Scotland's Graham on 'cruel' Lions squad omission
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Reuters
6 minutes ago
- Reuters
Former All Blacks winger Bridge signs with Western Force
MELBOURNE, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Former New Zealand winger George Bridge has signed a two-year deal with Western Force and will return to Super Rugby next season, ending a three-year stint in French rugby. Bridge scored 12 tries in 19 tests for the All Blacks and played in the 2019 World Cup in Japan before heading abroad to play for Top 14 side Montpellier in 2022. The 30-year-old will replace Wallabies winger Harry Potter who left the Perth-based Force to join the New South Wales Waratahs. Bridge, who can also play fullback, was part of Scott Robertson's powerful Canterbury Crusaders from 2017-22, helping the South Island team win four Super Rugby titles and the domestic Super Rugby Aotearoa championship twice. "George is well known to a number of people on our staff and they can't speak highly enough of his professionalism, approach to the game and his rugby knowledge," Force coach Simon Cron said in a statement on Tuesday. "He's got a massive left foot kick. He can play multiple positions. He's a brilliant player. An amazing talent. He'll add to the guys that we have in the squad." The Force, who have never made the playoffs in any variant of Super Rugby since joining in 2006, managed only four wins last season and finished ninth in the 11-team competition. Bridge's former team, the Crusaders, won a record-extending 15th Super Rugby title.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen: Flying start fuels high hopes that Derek McInnes can disrupt natural order
As Tony Bloom talks the talk about his lofty ambitions for Hearts, Derek McInnes and his players indicated they are ready to walk the walk in the Premiership. The Brighton owner's desire to disrupt the natural order of Scottish football through his investment in the Gorgie club may be met with scepticism in some quarters. There were no doubters inside a raucous Tynecastle here, however, as Bloom watched Hearts make the perfect start to their league campaign with an impressive win over Aberdeen. An early own goal from Graeme Shinnie and a second-half header from Stuart Findlay secured a result which leaves Hearts sitting top of the nascent Premiership table. Whether they can sustain the kind of challenge envisaged by Bloom remains to be seen but these are undoubtedly exciting times for a re-energised club. It was a painful return to action for Scottish Cup holders Aberdeen who were second best for most of the evening. In the build-up to kick off, Bloom had encouraged the hype and sense of anticipation among Hearts fans by claiming McInnes' side can split the Old Firm this season and finish second. The hosts certainly looked in a hurry to lend some credibility to that bold assertion as they made a vibrant and aggressive start which was rewarded by the 11th minute breakthrough. Aberdeen struggled to cope with the intensity of Hearts' play, both in and out of possession, and paid the price for being stretched out of position at the back as the impressive Claudio Braga turned Mats Knoester inside out down the right flank. Braga's cross found Oisin McEntee whose close-range header was parried by Dimitar Mitov. Hearts pounced to reclaim the loose ball, working it to Harry Milne on the left. His low cross was intended for McEntee but it was Dons skipper Shinnie who turned it into his own net. It was the perfect start for Hearts who had eye-catching contributors all over the pitch. There may have been concerns over how they would replace James Penrice, following the left-back's move to AEK Athens, but Milne appears more than capable of filling the position just as effectively. The former Partick Thistle player had the home fans on their feet again when he smashed a shot against Mitov's left-hand upright from 22 yards. It appeared ominous for Aberdeen but they almost snatched an equaliser with their first attack of note two minutes later as two of Jimmy Thelin's summer signings combined. Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic showed neat skill down the right and his low cross found compatriot Kusini Yengi who should have done better than divert the ball against Zander Clark's left-hand post. It sparked a more evenly contested period of play, although Hearts still carried the edge in midfield and should have doubled their lead in the 28th minute. When Aberdeen were unable to properly clear a corner, the ball was recycled to Findlay on the left. His cross found Frankie Kent in the six-yard box but he glanced his header wide. Hearts finished the first half firmly on the front foot as they looked for what would have been a deserved second goal. It looked as if they had got it in spectacular fashion in the 44th minute when Lawrence Shankland curled in a brilliant shot from the left corner of the penalty area. After a lengthy VAR check, however, his early goal of the season contender was ruled out for an offside against Craig Halkett in the build-up. Braga had a shot blocked in first-half stoppage time and Aberdeen looked relieved to hear the whistle for the interval. They re-emerged for the second half with a greater sense of purpose and should have levelled in the 50th minute. Leighton Clarkson's sweetly delivered free-kick from the right found Yengi at the back post but the big striker scuffed his shot wide from close range. Aberdeen were suddenly carrying a greater attacking threat and the excellent Milanovic forced a smart save from Clark after cutting in and unleashing a rising shot. As Hearts sought to regain control, McInnes made a quadruple substitution in the 70th minute and his team made it 2-0 three minutes later. Milne's dangerous free-kick from the right was flicked on inadvertently by Knoester for Findlay to steal in and bravely head home at the back post. Hearts (3-5-2): Clark 7; Kent 6 (Steinwender 70), Halkett 7, Findlay 7; Borchgrevnik 6 (Forrest 70), McEntee 7, Devlin 8, Spittal 6 (Kyziridis 70), Milne 7; Braga 7 (Wilson 70), Shankland 7 (Magnusson 91). Booked: Kent, Halkett, Devlin. Manager: Derek McInnes 8. Aberdeen (4-2-3-1): Mitov 6; Jensen 6, Milne 5, Knoester 5, Shinnie 6 (Devlin 81); Nilsen 5 (Morris 69), Clarkson 6; Milanovic 7 (Sokler 81), Aouchiche 6, Keskinen 5 (Polvara 62); Yengi 5 (Boyd 62). Booked: Aouchiche, Milanovic. Manager: Jimmy Thelin 5.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hearts boss McInnes is fully on board with Bloom's ambitions as Tynecastle men get season off to a fine start
Derek McInnes insists he is happy to embrace the ambitious goals of investor Tony Bloom — who has set his sights on Hearts becoming Scottish champions within the next 10 years. Brighton owner Bloom was at Tynecastle last night to watch Hearts open their Premiership campaign with a richly deserved win over Aberdeen. Earlier in the day, Bloom had claimed Hearts are already capable of splitting the Old Firm and finishing second in the table this season. McInnes, who revealed he will sit down for discussions with Bloom for the first time today, is more than happy to buy into the English entrepreneur's vision as seeks an on-field return on his £10million stake in Hearts. 'I knew what Tony was going to say ahead of him saying it and I've got absolutely no problem with it at all,' said the Hearts manager. 'There are so many people like Tony who are ambitious and want Hearts to be successful. He has come in with a fresh pair of eyes and come out to say exactly what he wants. It's what we all want at the club. 'We've got work to do. We've got to come from a long way back as a bottom six club last season but I think we can make progress. 'We are still working off the same budget as the last couple of seasons but Tony, myself and others feel we can bridge the gap and maybe get ahead of others is through recruitment. 'We can be a lot smarter and better on that side of it. Hopefully it gets us closer to the teams with more money than us. 'It's not to say it's a certainty, we've got work to do to achieve it. I'm aware of that and I'm just enjoying working with the players. We're still a long way off where we want to be. 'Tony would have loved hearing his name sung as well. I knew Tony was coming up for the game for a while. 'I haven't spoken to him yet, we've exchanged a few text messages, and we will sit down tomorrow. 'I think he would have enjoyed the game and the result because, as he said, he just wants to see a winning Hearts team more often than not. That's what we all want.' McInnes was gratified by his team's display as Graeme Shinnie's own goal and a Stuart Findlay header secured all three points. 'Every manager wants to get the first league win as soon as possible and I thought we were thoroughly deserving,' he added. 'We came out the traps strongly and were probably worthy of going into half-time a couple of goals ahead. 'I don't think we were brilliant in the second half, but when we got the second goal we managed the game brilliantly from there. 'It was a tough game, as you'd expect against Aberdeen. What we've got in there is a bunch of lads who are screaming to do well, fully motivated. We can play better, but it was a good start. We'll take the three points and move on.' Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin was left dismayed by a lacklustre performance from his team, whose start to the season doesn't get any easier with a home game against champions Celtic on Sunday. 'In the first half we were disappointed with our performance because Hearts the battle with second balls,' said Thelin. 'We had to do better. In the second half there were less mistakes and we created chances, but in the 50-50 duels we have to do better in the future. 'We knew what we were going to face today. It's going to be a different type of game against Celtic.'
