MELBOURNE: Super Rugby organizers have decided to suspend the competition indefinitely after the weekend’s games because New Zealand players returning home from matches overseas faced being forced into self-isolation for two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
SANZAAR, the body that runs Super Rugby, said the tournament would be off for the “foreseeable future” with only seven of 18 rounds of the regular season completed.
The decision was prompted by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement that people entering the country from trips overseas, including returning New Zealand citizens, would have to self-isolate for 14 days from midnight Sunday. Only travelers from a handful of Pacific Island nations were exempted.
That decision would make the cross-border Super Rugby competition untenable, with the tournament featuring teams from five nations, including five teams from New Zealand.
Teams from Australia, Japan, South Africa and Argentina also play in Super Rugby, which runs from January to June. All five countries have confirmed coronavirus cases.
“The safety and welfare of the public, our players and other stakeholders is paramount and as previously stated we were always going to abide by government and health authority instructions on the issue of COVID-19 containment,” SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos said.
There were still three games in the round to be played when the suspension announcement came — in South Africa, Argentina and Australia. The matches in South Africa and Australia went ahead but the match in Buenos Aires between Argentina’s Jaguares and New Zealand’s Highlanders was cancelled.
The Highlanders will not be able to return to New Zealand before the midnight Sunday deadline, meaning players, coaches and support staff will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Super Rugby in jeopardy due to travel curbs
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Super Rugby in jeopardy due to travel curbs
- All five countries have confirmed coronavirus cases
Isak fires Newcastle to victory at struggling Spurs
- Spurs’ ambition of a top- four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.
- Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou’s stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.
LONDON: Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said he was angry his injury-ravaged side did not get their rewards for a battling performance as Alexander Isak’s strike earned in-form Newcastle a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Both sides struck inside the first six minutes as Anthony Gordon’s controversial equalizer canceled out Dominic Solanke’s opener for Spurs. Isak then scored for the seventh consecutive Premier League game to claim a sixth straight win in all competitions for Newcastle.
The Magpies remain in fifth but move level on points with fourth- placed Chelsea in the battle for a place in next season’s Champions League. Spurs’ ambition of a top-four finish already looks over after a run of one win in eight league games since a stunning 4-0 victory at Premier League champions Manchester City.
Tottenham sit 11th in the table, but a spirited performance from Postecoglou’s stretched squad deserved more as Newcastle were left clinging on in the closing stages.
“I’m so proud, so happy with this group of players the way they played and I’m really angry that they didn’t get the rewards they deserved today,” said Postecoglou.
“I loved everything. The players were given an enormous task and didn’t make any excuses. We deserved to win the game today.”
Spurs were without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario along with defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies through injury plus the suspended Rodrigo Bentancur.
The loss of stand-in ‘keeper Fraser Forster to illness meant Postecoglou was forced to throw in Brandon Austin for his Spurs debut.
Slow starts, particularly at home, have been a major part of Spurs’ struggles under Postecoglou but they got off to a flyer. In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, Solanke did his case for international recognition no harm with a fine downward header from Pedro Porro’s cross on four minutes.
The lead lasted barely over two minutes, albeit the equal- izer arrived in controversial circumstances.
Joelinton blocked Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his arm to gift Bruno Guimaraes possession and the Brazilian fed in Gordon to fire home. However, a VAR review deemed Joelinton’s handball was not deliberate and the goal stood. Isak needs no help to find the net on current form but got it from an under-manned Spurs defense seven minutes before half-time.
Radu Dragusin deflected Jacob Murphy’s low cross onto the foot of the Swedish striker, who took his tally for the season to 14 goals in all competitions.
Spurs were dealt a further blow as Dragusin, who had been a doubt due to illness, was forced off at the break, leaving Postecoglou without a single natural center back to choose from.
Midfielder Archie Gray and fullback Djed Spence deputized manfully as Tottenham did all the pressing in the second half.
Brennan Johnson blasted off the post after Pape Sarr’s effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka.
Victor Wembanyama after 100 NBA games: As he turned 21, his numbers are staggering
- Wembanyama is the seventh player in the last 45 years to have that many points through his first 100 games
- Wembanyama is the first player since O'Neal to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds before turning 21
Victor Wembanyama's days as a 20-year-old in the NBA are over. He turned 21 on Saturday.
And on the final day before that birthday, Wembanyama hit another milestone — 100 NBA games.
A look at where the San Antonio star ranks in certain statistical categories, at both his age and at the 100-game mark of his career.
Points: 2,278
Wembanyama is the seventh player in the last 45 years to have that many points through his first 100 games, joining Michael Jordan (2,721), Zion Williamson (2,524), David Robinson (2,476), Shaquille O’Neal (2,427), Luka Doncic (2,332) and Terry Cummings (2,305).
He's the 12th player to score that many points before turning 21. LeBron James — with 4,649, in 186 games before his 21st birthday — leads that list.
Wembanyama's 35 points on Friday in a win over Denver pushed his career average to 22.7 points, just a sliver ahead of where Kevin Durant was before turning 21. The only players with at least 50 games who averaged more points before turning 21: Williamson (25.7), James (25.0), Doncic (24.2) and O’Neal (24.0).
Rebounds: 1,053
Wembanyama is the first player since O'Neal to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds before turning 21.
O'Neal averaged 24 points and 14.2 rebounds in 54 games before that birthday. Wembanyama is averaging 22.7 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Assists: 386
Plenty of players have had that many assists before turning 21, or through their first 100 games.
But centers? That's where Wembanyama stands apart.
The only 7-foot centers with that many assists through 100 games were Bill Walton (who was listed somewhere between 6-foot-11 and 7-foot-1 during his career) and Brad Daugherty. Walton had 440, Daugherty 398.
Blocks: 366
Since blocks became an official stat in 1971-72, only two players had more in their first 100 games than Wembanyama.
Manute Bol had 425. David Robinson had 383. Again, that's good company.
“He's a tremendous shot-blocker," Denver coach Michael Malone said Friday.
3-pointers: 225
This one gets a little crazy. He has more 3-pointers through 100 games than Stephen Curry — the NBA's all-time leader — did.
Curry had 200 in his first 100 NBA contests. Wembanyama has 225 3-pointers, which ranks as 11th-most through 100 games in NBA history.
A reminder: He's a 7-foot-4 center, not a guard, even though he has all the guard skills.
Bahrain shock Oman for Gulf Cup glory
- Win sparked wild celebrations among the Bahrain fans in the crowd of almost 60,000
KUWAIT CITY: Bahrain won the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup on Saturday, defeating Oman 2-1 in a dramatic final in Kuwait City.
With 12 minutes remaining Oman were ahead, but two goals in two minutes late in the game gave Bahrain — with Mohamed Marhoon making the difference — a second triumph in the regional competition, six years after lifting the trophy.
For a long time at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, however, it looked as if the prize was heading to Muscat for a third time.
It took Oman, who defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the semifinal on Tuesday, just 17 minutes to take the lead, and it came from a corner.
Ali Al-Busaidi swung over a cross, and there was Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri to find a little space at the edge of the 6-yard box to head home in emphatic fashion.
Both teams continued to have chances, and it was always going to be the case that the next goal would be crucial.
It went to Bahrain, who leveled after 79 minutes. Marhoon was brought down in the area by Jameel Al-Yahmadi, and the hero of the semifinal win over Kuwait dusted himself down to fire home from the spot.
Just moments later and Bahrain were ahead thanks to more great work from the goal-scorer. Marhoon advanced to the left byline once more, and looked to pull back for waiting teammates in the area.
Instead, however, the ball was diverted into his own net by Mohamed Al-Musalami to spark wild celebrations among the Bahrain fans in the crowd of almost 60,000.
Oman did their utmost to get back on level terms, but Bahrain held on for the next 10 minutes of regular time and the 15 added on at the end, to start the new year in the happiest of fashions.
LeBron James breaks Michael Jordan’s record for 30-point games with his 563rd
- Jordan set his record in 1,072 games over 15 seasons, while James surpassed it in his 1,523rd appearance over 22 seasons
- James became the NBA’s career scoring leader last season, and he holds several additional longevity records
LOS ANGELES: LeBron James broke Michael Jordan’s NBA record for 30-point games during the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over Atlanta on Friday night.
With a turnaround jumper with 5:58 to play for the last of his 30 points, James reached at least 30 points in the regular season for the 563rd time in his career, surpassing the mark established by Jordan in 2003. Jordan set his record in 1,072 games over 15 seasons, while James surpassed it in his 1,523rd appearance over 22 seasons.
“It’s very humbling,” James said. “Anytime I’m mentioned with any of the greats, and arguably the greatest ever to play the game, super-cool. It’s someone I idolized in my childhood, and I wear 23 because of him. So to know that I can sit here and be in the room or in the conversation or whatever it is, you mention MJ, it’s like super-duper dope for me, being a kid where I’m from.”
James turned 40 last week, and he is among the few remaining active players who personally witnessed Jordan in his 1990s prime with the Chicago Bulls. He studied and admired Jordan during his childhood in Akron, Ohio.
When James passed Jordan for fourth place on the NBA’s career scoring list back in March 2019, the moment moved him to tears on the Lakers’ bench. He called Jordan “an inspiration” and “the lightning in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be like him.”
The Lakers heralded James’ latest statistical superlative in their locker room after the Lakers’ 119-102 win over Atlanta. Chicago native Anthony Davis also made sure James kept his achievement in perspective, however.
“It bothers me,” the Lakers big man said with a grin. “But it took him seven more seasons. ... No, actually, growing up, I was more No. 1 LeBron. That was my era. So that’s obviously a hell of an accomplishment. I think he’s probably No. 1 in everything at this point. I’ve been here long enough to witness so many accomplishments, so I’m definitely grateful to be here, and we just want to keep stacking.”
James scored his final two buckets on turnaround, fadeaway jumpers that looked more than a little bit like the famed shot at the heart of Jordan’s midrange game. James said youth coaches didn’t always like his attempts to emulate Jordan’s turnaround fade because it compromises a shooter’s balance, but he has spent his entire basketball life honing it into a weapon.
“(Jordan) was more of a left-shoulder fadeaway guy,” James said. “I kind of go the opposite way. But just two masters of their craft putting in work and work and work to the point where it’s kind of become unguardable. It just works. It’s work and dedication.”
Coincidentally, James also passed Dirk Nowitzki (1,522) for the fourth-most games played in the regular season in NBA history Friday night. James has already played the most postseason games (287) in NBA history.
But James shows absolutely no signs of slowing in his record-tying 22nd season: He scored 38 points against Portland one night earlier to tie Jordan’s 30-point mark.
James hit seven 3-pointers against the Blazers while putting up the third-most points ever scored by a player over 40 — trailing only two games played by Jordan shortly after he turned 40 with Washington.
Only three players have scored at least 30 points in an NBA game after turning 40. Jordan did it four times, Nowitzki did it once — and James has already done it twice in the first five days of his 40s.
“It’s just another thing that he’s done in his career, and certainly speaks to his greatness and longevity,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “That stretch where he hit two fadeaways and a 3 (with 7:14 to play) gave us the cushion we needed and control of the game.”
James became the NBA’s career scoring leader last season, and he holds several additional longevity records. He has scored at least 10 points in 1,253 consecutive games over the past 18 years, obliterating the record set by Jordan from 1986 to 2001 (866).
Erling Haaland doubles up in Manchester City stroll as Spurs fume
- Defending champions City beat Leicester last week for just their second win in 14 games
- Spurs have slumped to 12th in the table after five defeats in seven matches
LONDON: Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday while in-form Newcastle inflicted another painful defeat on Ange Postecoglou’s struggling Tottenham.
Chelsea’s recent woes continued with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, meaning they have taken just two points from four games over the festive period.
Defending champions City beat Leicester last week for just their second win in 14 games but they have now won successive matches for the first time since October and Pep Guardiola will hope they have turned the corner.
The home side took the lead in the 10th minute when West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal deflected City winger Savinho’s cross past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
City tightened their grip three minutes before the break when Haaland headed home at the back post from Savinho’s deep cross.
The Norwegian claimed his second 10 minutes after the interval, dinking the ball over Areola after a fine pass from Savinho, to take his league haul to 16 goals, one behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Phil Foden made it 4-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug grabbed a consolation for Julen Lopetegui’s men, who suffered a 5-0 mauling by Premier League leaders Liverpool last week.
Despite their shocking run of results, sixth-placed City are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
But Guardiola said his team were still not back in the groove.
“We have struggled with results recently but the last two victories are good and we did not lose for three,” he told the BBC.
“I would say a month and half (of poor form) compared with eight years is not bad.”
In the early kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Newcastle came from behind to clinch a fifth straight Premier League win and heap more misery on injury-hit Spurs.
The home side went ahead in the fourth minute through Dominic Solanke.
Newcastle levelled two minutes later when Antony Gordon arrowed an effort into the bottom corner but Postecoglou stood in disbelief on the touchline looking at referee Andrew Madley after Joelinton intercepted Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his hand in the build-up.
VAR deemed Joelinton’s arm to be in a natural position and the contact to be accidental, which provoked a furious reaction from Tottenham’s bench and they were up in arms midway through the first half when the already-booked Dan Burn avoided a second yellow card for handball by the center circle.
In-form Alexander Isak scored what turned out to be the winner toward the end of the first period.
The 2-1 victory, watched by new England manager Thomas Tuchel, leaves Newcastle in fifth spot, which may yet prove enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season
But Spurs have slumped to 12th in the table after five defeats in seven matches.
Postecoglou said he was proud of his players but was the “angriest I think I have ever been in my career.”
“I think it’s clear,” said the Australian. “Now whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn’t handball or it was accidental, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion.
“I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I’ll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.”
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were breathing down Liverpool’s necks just two weeks ago but are now nine points behind the Reds, having played two games more.
The Italian, who has always insisted his team are not in the title race, made six changes for the match at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea took the lead when Jadon Sancho drove down the left and found Cole Palmer, who calmly finished in the corner.
The visitors enjoyed the bulk of possession but they could not capitalize and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled in the 82nd minute.
Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at home, with goals from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey.
Brentford recorded their first league win on the road, smashing bottom side Southampton 5-0, and Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.
Second-placed Arsenal are in action at Brighton in the 1730 GMT kick-off while Liverpool host crisis-hit Manchester United on Sunday.
