🗞 Miracles do happen

November 08, 2020

G'day sports fans,

Classic Quote: "On the pitch we hated each other and relations weren't much better off it. Post-match functions were like school dances except, instead of boys and girls lined up on opposite sides of the room, it was Kiwis and Wallabies standing off from one another." - NZ legend Zinzan Brooke on Bledisloe Cup rivalry.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🐴 TAB Meltdown

🏉 Miracles happen at Suncorp

🇦🇺 President Biden loves Footy (kind of)

...and much more!

🐴 Racing

Bivouac ready to take on the world’s best

Godolphin are ready to take on the world with star sprinter Bivouac with a trip to Dubai on the radar in the New Year for the dominant Darley Sprint Classic winner.

Trainer James Cummings believes his gun is capable of taking on the world’s best after the talented four-year-old surged away with his third Group 1 at Flemington.

His third Group 1 in Saturday’s VRC Sprint Classic was a reward for Godolphin, who elected against heading to stud early with their valuable breeding commodity.

A date with Dubai in March is poised to be his first overseas assignment before a likely assault on Royal Ascot in June.

“We like the idea of running him in the Lightning at Flemington and perhaps we take him to Dubai,” Cummings said.

Staggering cost of TAB network meltdown revealed

Tabcorp is considering plans to placate frustrated punters in the wake of the nationwide betting network meltdown which cost an estimated $120 million in wagering turnover over the weekend.

The computer crash is being blamed on a “power outage” at a data centre that also impacted the TAB’s back-up systems.

TAB punters were left furious when unable to place any bets.

Race meetings were also impacted and in some cases, abandoned, during the chaos on Saturday.

In the wake of the PR disaster, it is expected TAB will look after its customers by providing various incentives including bonuses and odds boosts for those inconvenienced by the betting crash.

🏆 Breeders Cup

Kentucky Derby winner Authentic claims Breeders' Cup Classic

Authentic brought down the curtain on the meeting with an authoritative success in the Classic under a copybook front-running ride by John Velazquez. The (5.0) chance was Bob Baffert’s fourth winner of the race in the last seven years.

Aidan O'Brien claimed a 1-2-3 as he celebrated his first Breeders' Cup Mile victory with Order of Australia.

The 74.0 shot, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, was last of nine runners over a mile and two furlongs at the Curragh (Ireland) last month but won by a neck.

Trainer Neil Osborne a key player in Monday’s Queanbeyan races

Canberra trainer Neil Osborne knows Off To War should probably be unbeaten after two runs and she gets the chance to do things right and win again at Queanbeyan.

The three-year-old filly won well on debut at Albury when taking out a 900m maiden by more than two lengths before getting run down late over 1000m last start.

“It was a good run but still disastrous,” Osborne said.

“We thought we would lead but we didn’t think we’d lead by 10 lengths.

“Because she was a slow away at her first start we gave her a bit of a dig out of the gates and as soon as that happened she just went hard.”

🏏 Cricket

WBBL wrap: Stars go top as Perth scorch the Sixers

Thunder and Strikers record narrow victories before Sophie Devine destroys the Sixers, leaving the Stars as the only unbeaten team. (cricket.com.au)

Perth Scorchers beat Sydney Sixers by 36 runs: A blazing century from Sophie Devine powered the Perth Scorchers to a dominant victory at Hurstville Oval and inflict the first defeat of the season on the Sydney Sixers.

Melbourne Stars beat Brisbane Heat by 23 runs: The Melbourne Stars have stamped their authority on WBBL|06, defeating reigning champions Brisbane Heat by 23 runs at North Sydney Oval despite a blistering 81 not out from Grace Harris.

Captain Meg Lanning set the tone with a 23-ball half-century in a masterclass of T20 batting.

Adelaide Strikers beat Melbourne Renegades by six runs: The Renegades looked down and out at 7-84 in pursuit of the Strikers’ 9-127, but No.8 Carly Leeson (31no off 17) took the game down to the final over – including one enormous shot onto the roof – but it was just out of reach.

Sydney Thunder beat Hobart Hurricanes by one run: An all-round display from England captain Heather Knight inspired the Sydney Thunder to a thrilling victory over the Hobart Hurricanes to kick off a super Sunday of Rebel WBBL action.

Sheffield Shield

Victoria v Western Australia: Pucovski bats all day again to surge into Test contention

With National selectors soon to pick their Test squad to face India, the young Victoria opener has produced another day of batting domination.

The 22-year-old was only promoted from his regular No.3 berth to the opening position at the beginning of the season but has now plundered 438 runs from the top of the order without being dismissed after his unbeaten 255 against South Australia last weekend. (match report)

Stumps: Victoria are 1-322

Tigers build lead after routing NSW for 64 on day one

Tasmania finish day one of their Sheffield Shield clash 85 runs ahead after their quicks destroyed NSW in Adelaide.

New South Wales' last-match heroics were quickly consigned to history as the Blues were bowled out against Tasmania for their third-lowest Sheffield Shield total on Sunday.

  • 53 vs TAS, 2006-07

  • 56 vs WA, 1998-99

  • 64 vs TAS, TODAY

At stumps on day one at Gladys Elphick Park, the Tigers were 4-149, already with a handy lead over NSW who were rolled in little more than one session for a paltry 64.

Jordan Silk (64) and nightwatchman Peter Siddle (4) were the not out batsmen for Tasmania at the close.(match report).

Stumps: Tasmania lead New South Wales by 85 runs with 6 wickets remaining.

Khawaja, Renshaw lead strong response after early stumble

Despite losing Australia opener Joe Burns (10) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) inside seven overs at Glenelg Oval this morning, the Bulls ended the day 4-331 with ex-Test batter Matthew Renshaw unbeaten on 84 and Jimmy Peirson 60 not out from just 61 balls faced.

Stumps: Queensland are 4-331

🏉 Rugby

'14 on 14': All Blacks, Wallabies both lose men to red cards in explosive Bledisloe.

On Saturday morning assistant coach Matt Taylor said Suncorp Stadium felt like their national stadium.

A mere 12 hours later the Wallabies overturned their biggest ever trans-Tasman loss by defeating the All Blacks 24-22 in Brisbane to earn Dave Rennie his first win as Australian coach and seal the national debate.

The two-point victory was the Wallabies’ seventh straight victory at the venue, a winning run which includes their triumph over the All Blacks in 2017 too, and keeps Rennie's side firmly in the Tri Nations.

The match was turned on its head, as prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi was given his marching orders for collecting Wright on the chin with his right forearm.

Three minutes later and debutant Lachie Swinton, who had been brilliant up until this point, joined Tu'ungafasi on the sidelines he copped Sam Whitelock on the chin with a reckless tackle.

Swinton became the first player in Wallabies history to be shown a red card on debut. Later, his coach Dave Rennie says the blindside flanker made a “real announcement” on the international stage.

Plaudits went to Man on a mission - Koroibete, who was immense. Other than being shown a yellow card for hands in the ruck (incorrectly, in my opinion). He nearly got through the line so many times (he needs to tuck his shirt the whole way in).

In defence, he was a man possessed, making multiple tackles in quick succession on several occasions.

'We're not going to get carried away with tonight': Rennie satisfied, but not celebrating with Bledisloe still on NZ soil.

🇦🇺 AFL

The day Joe Biden became a footy fan

After the news that Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States, surely footy fans would excuse Carlton for making the most of his (admittedly loose) ties to the Blues that stem from his visit to Australia four years ago.

The former US Vice President received a Carlton jumper from then-skipper Marc Murphy on the MCG turf when he attended a round 17 game between the Blues and West Coast at the home of football in 2016.

He watched the game with Australia's Foreign Minister of the time, Julie Bishop, and Collingwood forward Mason Cox was on hand as a fellow American to talk Biden through the finer points of the game.

Back in 2011, Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard, a fervent Western Bulldogs fan, showed Barack Obama – whose predominant passion is basketball – the art of hand-balling during a visit to the Oval Office. (AFL)

History says several deals will go down to the wire. Which of these trades will get across the line?

🏉 NRL

Munster: Bennett makes me feel seven foot tall

Cameron Munster says Maroons coach and Euchre partner Wayne Bennett has made him feel "seven foot tall" as he prepares to go up another notch in Sydney against the Blues.

Munster was superb in the 18-14 win over NSW in Adelaide (NRL)

Facing a do-or-die scenario in game two, New South Wales players have called on fans to turn out in numbers for Wednesday's State of Origin showdown at ANZ Stadium

✍🏼 Signings

Gold Coast Titans back-rower Keegan Hipgrave joins the Eels on a one-year deal with a club option for 2022, Raiders winger Michael Oldfield has signed on for next season.

Smith will also remain an Eel for at least another season.

St George Illawarra has confirmed the signing of Brisbane Broncos utility Jack Bird. The former local Berkeley Eagles junior will re-join the Red V on a two-year deal.

🎾 Tennis

Rafael Nadal wins 1,000th ATP Tour match with Paris Masters victory

Rafael Nadal became the fourth player to record 1,000 ATP Tour wins with victory over fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez at the Paris Masters.

American legend Jimmy Connors leads with 1,274, followed by Nadal's long-time rival Roger Federer (1.242) and Czech great Ivan Lendl (1,068).

The feat comes a month after Nadal won his 20th Grand Slam, matching Federer's record, with a 13th French Open title.

"To arrive at that number I must have done a lot of things well," said Nadal.

Nick Kyrgios says he was in 'lonely place' after suffering with depression

Australia's Nick Kyrgios says he was in a "lonely, dark place" after suffering with depression while on tour.

The 25-year-old has not played since February after limiting his travel because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyrgios, who began to see a psychologist in 2018, said people were not aware how lonely tennis could be.

"I felt like no-one wanted to know me as a person, they just wanted to get a hold of me as a tennis player and use me," he told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph.

Kyrgios described an incident in Shanghai where he "didn't want to see the light of day".

"I just lost joy for the game and I was spiralling out of control."

⚽️ Football

Premier League wrap up

Everton 1-3 Man United: Bruno Fernandes' double eased the pressure on boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (but for how long?) as Manchester United got back to winning ways at Everton.

Other scores: Southampton 2-0 Newcastle, Chelsea 4-1 Sheff United, Burnley 0-0 Brighton, Crystal Palace 4-1 Leeds, West Ham 1-0 Fulham,

Leicester 1-0 Wolves (Leicester now top by a point),

West Brom 0-1 Tottenham: Harry Kane's 150th Premier League goal,

Liverpool 1-1 Man City - Jesus equalises for City after Salah opener. De Bruyne then sends penalty wide.

Arsenal v Villa (live now)

🇩🇪 Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga with an exciting victory over rivals Borussia Dortmund (3-2) - Both Haaland and Lewandowski were on the score sheet.

🇪🇸 Half-time substitute Lionel Messi turned the game around for Barcelona as they beat Real Betis (5-2), for a first La Liga win in five games.

🇮🇹 Both Juventus (drew 1-1 with Lazio), Atalanta (drew 1-1 with Inter Milan) spurned the chance to go top. AC Milan have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top when they play Verona this morning

🇦🇺 Olyroos attacker Panos Armenakas has finally resolved his immediate future after being snapped up by Belgian Pro League side Zulte Waregem.

Credit: Daily OZ Football on Twitter

🚴🏼‍♂️ Vuelta a España

Defending champion Roglic, who suffered a dramatic defeat by Tadej Pogacar in the Tour de France, retained his Vuelta title, with Richard Carapaz second by 24 seconds.

Hugh Carty for EF Racing completed the podium.

🇺🇸 USA

In our picks and predictions against the spread for Week 9 of the 2020 NFL season, Tom Brady and Tampa Bay avenge a Week 1 loss at New Orleans while Seattle goes back to cooling off Buffalo and Dallas doesn't cover again vs. Pittsburgh.

🏈 College Football: Clemson-Notre v Dame game was played in front of a pandemic-reduced crowd of 11,011. The No. 4 Irish won the game 47-40 in double overtime over the No. 1 Tigers.

It was the program's first win over a top-ranked opponent since 1993, cue (non-social-distanced) pitch invasion.

Back on Wednesday!

Wednesday's edition will include:

  • State of Origin II

  • Masters Golf Comp

  • Sheffield Shield

...and much more!

📺 Live sport

⚽️ 06:15 - Premier League - Arsenal v Aston Villa (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Milan v Hellas Verona (BeIN Sports 2)

🚘 07:00 - NASCAR Phoenix 500 Playoff, Round 36 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v AS Saint-Etienne (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Valencia v Real Madrid (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 07:30 - MLS - Philadelphia Union v New England Revolution (ESPN 2)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA Tour Champions, Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏈 08:25 - NFL - Arizona Cardinals v Miami Dolphins (7mate)

🏈 08:25 - NFL - Dallas Cowboys v Pittsburgh Steelers (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 10:30 - MLS - Los Angeles FC v Portland Timbers (BeIN Sports 3)

🏏 11:00 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Redbacks v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

🏏 11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Tasmania Tigers v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

🏏 11:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria v Western Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏈 12:20 - NFL - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New Orleans Saints (ESPN 1)

🏊🏼‍♂️ 20:00 - International Swimming League (BeIN Sports 3)

TUESDAY

🏊🏼‍♂️ 02:00 - International Swimming League (BeIN Sports 3)

🏏 11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Tasmania Tigers v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

🏏 11:00 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Redbacks v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

🏏 11:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria v Western Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏈 12:15 - NFL - New York Jets v New England Patriots (ESPN 1)

🏏 14:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Melbourne Stars Women v Adelaide Strikers Women (Fox Cricket)

🏏 19:05 - Women's Big Bash League - Melb. Renegades Women v Hobart Hurricanes Women (Fox Cricket)

🏊🏼‍♂️ 20:00 - International Swimming League (BeIN Sports 3)

🚘 20:30 - Supercars Pro Eseries, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

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