Concerns linger over Messi's fitness, especially after a close call Thursday, but that's not the only reason he sat out Sunday's match versus Montreal.
Wales 24-45 France: Six Nations 2024 – as it happened
Wales play their part in eight-try show, but France’s power game proves too much as Gatland’s charges remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
Elliot Dee leads the team out on his 50th appearance. Applause for Lewis Jones, the former Wales and British & Irish Lion, who passed away this week. Some love too for Barry John, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett and John Dawes.
Minutes away. Both groups look tense. They know what’s on offer today. Redemption is maybe too strong a word, but yesterday proved that any side can win if their opponents aren’t on it.
Continue reading...New Zealand close in on drought-breaking Test victory against Australia
- New Zealand 162 and 372; Australia 256 and 77-4 at Hagley Oval
- Black Caps eye first Test win over rivals on home soil since 1993
New Zealand are in the box seat to claim a drought-busting Test win over their arch-rivals after Australia wilted on day three of the second Test.
Chasing 279 for victory, Matt Henry and debutant Ben Sears ripped through the Australian top order at Hagley Oval on Sunday, leaving Australia dazed at 34-4.
Continue reading...Pat Cummins strikes late but New Zealand claw back ascendancy in seesawing second Test
- Marnus Labuschagne scores 90 as Matt Henry takes 7-67
- New Zealand fight back to 134-2 leading by 40 runs on day two
Australia skipper Pat Cummins bowled Kane Williamson in the final hour of play on the second day of the second Test in Christchurch on Saturday, just as the master batsman threatened an innings that would put New Zealand on top.
After 14 wickets fell on day one and seven more before tea, Williamson and Tom Latham had hit the pause button on a frenetic match with a partnership of 105 that erased Australia’s first-innings lead and put the home side 17 runs ahead.
Continue reading...Lionel Messi is clowning on MLS. Does that say more about him or the league?
Messi’s two goals in Saturday’s 5-0 rout were the umpteenth examples of his greatness, and the latest evidence that MLS is struggling to contain it.
Who controls American soccer? MLS-U.S. Open Cup saga reveals shifting power dynamics
The mid-December rebellion that rattled American soccer was something of an existential moment for the federation.
Rebels routed as debt-riddled club crushed in nightmare Super Rugby opener
Winning is always important but when you are literally playing for your future and even when success doesn’t guarantee the doors will stay open resilience can sometimes overwrite skill to get the job done.
Wallabies star cleared of spinal damage but not ‘out of the woods’
Scans have cleared Wallabies and Waratahs centre Lalakai Foketi of major spinal damage but he’s not yet “out of the woods” after suffering a neck injury at training on Thursday.
Van Gerwen knocks out Littler on way to third Premier League win in a row
- Dutchman beats Aspinall in night four finale
- Littler beat Wright 6-5 in quarters before falling by same score
Michael van Gerwen is seeking further glory after earning his third successive Premier League Darts victory with a 6-4 win over Nathan Aspinall. The Dutchman beat Gerwyn Price and teenager Luke Littler to secure a spot in the final, where the seven-time Premier League champion came from behind to beat Aspinall.
Aspinall started brightly, winning two successive legs but was left to rue missed doubles which had troubled him throughout the evening as Van Gerwen hit a 10-dart break on his way to leading 5-2.
Continue reading...Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh couldn’t commit to the Melbourne Rebels existing in 2025
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh isn’t putting a line through the future of the debt-ridden Melbourne Rebels beyond 2024, but concedes the conversation needs to be “accelerated” to given players and coaches certainty.
Rugby Aus confirms Super Rugby CEO axed, staff told to seek gov handouts amid $17k in bank reveal
The future of the Melbourne Rebels has taken a dark turn with five staff including CEO Baden Stephenson sacked, and all remaining staff including coaches put on four-month deals to cover the 2024 Super Rugby season.
Luke Littler hits nine-darter on way to Players Championship debut triumph
- Littler beats Ryan Searle in final on his first Pro Tour appearance
- Gerwyn Price forfeits match over ‘pathetic conditions’ at venue
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has won the opening Players Championship event of the season, hitting a nine-darter on the way to a stunning victory on his debut in the competition.
After landing the nine-dart finish against Michele Turetta in one of the earlier rounds, 17-year-old Littler dug deep to beat Ryan Searle 8-7 in a thrilling final. Despite Searle edging the averages by 111.71 to 109.64, Littler won the deciding leg in Wigan to capture the £15,000 winner’s purse and a first PDC Pro Tour ranking title.
Continue reading...Wallabies star Kurtley Beale not guilty of sexual assault in Sydney bar bathroom
Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has been found not guilty of allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in the bathroom of a Bondi bar after a gruelling two-week trial.
Wallabies will play Georgia as one of six home Tests in 2024 under new coach Joe Schmidt
New Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will start his “reset” of the national team against Wales and a historic clash against Georgia after confirmation of the six-Test home schedule for 2024.
‘Very good actress’: Lawyer slams Beale’s ‘manipulative’ accuser
A high-profile lawyer representing Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has slammed his accuser as being “manipulative” and a “very good actress” after sexual assault allegations.