Established 1961 25 Sports Sunday, February 2, 2020 Wales beat Italy 42-0 in Six Nations opener ‘Brutal’ England seek French tonic to heal World Cup scar CARDIFF: Reigning Grand Slam champions Wales A steelier edge and less pedestrian approach are began their Six Nations title defence with a 42-0 expected from a team that rarely bared its teeth in last thrashing of Italy in Cardiff yesterday to give Wayne year’s World Cup, where they exited after a 20-19 Pivac a victory in his debut Test as coach. quarter-final defeat by Wales, expedited by a red card Cardiff Blues wing Josh Adams scored a hat-trick to for Sebastien Vahaamahina’s reckless elbow to Aaron take his tally of tries to 10 in his last eight Tests. Defeat Wainwright’s face. Galthie has injected some youth extended Italy’s losing streak in the Six Nations to 23 into the France team. The starting XV has an average matches, the Azzurri without a win in the Championship of fewer than 15 caps and there are only 12 survivors since 2015. from the World Cup quarter-final loss to Wales in the Meanwhile, England have threatened “absolute bru- 23 who will don kit on Sunday. Yet the backline has a tality” against France in their opening Six Nations familiar feel. game today in a bid to start to heal the pain of a lost Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont start at half- Rugby World Cup final. Eddie Jones guided his English back, inside the potentially dangerous midfield pairing side to a thrilling semi-final win over New Zealand in of Gael Fickou and Fiji-born Virimi Vakatawa. “We Japan, but they faltered in the final, going down 32-12 need continuity as we build this team,” said Galthie, to South Africa. with France to host the next Rugby World Cup in 2023. “There’s a scar there and you’ll have that scar for the “We count on them to continue to work and develop rest of your life,” Jones acknowledged. “It never goes the potential in our team.” There are Test debuts for away, but you deal with the scar.” Jones, who said he Montpellier tight-head prop Mohamed Haouas and his wanted his England team to be referred to in the same club teammate, full-back Anthony Bouthier, with a fur- way as rarely-beaten New Zealand, added: “You want ther pair of international rookies on the bench in lock to be motivated by success. Boris Palu and back-rower Cameron Woki. “Going forward, we want to play rugby that stops Flanker Charles Ollivon captains the side following the nation. We want to play with such a ferocious spirit Guilhem Guirado’s retirement. Jones, meanwhile, that the opposition don’t know where to go.” England hands George Furbank a Test debut at full-back, with thrashed France at Twickenham last year but the Red prop Will Stuart likely to get his first cap off the bench Rose has traditionally struggled to win on French soil. in an England team featuring 12 starters from the World Cup final. CARDIFF: Wales’ Jarrod Evans (C) is tackled by Italy’s Guglielmo Palazzani during the Six Nations inter- STEELY EDGE Owen Farrell, one of five players from crisis-hit national rugby union match between Wales and Italy at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, Since inception of the Six Nations in 2000, France Saracens in the match-day squad, again captains the yesterday. Wales won the game 42 - 0. —AFP have won six of the 10 meetings at the Stade de English from inside centre. Jones predicted that the France. France were poor under Jacques Brunel, but youthful France side, many of whom played for the threaten to be a different under newly-appointed country’s world championship-winning u-20 side, “will of Voltaire. “You saw in the World Cup final how impor- how brutal the game is. It’s a tough game and we intend Fabien Galthie, who has brought in experienced hands have never have played against a brutal physicality and tant aggression is,” said Jones. “It’s going to be the to play tough today.” Jones added that French teams in ex-hooker and skipper Raphael Ibanez and Warren intensity that we are going to play with today”. same today. I apologise if it’s been interpreted the “never have been and never will be” shy of being brutal Gatland’s former right-hand man at Wales, defence That didn’t sit well with some French people, the wrong way. themselves, before adding: “It’s a bit of a pointless con- specialist Shaun Edwards. word carrying connotations of violence in the language “You only have got to watch the World Cup to see versation, to be honest.” —AFP stc sponsors Flare Festival for second Crusaders set Super year in a row early pace as KUWAIT: Kuwait Telecommunications Company- stc, a world-class digital leader providing innova- Sunwolves surprise tive services and platforms to customers enabling FUKUOKA: The Canterbury Crusaders launched the digital transformation in Kuwait, sponsored their Super Rugby title defence with a 43-25 victo- “Flare Festival”, the largest of its kind fitness event ry over the NSW Waratahs in an entertaining nine- in Kuwait for the past four years. The event falls try festival in Nelson yesterday. It was the pupil under the one-year strategic partnership for 2020 outsmarting the master as the Crusaders scored six between stc and Flare and includes a series of tries to three to confirm their status as champi- sports initiatives that will be launched throughout onship frontrunners again, while in Fukuoka the the period. Sunwolves began their farewell season with 36-27 stc’s sponsorship for the second consecutive upset of the Melbourne Rebels. year of the two-day competition was organized to Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, bidding to enhance the local fitness scene and promote a take his side to a fourth consecutive title was men- healthier lifestyle for athletes of all ages. tored early in his coaching career by now Waratahs Participants, whether professional athletes, adults coach Rob Penney and obviously learned well as or children, competed in various challenges includ- the defending champions raced to a 24-6 lead at ing powerlifting, CrossFit, the Hindrance race host- social events that promote an energetic atmos- event, and on this occasion stc would like to half-time. They received a jolt midway through the second ed by stc, and other challenges. phere are all key traits that fall in line with stc’s extend its gratitude and appreciation towards the half when 19-year-old Waratahs’ flyer Mark primary social responsibility initiatives.” organizers and other sponsors. We will continue to As part of its initiative, stc organized a series Nawaqanitawase scored twice in three minutes to of challenges, activities and prizes at its booth. She said, “Over the years, Kuwait has experi- play an active role in the local community and par- narrow the gap to 24-18 before the Crusaders fin- Representing the Company at the event, Danah enced a drastic increase in the demand for athletic ticipate in events that will drive sustainable growth ished off with three further tries. Aljasem and Ahmad Nowaibet honored the win- competitions that challenge participants to push in physical activity inspiring the youth to embrace According to captain Scott Barrett it largely ners of the Hindrance race. stc also had a series past their mental barriers and truly challenge their a healthier and more proactive lifestyle.” went according to plan. “We wanted to start well, of new promotions and offers for visitors of physical state. While some competitions may be The fitness competition, the largest fitness event we wanted to set the pace in this competition and which was the exclusive launch of the HUAWEI healthy to push athletes towards achieving their of its kind in Kuwait this year, was held at Marina we showed plenty of attacking endeavour. But in Mate 30 Pro 5G. mental and physical goals, the true benefits lie in Crescent with 1,400 participants who drew in a the first game of the season there were plenty of Commenting on the sponsorship, General the social atmosphere and emotional responses crowd of 3,000 attendees to witness the various errors,” he said. Manager of Corporate Communications at stc, that create a positive ripple effect among atten- physical challenges. Opening categories at the fes- Waratahs leader Rob Simmons was disappoint- Danah Aljasem, said, “We believe that breaking dees. Whether individuals are participating, cheer- tival include the student competition, the heat, the ed his side could not capitalise on opportunities down the barriers between health and fitness is ing or spectating, they are bound to sense the level barbell, the gravity, the hindrance race and the they created. “They showed us that if you give them essential towards the path of an active lifestyle. of energy, enthusiasm and excitement that is pro- market. Over the course of the two action packed a sniff they’re going to come and keep coming.” Sponsoring events that encourage the youth to jected into the air.” days, both students and athletes from around the The Crusaders showed their wide-ranging counter- strengthen their teamwork skills, challenge their She concluded, “We are proud to have played a region challenged their opponents to be crowned attacking repertoire, mixing wide passes with mental and physical health, as well as participate in role in witnessing the successful outcome of this the winners in their respective categories. close-range off-loads and deft kicks in behind the defence had the visitors scrambling.