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Sources: Twins expected to pick up Cruz option

Published in Baseball
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 10:39

The Minnesota Twins are expected to exercise a $12 million contract option for slugger Nelson Cruz in the next few days, sources confirmed to ESPN's Buster Olney on Wednesday.

Cruz, a 39-year-old designated hitter, was seen by players and staffers as having a positive influence on the clubhouse this season. He belted 41 home runs to become just the third player in team history to reach the 40-homer mark, joining Harmon Killebrew (seven times) and Brian Dozier (once).

Despite two stints on the injured list, Cruz, who made $14 million in 2019, also had 108 RBIs and a .311 batting average this season.

He became the 57th player in major league history to hit 400 career home runs. Cruz is also the 26th player in baseball history with four 40-home run seasons, as he also accomplished the feat from 2014 to 2016 with Baltimore and Seattle.

MLB Network first reported that the Twins were expected to pick up the option for next season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON -- Months ago, when the Washington Nationals weren't even a .500 baseball team and the Los Angeles Dodgers were running away with the National League, a wise executive looked at the landscape of the league and offered a prediction. "The only thing that's going to stop the Dodgers," he said, "is the Nationals in a short series."

The nightmare scenario of a first-round playoff loss has not come to fruition, not entirely, and yet after Washington's 6-1 victory in Game 4 that sent their NL Division Series back to Dodger Stadium for a win-or-go-home Game 5 on Wednesday, it felt awfully prescient. Any team, even one as consistently excellent as the 106-win Dodgers, is vulnerable when facing the sort of elite starting pitching the Nationals possess. That truth is exacerbated even more by the unforgiving nature of a five-game series.

Major league baseball's postseason is the scorpion-and-frog parable come to life. In an ideal playoff for the league, the best teams -- that is, those whose 162-game excellence lent credence to the importance of the regular season and proved a superior level of talent and execution -- would advance. It is against MLB's interest for the Dodgers, a star brand in the country's second-biggest media market, to lose. The playoffs don't care. This is their nature.

Which, for the Dodgers, led to a long flight home early Tuesday morning. If a five-game series is unrelenting, a one-game series, which is essentially what they now face, is even more fraught with peril. There is, quite literally, no room for error(s). One can end a season. All 27 outs carry extreme value. Especially when the opposing pitcher is Stephen Strasburg.

The Nationals would pose a bad matchup for any team in a short series because of their starting pitching. With Strasburg, Game 4 hero Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, Washington entered the playoffs with the ability to unleash a starter and watch him throw six or seven or even more brilliant innings. Strasburg did it in a Game 2 win. Scherzer did it in a Game 4 win, on short rest, no less. Strasburg returns to face Walker Buehler, who blanked the Nationals in the Dodgers' Game 1 victory.

His presence only slightly mitigates the Dodgers' misfortune of facing Washington. Fifty games into the season, remember, the Nationals looked cooked. They were 19-31 -- just more of last year, when they sleepwalked to an October spent at home. From that point on, they were almost unstoppable, finishing tied for an NL-best record. The other team that went 74-38 from May 23 on: the Dodgers.

Who against any other team in the NL would feel very good about their starting pitching, by the way. Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu each turned in an excellent 2019 season. All will be available in Game 5, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts taking the all-hands-on-deck approach that makes elimination games so enjoyable to watch.

At least for those who don't see the four numbers 1988 and start thinking of four-letter words. That's the last time the Dodgers won a championship, and after seven NL West titles and back-to-back World Series losses, this feels a most inopportune time to run into a team as well-equipped as the Nationals to handle them. Don't forget, the Nationals were a Juan Soto single and Trent Grisham error away from being the ones bounced in the wild-card game.

Now the Dodgers find themselves caught in the tangle of short-series necessity. The Dodgers wanted to save Buehler for Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, which starts Friday. Now he wouldn't be available until Game 3. These are the machinations of the postseason, part of what makes each so fascinating and unique. Individual performances matter. Small samples are vital. A.J. Pollock is a very good baseball player. Going 0-for-12 with 10 strikeouts in this series has been a debacle. NL MVP favorite Cody Bellinger hasn't been much better, going 3-for-15 with barely a whit of power.

Another small sample of note: six innings, one hit, no runs, three walks, eight strikeouts. That was Buehler's line in Game 1. "There's not a lot to it," he said. "We've got to win a game, and if we don't, we go home."

Yeah. That about covers it. And after watching the Dodgers run roughshod through the NL all summer and into the fall, it's a stunning proposition to consider. It's also life in a game that isn't always fair. In a short series, the slightest stumble can register on the Richter scale. A team that wins 106 games and a team that wins 93 games can be equals. Baseball norms can vanish amid the urgency. Nightmares can become very, very real.

LOS ANGELES -- Walker Buehler's bravado is as discernible as it is distinguished -- but his first two encounters with Clayton Kershaw made him uncommonly uneasy.

The first took place in the summer of 2015, shortly after the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the first round, when Buehler paid his first visit to Dodger Stadium. It just so happened to coincide with Kershaw's start day. Buehler already knew about Kershaw's uncompromising routine. He made it a point to distance himself, but he still felt consumed by it.

"I remember not wanting to be in the way," Buehler said, "and feeling like I was in the way, even though I was on the other end of the dugout."

The second occurred late in the 2017 season, during Buehler's first day as a major leaguer. Buehler, then only 23, formally introduced himself to Kershaw and instantly felt self-conscious. He later overanalyzed every aspect of their short interaction.

"You don't even feel yourself speaking," Buehler said. "He's so well-known and so respected that you just don't want him not to like you."

Buehler and Kershaw will probably both pitch in the fifth and final game of this National League Division Series on Wednesday, a make-or-break affair that begins with the first pitch at 8:37 p.m. ET on TBS. Buehler will start -- opposing Washington Nationals dynamo Stephen Strasburg -- and Kershaw is expected to follow him out of the bullpen, symbolizing what has been a gradual-yet-obvious changing of the guard atop the Dodgers' rotation.

Over the past couple of years, while Buehler established himself among the game's most electrifying pitchers and Kershaw transitioned into the back half of his career, the two forged a mutually beneficial relationship.

Kershaw, 31, and Buehler, 25, are separated by six years, a relatively small gap that can at times feel like a lifetime in this era. Kershaw came up in an age that suddenly feels antiquated, when terms such as "small ball" and "feel" were still pillars of the sport's vernacular. Buehler, the product of a progressive pitching program at Vanderbilt University, is rising at a time when advanced analytics are dominating the industry. Buehler's embrace of information has piqued Kershaw's interest; Kershaw's old-school values have influenced Buehler.

"A lot of times, they challenge each other," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "It's forced them both to grow."

Buehler is effusive in his praise of Kershaw, both of his continued success and of his unwavering process. But he is also resolute in carving out his own identity. Buehler can be brash and assertive, but he is surprisingly self-aware and pragmatic. He sat in the dugout as the 2019 regular season was winding down and talked about how he isn't necessarily in awe of Kershaw, but he is driven by the prospect of someday residing on equal footing. Buehler sees Kershaw as his peer, perhaps not unlike the way Kobe Bryant used to view Michael Jordan.

"I think people can be critical of somebody saying that, obviously. I'm in my second full year in the major leagues, and that guy's won more Cy Youngs than I have seasons," Buehler said. "But at the same time, he was 25 years old once, too. I think that's what younger guys have a tough time with. Michael Jordan was a 21-year-old, too, you know? I just think about it that way and try to progress at the level I can and do what I can. And if you can help me move forward, that's fantastic. But I'm not just going to emulate everything someone else did and expect to become who they are. I don't think that's how the world works. You can't just copy everything Apple does, right, and expect to be Apple."

The Dodgers instantly saw the makings of a potential star in Buehler. They made him a September call-up only 14 months after he returned from his post-draft Tommy John surgery, then arranged for him to spend some offseason time in Dallas working out with Kershaw. Watching Kershaw, the Dodgers believed, would set a new bar for Buehler's regimen.

Buehler was impressed, but he quickly learned that emulating the sheer volume of Kershaw's weightlifting sessions would not work for him. Instead, he came to view the experience as an opportunity to interact with the three-time Cy Young Award winner on a more personal level. Buehler didn't incorporate any new methods into his routine, but in Kershaw, he saw a model for consistency and intensity with the mundane tasks that are often taken for granted.

"I just think being around a guy like that does nothing but help you," Buehler said. "If you're not a baseball player -- if you're just an average, normal person, working a job -- being around Clayton Kershaw makes you a better person. Just learning to be a professional baseball player from him is the next step in that process."

Buehler and Kershaw slowly got to know each other throughout the 2018 season, as Buehler's ascendance made him worthy of starting the divisional tiebreaker and Game 7 of the NL Championship Series. Over the course of 2019, amid a season that saw them combine for a 30-9 record and a 3.14 ERA in 360 2/3 innings, they grew closer.

Kershaw has admitted to going a little more out of his way to mentor young players in recent years, and Roberts has noticed him spending more one-on-one time with teammates. But it isn't specific to Buehler. They aren't constantly grabbing dinner on the road or sharing trade secrets to which others aren't privy. It's a casual friendship that has developed organically, one of several within a Dodgers clubhouse that has seamlessly blended older players with younger ones.

"This forced heir, forced mentee thing -- I think it's all silly," Buehler said. "I'm 25 years old. I'm not 16 looking for, like, a second father figure. I enjoy being around Clayton. I feel very lucky to be a Los Angeles Dodger and have him as a teammate. But he's not, like, a dad to me. It's just not how it's gonna happen. We're teammates."

Kershaw bought Buehler a suit for the All-Star Game's red-carpet ceremony this past summer. When the entire team dressed in elaborate costume near the end of the regular season, Kershaw and Buehler collaborated on a "Zoolander" theme. Most of their dialogue, however, has taken place in the dugout while others are pitching. Kershaw has helped Buehler become more intent about scouting opponents, which helped Buehler pitch with more conviction this season. Through Buehler, Kershaw has become more fluent in analytics, which accelerated his evolution.

"Walker doesn't need a lot of help, you know," Kershaw said. "He probably knows more about pitching than I do, just in terms of the mechanics part of it and the process of how to create velocity or how to create spin, all this stuff. He's probably, I guess you could say, a little more new-age than I am. I like listening to him. I like learning from him."

Buehler is a 25-year-old, unmarried right-hander with an explosive fastball. Kershaw is a 31-year-old, married father of two who now relies heavily on breaking pitches. Kershaw has long been considered the second coming of Sandy Koufax, whereas Buehler seems to more closely resemble the next Justin Verlander. It's a connection that wouldn't exist without the forced relationships of team sports but one that has nonetheless become fruitful.

Kershaw has been among several Dodgers veterans who have been disarmed by Buehler's candidness and arrogance.

He has come to find him endearing.

"He grows on you," Kershaw said. "He kind of wears you down."

They're each tasked with ensuring that this dream season -- of 106 regular-season victories, 12 walk-offs and 279 home runs -- continues into the next round. It'll be up to Buehler and Kershaw to outduel Strasburg -- and potentially Patrick Corbin -- and tame the potent bats of Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto.

Buehler will start, but Kershaw will be waiting, eager to help if needed.

It has become a theme.

"He's there to kind of be an ear," Buehler said, "and at the same time just tell you you're being an idiot."

INEOS 1:59 Challenge live stream

Published in Athletics
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 09:05

Watch Eliud Kipchoge attempt to make history and break the two-hour barrier for the marathon in Vienna

If Eliud Kipchoge goes one second per mile faster than during his Breaking2 run in Monza in 2017, we will see a sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna this weekend.

The date of the Kenyan marathon star’s INEOS 1:59 Challenge has been confirmed as Saturday October 12, with organisers saying conditions “are looking optimal” for race day.

The exact start time is set to be confirmed the day before and fans will be able to witness live Kipchoge’s attempt at making more history via the AW website as we will host a live stream of the action, provided by the INEOS 1:59 YouTube channel.

WATCH LIVE:

Olympic champion Kipchoge came close to breaking the barrier when he ran 2:00:25 for 26.2 miles at Nike’s specially-created event two years ago and since that time trial in Italy he has gone on to break the official marathon world record with his time of 2:01:39 in Berlin in 2018.

In Vienna he will use many of the same techniques as in his Monza run – such as a constant phalanx of world-class pacemakers, including the Ingebrigtsen brothers and Bernard Lagat, and carbon fibre shoes – plus maybe one or two new innovations.

The attempt is to be held on a multi-lap, 9.6km course centred on Hauptallee – a long, straight and tree-lined avenue which runs through the heart of The Prater, a large public park in the Austrian capital.

Each lap will involve Kipchoge running two 4.3km out-and-back stretches, with the turning points coming at the Lusthaus and Praterstern roundabouts at either end of the Hauptallee avenue.

Read more in a blog post by AW editor Jason Henderson here.

Eliud Kipchoge’s date with destiny

Published in Athletics
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 09:09

If the two-hour barrier for the marathon falls on Saturday, it won’t be an official world record but will generate global coverage for athletics and will inspire runners in every corner of the planet

For years experts have described the sub-two-hour marathon as the “impossible barrier”. Not since the 1950s, when excitement grew over the prospect of the first sub-four-minute mile, has such anticipation surrounded a potential athletics achievement. The feat of running 68 seconds per 400m, or 4:35 for each mile, for an entire 26.2 miles has been thought to be beyond the ability of any man alive, or even at anyone in the future.

Mo Farah, the European record-holder with 2:05:11, describes the pace needed as “mind blowing”, whereas the athlete who is gearing up to attack the mark, Eliud Kipchoge, likens a successful bid to “landing on the moon for the first time”.

Kipchoge arrived in Vienna this week ahead of an attempt on the two-hour barrier at the city’s Prater park on Saturday morning. The 34-year-old Kenyan clocked 2:00:25 in the Nike-backed attempt in Monza, Italy, in 2017 and has the tantalising prospect of trying to go just one second per mile quicker this weekend at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

The attempt has divided opinion in the sport. Some pour scorn on the attempt. “It’s not athletics as I know it,” one expert told me. “I hope you don’t give it too much space in your magazine,” another added.

This is because the conditions have been crafted in Kipchoge’s favour. The course is expected to be faster than big city marathons such as London and Berlin – and even flatter than the Monza race course used in 2017 (pictured below). A phalanx of elite pacemakers, including the Ingebrigtsen brothers from Norway and Bernard Lagat from the United States, will roll in and out of the time trial, maintaining an arrow shape in front of Kipchoge the whole time to help the Kenyan’s aerodynamics. On his feet, meanwhile, are the latest Nike Vaporfly shoes – although the footwear is widely available and used by elite and recreational runners around the world.

I have no problem with these factors. Over the years I’ve noticed there are what I call ‘sub-two pessimists’ and ‘sub-two optimists’. I’ve always fallen into the latter category and this is partly because I thought future attempts would take place on synthetic tracks and in artificially created cool and windless environments by athletes who never got injured due to improvements in science and medicine.

I am lucky enough to be going to Vienna this weekend to watch the event live. I am hardly the only enthusiast either with millions of intrigued runners and fans tuning into the coverage to see how it plays out.

As a child in the 1970s the idea of someone breaking the barrier first caught my imagination in the Michael Winner movie The Games. On the eve of a fictional Olympic Games, a runner called Harry Hayes played by Michael Crawford is urged to go for the ‘two-hour marathon” by his coach, played by Sir Stanley Baker. It is all played out in tongue-in-cheek fashion in the make-believe world of cinema, but here we are, half a century later, possibly about to see it for real.

During my life I have seen the marathon record tumble, too. In the 1980s, it hovered in the 2:08 zone courtesy of Steve Jones (below) and Rob de Castella. Carlos Lopes then brought it down to 2:07:12 before Belayneh Dinsamo and Ronaldo da Costa took it into 2:06 territory.

At the turn of the millennium, Khalid Khannouchi ran a couple of 2:05 world records followed by Paul Tergat and Haile Gebrselassie bringing it inside 2:05 and, in 2008, below 2:04. Since then, Patrick Makau, Wilson Kipsang and Dennis Kimetto improved it further as a flurry of record-breaking performances culminated in Kimetto running 2:02:57 in 2014.

Last year, Kipchoge set the current world record with 2:01:39. The Olympic champion is regarded as a class above everyone else in the marathon. Or rather was, until Kenenisa Bekele came within two seconds of his record in Berlin this month.

When Paula Radcliffe ran a ground-breaking 2:15:25 women’s world record to win the London Marathon in 2003 I was reminded by Mel Watman, one of my predecessors as editor of AW, that Jim Peters became the first man to break the 2:20 barrier in 1953 and at the time it was inconceivable that a woman would ever finish a marathon in one piece let alone in a time quicker than the best men of the day.

This weekend’s attempt in Vienna will not count for record purposes, although the IAAF president Seb Coe is not opposed to the event. “I’m pretty relaxed about this,” he said a few days ago in Doha. “Anything that attracts attention to our sport within reasonable boundaries is good.

“It attracts interest and excitement. It is a barrier and is not something that would be ratified as a world record. And I have encouraged people to be creative and think outside the box. If people are inspired to start running because of it, then that’s great.”

Despite all the talk of weather conditions, pacemakers and controversial footwear, the biggest factor by far is Kipchoge’s form and fitness. No one quite knows how well his training has gone in recent months in Kenya. On Saturday, we will find out.

If he does achieve it, expect the floodgates will open. When Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile he said prophetically: “Apres moi, les deluge” – and he was right.

Kipchoge definitely believes others will follow. So does Farah. “If Eliud does it there will be so many more people believing that they can then do it,” Farah reckons.

“It’ll be the same as when Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile. He was the first to do that but years later I was doing it at the end of my races, like at the Worlds in Moscow in 2013,” he adds.

“The more you believe, the more it is possible.”

Impressive Djokovic sees off Shapovalov in Shanghai

Published in Tennis
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 05:46

World number one Novak Djokovic continued his fine form with a straight-set win over Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the Shanghai Masters.

Serbia's 16-time Grand Slam champion, who won the Japan Open last week without dropping a set, cruised to a 6-3 6-3 second-round victory.

Defending champion Djokovic, 32, will play American John Isner next.

Isner, 34, hit 19 aces and lost only six points on his first serve in a 7-5 6-3 win over France's Lucas Pouille.

Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, 21, edged out Canadian 19-year-old Felix-Auger Aliassime in a match between two of the most exciting talents on the men's tour.

Tsitsipas, who had never beaten his 19-year-old opponent, even on the junior circuit, had to be patient before securing a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-3) win.

Victory moved Tsitsipas closer to qualifying for the ATP Finals in London next month, while German fifth seed Alexander Zverev - another still hoping to qualify and have the chance to defend his title - also needed two tie-breaks to overcome French veteran Jeremy Chardy in a 7-6 (15-13) 7-6 (7-3) win.

Russian seventh seed Karen Khachanov, Spanish eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, Italian 11th seed Matteo Berrettini and Belgian 13th seed David Goffin progressed to boost their chances of reaching the season-ending finals.

Ritwik (far left) invites the kids to watch the CCI tournament in Mumbai

‘It’s a privilege to be doing what I’m doing’ says the man changing the face of squash in India
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor

Former Indian number one Ritwik Bhattacharya, a regular and talented competitor on the PSA World Tour for many years and now a successful coach and promoter, is staging one of the most significant projects on World Squash Day.

He is teaching the game to a large group of tribal children who had no idea what the game of squash was two years ago.

Bhattacharya, who reached a career high ranking of 38 in 2006, has established his own START Academy which will be active at three venues near Mumbai on Saturday. START stands for ‘Squash Temple And Relentless Training’.

Sachika Balvani, a former Trinity College student who is a member of Ritwik’s team, said: “We are looking forward to doing something here for World Squash Day. Ritwik has established a very unique academy, and I personally have never seen or experienced anything like it.

“We are based a couple hours outside of Mumbai, in the countryside, and work with players that come from across India and with all sorts of backgrounds.

“Ritwik also coaches kids of all ages who live in the tribal village of Kalote that neighbours the academy. The academy started just around two years ago, and already these kids (who had never even heard of squash before then) are playing tournaments and doing well all over India.

“He also works with boys from the Indian National Defence Academy (Pune) and the Rashtriya Indian Military College (Dehradun).

“Therefore, we can definitely have events in these three places, the START Academy, and the squash centres at both military bases.”

Ritwik added: “There is a huge push to revive squash in the Indian Armed Forces, who used to be the backbone of the Indian team two decades back.

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“We are teaching squash to 40 tribal kids who didn’t know what the game was even two years ago till my academy was ready. The tribal village is situated in the state of Maharashtra in the foothills of the Western Ghats. The tribe is the Nirguada tribe which means the ‘butterflies of the woods’.

“We will be creating a video around this and want to include this as part of World Squash Day.

“The video will only be ready by the first week in November as we will include footage from the Junior Nationals from 15-22nd October. Some of the kids will be flying for the first time.

“Do check out my Instagram page @rbstart for more information.

“Sachika is well in control of organising the three venues for World Squash Day. We are planning to cut a cake in front of the squash court with all our kids (over 50) in attendance if not more.”

In a poignant moment he added: “Establishing the project was a huge effort at an immense personal cost getting the Start Academy ready. I would like to thank my parents – my father who passed away without seeing the completed academy – and my mother who is now moving to Kalote Mokashi to help teach the kids proper English.

“To my friends Munish Makhija, Sridhar Gorthi, Pooja Bhatt without whose support this project would never have got completed and last but not the least my wife Pia, who has stood by me through thick and thin, handling everything at home while I’m away at the academy working with the kids.

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“It’s really a privilege to be doing what I’m doing. We have a strong faculty with Jagdeep Singh, India’s heavyweight pro boxing champion, who also is training the kids. And the Indian Armed Forces have even sent professionals to help with their fitness and strength training.

“Stephane Galifi, a squash professional who was born in France but represents Italy, has also popped into the academy and played with the kids on his frequent visits to India.”

As well as coaching, Ritwik has firmly established himself as a leading tournament promoter with his JSW Indian Squash Circuit showcasing the game at some superb venues, including the glass court being set up inside the Cricket Club of India stadium in Mumbai for the successful CCI Tournament.

The 2019 final back in April was an all-Egyptian contest in which Tarek Momen beat Fares Dessouky.

Ritwik invited a group of tribal children to watch the final and posted an impassioned message on Facebook: “All the tribal/ adivasi kids from a small village called Kalote on the outskirts of Mumbai, came to the CCI final to watch the on going Indian Squash Circuit …. our future lies in the hands of these kids.

“They have will, they are determined , they are born champions and trust me, when you have nothing to lose , you are all in. They came, they watched, and they seized every moment!”

Ritwik, 39, is also a big cricket fan and was recently pictured on court coaching India’s legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Please check out this hugely inspirational video which tracks the progress of one of Ritwik’s pupils, a girl called Bijali. We may be hearing much more of her in the future.

Posted on October 9, 2019

Head injury rules Biggar out of Uruguay match

Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 06:08

Dan Biggar will miss Wales' final Pool D game against Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup to have a head injury assessed.

Coach Warren Gatland confirmed Biggar was ruled out after he took a blow for the second successive game as Wales beat Fiji 29-17.

But he played down concerns over wing Josh Adams and centre Jonathan Davies.

"Josh just got a dead leg and Jonathan with his knee, something similar. But you never know with knees," he said.

All three players were likely to have been rested for Sunday's match against Uruguay with Wales already assured of a quarter-final place.

Biggar was hurt when he clashed with Wales full-back Liam Williams during the second half against Fiji.

The Northampton Saints stand-off failed a head injury assessment (HIA) in Wales' previous match against Australia.

Gatland said Biggar would be assessed before the quarter-final.

"He didn't do a HIA against Fiji, he was just removed from the field," said Gatland.

"It means that he won't be in consideration for Sunday and he will have to go through protocols.

"We'll probably get someone to look at him as well.

"Jonathan will probably be assessed tomorrow when all players go and have a review of today."

Biggar's injury could be a complication for Gatland, with Rhys Patchell the only other specialist fly-half in the 31-man squad.

Centre Hadleigh Parkes and full-back Liam Williams could be options, and Hallam Amos has trained there.

Asked who would be cover at number 10, Gatland replied: "I don't know."

"We'll sit down as coaches and look at that.

"Some players are going to have to back-up, particularly backs. We may go for a 6-2 split on the bench with six forwards.

"We've got some quality nines. We may look at that. Hadleigh Parkes was talked about and Liam Williams.

"We've been running Hallam Amos at 10 in training and he's looked pretty sharp there.

"Gareth Davies went on the wing for us today and he did a job for us there.

"With the short turnaround, we need to freshen players up. Hopefully we're good enough to do a job on Sunday to secure this group."

Pick your Wales XV to play Uruguay

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All pics via Huw Evans Images

England and Scotland's final World Cup pool matches this weekend are under threat from violent Typhoon Hagibis.

Hagibis is moving towards Japan and expected to make landfall on Saturday.

Both England's game against France in Yokohama on Saturday (09:15 BST) and Scotland's vital match with hosts Japan at the same venue on Sunday (11:45 BST) could be affected.

BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Simon King said it is "one of the most powerful tropical cyclones this year".

World Rugby has called a news conference on Thursday at 04:00 BST to discuss what action will be taken.

What is the forecast?

A Met Office spokesperson said on Wednesday that Typhoon Hagibis was in the western North Pacific and on track to hit Japan this weekend.

It was located around 900 miles south of Tokyo with estimated wind speeds of around 120mph and gusts of 170mph.

The Met Office says strong and severe winds, very heavy rain and large waves mean a risk of flash flooding in the Tokyo region.

Yokohama is approximately 17 miles south of Tokyo.

King explained: "It is equivalent to a category five hurricane, making it one of the most powerful tropical cyclones around the world this year.

"The typhoon will start to weaken as it continues its track northward. However, forecasts from the Joint Typhoon Warning centre and the Japanese Meteorological Service suggest it will make landfall in southern Honshu, around the Tokyo area on Saturday lunchtime UK time.

"By this point, it'll still be categorised as a 'very strong typhoon' with wind gusts in excess of 100mph and bring between 200-500mm of rain.

"This will be significant in a built-up area such as Tokyo with damage and flooding expected."

Could it change before the weekend?

"Yes, it could," added King.

"Forecasting the path of a typhoon is a tricky one and while there is growing confidence of a landfall near to Tokyo, it still could shift path slightly, even up to 24 hours before time.

"However, Typhoon Hagibis is huge, covering a diameter of around 500 miles.

"On landfall, the most powerful winds are expected to extend out 60 miles from its centre. Therefore, even if the location of direct landfall changes, the winds, flooding rain and impacts will still be felt over a large area."

What are the options?

Organisers could move games away from the area where Typhoon Hagibis is expected to make landfall. It had been suggested that England's meeting with France, due to be played in Yokohama, could be shifted 600 miles away to Oita.

However, Oita is a far smaller venue, with space for 40,000 spectators compared to Yokohama's capacity of 72,327, and that option is considered unlikely. Instead the matches could be played behind closed doors to limit the risk to spectators.

It has also been suggested Scotland's match with Japan could delayed by 24 hours but, according to the tournament rules, it is not possible to postpone pool-stage matches to another day.

If both matches are cancelled, this would result in them declared a draw, with two points awarded to each team.

What does it mean for the World Cup?

England and France are vying for top spot in Pool C having both already qualified for the quarter-finals, but should their match be cancelled it would mean England will progress as winners.

Eddie Jones' side would then face a probable quarter-final against Australia, who knocked them out at the pool stage of the last World Cup en route to the final, with Wales expected to top their group and therefore play France.

The consequences would be far worse for Scotland if their game against Japan is called off.

Gregor Townsend's team need to win to go through and may also have to rely on bonus points but - if Ireland beat Samoa in Fukuoka on Saturday - a weather-enforced two-point haul would mean they finish third in Pool A and go out.

When will we find out?

World Rugby has announced a media conference to discuss the impacts of Typhoon Hagibis on the tournament for 04:00 BST on Thursday.

Alan Gilpin, World Rugby tournament director, and Akira Shimazu, chief executive of Japan Rugby 2019, will be there.

PHOTOS: Lawrenceburg Fall Nationals

Published in Racing
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 07:00

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