Manager sacked
Craig Shakespeare’s has been sacked by Leicester City after four months in permanent charge of the former English Premier League champions. The 53-yearold, assistant manager to Claudio Ranieri when Leicester stunned the sporting world to win the
2015-16 Premier League title, assumed a caretaker role in February after the Italian was sacked with the club in a relegation battle. Shakespeare inspired a quick turnaround in fortunes, leading the club to safety and into the quarterfinals of the Champions League where he was rewarded with the job permanently in June. Leicester have managed only one win in their opening eight games this season, however, and Tuesday’s
1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion left them third from bottom. Four-time world champions Italy were drawn against Sweden in their two-legged play-off for a place at next year’s World Cup. Italy, who last failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1958, will play the second leg at home in the most eye-catching of the four ties. Switzerland, who finished second in their qualifying group despite winning nine of their 10 games, were drawn against Northern Ireland, who last qualified in 1986, with the first match in Belfast. Croatia will face Greece with the first leg at home. The fourth tie pits the Republic of Ireland against Denmark, who host the first match. Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has been carried off court in the NBA season opener with a broken left ankle. Hayward went up for an alley-oop pass midway through the first quarter and fell to the court awkwardly after a small collision with Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James. A hush fell over the Cavaliers arena as Hayward lay on the floor with his leg bent severely. Several Celtics teammates huddled near the bench in prayer. Hayward had his leg wrapped in an air cast as he exited the arena. Undefeated boxer Cecilia Braekhus has been caught off guard by opponent Mikaela Lauren who planted a unexpected kiss on her lips during their stare-down, ahead of a boxing world welterweight title contest this weekend. Facing off for the pre-fight ritual, the kiss shocked 36-year-old Braekhus who responded with a slap, before quickly moving away. But she saw the funny side, bursting out laughing and telling her Swedish opponent, ‘‘I haven’t got that in a while’’. Kiwis assistant coach Garth Brennan will reportedly be named the new Gold Coast Titans coach today. Brennan joined Brian Smith as an assistant under Kiwis coach David Kidwell in August ahead of the Rugby League World Cup which starts next Friday. The Daily Telegraph reported that Brennan has beaten Brisbane Broncos assistant Jason Demetriou and former South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire to claim the Titans job. New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge delivered once again with a home run that paved the way for a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Houston Astros yesterday, squaring their best-ofseven American League Championship Series at 2-2. With the Yankees trailing 4-0 in the seventh inning, Judge sent a towering solo home run more than 400 feet over centerfield. The 25-year-old delivered an encore by tying the game with a double in the eighth before the Yankees went on to take the victory and even the series. Gold Coast will host AFL home and away matches in Townsville for the first time beginning in 2019 or 2020. With Metricon Stadium out of action for the first couple of months of the 2018 AFL season due to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the Suns will also play home games in Cairns next year. pivot on the bench – the uncapped Richie Mo’unga had been invited to train with the squad this week – All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and his selectors will ask fullback Damian McKenzie to provide cover.
Hansen has made one other change to the run-on side that beat the Springboks, replacing injured right wing Nehe Milner-Skudder with Waisake Naholo.
The promotion of Sopoaga means Anton Lienert-Brown joins the substitutes bench, and reserve halfback TJ Perenara switches places with Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
Openside flanker Matt Todd, who wasn’t picked in the original Rugby Championship squad or the series against the British and Irish Lions, has again been preferred ahead of Ardie Savea as a backup to Sam Cane.
Getting this rare start at firstfive, and therefore be given the responsibility of calling the plays and liaising with captain Kieran Read, offers Sopoaga the opportunity to reinforce why he must feature regularly in the selectors’ discussions ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
He has certainly learned all the virtues of having to be patient.
Since a cracking test debut against the Springboks in Johannesburg in July 2015, Sopoaga had to soak up the disappointment
of missing out on the World Cup squad a few months later. When Dan Carter left for France following the tournament, Sopoaga was still considered the third-ranked No 10 behind Aaron Cruden and Barrett.
Cruden’s recent exit to France
after Super Rugby resulted in Sopoaga being considered the second best playmaker in New Zealand. Now, for 80 minutes at Suncorp Stadium, a venue where the Aussies in recent years have fought like wild men against the New Zealanders, he will be the top dog.
Although Sopoaga is understood be one of those men who doesn’t lack confidence, playing outside Highlanders team-mate Aaron Smith should help settle any nerves if the Wallabies are able to disrupt the All Black pack and cramp the first-five’s style.
Having a big unit in Sonny Bill Williams running off his outside shoulder should also be of comfort.
‘‘He [Sopoaga] has been pretty influential every time he had played for us this year,’’ All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said this week. ‘‘Overall, he is in a good spot.’’
A win at Suncorp will result in a 3-0 series wipe out of the Aussies.
Although locks Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano are unavailable for personal reasons, and Barrett is injured, the selectors have taken no risks by enlisting the strongest side possible.
‘‘It will be another great opportunity for this young team to show what they have learned throughout the year.
‘‘And playing at Suncorp Stadium will be another fantastic learning experience for them all,’’ Hansen said.