SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2017 SPORTS Drop-goal drama as Fiji pip Italy in one-off Test SUVA: Fiji conjured a dramatic drop captain Francesco Minto, skippering for centre Eroni Vasiteri for a try from the ball around sevens-style before Jale ately felt when Maxime Mbanda scored goal after the full-time siren to defeat the first time after a selection shake-up resulting scrum. Vatubua dotted down between the a pushover try. Italy 22-19 in a one-off Test in Suva yes- from coach Conor O’Shea emphasising But they excelled at the set piece, posts. They were lucky to go into the Allan levelled the scores at 19-19 terday, extending the Azzurri’s losing youth. “It was a close game, we conced- stealing the ball from Fiji’s lineout break up 14-9 but asserted themselves with three minutes left on the clock and streak to eight games. ed too much to Fiji in open play and all and drawing numerous scrum after the restart, when winger Vereniki it looked like a draw until Fiji ran the ball Ben Volavola’s kick gave Fiji the edge their tries came from our mistakes,” infringements, allowing Tommaso Goneva ran 60m to score after inter- from deep within their own half. in a contest in which the home team Minto said. “It shouldn’t be like that.” Allan to kick two penalties and nar- cepting a loose pass. They knocked on, giving the Italians excelled during broken play but were Italy’s inexperience showed early row the gap to 7-6. Fiji’s number eight Nemani Negusa a scrum feed but managed to turn over dominated in the set piece. when wing Leonardo Sarto knocked on The flying Fijians’ renowned backline was sinbinned after a shoulder charge the ball and set up Volavola for the It was a heartbreaking loss for Italian trying to gather a kick and Fiji set up got them out of trouble, throwing the on Sarto and his absence was immedi- match-winning drop goal. —AFP Sports hernias putting strain on hockey players of all ages PHILADELPHIA: Months removed from full 82 games and had one of the best sea- sports hernia and hip surgeries, Claude sons of his career after summer sports her- Giroux still didn’t feel like himself. The nia surgery in 2011. “There’s lots of vari- Philadelphia Flyers’ captain finally got back ables: different surgeons doing it, different to normal by the end of the season, rough- levels of tears. Some guys it’s just a simple ly nine months after going under the knife. hernia and mesh insertion. Other guys “I thought it’d be quicker, to be honest,” have (adductor muscles that) could be torn Giroux said. “It’s harder than I thought it and then it’s a whole thing. ... I think rehab would’ve been.” Because of the unnatural was a huge part of it, and of course every- motion of skating, hockey is among the body has different rehab programs.” most common sports for sports hernias, a Dr. William Brown , a California-based catch-all term for what are also called core sports hernia specialist, said many different muscle injuries. Within the past couple of muscles, nerves and tendons can be years, Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, injured - and inexperienced surgeons can Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, miss other injuries in the area. Jason Zucker of the Minnesota Wild, Karl “Some of the athletes respond poorly Alzner of the Washington Capitals, Shayne because not everything’s fixed appropriate- Gostisbehere of the Flyers and goaltender ly at the time of surgery,” Brown said. “If Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes are (other injuries) are missed, then that could among the NHL players to have an opera- be another one of those reasons why the tion to repair a sports hernia or core muscle athlete doesn’t heal quickly after the opera- injury. Dr L. Michael Brunt, who has been a tion’s over.” St. Louis Blues team physician since 1994, That’s one explanation for Patrick being estimates that anywhere from six to 15 limited to 33 games for the Western Hockey players each year undergo some type of League’s Brandon Wheat Kings during his sports hernia surgery - and it’s on the rise draft year. The 18-year-old center said he across all ages. Brunt , who has performed should have had two surgeries but isn’t the surgery on Michael Grabner, Joel Ward, dwelling on the situation as he looks for- Mike Green, Matt Cooke, Doug Weight and ward to the draft. others, believes the increase over the past “There’s a ton of guys that have these 10 to 15 years has to do with better recog- injuries these days and everyone bounces nition of abdominal and groin injuries that back from it,” said Patrick, who took two full are common in hockey, soccer and football months off skating from October to players. December before returning in January. “It While acute injuries can lead to sports happens to a lot of hockey players and hernias, Brunt believes that too much repe- mostly comes from over-usage. ... It’s a tition among young athletes in a single tough bounce, but you know it’s the way it SYDNEY: Scotland’s team members celebrate their win over Australia in their rugby union test match in Sydney, yesterday. —AP sport can cause problems, something oth- goes sometimes.” ers have blamed for more Tommy John sur- When he came back, Patrick put up 16 geries among younger and younger pitch- goals and 42 assists in 28 games before a RUGBY ers. “It’s because of the sudden propulsive leg injury ended his season. Former NHL movements: turning, cutting, etc., that executive Craig Button, now a draft analyst occur at high rates of speed,” Brunt said. for Canadian sports network TSN, said “Young athletes are committed to one Patrick was more careful when he came Scotland end Wallabies sport very, very early on, and so there are back the second time and looked like an these repetitive movements that occur elite prospect again. because they’re not doing three or four “Initially there was a little bit of a work- sports year-round and mixing up their ing-in process,” Button said. “But after he misery with fighting win physical sports activity. They concentrate got right up to speed, I thought he was on one sport, and it’s that gradual wear and right back to where he was at.” Patrick’s SYDNEY: Scotland dug deep to pull off a 24-19 winger Lee Jones leapt over an attempted tack- Australians who tossed away another opportuni- tear over the years that tends to predispose injury history is a question for the New victory and end a run of close defeats against le, as Scotland outnumbered the Australian ty when lock Rory Arnold lost the ball in a line- them to developing something like this.” Jersey Devils, who have the top pick, and it Australia in a gripping rugby union international defence. In a tight finish, Scotland held out the out close to Scotland’s line. — AFP The recovery from surgery varies drasti- led the Flyers, who draft second, to bring in Sydney yesterday. cally from player to player, too. Nolan him in to see their doctors after the scout- The teams scored three tries each but Patrick, who’s expected to be a top pick in ing combine. Scotland were 17-12 ahead at half-time and after the NHL draft next week, had surgery on “I’ve had to take care of my hips and regaining the lead midway through the second his right side last summer, came back too groins for my whole career, so I’ve learned Gatland says Lions Test period, they held on gamely for the win. soon and missed three months of his sea- how to manage that properly,” Hamhuis It meant Scotland finally tasted victory son. “Everybody’s different so it’s hard to said. “To stay around in this league, you’ve against the Wallabies after going down by just put a blanket on it,” said veteran Dallas got to stay healthy and allow your body to spots still up for grabs one point in their previous two meetings. defenseman Dan Hamhuis, who played a be in a good position.” —AP In a tense finish, the Wallabies tried desper- ROTORUA: Coach Warren Gatland said Test takes enabled fullback Leigh Halfpenny to kick ately to conjure the converted try needed for spots to face the All Blacks were still up for six penalties. Despite their domination they victory but the Scottish defence refused to yield. grabs after the British and Irish Lions’ 32-10 only managed two tries-one a scrum-powered “It’s really a proud day for us all,” said coach mauling of the Maori All Blacks yesterday. penalty try and one to impressive lock Maro Ireland scores seven tries Gregor Townsend, who has now won his first Gatland said he would wait until after the Itoje, and both when Maori scrum-half Tawera two games in charge after last week’s victory Lions’ final warm-up against the Waikato Kerr-Barlow was in the sin bin. The arm-wres- to overpower Japan 50-22 over Italy in Singapore. Chiefs on Tuesday before deciding his team tle approach, however, suited Gatland who “For everyone involved in Scottish rugby to for next week’s opening Test in Auckland. was not concerned about losing two midweek SHIZUOKA: Ireland scored seven tries to the hour mark to cut the lead to 38-10.