Weekend sport preview

SBS World News Radio: Another busy weekend of sport lies ahead with the A-League getting into its stride, the Wallabies and Wallaroos trying to lay longstanding hoodoos in Auckland against New Zealand, and the NFL debuts in Twickenham.

Weekend sport previewWeekend sport preview

Weekend sport preview

Melbourne City kicks off round 3 of the A-League on Friday when the joint leaders take on Perth Glory.

After starting the season with a 1-nil win against the Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand, City impressed in a 4-1 derby victory over cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory.

The job for City now is to keep that momentum going.

The club's Dutch coach is John van't Schip and he believes his team knows what it has to do.

"We want to continue in the way that we're working and playing, so it's a process of getting used to performing every time on the highest level possible. If the players realise that, and they do, then you can keep on growing and getting better."

SBS has live coverage of that match between Tim Cahill's Melbourne City and Perth Glory from 7.30pm AEDT.

The National Basketball League continues over the weekend with Melbourne United taking on the reigning champions Perth Wildcats on Sunday afternoon in a match fans can see on SBS from 3pm AEDT.

Australia's rugby Wallabies are hoping to end their miserable run of losses in Auckland when the team takes on New Zealand in the third and final Bledisloe match on Saturday night.

History will be made either way because if the All Blacks win, it will be their 18th consecutive test match win, a new world record.

Should Australia manage to pull off an upset, it will be the first defeat suffered by the All Blacks on home soil since 2009 and the first time they've lost at Auckland's Eden Park since 1994.

Australia last won at the venue way back in 1986 and the team's vice-captain, Michael Hooper, knows exactly how hard it will be.

"It's a tough place to win but you know its an exciting challenge on the other side of the coin and like myself, all the other guys are keen to get in there and break that."

One man set to help the Wallabies in their bid is flanker David Pocock, who's expected to return from injury.

"We've probably learned a lot as a squad and we get a last crack at it before we head off on the Spring Tour. So I think there's plenty to take out of the last couple of months as a squad and you know there's a heap of young guys who've got a bit more experience at this level and I think that's great going forward."

The match will be preceded by a women's test match with Australia's Wallaroos looking to earn their first-ever win against the Black Ferns.

The Wallabies next objective after Saturday's test will be next month's Spring tour, which includes matches against Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland and England.

The NFL season is up and running in the United States but this weekend the code continues its attempt to spread the sport worldwide when the Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Giants in London.

Until now International Series matches held in England have been staged at Wembley Stadium.

But on Sunday night the spiritual home of rugby, Twickenham Stadium, will showcase a regular season game of NFL for the first time in its history.

San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has gained much attention for not singing or standing for the US National anthem at matches so far.

He's been trying to raise awareness of police brutality following a number of Black Americans being shot.

Rams Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold says it's a complex issue, including the need to show respect to the country's armed forces.

"We want to make sure that we support each other because it's a brotherhood. But at the same time we definitely have alot of respect for our armed forces. Everybody looks at us as role models. You want to be able to affect the world positively but we also want to make sure that we stay focused because although our fans love that we support the right things they also want to make sure that we win games."

And finally in sport back home this weekend, the noise of the MotoGP riders will be heard loud and clear across Phillip Island over the weekend with the latest round of the championship.

Spaniard Marc Marquez will start as favourite having wrapped up his thrid world title last Sunday in Japan.

The local hope is 21 year-old Australian rider, Jack Miller.

 


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