear the No 7 jersey and his role will be to tackle, tackle and tackle. Chris Robshaw will continue at No 6 and will look to slow ball down, seal turnovers and link up with the backs. Billy Vunipola - like his brother Mako - will be a key ball carrier for England to get crucial momentum. Pieter-Steph du Toit will pack down on the side of scrum South Africa have lost Francois Louw, Jaco Kriel and Roelof Smit and have picked the impressive Pieter-Steph du Toit at flanker. Du Toit will wear the No 6 jersey - which in South African terms is the openside - while Willem Alberts is in the No 7 jersey. The Boks have chosen to go with two big ball carriers - knowing what Alberts is going to do and being able to stop him are two different things - while South Africas player of the year Du Toit has excellent running lines and a fierce defence. At No 8, Warren Whiteley is the link between forwards and backs, and has exceptional pace.George Ford v Pat LambieTwickenham is expected to be wet and windy on Saturday and the pressure will be on the two fly-halfs to adapt to conditions and make sure their teams adapt too. Owen Farrell and George Ford celebrate beating Australia Ford has really taken command with a rejuvenated Bath and while Owen Farrell will be kicking for posts, Fords tactical kicking will be crucial. Expect plenty of high kicks, especially on full-back Willie le Roux who has been a bit suspect under the high ball.This is a massive game for Lambie who is still returning to match fitness following his concussion issues that saw him sidelined for three months. He played the full 80 minutes against the Barbarians and while he did look a bit rusty, he got better as the game progressed. A calm and calculated player, Lambie will look for space but will also use his tactical kicking to put pressure on Englands back three.Elliot Daly v Francois Venter Francois Venter scores against the Barbarians Daly makes his first start after five appearances from the bench and will be looking to make his mark. Jones will want Daly to make powerful runs and also use his massive left boot, which could well be a factor in Saturdays conditions. With Owen Farrell inside of him, he will be in good hands. Will need to be at his defensive best as well. Its a first taste of international rugby for Venter who has been very impressive this season for the Cheetahs and showed glimpses of his potential against the Barbarians. He is a strong powerful runner who also looks to offload if possible. Defensively he is also very solid but there are concerns about how him and centre partner Damien de Allende will gel - especially with De Allende battling for form. Hopefully he will be allowed to play his natural game against England and could pose some problems for the defence. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Jonny May v Ruan Combrinck Jonny May in action for Gloucester Jonny May also makes his first appearance since the World Cup following a year-long battle with injuries. Hes really caught the eye with his finishing for Gloucester and is one of those players who can produce a moment of magic. With plenty of gas and an eye for the gap, May could come into his own if the game gets a bit looser and less structured. Combrinck is also back from injury - he broke his leg against Argentina in the Rugby Championship and is also a deadly finisher. He was on fire before his injury and was impressive during Irelands tour to South Africa - plenty of pace and power but will South Africa manage to get the ball, out to him?And finally… the bench Nathan Hughes could have a huge impact off the bench Its a 23-man game these days and who you bring off the bench can be the difference between winning and losing, it is one of the reasons why the All Blacks are so successful.England look to have the edge on the bench despite having three uncapped players. Backrower Nathan Hughes, centre Ben Teo and prop Kyle Sinckler have all been in fine form and have the potential to be game changers. England also have the likes of hooker Jamie George, prop Joe Marler and scrum-half Danny Care to call upon who offer plenty of experience.Watch England v South Africa live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Saturday from 2pm. Catch all four of Englands Old Mutual Wealth Series fixtures for £25 with NOW TV. No contract. ' ' '