Category Sports News

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Sale (7) 26

Tries: Ma’asi-White, Rodd, O’Flaherty 2 Cons: Ford 3

Sharks (3) 10

A much-improved second-half performance helped Sale beat South African side the Sharks and confirmed their passage to the Investec Champions Cup last 16.

Siya Masuku’s penalty put the visitors ahead before Sale centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White scored the only try of an error-strewn opening period to give the hosts a slender half-time advantage.

England prop Bevan Rodd burrowed over on 49 minutes and Tom O’Flaherty crossed soon after to put Sale 19-3 up, before Sharks flanker Manu Tshituka scored a wonderful individual try to reduce the arrears.

After falling behind to Masuku’s penalty Sale responded quickly and their building pressure told when Ma’asi-White collected a short pass before crossing the whitewash.

Sharks, without the majority of their South Africa internationals including captain Siya Kolisi, were enjoying plenty of possession and providing an attacking threat, but after several phases of probing the Sale defence around the 20-minute mark they opted to kick in behind and lost possession.

Sale debutant Obi Ene looked sharp on the wing but his side were struggling to build momentum with handling errors allowing the Sharks to counter regularly and on one such foray forward blind-side flanker Tino Mavesere came close to scoring but dropped the ball in contact five metres short of the tryline.

The hosts escaped again shortly before the break when full-back Hakeem Kunene broke clear only for Sale winger O’Flaherty to come back with a vital covering tackle.

Sharks fly-half Masuku tried his luck with a penalty from his own half early in the second period, and although it had the length he sent the kick wide of the posts.

It took Sale until the 49th minute to get their second try as a catch and drive from a five-metre line-out allowed Rodd to score.

George Ford’s superb kick to the corner then set up Sale’s third soon after. With the line-out ball secured, Ene spun it wide to fellow wing O’Flaherty who ran in unopposed.

Just as Sale looked like they were well on top, Sharks flanker Tshituka scored an excellent try, picking the ball from the base of a ruck and beating Ford all ends up before racing away to the line.

Sale: Carpenter; Ene, Du Preez, Ma’asi-White, O’Flaherty; Ford, Warr; Rodd, Jibulu, Harper, Bamber, Van Rhyn (capt), Vermeulen, Dugdale, T Curry.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, John, Burrow, Andrews, Hanson, Louw, Wehr.

Sharks: Kunene; Penxe, Venter, Julius, Malan; Masuku, Braude; Mazibuko, Swart, Koch, Rahl, Van Heerden, Mavesere, Tshituka, Hatton (capt).

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wal) and Ben Connor (Wal)

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has “unreservedly” apologised for describing Wilfried Nancy’s short time as Celtic manager as an “absolute Holocaust” live on BBC show Final Score.

Given, 49, was asked to give his thoughts on Nancy’s sacking after just 33 days and eight games in charge of the Scottish champions.

The ex-Republic of Ireland international said the tenure “was terrible from start to finish”, before using insensitive language to describe 48-year-old Nancy’s first week in the role.

He added: “We all have areas of ignorance in our knowledge, and I hope to use this as an opportunity to become better educated going forward.

“I am genuinely mortified and apologise unreservedly to everyone offended, and will be donating my fee from today’s show to the Holocaust Educational Trust.”

Final Score presenter Jason Mohammad apologised later in the show for the “inappropriate language” used.

Frenchman Nancy was sacked last week following Celtic’s 3-1 defeat by Rangers – his sixth loss as manager in just eight games.

His 33-day stint as Celtic boss was the shortest reign in the club’s history.

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Leinster (12) 25

Tries: Kenny 2, Van der Flier, Henshaw Con: Prendergast Pen: Byrne

La Rochelle (7) 24

Harry Byrne scored a match-winning penalty with the last kick of the game as Leinster moved closer to securing a home last-16 game in the Investec Champions Cup with a nail-biting victory over rivals La Rochelle at Aviva Stadium.

At the end of a ding-dong latest edition of one of Europe’s most compelling rivalries, replacement fly-half Byrne nailed his kick in the 83rd minute to put Leinster five points clear of the Stormers at the top of pool 3.

With three wins from three, the four-time champions are guaranteed to be in the top two when they travel to Bayonne in the final round of pool fixtures next week.

But Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle – who beat Leinster in the 2022 and 2023 finals – are in danger of missing out on a knockout place after failing to bounce back from last month’s defeat by the Stormers.

O’Gara will lament a slow start by his side as Leinster raced into a 12-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes with two tries by European debutant Joshua Kenny.

However, after Georgian winger Davit Niniashvili’s score narrowed the deficit before half-time, La Rochelle moved 17-12 clear when Nolann Le Garrec’s penalty was followed by Ihaia West’s converted try.

In an absorbing conclusion, Josh van der Flier and Robbie Henshaw crossed to push Leinster 22-17 and seal the bonus point, but the visitors looked to have snatched a dramatic win when West scored his second.

While it was a painful defeat for La Rochelle, the victory extended Leinster’s winning sequence to eight in all competitions since their United Rugby Championship loss to Munster at Croke Park in October.

Leo Cullen’s side came into the game beset by front-row injury troubles, with Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani and Jack Boyle all missing.

However, they still produced a blistering start as Kenny finished two sweeping moves in the corner with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell watching in the stands.

But the hosts struggled to maintain momentum as Tommy O’Brien was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on during a promising La Rochelle attack.

Having been made to wait, Niniashvili struck for the Top 14 outfit in the 28th minute, with Leinster’s woes deepened when Joe McCarthy was sin-binned before half-time.

While Leinster – who lost Ireland internationals Ciaran Frawley and Paddy McCarthy to injuries – held La Rochelle scoreless with Joe McCarthy off the field, Le Garrec slotted a penalty over and converted West’s try to give La Rochelle a 17-12 lead.

La Rochelle were guilty of spurning try-scoring opportunities, however, and they were made to pay when Van der Flier and Henshaw both crossed in the right corner in the space of four minutes to move Leinster clear.

However, with Prendergast and Byrne both having missed conversion attempts, La Rochelle edged ahead when Le Garrec coolly added the extras to out-half West’s second score, leaving Leinster on the brink of a first pool defeat since 2018.

Leinster: Frawley; O’Brien, Ioane, Henshaw, Kenny; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson, J McCarthy, Ryan; Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, Cahir, Sparrow, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Byrne, Osborne.

Sin-bin: O’Brien (13), J McCarthy (37)

La Rochelle: Leyds; Nowell, Favre, Daunivucu, Niniashvili; West, Le Garrec; Wardi, Latu, Atonio, Kante-Samba, Skelton, Jegou, Botia, Alldritt (capt).

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Assistant referees: Adam Leal (RFU) & John Meredith (RFU)

Having signed off at Bournemouth in fairytale fashion, Antoine Semenyo started life at Manchester City in a similarly dreamy manner just four days later by stealing the show in a record-equalling win for the club.

The forward completed a transfer from the Cherries on Friday and, although it was Exeter City in front of him for his debut, the 26-year-old duly impressed in a 10-1 FA Cup third-round mauling of the League One side.

Semenyo showed early signs of why City decided to spend £65m to bring him to Etihad Stadium.

He became a fans’ favourite during his three years on the south coast and a goal and assist on his first start will go a long way to ensuring supporters at his new club take to him in the same way.

The Ghanaian was named man of the match in a contest where City racked up double figures for the first time under Pep Guardiola and matched the biggest victory in their history – a 10-1 Second Division thrashing of Huddersfield in 1987.

It was also the biggest FA Cup win from a top-flight side since Tottenham Hotspur beat Crewe 13-2 in a fourth-round replay in 1960.

With boss Guardiola serving a one-game touchline ban for receiving three yellow cards, assistant Pep Lijnders stood in for duties during the game and post-match.

“I think a lot of good performances today,” said Lijnders. “A lot of good individual performances. I think when the team plays like that it becomes easier for the individual, but Antoine is settling well.

“He is a humble guy and we have followed him for a long time, but he brings something to the frontline – what we really want and what we need.

Semenyo’s beaming smile at full-time was as bright as the stadium floodlights after playing a major part in his side’s rampant and ruthless success.

Star striker Erling Haaland played only the first 45 minutes, missing Semenyo’s goal contributions, but will be licking his lips at the service he may well receive from City’s new recruit.

A delightful ball into the box from the left flank was finished off by Rico Lewis for their fifth goal, before he showed class and composure to make it 6-0.

“It’s not a surprise for us because everyone has seen how good of a player he is in the Premier League,” said Lewis.

“Everybody wanted him, there’s a reason for that and he’s shown that today. It feels like a seamless transition into the team.

“He’s a really good person as well which is another positive.”

Having scored 10 Premier League goals this season for Bournemouth, Semenyo’s first for City saw him run on to Rayan Cherki’s pass and slipping a finish under Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.

In turn, he became the first player to both score and assist a goal on his City debut since Sergio Aguero against Swansea in August 2011.

That is some player to emulate, given the Argentine striker went on to become City’s record goalscorer during a decade with them, lifting five Premier League titles, six League Cups and an FA Cup triumph in 2019.

Semenyo has started in perfect fashion as victory over Exeter made it 12 unbeaten games in all competitions for City as they continue to fight on all fronts.

Three consecutive Premier League draws has left them six points behind leaders Arsenal, while their next game is the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle on Tuesday.

Lijnders said: “The last three games we wanted, of course, we created the chances to score more goals and to win the game. That would have already created a different position in the league.

“But overall, I think we have a really special group. The amount of experienced players who take lead of the team, the way they guide all the others, the way new players are settling in and the energy. I’m not only talking about the games, but especially training. In the training centre it’s special and we are on our way.

The scoreline ticked to 9-0 on 86 minutes when impressive debutant Ryan McAidoo drilled in and the 17-year-old’s finish was greeted with chants of “we want 10” from the home supporters.

Although 19-year-old George Birch pulled a stunning goal back for the Grecians, Lewis smashed home as City became the first top-flight side to score 10 or more goals in any English competition since Liverpool beat Fulham 10-0 in the League Cup in September 1986.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell, who was part of the Wigan Athletic squad that upset City in the 2013 FA Cup final, said: “When the team sheet came in, it was an experience we didn’t envisage.

“I think my players were excited for two or three minutes, but then they got on the pitch and realised he [Haaland] is the best number nine in the world.

“It’s a lesson that when one of the best managers of all time needs to win a game he picks a team to win it. The respect they showed was outstanding – they did what Man City should have done to us.