Australia name Edmed at fly-half to face England

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After last weekend’s win over Japan, Tane Edmed, Max Jorgensen, and Taniela Tupou, all of whom have been called back, will start for Australia at fly-half when they take on England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

The Wallabies are still without several European-based players, including lock Will Skelton, center Len Ikitau, and fly-half James O’Connor because the game is approaching the end of the official international window.

Edmed will face a difficult test on Saturday against England’s highly skilled George Ford, who has only started three Tests for the fledgling Wallabies.

The 25-year-old’s rival flyhalf Carter Gordon is reportedly struggling with a quad strain and is not participating in the matchday 23 despite having a release from his NRL contract to resume his rugby union career.

On the bench, Hamish Stewart will provide fly-half cover.

Suaalii, a former rugby league star, made his spectacular Test debut with a score of 42-37 in the final seconds of Jorgensen’s winning try at Twickenham last year.

Hunter Paisami will continue his center partnership with Suaalii in place of Ikitau, who has been in excellent form for Prem side Exeter.

Tupou, the 23-stone tight-head prop known as the “Togan Thor,” last appeared for the Wallabies before New Zealand beat them in September.

Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight complete a strong back row, while regular captain Harry Wilson switches to the number eight. The skipper of last week’s meeting, Nick Champion de Crespigny, is one of the replacements.

Australia defeated Japan 19-15 in Tokyo on Saturday, finishing third overall in the rugby championship, and then flew to England.

This autumn, the Wallabies, who are seventh in the world, will also face Italy, Ireland, and France.

Head coach Joe Schmidt remarked, “The coaches have tried to balance this year’s challenging schedule with the demands of this year’s tough schedule in terms of Test matches and travel.”

“We hope the group will be really competitive on Saturday because it was great to get a few players up last weekend.

Kellaway, Jorgensen, Suaalii, Paisami, Potter, Edmed, Gordon, Bell, Pollard, Tupuo, Frost, Williams, Valentini, McReight, McReight, and Wilson (capt.) start XV.

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Man Utd won’t rush Martinez return after injury

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Even though head coach Ruben Amorim is pleased that the combative defender has returned to training, Manchester United will continue to hold it when Lisandro Martinez recovers from knee surgery.

The Argentine center-back has been out since February after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in Crystal Palace’s home defeat.

One of the reasons Amorim won’t be giving in to the player’s desire for an immediate return for the trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, November 1 will be based on that past.

The United boss said, “He wants to go to this one.” He won’t go to this one; instead, he’ll take time.

He has begun training with us, but we had to make some changes to the exercises to make them better gradually.

However, having another member of his six-man leadership group join the main squad will be a significant boost for the United boss, after previously saying his squad was “starved” of leaders.

Amorim downplays Dyche’s 4-2-4-2 jibe

Amorim and Sean Dyche have their first encounter at the City Ground since the new Forest manager claimed earlier in 2025 that using a traditional 4-4-2 formation would have won more games than the former Sporting boss.

Dyche and Sam Allardyce agreed that Amorim had been fortunate to survive the miserable form that saw United finish 15th in the Premier League last year in a podcast conversation.

When United had taken 27 points out of 28 league games, Dyche claimed that the philosophy was still in use but was no longer effective.

“It’s possible that I could win more games if I kept my 4-4-2.” Because they might bring in three big hitters over the summer, I might be mistaken. However, it is Man United. Normally speaking, you wouldn’t be able to endure that circumstance.

The 40-year-old said he understood why Dyche had made those remarks when they were made during Amorim’s press conference prior to the Forest game.

He countered, “Perhaps it’s true if we play 4-4-2 we would have won more games, but I’ve always said that my style of play will take some time.”

But then, I can see how both Sean Dyche and his team operate.

I don’t want to watch you if you’re a pundit and don’t use too much force. The same applies to me.

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Do Liverpool fans think Slot is under pressure?

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Arne Slot has already cemented his place in Liverpool history.

The Reds manager, who is also known as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Rafael Benitez, and Jurgen Klopp, is one of the iconic faces on a banner that is displayed on the Kop before every home game. All four of their titles have been titles or European cups, respectively.

It appeared as though Slot would continue playing in the same way this season after winning the Premier League in his first season and spending almost £450m on a new-look squad in his first year.

They started their title defence with five straight wins – albeit leaving it late at times – but have now gone over a month without a Premier League victory.

They were eliminated from the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, losing 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace, and are seventh in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal.

‘ We are losing patience ‘

Slot’s selection for Slot’s squad for Crystal Palace’s EFL Cup defeat on Wednesday sparked a lot of discussion.

In addition to his substitutes, he made ten changes from Liverpool’s most recent appearance, making two debuts, and naming three members of his starting lineup.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike were all absent as the Reds made a tame exit in a competition they have won twice in the past four seasons.

Abigail Rudkin, a Liverpool supporter, expressed her disappointment with Slot’s decision-making to BBC Sport.

She said, “I and my dad got the team sheet last night and we were like, ‘He’s sacrificed this’.’ ” “I understand we are losing games at the moment but you need to try and get a winning mentality back.

We’re getting old fast, folks. At this time, I believe there are two distinct fan bases.

“There are those on social media that are calling on him to lose his job, and there are the people I see at the ground, like me, who are losing patience going to these games and not enjoying it as much with losing the games, but they also want to stay patient with him because we are very grateful to him for what we’ve had from last season when we thought it would all fall apart without Jurgen Klopp”.

If Liverpool beat Aston Villa on Saturday, Empire of the Kop’s Jordan Chamberlain announced that he would forgive Slot for choosing his team on Wednesday.

He said, “This is the one that matters.” “Then Real Madrid and Manchester City. Slot’s job will be seriously in jeopardy if we receive three negative outcomes in the following week.

It is absurd to suggest that he should lose his job after a game [at Palace], in which he fielded players who many fans are unaware.

“Slot’s been very poor and has made some horrible tactical choices this season that have restricted his best players and left us wide open. Additionally, we’ve had some bad luck and squandered too many chances. Football is involved. He deserves time to turn it around and I back him to do so”.

Ryan, a fellow fan, and Ryan, a fellow player, agreed that talking about eliminating Slot is “way too soon,” but that players should also accept some of the blame.

He said, “We don’t develop into a bad team overnight.” “But Slot doesn’t help himself with some of his decisions – and that is what he can control.

“Lions operate differently, and I’m not anticipating the dismissal of Slot and his staff.” We all know how the road ends, but ultimately, results are what counts. If things don’t improve quickly, we all know how the road ends.

More than just football-related factors contributing to a slump

A banner showing Diogo Jota is held by Liverpool fansImages courtesy of Getty

Liverpool fan Josh Sexton – who contributes to The Anfield Wrap – told BBC Sport there are a multitude of reasons why this season’s form has been suffering.

There is a lack of continuity from the previous season, he said, and a few key players are out of shape, a few are struggling for fitness, or are having injuries.

“Many of those continuity issues come from the summer business, the majority of which was necessary for one reason or another, and I don’t think many Liverpool fans would look back and express regret for the departures of any players besides perhaps Luis Diaz and the player profile that Trent Alexander-Arnold has; because of that emotion, this supporter does not miss the man as such.

” The variable within all of this is that one player we lost in the summer was lost in the most tragic of circumstances very unexpectedly, and there are more reasons than just footballing ones why that loss is absolutely immeasurable. “

Mohamed Salah’s emotions after Liverpool’s first game against Bournemouth, Sexton said, showed how Diogo Jota’s death had a big impact on both the players who were his team-mates and the new arrivals who had entered a locker room that had been severely affected by the passing of a close friend.

The tributes from the club and the supporters are a constant reminder of the incredible person we were given the honor to call one of our own, he continued, adding that while they can cause feelings of grief and loss, it can’t be done at an elite level.

” And yet that is exactly what Liverpool have to do with the target on their back as Premier League champions, and I’ve not noticed any drop in heads or performance per se when those vocal tributes have been paid (the song the fans sing in Jota’s memory actually started later than 20 minutes against Manchester United as Cody Gakpo went through on goal and hit the post).

“A tough season is always going to be one.”

Earlier this month Liverpool captain Van Dijk addressed the fact that the club was mourning the death of Jota, who died in a car crash in July.

After being defeated by Chelsea by 2-1 on October, he declared, “It was always going to be a tough season.”

Nobody ever said it would be straightforward.

” It was always going to be ups and downs for multiple reasons that we shouldn’t forget, and all we have to do is stick together. “

Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock said on Wednesday night on Radio 5 Live: “You’ve got a team that’s mourning in that changing room. How are the new players integrated into that? It’s a horrible situation.

It must “have a result,” the statement read. They are people.

” One thing I notice every time I come to Anfield or watch Liverpool play is the Diogo Jota song after 20 minutes goes up and there is a 5-10 min spell where the tempo drops completely.

Your mind will wander to one of the players’ friends and trusted coworkers at that time because they are hearing that song. You’re sat with a constant reminder of the person you’ve lost, and that can’t be easy, because his locker is still in the changing room.

Just a lull, or a moment to adjust?

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We were asked if change should not be ruled out because it is too soon to discuss Slot’s job being in danger.

What comments did you make, specifically:

Paschal: Just a lull Liverpool are going through. It will be turned around by Slot. Simply put, it’s a matter of placing the players in the positions they’re happy and comfortable playing in. Time to put Joe Gomez at right-back and give him a chance. Let’s allow the newcomers some time to settle in. It requires patience; it will work out.

James: If Slot can’t turn things around quickly then his position does need consideration. Without seeing results, you can’t make the financial commitment Liverpool made. Although transition and bedding are frequently mentioned, top, top players should launch immediately, just like managers.

Karl: He should be given more time. We are not a team that reacts in a certain way. Everyone is still dealing with the addition of numerous new players and the loss of Diogo Jota. He is still the right man for the job.

Barry: After the final three, something needs to be done, before we fall too far behind for even the top four spots.

Paul, to say Slot is in trouble is equivalent to saying last season never happened! We are not, and never have been, a ‘ sacking club’. Others’ desperation is left to them. The man should at least have a year to sort out this new team. The talent is clearly there, but they haven’t clicked yet. Please, ladies and gentlemen, please.

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World Athletics victims of £1.3m corporate theft

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After discovering corporate theft worth more than 1.5 million euros ($1.3 million), World Athletics claims to have fired its staff and contacted law enforcement.

The financial fraud, which was carried out over the course of several years by two of its employees and a contracted consultant, was revealed during the organization’s first annual audit under the direction of a new financial leadership team.

Before the theft was discovered earlier this year, one of the employees had already left, and the other, the consultant, and the other, both under the influence of internal investigation, had their contracts terminated.

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, stated that the organization was “determined to recover whatever monies we can using the full force of the law.”

He continued, “Too many organizations brush incidents like this under the carpet, terminating employment with limited information, which allows perpetrators to continue their thefts and scams within new organizations.”

“We are not that organization,” he declared. Even though it can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable, we have a strong reputation for good governance, transparency, and for standing up for what is right.

Although it’s uncomfortable, it’s crucial that we take the right steps.

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Apprentice jockey Jakes dies aged 19

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The Injured Jockeys Fund and the Professional Jockeys Association announced that Apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes had passed away at the age of 19.

Jakes rode 59 riders on the British Flat over the course of his final three years, all of whom passed away at home on Thursday.

They included 19 2025 winners, the most recent of which was on the George Boughey-trained Fouroneohfever at Catterick on October 18, 20.

The teenager was scheduled to ride in Chelmsford on Thursday after taking two rides at Nottingham on Wednesday.

Tommie Jakes, 19, a licensed apprentice jockey, tragically passed away at home this morning near Newmarket, according to a joint statement from the IJF and PJA.

Tommie was a well-liked son and brother, as well as a well-liked member of George Boughey’s racing team. His parents, Jeremy and Tonie, request that their privacy is preserved at this terrible time.

We are heartbroken by the news that our apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes has passed away, wrote George Boughey Racing in a statement on X.

Tommie made up our team, and she has always been a valued one. He was a incredibly kind, popular, and hard-working young man who had a lot to look forward to as well as being a incredibly talented young rider.

A gifted young rider who has the world at his feet

This year, trainer Brian Meehan gave Jakes three winners. He used to ride his bike to work for me a few times each week, he said.

He was a lovely lad when he arrived last Thursday. He had great potential and won the Epsom Nursery with Gascony in Sangster colors.

Everyone who knew him was shocked by this terrible news.

We are devastated to learn about Tommie, according to acting chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, Brant Dunshea.

He had received a lot of praise from trainers for his horsemanship and attitude in the final few months because he was a gifted young rider who had the world at his feet.

“All of us in the racing industry will experience the pain he’s going through today, along with his family, friends, George Boughey yard employees, and everyone who worked with him in Newmarket.”

“Anyone who is affected by this will welcome and be encouraged to call the sport’s support services and the BHA, and the sport’s support services and the BHA will provide care and support to those close to Tommie.”

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