Wales On Sunday

TACKLING A GRAND PLAN

Watkin recalls key moment in victory against Scotland as Wales prepare to host the old enemy: Pages 6&7

-

MASON Mount’s penalty rescued off-colour Chelsea a 1-1 draw at Southampto­n as the Saints frustrated Thomas Tuchel’s Blues and put a halt to their six-game losing run.

Takumi Minamino’s fine finish put Southampto­n ahead at the break and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men held on for a moraleboos­ting point.

Former RB Leipzig boss Hasenhuttl’s Saints hassled ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea off their composed stride at St Mary’s Stadium.

Chelsea headed to the coast with five-straight wins in all competitio­ns, while Saints were smarting from a record six consecutiv­e Premier League defeats.

The draw was the least of prematch expectatio­ns, but in the end two managers cut from the same cloth cancelled each other out.

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham was withdrawn at halftime with another ankle problem, while N’Golo Kante was perhaps lucky to escape a red card for an apparent stamp on Moussa Djenepo.

West Brom overcame Semi Ajayi’s first-half red card but spurned several giltedged chances in a goalless Championsh­ip draw against Burnley as the Baggies missed the chance to boost their survival prospects at a blustery Turf Moor.

Mike Dean, refereeing his first match since asking for a break after receiving death threats on social media, gave Ajayi his marching orders as the defender’s handball denied Matej Vydra from going clean through.

That left the relegation­threatened Baggies to play with 10 men for the remaining hour but they had the clearer chances after the interval, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Mbaye Diagne and Matheus Pereira all going close.

Diagne clattered the top of the crossbar from close range while Pereira’s effort was blocked on the line by James Tarkowski, with West Brom settling for a draw that leaves them 11 points adrift of Premier League safety.

Adama Traore insisted Wolves have rediscover­ed their pack mentality after victory against Leeds.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side climbed to 11th in the Premier League following Friday’s 1-0 win at Molineux.

Traore’s second-half strike came back off the crossbar and hit goalkeeper Illan Meslier before rolling over the line.

It was the first time since October that Wolves have recorded back-to-back top-flight wins and they are now unbeaten in four.

“This character shows how tough we work through the 90 minutes,” Traore told the club’s website. “The strikers, the midfielder­s, the defenders, I think that character is important, back with that feeling we are a pack, that is the mentality.”

FORMER New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has announced his retirement from profession­al rugby union.

The 38-year-old won two World Cups during a 12-year spell with the All Blacks and bowed out of the internatio­nal scene with a man-of-the-match display against Australia in the 2015 World Cup final on the occasion of his 112th cap.

Carter remains the highest points scorer in Test-match rugby union with 1,598, but left Kobelco Steelers last April before he signed for Auckland Blues in June, although he failed to make an appearance for the Super Rugby club.

As well as a brief spell with Perpignan between 2008 and 2009, Carter went on to play for fellow French side Racing 92 between 2015 and 2018.

In a post on Instagram, Carter said: “I’ve thought about this on so many occasions but today is the day and I am very grateful that I can do it on my terms. I’m officially retiring from profession­al rugby.

“A sport I’ve played for 32 years which has helped shape me into the person I am today. I can’t thank everyone who has played a part in my journey enough - from my team-mates, opponents, coaching and management teams, sponsors and in particular you, the fans.

“A special mention to my friends and family who have supported and guided me through my career. Mum and Dad, thank you for everything you have sacrificed for me.

“My wife Honor for being my rock and allowing me to fulfil my dreams while raising our beautiful family - I can’t thank you enough.

“I’m excited about my next chapter in life and what that will look like. For now, I’m sad to walk away from playing but the timing is right. Rugby will always be a part of my life. Thank you.”

His profession­al career started in 2002. He won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders and is the competitio­n’s record scorer, as well as winning league titles in Japan and France.

Carter also won the World Cup in 2011, but missed the latter stages of the competitio­n because of a groin injury.

NAOMI Osaka cemented her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis with a fourth grand slam title at the Australian Open.

The Japanese star reclaimed the title she won in 2019 with a dominant 6-4 6-3 victory over first-time slam finalist Jennifer Brady, maintainin­g her perfect record in major finals.

The pair had played a superb match in the semi-finals of the US Open last year, but this was only briefly a contest after Osaka overcame some early wobbles to clinch the first set.

The 23-year-old, pictured above. now holds two titles again after winning in New

York last September and has extended her winning run to 21 matches, stretching back more than a year, while only Serena and Venus Williams of active players now hold more slam titles.

After stepping onto the podium to collect the trophy, Osaka turned to Brady and said: “Firstly I want to congratula­te Jennifer.

“We played in the semi-finals of the US Open and I told everyone that would listen that you’re going to be a problem, and I was right.

“I’d like to thank my team. They’re the ones with me through my training, through my matches, through my nervous talks before my matches, and I’m really appreciati­ve towards them. This one’s for you.”

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom