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Whilst not reading too much into the pair of victories, ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham believes the club is preparing nicely for their Super Rugby Pacific opener against the NSW Waratahs on February 24.The Brumbies survived a valiant effort from the Melbourne Rebels to secure the 35-33 win in Wagga Wagga.It's the second week in a row the ACT-based club have held on late for victory after holding off a late charge from the NSW Waratahs in Griffith.“We stuck in there. The most pleasing thing from our perspective is the amount of composure the players had on the field,” Larkham said after the match.“Even when things went wrong, we stuck to our principles and worked our way back into the game.“…We don’t really read too much into the trials at the Brumbies. We’ve got a number of players who have never played for the club on the field in these last two weeks“I think we’ve had really good preparation into these two weeks. I would say our execution is off a little bit from where it needs to be but we know that we’ve got a couple of weeks to sharpen up.The presence of their Wallabies contingency helped change the game, headlined by a double from Len Ikitau.The centre scored twice in ten minutes, spinning through multiple tacklers to score before running the perfect line to seal the win.He was amongst several scheduled to miss both trials, only to be cleared late after receiving special clearance from Rugby Australia to get valuable minutes before their opening clash in a fortnight.“It was pleasing for those guys to get out there," Larkham admits.“They spoke to me after the game last week about getting some minutes. They were pretty keen to get out there and feel the intensity of a live game“…That’s exactly what we wanted to do, Lenny (Ikitau) can take a lot of confidence with a couple of nice carries and two tries…it’s hard to come into Super Rugby without any trial time and I think that’s going to allow those guys to have a lot more confidence heading into round one.” Click Here: cheap puma men shoes

As reported by L’Équipe, Christophe Galtier is planning a change in tactics after the team’s 3-4-3 set-up has struggled for the same impact it had in the earlier part of the season across recent games.

After a tricky first half in Israel against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League this week, a game PSG eventually won 3-1 after falling behind, Galtier recognised that space between his front three, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, and PSG’s midfield and the defence allowed Haifa to cause Paris problems. It seems that, with a chance to analyse Paris’ new set up having seen it across several games now, opposition teams are starting to formulate a stronger defence.

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In response, Galtier could consider moving back to a four-man defence, but that move would demand more defensive effort from his front three, who have offered relatively little protection so far, and Galtier is reluctant to impose restraints on his attackers. Galtier is also thinking about adding a central midfielder to the side, to aid Vitinha and Marco Verratti, who can be outnumbered in central areas. That, however, given the importance of PSG’s wing-backs, means Galtier is contemplating dropping one of Messi, Mbappé or Neymar for a forward more willing to press and hold shape.

The sports daily suggest Galtier is asking himself if PSG can win the Champions League with three attackers who don’t defend or hold shape with the rest of the team. The answer could make for some difficult decisions.

France survived a major scare against Italy in Rome as they hung on to win 29-24 in a nerve-racking Six Nations triumph on Sunday.

Tries from Thibaud Flament, Thomas Ramos, Ethan Dumortier and Matthieu Jalibert saw Les Bleus seal a bonus-point win, with Ramos also kicking nine points.

Italy came agonisingly close to claiming a memorable victory though, with Ange Capuozzo’s score and a penalty try added to by four penalties from Tommaso Allan.

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The visitors were dealt a second-half scare when Charles Ollivon was sent to the sin bin and Italy were awarded that penalty try, at one point taking a second-half lead through Allan.

But Les Bleus fended off the threat and will look to extend their winning streak to 15 when they travel to Ireland next weekend in round two of the Six Nations.

France were on the scoresheet after four minutes when Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney attempted a box-kick only to be thwarted by the six-foot-eight Flament, who intercepted before going on an unstoppable run over the whitewash, with Ramos adding the extras.

Allan booted in a penalty to narrow the deficit before France had a try ruled out, but Les Bleus soon restored their advantage through Ramos.

Allan added another penalty for the Azzurri before Dumortier collected Romain Ntamack’s cross-field kick and dotted down to open his account for France.

Impressive finish from Capuozzo

Italy responded through Capuozzo, who went on a spritely run and was able to evade Gregory Alldritt before getting the ball down in the left corner, with Allan adding a penalty to make it 19-14 at the halfway point.

Ramos added three more but Ollivon was soon punished for bringing down the maul and the penalty try was awarded after a review. Allan soon made no mistake to slot his fourth penalty through the posts to give his side the lead for the first time in the 61st minute.

Five minutes later, however, France displayed their depth when Jalibert came off the bench and made an instant impact, scoring with his first touch to secure the bonus point.

Presnel Kimpembe has come under immense criticism after the incident that saw the Paris-Saint Germain defender holding the referee’s arm and then pushing him quite violently in the game against Brest.

However, with RMC Sport reporting that Jérémie Pignard didn’t mention the incident in his post-match assertion, it is understood that there will not be any disciplinary actions taken against the French superstar.

The incident took place in PSG’s 1-0 win over Brest, with the 27-year-old starting the game as the captain of the Ligue 1 champions. Following a rash tackle on Brest’s Irvin Cardona, Pignard came forward to give the defender a piece of his mind and issue a warning.

But, as revealed by the Dimanche Soir Football show on Amazon Prime, the player was trying to escape the situation, subsequently saying to the referee, “Woah, don’t touch me, brother!” Why are you touching me? Don’t touch me!“

As Pignard didn’t make any mention of the incident in his follow-up match report, it is unlikely that Kimpembe will receive any sanction from the LFP disciplinary committee.

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Western Force coach Simon Cron is turning to Michael Jordan and the 90s Bulls for inspiration as he looks to deliver a killer edge to the squad.Cron finally gets the chance as head coach of a Super Rugby side, returning from Japan after a stint with Toyota Verblitz.The former Norths boss was widely tipped as the next Waratahs coach-in-waiting during his time as an assistant under Daryl Gibson, before making the decision to head overseas in 2019 when Gibson was re-signed.Cron returns to Australia with a wealth of experience under Director of Rugby and former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.To get the best out of the side, he is channelling the energy of Jordan and one of the NBA's greatest dynasties in order to get the players to understand their roles.“One of the things for our boys is to understand what great looks like,” he explained. “The boys learn each week about things they’ve done and how they did it.  “In our team, we have those (Dennis) Rodman’s, (Scotty) Pippen’s, (Michael) Jordan’s so it’s about understanding your role in our team."The hallmark of those Bulls' sides was their ability to close out pressure games during their two three-peats. Think Steve Kerr's game-winner in game six of 1997 and Jordan's famous crossover/jumper in '98.It's a trait the Force missed in 2022, losing five games by less than a converted try.“I think we need to make sure we’re fit enough so we can go for 85 minutes and I think the boys are," Cron said on what's missing.“I think we also need to understand the big moments and what they do in them and a lot of that is just staying where your feet are, staying present and doing the job at that time.“That’s been the big work on for us, making sure we don’t get affected by scoreboard or time.”If Izack Rodda is the Jordan of their pack, former Rebels backrower Michael Wells will likely serve as his Pippen, named as captain on Monday.Wells is joined by Wallaby Folau Fainga'a (a character in his own right but void of any Dennis Rodman-like off-the-field traits or trips to Las Vegas), with Cron hopeful they can help complement a front row filled with internationals such as Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu'u and Santiago Medrano.“Wellsy adds that hard edge around expectations and where we want to go,” Cron believes.“He’s also very clear and crisp around communication on the field so that’s critical for our team.“Folau (Fainga’a) leads by action. He’s in great shape and I love him as a player and human so we’re enjoying him in this environment.”Click Here: South Sydney Rabbitohs jersey

Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton confirmed that he is fit and ready to play against France for the first time in three years ahead of the massive showdown on Saturday.

Sexton has passed a head injury assessment (HIA) and recovered from a dead leg in time for Saturday’s game, which could be definitive in the title race.

The playmaker has not played against France since Ireland lost 35-27 in 2020, where the veteran was frustrated for being subbed off during the game.

“No more hiccups”

The Irishman is looking for “no more hiccups” ahead of the massive clash and is looking forward to running out at the Aviva Stadium.

“I was saying this morning, the last two Wednesdays before France over the last two fixtures, I’ve ended up pulling out, so to get through today is great,” said Sexton.

“I can look forward to the game, hopefully no more hiccups.

“Obviously, the confusion around the HIA and stuff like that, there’s nothing I can control about that, but I’ll be ready to go for 80 this week if needed.

“It feels like a huge game. There’s no point in saying anything otherwise.

“You can’t just come in here and say ‘it’s just another game’ because it’s not, it’s one we’ve waited a long time for and I’ve read that they want this test – to come to the Aviva and try and overturn us. It’s a huge game.”

Fixing past memory

Sexton knows it is a big clash against their biggest title rivals this year and wants to set memories from years gone straight with a win on Saturday.

“They are always big weeks, often for me something comes out of the woodwork in French week and I’m expecting something later in the week,” he said.

“It’s always a big game; I grew up in an era of watching Ireland lose to France, heavily, to then sort of see the first teams beating them and then to be part of teams beating them has been amazing.

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“But you still have those memories from a young kid of France coming and demolishing Ireland. You probably naturally feel the underdog at my age, whereas the younger lads probably don’t. It’s a strange mixture in the squad.”

Favourites tag

France fly-half Romain Ntamack labelled Ireland as favourites for the clash, which does not bother Sexton.

“I don’t really mind, the favourites tag is not something we mention internally,” he said

“Being number one in the world, the public or the press will do it or the opposition will, but it comes down to the performance on the day.

“If we’re favourites, we’re favourites. It doesn’t really bother me if that’s what he says.”

From winning the World Cup for France to remaining winless in the last four UEFA Nations League games, Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé and Paris-Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappé have survived the peaks and valleys together, forming a formidable partnership in the process.

Speaking to the mics of RMC Sport, the 25-year-old Frenchman admitted that he would like to play more with Mbappé. Competing for a place in a France side full of talented players, Dembélé also elaborated on the need to be at his best to book a place in Didier Deschamps’ starting XI. He said:

“I would like us to play a little more together [with Mbappé]. In the field, we get along very, very well. I know his qualities, he knows mine. We played what, 4-5 games him and I together? And it went very well. I remember against England or against Italy before the World Cup. I want to do everything to work, to be in the eleven.”

Having made his international debut in 2016, Dembélé has just joined the French contingent for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches in what appears to be his seventh call-up to the national colours. Deschamps’ men take on Austria on Thursday. In the international circuit, the former Borussia Dortmund man has scored four goals from 27 appearances.

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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has released the dates for the hearing of the disputed transfer of Marseille midfielder Pape Gueye.

L’Équipe report that the hearing of the case concerning the Senegalese has been scheduled for February 15 and 16, 2023. The examining body was initially expected to undertake the case in October. But as per the recent updates, the dates for the have been moved further, opening two scopes for the 23-year-old and the Ligue 1 side.

The report now understands that Gueye, despite being under threat of a suspension from FIFA, will be able to represent Senegal in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

Furthermore, Marseille, subject to a possible sanction, will be able to sign players in the next January transfer window, meaning that they would be able to strengthen their squad in the anticipation of a possible transfer ban.

The CAS will look into Gueye’s “controversial” free transfer to Marseille in the summer of 2020 from Le Havre, where the player had signed a pre-contract with English club Watford a few months before moving to OM. Following the bizarre events, FIFA sanctioned Marseille with a transfer ban and suspended the player for four months.

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This is the latest feature in our series counting down French football’s 20 hottest properties, those most likely to feature in elite clubs’ 2023 transfer plans. Look out for the next player tomorrow and follow the run down in full here on GFFN.

“We were at the dinner table and he’s come around speaking to everyone. He then looks at me and says: ‘I’m fucked with you!’” This was Angel Gomes’ cruel introduction to life at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho. Although such psychological ploys served the Portuguese coach well at the peak of his powers, the Special One wasn’t getting through to a then 17-year-old Gomes. “I was only young, so in my head, I was thinking: ‘Fuck, he hates me.’ I went back to my room and rang my dad. I was nearly crying.”

The Englishman has Mourinho to thank for handing him his United debut at the age of 16, coming on to replace his idol and United captain Wayne Rooney, but this was an outlier in a hopeless attempt to establish himself in a Manchester United team full of over-hyped and overpaid star names. His first team appearances were limited, a trend that didn’t change during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign.

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At the end of his contract in 2020, Gomes was confronted with a decision. Either he could remain at his boyhood club or try and blaze a trail in pastures new. Despite being offered a new deal by United, he chose the latter and has not looked back since. The boy from Salford had not envisaged leaving Manchester so soon but a five-year contract offer from Lille, then under the stewardship of famed sporting director Luís Campos, was too good to turn down.

With minutes in Ligue 1 also likely to be limited, Gomes was loaned out to Portuguese side Boavista to cut his teeth in the Primeira Liga. The move to Portugal had huge historical significance for the Gomes family. Angel’s father, Gil Gomes, was a Portuguese youth international, playing under former United coach Carlos Queiroz. Former Manchester United and Portugal winger Nani is also godfather to Angel through links to Queiroz and Gomes senior.

Registering six goals and six assists in the 2020/21 season at Boavista, the same year his parent club won Ligue 1, the move proved successful for both player and club. Last season, in a heavily revamped Lille outfit, Gomes was deemed old enough and mature enough to feature regularly for Les Dogues. He played 30 times across Ligue 1, domestic cups and Champions League fixtures, scoring in each competition. Finally, having just turned 22, Gomes was reaping the rewards of his decision to leave Manchester.

Compared to other young talents across Europe, Gomes rates highly. Of eligible under-21’s with the most through passes per 90 minutes last season, Gomes ranked fifth with 1.77. For context, this list also featured RB Leipzig’s Joško Gvardiol, Yacine Adli of AC Milan, and Barcelona teenager Pedri. Now often deployed in a deeper central midfielder role, that form has, so far, not been curtailed this term. A strong start to the campaign has seen the Englishman start every game bar suspensions, a fine goal and match-winning display against Montpellier on matchday six was a highlight. With no European football to intensify the calendar, Lille and Gomes can focus on making an impact on Ligue 1 following a disappointing tenth-place position in their title defence.

Having broken into England’s under-21 international fold under manager Lee Carsley, Gomes has become a regular starter alongside the likes of Conor Gallagher and Rhian Brewster, assisting a Brewster goal during the recent friendly against Italy. He shows no lack of ambition and, in a recent interview with SportsBible, he cited ambitions to play at a top club or perhaps make a return to his boyhood team: “I’d love to play for a team in Spain in the future. My ambition is to play for a top club. I’d love to play for United again one day.”

If this prophecy is to be fulfilled, Gomes will need to become more consistent. Bigger clubs in Spain and England will not come calling until he starts to pad his goals and assists tallies. Still only 22, the London-born midfielder has plenty of time to grow, however, which may include continuing to adapt to life in France for a while longer. Pressed on what he misses about his time in England, the simple pleasures sprung to mind: “I don’t know… there’s just something about nipping into Tesco’s,” he says. “I miss going to Sainsbury’s or going to wash my car because I know the people where I go to wash my car.”

For now, an Intermarché in the Hauts-de-France region will have to suffice, as the prodigious English talent finds his way at France’s top table.

Ciarán Brennan

Paris Saint-Germain locked horns with Reims in a Ligue 1 fixture on Saturday. It was expected to be another walk in the park for Christophe Galtier’s men. But with Sergio Ramos receiving marching orders in the 41st minute of the game, PSG lost track of their purpose and looked toothless offensively.

At the end of the ninety minutes, PSG and Reims shared the spoils, courtesy of a 0-0 scoreline. It was not a perfect night for Kylian Mbappé, who was lined up as a focal point in front of Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler. In the post-match press conference, Galtier called the French striker an “orphan” without the service of Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Mbappé, frustrated by a lacklustre outing, took the matter to his social media, posting a story via his Instagram handle that included a tag, “#pivotgang”. A report from L’Équipe suggests that the 23-year-old Frenchman used that “pivot” word to exhibit dissatisfaction with his role on the field.

While on international duty with France, Mbappé revealed that he would love to play as a second striker (a role he plays for Didier Deschamps’ side) rather than a centre-forward. Discussing the role, he elaborated:

“I have a lot more freedom here (in the national team). The coach (Deschamps) knows that there is a number 9 like ‘Olive’ (Giroud) who occupies the shields, and I can walk around and go into space, ask for the balls. At PSG, there is not that. I am asked to do the pivot, it is different.”

Despite his Instagram message indicating his displeasure with his current position for the club, PSG have decided against taking any action against the former Monaco striker as they don’t find the message either “insulting” or a “frontal questioning of the choices of Christophe Galtier”. When contacted by L’Équipe, Mbappé’s entourage did not wish to issue a response on this matter.

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