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France 24
10-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Havili, Salakaia-Loto to lead Australia-New Zealand against Lions
Coach Les Kiss picked 17 internationals in his matchday 23 for Saturday's final warm-up game for the Lions before they face Australia in the opening Test on July 19 in Brisbane. Head coach Andy Farrell's side are unbeaten in four matches in Australia after wins over four Super Rugby sides, including 36-24 against ACT Brumbies on Wednesday in Canberra. The Australia-New Zealand side, the first time the powerhouses have joined forces since 1989, could provide the Lions with their biggest test so far. Every player in the starting XV has international caps, with Salakaia-Loto part of a Queensland Reds-heavy tight five alongside Aidan Ross, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen and Angus Blyth. Former Bordeaux flanker Pete Samu starts at flanker, with All Blacks Shannon Frizell and Hoskins Sotutu completing the forward pack. Havili, who recently led the Canterbury Crusaders to the Super Rugby title, is at inside centre alongside former All Blacks centre Ngani Laumape. Shaun Stevenson will start at fullback. "After speaking with all the players we thought the co-captaincy model with natural leaders like David and Lukhan would really suit this team and what we represent," said Kiss, who will succeed Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach next year and is being assisted by former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster. "This week has been building nicely and the boys have put a lot of time into getting to know each other. "In forming new bonds, many of them have discovered they have more in common than they originally thought. "We have named an experienced, powerful starting side for Saturday and we know our bench will make an impact when they get their opportunity." AUNZ Invitational XV (15-1): Shaun Stevenson; AJ Lam, Ngani Laumape, David Havili (co-capt), Marika Koroibete; Tane Edmed, Folau Fakatava; Hoskins Sotutu, Pete Samu, Shannon Frizell; Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (co-capt), Angus Blyth; Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Aidan Ross
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Travel + Leisure
08-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
The 5 Best City Hotels in Australia and New Zealand
Visiting Australia and New Zealand often involves flying into the countries' largest airports: Sydney and Auckland, respectively. Fortunately, these hubs are not only gateways to their countries writ large, but to thriving urban centers with world-class dining, dynamic cultural institutions, and polished hotels that help guests make the most of their time away from home. According to Travel + Leisure readers, the best hotels in Australia and New Zealand are situated within bustling downtown districts, where the cities' best sights and experiences are within easy reach. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. The Capella Sydney hotel is located in the transformed former Department of Education building in Sydney, Australia. Timothy Kaye/Courtesy of Capella Bangkok The phrase 'central business district' might conjure automatic associations with banking institutions, drab architecture, and a general lack of cultural charm, but Sydney and Auckland prove that there can be so much more to a city's downtown scene. Perhaps that's why—yet again—all of this year's reader favorite hotels can be found within the bounds of these cities' CBDs. Sydney sweeps this year's top three. Here, guests are in close proximity to premier attractions, including the Sydney Harbor (with its iconic bridge and opera house), the Royal Botanic Garden, Symphony Orchestra, and more. Past year's winners Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (No. 1 in 2024) and Park Hyatt Sydney (No. 1 in 2023) remain reader favorites, coming in at No. 2 and No. 3 in the 2025 survey. The latter's waterfront positioning is particularly enviable, since many of its tastefully decorated 155 rooms and suites offer balconies with harbor views. As one WBA voter enthused, 'The outdoor spaces are unbeatable. It's the best location of any city hotel.' T+L readers were enamored with a pair of hotels in Auckland's CBD for similar reasons. 'We loved this space for watching boats, morning breakfast, spacious rooms, and cocktails outside,' said one voter of Hilton Auckland (No. 5). Guests of the hotel are well-positioned for a visit to the New Zealand Maritime Museum, which offers scenic sails in addition to its rotating exhibitions. Also nearby is Sky Tower to take in 360-degree views from the 60th-floor Sky Deck, which sits just over 600 feet above street level. The winning hotel on this year's list is also the newest, having debuted in 2023, but it's already established itself as one of the region's greats in WBA voters' eyes. Read on to find out why. Capella Sydney The bathroom of the Liberty Suite at the Capella Sydney hotel. Timothy Kaye/Courtesy of Capella Bangkok It took the Singapore-based Capella Hotel Group seven years to transform Sydney's historic Department of Education building into a serene, 192-room hotel—its first outside of Asia—but the effort is paying dividends in WBA voters' eyes. The ground-floor art collection introduces guests to Australia's dynamic art scene, with works from such Indigenous artists as Judy Watson and Otis Hope Carey, but to give travelers an even deeper understanding of Sydney's cultural might, the hotel curates an impressive array of experiences. Walking tours deliver unexpected insights into everything from the city's coffee culture to its architecture and history, including its Aboriginal heritage. As one reader summarized, it 'should not be missed!' 1. Capella Sydney Reader Score: 95.79 2. Park Hyatt Sydney Reader Score: 94.93 3. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney Reader Score: 91.20 4. Park Hyatt Auckland Reader Score: 90.00 5. Hilton Auckland Reader Score: 85.07
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Business Standard
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
IPL 2025 Final: Can RCB's Hazlewood continue his unbeaten streak in finals?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the IPL 2025 final with a dominant performance against Punjab Kings at Mullanpur on May 29. With a commanding all-round display, RCB secured their spot in the summit clash, where they will once again face PBKS, this time at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3. Punjab reached the final after a thrilling win over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2. One of the key factors behind RCB's resurgence in the playoffs has been the return of Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood. Sidelined earlier due to injury, Hazlewood made a timely comeback just before the knockout phase. His presence immediately paid off, as he delivered a crucial blow by dismissing Shreyas Iyer early in Qualifier 1, setting the tone for RCB's win. But beyond his pace and precision, Hazlewood brings something extra, a remarkable track record in finals. The Aussie quick has never lost a final in any major tournament he's featured in, whether it's the Champions League T20 in 2012 or the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. As RCB head into their fourth IPL final, the question looms large, can Hazlewood's golden streak continue and help the franchise finally lift their maiden IPL trophy? Josh Hazlewood record in finals so far Competition Year Team Opponent Venue Result Bowling figures Champions League T20 2012 Sydney Sixers Highveld Lions Jo'berg Won 3/22 (4) Cricket World Cup 2015 Australia New Zealand Melbourne Won 0/30 (8) Indian Premier League 2021 Chennai Super Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Dubai Won 2/29 (4) T20 World Cup 2021 Australia New Zealand Dubai Won 3/16 (4) Cricket World Cup 2023 Australia India Ahmedabad Won 2/60 (10)
