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☆ French football again left reeling by rioting fans as Olympics loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Grosso, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, sustained facial injuries during the incident, leaving league officials to deal with another episode of rioting fans. Some preliminary round Olympic matches will be played in Marseille, where violence erupted at the 1998 World Cup between England fans and French police. Marseille condemned the behaviour of their fans in a statement on Monday. Lyon condemned their fans' behaviour after some were seen making Nazi salutes at the Velodrome. "OL firmly condemns the unacceptable racist behaviour of individuals in the stands on Sunday," the club said in a statement.

Persons: Lyon, Fabio Grosso, Gerald Darmanin, Pablo Longoria, Marseille, Amelie Oudea, Castera, St Etienne, Julien Pretot, Sudip Kar, Tassilo Hummel, Michael Perry Organizations: Olympique de Marseille's Ligue, Olympique Lyonnais, Italy, Marseille's Stade Velodrome, French League, England, French, Olympique de Marseille, Stade Orange Velodrome, France, Stade Velodrome, Marseille, RC Lens, Lille, St, Thomson Locations: Grosso, Marseille's, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier, Angers

☆ French government condemns 'disgusting' Marseille fan violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French Interior and Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 30 (Reuters) - France's government condemned on Monday "disgusting" weekend violence around the Olympique de Marseille soccer stadium and said nine people had been arrested after visitors Olympique Lyonnais' bus was attacked and their Italian coach injured. Sunday's Ligue 1 match between the arch-rivals of France's south east, who have a history of fan violence, was cancelled. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said nine people had been detained so far. Darmanin denied authorities had failed to prepare for the risk, saying 500 police officers were present.

Persons: Gerald Darmanin, Sarah Meyssonnier, Fabio Grosso, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Darmanin, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Overseas, REUTERS, Rights, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Sunday's Ligue, France, Stade Velodrome, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, France's

☆ Fittingly fraught finale for fantastic World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

World Rugby addressed that with a major overhaul of the calendar they described as "the most significant development in the sport since the game went professional" but those long-suffering countries are going to have to suffer for a few years yet before they start to feel the benefits. Elsewhere, England overcame a terrible build-up to win all their pool games and Fiji shocked Australia to go through alongside Wales. FABULOUS BRANDFiji's final pool game against Portugal was one of the best seen at a World Cup, with the Portuguese playing a fabulous brand of all-court rugby reminiscent of France at their pomp. Amid emotional scenes and roared on by neutrals the world over, they secured their first-ever World Cup victory in the last minute, with Fiji scraping through via their losing bonus point. Wales will forever rue their missed chances in the first of them against Argentina before Ireland and New Zealand produced an absolute classic.

Persons: Denis, Mbonambi, Webb Ellis, Sarah Meyssonnier, agonising, England's, Owen Farrell's, Antoine Dupont, Handre, Sam Cane, Mitch Phillips, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, Rights, Two Nations, New Zealand, Ireland, South, Fiji, Wales, Portugal, Argentina, England, Pumas, Springboks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Portugal, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Portuguese, Fiji, Marseille, Paris, New Zealand, Argentina, New

☆ Marseille match against Lyon called off after team bus attacked
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 29 (Reuters) - Sunday's Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais was called off after Lyon's team bus was pelted with stones, injuring coach Fabio Grosso, as the players made their way to the Stade Velodrome. Sky Italia footage showed damage to two bus windows and Grosso being led into the stadium by two assistants. Italian media said Grosso suffered injuries to his scalp and face. "He can't hold a conversation, he had shards of glass in his face," Lyon's club president, John Textor added. "Because of a handful of thoughtless people, the party planned for this evening has been ruined, and 65,000 fans have been deprived of attending a football match," the club added.

Persons: Fabio Grosso, Grosso, John Textor, Lyon, Francois Letexier, Fabio Grosso's, Amelie Oudea Castera, Raffaele Longo, Tommy Lund, Kate Entringer, Hugh Lawson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Velodrome, Sky, OL, French Professional League, Lyonnais, Marseille, Thomson Locations: Marseille, Gdansk, Paris, Lincoln

☆ England claim bronze but need more to challenge the elite
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

PARIS, Oct 28 (Reuters) - From where they were at the end of their dismal warm-ups, England's World Cup was an unqualified success and they were within three minutes of one of the great sporting turnarounds. They arrived amid the gloom of five defeats in six games but finished on a high with six wins out of seven. The skewed nature of the draw obviously favoured them, and reaching the semi-finals looked possible and even probable regardless of their form based on their World Cup history and the quality of players in the squad. Already assured of top spot in their group, England laboured against Samoa before snatching a late victory. "I always believed we would be right... We were clear that the World Cup isn't played in August," he said after clinching third place.

Persons: Tom Curry, George Ford, Henry Arundell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell's, Dan Cole, Joe Marler, Steve Borthwick's, Ben Earls, Borthwick, hasn't, Eddie Jones, isn't, Hooker Theo Dan, Mitch Phillips, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Japan, Samoa, Fiji, Springbok, South Africa, Argentina, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: France, Argentina, England, Marseille, Chile, South Africa

☆ Hundreds of thousands rally in global cities to support Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Yann Tessier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, October 28, 2023. This is why we're here: we're calling for a ceasefire, calling for Palestinian rights, the right to exist, to live, human rights, all our rights," said protester Camille Revuelta. Addressing hundreds of thousands of supporters at a huge rally in Istanbul, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Israel was an occupier, and repeated his stance about Hamas not being a terrorist organisation. Some cities in France have banned rallies since the war began, fearing they could fuel social tensions, but despite a ban in Paris, a small rally took place on Saturday. In New Zealand's capital, Wellington, thousands of people holding Palestinian flags and placards reading "Free Palestine" marched to Parliament House.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Rishi Sunak, Camille Revuelta, Israel, Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Yann Tessier, Ben Makori, Will Russell, William James, Helen Popper, Alison Williams Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, U.S, West Bank, Embassy, Police, Ece Toksabay, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Europe, East, Asia, Western, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Baghdad, Hebron, Palestine, Copenhagen, Rome, Stockholm, France, Paris, Marseille, New Zealand's, Wellington

☆ Liverpool thump Toulouse 5-1, Brighton earn first European win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The rest of the match belonged to Liverpool as Wataru Endo headed them back in front just past the half-hour mark. That goal took the Egyptian's tally to 43 for Liverpool in major European competitions, a record for any player at an English club. Liverpool top the group by five points over Union Saint Gilloise and Toulouse, who both have four points. BRIGHTON ROCKBrighton achieved a European milestone by beating Ajax and reigniting their chances of reaching the knockout stages. They are now level on four points with second-placed AEK Athens in Group B, a point behind Olympique de Marseille.

Persons: Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, LASK, Cameron Puertas, Christian Burgess, Joao Pedro, Diant Ramaj, Ansu Fati, Maurice Steijn, Kostas Fortounis, Rodinei's, Angelo Ogbonna, Angelo Ogbonna . West Ham, Lucas Paqueta's, Edoardo Bove, Romelu Lukaku, Jose Mourinho's, Alejandro Grimaldo, Stade Rennais, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Liverpool, Brighton, Ajax, Olympiakos, West, Marseille, Leverkusen, Rennes, LIVERPOOL, Toulouse, Europa League, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, Union Saint Gilloise, Union, BRIGHTON ROCK Brighton, AEK Athens, Olympique de Marseille, AEK, Seagulls, Olympiakos Piraeus, Europa Conference League, West Ham United, Freiburg, Backa Topla, AS Roma, Slavia Prague, Slavia, Bayer Leverkusen thumped Qarabag, Stade, Panathinaikos, Villarreal, Maccabi Haifa, Thomson Locations: Roma, England, Anfield, Brighton, Liverpool, Toulouse, Europe, Angelo Ogbonna . West, Gdansk

☆ Different feel as England Argentina meet again in bronze final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Of course the one that spoiled that streak was the agonising one-point semi-final defeat by South Africa, but it is still an England team unrecognisable in confidence and execution from the one that endured a dismal August warm-up campaign. England eventually advanced as pool winners, then beat Fiji before their Springbok loss, while Argentina improved to beat Japan to clinch second place then see off Wales in the quarter-final. Borthwick and Pumas coach Michael Cheika followed their defeats by immediately stressing that they were treating the bronze final as a match they were taking very seriously. "Winning the bronze medal is very important for the future and the legacy of the most experienced players. England have also won all four of the teams' pool clashes at the World Cup.

Persons: Steve Borthwick, Tom Curry, flyhalf George Ford, Ford banged, Michael Cheika, Borthwick, Cheika, Owen Farrell, Ford, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell, Freddie Steward, Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Tomas Cubelli, Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pedro Rubiolo, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya, Thomas Gallo, Agustin Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Chessum, Will Stuart, Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlum, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: England, Rugby, Fiji, Springbok, Japan, Borthwick, Pumas, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: Argentina, South Africa, England, Marseille, Wales, New Zealand, flyhalf

☆ Marseille down 10-man AEK, Olympiakos end West Ham's unbeaten European run
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Olympique de Marseille overcame AEK Athens 3-1 in the Europa League with two penalties after a red card for the visiting goalkeeper, while Olympiakos Piraeus beat West Ham United 2-1 on Thursday to end the Londoners' 17-match unbeaten run in Europe. WEST HAM LOSEOlympiakos beat Europa Conference League holders West Ham in Group A as the visitors suffered a rare European defeat. Kostas Fortounis delivered the opening goal for Olympiakos with a powerful right-foot strike from outside the box, finding the bottom corner after 33 minutes. West Ham got a consolation goal in the 87th minute courtesy of a powerful Lucas Paqueta volley from the edge of the box. Freiburg and West Ham are top of the group with six points, while Olympiakos have four.

Persons: Vitinha, Orbelin Pineda, Cican Stankovic, Jordan Veretout, Nordin Amrabat, Renan Lodi ., Kostas Fortounis, Angelo Ogbonna, Angelo Ogbonna . West Ham, Lucas, SC Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo, Ayoze Perez, Luis Muriel, Sturm, Sporting, Fabian Piasecki, Sebastian Coates, Viktor Gyokeres, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Olympique de Marseille, AEK Athens, Europa League, Olympiakos Piraeus, West Ham United, Marseille, AEK, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, WEST HAM, Olympiakos, Europa Conference League, West Ham, SC Freiburg's, Serbian, Real Betis, Aris Limassol, Sparta Prague, Rangers, Sturm Graz, Rakow, Sporting, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Europe, Renan Lodi . Marseille, Angelo Ogbonna . West, Backa Topola, Freiburg, West Ham, Czech, Austria, Rakow Czestochowa, Portuguese, Gdansk

REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest hotel group Accor on Thursday raised its core profit target for 2023 for the second time this year, citing positive business momentum in all of its markets after another strong post-pandemic summer. The sector continues to benefit from the leisure travel boom despite inflation and the resurgence of recession fears in Europe. It was also boosted by the Rugby World Cup, particularly in cities where hotel supply is more limited, such as Lille and Nantes, Accor said. The group now expects core earnings (EBITDA) of between 955 million euros and 985 million euros for 2023, up from a previous forecast of between 930 million euros and 970 million euros, which was already upgraded in July. It also raised its forecast for growth in RevPAR in 2023 and now expects it to slightly exceed 20%.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Novotel, Accor, Martine Gerow, Diana Mandiá, Susan Fenton, David Holmes, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rugby, Lille, Thomson Locations: Issy, Paris, France, Europe, That's, Nantes, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, RevPAR

☆ New look for England as Arundell, Steward and Smith start v Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tom Curry, who will win his 50th cap, moves to the blindside to reprise the successful back row partnership from the 2019 tournament, with Ben Earl at number eight. Scrumhalf Ben Youngs starts his first game of the tournament to extend his caps record to 127, with captain Owen Farrell at flyhalf. Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, George Ford and Ollie Lawrence are on the bench. The teams met on the opening weekend of the tournament in Marseille, when England won 27-10 despite having Curry sent off after three minutes. England have also won all four of the teams' pool clashes at the World Cup.

Persons: Henry Arundell, Freddie Steward, Marcus Smith, Steve Borthwick, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Theo Dan, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Scrumhalf Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Borthwick, Smith, Arundell, Steward, Curry, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs, Maro Itoje, Lewis Ludlum, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: England, Argentina, South, openside, Springboks, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: South Africa, flyhalf, Paris, Chile, Marseille, England

France, where Ryanair serves cities such as Marseille and Bordeaux, has floated proposals for a minimum ticket price in an effort to reduce pollution from aviation. The French price proposal, which EU officials said has drawn some support from the Netherlands and Belgium, got short shrift from senior Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson. Having established a strong position in large parts of Western Europe, Ryanair is now looking east to countries such as Poland for further growth. Europe's main airlines lobby group expressed relief and called on more European coordination to support the sector. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said a stronger ITA will reinvigorate competition in the Italian market but Ryanair's Wilson is unperturbed, describing ITA as a sideshow.

Persons: Eddie Wilson, Wilson, Andrea Giuricin, Giorgia, Giuseppe Cocuzza, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Carsten Spohr, Ryanair's Wilson, Rome Fiumicino, Sacbo, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir, Joanna Plucinska, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Ryanair, Europe's, European Union, Ryanair DAC, Alitalia, TRA Consulting, European Commission, Airlines for, ITA, Lufthansa, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Thomson Locations: Italy, ROME, France, Marseille, Bordeaux, Sicily, Sardinia, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe, Western Europe, Poland, Rome, Catania, Airlines for Europe, Bergamo, Milan, Malpensa, Brescia, London

☆ Militant Islamist attacks in Belgium
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Belgian police officers stand as they secure the area after a shooting in Brussels, Belgium, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsOct 16 (Reuters) - A self-proclaimed Islamist militant shot dead two Swedish citizens in central Brussels on Monday night, the federal prosecutor said. Here is a timeline of past Islamist militant attacks in Belgium:* Nov. 10, 2022 - A Belgian police officer is stabbed to death. * March 22, 2016 - Brussels becomes the target of Islamist attacks when 32 people are killed in suicide bomb explosions at the airport and in the city's metro. * Jan. 15, 2015 - A week after militant Islamist attacks in Paris on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish grocery, Belgian police kill two men who opened fire on them during one of about a dozen raids against an Islamist group that federal prosecutors said was about to launch “terrorist attacks on a grand scale”.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Emmanuel Macron, Salah Abdesalam, El, Charlie Hebdo, Mehdi Nemmouche, Richard Lough, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Belgian, REUTERS, Islamic State, Islamic, Jewish Museum, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Israel, France, Europe, Belgian, city's, Paris, Syria, French, Marseille

☆ France coach Galthie has no regrets, Dupont slams referee
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"For four years, we wrote a beautiful picture for French rugby, the players can be proud, coaches can be proud." "This doesn't take anything away from the South Africans, who beat us in the fight tonight, they played really well." Galthie, who is contracted until after the next World Cup in 2027, said he would continue as coach. "There is a French team that will continue to play, they will soon be playing the first match of the Six Nations in Marseille," he said. "What we've been through at this tournament is another chapter in the story of the French team."

Persons: Fabien Galthie, Galthie's, Antoine Dupont, scrumhalf, Ben O'Keeffe, Dupont, I'm, Eben Etzebeth's, Galthie, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Springboks, rugby, Namibia, Six Nations, Thomson Locations: France, New Zealand, Africa, South Africa, French, Marseille

☆ Wales crash out in quarter-finals but show improvement through tournament
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Wales produced an impressive comeback at the Rugby World Cup from a litany of recent woes and, although they ultimately crashed and burned in Saturday's quarter-final, leave the tournament in a better place than when they arrived in France. "There's some exciting players coming through, players who aren't here. Hopefully they're inspired by this," he said after Saturday's quarter-final defeat"We're all gutted about that as it slipped away from us. Gatland has seen Wales through previous highs and lows, although more highs in the time he coached from 2007-2019, finishing his first stint by taking Wales to the semi-final at the last World Cup in Japan. He signed a five-year deal on his return in December which allows him another tilt at the next World Cup in Australia four years from now and Wales will surely keep him on, given his undoubted acumen.

Persons: Warren Gatland, you've, We've, Gatland, they're, they've, Muralikumar Organizations: Rugby, Wales, Six Nations, England, Fiji, Thomson Locations: Wales, France, Argentina, Marseille, Japan, Australia, UNDERCOOKED Wales, Bordeaux, Lyon

☆ 'Different' Fiji exit World Cup proud to have fought to the end
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"They've worked so hard since week one, 15 weeks now, and they've showed they belong on the world stage. "This is a different Fiji team and I think it's the start of something special. Sunday's match had echoes of Fiji's last World Cup quarter-final in 2007, when they fought back to level the match at 20-20 only to go down 37-20 to eventual champions South Africa. "The second thing was we needed to be more consistent in preparation, and I think what we've shown this year is that we've grown in that area. I think that's only going to grow as we go forward to the 2027 and 2031 World Cups."

Persons: Simon Raiwalui, Andrew Couldridge, Raiwalui, They've, they've, Josua Tuisova, Sam Matavesi's, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, England, Fiji, Twickenham, Rights, Velodrome, South Africa, Fijian Rugby Union, Josua, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Fiji, Rights MARSEILLE, France, England

☆ Irrepressible Earl drives England into World Cup last four
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Owen Farrell was the official man of the match but not an England fan leaving the Marseille Velodrome is likely to have looked beyond Ben Earl for the outstanding player in England's 30-24 World Cup victory over Fiji on Sunday. "After we played Fiji at Twickenham we got told we wouldn't get out the group, but now we are in the semi-final, one of the best four teams in the competition. Jones preferred the bulk of Vunipola to the athleticism Earl brings to the role and Borthwick also took a while to be convinced. However, as a rare bright light in a dismal series of warm-up games the 25-year-old Earl forced his way into the starting team and has been superb at the World Cup. I don't like to pick out individuals after such a team effort today but he certainly played a big part."

Persons: Owen Farrell, Ben Earl, Farrell, Steve Borthwick, Billy Vunipola, I've, Earl, wouldn't, Eddie Jones, Jones, Borthwick, Saracen Farrell, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Marseille, Fiji, Sunday, Twickenham, Saracens, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, England, England's, Vunipola

☆ Farrell kicks England into semis with classic win over Fiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Centres Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant scored tries as England led 24-10 early in the second half on the back of their most impressive performance for years. However, in classic style, Fiji scored two tries in four minutes to change the mood, only for England, thanks to surging runs by outstanding number eight Ben Earl, to regain a lead they held on to in a dramatic finale. England reached their sixth World Cup semi-final and will go in search of a fifth final appearance when they meet France or South Africa. "There was obviously a spell where Fiji scored two back-to-back tries, which Fiji can do probably better than anyone else in the world. For most of the match, a fired-up England were unrecognisable from the team who looked so lacklustre against Samoa last week.

Persons: Farrell, Captain Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Ben Earl, England, Steve Borthwick, Simon Raiwalui, Marchant, Viliame Mata, Peni Ravai, Vilimoni, Simione, Earl, Vilimoni Botitu, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Fiji, France, Islanders, Samoa, Twickenham, England, Blacks, Thomson Locations: South Africa MARSEILLE, France, England, South Africa, Fiji, Paris

☆ Wales tone down preparations as World Cup quarter-final looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOULON, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Wales coach Warren Gatland has deliberately toned down his side’s preparations this week, even though they face their most important game in four years, against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. We purposely had a heavier week last week as we knew we were in the quarter-finals. Asked about the peculiarities of the knockout stages, Gatland said: “I think the first challenge is the pressure you’re under, firstly to make the knockout stages. “The quarter-final then poses pressure as you’re either here until the end of the tournament or you’re going home on Monday. Gatland said Wales faced a “big challenge” from Argentina despite their failure to impress at the tournament so far.

Persons: Warren Gatland, Gatland, “, ”, We’re, Wales, they’ve, They’ve, We’ve, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Georgia, Marseille, England, Thomson Locations: TOULON, France, Wales, Argentina, South Africa, Japan, Samoa, Marseille, Paris

☆ Cubelli back as Argentina make double change for Wales quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But Isa will play at number eight against Wales with Juan Martin Gonzalez moving to the open side in place of Matera for the clash in Marseille. I love the fellas, they’re always together, they’re a very committed team and I know that they’ll really enjoy this occasion," Cheika told a press conference. Cubelli was the undisputed first-choice scrumhalf for the Pumas between 2017 and 2021 but he was sidelined after suffering a torn left thigh muscle before Scotland's tour of Argentina last year. “Obviously I think a lot of Tomas Cubelli because he’s in the team for Saturday," added the coach. He’s tough, he’s committed and he loves playing for Argentina and I think that sums him up,” said Cheika.

Persons: scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, Michael Cheika, Pablo Matera, Facundo Isa, Isa, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Cubelli, Gonzalo Bertranou, Lautaro Bazan, they’re, Cheika, Tomas Cubelli, he’s, ”, Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Marcos Kremer, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya, Thomas Gallo, Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matías Moroni, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Pumas, Matera, PARIS, Wales, Japan, Lautaro Bazan Velez, England, Samoa, Chile, Argentina, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Nantes, France, Matera, Marseille, Cheika, Paris

☆ Fiji expect Matavesi to face England after father's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Fiji expect hooker Sam Matavesi to play in Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against England after he travelled back to England, where he lives and plays in the Premiership, after the death of his father, Sireli, earlier this week. Sireli Matavesi moved to Cornwall after touring there in 1987. "It is with heavy hearts that The Fiji Rugby Union, The Flying Fijians Team and Head Coach Simon Raiwalui share the news of our hooker Sam Matavesi and former Flying Fijian Josh Matavesi, who have lost their beloved father, the late Sireli Matavesi," the union said in a statement on Wednesday. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Matavesi family during this incredibly difficult time. Sam Matavesi travelled to Cornwall to spend time with his family but the Fiji camp say he is expected to be able to play in Marseille on Sunday.

Persons: Sam Matavesi, Sireli, Sireli Matavesi, Simon Raiwalui, Josh Matavesi, Matavesi, Sam, Josh, Josua, Tito, Tuisova, Waisea Nayacalevu, Raiwalui, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: England, Fiji Rugby Union, The Flying Fijians, Flying, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Fiji, England, Cornwall, Marseille

☆ England set to drop Ford, start Smith at fullback in Fiji quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - England coach Steve Borthwick looks set to make radical changes for Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against Fiji by dropping George Ford and starting Marcus Smith at fullback, strengthening his midfield defence and injecting some energy into the attack. However, while his defence and aerial skills are superior to Smith's, Steward has shown little in attack - though he is far from alone there. Defence generally has not been the issue for England as they racked up four wins in a row. Before the Samoa game they had the best defence in the tournament and had conceded only one try. England have made the second-fewest carries (108.8) for the second-fewest metres (461.3), they rank sixth for defenders beaten (22.5) and last for offloads (5.8).

Persons: Steve Borthwick, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Borthwick, Ford, Owen Farrell, Smith, Freddie Steward, Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Elliot Daly, Henry Arundell, Jamie George, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Fiji, Harlequins, Samoa, Fijians, Defence, England, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, England, Chile, Samoa, Portugal

☆ Biggar back for Wales in boost for World Cup quarter-final with Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOULON, France, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Wales' influential flyhalf Dan Biggar will start this weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Marseille with Tommy Reffell named on Thursday in place of the injured Taulupe Faleatu. Along with Biggar, Wales also named experienced fullback Liam Williams for Saturday's match despite him being taken off with a knee injury in their final pool match last weekend, a 43-19 win over Georgia in Nantes. Williams was later seen using crutches but coaching staff this week said it was a precautionary measure to take weight off his leg. “It’s exciting to enter into the knockout stages of the tournament and we are ready for the challenge of a quarter-final. We haven't had the perfect performance yet, but we have shown that we are a hard team to beat.

Persons: Dan Biggar, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faleatu, Biggar, Liam Williams, Williams, Faleatu, Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Gareth Anscombe, Sam Costelow, “, Warren Gatland, “ We’re, haven't, ”, Louis Rees, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Gareth Davies, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas Replacements, Dewi, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Tshiunza, Tomos Williams, Rio Dyer, Mark Gleeson, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby, Argentina, Georgia, ” Wales, Thomson Locations: TOULON, France, Wales, Marseille, Biggar, Nantes, Georgia, Argentina, Zammit, Paris

☆ We will be different team against Fiji, says England's George
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Last weekend wasn't good enough, it was poor, but we have had a really good open and honest review," George told reporters. You'll see a very different England team on Sunday." George, a British and Irish Lion and veteran of many big games with Saracens, said the England team were embracing the occasion as they seek to improve on their run to the final four years ago. Fiji have improved their all-round game, particularly the scrum, but their lineout still looks vulnerable and is an area England expect to dominate. "The way Portugal targeted their line-out was something that was very interesting and especially how they go about it," George said.

Persons: Jamie George, George, Danny Care, George Kruis, Steve Borthwick, Elliot Daly, we’ve, Mitch Phillips, Ed Osmond Organizations: Samoa, Fiji, Irish Lion, Saracens, England, Twickenham, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, British, Fiji, England, Portugal

☆ Ireland top for turnovers, Argentina have worst scrum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Of the eight quarter-finalists, Ireland have won the most turnovers per game (5.3) and average less than 10 penalties per game (9.3) - ranking third. They have the second-best lineout success (91%), second-best tackle success and conceded the fewest penalties (eight). Their scrums had the second-worst success rate and they are fifth for lineout success, though they have made the most lineout steals (2.3). They are joint-worst with Fiji in turnovers conceded (17) and four out of 10 possessions end in an error. Traditional fans of Argentina will be horrified to see that they have worst scrum success (80%) and have won fewest turnovers but in attack they have the fastest average ruck speed (3.37 seconds) and the most rucks under two seconds (37%).

Persons: Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: World Rugby, Ireland, New Zealand, Fiji, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Italy, Uruguay, Ireland, Argentina, Wales

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