CK Updates
Six Nations: Farrell’s Ireland must ‘stop rot’ after Paris humbling
With Farrell rolling the dice in his selection – dropping James Lowe as well as giving Cian Prendergast a rare start – there were interesting subplots aplenty as the game neared.
Such was the nature of the Paris performance, however, that few such themes could be given fair scrutiny.
Ireland had picked a team to compete in the air but rarely challenged in that regard with the new-look back three of Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale largely on the periphery.
While the loss of both usual starting props to injury, as well as two back-ups on the loose-head side, was unwanted, it gave the opportunity for others to step up and show what they can do, yet the set-piece was rendered a virtual non-factor.
Indeed, Ireland won a scrum penalty in the 45th minute but, such was the lack of pressure elsewhere, it was the first time Les Bleus had drawn a whistle from Karl Dickson.
Discipline had been a key area to improve after the autumn but, while Ireland did concede only six penalties, they frequently did not get close enough to infringe either, with 38 missed tackles on the night.
Ireland’s failure to get to grips with the non-negotiables – what Farrell called the “main part of the game” – left little point in sifting through much else.
“I think you make your own luck in this game,” said Farrell.
“Without the ball, I thought we lost that battle in the first half. The things like the high ball and winning the scraps on the floor, running through tackles or missing tackles etc – that’s the main part of the game.
“We certainly came off second best in that regard in the first half. Our response was gallant, but that’s not what we want to be, we don’t want to be a responding team. We needed to show it from the get go.”
CK Updates
Allan Nascimento: UFC fighter dies at the age of 34
Mixed martial arts fighter Allan Nascimento has died at the age of 34, says the UFC.
According to MMA’s leading promotion, the Brazilian flyweight was found unresponsive on Monday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep.
“Despite the efforts of the responding medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene,” added a UFC statement., external
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, team-mates and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Nascimento had been with the UFC since 2021 and his last fight was a split-decision loss to Mitch Raposo in June.
That left Nascimento with an overall MMA record of 22 wins and seven losses, with a 4-2 record in the UFC.
CK Updates
Vinicius Junior: Real Madrid forward to resume contract talks as Arsenal maintain an interest
Vinicius returned to the club for his first pre-season training session and medical assessment on Monday following his World Cup campaign with Brazil.
The forward is training under Jose Mourinho for the first time this week, with sources close to the Portuguese manager saying he is keen for the winger to commit his future to Real.
Vinicius also wants to remain at the Bernabeu but with his contract expiring next summer, Real risk losing him on a free transfer if no agreement is reached.
That has increased the urgency for the club to resolve his future before the end of the transfer window, with talks set to resume in earnest in the next few days.
There was a similar situation in 2023 when, with his previous contract entering its final year, Vinicius signed a new deal extending his stay until 2027.
Renewal talks have taken place over the past 18 months, but slowed because of disagreements over wages and status within the club.
The 26-year-old is believed to want recognition as Los Blancos’ top star financially, especially after carrying the team for years before the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
Real, however, are traditionally strict about maintaining their salary structure under president Florentino Perez, with Mbappe currently top of the club’s high earners.
Despite this tension, Vinicius has described Real as “the club of my dreams” and said he hopes to remain there “for many years”.
The club are hopeful of concluding talks this week. If a new contract can’t be agreed – that’s when Arsenal come in.
CK Updates
Celtic drawn against LASK in Champions League play-off
If they defeat Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the third round of Europa League qualifying, Rangers will play either Lillestrom of Norway, the winners of the tie between Northern Irish champions Larne and Iberia 1999 of Georgia, or the losers of two Champions League qualifiers – between Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) and Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) or Mjallby (Sweden) and Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia).
Having dropped down from Champions League qualifying, Hearts face Benfica and the winners of that also have four possible play-off opponents.
Those are OFI Crete, the winners of Thun (Switzerland) and Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland), or the losers of two Champions League qualifiers – AGF Aarhus (Denmark) and Sabah (Azerbaijan) and Dinamo (Croatia) and Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania).
Should Hearts lose to Benfica, they will face either Atalanta (Italy), Freiburg (Germany), or the winners of ties between Panathinaikos (Greece) and CSKA (Bulgaria), Paide Linnameeskond (Estonia) and Rapid Vienna (Austria), or Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) and St Gallen (Switzerland) in a Conference League play-off.
Motherwell have the same possible opponents should they defeat HJK Helsinki of Finland.
If Rangers lose to Jagiellonia, they will face the winners of ties between Jablonec (Czech Republic) and RFS (Latvia), Zalgiris (Lithuania) and Hajduk Split (Croatia), Brann (Norway) and Apollon Limassol (Cyprus), Inter Turki (Finland) and Vaduz (Liechtenstein) or Noah (Armenia) and Sion (Switzerland).
Hibs’ reward should they defeat Shkendija of Macedonia is a possible tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, Monaco of France, the winner of the tie between Bohemians (Republic of Ireland) and Midtjylland (Denmark), the winners of IFK Gothenburg (Sweden) and Gent (Belgium), or the losers of Pafos (Cyprus) against Salzburg (Austria).
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CK Updates13 hours agoCeltic drawn against LASK in Champions League play-off
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CK Updates6 hours agoVinicius Junior: Real Madrid forward to resume contract talks as Arsenal maintain an interest
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CK Updates19 hours agoSwansea City: Vitor Matos says Premier League always the goal after signing new contract

