Latest news with #ShujiKajiyama
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs seem ready to win the Super Rugby title after losing in the final twice
FILE - New Zealand's Damian McKenzie attempts to break a tackle during a rugby test match between the All Blacks and Japan at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs head into the first round of Super Rugby playoffs as top seeds and favorites, poised to win their first title since 2013 after finishing runners-up in the last two seasons. The Hamilton-based Chiefs will face the Auckland-based Blues on Saturday in a repeat of last year's final, which was won by the Blues 40-10. This year, the Blues are seeded sixth in the qualifying playoffs and the advantage — not just home advantage — seems to be with the Chiefs, who won 11 of 14 matches in the regular season. Advertisement 'It's only our time if we make it our time,' Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. 'We have to earn everything. We've learned a bit over the last few years in coming close. I'd like to think we're in a better spot than we were last year.' The second-seeded Crusaders will host the fifth-seeded Queensland Reds in the first playoff match in Christchurch on Friday and the third-seeded Brumbies will host the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday. In a quirk of the new playoffs system, the Brumbies and Hurricanes will both progress to the semifinals if the top two seeds win their matches. The winner in Canberra would go through automatically, the other as the highest-ranked loser. Chiefs in charge Advertisement The Chiefs seem fated to win their third Super Rugby title after losing in last year's final to the Blues in losing the 2023 final to the Crusaders, 25-20. The Chiefs have won the title twice before, in 2012 and 2013 under Dave Rennie, who went on to become Wallabies coach. This year under Clayton McMillan, who will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland, the Chiefs have been at the top of the standings throughout the season. They have twice beaten the Blues, 25-14 in Round 1 and 32-31 in Round 5; have beaten the Crusaders 49-24 and 35-19; the Brumbies 49-34; the Reds 27-15, though they lost to the Hurricanes 35-17. The Chiefs' style, playing at high tempo and using the width of the field, is hard to counter. The Hurricanes showed the best way is to deprive the Chiefs of possession. When they have the ball, flyhalf Damian McKenzie orchestrates the Chiefs attack superbly. Advertisement The Blues play much more conservatively and in the middle of the field and have been at sixes and sevens when stretched. The Crusaders have bounced back from a 2024 season in which they won only four matches to again reach the playoffs. They also have won 11 games this season but have scored fewer and conceded more points than the Chiefs. Australian prospects The Reds and Brumbies carry Australia's hopes into the finals, with the knowledge no Australian team has won a playoff match in New Zealand in 19 attempts. The Brumbies are 0-8 and the Reds 0-4 in the post-season in New Zealand. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will keep a close on the playoffs and the selection spotlight for the Australian squad will be on the Reds' backrow and flyhalf Tom Lynagh. Advertisement 'We won't let the occasion really dictate but we know you've just got to play smart footy in finals. That's balance really, so you are playing in the right areas of the field," Lynagh said. "When things don't go our way, it's making sure you get little wins and stack them to get back momentum.' The Brumbies again are the top-ranked Australian team in the playoffs. They won twice against New Zealand opponents during the regular season but lost to the Hurricanes 35-29 in Canberra. 'We are the last game this weekend but we've been pretty firm on making sure that we get a good performance out there on the field,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'Irrespective of the other results, we need to know that we're playing well. We can't get distracted by these other games and the other results.' ___ AP rugby:
Winnipeg Free Press
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada men to open Rugby World Cup qualifying against U.S. in Calgary in August
Canada will take the first step towards the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup with a game against the U.S. on Aug. 22 in Calgary to open the Pacific Nations Cup. The Canadian men are currently ranked 24th in the world, compared to No. 15 for the U.S. Eagles. The six-team Pacific Nations Cup, which also features No. 9 Fiji, No. 13 Japan, No. 14 Samoa and No. 19 Tonga, will send three sides to the 2027 World Cup in Australia. But given Fiji and Japan have already qualified by virtue of their performance at the 2023 tournament, a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it. Lucas Rumball of Canada, center, runs to score a try against Tonga during a the Pacific Nations Cup match at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Canada will play Japan in Sendai on Aug. 30. The Pacific Nations Cup semifinals and fifth-versus-sixth game are scheduled for Sept. 14 in Denver with the championship and third-place game set for Sept. 20 in Salt Lake City. The 2027 World Cup features an expanded 24-team field, up from 20 last year in France. The game at McMahon Stadium will be the Canadian men's third match in Alberta this summer following two in Edmonton in July against No. 22 Belgium and No. 16 Spain. Those games will mark the debut of Australian coach Steve Meehan. Canada lost 28-15 to the U.S. the last time they met, at the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup in Los Angeles last August. Should Canada fail to qualify via the Pacific Nations Cup, it will still have two more chances to make the World Cup field, via a playoff with the 2025 Sudamerica Rugby Championship runner-up and, finally, a four-team repechage tournament. Canada failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, the first time it has missed the sport's showcase, after losing two-legged qualifying series to the U.S. (59-50 on aggregate) and Chile (54-46). Defending champion South Africa, France, New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan have already qualified for the '27 World Cup by virtue of finishing top three in their pool last year in France. In addition to the three teams from the Pacific Nations Cup, other qualifiers will come from the top four teams from the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship, the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup champion, the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship winner and the 2025 Sudamerica Rugby Championship winner. Another qualifier will come from a playoff between the 2025 South American runner-up and the bottom team from the Pacific Nations Cup (not including Fiji and Japan). Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up The final entry will be determined via a four-team round-robin final qualification tournament featuring the third-place team from the 2025 Sudamerica Rugby Championship, the South America/Pacific playoff loser, the fifth-place team from the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship and the winner of a playoff between the runners-up from the 2025 Rugby Africa and Asia Rugby championships. The 2023 World Cup was the first to feature three South American teams in No. 5 Argentina, No. 17 Uruguay and No. 23 Chile. The region now has its own direct qualifier spot rather than competing with Canada and the U.S. for the Americas 1 and 2 spots. The new World Cup format feature six pools of four teams, with a round of 16 added before the quarterfinals. World Rugby says that means the tournament will be shortened from seven to six weeks. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Formula 1: How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix on TV and what to know
Formula 1: How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix on TV and what to know Haas driver Esteban Ocon of France, left, and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, right, speak before the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain gets a pit service during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool) Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, sprays champagne Second placed, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates with his trophy on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates with his trophy on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Haas driver Esteban Ocon of France, left, and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, right, speak before the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain gets a pit service during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool) Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, sprays champagne Second placed, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, and third place McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates with his trophy on the podium after the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Here's a guide that tells you what you need to know about the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix. It's the fourth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix on TV Advertisement — In the U.S., ESPN. — Other countries are listed here. What is the Bahrain GP schedule? – Friday: First and second practice. – Saturday: Third practice and qualifying. – Sunday: Bahrain Grand Prix, 57 laps of the 5.4-kilometer (3.4-mile) Bahrain International Circuit. Where is the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place? The Bahrain International Circuit in the desert at Sakhir was in 2004 the first venue in the Middle East to host an F1 GP. The track will be very familiar to drivers after they did three days of preseason testing there in February. Max Verstappen has won the last two races there for Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver in Bahrain Grand Prix history with five wins. Advertisement What happened in the last race? Verstappen took his and Red Bull's first GP win of the season after McLaren had dominated the first two rounds in Australia and China. Lando Norris was second and stayed one point ahead of Verstappen in the driver standings, with Norris' McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri third. What do I need to know about F1 so far? Get caught up: — McLaren can be beaten, but Verstappen must be perfect: 5 takeaways from F1's Japanese Grand Prix — Red Bull's Max Verstappen holds off McLarens to win his fourth straight Japanese GP — Lewis Hamilton tempers expectations as he settles in with Ferrari Advertisement — McLaren's Oscar Piastri wins Chinese GP from teammate Lando Norris. Both Ferraris disqualified — Lando Norris: McLaren is ready for a title fight between its drivers — Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari is having a cultural impact far beyond Formula 1 — Red Bull dropped Liam Lawson after just two rounds and replaced him with Yuki Tsunoda. Key stats at Sakhir 61 – Verstappen has scored all of Red Bull's 61 points this season. The last time a Red Bull driver other than him scored a point was Sergio Perez in Las Vegas in November. 50 – Piastri is heading into his 50th race in F1, all with McLaren. 0 – Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is among five drivers yet to score a point in 2025 after he placed 11th in Japan. The others are Alpine's Pierre Gasly and rookies Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan. Advertisement What are they saying? 'Bahrain, completely different track, very tough on tires, tires overheating as well. We still have work to do, but (the win in Japan) does show that if we really nail everything, we can be up there.' – Verstappen. 'I think the pace was mega. Next time I just need to make sure I'm in a better position to use it.' – Piastri. 'I need to reset before Bahrain and I am sure compared to what I was feeling, in terms of confidence, it will naturally be better there. I will understand more about the car and I am excited for the next one.' – Verstappen's new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who was 12th in Japan. ___ AP auto racing:
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Max Verstappen is back and in pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix
Max Verstappen is back and in pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) McLaren drivers Lando Norris of Britain, left, and Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, talk after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, is accompanied with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands gets pushed back into his garage during the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) McLaren drivers Lando Norris of Britain, left, and Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, talk after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, is accompanied with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, right, after qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands gets pushed back into his garage during the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after the qualifying session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Max Verstappen is back. With only two victories in his last 16 races and in a 'mini-slump,' the four-time world champion shocked himself, his Red Bull team and fans by taking pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. Advertisement He also did it in a track-record time on his final qualifying lap. "If you look at how our season started — even during this weekend, yeah it's very unexpected,' he said of qualifying, 'and I think that makes it, probably, a very special one.' 'It's insane,' he added. Verstappen will be chasing his fourth straight win at the Suzuka circuit in central Japan. The early-season-favorite McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be in the next two starting spots. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari starts from fourth on the grid. Rain is forecast to give way to sunny skies by race time at 2 p.m. local time (0500 GMT), but if rain persists Verstappen will have an added edge as F1's best driver in the wet. Advertisement Verstappen gave some credit to the track itself — a favorite of F1 drivers — and credit to the recent resurfacing of the circuit. 'When I enjoy the track it's even more fun to drive it,' he said. 'It was crazy fast.' Obviously, don't count out McLaren. Norris won the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia last month and Piastri took the title in China two weeks ago with Norris placing second. They've been the fastest team early, threatening to dominate the way Red Bull has over the last several seasons. 'Congrats to Max,' Norris said after the qualifying session. 'He did a good job. It's a hats off. You have to credit something when it's that good.' Advertisement Norris leads the driver standings with 44 points. Verstappen is next with 36 points, followed closely by Russell (35) and Piastri (34). Mercedes will fill the third row of the grid with George Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time champion who moved from Mercedes to Ferrari this season, will start eighth as he tries to settle in after both Ferraris were disqualified in China for technical infringements. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will start 14th, alongside Racing Bulls Liam Lawson in 13th. Tsunoda was promoted to the top Red Bull team after the China race, and Lawson was demoted to the second-team Racing Bulls. Verstappen has won 63 F1 races. Only Hamilton, with 105, and Michael Schumacher, with 91, have won more. ___ AP auto racing:
