SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2016 SPORTS Series win could convince English kids to play rugby MELBOURNE: England’s first series eight games under Jones, England be Anthony Watson, Owen Farrell or dangerous backs for much of the sec- won man-of-the-match in his 50th test. win over the Wallabies on Australian have now leapfrogged Australia to sec- George Ford. “That’s the sort of thing ond half before Owen Farrell scored the “I always thought he was a good play- soil might sway the nation’s children to ond in the world rankings. “The fantas- that rugby does. The power of a strong winning try with five minutes left. At er,” said Jones. “He’s a really good solid take up the sport rather than dream of tic thing about tonight is to win a national team is that it encourages kids the heart of the tourists’ lion-hearted test six ... He does all the unseen stuff a career in soccer, coach Eddie Jones series like this, it’s a win for English rug- to play rugby and we want these guys defence was former skipper and flanker in the game, makes the good tackles, said. by in total,” Australian Jones told to be heroes for English rugby. “(Then) Chris Robshaw, who was criticised for keeps driving forward, clean-outs. England, who were heartbroken reporters. kids want to play rugby and then play his team’s failure at the World Cup and “That’s what he’s done, game after eight months ago after being tipped “It’s a win for the fans, it’s a win for for England and the whole game gets subsequently lost the captaincy. game, eight games in a row since he out of their home World Cup by the RFU (Rugby Football Union... we’re healthier.” Setting the tone at Melbourne’s lost the captaincy. “It was difficult Australia, sealed the three-match series all in this together. “Young kids are England won the match in Rectangular Stadium with a big hit ear- when he lost the captaincy, it’s not a 2-0 in Melbourne yesterday with a 23-7 going to be sitting at home and Melbourne by “rope-a-dope”, said ly on Wallabies scrumhalf Nick Phipps, pleasant experience but he’s bounced win secured by brilliant defence. instead of being (soccer players) Dele Jones, having soaked up a period of the 30-year-old blindside flanker was back really well and we’re all delighted Extending their winning streak to Alli or Harry Kane they might want to sustained pressure from Australia’s outstanding at the breakdown and for him tonight.” —Reuters Roles reversed as Cavaliers face Warriors for crown OAKLAND: Versatile Cleveland playmaker seven. We’re going to need some emotion, LeBron James and Golden State 3-point some grit and toughness,” Curry said. “We’re sharpshooter Stephen Curry, today’s more mentally tough than letting two biggest NBA stars, have a date with destiny games not go our way put any doubt in our in today’s decisive seventh game of the heads.” Cleveland overpowered Golden 70th NBA Finals. State from the start in game six, seizing a Back-to-back 41-point games by “King” 31-9 edge in the lowest-scoring quarter all James sparked victories that pulled the season for the NBA’s top-scoring team. Cavaliers from a 3-1 hole to level the best- “Come Sunday, we’ve got to blitz them. of-seven series and set up a tension- We can’t be on our heels and them be the packed, winner-take-all spectacle that will aggressor,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson leave one of the game’s greatest heroes said. “I’ve got faith in this team. It’s not time gutted. to hang our heads. “You’ve got to love that kind of environ- “We’ve just got to make them uncom- ment and that battle,” Curry said. “Haven’t fortable. Respect them, but never fear enjoyed it much the last two games, but them. When we play our best with great there are 48 minutes left.” Teams have effort we’re dang near impossible to beat.” swapped storylines. Defending champion But with passion has come problems for Golden State, using tough defense and the Warriors. A frustrated Curry was ejected team depth, was on the brink of repeat after fouling out in game six for tossing his titles while James and the Cavaliers mouthpiece and hitting a front-row specta- showed grit and refused to quit. tor. And too many playoff flagrant fouls Now the Cavaliers are on the verge of cost Draymond Green a one-game ban. completing the greatest comeback in NBA “Play angry, but don’t play with so much Finals history, becoming the first team to emotion it takes you out of your focus. But win the crown after trailing 3-1, and stress- 100 percent play angry,” Thompson said. ing teamwork. We’re going to play angry because we “I give a lot of credit to my teammates,” know if we play with that emotion and James said. “Without the ball moving, with- channel it the right way, we’re a really good out the screens being set, without the team.” coaching staff putting out the game plans for us offensively, what I’ve been able to do, DISRUPTING LEBRON KEY it doesn’t happen. So those guys definitely Job one for the Warriors will be contain- get the credit.” ing James, whose magical game-six effort The Cavaliers are trying to win their first included scoring 18 Cavaliers points in a title since the club was formed in 1970 and row to stiffle a late Warriors’ rally. bring Cleveland its first major sports cham- “We’ve got to come out with an edge pion since the 1964 NFL Browns. and impose our will from the beginning,” MELBOURNE: Chris Robshaw, center, of the England Roses is tackled by James Slipper of the Australia Wallabies during the Second Test at AAMI “It’s on everybody’s shoulders. We want Green said. “If you let guys get in a rhythm Park in Melbourne, yesterday. — AP to win it for the city of Cleveland,” Cavs like that, it’s tough to stop them.” coach Tyronn Lue said. “Just walking Not since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 had a around the city, the love and appreciation player broken 40 points in consecutive England master Wallabies to we get, we want to give the city of finals games. Cleveland a championship.” Golden State, “Tip your hat to him and come out meanwhile, could suffer the worst choke in Sunday with aggression to hopefully clog NBA history, squandering the trophy after some driving lanes early, not let him get a win first series in Australia three chances to win it. The Warriors are rhythm, try to make him as uncomfortable only the third team to be taken to a sev- as you can,” Curry said. “Force him into as MELBOURNE: England won their first-ever The Wallabies scored four tries in last week’s The try spurred the Wallabies and they fin- enth game after being up 3-1, the first in many tough shots as you can.” series in Australia with a defiant 23-7 victory defeat in Brisbane, but could only muster one ished the opening half pounding the English try- half a century. James stressed defense as well. “For us over the Wallabies in the second Test in this time through skipper Stephen Moore. line and only stout defence held them at bay And that’s after a campaign in which to be ultimately successful, we have to Melbourne yesterday. The series will finish with a dead-rubber third until the Wallabies lost the ball metres out and they had the best regular-season record in defend,” James said. “Our antennas have to The Six Nations champions, who conquered game in Sydney next Saturday. Feelings boiled England had a reprieve. NBA history at 73-9 and Curry set a season be up on every possession. The last two the second-ranked Wallabies 39-28 in the open- over with a melee in the 12th minute after refer- England began the second half strongly record for 3-pointers with 402, led the NBA games, our antennas have been razor ing Test in Brisbane, defended magnificently in ee Craig Joubert had awarded a penalty to the again dominating field position and the in scoring and was a unanimous selection sharp.” And a razor’s edge is about all sepa- the second half and then sealed the win through Wallabies but reversed it after penalising Wallabies were finding it difficult to get out of for his second consecutive NBA Most rating a hard-won title from bitter disap- a late Owen Farrell try. Australia for foul play from the incident. their half. Foley was penalised after a linesman Valuable Player award. pointment come Sunday. Farrell, who was shifted to inside-centre for England’s powerful pack struck first blood intervention and Farrell kicked England six “I know game seven will be the hardest the second game, contributed 18 points with his midway through the half when skipper Dylan points clear. ‘WE HAVE TO SHOW SOME FIRE’ thing ever,” Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving said. try, two conversions and three penalty goals. Hartley scored off a rolling maul close to the The Wallabies pressed the England but The Warriors now talk of bringing the “This is the all-time high, both teams have a By winning England retained the Cook Cup Wallabies’ line for a 7-0 lead.