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2 years ago

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4:50 AM BST

Dual international Lote Tuqiri knows better than most what winning the right to host the Rugby World Cup would mean for Australian rugby.

Having been enticed over to the 15-player game in the lead-up to the tournament, the former Wallabies winger was blown away by the scale of rugby’s showpiece in 2003 and the atmosphere that stretched from one side of the country to the other.

With Australia at this stage one of only two bidders for 2027 — the USA Rugby announced its candidature on Thursday [ET] — Tuqiri is hopeful the tournament will return Down Under once more and rugby can get itself “back on the map” across Australia, but also double-down in areas where the game is showing signs of growth at grassroots level.

“It was awesome, it was awesome. I remember travelling down to Sydney for the opening game against Argentina, because we were based in Coffs Harbour, I wasn’t even in the squad, I was sitting in the stands with the boys which was a little bit disappointing. But to be a part of that first game, even in that way, gave me an idea of the support behind not only us but the World Cup in general,” Tuqiri told ESPN.

“Then to go to Adelaide when we played Namibia, I know it was a bit of a lopsided scoreline, but just nationally and how much the country embraced the Rugby World Cup; I remember even sitting back in the hotel room just watching other games and how much buzz and the atmosphere, the travelling fans and our ex-pat fans here, it created within the stadiums.

“I think it was the quarterfinal between Wales and England, it was amazing, I was riding every moment that was going on with Wales hopefully beating England, but they ended up going within a whisker of beating them.

“The Fijians, you saw a player in Rupeni Caucaunibuca come of age and show his wares to the world. It was a time that was great for Australian rugby and I’m hoping that with this bid that can be created [again].

“If we can get this 2027 World Cup to Australia hopefully we can get rugby back on the map; it’s a tough market in Australia and this would get people talking about rugby again. And that lead-up time to 2027 Rugby World Cup, hopefully in Australia, the interest will just keep building and building. And hopefully this one can be better than that 2003 edition.”

While Rugby Australia wants to take games all over the country, it’s likely that if the bid is successful, some of the bigger games would be taken to rugby heartland, specifically Brisbane and Sydney.

Perth is expected to come into consideration to potentially host the final, given its friendlier global timezone, so too the presence of Western Force financier Andrew Forrest and the growing rugby community across Western Australia.

It may be that Optus Stadium and Stadium Australia end up vying with each other to host the tournament finale, if the bid is successful, while the MCG could also be an option despite it not providing the best viewing experience for rectangular-field sports.

But a successful bid could be invaluable exposure for one of the fastest growing regions in Australia in western Sydney, which is currently involved in a civil war, of sorts, within the wider Sydney rugby community.

A group of Shute Shield clubs want to mandate participation guidelines on the number of teams each club must field, so too demands on financial turnover, in what could see the likes of West Harbour, Western Sydney Two Blues and Penrith being forced into a merger or, at the very worst, fold altogether.

Having played for West Harbour during his time in Sydney with NSW Waratahs, Tuqiri recognises the value those clubs bring to the game and the level of talent that exists across the region. He says winning the right to host the 2027 tournament could help encourage some of those kids to persist with the game into their senior years, a home World Cup perhaps enough to steer some away from the clutches of rugby league.

“I don’t know if rugby overlooks it, but we definitely need to embrace that Western Sydney corridor or whatever you call it, there’s certainly a lot of talent in and around there,” Tuqiri told ESPN. “I know from a playing point of view, and playing for West Harbour, and out even further towards Penrith and Parramatta, there is a lot of talent that play both codes and there is a big islander community out there, and I think that can be embraced a little bit better leading into the 2027 World Cup in Australia, if we get it.

“Given the fact Bankwest Stadium is out there, and Stadium Australia, there’ll be games out there, so leading up to it, hopefully, if we do get it again, I think that is an area that we can concentrate a helluva lot more on.

“The Two Blues, Penrith and other places, hopefully people can go out there and appreciate the good rugby that is played out there rather than just going out there for the [famous] Emu burgers! People know that it is one of the fastest growing areas in the country; I think we can’t let sleeping dogs lie there, so to speak.”

A Fijian-Australian, Tuqiri loved what he saw out of the Wallabies camp last year as new coach Dave Rennie made team culture a focus of his first season in charge.

The Wallabies now boast a strong Polynesian contingent across the squad and Rennie is keen to embrace the various cultural backgrounds of his playing group; though some players proved better singers than others.

Rugby Australia is keen to have a strong Pacific flavour as part of its World Cup bid, too.

“I think what Dave Rennie is doing is great, but in saying that you can’t knock the rusted on element [of the Wallabies] as well,” Tuqiri said. “But seeing the boys singing Fijian hymns was pretty cool, the boys getting around and doing the Samoan hand-clapping [Fa’ataupati dance], getting pumped up for the game and doing some chants around that.

“And I love the fact they sung the national anthem in one of the First Nations languages. They’re probably leading the way on that [in Australian sport], so they’ve got to be patted on the back for that and that can keep going. To attract that element and people from different cultural backgrounds you’ve got to embrace them and that’s what rugby is definitely doing. And it’s certainly a way forward for rugby in Australia, and I think it’s working.”

You can show your support for Australia’s bid by registering your name here

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NHL playoff watch: A must-win for the Penguins?

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6 hours ago

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April 1, 2023

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NHL playoff watch: A must-win for the Penguins?

8:00 AM ET

  • Tim KavanaghESPN.com

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      Tim Kavanagh is a senior NHL editor for ESPN. He’s a native of upstate New York.

The Sidney Crosby era of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey has been synonymous with success. The Pens missed the playoffs in Sid’s rookie campaign of 2005-06 but have made it every season since, a streak of 16 straight springs with playoff hockey in Western PA. That run has included three Stanley Cups and one loss in the Stanley Cup Final.

Could the streak be coming to an end this season?

The Penguins enter today’s game against the Boston Bruins (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) one point ahead of the Florida Panthers with a game in hand, but four points behind Matthew Tkachuk & Co. in the regulation wins column.

After the matchup with the Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Penguins take on the Philadelphia Flyers (who are not great but always play the Penguins tough), followed by the playoff-bound New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild. Thereafter, the final trio of contests does get a bit easier, with the lottery-bound Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets on the docket to close out the season.

For comparison, the Panthers take on the Blue Jackets tonight, followed by three lottery teams (Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals), before closing out against the playoff-bound Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes.

Although today’s games are not must-wins for either club, the points have become all too important to squander as the final matchups are played. As it stands now, the Penguins have a 66% chance of making the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight’s model, compared with 38% for the Panthers.

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers

Western Conference

C1 Minnesota Wild vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Saturday’s games

Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, ESPN2, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 1 p.m. (NHLN)
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.

Friday’s scoreboard

Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

Buffalo Sabres 3, New York Rangers 2 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 6, Detroit Red Wings 2
Calgary Flames 5, Vancouver Canucks 4 (OT)
Dallas Stars 4, Arizona Coyotes 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 121
Regulation wins: 49
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 133
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 101
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 38%
Tragic number: 12

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5%
Tragic number: 12

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 86
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ TOR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 71
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 114
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 90%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 66%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. NYR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 79
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 4

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105
Next game: @ COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 94
Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 61%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 9%
Tragic number: 12

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 4

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 72
Next game: @ SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 59
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 31%
Tragic number: 11

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. LA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 2

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 62
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 61
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

P — Clinched Presidents’ Trophy; Y — Clinched division; X — Clinched playoff berth; E — Eliminated from playoff contention

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 15

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 15

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28

*Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16:

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MLB investigating Rendon altercation with fan

Published

17 hours ago

on

April 1, 2023

By

MLB investigating Rendon altercation with fan
4:43 PM ET

Major League Baseball says it is investigating a confrontation between Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and an Athletics fan at Thursday’s season opener in Oakland.

In a 12-second video posted on social media, Rendon grabs the fan by the shirt through the guardrails and accuses the fan of calling him a “b—-.” Rendon continues to challenge the fan as he denies the claim. Rendon then calls the fan a “motherf—er” and takes a swipe, which does not connect, as he lets go of the shirt and proceeds to leave the area.

No video showing what led to the altercation was immediately available.

“We are aware of the video and we are now looking into the matter,” MLB said in a statement.

The Angels said they had no comment on the situation and that Rendon would discuss what happened with reporters before Saturday’s game against Oakland.

Rendon was 0-for-3 in the Angels’ 2-1, Opening Day loss to the Athletics. He missed the majority of 2022 after undergoing right wrist surgery during the season.

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Oddsmakers, bettors trying to gauge impact of new MLB rules

Published

1 day ago

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March 31, 2023

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Oddsmakers, bettors trying to gauge impact of new MLB rules

7:00 AM ET

Major League Baseball’s new rules didn’t impact scoring significantly in spring training, and oddsmakers began the season without adjusting their numbers on runs scored, while taking a wait-and-see approach to the pitch clock and elimination of the infield shift.

MLB games have averaged 9.1 runs scored over the past five seasons. Last year’s 8.57 runs per game was the lowest since 2015. Spring training games, with the new rules implemented, averaged 10.1 runs, down slightly from last year.

Pitchers have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base. Hitters must be in the batter’s box with eight seconds on the pitch clock. Hitters are allowed one timeout per at-bat to reset the pitch clock. Pitchers are restricted to stepping off the rubber only twice per plate appearance, including for pickoff attempts. The rule resets if a runner advances during the same plate appearance. And larger bases are being used to increase the success rate on steals.

“We don’t really see a direct correlation from the pitch clock to more scoring,” said Randy Blum, who oversees baseball odds for the SuperBook in Las Vegas. “We were not planning on adjusting our totals off that.”

Halvor England, BetMGM’s lead baseball trader, expects the elimination of the traditional shift to increase scoring marginally, but also believes pitchers will have more control over the hitter during an at-bat because of the pitch clock.

“I think it’s going to be a little more offsetting than people realize, almost a wash,” Halvor said. “I don’t anticipate there to be less scoring overall, but on a game-to-game basis, it’s going to be very marginal.”

The bigger bases being used this season, however, are a difference-maker in bookmakers’ and bettors’ eyes. Steals were up notably in success rate and volume — nearly double from last spring training — this year. Bettors expect the trend to continue.

The SuperBook offered a season-long prop on the over/under on most stolen bases by an individual player. Blum said the book opened the total at 50.5, a number that reflected about four to five more stolen bases than if the rule had not been in place. Still, sharp bettors took the over, causing the SuperBook to move the number to 52.5.

“That’s one thing [larger bases] that we did adjust our numbers on based on the rule changes, and it seems to be something that the bettors are taking note of also,” Blum said. “That was not necessarily a prop that in the past would get a lot of attention either way.”

Joe Fortuna, a veteran professional bettor and baseball fan, said he did edge his numbers up on runs scored because of the rule changes and was looking to bet overs early in the season for multiple reasons, including potential pitchers’ fatigue while working with the pitch clock.

“These guys, in April, might be a little bit out of shape, so I don’t know if running 100 mph pitches up there every 15 seconds will make them tire out faster,” Fortuna said. “The different rules all seemed to lean toward hitting to us.”

Fortuna also examined which hitters faced the most infield shifts last season and pointed out left-handed batters like San Diego’s Juan Soto, Texas’ Corey Seager and Kansas City’s Vinnie Pasquantino as ones who could benefit from its elimination.

“The shift is huge to me,” Fortuna said. “We actually bet on Pasquantino to win MVP today at 250-1. He batted .295 last year and faced 93.8% three-man shifts. That was the highest.”

For now, only one day into the season, bettors and bookmakers will be watching closely to see if there are any trends related to the new rule changes, but early on, it’ll be a guessing game.

“There will be some advantage for bettors if they can figure it all out quicker than the market,” Halvor said.

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