WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016 SPORTS Ryan says sevens should split from FRU

WELLINGTON: Former coach for their services. The Englishman, who get their value and what they’re worth without any worries around governance, ers adequately, prompting the organisa- Ben Ryan yesterday said the team he led left his post after the Games, questioned so the boys and the programme can get having to pay off debt from various oth- tion to hit back in a statement earlier this to Olympic glory should split from the the FRU’s handling of the team. “What the money and resources that they er things,” he said. “If the government month. “It seems it is difficult for him to Fiji (FRU) to ensure they are does alarm me is we have one of the need, then I think it’s time for us to look actually pushed this, if they decided move on,” the FRU said, expressing dis- properly managed. most marketable, iconic sports teams- at the whole system.” we’d be better off having an independ- appointment at his “constant remarks” Ryan said players in the world cham- they won back-to-back World Series He suggested Fiji sevens should ent commercial franchise, backed by about the team. pion team that won gold when rugby titles, (they are) Olympic gold medallists,” become a commercial entity separate and the government and Sevens is Fiji’s national sport and the sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio he told the Australian Broadcasting from the FRU. “It would be run commer- the FRU, it would be a hugely popular team were given a rapturous reception were currently off-contract and only Corporation. cially, transparently and for the first time decision.” It is not the first time Ryan has after winning the Pacific nation’s first being paid a modest per diem allowance “If we can’t market them properly and you would get proper funding coming in criticised the FRU for not paying its play- ever Olympic medal in Rio. — AFP Heroes and zeros of 2016

PARIS: AFP Sport looks back at a selection somed into an historic run that included a of ‘heroes’ and ‘zeros’ from 2016: third World Cup title-their trans-Tasman rivals again vanquished in the final-later HEROES that year. All Black greats Richie McCaw, LEICESTER CITY Dan Carter and Ma’a Nonu bowed out of Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City pulled off the international game but Steve Hansen’s one of the greatest shocks in English foot- side didn’t miss a beat in 2016. A 3-0 series ball history by defying title odds of 5,000-1 win over Wales preceded a convincing to lift the Premier League trophy. Having miracuously avoided relegation the previ- ous season, the Foxes rode that wave of momentum all the way to a fairytale tri- umph. Their rags-to-riches revival was epit- omised by the rise to prominence of former non-league striker Jamie Vardy whose 24 goals was second only to team- mate Harry Kane. Riyad Mahrez scooped the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, while N’Golo Kante and Wes Morgan joined them in the team of the year.

EDER The Guinea-Bissau born striker emerged as Portugal’s unlikely hero by firing the national team to a first major title with a 1-0 Maria Sharapova extra-time win over France in the Euro 2016 Rugby Championship triumph that culmi- final. With just three goals in 28 appear- nated with a 57-15 throttling of South Africa ances-all of them in friendlies-and only 13 in Durban. New Zealand then beat Australia minutes played en route to the final there at Eden Park to make it a record 18 wins in a was little to hint at Eder’s heroics at the row before a first defeat to Ireland in Stade de France. But an early injury to Chicago halted their historic streak. Cristiano Ronaldo forced a re-think and the 28-year-old was brought on towards the ZEROS end of normal time. His 30-yard thunder- MARIA SHARAPOVA bolt left Hugo Lloris grasping at thin air and One of the golden girls of tennis, Portugal hoisting aloft the Henri Delaunay Sharapova’s reputation suffered a damag- trophy. “The ugly duckling went and ing blow with news of a failed doping test scored. Now he’s a beautiful swan,” quipped at January’s Australian Open. The Russian PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia Flyers’ Andrew MacDonald (47) is sent flying after a hit from Nashville Predators’ Colton Sissons (10) during the Portugal coach Fernando Santos. tested positive for the banned heart drug third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, in Philadelphia. Nashville won 2-1 in a shootout. — AP meldonium and was subsequently handed LUVO MANYONGA a two-year ban, later reduced to 15 months The South African battled both rivals and on appeal. Fellow professionals reacted addiction along his road to redemption with a mixture of criticism and support for After Maroon’s emotional which culminated with a silver medal in the the five-time Grand Slam champion, while long jump at the Rio Olympics. Manyonga sponsors were also divided by her trans- burst onto the international stage with a gression. Both racket manufacturer Head equalizer, Oilers beat Blues fifth-place finish at the 2011 worlds in and sportswear giant Nike stood by Daegu but descended into a drug-riddled Sharapova but others swiftly pulled the “living hell” after growing hooked on crystal plug on their relationship. She is eligible to ST LOUIS: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 2:55 meth. He served an 18-month ban for a return in April 2017, but it won’t be an easy into overtime to lift the Edmonton Oilers over NHL Results/Standings failed test in 2012 but eventually got clean road back with her every move set to be the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Monday night. after leaving behind his hometown of scrutinised intensely. Nugent-Hopkins scored on a wrist shot after Mbekweni. He was denied gold by the Calgary 4, Arizona 2; Edmonton 3, St. Louis 2 (OT); Anaheim 3, Toronto 2; Nashville 2, Philadelphia 1 (SO). getting a pass from Connor McDavid. Nugent- slimmest of margins in Brazil, finishing one SAM ALLARDYCE Hopkins’ winner followed a tying third-period Western Conference Ottawa 18 11 3 82 85 39 centimetre behind American Jeff Landing the England manager’s job Central Division goal by Patrick Maroon, a St. Louis native. He Boston 17 13 3 78 79 37 Henderson, but still provided one of the should have represented the pinnacle of WLOTLGFGAPTS Tampa Bay 15 14 3 91 91 33 made it 2-2 with a goal 5:47 into the third. Cam Chicago 22 8 4 98 80 48 most inspirational stories of the Games. Allardyce’s career, but just 67 days after his Florida 14 13 5 77 87 33 appointment he was unceremoniously axed Talbot turned away 25 shots for Edmonton. Kyle Minnesota 18 8 4 89 60 40 Brodziak and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for St. St. Louis 17 11 5 93 96 39 Detroit 14 14 4 78 89 32 CHICAGO CUBS following his controversial remarks in a Buffalo 12 11 7 66 79 31 Joe Maddon’s team ended a 108-year newspaper sting. The 62-year-old was Louis and Carter Hutton made 32 saves. Nashville 14 12 5 89 89 33 Winnipeg 15 16 3 90 100 33 Toronto 12 12 7 87 94 31 wait by beating the Cleveland Indians in secretly filmed giving advice on how to cir- Dallas 13 14 6 84 101 32 Metropolitan Division thrilling fashion to clinch the World Series. cumvent transfer rules while also mocking PREDATORS 2, FLYERS 1, SO Colorado 11 18 1 65 97 23 NY Rangers 23 10 1 113 75 47 The Cubs romped through the regular sea- predecessor Roy Hodgson. His reign was Filip Forsberg got the tying goal midway Pacific Division Pittsburgh 20 7 5 109 90 45 son, winning over 100 games for the first the shortest of any England manager by far through the third period and Ryan Ellis had San Jose 19 12 1 80 72 39 time since 1935, but again appeared des- and piled on further embarrassment after the only score in the shootout to help Anaheim 17 11 5 94 92 39 Columbus 20 5 4 98 61 44 tined to succumb to the the ‘Curse of the the Three Lions’ shock defeat to Iceland at Nashville give Philadelphia its second straight Edmonton 17 12 5 100 92 39 Philadelphia 19 11 4 107 102 42 Billy Goat’ after falling behind three games Euro 2016. “Entrapment has won on this loss. The Flyers had won 10 straight before los- Calgary 17 15 2 89 98 36 Washington 19 8 3 81 66 41 Los Angeles 16 13 2 79 78 34 to one. However, Chicago rallied to level the occasion and I have to accept that,” a ing to the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Nashville Carolina 13 11 7 82 87 33 best-of-seven contest and, ignited by resigned Allardyce told reporters outside Vancouver 13 16 3 80 100 29 New Jersey 12 12 7 74 93 31 got its first win in extra time and Ellis his first Arizona 11 16 5 72 101 27 NY Islanders 11 14 6 81 99 28 Dexter Fowler’s lead-off home run, raced his home in Bolton. successful shootout conversion this season. Eastern Conference into a 5-1 lead in the decider. The Indians hit The Predators were 0-5 in overtime and Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the back with Rajai Davis launching a two-run RYAN LOCHTE shootouts. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne stopped 31 Montreal 20 7 4 96 69 44 standings and are not included in the loss column (L) home run off flamethrower Aroldis The American added 4x200m freestyle shots, plus all three in the shootout. Steve Chapman to tie the scores before a brief gold to his list of honours in Brazil but an Mason had 30 saves for Philadelphia. rain delay added to the drama. But the Cubs infamous ‘robbery’ scandal soon turned that weren’t to be denied, winning 8-7 to snap achievement into a mere footnote. Lochte Defenseman Andrew MacDonald scored for the longest title drought in the game. claimed he and three team-mates were the Flyers midway through the first period. Eddie Jones would have been mugged by robbers pretending to be police as they returned home from a night out in DUCKS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2 worth waiting for: RFU boss Rio. But police quickly denounced the Cam Fowler scored a power-play goal in the bogus story with CCTV footage showing third period, giving Anaheim coach Randy LONDON: Eddie Jones would have become world champions South Africa, proved more the group had vandalised a petrol station. Carlyle a victory in his return to Toronto. England coach even if he had insisted on malleable than he had feared. “The two of Gunnar Bentz, Jimmy Feigen and Jack Carlyle was at Air Canada Centre for the first seeing out the first year of his contract with us sat in that hotel room for four hours just Conger were banned for four months, while time since he was dismissed as Leafs coach The Stormers, chief talking through everything,” said Ritchie, swimwear manufacturer Speedo headlined almost two years ago. Anaheim had a pair of executive Ian Ritchie told The Times. who took on his present role in 2011. a host of sponsors to sever ties with Lochte, power-play goals, including Fowler’s go-ahead Ritchie, whose own position was in some “People say the first few minutes of any who was handed a 10-month ban. The 32- score. Ryan Getzlaf had the other man-up tally doubt after England’s disastrous first round discussion, you get an idea of whether you year-old was also charged with filing a false and Nick Ritchie also scored for the Ducks. exit at the 2015 World Cup they hosted, can work with someone or not-and the next robbery report-a crime punishable by up to John Gibson made 33 saves. Former Ducks admits he knew Jones would bring a ‘cer- few hours confirmed that (I could). “It was six months in prison. goaltender Frederik Andersen made 25 stops tain amount of arrogance’, a very different clear he was interested in the job. It wasn’t for the Leafs. Auston Matthews got his ninth trait to his down to earth predecessor Stuart as if I was trying to persuade someone who NICK KYRGIOS goal in 12 games, and Nazem Kadri scored his Lancaster. was rampantly unwilling to do it.” The talented but volatile Australian 11th of the season. That allied to Australian Jones’s sublime Jones, who guided Australia to the 2003 endured another turbulent year on tour coaching and motivational skills has proven World Cup final on home turf only for which ended with an eight-week ban and FLAMES 4, COYOTES 2 a triumphant combination as England have England legend to dash his fine for ‘tanking’ against Mischa Zverev at Kris Versteeg put Calgary ahead with its gone through 2016 winning all 13 Tests- hopes with a winning drop goal in the October’s Shanghai Masters. Kyrgios agreed including the Six Nations Grand Slam and a dying seconds of extra-time, even accepted to consult a psychologist and his suspen- third power-play goal of the game in the third period to beat Arizona. Versteeg and Troy historic 3-0 series win in Australia. his two recommendations of central con- Simone Biles sion was trimmed to three weeks, clearing Brouwer had a goal and assist each for Calgary, Ritchie admits however, he and the RFU tracts and selecting players playing abroad him to return for the start of the 2017 sea- were prepared to wait for their man had 56- son. The 21-year-old vowed to “use this time which had lost its last two games but has at were not going to be the RFU’s policy. year-old Jones and South African Super SIMONE BILES off to improve on and off the court” but least one power-play goal in its past eight con- However, despite his ceding on those The American marked her first Olympic only time will tell whether it’s truly a case of tests. T.J. Brodie put in an empty-net goal with a Rugby franchise the Stormers insisted on Ritchie admits Jones is ‘no shrinking violet’. Games with a performance for the ages. lesson learned. He is the first player since minute to play to complete the scoring. Mikael him staying for at least a season. As a fall- “That is part of the deal,” said Ritchie. “It was Aged just 19, Biles won a record-equalling John McEnroe in 1990 to be banned for Backlund also scored and Matthew Tkachuk back option they would have installed very clear: Eddie is no shrinking violet and four gold medals in the team event, individ- poor on-court behaviour and also withdrew added two assists for Calgary. Christian Dvorak Lancaster’s assistants, , Mike nor was he ever going to be. You want tal- ual all-around, vault and floor exercise. A from Rio, along with compatriot Bernard and Ryan White scored for Arizona, and and Graham Rowntree as caretaker ented, committed people who have views slip on the beam cost her a shot at a fifth Tomic, following a row with the Australian Smith had 25 saves. coaches. “If it had been absolutely impossi- of their own.” — AFP title, eventually settling for bronze, but by Olympic Committee. ble and we couldn’t have done it, we would then her status as the world’s best female RED WINGS-HURRICANES POSTPONED still have gone for the longer-term option gymnast was in no doubt. Biles became the TYSON FURY The scheduled game between Carolina and and had some sort of holding operation,” fifth woman to win four gold medals at the The self-styled ‘Gypsy King’ was on top of Detroit was postponed because of unplayable said Ritchie of the alternative of the troika same Games after Hungarian Agnes Keleti the world after ending Wladimir Klitschko’s ice. A leak in the cooling system at PNC Arena staying on. “That was always a possibility. (1956), Soviet Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech long reign as heavyweight champion in late was discovered earlier in the day. The issue was That’s what we would have done,” added Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian 2015, but a year on his reputation lies in tat- fixed but not in time to restart the game. NHL Ritchie, formerly chief executive of the All Ecaterina Szabo (1984). “I’m not the next ters. Fury tested positive test for cocaine rules state a game cannot start less than 22 England Club responsible for running Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps,” the Texan while battling severe depression and twice Wimbledon, Ritchie thought at first on land- hours before a team’s next scheduled contest said. “I’m the first Simone Biles.” cancelled planned rematches with ing in Cape Town last November he had no and the Red Wings are set to play at Tampa Bay Klitschko. He backtracked hours after claim- chance of securing Jones’s signature simply at 7:30 p.m. yesterday night.Carolina announced ALL BLACKS ing he was retired in a foul-mouthed Twitter because of the breathtaking scenery. a delay on Twitter about 15 minutes before the New Zealand reinforced their billing as rant and a turbulent 12 months was topped Jones, who had boosted his stature with scheduled start time of 7 pm, then publicized rugby union’s preeminent force with an 18- off with the suspension of his boxing his handling of Japan at the World Cup the postponement around 8:45 pm. Hurricanes match winning streak-a record for a tier-one licence. Beyond his brash persona, Fury’s where they had pulled off one of the great nation. It started with a thumping win over fragilities were laid bare with his return to President Don Waddell said a makeup date sporting upsets in defeating two-time Eddie Jones the Wallabies in August 2015 and blos- the sport looking remote. — AFP would probably be decided today. — AP