THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 SPORTS Injury-hit recall ‘Samson’ Wood

LONDON: was recalled for Japan. “History shows that when you’re England’s end-of-year internationals yes- preparing for a World Cup you need terday as coach Eddie Jones tried to plug depth down to four and five positions,” the gaps in an injury-hit squad. The the former Australia and Japan coach Northampton loose forward has not Jones explained. played for England since Australian coach He cited the example of New Zealand Jones took over following the team’s first- fly-half Stephen Donald, who kicked the round exit at last year’s World Cup. winning points in the All Blacks to a 2011 But a back-row injury crisis that has final win over France following a late call- seen , Jack Clifford, Sam up into the squad. Jones and Mike Williams all sidelined from “Stephen Donald was out whitebaiting the upcoming four home Tests against (fishing) and kicked the winning goal in a South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia World Cup final wearing a jersey that was has led to Wood’s recall. too small. “That’s the sort of depth you The 29-year-old won the last of his 42 need.” Meanwhile Bath lock caps against Uruguay in England’s World has also been recalled following injuries Cup finale. It appeared his Test career was to first-choice second rows at an end after Wood said in January that and . Harlequins prop Joe Jones had told him he was “distinctly Marler also returns from a self-imposed average”. But he now finds himself back break that saw him miss the Australia in a much-changed England squad that series, while wing is back in will look to preserve Jones’s unbeaten run the squad after an injury-plagued year as Red Rose boss made up of nine straight after Anthony Watson and wins. “He might be like Samson-gets were sidelined. stronger with the long hair and the England head to Portugal for a week- beard,” said Jones in a reference to the long training camp on Sunday before fac- biblical strongman. ing South Africa at Twickenham on “I’ve been really impressed with his November 12, with Fiji, Argentina and work-rate. I’ve been in contact with him Australia arriving at ‘headquarters’ on suc- to do certain things and he’s done that,” cessive weekends. Twickenham. added Jones after he unveiled his squad for the Old Mutual Wealth Series. “He’ll ENGLAND SQUAD certainly be in contention.” BACKS: PHILADELPHIA: Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the third Jones has also selected Wood’s fellow (Harlequins), period at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. —AFP Northampton back-row Teimana Harrison (Harlequins), (Wasps), Owen despite bringing him off early in Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath),Alex in June during the third Test of England’s Goode (Saracens), Mike Haley (Sale), 3-0 series win in Australia. Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Crosby returns, leads Northampton suffered a 41-7 (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), European Champions Cup thrashing by (Bath), Henry Slade French side Castres last weekend, but (Exeter), Ben Te’o (Worcester), Marland Jones said: “I was very impressed with Yarde (Harlequins), (Leicester) Penguins past Panthers Teimana Harrison. In a Northampton side that didn’t do so well, that was the best FORWARDS: performance I’ve seen from a No 7 (open- Dave Attwood (Bath), PITTSBURGH: Sidney Crosby, playing for the swered goals by the visitors. Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets. side ) in a Premiership team.” (Leicester), (Bath), Ellis first time this season, started Pittsburgh’s Genge (Leicester), comeback with his first goal of the season and FLAMES 4, 1 SENATORS 3, CANUCKS 0 WORLD CUP DEPTH (Saracens), Teimana Harrison Carl Hagelin and Eric Fehr scored in the third Goalie Brian Elliott celebrated his return to Ryan Dzingel scored two goals and goal- There are six uncapped players in the (Northampton), period as the Penguins beat the Florida St. Louis by stopping 22 of 23 shots to lead tender Craig Anderson made 22 stops for the 33-man squad in centre Ben Te’o, fly-half (Northampton), (Wasps), Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday. Crosby, like the Calgary to the win. Elliott was playing his first shutout as Ottawa defeated Vancouver. Jean- Alex Lozowski, wing Mike Haley, back- (Wasps), Penguins’ offense, looked a bit rusty early on game against the Blues since being traded to Gabriel Pageau also scored into an empty net row, Nathan Hughes, second row Charlie (Northampton), (Harlequins), as the Panthers opened a 2-0 lead on goals by Calgary last June. He spent five seasons with with 2:19 remaining. It was the first two-goal Ewels, and prop . (Gloucester), Reilly Smith and Mark Pysyk, but Pittsburgh the Blues, winning 104 games and helping night for Dzingel, who was picked 204th over- Jones said building squad depth was (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), came back from a two-goal deficit for the sec- the team reach the Western Conference final all in the 2011 draft and played 30 NHL games vital if England, knocked out in the first Tommy Taylor (Wasps), round of last year’s edition on home soil, (Saracens) , (Saracens), Tom ond straight home game. The Stanley Cup last spring. Dennis Wideman, Deryk for Ottawa last year. were to triumph at the 2019 World Cup in Wood (Northampton). —AFP champion Penguins looked a step slow and a Engelland, Sam Bennett and Johnny bit off their game in the first two periods, Gaudreau scored for the Flames, and Kevin SHARKS 2, DUCKS 1 (OT) despite Crosby’s power-play goal, but they Shattenkirk scored for the Blues. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored at got into a much faster tempo while dominat- 1:24 of overtime to give the San Jose a win France summon Ollivon ing the third period. FLYERS 4, SABRES 3 (SO) over Anaheim in front of a sold-out SAP Jakub Voracek, minutes after being Center. Joe Pavelski scored a power-play goal RED WINGS 4, HURRICANES 2 knocked out of the game on an open-ice for the Sharks before the Ducks Chris Wagner for November Tests Forward Dylan Larkin scored two goals to check by Buffalo’s Dmitry Kulikov, came back backhanded a short rebound between the lead the Detroit Red Wings to their fifth to score the decisive goal in the shootout to legs of Sharks goaltender Martin Jones for his : rance coach Guy Noves called up 92), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Maxime consecutive win, a 4-2 home decision over give Philadelphia a come-from-behind victo- second goal of the season at 17:49. Anaheim Toulon flanker to replace Mermoz (Toulon), (Stade the Carolina Hurricanes. Andreas ry at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers played the third period without the services the injured in his 32-man FranÁais), (Bordeaux-Begles), Athanasiou had a goal and an assist and left received third-period goals from rookie of captain Ryan Getzlaf, who sustained an squad announced yesterday for next (Clermont), Francois Trinh- month’s internationals. Duc (Toulon), (unattached). winger Thomas Vanek scored for Detroit (5- Travis Konecny, center Brayden Schenn and upper-body injury late in the second period. Les Bleus play Samoa on November 12, 2-0). Goaltender Petr Mrazek made 29 saves. defenseman Mark Streit. Matt Moulson followed by Australia on November 19 and FORWARDS The Red Wings last five-game winning scored twice for the Sabres, with Tyler Ennis KINGS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2 (OT) the All Blacks a week later. (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben streak was Jan. 13-27, 2015. netting Buffalo’s other goal. Alec Martinez tapped in the game-winning The 23-year-old twice capped Ollivon’s Arous (), (Racing 92), shot at 1:41 of overtime, rallying Los Angeles inclusion for next week’s training camp at (Clermont), Alexandre DEVILS 5, COYOTES 3 STARS 3, JETS 2 over Columbus at Staples Center. Drew French rugby headquarters at Marcoussis Flanquart (Stade Francais), Loann Goujon Travis Zajac scored with 2:01 remaining in Devin Shore had two assists and Antti Doughty and Anze Kopitar scored the other was the only surprise in Noves’ shortlist. (Bordeaux-Begles), (La the third period as the New Jersey Devils Niemi stopped 28 of 30 shots to help Dallas to goals, while goalie Peter Budaj recorded 19 Ollivon had been an intended partici- Rochelle), (Toulon), Paul staved off a late rally from the Arizona a win against Winnipeg at American Airlines saves for the Kings, who defeated the Blue pant in a September training camp only to Jedrasiak (Clermont), Coyotes for a 5-3 win. Left winger Taylor Hall Center. Jackets for the eighth time in 11 games. miss that with concussion. (Racing 92), Julien Le Devedec (Brive), continued his torrid start, scoring his fourth Brett Ritchie, Patrick Eaves and Tyler Seguin Brandon Saad and Cam Atkinson scored for “He has major qualities which interest (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon and fifth goals and setting up Zajac’s win- each had goals for the Stars. Joel Armia and the Blue Jackets. — Reuters us,” Noves told AFP. The France boss added: (Toulon), ning goal with a cross-ice pass on a power “We lost sight of him (last season) when he (Northampton/ENG), play. The Coyotes (1-5-0) have lost five wasn’t playing for Toulon, he’s for sure been (Bordeaux-Begles), (Stade straight in regulation. NHL results/standings preparing for this moment in a very com- Francais), Sebastien Vahaamahina mitted manner. “And perhaps this year he’s (Clermont). — AFP WILD 5, BRUINS 0 Pittsburgh 3, Florida 2; Minnesota 5, Boston 0; New Jersey 5, Arizona 3; Philadelphia 4, Buffalo 3 (SO); Tampa Bay 7, tasting the fruits of his work, and being in Toronto 3; Detroit 4, Carolina 2; Calgary 4, St. Louis 1; Dallas 3, Winnipeg 2; Ottawa 3, Vancouver 0; San Jose 2, Charlie Coyle and Chris Stewart broke a Anaheim 1 (OT); Los Angeles 3, Columbus 2 (OT). contact with high class players at Toulon. scoreless tie with goals 12 seconds apart in a “He’s playing regularly, has shown lots of four-goal second period, and Devan Dubnyk Western Conference Tampa Bay 5 1 0 24 17 10 character, scores tries...even in very hard Central Division Detroit 5 2 0 24 17 10 games you saw Charles Ollivon.” stopped 27 shots, leading the Minnesota Wild to a 5-0 victry over the Boston Bruins. WLOTLGFGAPTS Ottawa 4 2 0 21 20 8 The only non-France based squad mem- Minnesota 4 2 1 24 19 9 Florida 3 2 1 18 15 7 ber in Noves’ squad is Louis Picamoles, who With the Bruins playing emergency goal- St. Louis 4 2 1 20 19 9 plays in the English Premiership as No.8 for tender Malcolm Subban because of injuries Dallas 3 2 1 17 18 7 Boston 3 3 0 15 18 6 Northampton. to Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin, the Chicago 3 3 1 25 25 7 Toronto 1 2 3 21 26 5 France have won just three of seven Wild (4-2-1) poured three goals past Subban Colorado 3 2 0 16 16 6 Buffalo 1 2 2 14 16 4 and one past Zane McIntyre on nine shots in Nashville 2 3 0 15 15 4 Metropolitan Division internationals since Noves took over and Winnipeg 2 4 0 16 22 4 Pittsburgh 4 2 1 16 21 9 finished a disappointing fifth in the Six the middle period. Pacific Division Nations last season. Edmonton 5 1 0 23 16 10 NY Rangers 4 2 0 22 16 8 LIGHTNING 7, MAPLE LEAFS 3 Vancouver 4 2 1 15 17 9 Washington 3 1 1 13 10 7 FRANCE SQUAD Steven Stamkos scored twice and added San Jose 4 3 0 16 19 8 New Jersey 3 2 1 13 12 7 BACKS two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning Calgary 3 4 1 25 30 7 Philadelphia 3 3 1 24 25 7 Sebastien Bezy (Toulouse), Djibril thumped the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3. Los Angeles 3 3 0 17 20 6 NY Islanders 3 3 0 18 17 6 Anaheim 2 3 2 15 18 6 Camara (Stade Francais), Jean-Marc Stamkos reportedly met with the Maple Leafs Columbus 2 2 1 13 14 5 Doussain (Toulouse), Gael Fickou Arizona 1 5 0 17 26 2 before re-signing with the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Carolina 1 3 2 18 24 4 (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), offseason. Amidst boos from the Toronto Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the (Toulouse), Remi Lamerat Charles Ollivon crowd, the 26-year-old opened the scoring Montreal 5 0 1 23 10 11 standings and are not included in the loss column (L). (Clermont), (Racing 1:19 into the first period, the first of four unan- Rugby aims to lure 1 million new players in China

SHANGHAI: The international rugby fed- Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England Rugby’s growth in Asia has been driv- eration is set to tackle the Chinese mar- and France at the highest level in the tra- en by sevens in recent years, but the ket, supporting a local push to attract 1 ditional 15-a-side format. development in China is targeted at million players over the next five years Japan has contributed heavily to the both 15s and sevens and using school and create professional leagues. growth on the continent, with a long- and university programs to expand the World Rugby yesterday announced a established professional set up and sport. The Chinese Rugby Football $100 million commitment by Alisports, a growing strength on the international Association said there were 30 registered division of e-commerce giant Alibaba, to scene. Japan caused one of the biggest players in China in 1991, when the sport develop the game in China over the next upsets ever at a by re-emerged from a dormant period in decade. “World Rugby’s strategic mission beating two-time champion South Africa the country at a university in Beijing. is to grow the global rugby family,” World last year in England, and will host the That has grown into the thousands as Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said. 2019 World Cup. rugby became an official sport of the “China is central to that mission. “We are Japan also left its mark on rugby’s military. confident that we can build a strong and return to the Olympics, when it upset “Rugby is a great Olympic team sport sustainable platform from which to New Zealand in the men’s rugby sevens with strong values, which is why we are ensure that China is in the best possible competition in Rio de Janeiro. Fiji won so excited about its undoubted potential position to become a major force on the the men’s gold medal - the country’s first in China,” Alisports CEO Zhang Dazhong international stage with strong men’s ever Olympic medal - and Australia won said in a statement. “We will work tire- and women’s sevens and 15s teams, sus- the women’s gold, the first ever awarded lessly to promote the development of tainable leagues, model development in women’s rugby or in the abbreviated rugby in China with a goal of inspiring HONG KONG: In this Nov. 8, 2015, file photo, China’s Chen Keyi, right, runs with the ball to score a try and participation programs and real seven-a-side format. one million new players in five years. during their match against Japan at the Asia Rugby Sevens Women qualifier in Hong Kong. The inter- major event hosting potential.” At the 2014 Asian Games, Japan beat “We believe that rugby in China will national rugby federation is set to tackle the Chinese market, supporting a local push to attract 1 mil- Asia is a growth market for rugby Hong Kong for the men’s gold medal in take off as an attractive, inclusive mass- lion players over the next five years and create professional leagues. World Rugby yesterday union, which went professional in 1995 rugby sevens and China edged Japan 14- participation sport of sportsmanship and announced a $100 million commitment by Alisports, a division of e-commerce giant Alibaba, to devel- and has been dominated by New 12 in the women’s final. character.” —AP op the game in China over the next decade. — AP