Weekend sport preview

SBS World News Radio: There's another big weekend of sport ahead for fans of all codes, with great contests in the tennis, cricket, rugby, NRL and AFL.

Weekend sport previewWeekend sport preview

Weekend sport preview

It's been an extrememely poor Wimbledon so far for Australia's players.

No men survived the first round while only Arina Rodionova in the women's draw reached the second round.

Bernard Tomic caused controversy by suggesting he was bored with tennis and didn't care about winning trophies any more.

And fellow Aussie Nick Kyrgios is hoping to avoid surgery on his troublesome hip injury that forced him to retire early in first round match.

Kyrgios says he's aiming to be fit in time for September's Davis Cup semi-final against Belgium.

But he also suggested he may have returned to action too soon after the death of his grandfather.

He had niggling injuries at the time of the Madrid Open in May and Kyrgios says that's when the issue became worse.

"That's when it started kicking everything off in my body. I hadn't put any work in for a couple of weeks and then playing straight on the clay probably wasn't the smartest thing but ongoing in the future I've probably got to think a little bit more than just trying to get out there and compete so I'm sure I'm going to get it right."

This weekend the men's and women's third round takes place on Friday and Saturday night, but there's no play currently scheduled for Sunday, which will only see play if wet weather causes a backlog.

After four years of planning and preparation, the third and final test between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions remains evely poised at one test apiece.

The match at Auckland's fortress-like Eden Park could see New Zealand beaten there for the first time in 23 years, but the tourists' coach Warren Gatland, himself a Kiwi, says it won't be easy.

"In the past and historically what New Zealand teams are like when they lose, they respond and we know we're going to be in for an almighty battle at Eden Park next week."

The Lions have named an unchanged squad for Saturday's decider, while the All Blacks will be without Sonny Bill Williams who was sent off and banned for four matches in last week's loss in Wellington.

To cricket and there's the women's equivalent of the Ashes on Sunday evening when the Southern Stars take on England in the World Cup at Bristol.

With Meg Laming still in doubt for the match with ongoing shoulder problems, stand-in captain Rachel Haynes is feeling positive.

"Yeah we're looking forward to it. We always have some really good contests against England and obviously it's their home World Cup so there'll be a bit of pressure and expectation around them. We'll rest up over the next couple of days and look forward to getting back to Bristol."

In the NRL, the Roosters are fighting to taking on the Rabbitohs in the oldest rivalry the sport has to offer.

The timing couldn't be worse for the Roosters with four players - Blake Ferguson, Dylan Napa, Mitchell Pearce and Boyd Cordner - all involved with Origin duty.

But despite that, Roosters Coach Trent Robinson says he expects his lesser-known players to come in and do a job.

"Everybody relies on their Origin players but when they're not there it does allow opportunity for other players to step up. And that's what we're looking for, we need some players to come and deliver."

And Round 16 of the AFL tonight with second on the ladder Adelaide Crows welcoming the reigning Premier Western Bulldogs to Adelaide Oval.

 

 


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By John Baldock


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