Category Sports News

Rugby World Cup:

Leinster: (7) 13

Try: J O’Brien Con: Prendergast Pens: Frawley, Prendergast

Glasgow: (0) 5

Leinster’s hard-fought 13-5 victory over the Glasgow Warriors at Aviva Stadium marked the end of their United Rugby Championship (URC) regular season.

After being denied a try earlier in the match, Jimmy O’Brien scored the only try for Leo Cullen’s side in the first 26 minutes.

After the visitors responded with George Horne’s try, Sam Prendergast’s penalty extended the lead, but Ciaran Frawley’s late penalty secured the win.

Following the Welsh side’s disappointing defeat against the Sharks on Saturday, Leinster will now face the Scarlets in the quarter-finals on Saturday, May 31 (15:00 BST).

Sione Tuipulotu, a centre for Scotland, returned from injury after a long absence from the team, who enjoyed the majority of the ground in the Aviva Stadium’s opening period without really putting a strain on.

With Adam Hastings’ penalty kick wide, they wasted a good chance to take the lead on nine minutes.

O’Brien believed he had scored the opening try in Leinster’s first real attack after 21 minutes.

O’Brien gathered and scored as a result of Prendergast’s quick penalty, which was disallowed because Prendergast was too far ahead of the penalty’s recipient.

Five minutes later, however, O’Brien was not denied as Glasgow conceded a free-kick at the scrum, and Fintan Gunne chose to tap and go, handing the ball to Jordie Barrett, who later found Prendergast.

Tuipulotu was replaced at half-time as he recovers from a stellar performance.

After the restart, Cullen’s side were sloppy and had a number of accuracy errors, but they did advance even further thanks to a Prendergast penalty.

After Sebastian Cancelliere had poked the ball through him, but Hastings missed the conversion, Glasgow responded with their first points of the evening when substitute Horne grounded the ball.

After Glasgow were found guilty of offside, Leinster replacement Frawley kicked a late penalty to ensure the victory.

Keenan, T O’Brien, Henshaw, Barrett, J O’Brien, Prendergast, Gunne, Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, Snyman, Ryan, Baird, Penny, Conan (capt.), Leinster Rugby.

Replacements: Boyle, Furlong, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Frawley, Osborne, Boyle, Boyle, Boyle.

Rowe, Cancelliere, Jones, Tuipulotu, Steyn, Hastings, Afshar, Bhatti, Stephen Richardson, Oguntibeju, Samuel, Duncan, Duncan, Darge, Ferrie, and others are the Glasgow Warriors.

Hiddleston, McBeth, Walker, Du Preez, Cummings, McDowall, Horne, Jordan, and others.

Marcus Rashford, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona, is happy to accept a pay cut, while AC Milan turned down a bid from Manchester City for Tijjani Reijnders, and Arsenal prepared for Jakub Kiwior.

Marcus Rashford, 27, a striker for Manchester United and England, is willing to lower his wage demands to sign for Barcelona this summer. (Mundo Deportivo, Spanish)

In the first instance, Barcelona wants to sign Rashford on loan with a purchase option from Manchester United. (Sports) in Spanish

Napoli will target 25-year-old Jakub Kiwior from Arsenal and Poland in the summer, but the Serie A champions want to lower their asking price to £30 million. (Calciomercato – Italian)

Even if Tottenham loses the Europa League final, Manchester United won’t fire manager Ruben Amorim. (Mirror)

Florian Wirtz, 22, and AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, 26, are both expected to make an $ 178 million double deal with Manchester City. (Mirror)

Reijnders’ offer of £50.4 million has been rejected by AC Milan. (Teamtalk)

Right-back Jeremie Frimpong, 24, has signed a five-year deal with Liverpool from Netherlands under the leadership of Bayer Leverkusen. (Talksport)

Due to his connections to Premier League and La Liga clubs, Germany winger Leroy Sane, 29, turned down an offer to renew his contract with Bayern Munich. (Sky Germany – in German)

Emiliano Martinez, an Argentine international who has received offers from Saudi Arabia and two European clubs, appears to be on his way out of the club. (Spanish: Mundo Albiceleste)

Martinez and his family live in Birmingham, but Martinez wants to relocate to win more championships. (Ole – in Spanish)

Caoimhin Kelleher’s potential replacement for Martinez is being considered by Aston Villa, but the 26-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper faces competition from Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Bournemouth. (The I)

Joan Garcia, 24, a Spanish goalkeeper for Espanyol, has aston Villa’s interest. (Romano-Fabrizio)

A right winger, forward, and goalkeeper are high on manager Eddie Howe’s wish list, and Newcastle United are willing to spend £150m on them this summer. (Newcastle Chronicle)

Vinicius Jr., 24, who is believed to be on the table with an offer of 210 million euros, is a target for a number of Saudi Arabian clubs. (Fichajes – Spanish)

Wembley Stadium will make Erling Haaland sick, in addition.

The Norway striker chose to pass on the opportunity during Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but he did so at the national stadium.

With the ball firmly tucked under his arm and a penalty spot chance, Haaland surprised both the arena’s visitors and those watching away by kissing and handing it to Omar Marmoush, who saw his spot-kick saved by Dean Henderson.

Pep Guardiola, the city manager, said, “I thought he would want to take it, but they didn’t speak.”

“It’s the feeling and how they feel,” the sentence reads. Omar was shown to be willing to accept it by them.

Omar was pressured to make a good save because the ball was stopped frequently, which added pressure on Henderson.

Wayne Rooney, the ex-Manchester United captain, said there is no way they are giving that ball away when they are comparing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He said: “Erling Haaland is a world-class forward, but when we are talking about that, we are giving that ball away.

“These players are different from Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe,” according to the statement. They want to score every game because they are selfish.

I believe you can see it when he misses chances, and it has an impact on him.

In his first season in England, Haaland plagiarized 52 goals in 53 games to earn a record-breaking Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup titles.

After being defeated by Manchester United last year, he and his team now lost in back-to-back finals at Wembley.

Haaland described this season as “horrific” in an interview with BBC Sport this week, but claimed City had the chance to make amends by winning silverware against Palace.

They omitted to do so.

Haaland has scored 30 goals despite missing significant amounts of time this season due to injury, despite his unmatched goalscoring exploits since arriving on these shores.

He has now lost eight of his final eight games for City, extending his run of six games without finding the net at Wembley.

There is no way anyone is telling me, “You’re not taking a penalty today if we get a penalty,” said former England captain Alan Shearer.

You’re fit, you’re out on the pitch, and you should be game for taking the penalty, regardless of whether he’s missed three games in a row or has been out injured.

I find it hard to believe that he turned around and said, “You take the penalty because I don’t really like it.”

Former City defender Micah Richards remarked, “I know Erling Haaland’s record at Wembley is not very good, but for him not to take the penalty… he is typically so confident and haughty.”

Henderson remarked, “Haaland might have stepped up; I wasn’t sure where to go.

Palace hit them on the break as Eberechi Eze swept home the goal in the 16th minute, which gave City the lead in the first half, and Haaland had a hooked effort that was clawed out by the inspired Henderson.

The defeated opponents’ players waited for the opposition to lift the trophy before leaving with their heads bowed down the tunnel to show their respect for Palace.

Haaland, however, was likely to have been thinking about how this season had turned out so badly while his medal from winning the game was hurling his neck.

The striker had little to cheer about after winning the first major trophy in the club’s history, and Haaland’s neighbors celebrated Norway’s national day.

The departing Kevin de Bruyne, who had a glittering career at City, had to change his midfield for the better, while Argentine teenager Claudio Echeverri made his debut in the second half.

Richards remarked, “Manchester City has suffered a tremendous disappointment this season.

Pep Guardiola has mentioned that throughout the season. The players haven’t kept up the standards they’ve established.

“For City, we are looking at a rebuild, which everyone will be able to see, despite the fact that they did really well at times today.”

“We didn’t score, so congratulations to Crystal Palace for the victory,” Guardiola said.

We were more aggressive today. You won’t win if you can’t score goals.

The Bee Gees’ “Classic Stayin Alive” was pumped out over the speakers as the ticker tape rained down.

The rain prevented the Indian Premier League’s return from suspension, which ended the match between Bengaluru’s Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders.

After being suspended for a week because of tensions between India and Pakistan centered on Kashmir, the game in Bengaluru was scheduled to mark its return.

After Virat Kohli, the home team’s hero, made the announcement to retire from test cricket last week, there were many fans at M Chinnaswamy Stadium wearing cricket whites.

However, the persistent rain forced them to cover up, with neither party gaining any compensation for the failure.

Kolkata, the reigning champions, will now have to win both of their remaining games to advance, meaning they must now no longer qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

Meanwhile, RCB is now top of the table with 17 points and has now advanced to the play-offs.

United Rugby Championship:

Sharks (3) 12

Pen: Masuku, Fassi 3

Scarlets (3) 3

Scarlets will travel to face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off quarter-finals following a 12-3 defeat in a tryless encounter against Sharks in Durban.

Aphelele Fassi and Siya Masuku shared four penalties for Sharks while Scarlets responded with a Sam Costelow drop-goal.

A last-gasp penalty from Fassi meant Scarlets’ failure to gain a bonus point resulted in Dwayne Peel’s side staying eighth in the final URC table.

This means Scarlets will face top side Leinster in Dublin on Saturday, 31 May (15:00 BST).

Results on Friday night ensured Scarlets had sealed their play-off status before they started their final regular game of the season, with qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup also achieved.

Scarlets’ success was rewarded after consecutive bonus-point wins against Ospreys, Dragons, Leinster and Lions.

What Peel’s side did not know before kick-off in Durban was the opposition and destination of their quarter-final opposition, although they knew they faced an away game.

Scarlets will be hoping former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies will be fit against Leinster after he suffered a rib injury in the victory against Lions.

Archie Hughes was given his first league start of the season and was given an early reminder of the level he was facing when his first kick was charged down by South Africa lock and Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth, who was living on the offside line all game.

There was no score in a cagey opening quarter with possession spilled by both sides.

Some of the first-half highlights included a searing break from Scarlets flanker Vaea Fifita, while his fellow back rower Taine Plumtree was a lively influence against a side coached by his father John.

Wales centre Joe Roberts, on his 50th Scarlets appearance, collected possession before releasing Hughes who was chased down by Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi just short of the line.

Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe, who was named in an upcoming Springboks’ alignment camp, was the first of the second-half replacements when he came on for Ryan Elias.

With Masuku forced off the field injured, Fassi took over the kicking duties and slotted over two successful penalties as the defiant Scarlets defence held out the home attack.

Scarlets had chances to score a late try. but could not capitalise on late pressure.

Sharks head coach John Plumtree: “There was no rugby played here tonight.

“Defences dominated attack and there was plenty of inaccuracy from both sides so it was just one of those games we had to get over the line somehow.

“We know we need to improve on that, but fair play to the Scarlets, they were just so tough and have improved in all aspects of the game.”

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “It was brutal. I am super proud of the effort we put in.

“It was a real scrap and fight with both defences on top and the ball was wet and greasy.

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Emile van Heerden, Tino Mavesere, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi.

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Nick Hatton, Bradley Davids, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe.

Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Griffin Colby & Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)