Challenging couple of days Red Bull, Ford set to partner
THE Southern Steel is under no illusions how tough the next couple of days will be.
The team has a rare opportunity when it takes on the New South Wales Swifts tomorrow, and the Central Pulse on Tuesday, in a preseason tournament in Invercargill.
Talk about competition — the Swifts are one of the most successful Australian teams, winning three titles across two competitions, the former ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball, while the Pulse is reining ANZ Premiership champion.
But the Steel is right at home, having won two premiership titles itself. And what better way to test yourself than coming up against the best of the best?
Coach Reinga Bloxham was keen to jump at the chance to come up against the Swifts, and playing the Pulse was an added bonus.
‘‘It’s not going to be easy and it’s definitely going to be tough, but that’s the whole point of it and we’re really excited about that challenge,’’ Bloxham said.
The Steel last played against an Australian team in 2018, when the Sunshine Coast Lightning — then coached by former Steel and current Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua — travelled to New Zealand, also marking the last time the Steel played a preseason game in Invercargill.
Only four players from the Steel’s current lineup were involved back then, and many others have not come up against international players, so the tournament is a good challenge for them to come up against a different style of play.
Australia plays a oneonone style of defence, compared with New Zealand’s zone, and is known for its dogged intensity and pressure throughout the court.
The Swifts might have a depleted line up — shooter Sophie Fawns is the only fully contracted player crossing the ditch due to a Covid outbreak among the visitors — but that would not change their mentality.
‘‘The Aussies kind of run on your shoulder the whole time. It’s kind of like a fly following you.
‘‘It’s that continual pressure on the body, pressure on the catch and also real big hands over the ball — that’s their strength and they just can run like that for 60 minutes, so it’s very different to how New Zealanders play.’’
The Pulse is the closest team in the ANZ Premiership to resemble Australia’s oneonone style, and with the Steel and Pulse rivalry producing ‘‘grudge matches’’ throughout the season, the preseason game would be another good battle, Bloxham said.
But the key will be testing out combinations, connections and structures on the court after working through the fitness period of preseason.
Some fresh faces had joined the Steel this season in former Magic captain Sam Winders, midcourter Ivari Christie receiving her first full contract and the return of defender Courtney Elliott, and it was a prime opportunity to see what they brought to the Steel’s game.
‘‘I think it’s really important that although we’ve got a core group of players, we’ve got these other players who have been added in, who are just adding a little bit of a point of difference. So it’s really exciting to be able to test ourselves and try out those combinations with those players in the line up as well.’’
The Steel play the Swifts at 2pm tomorrow. The Swifts will then play the Pulse at 2pm on Monday, while the Steel will play the Pulse at noon on Tuesday.
Fletcher spoke of a ‘‘power dynamic’’.
‘‘You have athletes who are being promised things like a position in the Olympics, a spot on the team and things of significant value in exchange for participating in this abuse and remaining quiet,’’ McCawley said.
‘‘This is well suited for a [sex trafficking] claim.’’
In a separate lawsuit, also filed Thursday, former USSS communications staffer Lindsey Nikola alleged Foley coerced her into posing nude and, at another time, crawled into her bed and groped her. After she confronted him, the suit alleges, he retaliated in part by ensuring she would not accompany the snowboard team to the Olympics.
The third plaintiff, Callan ChythlookSifsof, spoke out in Instagram posts in February 2022. —
LONDON: United States carmaker Ford will announce an engine partnership with Formula One world champions Red Bull from 2026 at the team’s launch in New York today, according to media reports in Europe.
Italian media disclosed details yesterday after an apparent embargo breach.
Britain’s BBC reported Ford will partfund an engine being designed and made by Red Bull Powertrains at its Milton Keynes headquarters in England.
Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri is also expected to use engines with Ford branding.
‘‘We don’t comment on speculation,’’ a Ford spokesman at company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, said.
Formula One will have a new power unit from 2026 using 100% sustainable fuels and a greater electrical component.
Red Bull is now using V6 turbo hybrid engines made by former partner Honda in Japan and last year called off talks with Porsche.
The team will be showing off its car’s new livery in Manhattan with Dutch double world champion Max Verstappen and Mexican Sergio Perez.
There has been mounting speculation about a deal with Ford, which has a great record as an engine provider.
Its Cosworth DFV V8 engine dominated in the 1960s and ’70s.
Ford sold its Jaguar branded team to Red Bull in 2004 and the current champion is still based at the same factory in central England.
The blue oval last appeared in Formula One with Jordan in 2004.
The expected announcement comes after rival General Motors and its Cadillac brand teamed up with Andretti Autosport which is seeking to enter Formula One as an 11th team. — Reuters