New Zealand ended a three-match losing streak with a 35-23 Rugby Championship second-round win over South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
A last-minute try by lock Scott Barrett sealed victory for the All Blacks after a thriller, and may have saved the job of embattled coach Ian Foster.
Foster has been under fire after five losses in six matches ahead of the Johannesburg showdown, including a 16-point loss to Rugby World Cup champions the Springboks last weekend.
But a much-improved All Blacks side turned the tables after a thriller in which South Africa led by one point with six minutes remaining before conceding two converted tries.
New Zealand’s coach Ian Foster (C) embraces Aaron Smith as they celebrate after victory in South Africa in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
New Zealand recovered from a poor start, with full-back Jordie Barrett knocking on within 40 seconds, to control the early stages.
South Africa suffered an early blow with only 10 minutes gone when groggy winger Jesse Kriel was forced to retire and veteran full-back Willie le Roux came on.
Fortunately for full-back Damian Willemse, there was no score as he sat on the touchline due to a yellow card while a sell-out 61,519 crowd roared on the home side.
The first points in an arm wrestle came on 25 minutes when recalled fly-half Richie Mo’unga slotted a penalty for the visitors.
His successful kick triggered a period of away dominance in which captain and flanker Sam Cane and hooker Samson Taukei’aho scored tries, the second of which Mo’unga converted.
– South African concerns –
When New Zealand moved the ball wide, winger Will Jordan sent Cane over in the corner for his second try against South Africa.
Taukei’aho then used his strength to power over from close range and this time Mo’unga split the posts with his kick for a 15-point lead five minutes before half-time.
New Zealand’s lock Scott Barrett reacts against South Africa at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
An indication of South Africa’s concerns was a series of the first-half substitutions with hooker Malcolm Marx, prop Steven Kitshoff and No. 8 Jasper Wiese introduced.
The hosts needed to score quickly, and they did with center Lukhanyo Am diving over and fly-half Handre Pollard converting.
Pollard had not missed a kick at goal in his last two Tests — against Wales in Cape Town and New Zealand in Mbombela — and he maintained his record in first-half added time.
Opting to kick for goal from the halfway line, his kick just made it and as the teams trooped off the field a 15-point New Zealand advantage had been cut to 15-10.
The second half became a thriller with South Africa finally edging in front at 23-21 when Pollard kicked a penalty on 68 minutes.
But intense All Blacks pressure led to tries from center David Havili and lock Scott Barrett and Mo’unga converted both to get the visitors back on the winning trail.
Wing Makazole Mapimpi was the other Springbok try scorer as Pollard accumulated 13 points from two conversions and three penalties.dl/iwd
West Coast coach Adam Simpson has declared key defender Tom Barrass deserves to be selected in the All-Australian team after another outstanding display in a losing team.
Barrass received votes from all three Glendinning-Allan Medal voters for his performance at full-back, where he had 14 intercept possessions and three of his 12 marks were contested.
Having led a backline that has been under siege all season, Simpson said he deserves recognition.
“I’m campaigning now officially for Barrass to be All-Australian because he’s not just winning his position, he’s dominating it as a full-back. I think he was the highest-ranked player today again,” Simpson said.
“He’s just in the prime of his career. He’s a leader, he plays the game the right way and he’s got the balance between defending and going for his marks from him. All credit to him.
“He’s playing on the best forward in the opposition team every week and he’s not just holding his own, he is dominating. His leadership from him has been exceptional.
“We could have folded a lot worse than we are at the moment. There was that five or six-week period when we were down on personnel and we were getting touched up and I think he’s been part of the resolve that we’ve shown.”
Tom Barrass has dominated despite being under siege in defense. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Simpson said it was clear his team played with spirit and applied pressure, and he felt they played as well as they could.
He pointed to the club’s lengthy injury list which had Jamaine Jones (back) added to it during the game. Simpson admitted star ruckman Nic Naitanui faces a challenge to be available against Geelong after playing under duress in the latter stage of the season.
Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy was best on ground after winning 56 hit-outs by himself, compared to West Coast’s combined 28. Simpson said Naitanui needed a break.
“He’s playing because the club needs him, so we’ve got to be careful and don’t put any unnecessary risk on his career or next year,” Simpson said.
Nic Naitanui is far from certain to play against Geelong in the last game. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He needs a good break, a good pre-season and he can come back next year ready to go. We’ve got to look at it (not playing him). We’ve tried to respect the season as best as we could.
“There’s been opportunities to maybe rest or shut down players. But to be honest, we’ve got probably 15 injuries at the moment. Some players are playing sore. I’m not whinging. It’s just the way it is.”
JJ Spaun birdied two of the last three holes to shoot a two-under par 68 for a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Tour’s St. Jude Championship.
Spaun tapped in to birdie the par-5 16th and holed a 17-foot birdie putt at the 17th then stood alone at the top after Austrian Sepp Straka missed a nine-foot par putt at the 18th at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Watch LIVE coverage from The USPGA Tour with Fox Sports on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The 31-year-old American stood on 13-under 197 through 54 holes with Straka on 198 after shooting 68.
British Open champion Cameron Smith of Australia fired 67 to share third on 199 with Americans Will Zalatoris and Trey Mullinax. Americans Tyler Duncan and Troy Merritt were another stroke adrift.
However, Smith had to cop some stick from fans as he walked the course.
The tournament opens the FedEx Cup playoffs, three season-ending events with a winner’s prize of $18 million.
Only 125 players qualified on season points and only the top 70 advance to next week’s BMW Championship, where the 30 qualifiers for the Tour Championship in Atlanta are decided.
‘Ready to cop some heat’ Smith talks LIV | 00:49
MORE COVERAGE
Aussie Smith on the charge in Tour playoffs despite dark LIV Golf cloud as world No. 1 misses cut
World No. 1 commits ultimate golfing sin on Smith … sparking storm about whether he meant it
‘Ready to cop some heat’: Cam Smith’s big admission over $140m PGA bombshell
Spaun won his first PGA title after 147 tour starts in April at the Texas Open while Straka, who missed six consecutive cuts coming into this week, won his first PGA title in February at the Honda Classic.
Spaun began with nine pars before a bogey at 10, but sank an 11-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th and overtook Straka with his closing surge.
After a birdie-bogey start, Straka sank a 15-foot birdie putt at the fifth hole and another from just inside 12 feet at the sixth to seize the outright lead, but he fell back with a bogey at seven.
Straka took the lead alone with a 16-foot birdie putt at the 13th and grabbed a two-stroke lead by sinking a six-foot birdie putt at 15, setting the stage for Spaun’s run.
Zalatoris, still chasing his first PGA Tour victory, was a runner-up this year at the PGA Championship and US Open and last year in his Masters debut.
“I played on the biggest stages in three majors and I felt comfortable in those positions,” he said.
“I haven’t gotten a win out of it yet. Eventually we will and hopefully tomorrow is it.”
LIV golfers still welcome in Australia | 01:46
World number 14 Zalatoris, who turns 26 on Tuesday, has a PGA-high eight top-10 finishes without a victory this season.
“Today was awesome,” Zalatoris said of his 65.
“Tee to green was great and I rolled in a couple nice putts, so I just need to keep that going.”
Zalatoris split with caddy Ryan Goble last week and new caddy Joel Stock has read his putts the past 36 holes.
“It has been great,” Zalatoris said.
“He has been awesome. Obviously it has paid off. He’s doing a good job.”
Mullinax, who shot 66, won his first PGA title at last month’s Barbasol Championship.
He began the week 70th in points, the last spot to advance, but is in position to leap into the top 30.
“Been playing really well,” he said. “Just going out and sticking to the game plan.”
Duncan birdied four of the first six holes to shoot 67.
It has been 77 starts without a top-10 finish for Duncan since his lone PGA victory at the 2019 RSM Classic.
Rickie Fowler found water twice on the way to a quintuple-bogey nine on the 18th hole. He shot 72 to stand on 208, likely dooming his bid to advance in the playoffs.
Alana King paid a touching tribute to her hero Shane Warne after taking her first ever hat-trick, with the feat coming at Emirates Old Trafford, the ground where the late Australian icon made his name almost 30 years ago.
The 26-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medalist – who narrowly missed out on taking a hat-trick in the group stage against Barbados – bowled Cordelia Griffith, trapped Sophie Ecclestone lbw and bowled Kate Cross to etch her name into history with the first hat -trick in one-and-a-bit seasons of the women’s Hundred.
“Will I get my name up here at Old Trafford?” she asked. “That would be brilliant. Hopefully right next to Warnie. He took poles here for fun, and I’m sure he was looking down pretty happy.”
King was of course referring to Warne’s ball of the century to Mike Gatting here in 1993.
“He was a massive inspiration, but it wasn’t just me. It was kids all around the world who he inspired to pick up legspin. He was definitely the reason I picked up legspin. Hopefully he’s been proud watching down on me spin a few.
“When I was a bit younger, I did a couple of sessions with him. All I remember from that was him saying, ‘Spin it hard and have some fun’. I live by that every single day.
“That’s my first hat-trick. Not even in juniors did I take one. My first hat-trick at Old Trafford, I couldn’t have written it.
“As soon as I got that first wicket, I knew I had to keep aiming for the stumps. I’m just stoked that I can play my part for this team. Kate Cross came up to me after the game and said, ‘I can’t believe I gave that wicket to you’.”
Not only did King shine with the ball, she contributed two sixes in a crucial unbeaten 19 off nine deliveries at the end of the Rockets innings, boosting them to 119 for 5. She also took a smart low catch out at deep midwicket.
King added: “The atmosphere was absolutely incredible. To get our first win was pretty special. We knew we were under par with the bat, and we needed to stick to our game plan with the ball. We wanted to take some early wickets in the powerplay, which we did. As soon as we got their two openers out, we knew the pressure was back on them.”
Originals’ coach Paul Shaw said: “In the first half, I thought we bowled and fielded really well, and we were happy chasing 120. But then the second bit, we didn’t play like we wanted to play.
“Alana King’s a quality performer who will be around for a long time. She bowled really, really well. But we didn’t play her that well.”
San Diego Padres dynamo Fernando Tatis Jr, one of the brightest, freshest stars in all of Major League Baseball, was suspended 80 games on Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance and won’t play this season.
MLB said Tatis tested positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. Tatis said he accidentally took a medication to treat ringworm that contained the banned substance.
The penalty imposed by MLB was effective immediately, meaning the All-Star shortstop – who had been out the entire season because of a broken wrist but was expected to return to the playoff contenders next week – cannot play in the majors until next year.
Tatis will miss the remaining 48 regular-season games this year. Any postseason games the Padres play would count toward the 80 that Tatis must sit out, and he’ll serve the rest of the suspension at the start of next season.
“Shocked everybody,” Padres star Manny Machado said after a 10-5 win over Washington.
The 23-year-old Tatis, who signed a $340m, 14-year contract before the 2021 season, became one of the most prominent players ever penalized for performance-enhancing drugs, along with Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. The penalty will cost Tatis about $2.9m.
MLB said the suspension also will prevent Tatis from playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next March.
“Obviously, everybody’s very disappointed. Somebody that from the organization’s standpoint we invested time and money into,” Padres general manager AJ Preller said at Nationals Park, where San Diego played Washington.
Flashy at the plate and in the field, Tatis was an All-Star last season when he led the National League with 42 home runs. He was set to soon rejoin the Padres to boost a lineup that added star outfielder Juan Soto this month right before the trade deadline.
In a statement released by the players’ union, Tatis said he was “completely devastated” and apologized to Padres management, his teammates, MLB and “and fans everywhere for my mistake”.
“It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol,” he said. “I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so.”
“I have no excuse for my mistake, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love,” he said.
Tatis added that “after initially appealing the suspension, I have realized that my mistake was the cause of this result, and for that reason I have decided to start serving my suspension immediately. I look forward to rejoining my teammates on the field in 2023.”
Freddy Galvis and Dee Strange-Gordon are among the major leaguers previously suspended for using Clostebol, which can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological use. It is also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and Olympic gold medal winning cross-country skier Therese Johaug was suspended in 2016 after testing positive for it.
Tatis was a seventh player suspended this year under the major league drug program. Thirty-three have been suspended under the minor league drug program.
Players who test positive for PEDs are ineligible for the postseason that year.
Preller said he found out about the suspension late Friday afternoon. He said he had not yet spoken to Tatis, but he had seen his player’s statement from him.
“Again, that’s his story. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about it yet. Ultimately that’s his explanation of it, ”Preller said. “I think the biggest thing just from our standpoint, from a baseball standpoint, there’s a drug policy in place. I have failed a drug screen. For whatever reason.”
“Ultimately, he’s suspended and can’t play. That’s the biggest thing. That’s a player’s responsibility to make sure he’s within compliance of that. I wasn’t. Ultimately supportive of that and want to make sure he understands that,” he said.
Fernando Tatis Jr looks out from the dugout prior to a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in June. Photograph: Derrick Tuskan/AP
The son of a former big leaguer, Tatis made his MLB debut in 2019 and quickly became a smash hit on the field and with the fans. He has a career .965 OPS and has played shortstop and in the outfield.
Tatis became one of the biggest MLB players suspended for PEDs since testing penalties with started in 2004, joining Rodriguez (2014 season), Ramirez (50 games in 2009 and 100 games in 2011), Robinson Canó (80 games in 2018 and 2020 season) and Miguel Tejada (105 games in 2013).
Tatis had been on the injured list this season after breaking his left wrist – the accident is believed to have been in December in a motorcycle accident in the Domincan Republic. He had surgery in mid-March.
“I think we’re hoping that from the offseason to now there would be some maturity. Obviously with the news today it’s more of a pattern and something we’ve got to dig a little more into,” Preller said.
“I’m sure he’s very disappointed. At the end of the day, it’s one thing to say. You’ve got to start showing it with your actions,” he said.
Preller added: “I think what we need to get to is a point in time we trust (him). Over the course of the last six or seven months, that’s been something that we haven’t been really able to have there.”
“I think from our standpoint, obviously he’s a great talent, he’s a guy we have a lot of history with and do believe in, but these things only work when there’s trust both ways.”
On 6 August, Tatis began a minor rehabilitation assignment with Double-A San Antonio. He was 2 for 9 with a double and a triple in four games.
The Padres traded for Soto in hopes of making a run deep into October. They figured a roster that included Soto, Tatis and Machado could give them a better chance at the first World Series championship in team history – now, they’ll have to make that try without one of those key pieces.
“Hearing that he’s going to get suspended for 80 games and not be a part of what we’re trying to accomplish here is something you don’t want to hear before a game and don’t want to hear overall. It’s just a terrible thing,” Machado said.
“We were waiting to get him back and for him to be a sparkplug,” he said.
Added manager Bob Melvin: “This is a blow for us. … I’m glad we made the moves we did over the deadline.”
Tatis won’t be able to play in the WBC early next year. Dominican fans had been salivating at the prospect of seeing a bruising lineup that included Tatis, Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Rafael Devers and José Ramírez.
Tatis will forfeit $1,510,989 of his $5m salary this year, covering the final 55 days and 48 games of the season. He will lose approximately $1.39m of his $7m salary for the first 32 games of next season, with the exact number to be determined by how many days he misses.
“There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates,” Tatis said.
“I have taken countless drug tests throughout my professional career, including on March 29, 2022, all of which have returned negative results until this test,” he said.
The penalty was announced shortly before the Padres played Washington. San Diego began the day at 63-51 and holding the final of the three NL wild-card spots.
Preller said the team had about 15 minutes to talk about Tatis’ suspension before taking the field.
“We haven’t had (Tatis) for this season, so it’s not like we’ve had him in the lineup and now we won’t,” Preller said. “I think to a man all the guys in that clubhouse believe we can win. They know we can win. Never been about one player.”
Daniel Ricciardo has said the opening half of the 2022 Formula 1 season was ‘more fun’ than the same period was a year earlier.
The McLaren driver last year told Speedcafe.com that he was looking forward to reuniting with family and friends after a prolonged forced separation during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ricciardo was unable to see his family in person for more than a year, the timing of which coincided with his arrival at McLaren.
The 2021 campaign was trying one, with victory in the Italian Grand Prix the shining moment by some margin.
With the world more open, and the Formula 1 paddock gradually easing restrictions, Ricciardo has been able to re-engage with his support network both at and away from the track.
“It’s definitely better,” he told Speedcafe.com of 2022 versus a year ago.
“It’s more fun as well. You know, the seasons are a bit of a grind, and not in a negative way, but that they’re just busy.
“I think having family or friends come out to races just makes the weekends, honestly just makes it more enjoyable, kind of just breaks it up as well.
“This year, I’ve had a few mates come out to some races, my folks were out in Silverstone.
“So, you know, it wasn’t a good weekend on paper, but it was certainly nice to have them there, and I think they’ll try to get another one or two this year.”
Formula 1 is currently in the middle of its annual summer break, a two-week shut down during which teams much cease all but (effectively) essential maintenance tasks.
Ricciardo has taken the opportunity to head to the United States, where he has been holidaying with friends in Montana.
Meanwhile, in Europe, his future has been central to discussions as he looks set to exit McLaren at the end of the season, replaced by Oscar Piastri.
Speaking with this publication prior to the summer break, Ricciardo said it was about getting some time away from the sport to enable him to keep some perspective.
That’s a process aided by friends and family, something which was notably absent – or far more difficult – last year.
Already a relaxed figure within the paddock, the opportunity to reconnect has also seen him mellow.
“I think it also puts things into perspective as well, just having mates around and stuff,” I explained.
“I think I’m also trying to get better at kind of leaving what happens on the track at the track.
“Of course, I’ll give myself homework to do and all of that but it’s just not letting a result carry through to that evening, to the next day.
“I think just through maturity and experience, just trying to handle the highs and lows a little bit better,” he added.
So even [during the high periods]making sure I don’t get too high and whatever, and also the lows of course, trying to keep it a bit more level.”
Formula 1 returns from its summer break with the Belgian Grand Prix on August 26-28.
Fremantle expect Rory Lobb to back up against GWS, despite being subbed out of the win over West Coast.
While the Roos are counting the injury toll from a bruising encounter with the Crows.
Get the latest AFL injury news in our Round 22 Casualty Ward!
Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
FREMANTLE coach Justin Longmuir has defended the club’s decision to sub Rory Lob out of the win over West Coast late, despite then admitting he expects the star to play next weekend.
Lobb has been carrying a shoulder injury for the past few weeks and appeared to aggravate it in a marking contest in the third term.
But the big forward waved away medical staff and played on, despite clearly carrying his right shoulder.
“He’s sore,” Longmuir admitted post-match. “We don’t think it’s too significant. We’re proud of his efforts after he got injured and halved some contests and remained in the game and kept working his way through it.
“(We) expect him to play (against GWS).
“Players have played plenty of times after they’ve been subbed out.
“He was carrying his arm around so he’s got an injury. He’s been carrying it for three weeks so he got a stinger on it and couldn’t go on tonight but we think he’ll be alright.”
Longmuir said he would enjoy the win over West Coast before contemplating having both Lobb and fellow big forward Matt Taberner unavailable for the away clash with GWS.
“I’ll worry about that when I get home,” he laughed.
“It’s not ideal and I’d love Lobby to play next week. We haven’t really crossed that bridge yet.
“When you see a player out there carrying their arm, you want to protect them so that’s why we subbed him out.
“He’s a fast healer. He played the week after he hurt it the first time from memory. So fingers crossed he gets up. He doesn’t let on when he brings injuries into games and he pushes through it really well.
“He’s 205cm and we needed to contest forward of the ball.
“I’m really proud of his efforts to keep competing, sometimes with one arm.”
Saint in hot water over bump? | 00:41
The call to sub Lobb out of the contest came with just four minutes remaining when the match was all but won.
“The docs went out and checked him and probably decided that he couldn’t go on anymore,” Longmuir said.
“He battled as well as he could for as long as he could. We needed to get him off for his own welfare from him.”
Lobb’s potential absence could hurt Fremantle’s top four push with Taberner already sidelined. skipper Nat Fyfe is no guarantee to return from his hamstring injury in Round 23 with Longmuir adamant the club would take a cautious approach.
“We don’t need to (bring him straight back), but if he’s fit to play, he’ll put his hand up for selection,” Longmuir said.
“If he’s not declared fit, we’re not going to put him out there and risk him. You injure yourself at this time of year and have a repeat injury to that hammy, then your season’s almost done.”
Longmuir said Fyfe may even go back to the WAFL for a second time this year to build fitness heading into finals.
“If it’s not this week, then we’ve got the bye and a WAFL game in the bye so we’ll look at that,” he said.
ST KILDA‘s Jimmy Webster‘s season is all but over after he injured his hamstring in the loss to Brisbane.
With the Saints now only a mathematical chance of finals, Webster is set for scans in the coming days.
He was subbed out of the loss to Brisbane early and was iced up for the remainder of the clash.
Cunnington emotional after huge return! | 02:47
ADELAIDE forward Shane McAdam is in doubt for this weekend’s Showdown with Port Adelaide.
McAdam was subbed out of the win over North Melbourne with a hamstring complaint.
“Forward Shane McAdam injured his hamstring while leading for the ball in the final quarter and was subbed out of the game,” Crows high performance manager Darren Burgess said.
“He will be assessed in coming days ahead of next week’s Showdown.”
NORTH MELBOURNE are counting the cost of a bruising loss to the Crows, with three players injured and young Paul Curtis now racing to be fit for the final match of the season.
jed anderson suffered concussion and won’t play again this season under the AFL’s protocols.
skipper jack ziebell is also likely done for 2022 after suffering a “significant” shoulder injury.
“It didn’t look great for Ziebs in particular,” coach Leigh Adams said.
“It’s some sort of shoulder injury. I think we all know Jack Ziebell is going to put his body on the line every time.
“I’m not sure if its collarbone or a dislocation but for him to come straight off and get subbed off, it must have been pretty bad. He doesn’t come off unless something is wrong.
“Fingers crossed it’s not too bad but it looks like his season is over.”
Kangaroos miss chance against Crows | 01:34
Jaidyn Stephenson will have to prove his fitness to play again this season after coming off with a back injury.
“Stevo’s had a bit of back issues that can come good pretty quick.”
Adams defended the club’s decision to send Anderson back out into the contest, as he was later ruled out with concussion.
“I haven’t seen the vision yet – I’m comfortable our doctors will have made the right decision,” he said.
“I know he came off with the blood rule and I was told at three quarter time he’d gone into the concussion protocols.”
Adams said the club wouldn’t take any risk with young Curtis after he copped a knock to his shoulder.
“This time of year obviously with one game to go, we won’t take any risk with a young kid like that,” he said.
GWS could be without Lachlan Keeffe after he complained of groin soreness in the loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Caretaker coach Mark McVeigh said the club would take precautions with the veteran.
“We’ll assess Keeffey who complained of a bit of groin soreness. We’ll take precautions there,” he said.
Tanner Bruhn won’t play again this season after entering the AFL’s concussion protocols.
“Tanner Bruhn with the HIA so he’ll enter those protocols which is not ideal for him,” McVeigh said.
the WESTERN BULLDOGS admit skipper Marcus Bontempelli is not fully fit but continues to press on.
“I finished the game off alright didn’t he?” coach Luke Beveridge said.
“He’s struggling a little bit with a niggle or two. I had Marcus and Chrissy Bell in my office yesterday talking through, he’s got a bit of an adductor issue going on.
“Both Marcus and Chris were sure he’d get through the game.
“He’s not 100 per cent. I have pushed through a bit of discomfort today.”
Bulldogs keep finals in sight | 02:53
GEELONG Coach Chris Scott has hinted at resting more players for the final round clash against West Coast.
With top spot assured, the Cats do have one injury concern with Rhys Stanley subbed out of the win over the Gold Coast.
“They tell me he’s got a low grade adductor strain,” Scott said.
“Generally when they say low grade it’s a week or two. It will be unlikely he’ll play next week is the feedback I’ve got but they are not too worried beyond that.”
GOLD COAST coach Stuart Dew says he feels for Sam Day after the forward re-injured his knee.
“Suspected that he’s hurt his meniscus that he’s had repaired last year and it was the same mechanism the way he slid and jammed that joint so we’ve got fingers crossed but unfortunately I think Sam might have hurt his knee which is really unfortunate,” Dew said.
Izak Rankin also remains in doubt for Round 23 after injuring his shoulder.
“He hurt that shoulder a few weeks back… clearly awkward landing/hit and he’s stirred that up,” Dew said.
“We’ll just see how that settles.”
WEST COAST could be without both Nic Naitanui and jamine jones for the trip to Geelong.
Jones was subbed out of the loss to the Dockers with a back issue.
“His back just seized up. We weighed up before the game whether to pull him out … He’s had a big year and carried some injuries. He just couldn’t last,” coach Adam Simpson said.
Simpson also admitted Naitanui was playing through the pain.
“He’s playing because the club needs him,” Simpson said.
A shambolic Manchester United side conceded four goals in the opening 35 minutes in a 4-0 drubbing at Brentford on Saturday as their woeful start to the Premier League season continued.
United’s seventh successive away league defeat was assured long before the interval as Brentford took ruthless advantage of a catalog of errors by the visitors.
The route began in the 10th minute when United keeper David de Gea allowed a weak shot by Josh Dasilva to slip past him.
Things got worse for United eight minutes later when De Gea played the ball out to former Brentford player Christian Eriksen, who was caught in possession and Mathias Jensen slotted home.
When United’s defense failed to deal with a corner and Ben Mee glanced in a close-range header to make it 3-0, the Brentford fans were ecstatic while United’s new manager Erik ten Hag looked ashen-faced in his technical area.
Brentford’s fourth was a gem as Ivan Toney delivered a diagonal ball to Bryan Mbeumo from a counter-attack and Mbeumo calmly beat De Gea.
Ten Hag made three substitutions at half-time with Raphael Varane, Tyrell Malacia and Scott McTominay coming on, but despite a slight improvement United offered little fight.
Brentford’s fans serenaded their players with “Hey Jude” at the final whistle while United’s players looked crestfallen as they trudged off rock bottom of the table, having also lost their opener at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
loading
It was the first time since 1960 that United have conceded at least six goals in their first two matches of a top-flight season and the first time they have lost their opening two matches since 1992 — when they went on to win the title.
This side, however, looks woefully inadequate to mount any kind of challenge and Ten Hag, who was taunted by the Brentford fans, appears to have a huge job on his hands.
The Dutchman is the first Manchester United manager to lose his first two games in charge since John Chapman in 1921.
“It’s easy to dismantle this United side, just be organized and fight and you’re there,” said former United player and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
For Brentford, whose starting line-up cost in the region of 55 million pounds ($93.75 million) compared to the more than 400 million pounds ($681.5 million) of United’s, have picked up four points in their first two games.
Fans continued to protest against club owners the Glazers as Manchester United lost 4-0 to Brentford.(Getty Images: Offside/Mark Leech)
The crushing defeat will do nothing to soothe the feelings of Manchester United fans, already angry at club owners the Glazer family.
Poor results and a perceived failure to sign the right players to revamp the team in the off-season had left fans continuing long-standing calls for the Glazers to sell the club.
loading
United fans on social media are trying to organize a boycott of next week’s home game against long-time rivals Liverpool, using the hashtag Empty Old Trafford.
In other Premier League action, defending champions Manchester City swept to the top of the table, thumping newly-promoted Bournemouth 4-0 to emphasize the gulf between them and neighbors United.
City under manager Pep Guardiola have scored six times and are yet to concede in two games this campaign, as they bid for a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.
Arsenal are the big improvers so far this season, sitting second to City on goal difference after their 4-2 win over Leicester City.
New signing Gabriel Jesus marked his home debut with a brilliant performance, scoring twice and setting up two more.
Southampton and Leeds ended 0-0, as did Fulham and Wolves and Brighton’s match against Newcastle, while Everton lost 2-1 to Aston Villa.
Seventeen-year-old David Popovici of Romania became the youngest swimmer to break the world swimming record in the men’s 100-meter freestyle, beating the mark set more than 13 years ago in the same pool.
Popovici touched in 46.86 seconds at the European championships to top the time of 46.91 set by Brazil’s César Cielo at the 2009 world championships, which also were held at Rome’s historic Foro Italico.
Popovici in lane four became the youngest swimmer ever to break the mark. (MaxSwims)
Cielo established his record on July 30, 2009, at the last major international meet to allow rubberised suits. It stood longer than any record in the event’s history, going back to 1905.
Now, it belongs to one of the sport’s budding stars.
READMORE:‘Mocked’ All Blacks take down world champions
READMORE:Veteran NRL referee’s shock grand final confession
READMORE:Roosters star in hot water over dangerous hit
“There was no rush and I had to be extremely patient about the world record,” Popovici said. “It has hurt but it’s always worth it and I feel fine right now. It felt great and it’s very special to break this record which was set here in 2009 by César Cielo.”
David Popovici of Team Romania celebrates after picking up Gold in the Men’s 100m Freestyle Final. (Getty)
Cielo still holds the record in the 50 free, which is among eight men’s long-course standards that remain from the rubber-suit era. Five of those were set at those supercharged 2009 worlds.
Popovici went out in 22.74 and set the record by going 24.12 on the return lap to easily beat Hungarian butterfly specialist Kristóf Milák by 0.61. Italy’s Alessandro Miressi claimed the bronze in 47.63.
“This was a brilliant race, a joy to swim next to David,” Milák said. “David is a fantastic swimmer, I think the same crazy genius of the freestyle that I am in the butterfly. It’s great that his name will hit the headlines for long, long years.”
Popovici poses with his gold medal. (Getty)
Popovici’s emergence sets up a potentially huge showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where American star Caeleb Dressel — winner of five gold medals at last summer’s Tokyo Games — will come in as the reigning gold medalist in the 100 free.
Popovic had his coming-out at this year’s worlds in Budapest, sweeping golds in the 100 and 200 free. He didn’t get a chance to swim the 100 against Dressel, who dropped out of the event for health reasons before the final.
Milák, world record-holder in the 200 fly, hopes to also be part of the freestyle mix in Paris.
“My goal is very clear,” the Hungarian said. “I just want to reach a level in this event to arrive to Paris 2024 with the capability of swimming at a time somewhere very close to 47 seconds.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
The backstories and controversies that have ignited feuds involving athletes
A top-four finish is not beyond them with the Cowboys and Sydney Roosters – at what will be a packed brand-new Allianz Stadium in the final round – to complete the run home to September.
Seeing Mitchell in full flight is one of the coolest things to watch every week, and his warning to rivals after full-time at CommBank Stadium was celebrated by Souths.
Cody Walker and Damien Cook celebrate a try.Credit:NRL Photos
While most NRL coaches dread their players saying anything remotely controversial that might fire up their opposition, Demetriou welcomed his No.1’s fighting words.
“We want players to be themselves, and what I’m loving about Latrell is he’s living that mindset at every training session and with every performance on the field – and his teammates are living it as well,” Demetriou said.
“I’m not big on motivating other teams with what we say through the press.
“But at the same time, there’s an expectation that when you do make a comment, you back it up, and that’s the headspace Latrell is in at the moment.
“I think it’s all to do with the leadership position he’s in. He enjoys standing in front of the boys and saying, ‘Let’s go, we’ve got this’.
“When you grab blokes after a good win they can get excited during an interview. But you want them excited, you want them enjoying their footy and being excited about the next challenge.
“We’re under no illusions how tough the next six to eight weeks will be. I still think there’s more in Latrell, and that’s exciting.”
Souths look to be a happy club with a tight playing group, and Demetriou said that genuine bond off the field was transferring to their on-field efforts.
Demetriou also dismissed any concerns the Bunnies had started their run too early, claiming they could remain physically and mentally fresh heading into the finals.
Mitchell is the X-factor with Parramatta prop Junior Paulo in awe of the powerhouse fullback when he gets in a mood.
“He’s one of those players where things just seem to happen around him,” Paulo said.
“When the middles get them on the front foot, it’s easy for Latrell to do what he does. He’s hard to stop.”
‘Embarrassed’ Eel commits to Samoa
Parramatta prop Junior Paulo said the way the Eels were dominated in the middle from the opening whistle was “embarrassing”, and what made things worse was the pack focused all week on not being outmuscled by the Rabbitohs.
Eels coach Brad Arthur slammed his players for a “lacking physicality” after the Friday’s loss.
“And if you’re not going to be physical, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’re not going to give yourself a chance,” Arthur said. “We lacked it, badly … we got steamrolled.”
Parramatta prop Junior Paulo was kept quiet against Souths.Credit:Getty Images
Paulo, who ran for a season-low 60m, told The Sun-Herald: “We were even challenged throughout the week to win the battle in the middle, so what we ended up showing was way below our standards. It was actually embarrassing, to be honest.
“We were not physical enough and didn’t chase the collision. Brad was right in everything he said after the game.
“We want to challenge ourselves week in, week out. When it comes to Souths, we haven’t done that for three or four years now. We haven’t shown our best version of ourselves against them, and our best version is when we’re physical.
“We need to bounce back against the Dogs who are another club who embarrassed us the last time we played them as well.”
Mitchell Moses is an outside chance to return from a broken finger against Canterbury next Saturday, but even the No.7 has again drifted in and out of games all year.
Before Friday’s kick-off Paulo made it known he would commit to Samoa ahead of Australia for the World Cup, largely because he wanted to honor his grandparents and parents for leaving the tiny Pacific nation to give him a better life.
Paulo also knows Samoa never got the best out of him at the last World Cup when he and then Canberra teammates Josh Papalii and BJ Leilua returned to pre-season training a combined 30kg heavier.
“I want to pay my family back and repay Samoa for having the belief in me and knowing the impact we can have on a game if we all gel,” Paulo said.
Paulo hoped Joseph Suaalii would commit to the minnows, especially with the chance to wear the No.1 jersey, a positional wish he would not be granted should he side with the Kangaroos.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
