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England v Wales: Lock Alun Wyn Jones to set caps record against England

Published in Rugby

Friday, 09 August 2019 03:05

Alun Wyn Jones will appear in a Welsh record 135th Test when he captains the team in Sunday's World Cup warm-up against England at Twickenham.

The 33-year-old will make his 126th appearance for Wales, having also won nine British and Irish Lions caps.

He beats the mark set by prop Gethin Jenkins, who made 129 appearances for Wales and played in five Lions Tests.

Lock Jones leads an experienced squad, as coach Warren Gatland sticks largely with a tried and tested starting XV.

Wales have named an unchanged back-line from the side that clinched the 2019 Grand Slam against Ireland in March.

Gareth Anscombe starts at fly-half, partnering Gareth Davies at half-back, with Dan Biggar providing cover on the bench.

With Taulupe Faletau ruled out of the World Cup through injury, fellow Lions number eight Ross Moriarty continues at the base of the scrum in a breakaway trio that has Justin Tipuric at open-side and Aaron Wainwright in the six shirt.

Elsewhere in the pack, Nicky Smith, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis are named in the front row with Adam Beard partnering Jones in the second row.

On the bench, Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis provide the front-row cover with Jake Ball and Aaron Shingler completing the forward contingent.

Managing injury concerns

Tomos Williams, Biggar and Owen Watkin are named as the backline cover, but scrum-half Williams is an injury doubt.

"There's a good chance that Tomos Williams may not be on the bench on Sunday. He got a shoulder knock in training. I don't know the extent of that but it would probably rule him out of Sunday," said Gatland.

"That would mean Aled Davies would come on the bench.

"We originally picked Cory Hill in the second row but his ankle is a little bit tight and we decided it wasn't worth the risk.

"Josh Navidi had been troubled by a hamstring injury and is back in full training today [Friday].

"We've been looking after James Davies, who's had issues with the back.

"Samson Lee has a hamstring issue. Rob Evans has a shoulder and a neck irritation.

"Hopefully they'll come into consideration over the next couple of weeks.

"We're trying to be smart about players we expose but also trying to manage some others.

"If we feel we need to protect some players then we'll do that.

"Fingers crossed that we don't pick up too many injuries going forward, we're bound to get one or two more but hopefully not too many."

After the Twickenham encounter, Wales host England on 17 August at the Principality Stadium, before home and away Tests against Ireland beginning in Cardiff on 31 August and then concluding in Dublin on 7 September.

They begin their World Cup campaign in Japan on 23 September against Georgia, before facing Australia, Fiji and Uruguay in the group stage.

"These matches are really important leading into the Rugby World Cup, to ensure that both the players are ready for the tournament but also to give players opportunity to put their hands up for selection," Gatland said.

"There is a balance with selection, a need to mix continuity from what we have achieved and opportunity, and we will look to do that over the next couple of weeks.

"Looking at the first two matches this block replicates what we are doing in the Rugby World Cup with a six-day turnaround, so it's a good opportunity for us to prepare and mimic that schedule."

Wales team:

Liam Williams (Saracens) (55 Caps); George North (Ospreys) (83 Caps), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (73 Caps), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (15 Caps), Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (10 Caps); Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys) (26 Caps), Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (41 Caps); Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (28 Caps), Ken Owens (Scarlets) (64 Caps), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (40 Caps), Adam Beard (Ospreys) (13 Caps), Alun Wyn Jones (Capt, Ospreys) (125 Caps), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (8 Caps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (64 Caps), Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (31 Caps).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons) (18 Caps), Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (12 Caps), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (12 Caps), Jake Ball (Scarlets) (32 Caps), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (17 Caps), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (70 Caps), Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (13 Caps).

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England v Wales: Willi Heinz & Ruaridh McConnochie to make debuts

Published in Rugby

Friday, 09 August 2019 03:28

Gloucester scrum-half Willi Heinz and Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie will make their England debuts against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday as they make a late bid for Rugby World Cup selection.

Heinz will be vice-captain and partners skipper George Ford at half-back, with Piers Francis at inside centre.

Sam Underhill and Tom Curry play as flankers together for the first time.

Head coach Eddie Jones said his focus for the four warm-ups is on "developing a team capable of winning in Japan".

Both Heinz and McConnochie were surprise inclusions in the wider training squad, with Heinz now edging ahead of Ben Spencer in the battle to be Ben Youngs' back-up.

The New Zealand-born playmaker now looks almost certain of a place in the final 31-man World Cup squad, which is named on Monday.

"It's been a whirlwind few months," said Heinz.

"It's been incredible. I'm still pinching myself that I am here, and I just feel so grateful to be surrounded by quality players in this squad that have helped me prepare this week, and I'm really looking forward to Sunday."

Meanwhile, former England sevens star McConnochie only switched to the XV-a-side version last summer, but has done enough to play his way into contention, especially with concerns lingering over Jack Nowell's fitness.

McConnochie lines up in a back three with full-back Elliot Daly and club-mate Anthony Watson, who makes a first England appearance since March 2018 after overcoming a serious Achilles injury.

Elsewhere, young Northampton flanker Lewis Ludlam is set to make his debut off the bench, as are Harlequins centre Joe Marchant and Saracens hooker Jack Singleton.

"We have completed our four weeks of pre-season training and now we have moved into four weeks of warm-up games," Jones added.

"Our focus has now changed to match preparation and fitness, and creating a game that will stand up to the rigours of the tournament where we have to win seven games in sevens weeks."

Confirmed line-ups

England: Daly; McConnochie, Slade, Francis, Watson; Ford, Heinz; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Cole, Launchbury, Ewels, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Singleton, Marler, Williams, Kruis, Ludlam, Youngs, Marchant, Cokanasiga.

Wales: L Williams; North, J Davies, Parkes, Adams; Anscombe, G Davies; Smith, Owens, Francis, Beard, Wyn Jones, Wainwright, Tipuric, Moriarty.

Replacements: Dee, Jones, Lewis, Ball, Shingler, T Williams, Biggar, Watkin.

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Rebellion Racing Sets WEC Driver Roster

Published in Racing

Friday, 09 August 2019 09:45

BREASTON, England – Three weeks before the first round of the 2019-2020 FIA World Endurance Championship season, Rebellion Racing has confirmed its driver lineup in the LMP1 class.

The eighth season of the FIA World Endurance Championship officially started with the Prologue on July 23-24 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, an opportunity for the team to refine the Rebellion R-13 prototype settings and test new drivers.

Bruno Senna and Gustavo Menezes will be joined by French driver Norman Nato. The REBELLION R-13 car driven by this driver roster will sport the No. 1.

“We are very happy to have Gustavo (Menezes) for a new season and to let him express all his talent on the track,” said Alexandre Pesci, president and owner of Rebellion Racing. “The team is extremely proud to always count on one of the best endurance drivers Bruno Senna. We are looking forward to seeing Norman Nato at the wheel of our car in LMP1 category. He surprised us during the Barcelona Prologue by quickly understanding the Rebellion R-13 car. Now, focus on Silverstone.”

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Mike Hedlund In For RealTime Racing

Published in Racing

Friday, 09 August 2019 09:48

SAUKVILLE, Wis. – After a successful outing at Sonoma Raceway in June, Mike Hedlund will replace the injured Bret Curtis in the RealTime Acura driver lineup for the remainder of the Blancpain GT World Challenge America season.

For rounds seven and eight in Sonoma, RealTime enlisted Hedlund, an experienced sports car driver and Northern California resident, to sub for Curtis and pair with co-driver Dane Cameron. That weekend, the duo earned a Pro-Am class victory and runner-up finish in the No. 43 Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

“I told (team owner) Peter Cunningham after our first day of practice at Sonoma that if Bret wasn’t feeling 100 percent for any of the remaining races to call me first,” Hedlund said. “The team made me feel right at home from the moment I arrived at the track. They’re very experienced and I’ve been around the block a few times myself so we were able to hit the ground running.”

The synergy developed in Sonoma for the Hedlund/Cameron pairing was further realized as they completed a successful test at Road America earlier this week. Track time is limited on race weekends so to have two full days of testing gave the team ample opportunity to unlock more secrets of the Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

“I think the results from Sonoma speak for themselves in regards to how well Mike and Dane work together in the Acura,” Cunningham said. “And now after our test at a track we will race on in September, the team should be in strong position to fight for more wins.”

Hedlund and Cameron will pair up for the three remaining weekends on the World Challenge schedule: Watkins Glen Int’l (Aug. 30–Sept. 1), Road America (Sept. 20–22) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 18-20).

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KNOXVILLE NOTES: Larson’s Nationals Run Ends

Published in Racing

Friday, 09 August 2019 10:30

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Kyle Larson’s pursuit of victory in the 59th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals is officially over.

Larson qualified ninth during Wednesday’s opening night at Knoxville Raceway before finishing seventh in his heat, relegating him to the Last Chance Showdown.

Larson finished sixth in the Last Chance Showdown and failed to advance to the feature, meaning he’d have to run Friday’s Hard Knox program if he had any hope of making Saturday’s $150,000-to-win main event.

With NASCAR responsibilities on Friday at Michigan Int’l Speedway making it nearly impossible to Larson to make it back to Knoxville for the Hard Knox program, Larson made the call to end his Knoxville Nationals bid.

The California driver does plan to be on hand for Saturday’s finale as a spectator.

• Passing was at a premium during the 10 heat races run during the first two nights of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals.

As a result, the points were greatly shuffled and several drivers will have work to do on Friday night in an attempt to qualify for the sport’s biggest event.

Fifteen of the 20 drivers who started in the fourth row of their heat race due to the inversion failed to transfer to features through the heat races. For many years, the heat-race inversion was 10 drivers, making the format easier than it was for decades.

Still, drivers the likes of Donny Schatz, Brian Brown and Kyle Larson found themselves on the outside looking in after two nights of racing.

• Schatz’s Tony Stewart Racing team changed an engine on the No. 15 between the fifth heat race and the B main on Wednesday night. Members of other crews, including the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing team pitched in to help.

Schatz raced from seventh to finish fourth in the B Main and romped from 24th to 11th in the feature.

• Fifty-three cars signed in on the opening night of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, with another 56 taking the green flag on Thursday.

• Versatile Missouri veteran Hunter Schuerenberg landed a ride in the McGhee Motorsports No. 11 for the Knoxville Nationals.

Schuerenberg filled in for regular driver Dale Blaney, who opted to sit out the Nationals, but will return to the car when the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions campaign resumes next week.

• Knoxville Raceway officials recognized the late Greg Hodnett with a tribute video prior to the start of Wednesday night’s program.

Hodnett, who was killed at Pennsylvania’s BAPS Motor Speedway last September, won the Wednesday night preliminary feature during last year’s Knoxville Nationals. It was Hodnett’s 286th and last victory.

• Jac Haudenschild and his son, Sheldon, were both in Wednesday’s field, while the brother combinations of Jeff and Sammy Swindell and Austin and Carson McCarl also participated.

Sheldon Haudenschild finished third in the feature and Jac Haudenschild was eighth.

• Tanner Thorson showed great speed driving the No. 88 CJB Motorsports machine, a team car to the No. 5 that Shane Stewart raced Thursday night. Thorson qualified 25th, but transferred through his heat and finished seventh in the 25-lap feature.

• Tim Kaeding, making another appearance in one of Jason Sides’ No. 7s machines, was steady throughout the Wednesday program and had the second-highest point total for the evening.

• Brent Marks continued to perform during sprint car racing’s biggest weeks. Marks, who raced from 16th to finish third in last month’s Kings Royal at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, finished sixth Wednesday and qualified for Saturday’s feature.

• Spencer Bayston wheeled the California-based VanDyke Motorsports No. 5h on Wednesday night. Bayston and the team were here for the All Star Circuit of Champions race in late July.

• When Paul McMahan qualified for Saturday night’s feature, he became the seventh driver to make 20 Knoxville Nationals A mains. He joined Steve Kinser (35), Sammy Swindell (34), Danny Lasoski (26), Terry McCarl (22), Stevie Smith (21) and Donny Schatz (21) with 20 starts or more.

• Veteran sprint car driver Johnny Herrera is turning the wrenches for ASCS Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series regular Harli White.

• Fast-qualifier Shane Stewart took a wild flip in turns three and four on the first lap of the first heat race, destroying his CJB Motorsports No. 5. He climbed from the car under his own power.

Stewart will be among those competing in Friday night’s Hard Knox program, looking for one of the four transfer positions.

• Longtime World of Outlaws sprint car driver Andy Hillenburg, who retired nearly two decades ago, attended Thursday night’s event.

• Brian Brown failed to transfer through his heat race on Thursday and ended up in the B main, where he cut a right-rear tire. He missed the feature and will be racing on Friday.

• Sye Lynch, the son of legendary Western Pennsylvania racer Ed Lynch Jr. and the grandson of Hall of Famer Jean Lynch, was impressive in his Knoxville Nationals debut on Thursday night, making the feature after battling David Gravel in a heat race.

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Everything On The Line In Hard Knox Program

Published in Racing

Friday, 09 August 2019 11:30

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Since the Friday night Hard Knox format was put into play during the NOS Energy Knoxville Nationals, the program has become more and more popular and provided tremendous entertainment value with four starting spots available in Saturday night’s $150,000-to-win feature at Knoxville Raceway.

This year could be the best yet after two topsy-turvy qualifying nights left the field jumbled and a lot of big names found themselves relegated to the Hard Knox program.

The top 26 drivers in points are locked into Saturday night’s program, but the rest of the 109-car field will be in action on Friday.

Jason Solwold, with 426 points, is the high point man heading into the night, while Caleb Helms ranked 109th.

All drivers will start fresh on Friday with a full program of time trials, heats and features.

Three-time Nationals runner-up Brian Brown, who leads the weekly racing standings at Knoxville Raceway this year, may be the headliner in the field after a rough night on Thursday saw him miss the main event.

Shane Stewart was the fast qualifier on Thursday, but flipped his CJB Motorsports entry on the first lap of his heat race and he’ll be racing again on Friday.

Logan Schuchart, who won last year’s Hard Knox feature and finished second the previous year, will be racing in the Hard Knox program again this year.

Veterans Jac Haudenschild, Terry McCarl, Jeff Swindell, Sammy Swindell, Chad Kemenah and Craig Dollansky will also be in action.

Central Pennsylvania kingpin Danny Dietrich, who ranked 30th in qualifying points, Wayne Johnson, Jason Sides, Brady Bacon, Austin McCarl, Sam Hafertepe, Bill Balog, Cale Conley, Greg Wilson, Freddie Rahmer and 2005 Nationals winner Kraig Kinser will also be among those competing in the Hard Knox event.

The top four finishers on Friday night will receive the 21st through 24th starting positions on Saturday night.

Below is the entry list posted by Knoxville Raceway early Friday, which is subject to change as teams may choose to withdraw. Kyle Larson has already confirmed he will not be competing Friday night and has withdrawn from the remainder of the Knoxville Nationals.

83 Cars Race tonight on @FVPparts HARD KNOX Night for a shot at earning positions 21-24 in the Saturday Championship A Main!

Format:
Split Field Time Trials (1 Lap per Car)
6 Heats (Invert 4, Top 3 to A Main)
C Main
2 B Mains (Top 3 of each to A Main)
A Main#NOSvilleNationals pic.twitter.com/eGC9OY5lBe

— #NOSvilleNationals (@knoxvilleraces) August 9, 2019

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PHOTOS: Knoxville Nationals F.O.E. Qualifying Night

Published in Racing

Friday, 09 August 2019 12:00

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N.Y. board approves Islanders' $1.3B arena plan

Published in Hockey

Friday, 09 August 2019 08:15

ELMONT, N.Y. -- The New York state board responsible for economic development has approved a $1.3 billion project to build a 19,000-seat arena for the New York Islanders at Belmont Park.

Newsday reports the six members of the Empire State Development board voted Thursday in favor of the complex that will include shops, restaurants and a hotel.

The project on state-owned property would allow the Islanders to move from Brooklyn to Elmont, in Nassau County, while creating thousands of new jobs.

However, some residents of surrounding communities are worried about increased traffic and noise.

The state Franchise Oversight Board must still approve an environmental review. That could happen in the coming weeks.

The arena project was first announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in December 2017.

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Shelton takes Portland lead as he eyes fully-exempt Tour status

Published in Golf

Thursday, 08 August 2019 14:52

Robby Shelton already has his PGA Tour card locked up for next season. He hopes to secure fully-exempt status come Sunday.

Shelton shot 10-under 61 Thursday to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s regular-season finale, the WinCo Foods Portland Open, at Pumpkin Ridge’s Witch Hollow Course.

The former Alabama product is currently projected to pass Xinjun Zhang for No. 1 on the tour’s points list. The top point-getter after three-event KFT Finals (including the regular season) will be fully exempt for the 2019-20 PGA Tour season. The other 24 players who earn their cards Sunday will also have to play for priority in the Finals, which begin next week. The top point-earner for the Finals only will also be fully exempt on Tour next season while 24 other Finals money leaders will earn cards, as well.

Shelton, who turned pro in 2016 but struggled until winning twice this season, made 10 birdies to build a two-shot advantage over Vince India and Virginia product Jimmy Stanger, who entered the week at No. 41 in points. Last season, Stanger missed keeping his KFT card by a shot in Portland. Now, he’s in position to jump inside the top 25 and earn a ticket to the big show.

India is 116^th in points and needs to move inside the top 75 to qualify for the KFT Finals or the top 100 to at least secure conditional status for next season.

David Lingmerth (144), Greg Yates (75) and Tyson Alexander (57) are tied for fourth at 7 under. Marty Dou, 26^th in points to begin the week, was among those to shoot 65. He’s currently projected to move inside the top 25 and earn a trip back to the PGA Tour.

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The Brandel Chamblee Podcast with Jaime Diaz, Ep. 6: The decade in majors

Published in Golf

Friday, 09 August 2019 01:00

Forty up, 40 down. All of the majors have been contested this decade and Brandel Chamblee and Jaime Diaz discuss how they will be remembered, in this latest edition of their podcast.

Chamblee also provides insight to recently qualifying for and competing in The Senior Open, and what it was like hitting balls next to the greatest links player in modern history, Tom Watson.

Listen to the full podcast here:

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