Rebels given hope
NEWLY appointed chief executive Baden Stephenson is adamant the Melbourne Rebels will field a competitive side in 2018 despite the uncertainty still surrounding the club’s future. SANZAAR’s axe is still hanging precariously over the head of the Rebels and Western Force, with one of the clubs to be cut from Super Rugby before the start of next season. An Australian Rugby Union moratorium on Australian franchises signing players was lifted recently. The Rebels have signed seven players for 2018.
V6 punches laps
THE V6 engine is a lap closer to making it to the Supercars grid after Triple Eight Race Engineering underwent topsecret testing for the first time this week. On a landmark day for the future of the sport, the Red Bull Racing Australia “Sandman” car cut 256km at the Norwell Motorplex on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Holden stars Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Steven Richards became the first drivers to pilot a V6 Supercar when they took turns punching out laps as team officials watched on eagerly. Triple Eight last month announced it would race a wildcard V6 entry next year before abandoning the V8 engine in 2018.
Keeper saves three
GOALKEEPER Claudio Bravo pulled off three successive saves as Chile defeated Portugal in a penalty shootout to reach the final of the Confederations Cup. The Copa America champions Chile won the shootout 3-0 in Kazan on Wednesday with Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez converting their spot kicks after a goalless 90 minutes and extra-time. Bravo dived twice to his right to save from Ricardo Quaresma and Joao Moutinho, then to his left to stop Nani. All the luckless Portugal spot-kickers were substitutes.
Djokovic content
WITHOUT the pressure of four Grand Slam titles on his shoulders, Novak Djokovic has described his struggles as “liberating”. After early exits at the Australian and French opens in 2017, the top seed at this week’s Wimbledon tune-up on the English south coast at Eastbourne said it was a different experience. “For a change it’s good to not be one of the top favourites. It is liberating a bit, it releases a bit of the pressure,” he said.