Joe Root is feeling bullish ahead of England’s weekend clash with Australia, claiming he would “have this team every day” over their rivals despite wildly differing fortunes at the World Cup.
The Ashes adversaries meet on Saturday at Ahmedabad’s 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, which will also host the tournament final on November 19.
Only one of the two teams has any prospect of making it that far, with England propping up the table in 10th place after one win in six while Australia appear set fair for the knockouts after four victories.
But Root refuses to believe a side who came in as defending champions and well fancied to defend their crown have slipped as far as the standings suggest.
“Man for man, I’d have this team every day over the Australians,” he said, with an air of confidence that has largely eluded England since they touched down in India.
“We might not have played as well as we can do but we know when we play our best stuff the best teams struggle to compete with us.
“I look at this team and it’s more than capable of achieving way more than it has done throughout this tournament. With the quality of players we have, we should be sat right at the top of this (table). We all know that and we’re all very frustrated that isn’t the case.
“We’ve just got to look at Saturday as our World Cup final and play in the manner that’s expected of us and we expect of ourselves. We have massively underachieved to date and have three opportunities to show the world what we are capable of doing and what I know we are capable of doing.”
The statistical head-to-head makes for grim reading, with Australia boasting five centuries to England’s one, 61 sixes to England’s 27 and 47 wickets taken to England’s 36.
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has taken 16 scalps, exactly twice as many as opposite number Adil Rashid.
But Root is relying on the competitive juices that come with every meeting between these two teams to drag his side out of their torpor.
England were 2-0 behind after the first two Tests of this year’s Ashes series but rallied to dominate the next three games and would surely have improved on a 2-2 draw had rain not intervened at Old Trafford.
“One thing that the Ashes does is, we’ve played a lot of cricket against a number of their players. If we can use that in a positive way then we have to take it into the game,” he said.
“You can always recall little things that can work in your favour. If it helps you feel good about yourself and you can be ready to use to your advantage, then absolutely.”
Relations between the teams were strained at times during the Test summer, not least over Jonny Bairstow’s controversial run out at Lord’s, and the battle lines remain drawn.
A press conference clip of Australia captain Pat Cummins smirking and suppressing giggles as he contemplated England’s World Cup struggles has been duly noted but has not raised Root’s hackles.
“Let’s face it, if it was the other way around would we be doing the same? Probably,” he said.
“If it motivates us a little bit more, great. It hurts, but it always hurts to be in this position, sat at the bottom of the table. There is no better motivator for any group of English players than to play against the Aussies.
“From my point of view, I throw everything into giving my absolute 100 per cent for England and can look people in the eye and shake them by the hand and move onto the next game. I’ve got no animosity with any of their team.”
England trained under lights on Thursday and will go through another workout on the eve of the game as they piece together their XI. The temptation to recall Harry Brook, who performed impressively against a similar bowling attack in the Ashes, must be strong and there is a decision to make over David Willey.
He was the best bowler against India last time out but has since announced him imminent international retirement. England could decide to look long-term and switch him out for Sam Curran, but Root is clear that the awkward timing of the news is not being held against Willey.
“They are decisions to be made by the coach and the captain. Only Dave will be able to tell you how he’s come to that decision and why he’s made it now,” he said.
“But the thing you can never look past is his professionalism. He likes those big-stage games and by announcing his retirement it’s made these three games as big as they can be for him.”
Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand as he searches for back-to-back victories in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.
The one-mile contest brings the opening night of Breeders’ Cup action to a close, with the Ballydoyle handler winning the race for a record-extending fifth time with Victoria Road at Keeneland 12 months ago.
This time he has assembled a three-strong hand in quest for victory number six, as River Tiber, Unquestionable and Mountain Bear all face the starter in California.
Coolmore number one Ryan Moore has elected for River Tiber, who brings solid Group One credentials to the table having placed in both the Prix Morny and Middle Park since winning at Royal Ascot.
“We always thought River Tiber was a really good horse,” said O’Brien.
“His last two runs have been a little bit below par. In France he had a break before and we perhaps didn’t quite have him at his best and the last day we felt we didn’t have him at his best either.
“We think he has come right since Newmarket and I think he is rated 3lb below the other horse (Unquestionable) but he has always been a very classy horse and we think he is better now than he was for his last two runs. All the ducks weren’t in a row the last time.”
It will be the first time River Tiber has raced beyond six furlongs, but O’Brien is keen to test the colt’s credentials over a mile at a track which should play to his strengths.
Speaking during Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup on Thursday, he added: “We always thought he would love stepping up to seven, so if we thought he would get seven at home, he should get a mile around here. He has a nice draw and a flat track and we’re looking forward to seeing what he does.”
Unquestionable has yet to get his head in front in Group company and was last seen finishing an honourable second to Rosallion in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp.
Frankie Dettori comes in for the spare ride aboard the classy son of Wootton Bassett who has been knocking on the door all summer.
“Ryan was delighted with him in France and said the split just came a little bit too early for him and he had to go early,” continued O’Brien.
“Obviously when the split came he had to go and he would have just preferred to wait a little bit longer. He ran a very good race.
“We always felt a mile would be well within his compass and he’s in very good form and has a nice draw as well.”
The O’Brien trio are the sole European representation in a race the raiders have dominated since its inception, but there is a strong cast of American challengers lining up to take their chance.
Todd Pletcher struck in 2010 and will saddle the hat-trick-seeking Agate Road, while Michael McCarthy’s Endlessly is unbeaten in three and has track-and-trip form to his name.
Christophe Clement’s Carson’s Run accounted for My Boy Prince in the Grade One Summer Stakes at Woodbine, while the latter is joined by Can Group from Hall Of Fame handler Mark Casse’s well-respected stable.
Lewis Hamilton said he does not plan on coming away empty handed from the Brazilian Grand Prix – in what could be his best chance of ending a two-year winless streak.
On Sunday, it will mark 700 days since Hamilton last won following Mercedes’ failure to provide the seven-time world champion with a machine to match Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull.
However, Mercedes claimed their sole victory of last season in Interlagos, with George Russell leading Hamilton home in a surprise one-two finish.
Hamilton also claimed one of the finest victories of his career here two years ago, and took his maiden world title on Brazilian soil back in 2008.
And speaking in Sao Paulo, with only rounds to follow in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, Hamilton said: “I anticipate Red Bull will blitz it because their car is great.
“But if that is not the case, I will be ready to take the fight to them, and if it can be anything like Austin (where Hamilton finished second before he was disqualified) and we can get our strategy better, than that would be incredible.
“I came away empty handed last season. I don’t plan on that this year.”
Hamilton finished runner-up to Verstappen in Mexico last weekend – 13.8 seconds behind the Dutchman – with Mercedes 22 points clear of Ferrari in the race for second place in the constructors’ championship.
Hamilton is only 20 points behind second-placed Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings.
But Hamilton added: “After the last couple of races I have been getting messages from people saying, ‘it is looking good.’ But I said to them ‘well, it was looking good at the end of last year, too, but we started this season 1.5 seconds behind’.
“I am not dazzled by where we are currently. But I am thinking long-term at the moment, and in the short term, trying to solidify second in the constructors.”
Hamilton was handed a boost in his bid to take second spot in the individual standings after Verstappen hinted he will not help team-mate Perez.
Verstappen, who wrapped up his third world championship in Qatar last month, and claimed a record 16th win of the season five days ago in Mexico City, said: “At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter on me to get the points (for Perez).
“I am confident in Sergio that he can stay ahead. On average, we have had the fastest car this season. Let’s hope we don’t need to get into that situation.”
Brazil forward Rodrygo has signed a new deal with Real Madrid to keep him at the club until 2028.
The 22-year-old has made 179 appearances in all competitions for Real since joining from Santos in 2019 and it has been reported his new contract has a one billion euros release clause.
The club said in a statement: “Real Madrid C.F. and Rodrygo have agreed a contract extension for the player, who will remain at the club until 30 June 2028.”
Rodrygo, capped 18 times by Brazil, has scored 39 goals during five seasons in Real’s first team, including two in last season’s 2-1 Copa del Rey final win against Sevilla.
He has won seven other major trophies with the club – two LaLiga titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and two Spanish Super Cups.
Rodrygo’s Brazil team-mate Vinicius Junior agreed a contract extension with Real until the summer of 2027 earlier this week and that also includes a one billion euros release clause, according to reports.
Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt is set for a spell on the sidelines with a knee problem suffered in the DFB-Pokal defeat by Saarbrucken.
The Dutch centre-back was forced off midway through the first half of Wednesday night’s second round cup tie against the third-tier outfit.
Following scans, Bayern announced De Ligt had suffered a partial ligament tear in his right knee, which could see him face a lengthy rehabilitation.
The Bundesliga champions said in a statement on the club’s official website: “Matthijs de Ligt sustained a partial tear of the ligament in his right knee joint in FC Bayern’s 2-1 DFB Cup defeat at FC Saarbrucken.
“That is the outcome of a scan carried out by the club’s medical department on Thursday. Centre-back de Ligt will therefore miss FC Bayern’s upcoming games.”
Thomas Tuchel’s men return to league action on Saturday when they head to rivals Borussia Dortmund for a first Der Klassiker meeting of the season.
Big Evs will carry British hopes on his broad shoulders when he attempts to blast his way to a famous victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
Mick Appleby’s youngster has been one of the season’s star juveniles and will attempt to bring his stellar season to a fitting end in the shadows of the San Gabriel Mountains on Friday.
The Royal Ascot scorer will be his trainer’s first runner at the showpiece event and after his one disappointment this season in the Nunthorpe, the son of Blue Point was back to his brilliant best when blazing a trail in the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.
The Rutland-based handler is thrilled to be in California with his star performer, who he believes has proven he is more than capable of handling top talent.
“I’ve never really had the right ammo in the two-year-old division, but I think with this horse I’ve proved I can do it,” said Appleby.
“After Goodwood we thought about coming here and as to his blip in the Nunthorpe it came just two weeks after a hard race in soft ground and we put a line through it. In hindsight we shouldn’t have run at York, it was way too soon.
“Doncaster was a most impressive win and if he reproduces it he will take a lot of beating.”
Tom Marquand was in the saddle when registering a breathtaking all-the-way success on Town Moor in September and will once again be aboard the speedy youngster whose blistering starts have been a hallmark of his campaign.
“He absolutely flew out of the gate this morning and should be as good at it as any of the Americans,” said Appleby.
“My main concern is going round a bend, but Tom breezed him yesterday and said he coped with it really well. The ground will ride on the quick side which is fine for us.”
American trainer George Weaver saddles a three-strong hand in opposition, with Royal Ascot heroine Crimson Advocate the headline attraction alongside stablemates No Nay Mets and Amidst Waves.
The Queen Mary winner will be a first runner at the Breeders’ Cup for Qatar-based Wathnan Racing and she will appear for the first time in their increasingly-familiar silks when stepping out in the hands of John Velazquez.
“We’re excited and it will be an exciting day,” said Case Clay, Wathnan’s racing adviser in the USA.
“This is the Breeders’ Cup so it will be very tough competition. We’re just hoping for a nice clean break and the nice thing about the turf sprint is it is just get out and go – once the gates open it is going to be just that.
“We’re really happy to have John Velazquez on board, especially with his great experience at Ascot, and that is reassuring. We are just very excited.
“Olly Tait (senior Wathnan representative) has given me instruction to look for quality and she is the first purchase and hopefully there will be some more.”
Others from the home team to watch for include John Saddler’s Slider who claimed the Speakeasy Stakes over track and trip last month and Steven Asmussen’s Committee Of One, who accounted for Weaver’s Amidst Waves in the Indian Summer Stakes.
Asmussen said: “It was a breakthrough race last time. Obviously, at five-eighths on the turf (in stall 12), you need to get lucky with the trip. He’s a horse that likes to come from a little off of it, so hopefully a good trip will open up.”
There is a strong Irish challenge which features shock Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force, a first runner for Adrian Murray at the end-of-season spectacular, while the hat-trick-seeking Tiger Belle is just a second runner at the meeting for Adrian McGuinness.
Jessica Harrington’s Middle Park fourth Givemethebeatboys and Aidan O’Brien’s Cherry Blossom are the others making the trip from Ireland, while Frankie Dettori will get the leg-up aboard Ralph Beckett’s Starlust.
Frankie Dettori is savouring a “Ryder Cup atmosphere” as he prepares to take up several high-profile rides at this year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita.
The high-profile fixture looked as though it could be one of the Italian’s last after he announced his retirement late last year, but his recent U-turn means racing fans in California can expect to see plenty more of him over the Christmas period and next year as he prepares to move Stateside full time.
The 52-year-old has a handful of quality rides over the course of the weekend, including Aidan O’Brien’s Unquestionable in Friday’s Juvenile Turf with Inspiral in the Filly & Mare Turf and King Of Steel in the Turf among his big guns on Saturday.
Dettori is also booked to partner Zandon for American trainer Chad Brown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but nevertheless sees himself as competing for the away team.
“The Breeders’ Cup has a Ryder Cup atmosphere and I’m proud to be representing Europe,” he said trackside on Thursday morning.
“I’m looking forward to riding back here for the first day of the meet on Boxing Day.”
Of Zandon, Dettori added: “He is a solid, staying horse who finished third in the Kentucky Derby (last year).
“I’ve ridden for Chad a few times, but I won’t ride the colt before Saturday.
“I thought he looked good when he won the Woodward last time.”
Things may not have gone how Yona Knight-Wisdom would have liked during his recent outing at the Pan American (PanAm) Games in Chile, but the flag-bearing diver has no intentions reeling in the disappointment for too long.
Instead, Knight-Wisdom views the sub-par performances as an indication that he has some amount of work to do, if he is to achieve the feat of competing at a third-consecutive Olympic Games.
The British-born diver, whose father is Jamaican and mother Barbadian, placed 11th in both the individual 1-metre and 3-metre springboard events with scores of 318.60 and 372.10 respectively.
He also placed fifth in the 3-metre springboard synchronized dive with Canada-born compatriot Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson. Together, they scored 345.51, behind their Mexican (425.46), Colombian (398.67) and United States (368.64) counterparts.
“There is definitely a hint of disappointment from PanAm Games because I struggled with inconsistency throughout the week. But at the same time, I am also a bit excited for the months ahead because I managed to reach a decent level at such an early point in the season and there’s much room for improvement, both individually and in synchro,” Knight-Wisdom told SportsMax.TV.
“The PanAm Games really exposed my natural strengths and weaknesses, so I know exactly what I need to work on between now and the World Championships in February, and hopefully my confidence will grow over the next few months. Synchro was probably the highlight for me because it was a really solid performance in a high quality field. We’re definitely in the mix for Olympic qualification,” he added.
While he reflected with a mixed bag of emotions, Knight-Wisdom, pointed out that the lessons from his recent performances and, by extension, the challenges he overcame along the way, are used as motivation to go even harder in his next training session or competition.
Simply put, Knight-Wisdom’s passion and desire to achieve greatness burns fiercely much like a hellish fire, as he is not merely satisfied with his 1-m springboard silver at the 2019 PanAm Games, nor his 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games appearance.
“So many lessons have come from PanAm. It was one of the most challenging periods of my career, having only six weeks to prepare, and still only 10 months or so since my knee surgery. It showed me that I’m absolutely still capable, but I really need to streamline my focus on competition preparation in the lead up to the last qualifier in February,” Knight-Wisdom shared.
Though the physical and mental challenges are not unique to Knight-Wisdom as many athletes often struggle to find their way back from injury, it is the grace and faith that towering diver exudes as he represents the country with much gusto that stands out.
“I was also getting lots of compliments from other divers and coaches, which gives me confidence even though I wasn’t feeling particularly good within myself on this occasion,” Knight-Wisdom said.
“I honestly believe I’m on the right track and don’t need to make any drastic changes, I just need to trust the process and I believe I will have a great chance of qualifying for the Olympics in two events. So though disappointing, the PanAm experience was definitely extremely valuable for me,” he noted.
For now, Knight-Wisdom said the focus is now rest and recovery to not only improve his mental toughness, but more importantly, to ensure he returns, better and stronger for his next assignment in December, followed by the big Olympic qualifiers in February.
“So it is a few days of rest, then back into training to prepare for the British nationals in December, which will be my last warm up event before the World Championships in Doha in February.
“My chances are definitely good, but anything can happen on the day, so I really need to leave no stone unturned over the next few months and put myself in the best position possible to compete close to my best level in February. I don’t need to be right at my best, but my best is what I’ll be aiming for,” he ended.
India became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Cricket World Cup with a thumping 302-run victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai.
Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill put on 189 for India’s second wicket in their total of 357 for eight and Sri Lanka could only manage a sorry 55 all out in reply.
Mohammed Shami’s five for 18 made him India’s leading wicket-taker in 50-over World Cups, with the hosts securing their seventh win from as many matches.
Dilshan Madushanka bowled captain Rohit Sharma off only the second ball of the India innings but Sri Lankan cheers proved short-lived as Kohli and Gill piled on the runs.
Kohli survived a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Dushmantha Chameera when he was on 10 and India were only seven runs short of 200 when Madushanka had Gill caught behind for 92.
The home fans had hoped to see Kohli score his second century of the tournament but he soon went too, Madushanka claiming his third victim with the India star on 88.
Shreyas Iyer quickly picked up the baton, though, becoming the fourth Indian batter to pass 80 before giving Madushanka a fifth wicket.
Sri Lanka then endured a nightmare start to their innings, losing four wickets for three runs inside four overs.
Pathum Nissanka was trapped leg before wicket by Jasprit Bumrah off the first ball but it was Mohammed Siraj who did most of the damage, snaring Dimuth Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama in the second over and then bowling captain Kusal Mendis with the first ball of the fourth.
Charith Asalanka lasted until the 10th over but, when he was caught by Ravindra Jadeja off the bowling of Shami, he had scored just one run from 24 balls.
Dushan Hemantha went next ball, caught behind by KL Rahul, and although Chameera denied Shami a hat-trick, he went for a duck in the bowler’s next over.
Only Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana and Kasun Rajitha reached double figures, with Sri Lanka bowled out inside 20 overs.
Gilles Simon has warned that Carlos Alcaraz dominating men's tennis is no certainty.
Alcaraz has enjoyed a stunning rise to the top of the rankings over the past two seasons, with the 20-year-old winning two grand slam titles and 12 trophies overall.
The Spaniard has not won a title since triumphing at Wimbledon in July, however, and has reached only one final since then, losing to Novak Djokovic at the Western & Southern Open in August.
A shock defeat to Roman Safiullin at the Paris Masters this week has damaged Alcaraz's chances of pipping Djokovic to the year-end world number one, and Simon does not feel he is a shoo-in to be the standout player of the next generation.
"There are a lot of people who say: 'He's going to win 20 Grand Slams'," Simon told Stats Perform.
"It's long a career. People say he has got the freeway ahead of him. Yes, but we do not know what's behind him?
"When [Roger Federer first arrived, we thought he was going to win a lot, and he did. Breaking [Pete] Sampras' record, we were sure of it.
"But the danger came from behind. First Rafa [Rafael Nadal] then Novak, then Andy [Murray]. And I think it will be the same for Carlos. The danger will come from behind."
Simon, who won 14 career titles and reached a high of number six in the ATP rankings, pointed to the likes of world number four Jannik Sinner and number three Daniil Medvedev, though the latter is seven years Alcaraz's senior.
"There are players aged 16, 17, who are playing extremely well and who may also have a similar career path. In the end, he still has Novak and hyper-stable, hyper-strong players like Daniil on hard court or other players on clay who can really cause him problems," Simon continued.
"Sinner and so on, but he may also have two or three guys behind him who, in two or three years' time, we don't know who they are yet, but they'll be up there like him, and we'll be saying to ourselves: 'Ah well, he never had that period when he was supposedly going to win everything with no competition in front of him'.
"There is never no competition. The other players, even if they are not the calibre of Federer or Nadal, they are very strong. Daniil is very strong, very stable on hard court, so he can beat [Alcaraz].
"Carlos seems to have the upper hand. But no, Daniil finds a solution, comes up with something else and beats him. And that is why it's never a foregone conclusion, and why it's so interesting to follow. Otherwise, we would not even be watching the match."
The Rolex Paris Masters became the first Masters 1000 to broadcast its qualifying matches on Twitch, live on Rivenzi's channel.
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou expects Mauricio Pochettino to be shown plenty of respect on Monday night but joked there will be no guard of honour for the current Chelsea boss.
Pochettino will return to Spurs for the first time since his acrimonious departure in the winter of 2019, which occurred months after he guided the north London club to the Champions League final.
There have been various points over the past four years where Tottenham supporters have longed for their old boss to return amid an identity crisis, but chairman Daniel Levy decided to go in a different direction and hired Postecoglou, while Pochettino by this point had already accepted the Chelsea job.
Eyebrows were raised when Pochettino took over at Stamford Bridge in May, given the rivalry between the London clubs during his five-year tenure at Spurs, and it could result in a mixed reaction on his return to N17 next week.
“Look, it is undoubted that he had an unbelievable impact on this football club,” Postecoglou said.
“All of us in our roles, that is our ultimate goal and ambition that whatever doors we go through, we make an impact and he has had an undeniable impact on this football club in his time here.
“He almost took the club to the ultimate summit of the Champions League, got close to the league, so his work is unquestioned.
“Everyone I speak to around here, there are still people who worked with him, they can’t speak highly enough of him as a person and as a manager.
“I doubt there will be anything but respect for Mauricio from anyone at this football club, supporters or people associated, but it doesn’t mean he will get a guard of honour on Monday night because we want to win.
“I don’t think he would expect that, but his tenure here and impact here is undeniable and will stand the test of time.
“Whenever people think of Mauricio and his time here as a Spurs manager, they will only look upon it with respect and fondness.”
Pochettino has suffered plenty of teething problems at Chelsea, but did spend more than £350million this summer and pressure is beginning to grow with the club struggling in 11th position after only three league wins all season.
It is in complete contrast to Postecoglou, who lost record goalscorer Harry Kane on the eve of the new season and yet has transformed the club with an unbeaten run to the Premier League summit.
The Australian coach added: “What I know is you don’t really know what challenges exist until you’re in it.
“Even here, people can assume what kind of challenges I had coming in but it is probably not a tenth of what we had to do or what I felt needed to change.
“Whether that’s Mauricio or any other manager I guess, you don’t really know what they are having to deal with to get to the end point.
“At the same time, while others may look at it and say ‘that’s a real difficult one’, there will be managers saying, ‘I wish I had a billion to spend and waste’ because what some people sometimes see as an advantage, others see as a disadvantage. That’s the challenge for all us managers.
“I really think we are all in our own unique space that nobody can really understand because none of us can really disclose all the information because that’s the way organisations work.
“What I have to deal with and what Mauricio has to deal with are probably very, very different, but in essence what we are trying to do is the same thing: build a team that we believe can bring success.
“You look at Mauricio’s track record and I’ve got no doubt he’ll get Chelsea on the right path, I’ve no doubt about that.”
Leigh Halfpenny looks set to continue his rugby career in the southern hemisphere after he makes a final Wales appearance on Saturday.
The Wales full-back, who has won 101 caps, will bow out of international rugby following the Barbarians’ Principality Stadium visit.
And New Zealand Super Rugby heavyweights Crusaders could be his next port of call.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland, after naming his team to face the Barbarians, dismissed speculation linking 34-year-old Halfpenny with a move to England or Japan, while confirming a southern hemisphere switch that would undoubtedly enhance his playing and coaching CV.
“Hopefully, he has got a big future ahead of him – it is an exciting challenge that he has been offered,” Gatland said.
“He spoke to me a number of weeks ago about where he was going to go. The speculation about going to England and Japan was all rubbish.
“I just said that it would be brilliant for him in terms of what he wants to do next and his CV, having played in France and won championships there, having been successful for Wales and having a chance to go to the southern hemisphere as well.
“And maybe after that experience, coming back and doing some kicking and some skills work and maybe following a Neil Jenkins (Wales skills and kicking specialist) path in terms of getting into the coaching aspect.
“He has been one of those people who have set incredible standards and is a great example for younger players coming through in terms of that.
“He is not the biggest man in the world, but he has always given 100 per cent for that jersey and he is a proud Welshman.”
Jac Morgan will captain a Wales XV containing 12 Rugby World Cup squad members, including four who started the quarter-final defeat against Argentina last month in Morgan, centre George North, lock Adam Beard and number eight Aaron Wainwright.
Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother, 31, makes a first Wales start in the non-cap encounter, with wing Tom Rogers and lock Ben Carter also gaining opportunities.
Fairbrother starts in the tighthead position, where Gatland was without the services of France-based pair Tomos Francis and Henry Thomas, Harlequins forward Dillon Lewis, plus injured duo Keiron Assiratti and Leon Brown.
Assiratti was ruled out by an ankle injury, while Brown has a calf muscle problem, meaning call-ups for Fairbrother and Scarlets prop Harri O’Connor, who is among the replacements.
The Principality Stadium encounter is being staged to pay tribute to Wales’ record cap holder Alun Wyn Jones. He retired from Test rugby in May after making 158 Test match appearances for his country.
Its scheduling, though, has been criticised, with all four Welsh regions being in United Rugby Championship action this weekend, while a sizeable contingent of players based outside Wales – Louis Rees-Zammit, Nick Tompkins and Will Rowlands among them – are not available.
Gatland added: “I can understand completely and I understand the issues involved in that. We are conscious of that, and that is why I was doing everything I could to support the regions by only picking 23 players (in his squad).
“We could, as would have been in our normal situation, picked 33 or 34, but that would have taken another nine players out of the regions in terms of them being available for those teams.
“I understand, but we have come out of a couple of pretty tough years with Covid and everyone is talking about the funding and how everyone is finding that difficult.
“This game is definitely about generating some more revenue, and for us there is an opportunity without players outside of Wales for people to put down a marker in terms of being involved in the Six Nations.”
While Gatland says Wales have “kind of drawn a line” under their World Cup campaign, he revealed that he has asked Wales’ medical staff to contact World Rugby regarding consistency of players being removed for head injury assessments.
“I’ve asked my medical staff to go back to World Rugby to give me some clarity on an incident like the Nick Tompkins one against Argentina, which wasn’t a penalty or a yellow card but he still had to come off in that situation for a HIA,” he said.
“I need to know then in that situation why didn’t (South Africa centre) Jesse Kriel have to come off for a HIA or (New Zealand forward) Ardie Savea (in the World Cup final)?”
Kriel was hit head-high by New Zealand captain Sam Cane, who was sent off, while Savea was on the receiving end of a challenge from yellow-carded Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi.
Lewis Hall says Newcastle wanted to “make a statement” at Manchester United but admits the comprehensive Carabao Cup victory at Old Trafford surpassed expectations.
Wednesday’s fourth-round tie was a repeat of February’s final and Eddie Howe’s men exacted some revenge with a famous first win at Old Trafford in a decade.
Miguel Almiron and Joe Willock goals either side of teenage left-back Hall’s volley completed a 3-0 victory that secured progress and a quarter-final trip to Chelsea next month.
Put to the summer signing that he could not have expected the trip to Old Trafford to turn out like that, the 19-year-old said: “No, definitely not.
“I think when we had the meetings (Wednesday) morning and afternoon we obviously set out the way we wanted to play.
“Obviously it’s a big ground and United is a big club, so we wanted to come here and make a statement on the team and show what we’re about and how we can do well in this competition and hopefully go forward and win.”
It was a particularly special night for boyhood Newcastle fan Hall, who scored his first ever senior goal with a smart volley from just inside the box.
“It was amazing,” the full-back said. “As soon as I hit it I was in line with it, so I knew it had a chance and stuff.
“Honestly, I was over the moon. It is a bit difficult to describe, really, but I think you can see from my celebration how happy I was.
“It’s an amazing day for us all. I thought we put in a really, really good performance – everyone who played, all the subs that came on, which is kind of our season, really.
“We have a load of games so everyone’s involved and everyone’s always ready to play.”
Hall’s Newcastle-supporting dad was among the 7,000-plus away supporters at Old Trafford, where the teenager made a memorable second start since joining on an initial season-long loan from Chelsea.
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“It was a big change for me in my life,” he told NUFC TV, as attention now turns to Saturday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at St James’ Park.
“Obviously I’ve lived at home my whole life so moving away was a difficult decision, but obviously I’ve been a boyhood fan of Newcastle, as well as my family.
“I felt the club was going in a really good direction. I’d obviously spoken to the manager and stuff, so I was really, really looking forward to joining.
“So far it’s been really good. I think it’s difficult when you’re not playing but every day I’m training, I’m enjoying it.
“I’m just trying to work my hardest and do what I can so then when I am called upon I can take my chances.”
Rangers attacker Scott Wright was delighted to see his side’s “ruthless” streak come to the fore at Dens Park.
Philippe Clement’s side overcame delays caused by traffic problems and their fans’ pyrotechnic display to beat Dundee 5-0 and stay five points behind Celtic in the cinch Premiership.
Ryan Jack’s fifth-minute strike – shortly before the flares held up the game for 18 minutes – was enough to give Rangers a half-time lead on Wednesday.
Further goals from Danilo, Sam Lammers, Cyril Dessers and James Tavernier ultimately gave the Light Blues a convincing win.
Rangers had left it very late to get the two goals needed to beat Hearts in their previous game and played out a goalless draw with Sparta Prague days earlier, so Wright feels the five-star show will help confidence.
“We were a bit frustrated going in at half-time,” he told Rangers TV. “We had created some really good chances and created some good patterns of play, but our final pass or shot wasn’t hitting the back of the net for us.
“It’s been something that we’ve needed to do more, kill teams off, so we knew we had to come out second half and blow them away.
“And I think we did that. The patterns of play that we had were great and the boys took their goals absolutely fantastically.
“It’s great when some of the stuff comes off for you. I’m delighted for the boys getting their goals, and it’s so important for us as a team to capitalise and finish the chances that we’re creating.
“I thought it was a really strong team performance. It wasn’t ideal with the delay getting to the game, and then at the start, but we just had to focus on ourselves and make no excuses.”
Wright only started one game in 11 months under previous manager Michael Beale but he has already started two under Clement and featured in all four of the Belgian’s matches in charge in total.
The former Aberdeen player looked set to be on his way out of the club in the summer but a move fell through and his new lease of life could take him back to Hampden for Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi-final against Hearts.
The 26-year-old, whose last goal for Rangers came in the 2022 Scottish Cup final against the same team, said: “The manager has given me a fresh slate which is exactly what I’ve been after.
“All I can do is work hard, try to grab the opportunities that I’m given with both hands, and try to work as hard as possible for my next opportunity. It’s a massive weekend coming up for us.”
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