Month: September 2019

Unused so far this season, the centre-back is hoping to gain minutes for the Red Devils “sooner rather than later”

Manchester United defender Phil Jones views the Europa League as an opportunity to work his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-team plans.

The centre-back has not managed a single minute this season, with manager Solskjaer preferring summer signing Harry Maguire – now the world’s most expensive defender – and Victor Lindelof in front of David de Gea.

Jones made it to the bench for the narrow Premier League victory over Leicester City and could come into selection contention when United begin their European campaign against Astana at Old Trafford on Thursday.

It is the first of three matches in the space of a week for the Red Devils.

“There are players like myself who’ve not been involved as much, but it’s a chance for everyone to get games,” Jones told United’s official match programme.

“It’s a busy period when all the games come thick and fast, when you need a big squad with everyone ready to fight. But it’s a period we relish.”

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Eric Bailly’s knee injury and Chris Smalling’s loan move to Roma weakened United’s centre-back stocks but Jones, a member of England’s 2018 World Cup squad, understands it will be difficult to dislodge Solskjaer’s regular starters.

“Since I came to this club – when I walked through the door – I knew I wasn’t just going to walk into the team and expect to play,” the 27-year-old added.

“Today’s no different. Of course I want to play, but we’ve got some quality players in that position. I’ll wait for my chance and hopefully I’ll get a chance sooner rather than later.”

Jones could be set to start alongside 21-year-old defender Axel Tuanzebe, who spent last season on loan in the Championship with Aston Villa as they won promotion via the playoffs, while Eric Bailly remains sidelined with injury.

United’s other Europa League opponents in Group L are Serbian side Partizan Belgrade and Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

Solskjaer’s side have conceded just four goals in their five Premier League games so far – the fewest of any side in the competition so far alongside Liverpool and Leicester – keeping two clean sheets.

With Cristiano Ronaldo no longer at the club, the threat of the Frenchman is high on the German’s list of concerns

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel has claimed Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is one of the most underrated players in the world, pointing to the striker’s varied skillset as what sets him apart from other recognised centre-forwards.

PSG host the Spanish side on Wednesday with strong ambitions – the Ligue 1 powerhouse having made it their mission in recent years to lift the Champions League trophy, as evidenced in their signing of world-class stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Money does not guarantee success, however, with PSG having failed to make it past the quarter-finals since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club back in 2011. 

And while Real Madrid lost potentially the biggest star in football, Cristiano Ronaldo, to Juventus last year, the French champions’ boss Tuchel is now more concerned by the threat posed by Los Blancos’ main man Benzema, whom he feels does not get the credit he deserves.

“It feels like he’s been at Real Madrid for 25 years!” Tuchel said of the Frenchman, who has scored four goals in four Liga appearances this season. “We saw him against Levante and it’s scary – he’s one of the most underrated players in the world.

“He’s top class and very difficult to defend against because he doesn’t only play as a number nine. He goes wide, he goes everywhere. He has a lot of quality and crosses well, he’s good at headers… what more can I say?”

With Benzema returning to his native France for the Champions League clash he’ll have the chance to catch-up with former Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who switched the Santiago Bernabeu for Parc des Princes in the summer transfer window.

The Costa Rican’s new boss admits that it will be a special reunion for the 32-year-old, but is counting on his goalkeeper’s experience against his former side.

“Of course it’s special for him,” Tuchel said. “He was Real Madrid’s goalkeeper for a long time and had a lot of success in that team. 

“The goalkeeper position in special because you have to take responsibility for your mistakes alone, but he’s very strong mentally – that’s why he played at Real Madrid and I’m happy he’s with us. He’s always smiling, he’s calm and has a great spirit.”

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The Reds boss was not in a good mood following Tuesday’s defeat in their European opener, but feels their opponents could win the competition

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Napoli can win the Champions League, while backing the Reds to bounce back from their opening defeat in the competition.

Defending champions Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by hosts Napoli in a controversial Group E opener on Tuesday.

Dries Mertens converted an 82nd-minute penalty after Jose Callejon appeared to go down under minimal contact from Andy Robertson at Stadio San Paolo, where the referee’s decision was ratified by a VAR check, and Fernando Llorente sealed the win in stoppage time.

Klopp, whose side lost 1-0 to Napoli in last season’s group stage, was frustrated with the penalty decision afterwards and when asked about the Champions League chances of Carlo Ancelotti’s side, he said: “They can win the competition, that’s how it is.

“If you have a good plan, if you have good players, which is what they obviously have, then they can win the competition. We experienced that you don’t have to be the best team in the world to win the Champions League.

“You have to be in the right moment, you need to be lucky in some situations and when there’s only two guys in the room that think it’s a penalty you still have to accept that’s a penalty, but that’s all. They can win the competition, of course.”

Klopp was pressed as to whether Napoli were fresher and finished stronger than Liverpool due to Serie A starting later than the Premier League, and the German was not happy.

“Tonight, the questions are really a challenge, to be honest,” Klopp said. “I think the guy from Sky Italia asked me or told me Napoli was much better than us. I didn’t see that game, so I don’t know exactly where he was when the game happened.

“But now you say we were tired. Who had the cramps? Who was on the ground? Liverpool players or Napoli players? After the 2-0 they looked fresher than us, after the 1-0 they looked fresher than us – that’s normal. You have a boost. But there was no fresher team on the pitch. There was no physical problem apart from the normal physical problems in a game like this, which is very intense [because] both teams fight hard and all that stuff. It’s not a physical problem tonight.

“We have to finish the situations off. How everybody is in life, you need positive moments and you can run forever. We didn’t have really positive moments tonight. They obviously got the second air, so they could go again. That’s normal, but that was not the reason.”

Klopp added: “I hope it [the result] is not decisive. Give us at least a few more games to change the table. In the moment it looks like Napoli’s through, but we still will be playing. We will not stop.”

Wallabies and Reds prop James Slipper has returned two positive tests for cocaine, between February and May this year.

Under Rugby Australia’s Illicit Drugs policy the first test is kept confidential, with only Rugby Australia’s integrity unit and the relevant doctors made aware, with a focus on player welfare, but a second positive test is made public and the player is punished.

Slipper received the minimum punishment of a two-month stand down and a $27,500 fine, with Rugby AU CEO Raelene Castle saying a series of ‘significant personal issues’ had been taken into account when the tribunal made its decision.

“We are extremely disappointed to be in this position today, with one of our most senior international players having submitted two positive tests for cocaine,” she said.

“We are fully aware that James is dealing with very significant personal issues and we have been working with him since February on these matters.

“We are ensuring that James is receiving full help and support including specialist medical treatment.

“James has expressed his sincere remorse for his actions and for placing himself, Rugby Australia and the Reds in this very difficult situation.”

Castle admitted more needed to be done to create an open environment for players to speak about their mental health issues.

“I think the time period has become news to us throughout this situation and that’s one of the things about depression, if anyone’s done any background research and reading on this particular subject is people work really hard to hide any mental health or depression challenges they have themselves for a very long time before they’re prepared to front it,” she said.

“And that’s where as a sport we need to try and encourage people to come forward earlier because the earlier they come forward the more they can help them.”

In a statement, Slipper said he would speak publicly when ‘fit and ready’ and Rugby Union Players’ Association CEO Ross Xenos said Slipper’s emotional state after the tribunal reflected some of his struggles.

“Speaking with James quite a lot over the course of the last week, his first expression and his first emotion when he found out about the situation was relief,” he said.

“I think that’s an indication of some of the demons that he has been battling over the course of the last little while that he now has some time to get himself right away from the daily grind of professional rugby and clearly he’s going to be well supported by rehabilitation plan and also medical experts working with him.”

Slipper took over the captaincy of the Queensland Reds in 2015, before stepping down from the role this season, and captained the Wallabies in 2015 against the USA.

He has played more than 100 Super Rugby matches for the Reds and 86 Wallabies Tests, after making his debut in 2010.

REDS REACTION

Queensland Rugby Union chairman Jeff Miller has called for a possible review of the Rugby Australia Illicit Drugs Policy, with the club not able to be made aware of Slipper’s drug use until after his second test.

The news has also put his future with the club into question, with the prop off-contract at the end of 2018.

Miller said he was confident there was no drug culture at the Reds, despite both Slipper and Karmichael Hunt being embroiled in drug problems this season.

“I’m confident in saying that because this is an issue with a player who’s played over 100 games and been of the absolute highest character in our game,” he said.

“I believe there are extenuating circumstances with James that we need to take into account.” 

Miller said coach Brad Thorn had moved to help Slipper deal with some of his personal problems through the season, but was not aware of any of the drug-related issues.

“Brad had spoken to James early in the piece,” he said.

“He made some accommodations around his training program to allow for James to accommmodate that.

:We have been aware of those issues, but we haven’t been able to cover all of James’s issues.”

Rugby Australia’s policy is in line with other major football codes – the NRL also keeps the first test private, but a second positive test within a year results in a punishment.

The AFL has a three-strike policy, with only the AFL Medical Director aware of the first two positive tests, with a third within four years of the first the only trigger to tell club doctors and officials.

WESSELS EXPRESSES SYMPATHY 

Rebels coach David Wessels expressed his sympathy to Slipper, when asked about whether the illicit drugs policy needed a tweak.

“I don’t know James well, but from everything I do know about him from the playing group, everyone says he’s a really good guy,” he said.

“I’m sorry this has happened to him and he obviously has some struggles and he needs to overcome that. 

“From a player welfare point of view, I think it’s a timely reminder that this is an ongoing thing for all the clubs that we have to pay attention to this all the time, not just in one-off instances or as a reaction to something like this when it happens, but we need to be invested in this from a resource point of view and also from a time point of view all the time.”

SLIPPER STATEMENT

RUPA CEO Ross Xenos read a statement from Slipper about the tests and his punishment.

“It is with great regret that I feel it necessary to explain recent events,” he said.

“Unfortunately I am unfit to personally address these issues today.

“I’m well aware that I will need to address these issues publicly and the questions associated with this and will do so as soon as I am fit and ready.

“I have been suffering wellness issues, including depression, for a year and have been receiving professional assistance for the last few months. the advice is that I will make a speedy and total recovery.

In the statement, Slipper said depression wasn’t an excuse for his positive tests.

“In no way do my personal circumstances excuse my actions but I recognise now that I was not coping and that I need to properly address these wellness issues,” he said.

“Recently, I breached the Illicit drugs policy of Rugby Australia and as a consequence have been stood down from playing rugby for a two-month period and have also received a fine.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and apologise unreservedly to my family, the Queensland Rugby Union, Rugby Australia, my teammates, coaches and all rugby supporters.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has continued to support me in this most difficult time and I fully intend to be a better more well-adjusted person. There is no place for illicit drugs in sport.”

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I ask that you respect my privacy at this time until I’m ready to comment publicly.

Though Slipper is one of Australia’s most-capped props in history, he was not believed to be a part of Wallabies plans this season, and wasn’t part of a recent Wallabies gathering.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. There is also an anonymous online chat service available between 8pm and 4am AEST at Lifeline.org.au, or visit Beyond Blue’s website.

Rebels coach Dave Wessels has named an unchanged starting XV, as Melbourne prepare to take on the Sunwolves.

The starting XV may be the same but Wessels has made two changes to the bench, Geoff Parling set to make his Super rugby debut in place of the injured Sam Jeffries, with Colby Faingaa coming onto a 6-2 bench.

Faingaa’s inclusion has squeezed Semisi Tupou out of the 23-man squad.“I’ve been really pleased to see how the players have responded at training from our performance on Friday night,” Wessels said.

“We acknowledge that we’ve still got plenty of hard work ahead of us but the attitude and intensity the players have brought to training this week – with a desire to get better – has been great.”

The match will also mark captain Adam Coleman’s 50th Super Rugby cap.

TEAM

Rebels team to face the Sunwolves

1. Tetera Faulkner

2. Jordan Uelese

3. Jermaine Ainsley

4. Matt Philip

5. Adam Coleman (c)

6. Lopeti Timani

7. Angus Cottrell

8. Amanaki Mafi

9. Will Genia

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10. Jack Debreczeni

11. Sefa Naivalu

12. Reece Hodge

13. Tom English (vc)

14. Jack Maddocks

15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves

16. Anaru Rangi

17. Fereti Sa’aga

18. Sam Talakai

19. Geoff Parling

20. Ross Haylett-Petty

21. Colby Fainga’a

22. Michael Ruru

23. Billy Meakes

Rebels coach Dave Wessels is giving Jack Debreczeni a week off against the Sunwolves, but there’s no guarantee he’ll walk straight back into the starting 10 spot.

Debreczeni has been rested after playing nine full games this season, with Reece Hodge taking the reins.

Wessels said he was happy with Debreczeni’s season so far, but he looked fatigued against the Brumbies, leading the coach to give him some time off.

Hodge replaced Debreczeni in that match against the Brumbies and was influential in the last half hour in that match.

“I’m pleased with the way Jack’s played, particularly early, we were leading the competition for tries scored and a number of attacking stats,” he said

“You’re not doing that if your quarterback’s not quality.

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“I think one of the things that maybe we’ve made the mistake of, is I felt during the Brumbies game that he looked a bit tired, probably emotionally and physically, a little bit tired.

“I’ve discussed this a fair bit with him and just having these two weeks off, get away from rugby for a while, just refresh, I think is going to help his body and his mind.”

Hodge has been earmarked as a potential 10 for the Wallabies, after featuring in the position against Japan last year. 

Wessels said a strong outing from Hodge would certainly make the selection conversation a tricky one ahead of the Blues game.

“I just think the timing is right to make that change,” he said.

“That’s not to say it’s a permanent change – it obviously depends a fair bit on how Reece plays tomorrow night, if Reece goes out and plays well, which I fully expect him to, we’ve got some selection headaches on our hands but we have that in a number of other areas so it’s a good problem to have.

Fullback Dane Haylett-Petty’s return is a welcome one on and off the field, Wessels said.

“Dane’s a real leader in our team and just having his voice around and his presence makes a real difference to us,” he said.

“I think the other thing we’ve probably missed a little bit in the last couple of weeks is the ability to create pressure through our kicking game and I think Dane really understands how to do that, almost better than most people in Australian rugby I would think.

“During the Brumbies game, we didn’t exit particularly well, that was one of the parts of our game that we felt we didn’t do well.

“That’s an area that Dane just by including him, suddenly tidies itself up because he understands that stuff so well. He’s a big boost for us and obviously really pleased to have him.”

The Rebels take on the Sunwolves on Friday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST at AAMI Park, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.

The Reds will face a critical test against the Sunwolves without key forwards Taniela Tupou and Izack Rodda, with the Wallabies pair rested for the Tokyo Super Rugby clash on Saturday.

Queensland has made five changes to its starting team, with young gun Isaac Lucas shifting to flyhalf to cover for the injured Bryce Hegarty and Hamish Stewart set to wear the no.15.

In what Reds coach Brad Thorn described as a “pre-determined rest match by Rugby Australia” for Rodda and Tupou ahead of the World Cup, Queensland has shuffled its pack significantly.

But Rugby Australia has denied there is a formal policy or rest matches set in stone for players, despite overseas games being favoured for resting players due to the impact of travel.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said the agreement had to be “fluid”.

“So far that has been working well around the conversations. I have had coaches already ringing up and look to change plans, and we have done that,” Cheika said.

“And we are looking at doing that with other ones. It might suit them, because the season changes every week, wins, losses, injuries, how many minutes they play, just so we getting the outcome of the player being in the best possible condition, both for them and for their Super Rugby and also for the Wallabies when the time comes to get ready for the Rugby Championship and then the Bledisloe Cup and then the World Cup.”

Ruan Smith will partner twin brother JP in the front row, with Angus Scott-Young coming off the bench into the back row and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto shifting to lock to fill Rodda’s shoes.

Alex Mafi will also make his first run-on start of the year at hooker with Brandon Paenga-Amosa dropping to the bench.

Neither Rodda nor Tupou travelled to Japan this week.

Rodda, in particular, has had a torrid opening month to the season, with the death of his father the day before the Reds’ first game and his funeral earlier this week.

The changes are another hurdle for the 0-3 Reds who face a Sunwolves side that has played above expectation this season.

But defence coach Peter Ryan said the Reds lost little with the moves given the versatility of players such as Salakaia-Loto.

“I just think those guys, with what they offer, we lose nothing,” Ryan said.

“It’s important that’s the case, the guys that are coming into the starting side certainly do have the ability to step into those roles and those guys could potentially set themselves up for a Wallabies jersey.”

Thorn was confident Lucas would rise to the challenge of playing at no.10, with Hegarty recovering from a rib injury.

“Isaac has played some quality Rugby in his three appearances this season,” Thorn said.

“He’s played at 10 for most of his junior footy, so this is nothing new for him.”.

The Reds’ season is on the line given their 0-3 start and Thorn said a strong start was a must.

“Our performance was disappointing last week in Sydney, we can’t afford another slow start,” he said.

.”The Sunwolves are a side who have improved greatly in the past two years.”

The Reds have also made several changes to the bench with Feao Fotuaika, Angus Blyth, Teti Tela and Filipo Daugunu all included in the 23.

“Feao returns this week on the bench. It’s great to have Blythy, Teti and Filipo back in the side,” Thorn said.

“They’ve been working hard at training and deserve their spot this week.”

The Reds take on the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday, March 16, kicking off at 3:15pm AEDT (2:15pm Queensland time), LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.

Reds team to face Sunwolves

1. JP Smith – GPS

2. Alex Mafi – Bond University

3. Ruan Smith – GPS

4. Harry Hockings – University of Queensland

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – Souths

6. Angus Scott-Young – University of Queensland

7. Liam Wright – Easts

8. Scott Higginbotham – Wests

9. Moses Sorovi – Wests

10. Isaac Lucas – Sunnybank

11. Sefa Naivalu

12. Duncan Paia’aua – Norths

13. Samu Kerevi (c) – Souths

14. Chris Feauai-Sautia – Souths

15. Hamish Stewart – Bond University

Reserves:

16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Sunnybank

17. Harry Hoopert – Brothers

18. Feao Fotuaika – Souths

19. Angus Blyth – Bond University

20. Caleb Timu – Souths

21. Tate McDermott – University of Queensland

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22. Teti Tela – Souths

23. Filipo Daugunu – Wests

Reece Hodge is hopeful of lining up alongside some Rebels teammates on June 9, with the first Wallabies squad of the year to be named on Wednesday night.

Hodge is a certainty to feature in coach Michael Cheika’s squad but there are still several spots up for grabs and some of his teammates in Melbourne are leading contenders to fill those holes.

Anaru Rangi and Jack Maddocks are two of those contenders and Hodge said they had put their names in lights over the past month.

“I think especially in the last few weeks guys have been putting their hands up,” Hodge said.

“Anaru Rangi – you can see how much he wants it – and then you can see how much some of the young guys want it.“Jack Maddocks, even Billy Meakes, you could just keep rattling off names.

“Of course they’re my teammates so I want to push their cause but I think everyone is going to be watching the selection tonight on Kick and Chase keenly.

“It’s an honour every time you are named in the national team and guys will be watching keenly tonight.”

The Wallabies superboot squared off with Hawthorn’s Conor Glass and St Kilda’s Ray Connellan at Gosch’s Paddock on Thursday, the latter a childhood friend of Ireland star Robbie Henshaw.

Henshaw could line up against Hodge in June and the star back identified several threats across Ireland’s backline.

“They’ve got some really exciting guys in that backline,” Hodge said.“Obviously Stockdale won player of the Six Nations tournament and then you have guys like Sexton as well.

“They have threats right across the backline and a really strong forward pack.

“It’s going to be a massive test – they’re probably the form team in the world at the moment so I’m looking forward to it.”

On the home front, the Rebels have a rare opportunity to leapfrog the Waratahs to go top of the Australian Conference on Saturday, when they travel to Auckland to face the Blues.

Melbourne have never won in Auckland but Hodge said the side will take confidence from their close shave at Eden Park 12 months ago.

“We’ve probably gone close a few times – last year we had a bit of a comeback and we were on the edge and we just let it slip in the last five minutes,” he said.

“It’s a massive game for us and we’re really looking forward to it.”

The Wallabies face Ireland at Suncorp Stadium on June 9, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and RUGBY.com.au radio. Buy tickets here.

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Rebels skipper Adam Coleman will miss his second straight match on Friday, ruled out of Melbourne’s pivotal penultimate round clash against the Reds.

Coleman suffered an adductor strain in the Wallabies’ third Test loss to Ireland and while it was initially thought he would be right to face Queensland, coach Dave Wessels put a pen through that notion on Tuesday.

In better news both Marika Koroibete and Tetera Faulkner will be available for selection in what shapes as a season defining night for Melbourne.

Wessels’ side will control their own finals destiny as they currently sit eighth on the Super Rugby ladder and a win against the lowly Reds would all but assure they maintain that spot. 

“The great thing is that we are currently sitting in a playoff spot,” Wessels said.“If we do the things that are in our control we stay in a playoff spot – that’s the position that we are in.”

Setting a new high watermark in that space is always a small milestone but Wessels wants to ensure his side are focused on the job at hand rather than the big picture.

“I’m proud of the boys for the style of rugby that we are going to play because that’s the style we said we were going to do,” he said.

“We said we were going to be brave and play in a way which makes the people of Melbourne proud but a big part of what we are trying to do here is win.

“We want to make sure in the days leading up to Friday we know that we can go one better.“We play well but we do that for the full 80 minutes to make sure we get the outcome.”

Wessels will not be lulled into a false sense of security despite Queensland’s late season slide, pointing to their backs as a threat which must be stopped to ensure success.

“I think in reality the Reds are a very good side and things, at times, haven’t gone their way but they certainly have some very good players – some world class players,” he said.

“Our approach to dealing with a few dangerous runners is to throw a few punches of our own.

“If you allow them to have the ball in the way that they want to have the ball they can really hurt you.

“We focus very hard on playing the game on our terms and doing the things we want to do.”

The Rebels face the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and RUGBY.com.au radio.

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Promising Rebels prop Ferete Sa’aga has put pen to paper on a fresh deal which will keep him at the club until the end of 2022.

The lengthy extension was never in doubt for the 23-year-old who is a proud product of Victorian rugby.

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“I’m excited to be able to continue my rugby career here in Melbourne surrounded by my family and representing this great club and doing my hometown proud,” Sa’aga said.

“Growing up as a Melbourne boy without a local Super Rugby team, it never seemed real that I could one day have the opportunity to compete on the professional stage.

“Getting to run out in front of my friends and family each week is something that I am very grateful for and I don’t want that to end anytime soon.”

Sa’aga, who has 24 Super Rugby caps to his name, believes the environment created by Rebels coach Dave Wessels will drive him to thrive.

“The longer I have played at this level, though, the more I have really started to not just want to play but to really work hard, compete and be the best player that I can be,” he said.

“That’s why I am extending my contract with the Rebels because this is where I believe I can be my best.”

Melbourne Rebels prop Fereti Sa’aga has extended his contract with the Club through to at least the end of the 2022 season.

A proud product of the Victorian Rugby pathway and a former junior star for Northern Panthers, Sa’aga is a prominent face of the emerging generation of local Melbourne players making their mark on the Super Rugby competition.

Rebels GM of rugby Nick Ryan – who first spotted the prop while playing junior rugby for the Northern Panthers – said the new deal was reward for Sa’aga’s development.

“Fereti is a testament to a local pathway system that’s aligned closely to the Rebels in aiming to develop quality people and players,” he said.

“Talent alone is not enough to make it as a professional.

“Fereti has developed enormously since joining the Rebels and he is a widely respected member of the playing group.

“His achievements to date are impressive for a young prop and I know that if he continues to work hard under the guidance of new scrum coach Nic Henderson, he will continue to develop into a prop that will push for higher representative honours.”