New Zealand loose-forward Akira Ioane says they must be ready to match Scotland's fire in their autumn international at Murrayfield, as the home team seek a first-ever win against the All Blacks.New Zealand have had an up-and-down year that has led some to suggest they are there for the taking, but they blew away Wales in an eight-try 55-23 romp in Cardiff this past weekend to suggest they are getting back to their best in time for Sunday's Test.Ioane believes Scotland will be a step up in quality from that encounter and says the All Blacks will do well not to underestimate opponents who haven't beaten them in 31 previous attempts."They are a good team," Ioane told reporters on Wednesday."They have got a lot of threats over the ball, and a lot of speed and strength out wide. We can't take them lightly."They'll come out guns blazing, and we have to match that and make sure the boys are up for the fight. Our breakdown will have to be on point. If not, they are going to steal a lot of ball."They haven't won ever, so no doubt they will be fired up. We have to be ready for a Scottish team that will go past the 80 minutes, so we have to dig deep and make sure we nail what we can."New Zealand have lost six Tests in the last 12 months, their worst run since the late 1990s, but they're chasing a sixth win in a row after a recent upturn in results, if not quite performance.They squeezed past Japan 38-31 in unconvincing fashion in their opening autumn international clash before putting Wales to the sword."We wanted to take a step up from Japan and I think we did that against Wales, but Scotland is going to be another step up again."I know the boys are looking forward to it. We have been preparing well."Click Here: Kanken Rainbow Backpack

According to L’Équipe Serie A side Salernitana have made a new offer for Strasbourg centre-forward Habib Diallo (27) – the Italian side have raised last week’s €8m offer up to €11m excluding bonuses. The Senegal international arrived from Metz to Strasbourg two years ago for a €10m transfer fee. 

The current Strasbourg striker is under contract until 2025 with the Alsatians, and scored during last weekend’s narrow defeat to AS Monaco (1-2) – with Diallo scoring an equaliser in stoppage time that was ruled out for offside, denying the forward of a brace. The former Metz and Brest man has made a total of 66 appearances for Strasbourg, having scored 22 goals and provided five assists for the club. 

Strasbourg were hoping to sell fellow striker Ludovic Ajorque, who reportedly wants a move elsewhere after spending five years with the Ligue 1 club. However, no satisfactory bids have turned-in for the Madagascan. Thus Racing are open to selling Diallo, but won’t let both players leave the club at the same time. 

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L’Équipe report today that Marseille have approached Italian international defender Francesco Acerbi, as they look to reinforce their centre-back options before the end of the window.

The Lazio man could be seen as a potential back-up option should a move for Manchester United’s Éric Bailly fall through, all that scenario appears unlikely given an agreement has now been reached with the Red Devils and talks on personal terms are now underway with the Ivorian’s entourage.

Acerbi is also a possibility should the Croatian defender Duje Ćaleta-Car leave, with OM pushing him towards the exit door as he enters the final year of his contract. The Italian is under contract for another three years with the Biancocelesti but appears to be open to a new challenge, with his club not necessarily standing in his way. This past season, he made 30 Serie A appearances for Maurizio Sarri’s men, and totals 173 games in four seasons since his move from Sassuolo.

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England coach Eddie Jones has been fired less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.Jones was fired after seven years in charge of the national team.CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR EARLY BIRD AND HOSPITALITY TICKETS FOR THE HSBC SYDNEY SEVENSThe Rugby Football Union has acted in response to a dismal autumn that concluded England's worst year since 2008, comprising of six defeats, a draw and five wins.An anonymous panel of experts appointed by the RFU reviewed the campaign and concluded that Jones' departure was necessary to improve the team's fortunes with the World Cup opener against the Pumas just nine months away.The findings of the review were put to the RFU board, which on Monday morning pulled the trigger on the 62-year-old Australian's reign despite his win record of 73 per cent.Jones was contracted until the end of next year's World Cup but now looks set to be replaced by his former No.2 Steve Borthwick, Leicester's director of rugby.In its statement announcing is dismissal, the RFU revealed forwards coach Richard Cockerill will take charge of England on an interim basis.Jones learned on Monday evening his England reign was over, with confirmation coming during a meeting with Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney at Twickenham on Tuesday morning."It's important to recognise the huge contribution Eddie has made to English rugby, winning three Six Nations, one Grand Slam and taking us to a World Cup final," Sweeney said."He has the highest win ratio of any England head coach and has helped develop the leadership skills of many players and coaches."I'm grateful to Eddie for all he has done for England across many areas of the game and the professional way in which he has approached reviewing the performance of the team."He has provided the panel with astute insight and meaningful lessons that will support the team performance going forward."In a statement released by the RFU, Jones said: "I am pleased with much that we have achieved as an England team, and I look forward to watching the team's performance in the future."Many of the players and I will no doubt keep in touch, and I wish them all well in their future careers."Besides taking England to the 2019 final, where they lost to South Africa, Tasmanian-born Jones led Australia to the World Cup final, in 2003, losing to England. He was convinced that despite the team's poor form England would, with the benefits of a solid block of pre-tournament training, make it third time lucky in 2023. Click Here: cheap penrith panthers jersey

As reported by Le10Sport, Benjamin Bourigeaud hasn’t had any contact with Atlético Madrid, who were reported as interested in the midfielder earlier this week, and has decided to stay at Rennes.

Despite seemingly aiming to leave the club before the end of the window the French midfielder is now in talks to extend his deal with SRFC by two or three seasons, say the outlet, and, as France Bleu reported earlier this week, Bourigeaud has already refused offers from Lyon, Nice, Fulham and Nottingham Forest this summer. While Lazio, Roma and Napoli have also been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the player. Rennes were concerned the player could run down his deal and leave on a free, that now seems unlikely.

The 28-year-old was one of the players of the season in Ligue 1 last year and was central to orchestrating France’s most exciting attacking unit, making it into double figures for both league goals and assists. The Frenchman was also pre-selected for a France national team squad earlier this year.

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The Melbourne Rebels, IRFU and Leinster Rugby are delighted to announce that Kieran Hallett has been placed in a coaching role with the Melbourne Rebels for the 2023 Super Rugby season.Kieran is a former Ireland U21 representative who joined the IRFU and Leinster Academy team in July 2019 as an elite player development officer (EPDO).The former outhalf previously held the position of Head Coach of the Developing Player Programme in English Premiership club Exeter’s Academy and was head coach of Plymouth Albion in National League 1.Since returning to Ireland, Kieran has also coached with a number of Irish national sides including the Ireland Senior Women’s squad and the Ireland U19’s Men’s squad. The IRFU High Performance Unit has facilitated this coaching secondment in Super Rugby as part of his individual coach development program.  Melbourne Rebels Head Coach, Kevin Foote, was excited to have Hallett join his Coaching staff. "I can’t speak highly enough of the talent, experience and IP Kieran brings to our coaching group. Kieran has been an integral member of Leinster’s world class player development program, while also having done a fantastic job with a number of Irish national sides," said Foote."Kieran is a high calibre person, and someone that will complement the culture we’re building at our Club, so we’re really excited to have him." IRFU Performance Director, David Nucifora, commented, “Kieran is a promising young coach who will benefit from an exposure to a completely difference rugby culture and competition.  “Similarly with how Noel (McNamara) has flourished in a senior coaching role with the Sharks and prior to that with North Harbour in the NZ NPC , Kieran has a different opportunity to develop as a coach in Melbourne and push on as a coach.  “With limited opportunities within the Irish system we have to remain open and agile to coaching exposures around the world that will hopefully ultimately benefit Irish rugby down the road.”Kieran Hallett, commented, “I’ve always been attracted to the Melbourne Rebels since their inception in 2011. They play in a wonderful City and a place that looks fantastic to live, so when I was given the chance to come down and develop my own coaching career, it was too good an opportunity to turn down." ”It’s a great opportunity for me to develop as a coach and expose myself to different ways of viewing the game.  ”I’m really excited about coaching in a senior role and preparing for the challenges of Super Rugby before returning to Leinster Rugby in July.”Click Here: Russia soccer tracksuit

Toulouse saw off an ever-improving Munster side 20-16 in their Champions Cup pool clash as both teams progress to the knockout stages.

These two European heavyweights knew before kick off that they would be moving on to the Round of 16 but a bonus-point win for the hosts  could have secured them top spot in the pool while a maximum for Munster would have given them a home knockout game.

Munster enjoyed periods of dominance as their growth continues under Graham Rowntree, but an off-day with the kicking tee from fly-half Joey Carbery ultimately proved the difference on Sunday as Toulouse ran out victors by four points in an entertaining match.

Toulouse crossed the try-line just once, via Juan Cruz Mallia, as it was Melvyn Jaminet’s 15 points off the tee that saw them to a Champions Cup win.

John Hodnett and Tadhg Beirne scored Munster’s tries while Carbery and Ben Healy kicked a penalty apiece as they finish in sixth position in Pool B.

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Toulouse started the stronger, and stormed into an eight-point lead thanks to the first of Jaminet’s five penalties in the second minute.

Things got even better for the hosts five minutes later when their Argentina wing Mallia got past Shane Daly to cross in the right corner.

Jaminet pushed his touchline conversion inches wide of the far upright, but he was back on target in the 11th minute to make it 11-0.

Munster needed something to steady the ship and they hit back on the half-hour mark with their first try.

The United Rugby Championship team had made too many unforced errors in the opening quarter, but there was no stopping the outstanding Hodnett.

Carbery could not add the extras but hit the target with a penalty four minutes before the break to make it 11-6 at the interval.

Both teams came into the game knowing they were safely through to the round of 16, but the real battle was for a top-four finish to guarantee a home draw. That meant they had to go all out to the final whistle.

Having grown into the game, Munster struck with a try from Ireland lock Beirne to take the lead in the 50th minute.

Once again Carbery was wide with his routine conversion attempt and two minutes later he was replaced by Healy – not the sort of ending he wanted to a week that saw him dropped from the Irish Six Nations squad.

Jaminet and Healy swapped penalties as the lead kept changing hands, before Toulouse hit the front for the third time in the match with another Jaminet kick after English referee Karl Dickson had penalised Munster for crossing at a lineout in their 22.

There was still only one point in it, but then Healy was sent to the sin-bin for leading with his arm as he carried the ball into a tackle.

That came in the 69th minute and four minutes later the power of the home pack came into play to earn them another penalty which Jaminet kicked to stretch the gap and secure the win.

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Le Parisien report that Napoli midfielder Fabián Ruiz is expected to complete his move to Paris Saint-Germain today, as the Spaniard arrives in France to undergo his medical.

After protracted talks with the Serie A side, the 26-year-old is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year deal, in a transfer that will see an estimated €25m go to the Campania team. The former Real Betis man, who has 15 caps for the Spanish national team, joins after four seasons in Italy, with last season notably seeing him score seven goals in 32 appearances.

Ruiz’s arrival means Luís Campos and Christophe Galtier are targeting another two signings in the final week of the transfer window, namely another centre-back and a rotation option up front. The club’s upper management has completely overhauled the midfield, having only kept on Marco Verratti and Danilo Pereira out of their previous options and having brought in Vitinha and Renato Sanches.

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Wallabies and Waratahs prop Angus Bell is viewing his foot injury as a blessing in disguise as he targets a return for the Super Rugby Pacific opener against the ACT Brumbies.Bell initially suffered the injury during the final Test of last July's series against England, however, was ruled out of the Spring Tour after further aggravation.CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR EARLY BIRD AND HOSPITALITY TICKETS FOR THE HSBC SYDNEY SEVENSThe injury has allowed the 22-year-old to enjoy something he hasn't experienced since his rookie year: a proper pre-season.The nature of Bell's rise saw the Sydney Uni product thrust into the Wallabies side in 2020, with COVID delaying the Rugby Championship until December.Further COVID complications at the end of 2021 left the loosehead stuck in London after contracting it before the cancelled Barbarians game against Samoa.“It’s been unreal. I came out of surgery early November out of my cast and slipped straight into pre-season,” Bell told reporters.“I haven’t done a pre-season before at Super Rugby except for my rookie year so it’s been good to have that time to get that physical and mental break, upgrade that time in the gym where I feel I could do the stuff I couldn’t before so it’s been invaluable.“As a player, it’s been unreal to get back to Super with some of my good mates and keep getting better and advancing my physical side of Rugby.”Bell is one of several injured stars who joined the Wallabies in camp on the Gold Coast over the past week.He has little concerns about missing the Waratahs' February 24 opener against the Brumbies, drawing off the plethora of experienced figures within the set-up as he looks to complete a quick recovery.“The rehab group at the Wallabies is pretty big at the moment and you look at the older guys within the squad that have gone through that process and you try and learn as much as possible,” he explained.“In Quade’s case, we both have lower leg injuries so there’s stuff around his rehab and what he does around the squad that I can take and put in place. “There’s people in the squad with similar injuries so there’s vast amount of experience in that area that I can use to my advantage to get back on the field as quick as possible.”Click Here: springbok rugby Jerseys

Scotland skipper Jamie Ritchie is hoping the form of club sides Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors can power his team’s Six Nations charge.

Edinburgh has been in good form recently, qualifying for the Champions Cup’s knockout phase after a group stage that included a memorable win against Premiership front runners Saracens at the DAM Health Stadium. Mike Blair’s side also sits eighth in the United Rugby Championship (URC) heading into the second portion of the season.

Meanwhile, Glasgow seem to have found their feet under coach Franco Smith and have played some fantastic rugby recently, including a sensational last-gasp win over reigning URC champions the Stormers.

Use the form

Ritchie wants Scotland to harness the form of the domestic sides and use that to power their charge in the 2023 Six Nations.

The back-row believes Edinburgh’s win over Saracens can help boost the confidence of his side, considering how many England stars played in the clash.

“Certainly for the guys who played in that game, it will be a definite confidence boost knowing there were so many (England) internationals in that Saracens team and we dominated them for most of the game,” said Ritchie.

“We’ll take a huge amount of confidence from that. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have hit a bit of form coming into this tournament so that can only bode well for our squad.”

Looking to continue recent fortunes

Scotland start their tournament with a trip to Twickenham to play England. Ritchie’s side has had decent success there over the last couple of seasons against the Auld Enemy, with a draw four years ago and a win in 2021, ending a 38-year drought at the famous ground.

“Growing up watching Scotland it was often hopefully, but for us now we’re confident that we can win every game we go into,” said Ritchie.

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“For us, it’s more about dealing with what comes along with that expectation in terms of criticism and scrutiny if you don’t live up to those expectations.

“We’d rather have it that way though because it shows the nation has belief in us that we can play well and win games.”

The opening round Calcutta Cup clash between Scotland and England is on February 4.