logo
Nienaber relishing challenge against 'wily' Smith's Glasgow

Nienaber relishing challenge against 'wily' Smith's Glasgow

BBC News2 days ago

Glasgow and their URC semi-final opponents Leinster are well acquainted at this stage.So, too, are Franco Smith and Jacques Nienaber, who first met in the 1990s, long before they emerged as two of South Africa's most respected coaches."I was his physiotherapist way back in 1998," recalled Leinster head coach Nienaber."We didn't go to school together but we were in rival schools so I know him and his family quite well. I actually coached with him with the Cheetahs in 2006 and 2007 before he went to Italy."He was their attack coach while I was dipping my toes in defence. Franco is an incredible human, a good person and you can see how he is leading Glasgow and the quality they have produced in the past couple of seasons under his guidance and leadership."He is a wily character, he understands the game and gets the team to gel so it'll be a nice challenge for us."Read more: Fatigue not an issue for Leinster

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Norway dare to dream big again after a quarter century of heartbreak
Norway dare to dream big again after a quarter century of heartbreak

Reuters

time26 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Norway dare to dream big again after a quarter century of heartbreak

June 7 (Reuters) - After a quarter of a century of near misses and heartbreak, Norway's rout of Italy in their World Cup qualifier has reignited the country's hope of a return to international football's biggest stage. There was little doubt that Norway were the better team on Friday as they easily dominated Italy in Oslo, pushing on until the scoreboard read 3-0 and taking a big step towards next year's World Cup. For supporters of the Norwegian team, the result has sparked a glimmer of hope in hearts that have been broken many times over the past decades. Norway have not participated in an international football tournament since the European Championship in 2000, which was hosted in Belgium and the Netherlands. There have been many close calls since then, with the margins consistently going against the squad, but now there is a shift in attitude after Norway dominated against the four-times world champions. "I am 100% sure", former Norway, Denmark and Iceland coach Age Hareide told newspaper VG when asked if Norway would go to the World Cup. Norway are in pole position in Group I with nine points out of nine and a goal surplus of 10. Israel, Estonia and Moldova are the other nations in the group. The Football Meets Data statistics platform gives Norway a 77% chance of winning the group and qualifying directly for the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Key striker Erling Haaland, who put himself on the scoresheet against Italy, agreed with the statistics. "We are too good not to play in championships. I will play both the World Cup and the European Championship. Not to put pressure on myself but I will," he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. While World Cup fever in Norway is reaching a point not seen since 1998, when Norway last participated, manager Stale Solbakken, wise from experience, is lowering expectations. "It is a coach's misfortune that I have to concentrate on the next match, so you can enjoy yourselves and ask those questions. I would have liked to say that it was 100% certain but I can't," he told reporters after Friday's game.

Aryna Sabalenka v Coco Gauff: French Open 2025 women's singles final
Aryna Sabalenka v Coco Gauff: French Open 2025 women's singles final

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

Aryna Sabalenka v Coco Gauff: French Open 2025 women's singles final

Update: Date: 2025-06-07T12:04:17.000Z Title: How did they get here? Content: Gauff beat home darling Boisson Sabalenka torched the previous queen of these clay courts. Update: Date: 2025-06-07T12:00:06.000Z Title: Tumaini Carayol is our man in Paris, and here's his preview of the women's final. Content: This tournament places Gauff at an interesting intersection. She has already enjoyed her first breakthrough, winning her first major title at the 2023 US Open and then backing it up by triumphing at the WTA Finals in Riyadh last year. At a time when two players – Sabalenka and Swiatek – have distanced themselves from the field by consistently racking up big titles on the biggest stages, the next question for Gauff is whether she is ready and capable of taking another leap forward and consistently competing for every grand slam. Update: Date: 2025-06-07T12:00:06.000Z Title: Preamble Content: The stage is set for the big-hitters in a year where the Roland Garros courts seem to have served such players well. Coco Gauff seeks her second Grand Slam on the scene of her 2022 defeat to Iga Świątek. Aryna Sabalenka seeks her fourth Grand Slam in her first ever final in Paris. A new name will be written on the trophy by the end of the affair. It's the world No 1 taking on America's No 1, and world No 2. In short, the two best players in the game at the moment. We begin at 2pm UK time, 3pm Paris time, 7pm ET, 4pm Belarus time. Join me.

It's fun, and not fun – Jannik Sinner looks forward to final with Carlos Alcaraz
It's fun, and not fun – Jannik Sinner looks forward to final with Carlos Alcaraz

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

It's fun, and not fun – Jannik Sinner looks forward to final with Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner says his blockbuster French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz will be 'fun, and not fun'. Italian world number one Sinner takes on second seed and defending champion Alcaraz in the first major final between the new generation of men's tennis superstars. It is a match-up tinged with extra significance after Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, with the 38-year-old Serb – the last of the old guard still just about standing – admitting it may have been his last Roland Garros. Instead it will be Sinner and Alcaraz who take centre stage in the first men's grand-slam final to be contested between two players born in this century. 'It's fun, and not fun, you know. It's both ways,' said 23-year-old Sinner of meeting the Spaniard, one year his junior. 'But I think we try to push ourselves in the best possible way. I believe when there is a good match, it's also good to play, you know. It's not only to watch, but also to play. It's very special. 'And the stage, it doesn't get any bigger now. Grand-slam finals against Carlos, it's a special moment for me and for him, too. 'He won here last year, so let's see what's coming. But for sure, the tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a way, because we are both very young, we are both different, but talented.' It is an intriguing showdown between the two bright young things who have won the last five grand slams between them. Sinner, the reigning US and Australian Open champion, is on a 20-match winning streak at grand slams and, with Wimbledon on the horizon, could be five weeks away from holding all four titles. But standing in the way of the 'Sinner Slam' is Alcaraz, who has won their last four meetings including the semi-final here last year and in the final on the Rome clay last month, albeit in the Italian's first tournament back from a three-month doping suspension. Alcaraz is also bidding to become the first man to retain the title since his idol, Rafael Nadal, managed it in 2020. 'Jannik, he's the best tennis player right now. I mean, he's destroying every opponent,' said Alcaraz. 'I love that battle. But, you know, most of the time is just about suffering, being pushed to the limit. 'But my favourite thing is it gives you the feedback of how can I be better, a better player. I think that's important, and that's beautiful, even though if I win or not.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store