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Global gold for Grant Holloway

Published in Athletics

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 15:49

After choosing athletics over NFL, American thrives on world stage in Doha as he captures 110m hurdles title

Grant Holloway could have chosen a career in the NFL but instead decided to stick with athletics. It proved a wise decision because on Wednesday night in the Khalifa Stadium the American took the world 110m hurdles title in 13.10 from Sergey Shubenkov of Russia and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde of France.

Holloway, 21, is a super talent who has a wind-assisted long jump best of 8.32m to his name plus a 43.74 relay split in the 4x400m. With seven US national collegiate titles under his belt and a sprint hurdles best of 12.98, his speed and strength caught the eye of NFL scouts and he was offered a lucrative career in American Football. But he declined their advances and stuck with track and field instead.

“I sat down with parents and asked if I wanted to be NFL or Olympian and my heart was to be an Olympian,” he explained. “American Football is very unforgiving on the body. Do you want to walk at 30? Or be in a wheelchair at 35?”

American Football’s loss is athletics’ gain. “This is what I dreamed of,” he continued. “I dreamed on holding up the American flag and this is the major first one for me.”

Shubenkov, the 2015 world champion who competes as an authorised neutral athlete, ran 13.15 and Martinot-Lagarde clocked 13.18 in third in a race that also saw Omar McLeod, the world and Olympic champion, veering into the lane of Orlando Ortega with disastrous consequences.

McLeod was disqualified and Ortega, the Diamond League champion, wound up fifth after having his charge for the finish impeded. Jamaica’s McLeod later apologised and suggested he should have stopped running mid-race with hindsight.

Was Holloway aware of this? “No, not at all,” he said. “My goal was to get out and stay out and that was exactly what I did. I watched the replay and there was a lot of stuff going on but I was focused on my barriers and composed my nerves and I’m now world champion… for the first time,” he added purposefully, clearly suggesting he plans to win more.

“As a hurdler you’re trained to stay in your space and focus on your own lane. When you look around at other athletes, that’s when you lose your focus. Those barriers don’t care about your body. They’re there to slow you down.”

After an eventful world sprint hurdles final, Grant Holloway emerged with gold from Sergey Shubenkov and Pascal Martino-Lagarde. #WorldAthleticsChampionships pic.twitter.com/AasCywL8sh

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2019

Shubenkov, who has had an injury-hit 2019, agreed: “Running in lane nine helped me a lot so I didn’t see any of these things happening. It was like I was at the party but got kicked out at the start and missed all the action.”

During a busy year, Holloway has raced 42 times on the track in individual events and relays. But he lost form this summer to place only sixth in the Paris Diamond League and runner-up at the US Championships. “I couldn’t have done this without my inner circle,” the Mike Holloway (no relation) coached athlete said. “When times got rough they stayed with me. My parents… and I have awesome best friends and girlfriend, who kept me calm. They love me as a human being and not a track star. I ran crappy at USAs and in Paris and yet my inner circle stayed with me.”

As for Martinot-Lagarde, the European champion said fourth place in France is called “the chocolate medal” and, looking ahead to Tokyo next year, he did not want a repeat of the fourth place he finished in during the Rio Olympics “Chocolate medals are tough to digest!” he joked.

In the semi-finals three hours earlier Britain’s Andy Pozzi was disappointed to finish fifth in 13.60. “It was just messy from start to finish,” he said. “I felt like I had a lot of speed but the timing was just never there and obviously in the hurdles that makes things incredibly difficult.

“I hit hurdle two hard and five hard. Every time I pushed and tried to use my speed the timing was out and huge, huge mistakes. My timing and rhythm just isn’t back up to competition levels. My injury has kind of interrupted that this season.”

A dejected Andy Pozzi talks to AW about his semi-final exit in the 110m hurdles. #WorldAthleticsChampionships pic.twitter.com/uruAWtEKFT

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2019

In the women’s 400m hurdles semi-finals, American duo Sydney McLaughlin (53.81) and Dalilah Muhammad (53.91) looked great ahead of one of the most anticipated finals of the championships. But it was the end of the road for Jessica Turner, who finished seventh in 55.87 in McLaughlin’s race, and Meghan Beesley, who was eighth in world record-holder Muhammad’s semi in 56.89. “I just had no zip in my legs,” said Beesley.

Meghan Beesley tells @Jason_AW she just didn’t have any zip in her legs as she exited the 400m hurdles semis in Doha. #WorldAthleticsChampionships pic.twitter.com/qQBokvhSRm

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2019

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Katarina Johnson-Thompson surges into heptathlon lead

Published in Athletics

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 16:17

Briton produces personal bests to put herself in pole position ahead of Nafissatou Thiam, while Damian Warner leads the way in decathlon

Katarina Johnson-Thompson made a flying to start to her world championships heptathlon campaign, finishing day one in charge with a 96-point lead over defending champion and chief rival Nafissatou Thiam thanks to a range of impressive performances over the opening four events.

The Briton produced big personal bests in the 100m hurdles and the shot put, a championship high jump best and clocked a season’s best 200m on her way to a total of 4138 points, with Thiam sitting on 4042 and American Kendell Williams adrift in third on 3855 with three events to go.

The Commonwealth champion clearly surprised herself in the day’s first event, wearing a look of almost disbelief when taking two tenths of a second from her PB in clocking 13.09 (+0.6 m/sec) in heat two of the 100m hurdles, the same race in which Thiam clocked a season’s best 13.36.

Williams wrote her name into the history books by running 12.58 (0.4), the fastest ever time recorded for 100m hurdles in the world championships heptathlon.

When it came to the high jump, Johnson-Thompson and Thiam could barely have been more evenly matched. Both entered the competition at 1.83m and made virtually identical progress. When they reached 1.95m, Johnson-Thompson went over at the first time of asking, while Thiam needed a second attempt.

When the Olympic champion failed at each of her efforts at clearing 1.98m, it left the door slightly ajar for her opponent, though Johnson-Thompson was ultimately unable to land a successful jump at the height either.

It was in the shot, however, where a big move was made. The throws is usually the major difference between the two but Johnson-Thompson has closed the gap.

Thiam threw furthest of all the competitors with a best of 15.22m, but that was some way short of her 15.52m PB, while Johnson-Thompson picked the perfect time to destroy her personal best.

She was hardly enthused by her first two efforts of 12.33m and then 12.38m but a third-round 13.86m consigned her 13.15m to history and meant she topped Group B.

Thiam rounded off her day by opening the 200m with a time of 24.60 which won heat one but was below her best of 24.37.

Johnson-Thompson is the quickest in the field with a personal best of 22.79 and she clocked a season’s best of 23.08 for the fastest time of the night.

4138 is 104 points up on her personal best score at this stage, while it’s the fourth-best opening day score in history, one point better than Thiam’s best ever day one tally.

“I am really happy about my season bests and my performance today,” said the world indoor pentathlon champion. “I never think of these things like where I am after the first day. I know I am in a good shape, I am where I needed to be and the way I competed.

“Gold – why not? I am in shape and position to do it but you never know what can happen on day two. But I have worked hard on my second day, so anything is possible.”

.@JohnsonThompson on her shot put PB: "I've never seen a below 14m throw celebrated so much by my team & me!" Had it been coming in training? "No! I'm not going to lie. But my training parter Kevin is a third-round specialist, so maybe it's an element of that in training." pic.twitter.com/vrtorWp1KF

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2019

Warner leads the way after decathlon day one

Damian Warner leads the decathlon at the end of day one from fellow Canadian Pierce LePage, with world record-holder Kevin Mayer of France in third.

Warner, the Gotzis champion this year and winner of two world championship minor medals in the past, scored 4513 points in the opening five events with Commonwealth silver medallist LePage scoring 4486 and Mayer close behind on 4483 and Lindon Victor of Grenada on 4474.

Warner was quickest in the opening event, the 100m, with 10.35 but Mayer was not far back with 10.50. The best long jump was achieved by LePage with 7.79m as Warner leapt 7.67m and Mayer 7.56m.

The shot was a great event for the world record-holder, though, as he threw 16.82m for the best mark of the competition as Warner threw 15.17m and LaPage only 13.21m.

Maicel Uibo of Estonia made good points in the high jump as he leapt 2.17m – the best mark in the competition by 6cm. Behind, Warner jumped 2.02m and Mayer a season’s best of 1.99m although the Frenchman was holding his knee after the contest.

Finally, in the last event of day one, LePage ran the fastest 400m time with a 47.35 PB as Warner clocked 48.12 and Mayer ran 48.99.

There was bad news for Britain’s sole representative, as Tim Duckworth was forced to pull out on the day of the competition due to an injury warming up.

“I am absolutely gutted to have withdrawn myself from my first World Championship decathlon,” said Duckworth, who was hoping to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics this week. “It was not an easy decision but I did not want to start the competition and not be able to finish.”

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Dina Asher-Smith ascends to the throne of world sprinting

Published in Athletics

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 16:25

Briton lives up to her billing as favourite by winning an historic gold medal in Doha

This will surely be the first of many. Dina Asher-Smith might have to get used to this feeling.

The 23-year-old was carrying a great weight of expectation on her young shoulders in Doha but she promptly met them by commandingly sprinting across the 200m finish line comfortably clear of everyone else and winning the first global title of her career.

Yes, there were high-profile absentees – a variety of reasons meaning that Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers did not line up in the final – but there was still a hugely difficult job to be done and it was done in some style.

As with so many champions, it was not just what Asher-Smith achieved but the manner in which she achieved it that was so impressive. Her response to the half-lap pressure was to run faster than she has ever run before, lowering her own British record by 0.01 to clinch victory in 21.88 (0.9 m/sec) and becoming the country’s first ever senior female world sprint champion.

World 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith reflects on her historic performance in Doha this evening #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/5knzA3HL7k

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2019

The race looked to have been won by the time Sunday’s 100m silver medallist reached the bend and it was America’s Brittany Brown who got closest, running a personal best 22.22 for second, while Swiss Mujinga Kambundji took bronze in 22.51.

Not long after her ascension to the world 200m throne had been completed – Asher-Smith was the only sprinter of these championships to make it to both the 100m and 200m finals – the realisation of her achievement began to dawn and there was an emotional embrace with her parents in the Khalifa Stadium crowd.

The new world champion dedicated her new piece of athletic jewellery, however, to another key figure in her life. It was coach John Blackie who identified something special when he first met a then energetic eight-year-old at Blackheath & Bromley.

“Even when I was little and trying to jump over hurdles and do the long jump he said ‘please watch yourself’. He said we can do some special things,” said Asher-Smith. “When I was eight, nine, 10 I didn’t see what I saw. He’s been careful with my progression to hold me back. This medal is dedicated to his patient intelligence and wisdom since.”

What would that young girl who first stepped on to athletics track make of her achievements and the journey she has been on?

“I think she wouldn’t believe me,” added the triple European champion who will also feature in the 4x100m relay later this week. “I said earlier that weirdly I use my younger self as reference. When I was in the warm-up area I thought back to my first champs in Moscow in 2013 and being literally so scared, holding the relay baton and being so sweaty that I thought it would fall out. I’m never going to be that unprepared and nervous. My young self would not believe me at all.”

What would the young Dina Asher-Smith who first went along to an athletics club make of today? AW’s @euancrumley asks the world 200m champion. #WorldAthleticsChampionships pic.twitter.com/0bUiAUfkb5

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2019

There was still a sense that the current day Dina was having to pinch herself a little, too.

“I don’t think it’s properly sunk in,” she added. “It’s something that, since the last World Championships, John and I knew that I could do it but it’s a different thing actually going and doing it – it means so much.

“I know I was tired and woke up today knowing this was the last individual chance and this was the moment I did all my work for. This is what we knew we could achieve if the season went well and the tiredness just disappeared when I needed it to.

“There’s so many British fans here and I know lots of Brits live in Doha but lots have travelled and for my mum to be here, my dad, John and his wife and my physios it means so much. Normally I’m quite chatty and full of energy but it’s one thing with everyone saying you’re the favourite but it’s a different thing going and doing it.

“You’re only the favourite if you go out and perform how people expect you to and I was really focused on putting together a good race. I dreamt of this but now it’s real.

“It means a lot and I’m really happy but I’m going to enjoy this one and use it as motivation going into the big one (Tokyo Olympics) next year.”

200m FINAL STATS
Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) 21.88 NR 0.138
Brittany Brown (USA) 22.22 PB 0.228
Mujinga Kambundji (SWI) 22.51 0.150
Anglerne Annelus (USA) 22.59 0.199
Dezerea Bryant (USA) 22.63 0.163
Gina Bass (GAM) 22.71 0.162
Ivet Lalova-Colli0 (BUL) 22.77 0.160
Tynia Gaither (BAH) 22.90 0.152

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Surprise main draw place for Yang Xiaoxin, quite the opposite

Published in Table Tennis

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 10:08

After on the opening day of play accounting for Russia’s Maria Malanina (11-1, 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5), she beat Romania’s Bernadette Szocs (12-14, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8), before on the second day of action securing her place in the main draw by ousting Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus (11-7, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5).

Notably, Nadezhda Bogdanova was very much a player in form; in the previous round she had beaten Spain’s Maria Xiao in a thrilling seven games contest decided by the very narrowest of margins (11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 14-12).

Most significant result

Without question the most significant result was the win against Bernadette Szocs, presently named at no.17 on the world rankings and the highest rated player on duty in the qualification tournament.

“I felt no pressure, I could play freely; I felt I had a good chance and I think the important fact was that my backhand was stronger than hers.” Yang Xiaoxin

The backhand is a major strength of Bernadette Szocs; in fact it’s a major strength of virtually all Romanian female players! The key factor, with regards to Yang Xiaoxin, is that she uses long pimpled rubber on the backhand, thus it made life difficult for Bernadette Szocs to establish a fast attacking rhythm to her play.

Similar scenario

Later, against Nadezhda Bogdanova, it was a very similar scenario.

“I enjoyed the match against Nadezhda, she didn’t play that fast, she’s young, she is a promising player.” Yang Xiaoxin

Significantly, it was the second occasion when Yang Xiaoxin had played Nadezhda Bogdanova; they had met at the 2018 Luxembourg Open, Yang Xiaoxin had also prevailed. However, it was the first time she had ever played Bernadette Szocs in an international tournament or any other competition for that matter!

A stranger?

However, is Bernadette Szocs a stranger?

Yang Xiaoxin commenced representing Monaco in 2013, having played for several years in the French League. Later on the ITTF World Tour she won the women’s singles event in Croatia and in 2016 in the Czech Republic; such evidence suggests a main draw place was no surprise.

“I think it was just fate that I eventually played for Monaco; now the aim is to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, I was not eligible to play in Rio. I arrived in France in 2005 and played for Lys Le Cannoy. I played there for five years.”

Experienced gained but note the name of the player with whom during those years, Yang Xiaoxin practised.

“Bernadette Szocs was also a member of the team!” Yang Xiaoxin

Strangers, not all; Yang Xiaoxin was well acclimatised to the style of Bernadette Szocs; the place in the main draw no surprise at all!

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Jörgen Persson appointed to Swedish men’s team coaching role

Published in Table Tennis

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 10:28

Recently, Jörgen Persson has undertaken coaching roles on an ad hoc basis, most notably earlier this year guiding Mattias Falck to the final of the men’s singles event at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships in Budapest.

Jörgen Persson’s new role will focus on preparing the men’s team for the forthcoming 2020 World Championships in Busan and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Men’s captain

Peter Blomquist will continue as the men’s captain with overall responsibility for long-term planning; Jörgen Persson’s principal responsibilities will be coaching and player development. Resident in Halmstad on the west coast of Sweden, Jörgen Persson will thus have an extra eye on the players living and training that area.

“I am very proud and honoured over this renewed trust, it is always a big honour to wear the blue and yellow colours no matter if you are a player or coach. I am convinced that my knowledge and experience from my very long career will help our players in many ways. I have acted as a stand-in coach during the spring and summer and my feelings are only positive. It is great fun to be back on the international scene and I feel that the co-operation with both the players and coach Peter Blomquist has worked really well.” Jörgen Persson

Medals at recent tournaments

Positive from Jörgen Persson, it was the same from Mikael Andersson, the High Performance Director for the Swedish Table Tennis Association.

“It would be madness not to use Jörgen with all his knowledge and experience; no matter who is coaching or responsible we are in a really positive trend now with medals on the last five big championships.” Mikael Andersson

Women’s team coach

A new name in the men’s team coaching line-up, it is the same for the women. John Wall, who has been acting coach for the last months will now be hired until the Olympics in 2020.

“Working with the women’s team during the last months have been really fun. Now, I will have more time to work individually with all the players on the journey to Tokyo. It is a great group of women with young hungry players who are working hard to improve.” John Wall.

Significantly John Wall played in the top division of the Swedish League for Eslövs, Sparvagen and Rekord; recently he has been coaching elite level high school players

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Main draw decided, differing fortunes for first day stars

Published in Table Tennis

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 13:06

Tense moments in the Eriksadalshallen prevailed.

Men’s Singles

…………Mehdi Bouloussa who the previous day had beaten Denmark’s Jonathan Groth (14-12, 18-16, 11-7, 3-11, 8-11, 6-11, 11-8), the highest ranked player on qualification duty, experienced defeat when facing Pavel Platonov of Belarus (10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7). Alas for Pavel Platonov there was no further progress, in the next round he suffered at the hands of China’s Sun Wen (9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8).

…………Alexandru Cazacu, the first day winner in opposition to Portugal’s Marcos Freitas (11-9, 13-15, 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6) lost to Enzo Angles (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10); the Frenchman continued his good form, he accounted for Sweden’s Hampus Nordberg (3-11, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-6) to book his main draw place.

…………Jon Persson emerged the one player from the host nation to book a place in the main draw. In the fourth preliminary round, he ended the hopes of Egypt’s Omar Assar (11-8, 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8).

…………Six players from China reserved main draw places: Sun Wen, Zhou Qihao, Zhao Zihao, Fang Bo, Wang Chuqin and Xu Haidong

Women’s Singles

………….Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin, who the previous day had beaten Romania’s Bernadette Szocs (12-14, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8), the highest ranked player on qualification stage duty, maintained her form. She beat Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus (11-7, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5) to reserve her main draw place.

…………China’s Qian Tianyi who had beaten Poland’s Li Qian, the reigning European champion, in the first round (11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11, 13-11), claimed her main draw place. She accounted for Hong Kong’s Minnie Soo Wai Yam (11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7).

…………Three defenders booked main draw places by emerging successful in the third preliminary round Liu Fei prevailed against Chinese national team colleague, Zhang Rui (8-11, 11-9, 15-17, 11-9, 11-3, 13-11). Hitomi Sato emerged successful in the all Japanese duel; she overcame Miyuu Kihara (11-5, 2-11, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9). Rather more comfortably Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto beat India’s Manika Batra (12-10, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11).

………….Austria’s Yui Hamamoto won the closest third preliminary round contest; she beat Korea Republic’s Yang Haeun by the very narrowest of decisions (11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 16-14).

Men’s Doubles

………….The Czech Republic’s Lubomir Jancarik and Tomas Polansky emerged the pair to cause the biggest upset in the decisive qualifying round; they beat Brazil’s Eric Jouti and Thiago Monteiro (11-9, 11-8, 11-5), the second highest rated pair on preliminary stage duty.

…………Poland’s Jakub Dyjas and Belgium’s Cédric Nuytinck, the leading duo in actin defeated Thailand’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul and Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon (11-0, 11-7, 11-7) to secure their main draw place.

Women’s Doubles

………….The Netherlands pairing of Britt Eerland and Li Jiao upset the order of merit. In the second preliminary round, they overcame India’s Manika Batra and Archana Girish Kamath, the fourth highest rated in the qualification stage (5-11, 11-4, 11-5, 5-11, 14-12).

…………. Hungary’s Dora Madarasz and Szandra Pergel, the top rated combination in the qualification stage beat the French combination of Stéphanie Loeuillette and Yuan Jia Nan (11-4, 11-5, 11-4) to secure a main draw berth.

Mixed Doubles

………….Poland’s Jakub Dyjas and Natalia Partyka caused the major upset in round that decided main draw places. They beat Serbia’s Aleksandar Karakasevic and Izabela Lupulesku (11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7) the fourth highest rated pair on qualification duty.

…………Adam Szudi and Szandra Pergel, the highest rated on initial phase action booked their main draw place by overcoming Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia and Shao Jieni (6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4)

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Ireland v Russia (Thu): Preview, team news and stats

Published in Rugby

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 02:06

Ireland aim to get their World Cup campaign back on track against Russia knowing only a bonus-point win will keep them on track for a quarter-final.

Despite defeat by Japan, Joe Schmidt's side are second in Pool A but Scotland and Samoa are just a point behind.

Schmidt makes 11 changes from last Saturday with fit-again Johnny Sexton captaining Ireland for the first time.

Russia, without a point so far, are captained by Vasily Artemyev, who studied in Dublin as a teenager.

Coach Lyn Jones makes nine changes from the 34-9 defeat by Samoa with six new faces in the pack.

Ireland have comfortably won the two previous meetings between the sides and go into the contest as overwhelming favourites.

Behind an all-Munster front five, Jordi Murphy will make his first appearance of the tournament just five days after landing in the country having been called upon to replace the injured Jack Conan.

Sexton, seen for many years as one of the team's key figures, earns his 86th cap as he partners Leinster team-mate Luke McGrath at half-back.

Kobe conditions could cause handling havoc

With temperatures in Kobe set to reach 28 degrees on Thursday, much of the short build-up to the game has focused around the conditions inside the Misaki Stadium.

England and Scotland have already won at the venue in this tournament, however both games were littered with an unusually high number of handling errors, down in no small part to the intensely humid conditions at the indoor stadium.

Sexton and hooker Niall Scannell have said that although the conditions will undoubtedly be factored into the team's thinking, Ireland will not be deterred from playing their usual game.

Despite last weekend's shock defeat, Schmidt remains confident that Ireland can still be a factor in the closing stages of the tournament.

"I'm still incredibly positive about this group," the New Zealander said.

"They are such a good group of young men that they are determined to make sure we get it right in these next two games.

"Then beyond that, it doesn't matter which team you play in the pool next door to us."

Russia playing for pride

Russia, playing at their second World Cup, have shipped 64 points in their opening two games scoring just one try.

However they did briefly threaten to spoil Japan's opening night party when they took the lead against the hosts, before crumbling in a one-sided second half.

Skipper Artemyev is one of three Russian players to have featured in all six of the country's World Cup matches so far.

The full-back will lead his side out as they look for an improbable first World Cup win against a wounded Ireland, looking to bounce back from their first defeat to a non-Tier One nation in 23 years.

The teams

Ireland: Kearney; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Earls; Sexton (capt), McGrath; Kilcoyne, Scannell, Ryan, Kleyn, Beirne, Ruddock, O'Mahony, Murphy

Replacements: Cronin, Porter, Furlong, Henderson, Stander, Carty, Carbery, Larmour

Russia: Artemyev; Davydov, Galinovskiy, Golosnitskiy, Simplikevich; Gaisin, Perov; Polivalov, Matveev, Gotovtsev, Garbuzov, Fedotko; Sychev, Gadzhiev, Gresev.

Replacements: Selskii, Morozov, Podrezov, Ostrikov, Elgin, Ianiushkin, Khodin, Ostroushkosday.

What they said

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt: "We've got some guys who have been very, very keen to be involved,.

"We do need to make sure everyone is ready. It is pretty tough with the six-day turnaround and the five-day turnaround."

Russia coach Lyn Jones: "We are facing probably the toughest challenge that Russian rugby has ever faced.

"The challenge for us is to make sure that we make life as difficult for Ireland and to score as many tries as we can."

Match stats

For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

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Shock Japan defeat can motivate Ireland - Farrell

Published in Rugby

Tuesday, 01 October 2019 23:32

Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell has called on the side to use their shock defeat by Japan as motivation for the rest of their World Cup campaign.

Despite the loss, Ireland will secure a quarter-final spot with bonus-point wins against Russia on Thursday and Samoa on 12 October.

"I think a setback, you can use it in the right manner," said Farrell.

"They're not ideal but if you use them to your advantage they can be powerful."

Just five days after the stunning result in Shizuoka, Ireland have an opportunity to get their campaign back on track at Kobe's indoor Misaki Stadium.

Japan are in pole position in Pool A with nine points from two games, with second-placed Ireland sitting one point ahead of Scotland and Samoa.

Farrell recalls England's 2007 recovery

On Wednesday, Farrell - who will take over as head coach from Joe Schmidt after the tournament - insisted Ireland's World Cup aspirations were not over despite the disappointing loss.

"You can look at the last three World Cups, South Africa losing to Japan (in 2015) and losing in the semi-final 20-18," said the former England assistant coach.

"In 2011, France seemed to be disarray throughout that competition and there's a debate on whether they should have won or not in the final.

"In 2007 I was part of the England squad that got a thrashing off South Africa. There was a bit of turmoil within that camp and they managed to get to the final and (there was) a debatable try that was disallowed."

Earlier this week fly-half Johnny Sexton, who will captain Ireland on Thursday, said the short turnaround is in Ireland's favour as it gives them a chance to reassume control of their campaign quickly.

Since arriving in Kobe on Sunday, players and coaches have been keen to highlight their honest assessment of what went wrong in Japan and the unity of the team.

"After a few days of understanding the reasons why (we lost), we are in good spirits," said Farrell.

"We are back on track and ready to prove a point."

Aki backs Irish to 'step up'

Schmidt has made 11 changes for the Russia game, with Garry Ringrose named to start at outside centre again having played 80 minutes in both of Ireland's opening fixtures.

Bundee Aki returns to join the Leinster man in midfield after being withdrawn in the first half of the opening game against Scotland having failed a head injury assessment.

Given the nature of the last result, there is little Ireland can do against Russia that will restore confidence levels among supporters to the level it was before the Japan match, however Aki is confident the side will move their campaign forward on Thursday.

"What I've noticed about this team (is that) we grow together as a group," he said.

"As a team we always focus on ourselves.

"When the pressure is on and everyone is talking us down, everyone steps up."

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Dallas Gardner Retires As NHRA Chairman

Published in Racing

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 11:15

GLENDORA, Calif. – After 46 years of dedicated service to NHRA and the sport of drag racing, NHRA board chairman Dallas Gardner recently announced his retirement and will hand over the reins to current NHRA CEO Peter Clifford, effective immediately.

Gardner will continue to work with the NHRA as a consultant.

Gardner joined NHRA as treasurer in 1973 and was promoted to vice president and general manager in 1978. On Jan. 1, 1984, he was promoted to NHRA president, becoming just the second president in NHRA history.

Gardner spent 15 years as president, pushing forward a wide range of initiatives including the modernization of racing facilities, improved television programming, and cornerstone programs such as NHRA’s Youth and Education Services and the Jr. Drag Racing League, before becoming chairman of the board in January of 2000.

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Vegas West Series Race Moving To The Bullring

Published in Racing

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 11:58

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s 2020 spring weekend received an overhaul on Wednesday, with the announcement that the ARCA Menards Series West Star Nursery 150 will move from The Dirt Track at Las Vegas to The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The track’s racing lineup will begin on Thursday, Feb. 20, with the Star Nursery 150 at the three-eighths-mile Bullring. The addition of the ARCA event gives LVMS four consecutive days of racing and brings the newly merged series – previously known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – to the property’s short track for the first time since 2012.

“This is a great way to kick off our February 2020 race weekend, and we couldn’t be happier to come together with NASCAR and the ARCA Menards Series West to put this race together,” LVMS President Chris Powell said. “Star Nursery has been a valued partner of ours for many years, and we can’t wait to showcase The Bullring to a national audience with the Star Nursery 150. We’ve had a great 2019 season, and next year’s racing lineup is shaping up to be another record-setter for us.”

The Star Nursery-sponsored K&N Pro Series West race was a popular addition to LVMS’s September race weekend in 2018, when Sheldon Creed emerged victorious at The Dirt Track, and again there in February when Hailie Deegan made her way to victory lane.

The 150-lap Bullring race will be accompanied by a super late model open competition event, as well as features in other divisions.

The Bullring – constructed in 1985 and reconfigured in 2000 – previously hosted K&N Pro Series West races from 2001-03 and in 2011 and 2012.

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