Top 5 Sport Stories of 2015

It was a year of shattered dreams for two of South Africa's major sporting codes, as our national rugby and cricket teams failed to make good on all the hype in their respective World Cup appearances. 

There was also major action off the field which will inevitably leave a stigma attached to the world's two biggest sporting spectacles, the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.

The biggest ray of sunshine was provided by South African 200 and 400 metre athlete Wayde van Niekerk.

Sports Editor Trevor Cramer looks at the top sports stories that hogged the headlines in 2015

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 - SA expat blows Proteas away

The Proteas headed to the World Cup in Australasia with high hopes, and probably more equipped than ever, to break their duck in world cricket's showpiece event. 

It ended in heartbreak as South Africa succumbed by four wickets to New Zealand in the semi-final with just a single ball to spare.

It was not a pretty sight seeing South African players collapsing on the Eden Park outfield unashamedly weeping, while the bulk of the 40 000 crowd hailed a Black Caps victory.

Ironically, it was the innings of a lifetime by ex-South African Grant Elliott against his country of birth (84 not out off 73 balls) that carried his adopted country into the final in Melbourne.

Never far from controversy, the Proteas were engulfed in a selection storm in the build-up to the semi-final when a partially fit Vernon Philander was selected ahead of Kyle Abbott apparently against the wishes of both coach and captain following alleged intervention by the CSA Board.

For the record - the Aussies romped to another World Cup triumph in Melbourne over co-hosts New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup 2015 - 'Mugged' by Japan

The Springboks were unfortunately unable to see off members of their so called "golden generation" by bringing home the Web Ellis Cup for a third time.

They did, however, say goodbye on a winning note to Schalk Burger, Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez, by beating Argentina 24-13 in the bronze medal final.

Prior to that, however, the Boks grabbed the headlines for the wrong reasons -- and for once it wasn't about transformation issues.

In arguably one of the biggest upsets ever in rugby history, the Boks were 'mugged' in Brighton by Japan, as a late try from replacement wing Karne Hesketh gave the brave Blossoms a 34-32 win against two-time world champions in their Pool opener.

Under the whip of former Springbok assistant coach Eddie Jones, Japan proved to be the surprise package of the tournament and won a record three matches, but failed to advance.

SA were expected to run into hosts England as early as the quarter-finals, but instead overcame a gallant Wales 23-19.

Flanker Jerome Kaino and replacement back Beauden Barrett scored tries as the All Blacks ground out a 20-18 semi-final victory over the Boks in driving rain to reach their fourth RWC final.

While the Boks far from disgraced themselves and showed great character to bounce back from that Japan humiliation, it proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back for coach Heyneke Meyer, who, after much reflection, stepped down in November.

For the record - the All Blacks won their third Rugby World Cup title, and their first abroad, downing their cross-Tasman rivals Australia 34-17 at Twickenham.

Closet flung open to reveal FIFA's huge web of alleged corruption

The lies, deceit, under-handed dealings and alleged corruption that occurred under President Sepp Blatter's watch in the corridors of global football's controlling body and which made a TV soapie look like a children's programme, were finally laid bare.

The fire was first ignited when police raided a Zurich hotel on the eve of the FIFA congress and arrested seven officials, including two FIFA vice presidents, who were among 14 wanted by US prosecutors over $150 million bribery allegations, including claims of buying and selling votes for South Africa to get the 2010 World Cup. Irregularities also surfaced around the awarding of the World Cup to Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022).

Despite the storm clouds building, 79-year-old Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president, beating Prince Ali bin Al Hussein by 133 votes to 77 in a second round of voting.

Stopping short of resigning over the allegations and maintaining his innocence, Blatter undertook to step down by February 2016 where a successor will be elected at a Special Elective Conference.

By September, the news was still being hogged by the FIFA scandal as secretary general Jerome Valcke, Blatter's right-hand man, was suspended by the FIFA Ethics Committee over claims about selling World Cup tickets at inflated prices.

Then, just weeks later, Switzerland opened criminal proceedings against Blatter on suspicion he misappropriated funds and violated his duties to FIFA by making a "disloyal payment" of €1.8m to UEFA head Michel Platini. Platini, who wants to succeed Blatter at FIFA, said the money was legitimate payment and he has done nothing wrong.

Heads continued to roll as Blatter and Platini were suspended for 90 days and calls mounted for a life ban to be imposed on Platini.

FIFA's reputation has been severely tainted. It's going to take a bold initiative to clean out all the rotten apples who served under Blatter's watch and via bold, new leadership, restore the world football governing body's credibility.

Wayde van Niekerk up on a pedestal

South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, or "Wayde Dreamer"  as the sprinter likes to call himself, attracted world attention in August by winning the 400 metres at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in a personal best time of 43.48 seconds.

He became the first athlete from Africa to run the 400m in under 44 seconds and fourth fastest in history over the distance.

The 400 metre silver medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has seen his life transformed as he now ranks among the sport's superstars and at age 23, he literally has the world at his feet.

Cape Town born Van Niekerk remains modest despite his phenomenal accomplishments on the track and continues to study marketing at the University of Free State.

He capped a phenomenal year by scooping the Sports Star of the Year award at the annual SA Sports Awards in Bloemfontein, the People's Choice Award and Sportsman of the Year honours.

Russian doping scandal - Powerhouse may be banned from Rio 2016

Athletics plunged to a new low as an independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed after a lengthy investigation spanning 11 months, widespread use of performance enhancing drugs and blood doping by Russian track and field athletes.

That is not where the findings ended though -- It appears the doping programme may have been State-sanctioned, as it was during the height of the Communist Soviet era, and even backed by and covered-up, by coaches, doctors, and Russian state sports officials.

WADA said in their findings there is "proof of a deep-rooted, long-standing and state-sponsored culture of cheating, which fuelled a widespread conspiracy to cover up athletics doping." 

Former president of the IAAF, Lamine Diack, has since resigned as an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), amid allegations that he took bribes worth over $1 million in exchange for covering up Russian doping.

By way of damage control, the suspect Russian Anti-Doping Laboratory was de-registered and closed down, while the IAAF voted by an overwhelming majority of 22-1 in favour of banning Russia until its Athletics authorities showed a major commitment towards changing its doping controls.

Should Russia fail to convince the international sporting community that it's fit for competition before the next Olympics in Rio in 2016, WADA has recommended that their Athletics Federation be barred from international competition.

Bouquets to: 

Golden Lions rugby team - Won the Currie Cup without losing a match all season.

Kevin Anderson - Reached a career-high 10th in the ATP World Rankings

AB de Villiers - Reached, among other milestones, the magical 100-Test milestone against India in Bangalore, becoming the fastest to reach 8000 ODI runs and scoring the fastest ODI 50 off just 16 balls in the second ODI against West Indies in Jo'burg.

Bryan Habana - Equalled late Jona Lomu's RWC try-scoring record of 15 tries.

Ernst van Dyk - The wheelchair athlete became the first athlete to win the Boston Marathon 10 times.

R.I.P

Jonah Lomu (All Black rugby legend) - Lost his fight against kidney disease, aged 40

Jerry Collins (All Black rugby star) - Died along with his wife in a fatal car accident in Beziers, France, aged 34

Pat Eddery (Irish jockey and trainer) - Died of a heart attack aged 63

Howard Kendall (former Everton football manager) - Passed away aged 69