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Giant-slayer Japan faces a tough road at the Rugby World Cup

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 GMT

Japan has been a fan favorite at the last two Rugby World Cups for its underdog victories over top-tier teams.Its win over the Springboks in 2015 has passed into lore (and a movie) as the Miracle of Brighton and its victories over Scotland and Ireland in 2019 caused jubilation in a World Cup hosted by Japan.As the Brave Blossoms head into the upcoming edition in France, they do so with opponents alerted. They no longer have the advantages of surprise or underestimation.At the same time, they come into the tournament on a run of poor form, having won only one of four tests this season and only four of 18 tests since hosting the last World Cup.Rugby in Japan has gone through foundational changes since 2019, designed in part to capitalize on the success of the World Cup which won over a broader domestic audience.The inauguration of Japan League One as successor to the former Japan Top League as the professional domestic competition has attracted some of the world’s best players a...

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

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:41 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...