Fiji braces for physical encounter against Australia – FBC News
The Fiji Schoolboys will be expecting a physical encounter tomorrow when they face the Australian Schoolboys side tomorrow when they go head to head at Viking Park in Canberra. Looking back to last year when the Australian side toured Fiji, he says they have a fair idea of what to expect when they kick start their tour. Over the past few days, his side has been focusing on key areas like their breakdowns and set-pieces, and he is excited to see his boys on the field. Article continues after advertisement “They have much bigger boys than us but we have drawn up our game plan and we know what to expect. We want to play a fast-pace and free flowing game, one Fijians are well known for.” The side left for Australia last week, and have spent the last few days adjusting to the weather. They will face the Australian Schoolboys at 2pm, and you can catch all the action Live on FBC Sports. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Ryder Cup 2025: Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry silence New York crowd to lead Europe towards victory
Finally, after a frenetic afternoon in a febrile New York, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry felt the love as they celebrated earning a point which edged Europe closer to a seismic Ryder Cup away win. And it was down to the pair largely keeping calm in the face of American abuse, rarely rising to the bait and, ultimately, letting their golf do the talking. McIlroy and Lowry received crude barbs at Bethpage – related to romantic relationships and their appearance – as well as the home fans ignoring golfing etiquette by shouting out as they were about to hit their ball. Lowry had to be restrained from confronting a fan on the 10th tee. McIlroy, who was forced to back away from shots, described the whole experience as a “really challenging day”. “What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines,” said European captain Luke Donald. “That did happen a little bit. It’s happened at other Ryder Cups. “It’s something we prepared for and I can see how well [McIlroy and Lowry] have dealt with it.” The tension spilled over elsewhere, too. Justin Rose was unhappy that Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie strayed too close when he was ready to putt on the 15th green – another no-no in golfing circles – leading to an exchange of words which also involved Rose’s playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and his and Scottie Scheffler’s caddies. “I asked him to move. Maybe not as politely as I could have done but in the scenario, coming down the stretch, it’s intense out there,” said Rose, who regretted the incident might detract from a fabulous match that they won 3&2. “If I should have done it a different way, I apologise.”
Zoe Aldcroft ranks England among rugby’s greatest teams after World Cup success
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Zoe Aldcroft insisted her England team had taken their place among the greats after winning the World Cup by dispatching Canada 33-13. A dismal record of just one win in six successive final appearances weighed heavily on the Red Roses, but at Allianz Stadium they rose to the occasion magnificently in front of a record crowd for a women’s game of 81,885. It registered a record-extending 33rd successive victory and, crucially, England saved their best performance of the tournament for when it mattered most. When asked if the Red Rose are the greatest team in women’s rugby, captain Aldcroft said: “It definitely feels like that. “We have had 33 wins in a row and we have finally put the cherry on top of the cake by winning the World Cup. “It feels great. Honestly, it’s unbelievable. It is literally what dreams are made of. “We have so much belief in this group, we have built something so special over the last three years and this final was about sticking to our processes and believing in ourselves. “Everyone had to do their own job and that is what everyone did. I’m just so proud of every single one of these girls. “It was such an amazing occasion as well, playing in front of almost 82,000 people. That was next level and it was a chance to redefine women’s rugby. “We have been on a journey of ‘for the girls’ and it wasn’t just about the girls in that circle, but also the girls we inspire and the girls who have come before us.” Respected veteran coach John Mitchell was recruited in the wake of England’s agonising defeat to New Zealand in the final of the delayed 2022 World Cup final with the purpose of delivering the ultimate prize. “It’s big. To be part of a winning World Cup side is huge,” said former All Blacks boss Mitchell. “Sometimes you look back and think ‘jeez, certain tournaments elude you’, so being part of bringing closure to a World Cup is very fulfilling. “This is a phenomenal team. It has been good, very good, but we needed to bring closure to what we set out to do three years ago today.” Canada’s semi-professionals had been the World Cup’s form team but they were well beaten in the final, which captain Alex Tessier described as an “underperformance” from her side. “We started the game a bit flat and couldn’t quite find our rhythm, then the connection wasn’t there at times,” Tessier said. “We didn’t panic but we didn’t manage to play our game and I think that cost us the game in the long run. “They were just better than us. Against England, if you don’t score when you have the ball, you can’t win the game. We’re definitely not happy about the result.”
Ryder Cup: Why Europe should beat United States at Bethpage on Sunday
Of course Donald was saying all the right things on the eve of Europe claiming a fifth away win, following 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012. “Their job is not done yet. I’m not going to be complacent. They will have plenty of fight. We’re trying to get to 14½ points first,” he said, trotting out the usual platitudes you’d expect from a captain who has planned meticulously for this moment since winning in Rome two years ago. But even he let slip that he “didn’t really imagine this” as a scenario at the end of day two. And what a scenario it is. This is the largest lead a European team has held at this stage, eclipsing the 11-5 advantage they built at Oakland Hills in 2004, when they closed out a record 18½-9½ away triumph. For the US to overturn this, they will need to win 10 of the 12 points on offer. The most secured by either team on the final day is 8½ – the US in 1979 and 1999, and Europe in 2006 and 2012. Only four of the 22 Ryder Cups since Europe joined in 1979 has seen a team come from behind at the end of day two to win – 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2012. It is also the largest lead by any away side as Europe look to buck the trend of huge home wins – although the run of big blow-out victories looks set to be extended to six. The past five have been won by the home team by five points (Europe, 2014), six (US, 2016), seven (Europe, 2018), 10 (US, 2021), five (Europe 2023). Eight of the past 10 Ryder Cups have been won by a margin of five or more points. The gap was never more than three points in each of the previous eight editions (1987 to 2002). The average margin of victory between 1983 and 1999 was 1.3 points, since then it has been 5.5.
Promoter vows to make amends after Nadi event cut short – FBC News
File Photo Bluewater Boxing promoter Samir Khan has assured fans that he will make up for the disruption caused during their event in Nadi on Friday night. The event at Prince Charles Park was cut short by police officers after it exceeded the allocated time permitted for use of the venue. Khan expressed frustration over how the situation was handled, especially since it is common for boxing events to run slightly beyond their scheduled time. Article continues after advertisement He believes the disruption could have been avoided and has extended a sincere apology to spectators. “So many people came from Naitasiri, Suva and all over Fiji, they all came here. They took out their time, and they spend money here, lots of people were here spending money here which doesn’t come easy in this country. And they all came here to watch boxing” He acknowledged the effort and sacrifices made by fans to attend the event and emphasized that their support is greatly valued. Plans are already underway for another event, with Khan assuring fans that measures will be taken to ensure such issues do not occur again. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
How many points do Europe need to win the Ryder Cup 2025?
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Europe took a commanding Ryder Cup lead over the USA by dropping just two points on Saturday to stand on the brink of a demolition job with a 11.5-4.5 lead. USA captain Keegan Bradley will analyse the damage from a brutal beatdown over two days at Bethpage Black. The visitors are now 2.5 points away from retaining their title, with only 28 points available over the duration of three days. Europe can win the match by claiming three more points, with Luke Donald’s side only the second team in the 28-point system the first four sessions at one Ryder Cup since the 2006 European team and the first to lead by more than 11 points heading into singles. “I didn’t really imagine this,” said captain Luke Donald. “The job is never done till it’s done. So I’m not going to sit here and be complacent.” The United States, hoping to avenge their dreadful 2023 defeat in Rome, were instead left clinging to only shreds of hope as they would need 10 points from Sunday’s 12 singles matches to win, it means Keegan Bradley’s team can only lose two matches on Sunday. “I’m seeing what looks like to be historical putting. They’re making everything,” said Bradley. “They’re a tough team to beat.” Hard-hitting fan favourite Bryson DeChambeau tried to light a spark for the home team as he teed off first for the Americans and secured a point alongside Cameron Young in the first match of the day. open image in gallery McIlroy and Lowry overcame the distractions to score a brilliant win (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire) But nearly everything went Europe’s way from there, as the visitors won the remainder of the morning foursomes and kept the momentum going in the afternoon. English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose opened the scoring for Europe in the afternoon fourballs as they put on a putting clinic to beat DeChambeau and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler 3&2. The match fell into conflict briefly as the two sides got into a heated exchange after Rose directed DeChambeau’s caddie off the 15th green, as tensions between fans and players escalated across the pastoral venue. With the defeat, Scheffler became the first American to lose a match in each of the first four sessions of a Ryder Cup, a surprise collapse after a terrific year in which he claimed six titles, including two majors. open image in gallery Tyrrell Hatton received a late call-up to the afternoon session but still won (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire) Rory McIlroy, the most experienced golfer on either side in his eighth Ryder Cup, seemed to thrive off the U.S. fans’ ire as he and Ireland’s Shane Lowry put in five straight birdies to finish 2UP on Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. Twice major winner Xander Schauffele and rookie J.J. Spaun barely cracked a smile as they birdied the final two holes to get the demoralised U.S. a point in the day’s penultimate match, finishing 1UP on Spain’s Jon Rahm and Austrian Sepp Straka. Tyrrell Hatton, standing in for injured Norwegian Viktor Hovland, won the final match of the day with a birdie putt on the 18th hole, as he and Matt Fitzpatrick finished 1UP on Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay. The home team historically has a big advantage in the biennial matchplay competition but the holders got the hot start to lead 5-1/2 to 2-1/2 on Friday, spoiling U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the biennial competition. Asked how he would motivate his team ahead of Sunday, Bradley invoked his beloved New England Patriots, who overcame a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons for the biggest Super Bowl comeback in history in 2017. “I was at that Super Bowl. I watched it. What a cool thing to have witnessed live in person,” he said. Reuters contributed to this report
Palhinha rescues late point for Spurs against Wolves
Joao Palhinha rescues a point for Tottenham Hotspur with an injury-time equaliser against Wolves.
Jon Rahm marries magic and Europe’s secret ingredient to light up Ryder Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more A flick of a raised thumb from Xander Schauffele, the American knew the fiendishly difficult challenge Jon Rahm had just met with courage and a dash of creativity. “Me gusta la playa,” boomed one American fan, with the fiery Spaniard slumping down into the sand. It was a horrible spot, with the ball above his feet, sitting snugly in the rough with a devilish left to right slope downhill to the pin. But the famed reputation of ‘Spanish hands,’ especially Europe’s Ryder Cup legend and one of Rahm’s heroes, Seve Ballesteros, left its mark at Bethpage Black. A chopping action lifted the ball up neatly, and the precise point at which it pitched earned the respect, even in this cauldron of golfing battle, of Schauffele with that gesture. The two-time major champion was circling back towards Rahm for his own chipping test, but then the ball trickled towards the hole and just kept on rolling before dropping in the cup. A finger to the sky, the burly Basque did not know at the time, but Schauffele’s narrow miss a moment later confirmed the advantage for Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton en route to a 3&2 victory, a third victory from three this week to secure a 8.5-3.5 lead after three sessions, not to mention a 6-0-0 record in foursomes, more on that later. “The only benefit to the whole situation is that they were off the green, as well,” Rahm selflessly said afterwards. “So I could afford to be aggressive and hopefully leave him a decent putt. I was honestly just trying to putt it on the green, right. “Hopefully hit it somewhere online, somewhere with the right distance, and it came out absolutely perfect. It’s a bit of luck involved but at least the ball was lying well and got really decent contact on it.” Rahm’s 6-0-0 in foursomes is even more remarkable than it sounds. Per renowned golf statistician Justin Ray, he is now one of just two players from 80 in Ryder Cup history who have played five or more matches in foursomes and remained unbeaten and untied. The other? Tommy Fleetwood. open image in gallery Jon Rahm celebrated after chipping in on the 8th hole (REUTERS) Rahm has been impeccable for Luke Donald, a player to harness as a weapon to confront the intimidating presence of Bryson DeChambeau on that first tee Thursday, but a selfless colleague, too, ready to combine with a new fourballs partner in Sepp Straka. Saturday’s chip-in was probably the shot of the week, if it wasn’t, then perhaps another from his collection of masterpieces: the second to the sixth on Friday, hacked from some wispy fescue 87 yards out to within 12 yards. It salvaged the hole and provided a platform for ‘Team Angry’ to triumph, winning the next two holes and never looking back in a 4&3 victory over DeChambeau and Justin Thomas. Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy have also been near flawless for the blue and yellow – admittedly the Irishman halved his fourballs match yesterday. But Rahm has shown an icy cold demeanour, too, resisting the insults and heckling swirling around his every step around New York on Saturday morning. He was jeered after backing off his putt on five after a bug rudely settled on his ball. There was the crude, with numerous cries of “f*** off, Rahmbo.” Then the humorous: “Rahm! Tapas isn’t food.” But one of Rahm’s friends and renowned celebrity chef Jose Andres provided a different perspective, muttering in response that “tapas is food.” open image in gallery Rahm’s spectacular chip helped earn another point (REUTERS) But for all of Rahm’s exceptional skill, sadly not witnessed directly against the world’s best as often as past years since his switch to LIV Golf, there is a character that enables the magic of Donald’s Europe. A hidden ingredient behind their golfing beauty. A Hatton miss on five left him irritated, but Rahm skipped over, slapping his teammate on the back and encouraging him to banish any lingering negative thoughts. While one of Donald’s assistants told The Independent about the key to Rahm’s success and contribution to Europe: “No ego.” The manner in which Rahm has taken to his new partnership with Straka underlines the selfless way he can adapt in a manner Scottie Scheffler seemingly cannot. open image in gallery Rahm shakes hands with Team USA captain Keegan Bradley (Getty Images) “He’s certainly a good partner to play with,” Hatton chuckled after his latest victory alongside the former US Open and Masters champion. “He pulls out some unbelievable shots at very special times. Yeah, he’s an incredible player, and a good person to walk the fairways with.” The legend of ‘Rahmbo’ grows bigger with every Ryder Cup; a week when moments of wizardry and camaraderie elevate himself and the game of golf.
Mane and Ronaldo on target – FBC News
Source: Reuters Goals from Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo spurred Al-Nassr to a 2-0 victory over Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, lifting the Riyadh club three points clear of the champions on top of the standings. Mane opened the scoring and then provided the assist to Ronaldo as the Portuguese striker made it 2-0 in the 35th minute. Mane broke the deadlock just nine minutes into the match as he fired a first-time shot into the net. Article continues after advertisement Twenty six minutes later Mane sent in a cross that Ronaldo headed in from close range past goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. The goal was Ronaldo’s fourth in the league this season, placing him second in the scoring charts, just one goal behind teammate and fellow Portuguese Joao Felix, who missed several clear chances during the match. Al-Ittihad struggled for much of the game, managing only two shots on target. They showed signs of life late in the second half but failed to break past Brazilian goalkeeper Bento. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Springboks Player Ratings: Who FIRED, Who Flopped
The Springboks were sensational on attack. An attack orchestrated meticulously by Sacha-Feinberg MngomeZulu. The Springboks ran in nine tries en route to a dominant 67-30 victory over Los Pumas in Durban during Round 5 of the Rugby Championship on Saturday night. As a result, the Boks have maintained their number one spot in the latest rugby world rankings. So, let’s take a look at which Boks flourished and fired. Additionally, we look at the players who were underwhelming against Argentina. SUPER SPRINGBOKS PLAYER RATINGS Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – 9/10 Mngomezul was scintillating, stupendous and superb for the Springboks. He kick-started proceedings with a long-range penalty to get the Springboks scoreboard ticking. However, this was just the beginning of the MngomeZulu masterclass at Kings Park. He played as if he had the ball on a string. The Stormers flyhalf scored a hat-trick and orchestrated the backline meticulously. Sacha beat defenders at will. Additionally (as if a hat trick wasn’t enough), he provided a try assist for Kolbe. This was one of two perfectly measured and timed cross kicks. Pieter-Steph Du Toit – 8.5/10 PSDT is back to his old self. He reminded everyone why he was named the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year. The powerful and elusive Springboks flanker made metres at will. He beat defenders and exploded into contact with plenty of metres made after contact as well. He also made some big hits on defence to round off a top-class display at 7 for the Boks. Welcome back du Toit! WHO FLOPPED Thomas du Toit – 5/10 The Bok front rower was far from his best. He gave away a couple of penalties. Du Toit an early scrum penalty and a high tackle. Eben Etzebeth – 6/10 The Springboks lock made 8 carries and 7 tackles in a gritty and attritional performance. However, he failed to get gain line dominance. Also, he did not make as many dominant hits as we have grown accustomed to. Siya Kolisi – 6/10 Kolisi did not do much wrong but he did not do anything great either. So, it was a solid shift but not great from our Springboks captain. He was subbed early in the second half.