Month: March 2023

All Blacks veteran TJ Perenara ruptured his Achilles tendon in last weekend's draw with England, New Zealand coach Ian Foster confirmed Monday, leaving his half-back facing a race to be fit in time for next year's Rugby World Cup.Perenara made his 80th Test appearance as a second-half replacement on Saturday, but had to be helped from the pitch just before the final whistle after England fought back to earn a 25-all draw at Twickenham."TJ has ruptured his Achilles – we're gutted for him," Foster told New Zealand media in London before the All Blacks flew home."He's innocuously gone to chase a kick and it's gone 'bang', which hurts."Perenara, 30, had fought his way back into the New Zealand squad as backup to first-choice Aaron Smith and came off the bench for the All Blacks' final matches of 2022 in last week's win over Scotland and Saturday's draw.Perenara is under pressure to be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup which kicks off in France next September.On the sidelines, he joins Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava who played in two Tests against Ireland last July before injuring knee ligaments.Meanwhile, Foster has questioned the decision by Marcus Smith to abruptly end the game after England's remarkable comeback.After replacement prop Will Stuart completed the remarkable recovery when he forcedhis way over for a second try on the stroke of full-time, the fly-half was booed by some home fans when, instead of going for a win, he kicked into touch with the last play of an enthralling game.Foster, for whom this result rounded off a difficult year featuring four defeats — a high number of losses for rugby superpower New Zealand — was taken aback by Smith's final play."Was I surprised? Yeah I was. All I know is flip it over, I'd have liked our guys to have a crack so not sure what their tactics were," he said."We'll certainly be more disappointed than them…We've come here and played some great rugby. In our mind, we should have walked away with the win.""It is always up to players mate," England counterpart Eddie Jones told reporters. "I trust their decision-making. I am not on the field. I don't have access to them. I just trust their decision."We're disappointed we didn't win the game but a draw is a draw and the dominance they had in the first half, we could have fallen away.Click Here: Marcos Llorente Jersey Sale

Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting that PSG are interested in Hellas Verona’s Ivan Ilić (21), although the Ligue 1 Champions could face competition from other top clubs. 

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According to Di Marzio, the agents of the Serbian international midfielder will begin discussions with PSG soon. Ilić only joined Hellas Verona last year from Manchester City. Prior to his permanent transfer, which was worth €7.5m, Ilić played at the Serie A side on loan, and during his time in Italy, he has featured 66 times, scoring five times and registering five assists. 

Having impressed last season and given that his current deal at Hellas Verona runs until 2026, PSG may need to pay a considerable fee for Ilić. 

Di Marzio also reports that the player is appreciated by “many large clubs,” which could ultimately increase the asking price further. The identity of those “many large clubs” has not yet been ascertained. 

Wales host Australia in the two teams final rugby Test of the year on Saturday with both badly in need of a win.AFP Sport highlights three key areas that will have a bearing on the match:- Coaches under pressure -With less than a year to the World Cup Wales coach Wayne Pivac and Australia handler Dave Rennie would hope the quadrennial showpiece is too close for them to be removed.However, the pressure on both is huge after a terrible set of results this year — which include historic defeats for the Wallabies at the hands of Italy and the Welsh coming off a loss to Georgia.Pivac's credit in the bank due to the 2021 Six Nations title is all but used up with eight defeats in 11 Tests this year.The 60-year-old New Zealander — whose overall record is 19 defeats in 33 Tests since taking over from compatriot Warren Gatland following the 2019 World Cup — says his own future must not intrude on the team's focus for Saturday."Other people make those decisions," said Pivac on Thursday."What we do internally is make sure we prepare the best we can. I can't get sidetracked by those sort of things."Rennie, 58, unlike his fellow New Zealander has no such laurels as a continental title to rest on.   Defeat for the Wallabies would be their 10th in 14 matches in 2022, a record that would consign them to their worst calendar year since 1958.However, Rennie's side could just as easily have been looking at rounding off their tour unbeaten — an opening win over the Scots were followed by single point defeats both by Six Nations champions France and Italy.Last Saturday they gave Ireland, the team ranked number one in the world, a heck of a tussle to lose 13-10."We can take belief out of the last few weeks, particularly the performances in Dublin and Paris against really strong sides, but we need to be better," said Rennie on Thursday."If we win a couple of key moments, we win a couple of Tests at strong venues."- Young Wallaby wings to take flight? -Jordan Petaia and Mark Nawaqanitawase are two of the few positives the Wallabies can take out of the tour. Both 22 and set to start on the wings for the Australians on Saturday they took the eye against Ireland.Petaia has far more experience — Saturday will be his 25th Test compared to his team-mate's third — but they are just the type of young player Rennie hopes will make a potent blend with the veterans come next September's World Cup.Nawaqanitawase describes himself as "chilled" and is "fortunate to have long arms" but his team-mates acknowledge he and Petaia — who scored an excellent try against the Irish — provide potent weapons for them."I think it just gives us two big wingers who are willing to carry and then if the ball goes up, getting up for the ball," said Wallabies centre Len Ikitau.- Welsh talisman Halfpenny returns – Pivac's cause has not been helped by injuries to key players for the Autumn Nations Series  Tests but one of them returns for the Wallabies match — talismanic full-back Leigh Halfpenny.Fingers, though, will be crossed that the 33-year-old comes through unscathed in what is his first Test since he suffered a serious knee injury 15 months ago.His coach at Scarlets, Dwayne Peel, says he still possesses the qualities that have made him indispensable to his country for over a decade. "He's quiet but he has massive experience under his belt,” said Peel."He's probably made a living out of anticipating kick space and reading a 10's body language. He's been excellent at that throughout his career."The man in Halfpenny's sights on Saturday is Ben Donaldson — making his first Test start at fly-half — which could make it a demanding afternoon for the young Wallaby.Click Here: FIJI rugby jersey

L’Équipe report this afternoon that West Ham have submitted a second offer to Lyon for Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá, this time worth a total of €57m including add-ons.

After seeing their initial offer of close to €50m turned down (€41m and €8m in add-ons), the Hammers have upped their proposal. The Ligue 1 side have yet to respond to the bid, although it is considerably closer to their asking price of €60m. 

The latest offer consists of €41m as a base fee again, but with €15m in easily attainable add-ons this time. Paquetá has been the subject of interest from across the channel all summer, having been linked to Newcastle and Arsenal as well.

The former Milan man himself has yet to enter talks with the Premier League side, although his agents have been in London for the last few days to find him a new club. 

The Brazilian midfielder is open to moving on, having been disappointed by Lyon’s campaign last season which saw them miss out on European football altogether, as they finished in 8th place.

 

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Rebels coach Kevin Foote is out to establish a 'fast and fearless' style of Rugby as they look to push for the finals in 2023.The Rebels missed the finals in 2022 on bonus points after a slow start, finishing their year with a narrow win over the Highlanders at AAMI Park.CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR EARLY BIRD AND HOSPITALITY TICKETS FOR THE HSBC SYDNEY SEVENSThe club have reinforced their roster, signing exciting Italian winger Monty Ioane and Wallabies debutant Sam Talakai amongst a host of experienced figures.This has Foote excited about the future, expressing his plans for the squad during the first episode of 'Rebel Within', a behind-the-scenes content series that follows the club's off-field and inner sanctum moments in our Club's 2023 season.“I’m super pumped about the squad. Nick Stiles has done an excellent job with recruiting some older players back to the club and that’s going to be crucial as we go through our build stage," Foote said.“We want to get the right people on board to support our youngsters through and encourage the guys who have come on a one or two-year journey to keep growing, guys like Anaru Rangi, Ryan Louwrens, Alex Mafi. In the same space, seeing guys like Glen Vaihu, Lukas Riley, Brad Wilkin; guys who have played in the Rebels jersey go to the next level is exciting.“I’m super excited for all the work people have done to get them back because they are good Melbourne people. The brand of Rugby we want to build and play, they’re going to be crucial for that on and off the field.”  Foote also detailed the style of Rugby he wants the team to play in the future, looking to utilise the plethora of Wallabies at his disposal.“The simple way to say it is if you are on the sidelines and watching the Rebels play, what are the words or actions you’d think about?” Foote pondered.“When we say ‘fast’, we’re not necessarily saying running fast, we’re talking about speed of thought and skill. Growing up watching Super Rugby for years, the speed of the game is so unique, we play in summer months where the weather is nice and it's awesome for crowds so playing fast and fearless goes hand in hand.“We need to be brave enough to say we’ve got that skill to kick the ball across field, run it from anywhere on the field so a fast and fearless brand of Rugby is really important for us.”A central pillar of Foote's culture has always revolved around building 'love' between players, coaches and fans.As the team returns to pre-season, the former Perth Spirit boos is looking to foster this relationship into better performances on the field.“We know it’s going to be tough," he added. "I wanted them to go spend time with their family and physically and mentally refresh and understand we need to be at a certain level where we are not peaking but where we can start to grow our game.“The guys have come back and tested really well, they’re stronger and fitter. The medical staff have done really well but we want to build that resilience so we’re putting ourselves in uncomfortable environments that are going to stretch them because I want to see under pressure how they talk to each other and look after each other.“When you love someone, that person means so much to them and you’re then prepared to do amazing things for them, put your body in harm's way or protect them, go the extra length for them on the Rugby field.”Click Here: FC Bayern München soccer tracksuit

As reported by L’Équipe, Leandro Paredes is edging closer to joining Juventus this summer after protracted talks surrounding the player’s future over the course of the transfer window.

The 28-year-old Argentine international has already spoken with Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri but the Italian side have yet to actually make an official offer for the player, hence why he continues to appear in the PSG squad with coach Christophe Galtier also still waiting for the arrival of a new midfielder. The former Zenit man and his prospective new employers have agreed on personal terms, however.

Juventus could be waiting, say the sports daily, to make a loan offer with an option to buy on deadline day to force PSG’s hand. Paredes was included on a long list of players deemed surplus to requirements this summer but PSG are yet to tempt another club with a €20m asking price while Paredes remains a popular dressing room figure in Paris. 

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As reported by Foot Mercato, OGC Nice attacking midfielder Calvin Stengs has been earmarked by PSV Eindhoven as a possible replacement for young forward Cody Gakpo, who is interesting Manchester United.

Having disappointed since his arrival at the Allianz Riviera last summer from AZ Alkmaar for €15m, Stengs, despite starting all three Ligue 1 games so far under new coach Lucien Favre, is likely to be pushed out of the team by the arrival of Nicolas Pépé from Arsenal on loan and possibly Sofiane Diop from Monaco too.

In their search for Gakpo’s replacement, PSV are deciding between Stengs and current AZ forward Jesper Karlsson, who could cost around €20m say the outlet. However, Stengs could be allowed to leave Nice for around half that amount with Favre not counting on him in the longer term.

The 23-year-old Stengs has managed just one goal and one assist in 31 games for OGC Nice in all competitions since joining the club last summer.

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Australia's rugby sevens women keep going from strength to strength, moving towards another World Series triumph in Cape Town without yet having conceded a single point.At the same stadium where they won the World Cup in September, the team that also hold the Commonwealth and season-long World Series crowns, were quite majestic on Saturday as they blasted into the last-four.CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR EARLY BIRD AND HOSPITALITY TICKETS FOR THE HSBC SYDNEY SEVENSNot only have Charlotte Caslick and co racked up 25 tries in their four games over two days so far – winning by an average of just over 39 points a game – but not one team has yet managed to breach their line as their 'points against' column still reads 'zero'.In their quarter-final on Saturday, they blitzed a plucky but completely outclassed British side 38-0, demonstrating an utter bloody-minded determination not to cough up a single point as they ran in six tries.Their chief destroyer proved to be Maddison Levi, who went over for a hat-trick as she followed up her heroics of last week in Dubai where she scored 11 all told.Her sister Teagan Levi also scored late on, while Bienne Terita and world player of the year Caslick helped themselves to a score each in the try fest.They had earlier produced an arguably even more impressive performance in their last group stage match, soaking up everything a very useful Irish team could throw at them while responding with five tries of their own – two from Terita, and one apiece for Sariah Paki, Madison Ashby and Faith Nathan.The Australians will next meet USA in Sunday's semis, while New Zealand play Ireland.It was a very different story for the Australian men's team, also the reigning World Series champions, whose fortunes have plunged since they began their season last month with a famous Hong Kong Sevens win.After finishing only seventh last week in Dubai, John Manenti's men couldn't even make the quarter-finals in Cape Town as they missed a last-gasp conversion attempt in their decisive group game with the US which meant they ended up being eliminated with a 19-19 draw.Having lost to GB on Friday, a 31-0 victory over Uganda, featuring doubles from Dietrich Roache and Josh Turner, got the Australians back in with a chance of going through to the quarters if they could beat the Americans.When Henry Hutchison ploughed over with the last attack of the match to level the scores, the great escape was still on only for Roache to screw his difficult conversion attempt wide of the posts.Click Here: Robert Lewandowski Jersey Sale

Rory Best says that Johnny Sexton has widened the gap between him and his fly-half competitors in the Ireland squad.

Former hooker Best fears that Ireland are more reliant on the veteran playmaker now than in the build-up to the World Cup in Japan in 2019.

Sexton, the current Ireland captain, underwent surgery on a cheekbone injury but is still set to feature for Andy Farrell’s side during the Six Nations.

Sexton leading the pack

The 37-year-old was on top of his game in 2022, guiding Ireland to a runners-up place in the Six Nations, a series victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand, and wins in the end-of-year Tests against Australia and France.

He was shortlisted for the World Rugby Player of the Year Award for his efforts and remains his country’s undisputed first-choice for the number 10 role, with the World Cup fast approaching.

Farrell has tested the depth at Ireland with the likes of Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Ross Byrne, Harry Byrne, Billy Burns, Ciaran Frawley and Jack Crowley all deputising for Sexton since 2020.

However, Best believes his former international team-mate has widened the gap to his rivals and admits the lack of competition is “a worry”.

“I definitely don’t think we’re less dependent; we were probably less dependent on Johnny about six or seven years ago than we are now,” said the ex-Ireland captain.

“I think there’s a combination of things. Joey’s injuries haven’t helped since the last World Cup, while Johnny has played some of the best rugby he’s ever played, and then we’ve got a lot of young guys who aren’t getting a lot of game time, starting 10 in big games.

“There’s plenty of URC (United Rugby Championship) experience there, and as we’ve sort of seen, I think in the URC there’s, unfortunately, a gulf between the top and bottom teams; it’s too big.

“I don’t know that we’re necessarily any closer to finding cover for Johnny. If anything, Johnny has widened the gap by the way he’s playing, and in the way he’s leading, which is always a worry.”

Opportunities

Ireland kick off their Six Nations campaign as the top-ranked side in the world, and Farrell’s men will be eager to build on last year’s Triple Crown success.

Yet, Best believes there is a case for using the tournament to develop competition for the likes of Sexton and tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong.

“This Six Nations will be interesting to see is it about a Grand Slam or a championship and really ramming home that momentum that we’ve built over the last couple of years,” said the 40-year-old.

“Or is there a scenario where we go, ‘we’ve a couple of holes around Furlong, around Sexton, and we’re going to put them on the bench to give us a safety blanket, but we’ve got to try to push through the next people in there’.

“That’s a question that will be answered over the next couple of months, and it will be a question that Andy will know the answer to himself. But ultimately, that is a decision and a strategy that has to be made.”

Ireland face Wales in the opening round of the Six Nations on February 4 before hosting the defending champions France at the Aviva Stadium seven days later. They have away matches against Italy and Scotland before completing their campaign against England in Dublin.

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2022 has thrown up plenty of storylines in the world of Rugby.From last-minute finishes, controversy and world-class action, the past 12 months have thrown up plenty of exciting stories across the Rugby landscape.CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR EARLY BIRD AND HOSPITALITY TICKETS FOR THE HSBC SYDNEY SEVENSWith this in mind, Rugby.com.au breaks down the best stories from 2022, looking at the top six stories in 2022PART ONE 12-7: Super W, Wallaroos return and the Wales miracle6. Chaotic startThe first Test set the scene for a dramatic 2022 Test campaign as the Wallabies welcomed England to Perth.Even before the kick-off, Dave Rennie’s men lost Quade Cooper in the warm-ups, thrusting Noah Lolesio into the starting line-up.Tom Banks broke his arm, Darcy Swain was red carded, Allan Alaalatoa was concussed – and that was all before the referee called time on the first half.In true Wallaby fashion, this only spurred them on as a second-half surge powered them over the line.The injuries and inconstancies would catch up to them as England and Eddie Jones claimed the 2-1 series win

5. Amazing AotearoaRugby World Cup 2021 has kick-driven Women’s International Rugby into another gear as the hallmark event was hosted in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time.From Fijiana shining in their first appearance to multiple attendance records being set, the event set the benchmark heading forward and will hopefully see further nations adopt a professional model.The benefits of this were seen in the final, one of the best regardless of gender, with the Black Ferns ending the 30-game winning streak of England in the final minutes.It was the perfect display of Rugby and the perfect way to end a tournament embraced by the New Zealand public. 4. Bledisloe battleArguably the most dramatic Bledisloe clash in recent history.The Wallabies looked to have pulled off an epic comeback when Nic White kicked a 77th-minute penalty to put them in front, recovering from an 18-point deficit to hit the front.Lalakai Foketi’s turnover in the final minute appeared to have closed it out. But that’s where the drama starts.Preparing to kick for touch, Bernard Foley was pinged for wasting time with a minute to go, giving the visitors one last chance as Jordie Barrett dived over in the corner.For Wallabies fans that had gone through plenty of heartbreak in the two decades since their last Bledisloe victory, the series of events were gut-wrenching, dominating discussions to this day about whether Mathieu Raynal had made the right call. 3. Hooper steps awayMaybe the most important moment for the Wallabies happened off the field as Michael Hooper announced he was stepping away from the game for personal reasons.The decision rocked Australian Rugby, coming out of nowhere before the first Test against Argentina.Hooper’s vulnerability and openness when speaking about his issues could almost unimaginably have a longer-lasting effect on the wider sporting community than his Herculean efforts on the field, opening the dialogue for people to open up.His absence also saw a number of stars step up and take centre stage before he eventually returned for the Spring TourFraser McReight showed why he is considered next in line whilst Pete Samu broke free of the ‘super sub’ tag and has emerged as a genuine star in that forward pack.Along with this, James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa stepped up as leaders, captaining the Wallabies in his absence.2. Misfits deliver magicThe Men’s Sevens squad pulled off a historic feat when they claimed their first HSBC World Series title in 2022.After coaching swaps and a reduction of full-time members to just six, the decks were certainly stacked against them heading into the Series.However, John Manenti was able to galvanise the group of self-titled ‘Misfits’, remaining in the hunt thanks to consistent podium finishes.They made their charge in London, claiming the title before a third-place finish in LA helped seal the deal.This is followed by a breakthrough Hong Kong title, their first at the venue in almost 40 years, silencing any talks they had faced a ‘weakened’ competition with NZ and Fiji missing several events.1.Triple CrownThe Women’s Sevens team cemented their status as one of the best sides in World Rugby as they swept the titles in 2021-22.It started with the HSBC World Series, winning four of six events in dominant fashion.This was backed up by a breakthrough Commonwealth Games gold, eliminating New Zealand in the Final before getting a measure of revenge against Fiji in the final, the team that ended their Olympic dreams almost 12 months earlier.Completing the ‘Triple Crown’ was Rugby Sevens World Cup success, capping off a remarkable comeback for a program that struggled under the weight of backing up their Olympic title last year.Charlotte Caslick further her claims towards the title of 'greatest Sevens player ever 'whilst the likes of Maddison Levi, Faith Nathan and Madison Ashby proved the future is bright for the program.Click Here: Germany National Team soccer tracksuit