Having knocked the proverbial cobwebs from his fist, Jamaica’s Kevin “Bus Boy” Hylton is eagerly anticipating the remainder of the Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB)-sanctioned Wray and Nephew Fight Nights series, as he seeks to possibly end his career on a high.
The journeyman fighter, who was a prominent feature on the now defunct Contender Boxing Series, made a return to the ring for the second Fight Night stop in Arnett Gardens last Saturday, and certainly entertained the large crowd at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Hylton squared up with American Christopher Rodriguez in one of two professional bouts where he displayed improved tactical and technical skills, and surprisingly, took his opponent to the maximum six rounds.
In fact, it was Hylton that held the upper hand at one point, as he registered a knockdown mere seconds into the opening round, and maintained a steady rhythm throughout, though winded at the backend of the fight.
At the end of it, the judges scored the contest a stalemate, moving Hylton's record to seven wins, seven losses and two draws, while Rodriguez remains unbeaten at 12 wins and a draw.
While disappointed that he didn't came out tops, Hylton, now coached by another Contender veteran Ricardo "Surgeon" Smith, expressed pleasure with his performance, especially given the fact that he was given short notice of the fight.
“In my opinion, I won the fight because the knockdown is scored as 10, so I don’t see how it ended as a draw. But I am truly proud of myself for putting in a performance like that, especially because the fight was sudden for me," Hylton told SportsMax.tv.
With the much-needed run now run now under his belt, Hylton, though reluctant to share his age, admits that he is career is now winding down, and, as such, wants to grasp every opportunity to go out with a bang.
The Wray and Nephew Fight Nights series which started on July 1, at Cling Cling Oval, will continue until 2024, with a pro-am night of boxing matches every six weeks. The next stop is yet to be decided on.
Professional boxers earn a purse starting at $US150 (about J$23,000) per round, with a complete match purse of US$600 (about J$93,000) per bout.
Hylton, who balances a work schedule and training, vowed to continue putting in the work to not only add entertainment value to the programme, but to prove that much has changed in terms of his patient and technique.
“So from here it will be just willpower and determination going forward because I am at an age now where I don’t have much time left in the sport. So I am just trying to make the most of this opportunity as best as I can. I am grabbing it with both hands and will be working even harder going into the next fight," he declared.
Meanwhile, American Rodriguez, who also believes he won the fight, is optimistic of a rematch with Hylton.
“I think I won it because I was hitting him more, but he got the knockdown and I think that is what evened it out. But I think I landed more punches, and I added more pressure to the fight.
"But it is what it is, I just want to stay more focused and keep my hands up. It was a great learning experience and he was a tough Jamaican guy, so hopefully I can get a rematch, if not, then it is on to the next one," Rodriguez shared.
In the other professional fight, top-rated heavyweight boxer, Jermaine "Breezy" Richards took his record to 4-0, as he bettered debutant Omar ‘Crane’ Headman in a fourth-round technical knockout.
The 34-year-old Richards, who hails from Mountain View, has been a fast-rising sensation, who trains in Colombia where he has significantly improved his craft.
“It’s an elevation of self and talent. Being in Colombia showed me that sometimes you have to leave the nest and really spread your wings and the experiences I’ve had so far is testament to that," he noted.
The Amateur fights were nothing short of exciting, as Chevaun Gordon defeated Everton Levy of Trench Town, while Kevin Brown and Commonwealth Games representative Jerone Ennis, both of Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) Boxing Club, also topped their respective opponent unanimously.
Brown outclassed Kimarley Samuels of Suga Olympics and Ennis was a dominant force against GC Foster's Malcolm Peck.
D’mitri Moore of Hit Box Gym also displayed immense potential in his unanimous decision win over another GC Foster boxer, Daniel-Elijah Linton.
Pavel Smith, Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Marketing Manager, stressed the significance of this initiative in creating a platform that allows amateur and professional fighters to compete regularly without needing to travel overseas for opportunities.
"Jamaica has a love affair with boxing and Wray & Nephew remains a bedrock in the advancement of the sport in Jamaica. We noted great support for the boxers at the last event, we reviewed that outing and have made some adjustments to enhance the experience for patrons," Smith said.
"This series gives our talented boxers more opportunities to increase their visibility and fight counts that will, in turn, make them contenders for larger global opportunities," he added.
Huw Jones is adamant Scotland are not fazed by sharing a heavyweight World Cup group with the might of Ireland and South Africa.
The fact the draw was made in 2020 has led to a top-heavy pool B containing three of the five best teams in the world on current form.
With Ireland ranked number one, and world champions South Africa fourth on the list, the burgeoning Scots – despite being up to fifth themselves – will be up against it to reach the knockout phase.
However, three tightly-contested games against second-ranked France this year – including last Saturday’s agonising 30-27 defeat in Saint-Etienne – allied to strong periods against the likes of New Zealand and Ireland over the past year – have given the Scots genuine hope that they can finish in the top two in their section and progress to the latter stages.
“It is a tough pool, and if people see us as underdogs we don’t mind that,” said centre Jones. “We know how good we can be and a game like Saturday’s, against a side ranked second in the world, gives us a lot of confidence.
“We think we can beat anyone, it’s just about putting together a complete performance. We’re not fazed by the group, we’re really looking forward to it, but we know we need to be at our best to beat the top teams and get out of our pool.”
The Scots have lost 32-21 and 30-27 in their two away matches against the formidable French this year, while they defeated Les Bleus 25-21 at Murrayfield earlier this month.
All three matches against the highly-fancied World Cup hosts incorporated strong fightbacks from Gregor Townsend’s side and Jones feels if they can cut out the minor issues that are leaving them trailing in the first place, they are playing well enough to fancy their chances against any opposition.
“We weren’t really happy with our first-half performance at home to France but we were a lot better in the second half,” said Jones.
“Then in Saint-Etienne, against France’s strongest team, it was a more complete performance in terms of the full 80 minutes, although it’s still about those small margins for us.
“We feel like we’re there and thereabouts but there’s also stuff we can work on. I think Saturday will spur us on to improve even more.
“We always want to win but I think a narrow loss like that away to one of the top teams in the world is good for the confidence. We know we can go toe-to-toe with the best and we feel we can win those games.
“We take confidence from that but we also know there are areas we have to tighten up in and not make a couple of silly errors that can cost us close games.
“Going out to France twice this year and running them so close in those games gives us real confidence, especially as the World Cup is out there.”
As long as there are no slip-ups against Georgia in their final warm-up match at Murrayfield a week on Saturday, the Scots will head out to France at the start of September on the back of an encouraging summer campaign in which they have already defeated Italy and France in Edinburgh.
“We’re feeling good,” said Jones. “It’s been a tough pre-season.
“The fitness is there and the game fitness is coming along. We’ve got one more game against Georgia to really sharpen up and then we’re into the tournament.
“I think we’re in a really good place but we want to win that game against Georgia and put in a really good performance, which will give us confidence going into that first game against South Africa.”
Alflaila could be supplemented for the Irish Champion Stakes rather than take on fellow Shadwell-owned runner Mostahdaf in next week’s Juddmonte International at York.
Trained by Owen Burrows, Alflaila is on a four-race winning streak and landed the Group Two York Stakes over the same course and distance as the International last time out.
The highlight of the opening day of the Ebor meeting would look a logical next step but Angus Gold, Shadwell’s long-serving racing manager, feels it could be prudent to split the pair up.
“It’s unlikely at this stage that we would run the two against each other, I would think,” he said.
“God willing, Mostahdaf stays in good shape – he’ll be the one to represent there. Obviously, we will leave Alflaila in just in case something went wrong.
“Sheikha Hissa may decide to run the two together. But at the same time if he didn’t go there, we may look to supplement Alflaila for the Irish Champion.”
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Mostahdaf is second favourite behind Paddington currently, but his rating of 128 makes him one of the best in the world.
“Mostahdaf was very impressive at Ascot. We’ve freshened him up, just given him a little break after Ascot and hope we can get him to York in as good a form as he was at Ascot,” said Gold.
“Frankie (Dettori) rode him the other day and was very happy with the horse. And John and all the team there have been happy. On paper, it’s a fascinating clash. Let’s hope it lives up to its billing.”
Another big hope for the famous blue and white silks on the Knavesmire is Roger Varian’s Al Husn, who is set to step up in trip for the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.
“She’s never run over this trip before and nobody has ever particularly said she needs that trip,” said Gold.
“She’s so tough and she’s such a little star of a filly that she might well stay. On pedigree, the mare (Hadaatha) I think would have stayed – she was by Sea The Stars out of a Linamix mare. And Al Husn’s by Dubawi – they can do anything.
“She a very easy filly to ride and she’s got a heart the same size as her. So, she might well get it and it would be fun to try it, but we’re in the luxurious position of her already being a Group One winner now, so we’ll just see how Roger and his team feel she is and whether she’s ready to go again.”
Olga Carmona netted an 89th-minute winner to send Spain through to the Women’s World Cup final for the first time ever with victory over Sweden.
Jorge Vilda’s side will meet either England or Australia, who will battle it out on Wednesday morning for a place in the final.
Here, the PA news agency take a look at how Spain booked their passage to the World Cup showpiece.
Spain snatch it
Extra-time loomed to close yet another fixture at this tournament as Spain failed to threaten the Swedish goal, but 19-year-old substitute Salma Paralluelo looked to have changed that when she drilled home from close range to put them 1-0 up with 81 minutes on the clock.
Sweden created very few chances throughout the 90 minutes but hit back with two minutes remaining when the ball fell to Rebecka Blomqvist inside the area and she finished expertly past Cata Coll in the Spain goal, as the game once again looked like it would go the distance.
But Spain had other ideas and regained their advantage one minute later when Carmona received a short corner on the edge of the box and unleashed an effort too strong for Zecira Musovic’s hands and Spain sealed a spot in their first ever final.
Sweden fall short
Sweden scored in all but one of their World Cup games, that being a 0-0 draw with the United States where they went on to win on penalties, so they were not out of the contest when Paralluelo broke the deadlock in the 81st minute.
Blomqvist’s third strike of the tournament came with two minutes to go but Swedish hearts were broken a minute later, as they fell short at the semi-final stage for a fourth time and will instead have to fight for third place with the loser of the game between England and Australia.
Boss Peter Gerhardsson insists his side will be ready to hit back in their final match, saying: “All of us that were in France (finishing third in 2019), we really bring that with us, the willingness to win the final game if we can.”
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Semi-final: Australia v England, Sydney, Wednesday 11am
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne faces up to four months out and could require surgery on a hamstring injury.
The 32-year-old was forced off in the first half of June’s Champions League final triumph against Inter Milan and did not play a single minute of pre-season.
De Bruyne returned from that hamstring issue as a second-half substitute in the Community Shield shoot-out loss to Arsenal and captained the side against Burnley in Friday’s Premier League opener.
But the Belgium playmaker only lasted 23 minutes at Turf Moor, where seemingly out of nothing he signalled to the bench that he had felt something.
Guardiola said after the game at Burnley that the issue related to the same hamstring and would see him miss a few weeks, but it appears worse than first feared.
“It’s serious, the injury,” the City boss said. “We have to decide if it’s surgery or not surgery, but it will be a few months out.”
Guardiola said that decision will be taken in the “next days” and De Bruyne faces “three or four months out” if he goes under the knife.
“Ramon (Cugat) saw the images,” Guardiola said of his go-to doctor in Barcelona.
“He didn’t personally (do anything) and they have two or three doctors have the same opinion, more or less, what they have to do.”
Guardiola was speaking on the eve of City’s first ever UEFA Super Cup appearance, with De Bruyne’s injury leaving him clearly downbeat in Greece.
“I have to say the injury for Kevin is a sore blow for us, so he’s a big loss,” Guardiola said at the press conference previewing the clash with Sevilla.
“Kevin has specific qualities that you can lose for one game, two games, but for a long time is really, really tough for us.
“But at the same time you have to look forward and of course you have alternatives there with different skills because the skills for Kevin are irreplaceable.
“But you have different talent players so it’s an opportunity. Life gives you that.
“When there’s an injury, there’s an opportunity for the other ones and I’m pretty sure they will take it.”
Asked if the injury was down to bad luck or De Bruyne returning too soon, Guardiola shot back: “Give me 25 days of preparation and he will not be injured.
“Before I take the decision I spoke to the doctors, the physios with him and he told me ‘I feel good, I feel good’.
“So, I said ‘ok, it’ s better start then half-time (take him off) but unfortunately it happened.”
Phil Foden looks primed to step up in that role but the severity of De Bruyne’s injury could see City look at a signing before the window closes.
“We will see,” he said. “After what happened, we haven’t talked with Txiki (Begiristain, City sporting director).
“We will see the chances and possibilities. We will see.”
De Bruyne looks set to miss City’s entire Champions League group stage and potentially December’s Club World Cup on top of domestic matters.
The severity of the Belgium playmaker’s injury is a big setback and came as a surprise to team-mate Rodri.
“Well, I didn’t know it was that much, honestly,” he said. “What can I say? I mean, he is one of the most important players of the club.
“For sure we are going to miss him a lot. We are going to try to support him in this bad moment. No one wants injuries.
“I saw him the other day and he was positive, he wants to come back (quickly).
“He’s an experienced player, he knows he doesn’t have to run fast to come back. He has to recover – that’s the most important part.
“We are going to miss him but at the same time I can tell you we have a very complete squad to play these two months without him.
“And hopefully we can have him back because he has been so important these years.”
Running Lion will be bidding to serve a reminder of her quality when she lines up in the British EBF 40th Anniversary Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury on Wednesday.
John and Thady Gosden’s three-year-old was well-fancied for the Oaks earlier this year having racked up an impressive four-race winning sequence, but her Epsom dreams were dashed when she was withdrawn at the start having got upset in the stalls.
Given the chance to gain Classic compensation she headed to Chantilly for the Prix de Diane, but struggled to make a telling impact from an unhelpful draw and was eased down in the closing stages by regular partner Oisin Murphy.
Running Lion is one of 13 fillies who head to post in the Listed heat, with Roger Varian’s Ameynah tackling 10 furlongs for the first time having blown away the cobwebs with a respectable return from a long absence in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel had not been seen since finishing sixth to Cachet in last year’s 1000 Guineas and with only four career starts to her name, she could have plenty more to give.
“We were pleased with her comeback run at Ascot and we have a lot of belief she is a nice filly,” said Varian.
“She looks to have come forward nicely from that run and we’ve always thought 10 furlongs would be within her compass, so we’re looking forward to running her.”
Another filly returning from a break is Sparkling Beauty, who placed in the Group Two Prix du Calvados when trained by Richard Hughes last term and has been sighted just the once this campaign.
She is now trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis and the handler is confident of a bold showing from the Amo Racing-owned filly on her stable bow.
“She came to us earlier in the year and Richard Hughes did a very good job with her,” said Ffrench Davis.
“She won a nice maiden at Goodwood, the same one we won with Ornellaia the other week and she was then Group Two placed and I just think she disappointed a little bit earlier on in the year and could do with a break.
“She’s done nothing wrong with us and is coming to the boil nicely and I think she will run a big race.”
Owen Farrell has been cleared to lead England into the World Cup after his red card against Wales was unexpectedly overturned by an independent disciplinary hearing.
Progressive Rugby, a player welfare lobby group, reacted to the shock decision by declaring it had “made a mockery of World Rugby’s claim that player welfare is the game’s number one priority”.
Farrell was initially shown a yellow card for his shoulder-led tackle to the head of Taine Basham in the second-half of Saturday’s 19-17 victory over Wales at Twickenham.
However, it was upgraded to a red by the Bunker review system, triggering a three-and-a-half hour hearing that took place on Tuesday via video link-up.
Farrell was expected to receive a ban in the region of six matches, minus mitigation, that would have ruled him out of the World Cup opener against Argentina on September 9.
The 31-year-old Saracens fly-half has missed a total of 11 games because of suspensions incurred for the same offence across three previous incidents, but is now free to take part in England’s clash with Ireland on Saturday.
The all-Australian judicial committee decided that his offence warranted a yellow card only and should not have been lifted to a red by the Bunker.
Its verdict hinged on Jamie George’s attempted tackle on Basham which it claimed caused the Wales flanker, who subsequently failed a head injury assessment, to change direction just before Farrell made his challenge.
“The committee determined, when applying World Rugby’s head contact process, that mitigation should be applied to the high degree of danger found by the foul play review officer,” a statement read.
“The committee found that a late change in dynamics due to England #2’s interaction in the contact area brought about a sudden and significant change in direction from the ball carrier.
“In the committee’s opinion, this mitigation was sufficient to bring the player’s act of foul play below the red card threshold.”
Progressive Rugby condemned an outcome that has sent shockwaves through the sport as it continues its drive to become safer.
“Today’s astounding decision to overturn the red card given to Owen Farrell for his tackle on Taine Basham has made a mockery of World Rugby’s claim that player welfare is the game’s number one priority,” a statement read.
“Additionally, despite protestations in the judgement to the contrary, it has critically undermined the newly introduced Bunker process before a global tournament and eroded confidence in the game’s judicial process which is meant to help protect those playing the game.”
In coming to its verdict, the panel said no criticism was being made of the Bunker review system – which is currently being used on a trial basis only and has yet to be confirmed for the World Cup – given the time available to make a decision.
However, it now calls into question the viability of the system if it does not have the time to make accurate calls.
Farrell’s most recent suspension was for an illegal challenge on Gloucester’s Jack Clement in January, which was reduced from four to three games after he completed tackle school, enabling him to face Scotland in the Six Nations opener.
The decision to overturn the red card is sure to anger anti-concussion campaigners, among them former Wales international Alix Popham who described it as a “shocking challenge”.
When the Indianapolis Colts take their first offensive series in their season opener, Anthony Richardson will be lined up under centre.
Colts coach Shane Steichen named Richardson the starting quarterback on Tuesday.
Richardson had been competing for the starting QB job with Gardner Minshew.
"After evaluating training camp and the film and all that, I made the decision Anthony will be the starting quarterback this year for us," Steichen told reporters. " I like the progress he's made, excited about his future, his play-making ability that he brings to this football team."
His first start will come against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 on September 10.
In Saturday's first preseason game, Richardson was the first quarterback on the field and ended up playing 29 snaps in the Colts' 23-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He completed 7-of-12 passes for 67 yards with an interception. He also ran twice for seven yards.
Indianapolis selected Richardson fourth overall in April's NFL draft, believing he'd be the team's franchise quarterback for years to come.
By naming him the starter now, the coaching staff can get the 21-year-old more reps in practice and prepared for the regular season.
Richardson started only 13 collegiate games for Florida, but many viewed the dual-threat quarterback as one of the most exciting prospects in this year's draft with the highest upside.
England have found themselves on the receiving end of a spying controversy after a training session ahead of their World Cup semi-final against Australia was photographed from a helicopter.
The Australian Daily Telegraph sent up the aircraft to capture images from the Lionesses’ behind-closed-doors session at their training base as they finalised plans for Wednesday’s last-four clash with the co-hosts in Sydney.
Published under the headline “Eleven Poms against a nation: Welcome to the jungle, Lionesses”, the pictures show boss Sarina Wiegman and her staff putting the players through their paces ahead of the eagerly-anticipated contest.
The newspaper wrote: “If England’s Lionesses thought they would happily fly into the World Cup semi-final under the radar they were in for a rude shock.
“We’ve sent the chopper up to see how the old enemy are preparing…Welcome to the jungle, Lionesses, we’ve got fun and games.”
It added: “It might not be in the spirit of football, but after last month’s men’s Ashes cricket series we will let the moral arbiters England pass judgment on what is and isn’t acceptable in the world of sport.”
The Football Association has declined to comment on the incident.
The European champions are assured of a hostile welcome at a sold-out Stadium Australia as they attempt to end the Matildas’ dream of World Cup glory on home soil.
Their exploits have galvanised a nation which revels in its sporting rivalry with England and is still in celebratory mood having already retained the Ashes and won the Netball World Cup at the expense the old enemy this summer.
Wiegman and her players have brushed aside that element of the fixture, although back at home, memories of Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow in the second Test at Lord’s, which prompted booing and chants of ‘Same old Aussies, always cheating’ throughout the remainder of the series, are still fresh in the collective mind.
Former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire’s move to West Ham has stalled, the PA news agency understands.
The 30-year-old centre-back became the most expensive defender in history when joining the Old Trafford giants from Leicester for £80million in 2019.
Maguire was swiftly handed the captain’s armband, but a lack of form and game time led Erik ten Hag to last month name Bruno Fernandes as United’s new skipper.
West Ham’s initial £20m bid for the England international was rejected before an improved offer in the region of £30m was accepted by the Red Devils last week.
But the PA news agency understands the Hammers are looking at other potential options as the move has stalled, albeit the transfer is not dead.
Maguire was an unused substitute on Monday as United beat Wolves 1-0 and a resolution between selling club and player is thought to be a key part of the hold up.
David Moyes’ Europa Conference League champions have signed Ajax’s Edson Alvarez and Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse in recent days.
Three-time Olympian Kirani James will lead a four-member Grenada team at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, according to the final entry list published by World Athletics.
James is the most experienced member of the team, having competed at the London, Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games and 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2022 World Championships.
He missed out on the 2017 World Championships due to illness. He is the most decorated 400-metre runner in history, winning gold, silver and bronze medals at both Olympic Games and World Championships.
The team also include two-time Javelin World champion, Anderson Peters; Commonwealth Games Decathlon champion, Lindon Victor and female sprinter Halle Hazzard.
Peters is attempting to rewrite the history books with a third consecutive gold medal at the World Championships.
The World Championships will take place August 19-27 at Hungary’s new National Athletics Centre in Budapest.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne faces a “few months out” with a hamstring injury, with Manchester City now having to decide whether he will undergo surgery.
The 32-year-old midfielder was forced off in the first half of June’s Champions League final triumph against Inter Milan and did not play a single minute of pre-season.
De Bruyne returned as a second-half substitute in the Community Shield shoot-out loss to Arsenal and captained the side against Burnley in Friday’s Premier League opener.
But the Belgium playmaker only lasted 23 minutes at Turf Moor, where seemingly out of nothing he signalled to the bench that he had felt something.
Guardiola said the issue related to the same hamstring and would see him miss “a few months”, but it is worse than first feared and a decision has to be made over surgery.
“It’s a seriously injury,” the City boss said. “We have to decide surgery or not surgery but a few months out.”
The decision on surgery will be taken in the coming days and could see him miss “three or four months”, Guardiola said.
Wales back-row forward Taine Plumtree does not require shoulder surgery after being injured against England and remains in World Cup selection contention.
Wales assistant coach Jonathan Thomas has confirmed that Plumtree faces a period of rehabilitation, but he will not go under the knife.
Head coach Warren Gatland will name his 33-strong World Cup squad next Monday, and Thomas said: “Taine has not been ruled out of the World Cup. He doesn’t need surgery, so he is still available.
“There is a process he will need to go through in terms of rehab, but he has not been ruled out of contention for selection for the World Cup.
“Sometimes you need surgery and it rules you out for a long period of time, so I guess that is a positive in that respect.”
Hooker Dewi Lake, meanwhile, also made an early exit at Twickenham due to a knee issue, and Thomas added: “Dewi is under further review.
“The medical team wanted to chase that up, so there is no update on him at this time.”
Wales’ final preparation fixture sees them face world champions South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday, with Gatland’s World Cup squad being announced less than 48 hours later.
The Springboks clash will be a final opportunity for some players to impress before the waiting game reaches its conclusion.
“‘Gats’ has publicly said on the weekend there will be some opportunities for guys and maybe a last chance for some of them,” Thomas said.
“It is particularly tough on those guys who are going to miss out next week, it really is.
“I’ve been part of World Cups, but also missed out on World Cups, so I know as well as anyone how tough it is going to be for those guys, but at the same time you’ve got to make tough calls, haven’t you?
“The squad are very much focused on South Africa and living in the moment.
“While all those moments about selection you are thinking about while you are driving home or sitting in your hotel room, above the surface, in camp or on the training field there is no talk of that.
“It’s 23 players working as one. The reality is that individuals shine when they are part of a collective in team sport.
“If we play well as a team and get a win on the weekend it is going to hopefully project those individuals more.
“The last 13 or 14 weeks have all been about the higher purpose and one-team mentality, and that has not wavered this week. That says a lot about this group.”
South Africa have selected a strong line-up to meet Wales, including a return for fit-again captain Siya Kolisi, while the likes of wing Cheslin Kolbe, centre Damian de Allende, hooker Malcolm Marx and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit also start.
“We want a fully-loaded South Africa, we want to be tested. We are excited about that,” Thomas said.
“You know what you are going to get with South Africa, and I mean that in a respectful way.
“They are a really physical team and they are a champion team, being winners of the last World Cup. Having said that, our home form in recent years has been quite good against them.
“You know what is coming with South Africa – big, direct carries, scrum, maul and they are a big physical team. You need those tests to set you up for what’s coming in the World Cup.”
French racing’s new star Ace Impact maintained his unbeaten record in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s three-year-old grabbed the headlines when displaying an electrifying turn of foot in the Prix de Jockey Club in June, coming from a long way back to beat Big Rock.
Off the track for 72 days, Ace Impact was very keen in the early stages under Cristian Demuro before dropping in at the rear of the field, with only had one behind him for much of the race as stablemate Cambronne set the pace.
Aidan O’Brien had two runners in Breeders’ Cup winner Victoria Road and Greenland, while his son Joseph fielded Al Riffa, a Group One winner as a juvenile last season.
They mounted a stern challenge and had their chances, but Ace Impact made up plenty of ground in the straight and grabbed the lead in sight of the post.
However, he had to battle with Al Riffa, who finished three-quarters of a length adrift in second, with Birr Castle a further head back in third and Greenland coming home fourth.
Paddy Power left the winner unchanged as their 7-2 favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, however, Coral eased him slightly to 9-2 from 4-1.
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