Wales starts Six Nations defense with 42-0 win over Italy

Crusaders begin title defense with win, Sunwolves surprise CBK winner of Kuwait Banking Association Cricket Cup

CARDIFF, Wales, Feb 1, (AP): The post-Warren Gatland era got into full swing for Wales with a 42-0 win over Italy that started its Six Nations title defense in impressive fashion and featured one shining example of the attacking play desired by new coach Wayne Pivac.

There was a look of contentment on Pivac’s face after one of the five tries scored by his team, in particular, when flyhalf Dan Biggar threw a flat pass between his legs – while looking the wrong way near Italy’s line – to send winger Josh Adams over in the left corner.

“Wayne’s World” – as some are labelling Pivac’s Wales tenure – certainly looked a fun place to be as his team powered into a 21-0 lead after 31 minutes against an opponent also under a new coach in South African Franco Smith.

Capping a dominant display was the sight of George North burrowing his

North duly delivered – having had a try disallowed earlier for a knock-on in the buildup.

Italy didn’t win a match in the last four Six Nations and, without talismanic No. 8 Sergio Parisse likely until the final round of this year’s tournament as he slips into retirement, the drought could easily extend to five years.

Meanwhile Cape Town, South Africa, the Crusaders began their bid for a fourth straight Super Rugby title with a slick 43-25 bonus-point win over the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday.

New Zealand’s Crusaders showed they will mount a strong campaign for a record-extending 11th Super Rugby title when they outscored the Waratahs by six tries to three.

At the other end of the Super Rugby spectrum, Japan’s Sunwolves, who are set to be dropped from the competition after this season, threw up a big shock in their opening game to beat Australia’s Melbourne Rebels 36-27.

The Stormers’ Rugby World Cupwinning Springboks featured prominently in a 27-0 shutout of the Hurricanes in Cape Town. Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored one try and set up another, and prop Steven Kitshoff and flyhalf Damian Willemse also went over to trounce the Wellington-based Hurricanes.

Jantjies and Kitshoff played in South Africa’s win over England in the Rugby World Cup final in November and Willemse was in the Springboks squad in Japan.

There was one more game to come in round one, when the Jaguares, last season’s losing finalists, host the Lions.

Winger Will Jordan and center Braydon Ennor scored two tries each for the Crusaders, who led the Waratahs convincingly 24-6 at halftime.

The Waratahs closed the gap to 24-18 after 57 minutes with two quick tries to Mark Nawaqanitawase but the Crusaders extended their lead again with tries to Jordan, Ennor and lock Luke Romano.

In the 25th season of Super Rugby, the Crusaders are seeking to become the first team to win four titles in a row, and better their own record of three straight triumphs from 19982000.

So dominant have the Crusaders been with their 10 titles that the nextbest teams have three.

The Sunwolves began their final season in Super Rugby with a defiant statement, outscoring the Rebels five tries to four in Fukuoka.

Wales’ Josh Adams scores his side’s first try of the game against Italy, during the Six Nations rugby union international between Wales and Italy

at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Feb 1. (AP)

Photo taken from the event. The cricket team of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait have been crowned this year’s champions of the Kuwait Banking Association Cricket Cup, which was organized by the Kuwait Banking Club and held at the Kuwait Cricket Club at Sulaibiya area.

The championship was sponsored by the association’s board chairperson Yousef Al-Ruwaih.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the Chairperson of the association’s Sports Committee Talal Al-Nasser, Coordinator of the association’s activities Hussein Abdul-Sayed and General Manager of the Kuwait Cricket Club Sajid Ashraf, together with Operations Director of the cricket club Rishi Jayan.

The Ahli United Bank team came in second place, followed by Kuwait Finance House in the third place.

In his role, Al-Nasser praised the technical and organizational level of the tournament and thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the tournament.