Michmutters – Page 700 – My WordPress Blog
Categories
Technology

Smart irrigation system comes in third generation

Smart irrigation system comes in third generation

Smart home gadgets have long been available not only for the interior of your own four walls. Garden lovers can also simplify their care with the help of practical helpers. A good example is the smart watering controller Eve Aqua. The gadget for the water connection in the garden comes now already in the third generation in the trade and offers a lot of new things.

Water your garden automatically with Eve Aqua

The irrigation system is said to have undergone significant improvements in its now third generation. In addition to a more robust design, which is supposed to provide more resistance, the manufacturer also promises a higher-quality design. The new design is not only supposed to look more elegant, but in combination with revised features, it is also supposed to ensure quieter operation. But what can Eve Aqua do anyway? As a smart home gadget, you can integrate the irrigation system into your own network. Once set up, you can easily water your garden via your iPhone. You can use the app or Siri to do this. Alternatively, there is a button on the Eve Aqua itself that you can use to start watering.

Eve Aqua
(Image: Eve)

Of course, the biggest advantage of the irrigation system is that your garden will be watered despite your absence. Especially if you are on vacation for several weeks, Eve Aqua certainly proves to be an extremely practical gadget. You can set up a schedule within the app so that your plants are always watered. Thanks to an integrated timer, Eve Aqua works its schedule even without an Internet connection. This means you can turn off your other electronic devices, including your Wi-Fi router, when you’re away. To save money and protect the environment, the app also gives you the option to see how much water you have used.

Interior of Eve Aqua with new valve

Compared to its predecessor, the third-generation irrigation system looks much classier. This is especially due to the new front, which now comes in matte black. However, not only the design, but also the inner workings are said to have changed. You’ll now find a new solenoid valve, which is supposed to have many advantages.

Eve Aqua
Eve Aqua promises compatibility with most manufacturers. (Image: Eve)

The manufacturer promises not only that it should be more durable. On top of that, you should not have to worry about leaks and probably benefits from a quieter mechanism. The multicompatible irrigation system will be equipped with a metal thread, which should correspond to the connections of popular manufacturers.

Nothing works here without iOS

Anyone who is thinking about purchasing Eve Aqua should be aware that nothing works here without Apple HomeKit. Consequently, you need an iOS device like iPhone or iPad for both setup and operation.

Eve Aqua
(Image: Eve)

However, since Eve Aqua also has “Thread”, a firmware update coming soon should provide more compatibility. Thus, the irrigation system should offer the standard “Matter” and thus, for example, also be controllable via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Price and availability

You can buy Eve Aqua now for an MSRP of €149.95 on the official manufacturer site or at Amazon. If you want to make your home even smarter, you might be interested in the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 curtain robot (test) or the Aqara Camera Hub G3 (test).

Categories
Sports

Nick Kyrgios Makes Winning Return In Washington | ATP Tours

Nick Kyrgios Makes Winning Return In Washington | ATP Tours

Back on the singles court Tuesday night for the first time since last month’s Wimbledon final, Nick Kyrgios picked up where he left off with a dominant Citi Open win.

Still donning his tennis whites — at least his shirt and cap — Kyrgios rolled past Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2 in just under an hour. The Aussie was a different class once he settled into the evening session match, saving an early break point before dominating from 3-3 in the opening set.

“I came out a bit slow, obviously very different conditions to Wimbledon,” said Kyrgios, who later admitted it took him a long time to get over his four-set final defeat to Novak Djokovic. “I think it was just a bit of nerves as well. I won the tournament in 2019. Seeing my name up on the stadium and then knowing I didn’t play well here at all last year — I lost the first round and I was just going through such a dark time in my life.

“I’m just so happy to be here with my team, the love and support from the crowd. I’m just really happy to be out here playing some good tennis again.”

The Official App Of Tennis | Download ATP WTA Live App

Kyrgios finished with 12 aces and an 82 per cent (28/34) win rate on first serve, along with a few tweeners. He also revived the tradition that served him well in his 2019 Washington title run: asking a fan in the front row where to serve on match point.

Though Kyrgios missed the target on first serve, apologizing to the fan, he fired an unreturned second delivery to wrap up the comfortable win.

The unseeded Aussie improved to 9-0 in opening rounds this season and 22-7 on the year. He will next face 14th seed Tommy Paul in the American’s opening match at the ATP 500 event. Another home favorite — fourth seed Reilly Opelka — could await in the third round.

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

📺 TV Schedule
🎾 Watch Live On Tennis TV
📱 Follow Live Scores On ATP WTA Live
📧 Sign Up For Newsletters

Kyrgios has advanced to the semi-finals or better in four of his past five tournaments since April, but is seeking his first singles title of 2022. He has won two doubles titles with countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis, at the Australian Open and on Sunday in Atlanta , where a knee injury forced him to withdraw from the singles competition.

Kyrgios is teaming with Jack Sock in Washington, and the pair earned a 6-4, 6-4 upset of third seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer on Monday evening.

“Having guys like Jack and Thanasi, these guys are much more than friends for me,” Kyrgios added. “They know I’d do anything for them. I’ve been there for them and they’ve been there for me. I can’t give credit to those guys enough. My girlfriend, my physio, my best friend… I can’t give those guys enough credit because I really wouldn’t be here without them.”

Categories
Australia

Government’s 43 per cent emissions target set to become law, as Greens offer votes needed to pass climate bill

Bandt holds his hand in the air as he speaks inside Parliament House.

The Greens will offer critical support to a climate bill that will legislate the government’s 2030 emissions reduction target, giving it the numbers it needs to pass in the Senate.

Labor has introduced a bill to enshrine its 43 per cent emissions reduction target into law and tighten up reporting schemes to track progress towards the target.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has told the National Press Club that his party will back the bill, giving it the votes needed to pass.

Mr Bandt said he remained “bitterly disappointed” the government would not ban new coal and gas projects, and that the party would vote to send the bill for inquiry, where they hope to prove Labor’s climate policies would fail to meet a legislated 43 per cent target.

“Labor might be holding out now, but their position is ultimately untenable, and they can’t go to upcoming climate summits, vowing to open new coal and gas projects and expect to be taken seriously,” he said.

Mr Bandt said the party will now push to shut down future projects by amending the safeguard mechanism, which penalizes big polluting companies that go over a set carbon emissions ceiling.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen shut down any prospect of a coal and gas moratorium being introduced through the safeguard mechanism, saying the government would implement its election plan “without alteration”.

Mr Bowen said it will begin consulting on the emissions lever later this month.

.

Categories
US

Wildfire near Maupin leads to evacuations near Highway 197

Gov. Brown declares emergency conflagration for wildfire near Maupin

People living near Route 216 west of Highway 197 have been told to evacuate. An evacuation shelter is being set up at Dufur High School.

WASCO COUNTY, Ore. — Gov. Kate Brown has declared that a wildfire near Maupin now constitutes a conflagration, freeing up firefighting resources from throughout the state to help.

Evacuations have been underway west of Highway 197 near Maupin due to the fast-moving wildfire, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Miller Road Fire, alternatively referred to as the Juniper Flats Fire and Dodge Fire, has burned more than 1,000 acres west of Maupin, according to the latest update from Gov. Brown’s office. Fire officials say it was first spotted shortly before 1 pm on Tuesday.

Fire officials said that two airtankers, a heavy helicopter and two single-engine air tankers were involved in the initial response. With the Emergency Conflagration Act invoked, Brown’s office said that a Lane County task force pre-positioned in Deschutes County was now headed to the Maupin area.

“I have invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to make more state resources available to the fire crews on the front lines in Wasco County at the Miller Road/Dodge Fire,” Brown said in a statement. “With many fires actively burning across the state and several weeks of peak fire season ahead of us, I am urging all Oregonians to be prepared and do their part to help prevent wildfires — just one spark can light a fire that will quickly spread.”

The Emergency Conflagration Act can be invoked under Oregon law when the governor determines that a “threat to life, safety and property exists” due to a fire, beyond the ability of local firefighters to control.

The Blue Incident Management Team from the Office of the State Fire Marshal will assume command of the fire Wednesday morning, Brown’s office said, bringing with it five more firefighter task forces from counties throughout Oregon. Agencies already on the scene include the Juniper Flats Fire District, Klickitat County Fire District from Washington state, and Hood River Fire.

Dodge/Miller Fire: Overnight 02/08 – 03/08 At this time all of the most recently updated evacuation orders (previous post, update 3) will remain in place through the night. Command will reassess conditions in the morning and we will update as needed. In the meantime, watch for emergency alerts or door-to-door notifications if conditions drastically change. Be attentive, be smart, and be safe!

Posted by Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, August 2, 2022

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has issued a series of fast-evolving evacuations for the area:

  • East from Victor Road and Walters Road along the north and south side of State Route 216 to Highway 197.
  • All of Tygh Valley Road, all of Fred Ashley Road, all of Davidson Grade Road.
  • East side of Highway 197, all of Oak Spring Road to State Route 216.
  • All of the city of Maupin, both sides of the Deschutes River.
  • State Route 216 is closed from Pine Grove to Highway 197.

An evacuation shelter is being set up at Dufur High School, the sheriff’s office said. The Dalles Riders Club is open for horses and the fairgrounds are open for both horses and livestock.

More information on the Miller Road Fire can be found on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

RELATED: Death toll in wildfire burning south of Oregon border rises to 4

RELATED: Fire at The Dalles Marina prompts heavy response

Categories
Technology

Nintendo Q1 net profit jumps thanks to weak yen

The global chip shortage and supply chain woes linked to Covid-19 restrictions in China are posing problems for Nintendo

The global chip shortage and supply chain woes linked to Covid-19 restrictions in China are posing problems for Nintendo – Copyright AFP Kazuhiro NOGI

Nintendo said Wednesday its first-quarter net profit jumped 28 percent on-year, mainly thanks to a weaker yen, but hardware and software sales declined because of a chip shortage and Covid-19 supply issues.

The yen has plummeted more than 10 percent against the dollar this year as sky-high US inflation fuels a widening monetary policy gap — a boon for Japanese companies like Nintendo who sell products overseas.

For the three months to June, the gaming giant posted a net profit of 118.9 billion yen ($893 million), citing the positive impact of “the depreciation of the yen”.

But the company left its annual forecast unchanged, warning that the global shortage of semiconductors and other logistical snarl-ups could hamper console production and distribution.

New game releases got off to a good start, including “Nintendo Switch Sports” and “Mario Strikers: Battle League”, it said, but sales were still no match for the previous year during the pandemic gaming boom.

“Due to the effects of supply shortages in semiconductors and other components among other factors, hardware sales were down 22.9 percent year-on-year, and software sales were down 8.6 percent year-on-year,” Nintendo added.

Soaring demand for indoor entertainment during virus lockdowns sent the company’s profits soaring to an annual record of 480 billion yen in 2020-21.

The firm nearly matched that figure in the last financial year, with its blockbuster Switch console continuing to perform well and strong software sales, especially for “Mario Party Superstars” and the latest Pokemon titles.

But Nintendo now has a more cautious outlook as life returns to normal, causing the gaming craze to slow, and expects to report a 340-billion yen net profit in 2022-23.

Hideki Yasuda, senior analyst at Toyo Securities, warned that the chip shortage and supply problems linked to Covid-19 lockdowns in China would continue to pose headaches for Nintendo.

“The company is feeling significant pressure on its supply chain,” he told AFP before the earnings release. “The Switch is sold out at stores. There is not enough supply.”

It will be “very difficult” for Nintendo to hit its annual production target for the console if the problems continue, Yasuda said, after Switch sales declined 20 percent on-year in 2021-22.

However, a recession in the United States or elsewhere is unlikely to pose a major problem, he said.

“Video gaming doesn’t feel the impact of recessions. When the economy is strong, people buy products. When the economy weakens, people spend more time playing games.”

Categories
Sports

Chanel Harris-Tavita in battle to play one last Warriors game before quitting league

Chanel Harris-Tavita in battle to play one last Warriors game before quitting league

Chanel Harris-Tavita picked up an MCL injury in Friday's game against the Storm.

Brett Phibbs/Photosport

Chanel Harris-Tavita picked up an MCL injury in Friday’s game against the Storm.

Chanel Harris-Tavita faces a race against time to play one more game in the NRL before he walks away from the sport, while Jazz Tevaga is unlikely to play again this season.

Warriors interim coach Stacey Jones said on Wednesday that it has been confirmed as a medial collateral ligament injury in Harris-Tavita’s knee which will sideline him for around a month.

Given that there are only five games left in the season, it is possible that the 23-year-old has played his last game for the club.

“He has done his MCL, so that’s a three to four-week injury,” Jones said.

READMORE:
* Reece Walsh has unfinished business at Warriors before leaving for Broncos
* Andrew McFadden to return to Warriors next season in new role
* Warriors’ Wayde Egan to visit dentist after cheap shot by Nelson Asofa-Solomona

“We’re hoping that Chanel is going to get back out on the field before the end of the year.

“Certainly, from where he was after the game, to where he is now, he’s feeling a lot better.”

Jazz Tevaga has likely played his last game this season.

David Neilson/PHOTOSPORT

Jazz Tevaga has likely played his last game this season.

Harris-Tavita wants to explore other things in life at the end of this league season and has chosen to give up footy for an indefinite period.

Given what he’s meant to the club over the past four season, it would be a cruel way for him to bow out, but that’s become a possibility with his latest injury.

In his absence, Jones chose to go with Wayde Egan at five-eighth for Saturday’s game against the Rabbitohs. Preferring the specialist hooker to the club’s young halves Daejarn Asi and Ronald Volkman.

“I know we’ve got other options there with Daejarn Asi, who played a couple of weeks ago,” Jones said.

“But there are parts of his game that he needs to get sorted more, based around defense.

“It was more a case of Wayde did a really good job and I also thought Freddy Lussick did a pretty good job, he was very brave in the middle with his defence.

“We then get an opportunity to give Taniela (Otukolo) an opportunity to come on the bench.”

While Egan will wear the No 7 jersey this weekend, it won’t be a long-term option for the club, especially as Te Maire Martin and Luke Metcalf are joining the Warriors next season, to add to the club’s halves stocks.

“It’s a week-to-week thing for Wayde,” Jones said.

“He’s an out-and-out hooker, but he’s a very smart player that can do a job in the halves.

“I thought the way Reece (Walsh) played at the weekend, they both complimented each other really well and Shaun (Johnson) with his kicking game was pretty spot on.

“So the balance of those three worked really well for us on the weekend and a week of training together is going to make them better.”

As for Tevaga, Jones says the shoulder injury he picked up against the Storm last week is expected to rule him out for the remainder of the season.

“He had scans yesterday,” Jones said.

“Hopefully in the next few days they’ll work out whether he needs to have an operation or not, but it is unlikely he’ll play again for us this year and Jazz is going to be a massive loss for us.”

Meanwhile, the Warriors have announced former Hull FC, Wakefield and Leeds head coach Richard Agar will join the club next year as one of their assistants.

“Richard has tremendous experience in top level coaching and will add huge value to our coaching team,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.

“He’ll provide terrific support for our new head coach Andrew Webster in his role alongside his fellow assistant coaches Stacey Jones and Justin Morgan.”

Categories
Australia

Nurses strike in Launceston as government offers last-minute proposal

A group of nurses wearing masks hold signs on a sidewalk in Launceston.

A last-minute proposal from the state government to improve working conditions for Tasmania’s nurses has failed to stop a strike from going ahead at the Launceston General Hospital.

Nurses have been quitting in droves as they grapple with the pressures of the pandemic, rising workloads, long hours and tight resources.

But the Tasmanian government hopes a $2,000 “return to work” bonus will persuade those who recently resigned to give the job a second chance.

It is one of a suite of incentives the government has put on the table to stop nurses and midwives from striking and to prevent Tasmania’s troubled healthcare system from buckling.

Following a short but serious strike at the Royal Hobart Hospital last week, unionized workers at the Launceston General Hospital walked off the job for 15 minutes on Wednesday.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Emily Shepherd said the government’s latest offer had some “real positives” but came too late to delay the industrial action.

“Of course, we’ll take our members’ feedback on this and go back to the Premier but there certainly isn’t a quick fix to this,” she said.

“We all need to work together and it’s pleasing the government have come with a suggestion around a collaborative way forward.”

‘We have clearly been listening’

The union received the government’s latest offer on Tuesday night, which included the “return-to-work” bonus, a plan to put clinical coaches in all wards with a high proportion (30 per cent) of novice practitioners and improved anti-viral access .

The government is also promising to increase private hospital support for public hospitals, review workplace vacancies and trial a state-wide “transition to practice model”, with an immediate appointment to permanency alongside a six-month probation period.

As with many industrial disputes, pay is a key concern, however, the government has so far only promised to commence negotiations to address the wages of nurses and midwives.

A group of nurses hold signs in protest in Launceston.
Nurses have been quitting in droves as they grapple with a variety of pressures.(ABC News: Damian McIntyre)

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he has recognized the demands being placed on health staff.

“We have clearly been listening and today we are acting,” he said.

The government said there were also other measures in place to help health staff, such as a COVID-19 allowance.

A daily allowance of up to $60 a day for a frontline nurse would be paid on top of salary at a hospital that has spent at least 30 consecutive days at COVID escalation level 3 and remained there.

It would work out to an average of an extra $300 a week for full-time staff.

A line of nurses protested in Launceston.
The government’s offer came too late to delay the industrial action, nurses said.(ABC News: Damian McIntyre)

.

Categories
US

Missing woman’s remains identified in Clear Creek County

Missing woman's remains identified in Clear Creek County

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Human remains found in Clear Creek County have been identified as a woman last heard from in February, when she called 911 saying she was stuck in the snow.

Melinda Tafoya-Deltoro, 38, had been missing since Feb. 13, according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. How she died is still under investigation.

Tafoya-Deltoro called 911 around 4:30 pm that day and said she was stuck in the snow in the Miner’s Candle area. Responding deputies found her vehicle from her.

But “an extensive search of the area at the time of her disappearance and in the following months showed no signs of the missing woman,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

Teams eventually found her body on June 4, as the snow melted.

FOX31 met Tafoya-Deltoro’s family in Lakewood days after her disappearance. They were looking for answers, saying they did not know why she was up in Clear Creek County in the first place and that she did not snowboard or ski.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 303-679-2354.

.

Categories
Technology

Chromecast with Google TV review: Make your dumb TV smart

Chromecast with Google TV review: Make your dumb TV smart

Would you like to do more with your television? Well, the newest kid on the block, Google’s Chromecast (now with Google TV) is available in India for Rs. 6,399. Google TV is a user interface running on top of Android TV (Android TV is a smart TV operating system that is based on the Android OS), with a different look and feel. It is pre-installed on the newest Chromecast, which makes dumb smart TVs and could become the home for all your streaming apps and more.

It isn’t the first time Google has launched the Chromecast in India but it’s the first model to come with the Google TV. The Chromecast now brings a dedicated TV UI straight to your big screen. The Chromecast with Google TV is a standalone device with a Bluetooth-enabled remote control and is powered by Google Assistant.

Also read: Review: The Sony HT-A7000 is more than just a soundbar

The Chromecast includes a very good remote control, can stream 4K content (60Hz frame rate) and has support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound. The best part of the Chromecast is the unified home page, now known as Google TV. One can search and watch across different apps with relative ease. The integration of Google Assistant has also vastly improved from its predecessors.

The Chromecast directly competes with Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The big advantage for the Chromecast over the Fire TV Stick is that the interface is more intuitive, comes with no ads and delivers much better search results. If you’re deep into the YouTube ecosystem, then the Chromecast would be perfect for you and your television.

let’s set it up

Setting up the Chromecast with Google TV is extremely easy. Just plug the stick into the HDMI port of your TV/monitor/projector, and power it up using the adapter and cable provided in the box. Thereafter, one just has to follow a few easy steps on the TV, connect with your preferred wireless network, enter your Google account details and voila. That’s it. If you don’t have an Android smartphone on hand, don’t fret because the remote control is here to take over.

One of the best remote controls in business

Let me tell you one thing. The remote control that comes with this Chromecast is best-in-class. It’s neither too tall nor is it hefty. It has a very comfortable, in-hand feel. The icing on the cake is the clicker feature with a four-way directional pad placed in a circle. The middle of the circle has a select key. Then there are two rows of buttons at the bottom – back, Google Assistant, home, mute, YouTube & Netflix. There are also power and input (to switch to and from Chromecast) buttons.

There are easy-to-reach volume buttons on the right side of the device. It’s a compact and curved remote control that does the job it’s tasked with doing.

google tv

By incorporating Google TV, one doesn’t have to rely on their phone, tablet or computer anymore in order to access all the apps, stream content, converse with Google Assistant and more. You can search and control the interface with the brand-new remote control.

Google TV has over 6,500 apps that include all your favorite streaming apps – YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Voot and more – music apps like Spotify, Gaana and TuneIn, lifestyle apps like Loup, health & fitness apps such a Workout At Home, cult.fit, Gymondo, business apps such as AnyDesk (for remote desktop), FX File Explorer, and many more.

The Google TV interface also features a content-centric homepage (rather than Apple TV’s app-centric homepage) and shows rows of movies and TV shows. The bar at the top features search, the ‘For You’ section, and tabs for movies and TV shows and apps.

The built-in Google Assistant also does the job without any hiccups. The feature, that one can access via a black button on the remote, is near flawless.

The built-in Google Assistant also does the job without any hiccups. The feature, that one can access via a black button on the remote, is near flawless.
(Press handout)

The ‘For You’ section has movie and TV show suggestions (based on my preferences). In the ‘For You’ section I can see what’s new from my frequently used streaming apps, summarize shows, and display content I might be interested in.

At times, the interface did lag, especially when switching between apps. That wasn’t enough to determine my wonderful experience with the new Chromecast. It may not be as snappy as Amazon’s Fire TV Stick interface, but it does a good job on its own.

The built-in Google Assistant also does the job without any hiccups. The feature, that one can access via a black button on the remote, is near flawless. I asked the Google Assistant several questions. From “Play NDTV on YouTube” to “What’s the weather?” and from “Open SonyLIV” to simply “No Time To Die”. The results were exactly what I had asked for.

Saying “No Time To Die” brought up a page where I could watch the latest James Bond film (it automatically told me where I could watch it, this time being on Amazon Prime Video), and its trailer, and read the description and details of the cast and crew. It also threw up similar action movies. I also asked about the latest India-West Indies T20I, which threw up the scores without a hitch.

Basically, everything you can do with the Google Assistant on your Android smartphone, you can also now do on your TV via the Chromecast device.

Last, but not least, there is also an Ambient Mode. With this mode, you can enjoy a slideshow of photos (that you’ve selected) from your Google Photos library when the Chromecast is not in use.

Verdict: Is this the streaming device to buy?

Previously, the Chromecast could only be controlled through a smartphone. With the new Chromecast with Google TV, the game has changed. Google has finally caught up with the competition, with the inclusion of a very good remote control.

The problem is that Google has priced the Chromecast with Google TV a little bit on the expensive side. At ₹6,399, it is much more pricier than the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (MRP of ₹5,999, but usually on discount at ₹4,499) and on pair with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which is priced at ₹6,499. There’s also competition from Xiaomi and realme that come in at a lesser price point but omit a lot of features. Xiaomi’s Mi Box 4K comes in at ₹3,699, while the realme 4k Smart Google TV Stick is retailing for ₹3,999.

The Google TV interface is cleaner than the rest, the remote control is great, and the performance is pretty good. There’s also ease of use that comes with the Chromecast with Google TV. One big advantage with the Google Chromecast is that you can cast apps from your smartphone. You can even mirror your Google Chrome browser tab to your TV.

One wishes Google had more competitive pricing for the Chromecast with Google TV. Pricing aside, the new Chromecast is a pretty great competitor in today’s industry. For a 4K streaming device, the Google Chromecast should be at the top of your list.

In the end, it may come down to which ecosystem you are more embedded in and which one you prefer more. If your house is full of Alexa products, then you might prefer the Fire TV Stick. If you’re a huge fan of Google Assistant, then the Chromecast with Google TV is the way to go.

Also read: Google Pixel 6a review: A phone worth the two-year wait

.

Categories
Sports

Quade Cooper focused on Wallabies v Argentina, not Michael Cheika

Quade Cooper focused on Wallabies v Argentina, not Michael Cheika

“It was a great opportunity to be in a top-flight environment after being out of it for so long. I just really enjoyed the opportunity so every time I am here I try and learn as much as I can. I know my days in and around this are quite limited now, as you get older.”

Quizzed about the state of his relationship with Cheika, Cooper said they didn’t have one.

Quade Cooper injured himself in the warm-up before Australia's first Test against England.

Quade Cooper injured himself in the warm-up before Australia’s first Test against England.Credit:Getty

“I didn’t really have much to do with him,” he said.

“I wasn’t really involved in too many of his teams, so I can’t really say too much about him as a coach or as a man outside the rugby life.”

Cheika’s first Test series as the Pumas’ coach in July saw them beat Scotland, and start to resemble one of the former Randwick man’s teams with lots of running, very little kicking and rock solid defence.

“First and foremost, the Argentinians are a very talented team, Cooper said.

Michael Cheika warms up the Argentinian team ahead of the Scotland series.

Michael Cheika warms up the Argentinian team ahead of the Scotland series.Credit:Getty

“They’re a very difficult team to break down. There are a lot of different styles, most of their players now play in France. Their traditional style is to be quite creative and they’re off the cuff, but they’re also a very physical team.

“You know if you allow them [to] play a lot of football and get their tails up, they’re a hard team to bring down. The most important thing will be to win the physical battle, but then we play our style of game: a fast and creative style as well.”

The Wallabies haven’t played in Argentina in four years and will have to re-acquaint themselves with the boisterous atmosphere generated by Pumas fans. Cooper said he would take that over an empty stadium.

“Personally I think you have to embrace it and enjoy it,” he said.

“A lot of these boys, myself included, would have played during the COVID times when you were playing in front of zero crowd. I can tell you, that’s very difficult to get up for. Playing in front of a packed, hostile crowd, I can tell you which one I enjoy the most.”

Marika Koroibete shared Cooper’s indifference to taking on Cheika, saying it would mean “nothing at all”.

“I just know he is going to rev up the boys, that’s how he is, so it will be very important for us to start well,” Koroibete said.

loading

Cooper also recounted the dramatic scenes in Perth when he picked up a calf injury and withdrew from the team with about 10 minutes to go before kick-off.

“I was warming up and everything was fine,” he said. “I hadn’t had any pre-existing problems with my leg or anything. And at one stage when we were doing a bit of a backs drill I just felt something. I thought maybe my sock was a bit tight. I have never had a soft tissue injury so it was my first. I just felt an odd feeling and knew something wasn’t right.”

“At that point I had to just weigh up in my head how I was going to approach the next little bit. Do I try and run? Try and get out on the field, and let the adrenaline kick in. But I weighed all those things up pretty quickly and decided the best thing to do was rule myself out, and to tell the coach where my head was at and give the team the best opportunity to prepare for the game with 23 players.

“The way I summed up in my head was if I went out onto the field and a minute into the game I tear my calf, well then I would probably out for six to 12 weeks. And straight away our team is down a sub in a very important Test series for us.“

Watch every match of The Rugby Championship on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. All streaming ad-free, live and on demand.