Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay woman $250K in sexual assault case, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The Dublin jury awarded the woman more than $250,000 for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her on Dec. 9, 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. The jury found for the woman on Friday. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.super ace jili slot register 。

Cooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level MediaBill Clinton discharged from hospital after 1-day stay

ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. People are also reading... “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Be the first to knowIn a remarkable political development, Austria's far-right Freedom Party achieved a milestone victory in the Styria state election, securing a triumph for the first time in the region. This win reflects echoes of last September's general election, showcasing the party's rising strength as national coalition discussions proceed. Though the Styria election carries limited direct national repercussions, it adds pressure on those currently negotiating Austria's first three-way government since 1949. This marks only the second state win for the eurosceptic, Russia-friendly Freedom Party, their previous being Carinthia during former leader Joerg Haider's prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s. According to projections by pollster Foresight, the Freedom Party secured 35.3% of votes, surpassing the conservative People's Party's 26.6%. This is a historic first since World War Two, with neither the People's Party nor the Social Democrats winning in the state, famed as the birthplace of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Freedom Party now looks to form a coalition for a majority in Styria's state assembly. (With inputs from agencies.)

President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peakHOUSTON (AP) — Will Levis threw for 278 yards and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo put Tennessee on top in the fourth quarter and the Titans held on for a 32-27 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. Titans coach Brian Callahan held both hands in the air and smiled after watching the miss that allowed his team to win on a day it had three turnovers. The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions as the AFC South-leading Texans lost for the third time in four games. Jimmie Ward had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. But the offense sputtered for most of the game as Joe Mixon was held to 22 yards on 14 carries. Tennessee extended the lead to 23-17 on a 51-yard field goal by Nick Folk with nine minutes left in the third. Stroud threw his second interception with about 90 seconds left in the third quarter but Ward’s touchdown came three plays later to put the Texans on top 24-23. The Titans fumbled a punt early in the fourth quarter and Houston recovered it. A 54-yard field goal by Fairbairn extended the lead to 27-23 with about 10 minutes to go. Dameon Pierce returned the opening kickoff 80 yards to get the Texans in the red zone. Houston cashed in on the next play when Stroud found rookie Cade Stover on a 19-yard pass for his first touchdown reception. The Titans trailed by four after a field goal by Folk when Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got in front of the defense and was wide open for a 38-yard TD catch that made it 10-7 late in the first quarter. Tennessee extended the lead to 17-7 when Tony Pollard ran 10 yards for a touchdown with about 11 minutes left in the second. Pollard finished with 119 yards and a touchdown. Nico Collins scored on a 5-yard reception with about six minutes left in the second. Levis fumbled on the Houston 32 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first half and Houston recovered the ball. Stroud connected with Collins on a 56-yard pass on the next play, but the Texans couldn’t move the ball and settled for a 28-yard field goal to tie it at 17-17. Houston forced a punt after that, but rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. got his first career interception two plays later to give Tennessee the ball back. Folk’s 56-yard field goal, which tied his career long, put the Titans up 20-17 at halftime. Injuries The Titans were without cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, after he was placed on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury, and safety Amani Hooker, who was added to the injury report Sunday morning with an illness. Hooker leads the Titans with three interceptions. ... Houston S Jalen Pitre injured his shoulder in the second quarter and didn’t return. ... CB Ka’dar Hollman left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Up next Titans: Visit the Commanders next Sunday. Texans: Visit Jacksonville next Sunday. ___ AP NFL: Kristie Rieken, The Associated PressCooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level Media

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This year there have been a plethora of words written in judgement of the All Blacks and their head coach Scott Robertson – but not so many on the players themselves. Today we’ll rate them individually and as units, as well as look at where Razor might go next year in selection and strategy. The article will be based on the picks I made during the Super Rugby regular season in May, so we’ll also see how my choices compared to Scott Robertson’s squad. PROPS 1. Ethan de Groot – B 3. Tyrel Lomax – A 17. Xavier Numia (Absent injured) 18. Fletcher Newell – B- Injury/disciplinary replacement: Tamaiti Williams – B+ Injury replacement: Ofa Tuʻungafasi – B+ Bolter: Pasilio Tosi – B+ My reserve front row never got onto the field due to injuries to Numia and Samisoni Taukei’aho, but otherwise, Razor followed my selections, including the backup looseheads. The big, and I mean big, bolter though was Tosi, who Jason Ryan “fell in love with” as Lomax’s Hurricanes understudy. He was on absolutely nobody else’s radar, but after a few months under Mutt’s tutelage, the converted No. 8 8 emerged as a scrummaging and carrying weapon from the pine. He probably finished ahead of Newell, who has legendary gym numbers but was a very little part of the no-impact mid-season bench. The Crusader needs to improve his work around the park and start fulfilling his promise in the scrum. Overall, the scrum was a real strength of the team, although I did expect more dominance against England and Ireland. The Tyrel Corporation (one for Blade Runner fans) is now officially the world’s top tighthead and even managed some clever, defence-breaching touches ball in hand. Ethan de Groot was also strong when he got on the field but had a bit of a patchy season. A mid-year injury and disciplinary trouble limited his appearances and gave Williams the chance to usurp him. Tamaiti took that chance with his big mitts, adding scrummaging success to his renowned ball-carrying power. He is also a fantastic lineout lifter, although he may have a weakness in the scrum against shorter tightheads. Tuʻungafasi deserves a mention too, recovering from his decisive Johannesburg card to play his part in the year-end bench revival. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) Such is the competition in these positions and the versatility of Tuʻungafasi and Williams that only Lomax is sure of a particular jersey next year. The future is bright up front. HOOKERS 2. Codie Taylor – A 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, Absent injured Injury replacement: Asafo Aumua – B+ The 33-year-old Taylor had a stellar season, excelling in his scrummaging, throwing and general play. When he broke down, Razor called the AA and was rewarded with great service – two huge, bullocking 75+ minute performances after not always convincing from the oche as a replacement. Even if Taylor slows down before 2027, the position will be in powerful hands with Aumua and Samisoni. LOCKS 4. Scott Barrett – A- 5. Tupou Vaa’i – A- 19. Patrick Tuipulotu – B+ The retirement of two centurion legends left giant holes over two metres tall in the All Black second row and it took a while to fill them. Barrett and Tuipulotu struggled in the lineout against England and the starting combination only really began to click when Robertson finally put together the pairing I suggested in the first place. Jordie Barrett, Beauden Barrett and Scott Barrett. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Vaa’i was one of the revelations of the whole campaign, reminding me of Maro Itoje as he called the lineouts and made a right nuisance of himself in the air and on the ground. Unlike the Englishman, he had great skills around the park too. Barrett was a necessary 80-minute workhorse and Big Pat was just the hard-carrying, strong scrummaging powerhouse that the All Black bench needed. This was a trio that between them turned the defensive line out into a weapon and played its part in a very strong scrum. However, it had its weaknesses at the gain line and breakdown late on against the super-sized 6/2 bench teams. First, there are only three of them – lock and big blindside are the only areas where the forwards lack depth compared to France and South Africa. Second, they lack a Brodie-style mountainous mongrel to match the likes of Eben Etzebeth and the 145kg Emmanuel Meafou. Could 22-year-old Fabian Holland be the extra big forward on the bench in 2027, or perhaps Sam Darry or Josh Lord could come through? LOOSE FORWARDS 6. Samipeni Finau – C 7. Dalton Papali’i – B 8. Ardie Savea – A- 20. Ethan Blackadder – B Apprentice: Peter Lakai – B+ Injury returnee: Sam Cane – A- Injury Cover: Luke Jacobson – B- Bolter: Wallace Sititi – A+ Razor started the season with my trio but he sure didn’t end it that way. Finau still hasn’t got the hang of test rugby and his replacement Blackadder managed a very high work rate... until he continued his sad injury record. Papali’i did a reasonable job before himself getting hurt, meaning that both flanks were up for grabs. This gave two players at opposite ends of their Test careers the chance to shine. Cane provided balance as a ruck-clearing, prolific tackling warrior workhorse, but his biggest contribution was as a leader. At times he seemed to be captaining the team, having quiet words with referees and teammates as required. Someone else, preferably the skipper, will need to step up next season. The big mover though was a 21-year-old who had played just eight games of Super Rugby and wasn’t in the picture when I wrote my article in May. A month later he had amassed a stellar body of work on both sides of the ball and outplayed Auckland media darling Hoskins Sotutu in the final, despite being in a comprehensively destroyed pack. To outraged howls from north of the Bombays, Razor picked him as the backup number 8 – and who can argue with that decision now? New Zealand’s Ardie Savea. (Photo by Justin Setterfield – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) The only permanent fixture was Ardie Savea. He lacked his usual verve on return from Japan but by the end of the season, he had refound the legendary leg drive and dynamism that made him World Player of the Year. Finally, I must mention the usefully versatile but not particularly impactful Luke Jacobson, and 21-year-old openside Peter Lakai who excelled in his surprise 75 minutes in Paris. Next year the logical trio appears to be Sititi, Ardie and one of the open sides, with a big priority being to decide how Cane’s unglamorous but vital role will be covered. Lineout worries about this slightly diminutive triumvirate have been dispelled by Wallace, but there might be a need for a large reinforcement from the bench against South Africa and France. Both of these teams wore the All Blacks down second half with a big-body barrage. The heavyweight saviour could be Finau, Vaa’i, Barrett or a tough but not Test-sized lock from Super Rugby, like 22-year-old Jamie Hannah. If we’re looking for a forward who can play in the backs in extremis, it’s easy to imagine Savea on the wing and Sititi at 11 or 12. Preparation for that will be key. HALFBACK 9. TJ Perenara – B 21. Cortez Ratima – B+ Soon discarded: Finlay Christie – D Injury returnee: Cam Roigard – A Injury cover: Noah Hotham – B- Razor briefly backed up TJ with Christie, but soon it was fin for Fin, although his NZXV selection shows that he still has some hope. Perenara had his moments but his was a patchy season, Ratima overtaking him by November. With the veteran now having said sayonara, Ratima is in pole position for the bench spot. He did however have some struggles behind the breakdown and the even younger but very promising Hotham is an exciting challenger. That man Cam Roigard ???? Opening try here in Turin! #AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/wG7FbtwqHT Of course, the outstanding prospect is Cam Roigard who returned from a major injury to outshine Antoine Dupont at the Stade de France. We’re in the midst of a complete changing of the guard at nine, a lot like when Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Perenara emerged after the 2011 World Cup. FIRST FIVE/FULLBACK 10. Damian McKenzie – B+ 15. Ruben Love – N/A 22. Beauden Barrett – B+ Soon discarded: Stephen Perofeta – C Injury returnee: Will Jordan – A- These positions were a bit of a revolving door, with nobody convincing or owning any of them throughout. At least the goal-kicking was very good, even from the previously inconsistent Barrett. A good achievement for Kicking Coach David Hill, although some of the kicking for touch lacked distance. DMac was the first five for the first half of the season, but he was seen as erratic and eventually had to swap places with Barrett. Even a top-game-controlling display in the standout win over Ireland wasn’t enough for the now World Fly Half of the Year to get the jersey back against France. What a kick! Damian McKenzie....HUGE! ???? Tune in on @rugbyontnt ???? #ENGvNZL pic.twitter.com/9aZ26Fi5CX Perofeta was the surprise initial choice at fullback but wasn’t really given a decent run as Beauden took control off the bench. The elder Barrett flitted between all three jerseys with good moments and bad, showing his experience and skills but also his age at fullback and technical limitations at fly-half. Air Jordan came back into service during The Rugby Championship, first in his best position on the right wing and eventually in his preferred position out back. He was soon back to his lethal running self but this is an era when the other top teams have playmakers there like Willie le Roux, Thomas Ramos, George Furbank and Blair Kinghorn. Ireland is the exception but they have two playmaking wings. This is especially needed by a team that wants to play running rugby and whose first fives for all their exciting qualities aren’t the complete package. My instinct is that DMac will get there if Razor persists with him, but he needs a fullback who’s a creator, not just a runner. Unlike me, Robertson didn’t think Love was ready this year, but he might be after another season in Super Rugby, or else he could develop into a Cory Jane-style winger. He’s excellent under the high ball and cuts swathes in attack but needs to work on his kicking. The choice of fullback will determine the second back reserve in the event of a 6/2 bench. If he’s a 10/15, then ALB would enable the versatility of Jordie, Rieko and Jordan to come into play. If he’s a 14/15 the reserve would need to be a first five. CENTRES 12. Jordie Barrett – B+ 13. Rieko Ioane – B 23. Anton Lienert-Brown – B- These three retained their positions pretty much all year, but never really got going or got better on attack. Jordie rarely got to use his array of skills and Rieko was a butcher of chances, through sloppy hands and failing to pass. ALB, normally such a sharp decision-maker, wasn’t this year and added little impetus from the pine. Drama in Dublin as Jordie Barrett is issued a Yellow Card ???? Fair call? ???? ↳ Autumn Nations Series. Every Match. Exclusive & Ad-free. Live & On Demand on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. #StanSportAU #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/WBMloyp8RV The only place they shone was on defence, even Ioane now making good reads at 13. The centres were solid at the gain line without making big yards or setting the back three alight, apart from ALB in the second Bledisloe. Perhaps this solidity with and without the ball was exactly what Razor was after, but many observers will be expecting them to do much more on attack next season. WINGS 11 Caleb Clarke – A- 14. Mark Tele’a – B+ Initial pick: Sevu Reece – C- Razor ended up with my picks but initially, he shunned Clarke and moved Tele’a away from his favoured side in order to accommodate Reece. His Crusaders favourite offered little on attack and had some embarrassing moments for opposition tries. Surely others like Emoni Narawa will be better options next year. With the country’s best right winger moved to fullback, Tele’a finally got to excel on the right and partner Clarke, who adds vital balance with his hard running and high ball prowess. It’ll be interesting to see whether this is enough to hold off the returning Leicester Fainga’anuku. QUESTIONS Who are your duxes and dunces and how do you rate the team overall? As for next year, how do we replace Cane’s leadership and core skills? Sports opinion delivered daily When, if ever, should we employ a six-two bench? Barrett or DMac? Playmaker or running fullback... and who needs to come in and out of the team?Week 12 TNF: Steelers-Browns Preview, Props & Prediction

Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) leads the team onto the field to play the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images/ File Photo The Pittsburgh Steelers take on what is typically an unenviable task -- traveling on a short week for a Thursday night primetime game. However, a few things are playing in Pittsburgh's favor as Week 12 of the NFL regular season kicks off. Namely, the "trip" to Cleveland is a little more than two hours by road and when the Steelers arrive there, they'll be facing a backup quarterback at the helm of a massively underwhelming 2-8 Browns team. The Steelers (8-2) are coming off a huge win over Baltimore to stay atop the AFC North. And Pittsburgh is beginning to set its sights on potential home-field advantage come playoff time. ODDS AND TRENDS The Steelers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 80 percent of the spread-line money. Pittsburgh's -195 moneyline to simply win the game has been even more popular, drawing 95 percent of all money wagered. The Browns enter Thursday night having failed to cover the spread in nine of their past 12 games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have covered the spread in every game during their five-game win streak. The 37.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 65 percent of the money and 70 percent of the total bets. Each of Cleveland's past eight November home games has gone under the total points line. PROP PICKS --Steelers WR George Pickens Over 50 Receiving Yards (-195 at DraftKings): Russell Wilson has thrown six touchdowns in the four games since he took over as the starting quarterback. Two of those have gone to Pickens, who has at least 74 receiving yards in each of those games. There is some concern that Pittsburgh gains a big early lead and turns to a run-heavy attack, but Wilson throws an excellent deep ball and that plays into Pickens' strength. This is the most popular player prop at the book. --Steelers RB Najee Harris Anytime TD (+100 at BetRivers): That potential for a run-heavy approach should benefit Harris, who found the sledding tough against Baltimore with 63 yards on the ground. He was also held out of the end zone for the second time in three games. Keep in mind that Cleveland has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, but the Browns have allowed 12 through the air. Harris has a trio of scores on the ground and receiving through 10 games. KEY STAT The Browns have won the first quarter in five consecutive home games against the Steelers. THE NEWS The Steelers have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday. Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games. Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2). "It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'" Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries. INJURY REPORT The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session. Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and was ruled out by the Steelers along with cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring). THEY SAID IT Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself. "I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all. "I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that." PREDICTION Divisional road games on short weeks typically shape up as a daunting task. That's not the case for the Steelers, who will be hyper-focused to put this one out of reach early before enjoying 10 days ahead of a trip to Cleveland. With a second game against the Browns before a huge game at Philadelphia, this is not an under-manned opponent Pittsburgh will look past. --Steelers 27, Browns 19 --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowROSEN, GLOBAL INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages PACS Group Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - PACS

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Pete Wicks gushed over his partner Jowita as he was axed from the hit BBC dancing show on Saturday night. The former TOWIE star just missed out on a place in the final. He had to dance off against Love Island star Tasha Ghouri for the last time in the competition. Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse unanimously chose to save Tasha and send Pete and his partner Jowita home. Pete and Jowita have sparked romance rumours throughout the competition, and reignited them as they performed their Argentine Tango routine as they appeared to nearly kiss at the end of the routine. Right at the end of the performance, they pulled each other in close and positioned themselves as if they were about to lock lips and looked to be getting very close. Read more Fans questioned whether they had really locked lips on social media. It comes despite Pete seemingly being involved with I'm A Celeb contestant Maura Higgins before she left for Australia, after they were pictured kissing. Pete opened up on his feelings for Jowita on the results show and gushed: "There's a lot of things I'm going to take away from this but the most special thing is you. "You're one one of the most incredible people that I've ever met, not just as a dancer but as a person. You've been a ray of sunshine. You've helped me through things in the past three months that I didn't think I could do. And you made me believe in myself and that means more to me than anything." It comes after Maura revealed in the I'm A Celebrity jungle that she had been getting close to a famous face before the show. The Irish beauty, who first rose to fame on Love Island , was being quizzed by her fellow campmates about her love life. She revealed she had been dating someone important before flying out to Australia, and admitted she was missing them in the jungle and that things 'felt different' with him. She also gave her tough three-word opinion on her love, saying: "He's not an a******."