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France’s Ntamack says Ireland ‘comfortable favourites’ in Dublin meeting

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8 months ago

February 8, 2023

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France's Ntamack says Ireland 'comfortable favourites' in Dublin meeting

France fly-half Romain Ntamack says Ireland are “comfortable favourites” for Saturday’s predicted Six Nations title decider with Ireland in Dublin.

This weekend’s hosts are top of the World Rugby rankings with Ntamack’s outfit, who won a Grand Slam last year, second. Both sides won their opening games of the tournament.

Andy Farrell’s Ireland eased past Wales last Saturday thanks to a first half blitz while Les Bleus claimed a 14th straight Test victory by holding on against Italy 24 hours later.

“They are world number one, it’s not for nothing, they are comfortably favourites,” 33-Test playmaker Ntamack told AFP on Tuesday.

“There’s no debate. They showed and proved that in round one against Wales.

“They’re good in all areas. They have very few weaknesses, if any. It’s going to be an arm wrestle for 80 minutes,” he added.

This year’s Six Nations has the shadow of the Rugby World Cup looming over it. Hosts France kick off the tournament against three-time winners New Zealand in Paris on September 8.

Ntamack, 23, played down the pressure of the showpiece event.

“First things first, we’ll be happy to win on Saturday. It would mean that we’re still in line for a second Grand Slam. It’s really the objective,” he said.

“Beyond impressing, beyond thinking about the World Cup, if we want to defend our title and write history, it comes with a win in Ireland,” he added.

At the Stadio Olimpico last Sunday, Ntamack set up two tries for team-mates after a personally disappointing November campaign, despite French wins over World Cup holders South Africa, Australia and Japan.

“Those things happen. I know what I do well, what I do less well,” he said.

“It didn’t stop me sleeping. I’m happy to be back to my best,” he added.

‘Inspiring’

Ntamack, son of former free-running France three-quarter Emile, plays his club rugby for record five-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse as his father did.

Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont won the 2021 Champions Cup and Top 14 double together with Toulouse

Nine of Ireland’s starting team last weekend play for Leinster, who have won that title on four occasions.

“They have played together for a while: 90% of them come from Leinster, they’re together for the whole year,” Ntamack said.

“They know each other inside out. They’re great players who are used to playing big games,” he added.

In Rome, Ntamack and Toulouse team-mate Antoine Dupont reached a France record of 22 internationals together as a half-back partnership.

At Lansdowne Road they are likely to face 110-time capped fly-half Johnny Sexton and his fellow Test centurion in No. 9 Conor Murray.

“They are players that we admire, who have lasted, despite their age, they’re still performing well,” Ntamack said.

“It shows their efficiency in the Ireland shirt.

“It’s inspiring but it stops there, they are our opponents. Even if we respect them, we will try and beat them when we face them,” he added.

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Sports

Bangladesh name Najmul captain for third New Zealand ODI

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2023

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Bangladesh name Najmul captain for third New Zealand ODI

Bangladesh named batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto captain for the third one-day international against New Zealand and brought several senior players back.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam join Najmul for the must-win contest at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

New Zealand are leading the three-match series 1-0 thanks to their 86-run win in the second match on Saturday, the side’s first win against Bangladesh in the country in nearly 15 years.

The first match was washed out by rain.

The Kiwis last beat Bangladesh in their own backyard in October 2008.

They then lost the next two series in 2010 and 2013, respectively, by 4-0 and 3-0.

Over that period, New Zealand’s only ODI victory in Bangladesh came against South Africa in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final.

Bangladesh rested Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Khaled Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Hasan, who all played in the second match against New Zealand.

Regular captain Shakib Al Hasan did not play any part of the series. In the absence of Shakib and Liton, Najmul is now set to become the 16th ODI captain for Bangladesh.

The series is the last for both teams ahead of the upcoming World Cup in India, which opens on October 5.

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Anamul Haque, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain.

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Sports

Naseem Shah likely to undergo shoulder surgery

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2023

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Naseem Shah likely to undergo shoulder surgery

Pakistan’s pace icon Naseem Shah, who was injured in the match against India in the Asia Cup, is likely to undergo shoulder surgery.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Shah had been asked for the shoulder surgery following his medical examination and consultation with experts. It is expected that recovery of fast bowler will take four months.

Also Read: Naseem Shah bowls Indian girl over with ‘charming look’

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Team chief selector Inzamamul Haq had also mentioned the health of Shah while he was announcing the squad for the ICC World Cup.

Also Read: Naseem Shah does it again as Pakistan win last-over thriller against Afghanistan

Naseem Shah, who is not part of the World Cup 2023 squad expressed his dismay through his Tweet.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Shah mentioned that “With a heavy heart, I’m sharing that I will not be part of this amazing team that will be representing our beloved country. While I’m disappointed, I believe everything is in Allah’s hands. InshahAllah will be on the field very soon.”

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Sports

Leather, willow and sunflowers: China gets to grip with cricket

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2023

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Leather, willow and sunflowers: China gets to grip with cricket

There’s a reverential hush from the respectful crowd as Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal opens the bowling to Bangladesh’s Shathi Rani in the Asian Games women’s bronze medal match in Hangzhou.

The sound of leather on willow echoes around the purpose-built cricket ground, which until recently was full of sunflowers.

The atmosphere is more village green than the fever pitch of, say, Pakistan’s Gaddafi Stadium, but the few hundred spectators are fully engaged — even if many admit to never seeing the game before.

Almost entirely Chinese, the crowd “oohs and aahs” and clap when a wicket falls, cheer every boundary and then look bewildered when a loud lbw appeal pierces the serenity of the Zhejiang University of Technology (ZJUT) Cricket Field.

“I didn’t ever see cricket before so I was interested to know more about this sport,” said spectator Huang Dapeng, who runs his own business in Hangzhou. “I’m starting to understand it a little, but I am really enjoying it anyway.” A few have some knowledge of the game and seem captivated.

“I travelled to Sri Lanka before and a friend invited me to watch cricket, so I became interested,” said Liang Xiaoqian, a travel agent. “When I heard it was in the Asian Games I wanted to learn more about this game,” she added, ahead of Monday afternoon’s final between India and Sri Lanka.

“I am enjoying watching. I will be supporting Sri Lanka in the gold medal match.” Others are there just because it is the Asian Games and they want to watch sport, any sport. “It’s the only Asian Games tickets we could get,” said a smiling Jeff Wang, an engineer who was sitting in the stand with his father Wang Hang.

“It’s my first time to watch cricket. It’s unknown to me before, I don’t really know what is going on. “But I did hear this game is very famous in South Asia.”

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