Rugby World Cup debutants Russia finally get their campaign under way tomorrow with an opening match against the US.
Although the first recorded game of rugby took place in Russia in the 1880s, it was variously outlawed and then struggled to compete alongside soccer and state-sponsored Olympic sports.
However, they are through to this year’s tournament after qualifying second from Europe behind Georgia — their big rivals and former teammates in Soviet days.
It is sure to be a tough task for Russia against the US, who impressed despite losing their opener 22-10 against Ireland.
“The US are the favorites for this match,” Russia team director Kingsley Jones said.
“They are a good side and they have got some very good players playing at a good level, but we believe we have a very good chance of getting a win. But we have to play at our best to get the first upset [of this tournament],” he said.
For lock Andrey Ostrikov, the wait to play the opening game — the last side of the 20 sides here to get going — was excruciating.
“Watching the first games of the World Cup made me look forward to the first game in New Plymouth,” said Ostrikov, who has signed for English premiership club Sale next season.
“I don’t like it that we are the last to start in the tournament. Anyway, we know that we will have to keep up the high level of play that the other teams have showed so far,” he said.
US captain Todd Clever was left buoyed by his team’s performance against Ireland, but was concerned by an under-powered scrum display.
“I thought we played really well, and also played with a lot of heart,” Clever said.
“We’re having trouble in the scrum. It’s tough to say [what went wrong]. It’s maybe the timing. We got beat by the hit a few times,” he added.
“It’s definitely something we have to focus on — that and some of the other set-pieces,” he said.
“Russia are a big side and it’s definitely one of the things we need to nail down, to make sure we win our own ball and get possession,” Clever said.
US forwards coach Dave Hodges acknowledged that there was a special rivalry between the two nations.
“I think there is certainly a rivalry there. I think, going back through the 1980s, any time we played Russia [the then-Soviet Union] was a big meeting,” Hodges said.
“There is still a little there, but not as intense as it used to be. [However] we’re under no illusions that they are targeting us,” he added.
“This is a game they [the Russians] think they can win. The first half will be very interesting. I think they will come out guns blazing,” Hodges said.
SEESAW CONTEST: The Pistons remain top of the Eastern Conference after battling to a win over the Hawks in a game that saw the lead change 27 times The Phoenix Suns on Monday shrugged off an injury to Devin Booker to end the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with an emphatic 125-108 victory on the road. Booker exited in the first quarter, but the loss of the star point guard did little to halt the flow of Phoenix points over the remainder of the game. Dillon Brooks led the Phoenix scoring with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added 28 — including eight three-pointers — as the Suns romped to victory. The Lakers were left ruing a colossal 22 turnovers — at a cost of 32 Suns points — on a
IN-HOUSE BUSINESS: LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that the reason for the team’s poor form was not due to Paul, but the player was not a good fit for them Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, with the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting on Wednesday that adds another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season. The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, that ended at about 2am, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday then told the franchise’s career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frank did not confirm
Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga. Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as they moved back within one point of Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid are to play in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in Saudi Arabia next month. Real Madrid were coming off league draws against Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was their second win in their past six matches in
PINA BRACE: Claudia Pina scored in the 61st and 74th minutes, while Vicky Lopez added one as Spain notched their third victory in a final in the past four tournaments Claudia Pina scored twice and Germany crumbled on Tuesday as Spain retained the UEFA Women’s Nations League title with a 3-0 victory in the final’s second leg. Vicky Lopez also scored after Pina finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with Germany stubbornly hanging on as Spain had done in the first leg, a 0-0 draw in Kaiserslautern on Friday. Spain were without three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who broke her leg in training on Sunday. Lopez took Bonmati’s place and Spain dominated from the start. Esther Gonzalez swept the ball just past the post and Mariona Caldentey forced a save
RSS