Sports
Sorensen-McGee hat-trick as World Cup holders New Zealand thump Ireland | The Express Tribune
LONDON:
Teenage rising star Braxton Sorensen-McGee grabbed a hat-trick of tries as reigning champions New Zealand secured top spot in Pool C of the Women’s Rugby World Cup with an emphatic 40-0 rout of Ireland in Brighton on Sunday.
Victory saw the record six-time World Cup winners gain revenge for their shock 29-27 loss to Ireland at last year’s WXV tournament in Vancouver, with 18-year-old wing Sorensen-McGee leading the way on Sunday as the Black Ferns scored six tries.
New Zealand’s unbeaten group campaign means they will face South Africa in the last eight.
The Springboks, already through to their first Women’s World Cup quarter-final, were overpowered 57-10 by France later on Sunday with Les Bleues, the winners of Pool D, taking on Ireland for a place in the last four.
The other two quarter-finals had been confirmed on Saturday, with tournament favourites England — having equalled their own record of 30 straight wins — now playing Scotland, and world number twos Canada up against Australia.
New Zealand coach Allan Bunting, reflecting on the win over Ireland, said: “Job done, pretty proud of that one.”
“Scott (Bemand) and the Irish ladies really threw everything at us and put us under a lot of pressure but we were formidable on D (defence), we didn’t want to let them past and that’s what it’s going to take to go further in this competition.”
Ireland were unable to break down a dogged New Zealand defence having defiantly stared down the Black Ferns’ pre-match Haka challenge.
Ireland’s tough day was made worse by full-back Stacey Flood leaving the field in a protective boot and centre Eve Higgins leaving the pitch for a head injury assessment.
“New Zealand are a physical team so we’ve got to find a way to cross the whitewash when we get those opportunities,” bemoaned Ireland coach Bemand.
Both teams had already reached the quarter-finals before kick-off in their concluding pool game on England’s south coast, with the only outstanding issue the finishing order.
– France to ‘be at our best’ for Ireland –
France, so long England’s closest challengers in European women’s rugby, dominated the opening quarter in Northampton, with tries from full-back Emilie Boulard and centre Gabrielle Vernier.
But it was an upgraded red card for a head-on-head tackle by South Africa centre Chumisa Qawe which ultimately turned the match France’s way.
French forwards Charlotte Escudero and Agathe Gerin powered over for tries while the Springboks were a player down, before Boulard grabbed her second.
France wing Joanna Grisez scored twice, with Annaelle Deshaye and Alexandra Chambon also crossing South Africa’s line before Springbok scrum-half Nadine Roos scored a try with the last play of the game.
“Our objective was to finish first and we did it,” said impressive France scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus.
She added: “We still have a bit of tweaking to do but we’ll be at our best for next week against Ireland.”
South Africa coach Swys de Bruin accepted his team had been outclassed.
“Man, that’s a big stage,” he said. “They (France) are a very strong side, their set-piece is immaculate — they taught us a lesson there today.
“But what I loved: we never stopped fighting, right to the end, and the crowd was behind us.”
Earlier in Pool C, Japan bid farewell to this World Cup by overturning a nine-point deficit at half-time to beat Spain 29-21 in York.
In another match between two previously winless sides at the tournament, Italy hammered Brazil, the first South American team to compete at a Women’s Rugby World Cup, 64-3.
Le Azzurre ran in 12 tries, six in each half, with Francesca Granzotto and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi both scoring hat-tricks.
Lionel Messi‘s “GOAT Tour” of India was marred by chaotic scenes Saturday after fans threw ripped up seats and invaded the pitch during the Argentina star’s brief appearance.
Messi’s tour will see him travel from Kolkata to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. However, it did not get off to a dream start, as his appearance was reportedly cut to just 20 minutes due to the violence.
The highlight of tour’s opening day was meant to be the unveiling of a 70-foot Messi statue — which is reported to be the largest statue of a footballer ever created.
Messi, who was accompanied by teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked a short distance on the pitch and waved briefly toward the stands amid loud chants of “Messi, Messi,” but fans soon realized that the footballer remained tightly cordoned off and was barely visible from large sections of the stadium.
Messi’s appearance ended before he could complete a full lap of the stadium, sparking violent scenes.
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi,” a fan told ANI news agency. “Why did they call us then?
“We have got a ticket for 12,000 rupees ($130), but we were not even able to see his face.”
Mamata Banerjee, the region’s chief minister, issued an apology to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.
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“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X.
“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she added.
“I am constituting an enquiry committee… the committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
The Indian football federation said it was “deeply concerned” by the scenes, adding that it was not involved in the event’s planning, deferring responsibility to the PR agency that organised it.
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Brady Cook wasn’t exactly tasked with salvaging the New York Jets’ 2025 season as he made the first start of his career on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, he was expected to showcase what he could do on the field – and he didn’t disappoint in the first quarter. Cook led the Jets on an eight-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell, and helped cut the deficit to seven points at the time.
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New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook looks to pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The CBS broadcast showed Cook’s parents celebrating in the stands at EverBank Stadium. It was the first touchdown pass of Cook’s career. He also completed six consecutive passes before throwing an interception.
Cook got some playing time against the Miami Dolphins last week. He was 14-of-30 for 163 yards and threw two interceptions as New York fell 34-10.
PHILIP RIVERS, 44, OFFICIALLY TABBED COLTS STARTER, WILL PLAY IN FIRST NFL GAME IN NEARLY FIVE YEARS
New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) runs on field before the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn tapped Cook as the starter as the experiments with Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor didn’t yield much success over the course of the year.
Cook latched onto the Jets’ roster as an undrafted free agent. He was waived as training camp came to a close but came back later on the practice squad. He bounced from the main roster to the practice squad a few times during the season before the game against the Dolphins.
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The former Missouri standout, 24, played his entire collegiate career with the Tigers. He had 9,251 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes during his career at Missouri.
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John Cena failed to conquer one last challenge as his WWE in-ring career came to an end at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington D.C.
Cena went up against Gunther, a two-time world heavyweight champion who earned the right to take on Cena by winning the Last Time Is Now Tournament. Gunther wasn’t shaken by Cena’s presence in front of the electric sold-out crowd that filled the Capital One Arena.
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Gunther in action against John Cena during Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)
As soon as Cena stepped in between the ropes, Gunther went to work. He battled Cena through multiple Attitude Adjustments, including one through the announce table. Cena did all he could do, but Gunther was just too much to handle.
Gunther eventually put Cena in a sleeper hold and made the 17-time WWE champion tap out. The fans in the arena were stunned as boos rained on Gunther.
After the match, WWE superstars and chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque came down to the ring to congratulate Cena on an incredible career. Cena bowed in the ring and saluted the fans for all they’ve done for him over the last 25 years.
John Cena and Triple H during Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
SOL RUCA TALKS FACING OFF AGAINST WWE PIONEER AT JOHN CENA’S FINAL EVENT
His retirement tour this year started at the Royal Rumble, where he finished as the runner-up in the match.
He won the Elimination Chamber match to go up against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He stunned fans with a heel turn that could only draw comparisons to Hulk Hogan. The heel persona only lasted a few months as he was back to the babyface fans grew to love and adore by the summer.
Cody Rhodes and CM Punk give John Cena the Undisputed WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship during Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
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He and Rhodes battled one more time for the title at SummerSlam. He also had matches with Punk, Styles, Logan Paul, Brock Lesnar and Dominik Mysterio during the year.
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