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Slumping England heads to Rugby World Cup with big players suspended and as a title outsider

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

Rarely has England gone into a Rugby World Cup with so little external expectation.Three times a finalist — and once a winner — in the last five editions of the tournament, the English have long been Europe’s big hope on the global stage and the team that most concerned the big guns from the southern hemisphere.No more.Overtaken by Ireland, France and — whisper it — Scotland since the 2019 World Cup, England is run by the world’s richest rugby union but currently doesn’t have elite-level players or coach to show for it.Steve Borthwick is the man in charge following the departure late last year of Eddie Jones, the colorful Australian coach with whom the Rugby Football Union and seemingly England’s players ran out of patience.Borthwick was solid if unspectacular as a player, more of a workhorse than someone with a highlights reel on YouTube. Conservative can best describe his approach as a coach, too, and his kick-pressure game plan is hardly making England’s class of 2023 a must-watc...

Eddie Jones says slumping Australia can win the Rugby World Cup. He’s serious.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Never has any team heading into a Rugby World Cup been in such a “good place” without having won a game all year.Except — maybe — in the mischievous eyes of Australia coach Eddie Jones.On naming a youthful and inexperienced 33-man squad with three uncapped players, no Michael Hooper and one specialist flyhalf who was not named Quade Cooper, Jones said, “This squad is good enough to win this World Cup and possibly go on to win the next World Cup.” His tongue wasn’t firmly in his cheek. “That’s the advantage of picking young guys. The experts have written us off. No one believes we can do it, but we believe.”Those comments were made before the Wallabies lost their fifth in a row, 41-17 to World Cup host France at Stade de France, where Australia will open its World Cup campaign against Georgia on Sept. 9. Wales, Fiji and Portugal are also in the Wallabies’ pool.Jones was still upbeat, though, after being swept in the Rugby Champ...

Gatland faces big challenge to take Wales deep again at the Rugby World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

Warren Gatland is convinced his Wales team will pull off “something special” at the Rugby World Cup.Finding any evidence to back up that bold assertion isn’t easy.The Welsh have won just five of their 20 games since the start of 2022. They’ve plunged to No. 10 in the world ranking, tied for their lowest all-time spot. Many of their stalwarts such as Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric are no longer around. Captain Ken Owens is out injured.Their last result before heading to France? A 52-16 drubbing by South Africa, marking the first time Wales has conceded more than fifty points in a game across Gatland’s two spells in charge.So, where is his optimism coming from?“I love Wales being written off,” Gatland said, “and people can keep doing that because it just makes us stronger.”Maybe it’s the inner belief Gatland has as one of the great coaching minds of his generation.Maybe it’s the fact that Wales under Gatland has reached the semifinals in two of the last three World Cups, and ...

Nothing stirs up rugby’s blood quite like New Zealand’s haka

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

Silence fell on Cardiff Arms Park as the first New Zealand rugby team to be called the All Blacks faced Wales before their epic 1905 test.The South Wales Daily News reported the “Colonials” stood center-field and “sang their weird war-cry.”The haka, then as now, stirs up rugby’s blood.Eyes popping, tongues poking, body slapping and feet stamping to a rhythmic chant, the pre-kickoff ritual is performed by the All Blacks to reconnect with the core of New Zealand culture, strengthen the team bond, and challenge rivals.“It’s such a powerful tool. It’s a wonderful motivating way to start,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, who played 128 times for the All Blacks.England No. 8 Billy Vunipola agreed.“It lifts the All Blacks, but it also lifts the opposition,” Vunipola said. “They’re laying down the challenge and are asking you, ‘Are you ready to rock ’n’ roll?’ You can see how much it means to them in their facial expressions and by how hard they hit th...

Move over Clint Eastwood & Meryl Streep, ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ hits Signature Theatre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'The Bridges of Madison County' at Signature Theatre (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Clint Eastwood was known for Oscar-worthy Western films when he directed himself across from Meryl Streep in the tragic romance “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995), based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Robert James Waller and adapted by Richard LaGravenese, futur...

Allot Communications: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

HOD-HASHARON, Israel (AP) — HOD-HASHARON, Israel (AP) — Allot Communications Ltd. (ALLT) on Thursday reported a loss of $20.7 million in its second quarter.On a per-share basis, the Hod-Hasharon, Israel-based company said it had a loss of 55 cents. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 49 cents per share.The internet protocol services company posted revenue of $25 million in the period.Allot Communications expects full-year revenue in the range of $95 million to $110 million.The company’s shares closed at $2.50. A year ago, they were trading at $4.54._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ALLT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ALLTSource

Aurora Mobile: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

SHENZHEN, China (AP) — SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Aurora Mobile Ltd. (JG) on Thursday reported a loss of $3.2 million in its second quarter.The Shenzhen, China-based company said it had a loss of 3 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for asset impairment costs and stock option expense, came to 1 cent per share.The provider of mobile data services posted revenue of $10.1 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on JG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/JGSource

Hot, Gusty Breeze in South Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

Tropical Storm Idalia is producing heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding over portions of Eastern North Carolina. It is booking quickly East-Northeast and should exit North Carolina soon… probably before noon.The tail of Idalia is leaving South Florida weather unsettled with a chance of scattered storms forming and plenty of heat. In fact, we will be flirting with record highs today and Friday.Heat Advisory goes into effect for Broward and Miami-Dade at 10am and run through 7pm. Over the weekend, some relief from the heat with highs in the low 90’s (typical) and ocean breeze returning to keep sea breeze storms inland.Rest of the tropics:Hurricane Franklin is moving further away from Bermuda, but still causing dangerous surf and rip current conditions along the Eastern coast of the U.S.Tropical Depression Eleven becomes Tropical Storm Jose… it will be short-lived and be absorbed by Franklin over the weekend.There are two other areas we are following for...

Join Miley Cyrus as she reflects on her rise from Hannah Montana to chart-topping pop star!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

Miley Cyrus has been belting at the top of her lungs since she was Hannah Montana, but she’s also been topping the charts ever since, as a bona fide, real-life pop star. Now, in a new TikTok series, the 30-year-old hit-maker is looking back on her young days.Miley cyrus is reflecting.Miley (in a music video): I know I used to be crazy. I know I used to be fun.In her new single ‘Used to be Young.’Miley (in a music video): You say time is going to change me. That’s fine; i’ve had a good run.But also, over on TikTok.Miley (in an interview): This is a series inspired by my new song.Where she’s sharing stories.Miley: I think what I loved about cheerleading so much is it taught me about hard work and dedication, and you only get out what you put in.Miley: Having every day the relationship between you and other humans, being subject and observer isn’t healthy for me, because it erases my humanity and my connection and without my humanity and my con...

Who is Grant Shapps, the UK’s new defense secretary?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:32 GMT

LONDON — Grant Shapps is one of the great survivors of the Conservative Party, summoned to high office by four out of five of the last prime ministers. His former life as a businessman and his political career have been characterized by an ability to sidestep scandal and correctly judge emerging trends. His latest reward is the highly prized role of defense secretary.Shapps prides himself on his political instincts, gaining the nickname of the “spreadsheet assassin” for his habit of keeping tabs on nascent Tory rebellions. He was brought into Liz Truss’ shortlived Cabinet despite having originally backed her rival Rishi Sunak, helped bring about the downfall of Theresa May and was one of Boris Johnson’s original supporters who told him it was time to go. Shapps is no stranger to setbacks himself. He attracted controversy under David Cameron for maintaining a second job after entering parliament under the fake name Michael Green.He nonetheless went on to join Cameron’s...