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Published

3 years ago

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1:13 AM BST

  • Liam Napier

Strength in depth is a pillar that underpins the All Blacks, one set to be severely examined as they confront 12 Tests in the next 10 weeks.

Traditionally if the All Blacks don’t hurt opposition with their starting team they have an equally dynamic threat waiting on the bench.

Lose one front-line player to injury or other circumstance, and a seamless transition to the next cab off the rank is often achieved.

Consider the All Blacks injecting Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams and now injured captain Sam Cane off the pine in the 2015 World Cup final. That’s absurd depth of talent.

Much has changed in the six years since that global triumph yet this Test season Barrett, on return from his Japanese sabbatical, again found himself in that bench role alongside brothers Scott and Jordie.

With the All Blacks moving offshore for the remainder of the year, however, the global pandemic has complicated their stacked depth chart.

For the next three Tests – Sunday’s third Bledisloe Cup match in Perth and two Rugby Championship outings against the Pumas – the All Blacks are expected to be without three leading figures this season. And in many ways, that’s merely scratching the surface of the challenges Ian Foster will face in managing his squad for the rest of the year.

Stand-in captain Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo’unga and Aaron Smith, arguably the world’s best halfback, have been hugely influential for the All Blacks; a major reason why they remain unbeaten through five Tests in 2021 and, to this point at least, a vastly improved version of the team that stuttered to a 50% win record last year.

Unless Queensland changes its hard quarantine stipulations for New Zealand arrivals Whitelock, Mo’unga and Smith will be forced to spend two weeks in hotel quarantine – and at least another week rebuilding their frames – before returning to the Test arena. Injured All Blacks hooker Dane Coles and Cane – the skipper is not due to return until the end of year tour – are in the same situation.

In a non-pandemic consumed world Whitelock, Smith and Mo’unga would miss one Test to be present for the birth of their children, but New Zealand’s closed border status and quarantine complications significantly elongate their respective absences.

When inevitable injuries strike his initial 35-man squad in the coming weeks Foster faces something of a Rubik’s Cube scenario about whether to call up replacements. New Zealand’s national domestic competition has been halted for the past two weeks due to the nation-wide lockdown, leaving potential replacements in limbo.

Foster had hoped to ease senior props Joe Moody and Ofa Tuungafasi back through this avenue but when the latest COVID-19 outbreak hit, they were instead included in the squad and will return from injury – probably against the Pumas – on no recent game time.

Any replacement players called up will remain with the All Blacks for the rest of the season even if largely unused – and injured players are unlikely to return home, either – due to the lack of managed isolation facility availability in New Zealand.

As it stands, the All Blacks have a set number of spots booked from November 23 and no ability to send anyone back early. Scott Barrett, for example, is expecting his first child before then but there are no guarantees he will be able to return for the birth.

The upshot for Foster is the luxury of boasting three, in some cases four, contenders in each position could be fast eroded.

Mo’unga absence already shines a light on significantly declining depth with the All Blacks carrying only two first-fives in Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie, the latter option predominately a fullback and unproven as a Test No. 10.

To ensure all bases are covered flexibility and versatility will be vital within the All Blacks squad. In this regard, it would not surprise to see loose forwards covering lock, halfbacks covering first-five and outside backs covering midfield in the coming weeks.

Five Tests in as many weeks – two of those in succession against the world champion Springboks – is a gruelling stretch akin to a World Cup. Casualties are certain during that period, which will further test depth. A two-week break at the conclusion of the Rugby Championship will be welcomed but with that followed by another five Tests in a row on the end of year tour, the All Blacks will be battered, and carrying a bloated squad, by the time they return home.

In attempting to strike the rotation balance between not disrupting cohesion by making too many changes each week and needing to manage fatigue, Foster has a tricky juggling act ahead.

Adding to the immediate challenge against the Wallabies is the anointing of first time All Blacks captain Ardie Savea. Codie Taylor and Anton Lienert-Brown have replaced Whitelock and Smith in the leadership group, with Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick named vice-captains.

For the All Blacks to succeed on this arduous, complex tour it’s imperative that new-look leadership guides the team to a prosperous start because complications are such that it promises to only get more difficult from here.

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Ohio State remains in Big Ten title mix, tops PSU

Published

23 mins ago

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November 2, 2024

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Ohio State remains in Big Ten title mix, tops PSU

  • Associated Press

Nov 2, 2024, 03:43 PM ET

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Will Howard threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns and No. 4 Ohio State‘s defense made a late defensive stand to lift the Buckeyes over No. 3 Penn State 20-13 on Saturday.

Ohio State (7-1, 4-1) kept its hopes alive for a spot in the Big Ten championship game by beating the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1) for the eighth straight time. Howard, who believes Penn State thought he “wasn’t good enough” when it declined to offer the Philadelphia-area native a scholarship, exacted a measure of revenge in front of the largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history (111,030).

While Howard wasn’t perfect by any stretch — he threw a pick-six on his first pass and later fumbled as he was crossing the goal line for what would have been a touchdown — he connected on first-half scoring passes to Emeka Egbuka and Brandon Inniss and Ohio State’s defense did the rest.

The Buckeyes held Penn State’s offense out of the end zone, twice turning the Nittany Lions away from deep in Ohio State territory. Buckeyes defensive back Davison Igbinosun out-wrestled Penn State wide receiver Harrison Wallace III for the ball in the end zone to end a Nittany Lions drive late in the first half.

Penn State had a first-and-goal from the Ohio State 3 midway through the fourth quarter, but three runs up the middle went nowhere and Drew Allar threw incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 5:13 to go.

Ohio State drained the rest of the clock, mashing its way out to midfield. Howard ended it by running for the Buckeyes’ 21st and final first down. He popped up and made the “first down” sign with his arms as the Buckeyes’ sideline celebrated and Ohio State gave its College Football Playoff résumé a needed boost three weeks after a one-point loss at No. 1 Oregon.

Allar, playing on a balky left leg, threw for 146 yards and ran for 31 more, but Penn State’s new-look offense under first-year coordinator Andy Kotelnicki consistently saw drives bog down in Ohio State territory. Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren combined for 94 yards (47 rushing and 47 receiving) but received little help from Penn State’s other skill position players.

Takeaway

Ohio State: This version of the Buckeyes might not be an offensive juggernaut like its predecessors, but Ohio State still has Penn State’s number and its physical brand of football could translate well as the postseason nears.

Penn State: James Franklin is now 1-10 against Ohio State, and the latest loss looked an awful lot like the eight that came before it. The Nittany Lions lacked explosive plays and, perhaps more troubling, were bullied up front on their home field.

Poll implications

Expect Ohio State to move up to No. 3 at worst on Sunday. Penn State will likely remain on the fringe of the top 10.

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Dart sets Ole Miss records with 515 yards, 6 TDs

Published

23 mins ago

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November 2, 2024

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Dart sets Ole Miss records with 515 yards, 6 TDs

  • ESPN News Services

Nov 2, 2024, 04:22 PM ET

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jaxson Dart set Ole Miss records for yards passing and touchdown throws in a single game, leapfrogging Matt Corral and Eli Manning, in the 19th-ranked Rebels’ dominating 63-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday.

Dart threw four scores and 321 yards in just the first half. He found Jordan Watkins on five of the TDs, including one for 62 yards and another for 66 on back-to-back drives. They were just three offensive plays apart. Dart ultimately finished 25 of 31 passing for 515 yards with six touchdowns.

Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) led 35-10 at halftime after scoring on three straight drives over the first and second quarters. The Rebels opened and closed the first-half scoring when Princely Umanmielen pounced on a Taylen Green fumble in the end zone midway through the first quarter and Dart capped things with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Watkins with five seconds left in the half, his fourth passing score in the game’s first half hour.

Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC) had stuffed the Rebels at the goal line on the Rebels’ first drive for about the only meaningful stop the Razorbacks had all game. Ole Miss racked up 694 yards of total offense. In all, Ole Miss scored on seven of its nine possessions with its starters in the game, only punting once in that span.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman went largely with reserves starting about halfway through the third quarter. Backup quarterback Malachi Singleton was 11-of-14 passing for 207 yards with a touchdown pass, and he ran for another 39 yards with a touchdown. The Razorbacks also scored rushing touchdowns from Rashod Dubinion and Rodney Hill.

Watkins set school records with five touchdown catches and 254 yards receiving. Watkins’ five receiving touchdowns tied the single-game SEC record last done by Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt against Alabama in 2022, according to ESPN Research.

Additionally, Watkins is the seventh FBS receiver since 1996 with 250 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in a game. Dae’Quan Wright caught the other Dart touchdown pass and added another from Austin Simmons in the fourth quarter.

Big picture

Ole Miss not only can play spoiler against No. 2 Georgia next week, but also should find itself in conversation for the College Football Playoff by doing so.

Arkansas has already eclipsed its win total from last season, though the Razorbacks remain one win short of bowl eligibility, solidly in the middle of the SEC.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Army star QB Daily misses win over Air Force

Published

23 mins ago

on

November 2, 2024

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Army star QB Daily misses win over Air Force

  • Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterNov 2, 2024, 10:33 AM ET

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    • College football reporter
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
    • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army star quarterback Bryson Daily missed Saturday’s 20-3 win over Air Force with an undisclosed injury/illness, Army officials told ESPN.

With Daily sidelined, junior Dewayne Coleman filled in at quarterback. He finished with 48 yards through the air and 42 yards on the ground in his first career start.

There is no timetable at this point on how long Daily might be out of the lineup, but Army officials don’t think it’s a season-ending setback.

Daily, one of four team captains, has been Army’s starting quarterback over the past two seasons and the main cog in a Black Knights offense that has eclipsed 400 yards of total offense in all seven games this season.

He leads the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns and leads all FBS quarterbacks with 909 rushing yards. He was unable to practice this week.

The No. 21 Black Knights had a bye last weekend after beating East Carolina 45-28 on Oct. 19 to win their seventh straight game this season.

In the win over East Carolina, Daily carried the ball 31 times for a career-high 171 yards and accounted for six touchdowns (five rushing, one passing). The 6-foot, 221-pound senior has already set Army single-season records for touchdowns responsible for (26) and rushing touchdowns in seven games.

Army, off to its best start in nearly 30 years, will be one of the top contenders for the Group of 5’s spot in the College Football Playoff if the Black Knights can win the American Athletic Conference championship. Army (8-0, 5-0) travels to North Texas next week for an AAC contest. The Black Knights get a bye week on Nov. 16 and then face Notre Dame on Nov. 23 at Yankee Stadium.

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