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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Super Rugby final: the Chiefs take on the Crusaders' unbeaten home playoff record
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs are aiming to send head coach Clayton McMillan out on a winning note when they face the Crusaders on Saturday in the Super Rugby Pacific final. McMillan will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland. He has guided the Hamilton- based Chiefs to the final in each of the last three seasons but doesn't yet have a title to show for it. The Chiefs have made the pace throughout the season, finishing in first place at the end of the regular season. They stumbled in the first round of playoffs, losing to the Auckland-based Blues, but returned in the semifinals as the highest-ranked loser. The Chiefs beat the Canberra-based Brumbies 37-17 in last weekend's semis and now take on the Crusaders, a franchise with a daunting 31-0 record in home playoffs since Super Rugby began in 1996. They have named an unchanged starting 15 for the final, which includes 10 All Blacks. There are two changes on the bench, where All Blacks prop Aiden Ross and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo return to add more experience. 'We've built real continuity across the season and that will serve us well in Christchurch,' McMillan said. 'The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy. 'They're clinical, composed and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight.' The Chiefs beat the Crusaders twice during the regular season, once last year and twice in 2023. 'We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders,' McMillan said. 'We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there. 'We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and are a quality team.' The Chiefs players are determined after reaching the championship match in each of the last two seasons to take the next step and to win the title for the first time since 2013. 'Do it for (McMillan),' All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie said. 'Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families. 'The support we've had throughout the year has been amazing. We've been disappointed in the last few years where we haven't quite been able to win a final. So it's not only just doing it for guys who are leaving, it's also for guys who have been here in the past.' The Crusaders will try to win the Super Rugby title for the 13th time. They won the title in seven straight seasons under Scott Robertson but slumped last year, winning only four matches under new head coach Rob Penney. Crusaders management ignored pressure to replace Penney at the end of last season and that decision has been vindicated with another final appearance. The Crusaders scrum is a major strength and will be bolstered on Saturday by the return of All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, who missed the 21-14 semifinal win over the Blues. Winger Chay Fihaki is sidelined with a concussion and will be replaced by Macca Springer, who will play on the left wing, Sevu Reece on the right. Penney said the club's past record will have no part in the final. 'History is history … we're not even thinking about that,' he said. 'We're just thinking about the contest ahead of us. We're at home in front of our people and it's going to be such a magic occasion.' ___ AP rugby:
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Super Rugby final: the Chiefs take on the Crusaders' unbeaten home playoff record
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs are aiming to send head coach Clayton McMillan out on a winning note when they face the Crusaders on Saturday in the Super Rugby Pacific final. McMillan will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland. He has guided the Hamilton- based Chiefs to the final in each of the last three seasons but doesn't yet have a title to show for it. The Chiefs have made the pace throughout the season, finishing in first place at the end of the regular season. They stumbled in the first round of playoffs, losing to the Auckland-based Blues, but returned in the semifinals as the highest-ranked loser. The Chiefs beat the Canberra-based Brumbies 37-17 in last weekend's semis and now take on the Crusaders, a franchise with a daunting 31-0 record in home playoffs since Super Rugby began in 1996. They have named an unchanged starting 15 for the final, which includes 10 All Blacks. There are two changes on the bench, where All Blacks prop Aiden Ross and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo return to add more experience. 'We've built real continuity across the season and that will serve us well in Christchurch,' McMillan said. 'The Crusaders have proven time and again that they know how to lift in finals footy. "They're clinical, composed and proud of their home record. We're ready for a good final fight.' The Chiefs beat the Crusaders twice during the regular season, once last year and twice in 2023. 'We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders,' McMillan said. 'We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there. 'We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and are a quality team.' The Chiefs players are determined after reaching the championship match in each of the last two seasons to take the next step and to win the title for the first time since 2013. 'Do it for (McMillan),' All Blacks flyhalf Damian McKenzie said. 'Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families. 'The support we've had throughout the year has been amazing. We've been disappointed in the last few years where we haven't quite been able to win a final. So it's not only just doing it for guys who are leaving, it's also for guys who have been here in the past.' The Crusaders will try to win the Super Rugby title for the 13th time. They won the title in seven straight seasons under Scott Robertson but slumped last year, winning only four matches under new head coach Rob Penney. Crusaders management ignored pressure to replace Penney at the end of last season and that decision has been vindicated with another final appearance. The Crusaders scrum is a major strength and will be bolstered on Saturday by the return of All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, who missed the 21-14 semifinal win over the Blues. Winger Chay Fihaki is sidelined with a concussion and will be replaced by Macca Springer, who will play on the left wing, Sevu Reece on the right. Penney said the club's past record will have no part in the final. 'History is history ... we're not even thinking about that,' he said. 'We're just thinking about the contest ahead of us. We're at home in front of our people and it's going to be such a magic occasion.' ___ AP rugby: recommended in this topic
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump's rethink on Australia submarines gives China a strategic edge
The White House's review of the Aukus pact — a security arrangement between the US, UK and Australia — is rattling one of Washington's closest alliances, and playing right into China's hands. It sends yet another signal that America First might just mean everyone else alone. First announced by former President Joe Biden in 2021, the multibillion-dollar deal commits Washington and London to help Canberra develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over a 30-year period. It was designed to help counter Beijing's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Donald Trump 's administration has just put those plans in limbo. The review will determine whether Aukus is 'aligned with the president's America First agenda,' the Defense Department said, adding that it's also aimed at making sure allies contribute more to collective security and that the US's defense industrial base can meet domestic needs. These are valid concerns. American submarine production has been plagued by persistent delays and ballooning costs. Elbridge Colby, a top policy adviser who is expected to play a central role in the study, has long warned that the US could end up short on submarines at a critical moment in its deterrence strategy against China. In particular, Colby is worried about a hypothetical conflict around Taiwan. This is yet another example of the White House's pay-to-play approach to global partnerships, and how allies left out in the cold will have to navigate the new environment. 'Regardless of how this review goes, Australia should be reducing its dependence on US weapons and technology,' Michael Shoebridge, founder and director of Strategic Analysis, a Canberra-based political consultancy, told me. 'We are probably slower than others in realizing that America remains our most powerful partner, but we have to do more for ourselves.' European nations have already had a taste of what it means to be a US ally in Trump's world. At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance chastised participants for not doing enough to bolster collective security. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a similar message to Asian partners at the Shangri-La conference, a regional security summit in Singapore. Countries like Australia, Japan, and South Korea have long relied on America as a security guarantor, but now Washington wants them to carry more of the load and increase military budgets. Meeting with Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines, Hegseth told him that Canberra needs to up its military spending target to 3.5 per cent of GDP. Currently, Australia is on track for about 2.4 per cent by the mid 2030s, and has already committed to additional investment. For Beijing, each move that reduces the Trump administration's influence in the region is welcomed as a sign of disengagement. When Aukus was first announced, China expressed outrage at what it viewed as evidence of Washington's attempts at containment. On Thursday, the foreign ministry repeated its resistance to the pact, adding that it opposes 'anything that amplifies the risk of nuclear proliferation and exacerbates arms race.' A retooling of the treaty will reinforce the narrative Beijing has been pushing that the US is an untrustworthy partner. In all likelihood, Aukus will survive, but perhaps not in its current form. Canberra may be forced to make compromises, and offer concessions to Washington, including raising its defense capabilities. But even if the public rhetoric is one of long-term cooperation, Australia should begin weighing its options carefully. It could work more closely with other partners. In May, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, raised the prospect of a formal defense agreement between the trading bloc and Australia. While in reality this would be challenging given the number of countries involved, partnerships like this are worth exploring and should be pursued. The country has already begun strengthening defense ties with Japan through reciprocal access agreements, and worked with India under the Quad framework on maritime security and military exercises. These steps offer a foundation for a more multipolar security strategy, one that doesn't always lean so heavily on Washington's shifting priorities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to meet Trump on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in Canada, where they're likely to tackle trade and defense spending. This is a golden opportunity to impress upon the American president the benefits of committing to Aukus — chief among them, maintaining American influence in the Indo-Pacific. Whether the US leader reaffirms the pact or reshapes it, this review should serve as a wake-up call. For Australia, it's a reminder that even the closest alliances are only as stable as the political moment that defines them. (Disclaimer: This is a Bloomberg Opinion piece, and these are the personal opinions of the writer. They do not reflect the views of or the Business Standard newspaper)
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
The US Rethink on Australia Submarines Is China's Win
The White House's review of the Aukus pact — a security arrangement between the US, UK and Australia — is rattling one of Washington's closest alliances, and playing right into China's hands. It sends yet another signal that America First might just mean everyone else alone. First announced by former President Joe Biden in 2021, the multibillion-dollar deal commits Washington and London to help Canberra develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over a 30-year period. It was designed to help counter Beijing's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Donald Trump's administration has just put those plans in limbo. The review will determine whether Aukus is 'aligned with the president's America First agenda,' the Defense Department said, adding that it's also aimed at making sure allies contribute more to collective security and that the US's defense industrial base can meet domestic needs. These are valid concerns. American submarine production has been plagued by persistent delays and ballooning costs. Elbridge Colby, a top policy adviser who is expected to play a central role in the study, has long warned that the US could end up short on submarines at a critical moment in its deterrence strategy against China. In particular, Colby is worried about a hypothetical conflict around Taiwan. This is yet another example of the White House's pay-to-play approach to global partnerships, and how allies left out in the cold will have to navigate the new environment. 'Regardless of how this review goes, Australia should be reducing its dependence on US weapons and technology,' Michael Shoebridge, founder and director of Strategic Analysis, a Canberra-based political consultancy, told me. 'We are probably slower than others in realizing that America remains our most powerful partner, but we have to do more for ourselves.' European nations have already had a taste of what it means to be a US ally in Trump's world. At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance chastised participants for not doing enough to bolster collective security. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a similar message to Asian partners at the Shangri-La conference, a regional security summit in Singapore. Countries like Australia, Japan, and South Korea have long relied on America as a security guarantor, but now Washington wants them to carry more of the load and increase military budgets. Meeting with Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines, Hegseth told him that Canberra needs to up its military spending target to 3.5% of GDP. Currently, Australia is on track for about 2.4% by the mid 2030s, and has already committed to additional investment. For Beijing, each move that reduces the Trump administration's influence in the region is welcomed as a sign of disengagement. When Aukus was first announced, China expressed outrage at what it viewed as evidence of Washington's attempts at containment. On Thursday, the foreign ministry repeated its resistance to the pact, adding that it opposes 'anything that amplifies the risk of nuclear proliferation and exacerbates arms race.' A retooling of the treaty will reinforce the narrative Beijing has been pushing that the US is an untrustworthy partner. In all likelihood, Aukus will survive, but perhaps not in its current form. Canberra may be forced to make compromises, and offer concessions to Washington, including raising its defense capabilities. But even if the public rhetoric is one of long-term cooperation, Australia should begin weighing its options carefully. It could work more closely with other partners. In May, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, raised the prospect of a formal defense agreement between the trading bloc and Australia. While in reality this would be challenging given the number of countries involved, partnerships like this are worth exploring and should be pursued. The country has already begun strengthening defense ties with Japan through reciprocal access agreements, and worked with India under the Quad framework on maritime security and military exercises. These steps offer a foundation for a more multipolar security strategy, one that doesn't always lean so heavily on Washington's shifting priorities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to meet Trump on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in Canada, where they're likely to tackle trade and defense spending. This is a golden opportunity to impress upon the American president the benefits of committing to Aukus — chief among them, maintaining American influence in the Indo-Pacific. Whether the US leader reaffirms the pact or reshapes it, this review should serve as a wake-up call. For Australia, it's a reminder that even the closest alliances are only as stable as the political moment that defines them. More From Bloomberg Opinion: America will sell Australia between three and five Virginia-class, conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines, with the first deliveries expected as soon as the early 2030s. In the longer term, Australia plans to build its own next-generation submarines in partnership with the UK, using American technology, to be completed in the 2040s. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China. Previously, she was the BBC's lead Asia presenter and worked for the BBC across Asia and South Asia for two decades. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
France 24
11-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Larkham says Brumbies peaking at right time ahead of Super Rugby semi
The Canberra-based side travel to Hamilton for the bumper clash on Saturday with an unchanged squad for the first time this season, spearheaded by a slew of Wallabies including Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper. But they are battling the odds, having exited in the semi-finals to New Zealand clubs in the last three years, while the Chiefs are unbeaten against them in four games. Larkham said he was optimistic they can make the final, which will be in Canberra if they beat the Chiefs and the Auckland Blues topple the Canterbury Crusaders in the other last-four clash. "The boys are peaking at the right time. I thought they played really well on the weekend," he said, referring to their 35-28 takedown of the in-form Wellington Hurricanes in their elimination final. "The selection is based on performance, but we also certainly want continuity going into the finals. And it's nice to have at this stage of the season. "We'll make sure that we keep our emotions in check this week. The boys can get a lot of confidence out of the way that we're playing. "There's a lot of stats that show that we're playing very good footy and we've also shown consistency throughout the season." The Chiefs have been the standout club all season and are looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this year after a 20-19 defeat to the defending champion Blues last weekend. Larkham said the Brumbies would not be "copying" the Blues' playbook, with his team "in a pretty good space in terms of our routine". "We've got a plan this week in terms of some of the stuff that we've been building on through the year, and then some specific stuff for the Chiefs," he said. "There's a few challenges. The Chiefs are different to the Hurricanes.
