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North Wales Chronicle
13 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Matt Sherratt ‘doubles down on the basics' in bid to end Wales' losing streak
Wales are in Japan for a two-Test series against Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms and attempting to end a run of 17 successive Test defeats – a record for a Tier One nation. Cardiff boss Sherratt has overseen the last three of those losses after replacing Warren Gatland during the Six Nations Championship in February. 📸 Final prep 💪#WelshRugby — Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 3, 2025 Sherratt initiated improvement in losing narrowly to Ireland in his opening game, but Wales were well beaten in Scotland before producing a late fightback and then hammered 68-14 at home by England on one of Welsh rugby's darkest days. 'I learned a lot during the Six Nations,' Sherratt said ahead of Saturday's opener in Kitakyushu with Wales targeting a first Test win since beating Georgia at the last World Cup in October 2023. 'What we've really focused on for this tour is going back to basics. 'Over time the way I like to play is multiple passes and for my teams to be brave, but at the moment it's laying the foundations for Welsh rugby. 'So we've really doubled down on the basics and gone back to the foundations of the game – kicking, defence, contact area. 'We can build on that in time, but those basics are the platform for everything else and the foundation for any team.' Skipper Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams were unavailable after being selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. There are only four survivors from the side humbled by England in March – number eight Taulupe Faletau, prop Nicky Smith, centre Ben Thomas and full-back Blair Murray. Faletau makes his 109th appearance and winger Josh Adams (61), Smith (54) and scrum-half Kieran Hardy (23) are the only others with more than 20 caps in the starting line-up. Asked what winning would mean for Wales, Sherratt said: 'It's massive. I spoke to the players before we came away and wondered what their motivation was, and why they were coming here. 'The short answer was that they want to win for Wales. 'For the future this tour is probably the end of something. Let's hope it's the also start of something and they start on a level playing field (under the new head coach).' Jones has been his usual bullish self ahead of the series, which concludes in Kobe next week, saying he is hoping for a 'nice hot day and we can really run Wales off their feet'. The former Australia and England boss refused to budge from the 2pm local kick-off time when the temperature is expected to be above 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity. Sherratt said: 'Both countries are in a very similar situation as lots of experience has come to an end at the same time. 'The key to the win will be who controls the key moments. 'With the wet ball (due to the humidity) field position will be very important and, with that, who takes the chances.'
BreakingNews.ie
38 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Mohamed Salah fearful of returning to Liverpool following Diogo Jota's death
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah admits he is fearful of what awaits when he returns to the club in the wake of Diogo Jota's death. The club, fans and football as a whole are in mourning after the 28-year-old Portugal forward and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday. Advertisement Players were due back this weekend to begin the preliminaries of pre-season. However, the first tranche of the phased return scheduled for Friday has been postponed. I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break. Team mates come and go but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go… — Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) July 4, 2025 'I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break,' Salah wrote on social media. 'Team mates come and go but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back. 'My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. Advertisement 'Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.' Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Former Liverpool captain and team-mate Jordan Henderson joined the thousands of mourners to have laid a tribute at the temporary shrine which has built up outside Anfield. 'Jots it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship. All the laughs we had off the pitch and trying to find ways to wind milly up and get him fined, which we never could,' the England midfielder wrote on Instagram. Advertisement 'Taking pictures of me asleep on the bus travelling then sending them to me later. You always wanted to have a laugh and were a pleasure to be around. 'I know how much Rute and your family meant to you and I know you will always be looking down on them. Thank you for everything you brought into this world, we will all miss you.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jordan Henderson (@jordanhenderson) Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said everyone associated with the club owed it to Jota to 'stand together and be there for one another'. 'For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. 'We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.' Advertisement Jota's team-mates have spoken of the struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief'. 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man,' he added. Our lad from Portugal. Forever ❤️ — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. Andy Robertson, who attended Jota's wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than a fortnight ago, posted: 'I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.' Advertisement 'Heartbroken' former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' Liverpool, who are supporting Jota's family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. Fans continue to leave flowers, scarves and shirts outside Anfield and there are similar scenes at Wolves' Molineux Stadium, where Jota spent three years before his move to Liverpool.
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mohamed Salah ‘frightened' to return to Liverpool following Diogo Jota's death
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah admits he is fearful of what awaits when he returns to the club in the wake of Diogo Jota's death. The club, fans and football as a whole are in mourning after the 28-year-old Portugal forward and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday. Players were due back this weekend to begin the preliminaries of pre-season. However, the first tranche of the phased return scheduled for Friday has been postponed. "I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break," Salah wrote on social media. "Team mates come and go but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back. "My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. "Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten." Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Former Liverpool captain and team-mate Jordan Henderson joined the thousands of mourners to have laid a tribute at the temporary shrine which has built up outside Anfield. "Jots it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship. All the laughs we had off the pitch and trying to find ways to wind milly up and get him fined, which we never could," the England midfielder wrote on Instagram. "Taking pictures of me asleep on the bus travelling then sending them to me later. You always wanted to have a laugh and were a pleasure to be around. "I know how much Rute and your family meant to you and I know you will always be looking down on them. Thank you for everything you brought into this world, we will all miss you." Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said everyone associated with the club owed it to Jota to "stand together and be there for one another". "For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. "We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves." Jota's team-mates have spoken of the struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram he was "absolutely devastated and in total disbelief". "What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man," he added. "A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. Andy Robertson, who attended Jota's wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than a fortnight ago, posted: "I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate - and for making it better." "Heartbroken" former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!" Liverpool, who are supporting Jota's family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. Fans continue to leave flowers, scarves and shirts outside Anfield and there are similar scenes at Wolves' Molineux Stadium, where Jota spent three years before his move to Liverpool.
