Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt has explained why Super Eagles defender Olisa Ndah will not feature in their Cup match against Lamontville Golden Arrows.
Ndah joined Stellenbosch on a free transfer after leaving Orlando Pirates, where injuries affected his final seasons. He is now the fourth Nigerian player to represent the club.
Hunt said the 28-year-old is still working on his fitness after recovering from a serious leg injury. He added that Ndah is keen to play but needs more time to reach full match fitness before he can be considered for selection.
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The coach also noted that players returning from injury often need time to adjust to the intensity of competitive football, especially when they have not trained regularly.
Stellenbosch are currently sitting near the bottom half of the league table and will hope to improve their form in the coming weeks.
It’s pretty clear that Lindsey Vonn has a long road ahead.
In one of her first runs at the Milan Cortina Olympics earlier this month, fresh off a ruptured ACL she suffered a week before the Games, Vonn fell, resulting in a compound fracture of her leg.
The 41-year-old was hoping to have some hardware around her neck, but instead, it’s now inside her body.
Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during alpine skiing women’s downhill official training at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 6, 2026.(AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Vonn underwent her fifth surgery on Thursday — this one accompanied by “a lot of plates and screws” that took more than six hours, she announced on Instagram.
“Made it through surgery… it took a bit more than 6 hours to complete. As you can see, it required a lot of plates and screws to put back together but Dr. Hackett did an incredible job. Thank you Dr. Viola for the surgery assist as well!!” Vonn posted.
“With the extent of the trauma, I’ve been struggling a bit post op and have not yet been able to be discharged from the hospital just yet… almost there. Baby steps. Will explain the injury and what it all means soon.”
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United States’ Lindsey Vonn arrives at the finish area of an alpine ski women’s downhill training, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Vonn posted a video of herself being wheeled into another room and photos of X-rays with the plates and screws.
Vonn recently revealed that her beloved dog of 13 years, Leo, died the day after her crash.
Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics
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“I said goodbye to my big boy as I laid in my hospital bed,” Vonn wrote on X. “Been some of the hardest days of my life and still have not begun to process his passing… I will always love you Leo.”
United States’ Lindsey Vonn is airlifted away after a crash during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Vonn, 41, needed to be airlifted off an Italian mountain in a frightening scene during her downhill competition. She returned to the United States earlier this week.
Mayweather isn’t stopping there with his boxing plans though, after it was announced he has signed an exclusive agreement with CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS to resume his professional boxing career.
The five-weight world champion is now 48-years-old, but he has explained why he is making the decision to return.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – then my events. And I plan to keep doing it with my global media partner, CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS.”
CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS co-founders Richard and Craig Miele also commented on the news.
“Signing Floyd Mayweather to un-retire after he captures another world-wide audience with his Mike Tyson match-up, highlights our commitment to providing our global audience with the most high-profile fighters in the sport.
“Floyd will once again continue to dominate boxing with the biggest audience and highest gross events of all time, and we are proud and privileged to be able to do with our global team at CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS.
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“We look forward to even more announcements that will excite fans and continue to build the sport in 2026!”
Mayweather will first go ahead with his exhibition with Tyson, but now a surprise comeback on the professional stage also awaits.
Australia celebrate after winning the T20 World Cup cricket match (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Australia ended their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign with a big win over Oman, but the victory came too late to change their fate. They were already out of the tournament after losing to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, so this match was only about pride.Australia bowled first and dominated Oman. Adam Zampa was the star with the ball and took four wickets, while Xavier Bartlett and Glenn Maxwell took two wickets each.
Why Pakistan don’t trust Babar Azam any more | T20 World Cup 2026
Oman struggled to score and were bowled out for just 104 runs in 16.2 overs. Wasim Ali was the top scorer for Oman with 32 runs, but the rest of the team failed to build partnerships.After that, Australia chased the target very quickly. Captain Mitchell Marsh played an aggressive innings and scored 64 runs without getting out, and Travis Head added 32 runs. They hit many boundaries and sixes and made the chase look easy. Australia finished the match in just 9.4 overs, which is one of the fastest chases in the tournament for a target above 100 runs.Marsh and Head shared a strong 93-run partnership and attacked the Oman bowlers from the start. Their hitting helped Australia win by nine wickets in dominant fashion.Even though the win was impressive, it could not hide how poor Australia’s campaign had been.Their early exit shocked fans and experts, and many people are now calling for a major review of the team’s performance and future plans.In the match, Oman had some early moments, but they kept losing wickets. Australia’s bowlers kept the pressure on, and Oman could not recover. Australia finally played like a strong team, but the performance came when it no longer mattered in the tournament.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and wide receiver Justin Jefferson take in a Minnesota Timberwolves playoff matchup against the Golden State Warriors in May 2025, cheering from courtside as the home crowd roared. The Timberwolves earned the victory that night, punching their ticket to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight year. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The verdict is still out on J.J. McCarthy’s trajectory as a long-term starter for the Minnesota Vikings, but wide receiver Justin Jefferson believes McCarthy has youth on his side. When asked recently to describe McCarthy in two words, Jefferson didn’t hesitate, replying, “Young bull.”
Jefferson didn’t overthink it — his short answer landed as a real endorsement as Minnesota leans toward McCarthy.
McCarthy faces a crucial Year No. 3 in the NFL, and the 2026 campaign will tell all about his immediate future.
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Jefferson’s Two-Word Message for McCarthy
No one has ever questioned the man’s youth.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates with quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) after a second-half touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. The two connected during a key stretch as Minnesota built momentum on the road. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Jefferson on McCarthy
Yahoo Sports caught up with Jefferson this week, asking him to play the Word Association Game, and the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year obliged.
Between the interviewer and Jefferson, the conversation went like this: “J.J. McCarthy? Young bull. Sam Darnold? Doubted. Drake Maye? Unpredictable. Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Smooth. Puka Nacua? Feisty. Justin Jefferson? Icy.”
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Jefferson has been asked rather frequently in the last several weeks about McCarthy, and his answers remain consistent: Jefferson has his back.
“His Quarterback”
Kay Adams chatted with Justin Jefferson two weeks ago, and the conversation quickly turned to Minnesota’s quarterback conundrum. She asked about McCarthy’s future as the 2026 QB1.
Jefferson said, “That’s not my decision. I don’t care who’s throwing me that ball. That’s not my main priority. That person that’s throwing that ball needs to throw that ball, and lead us to into that big dance at the end of the season. As of right now, JJ is my QB. For me, it’s to get him to where we need to go; it starts off right now in the offseason and getting better now.”
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While that sounds like a vote of confidence for McCarthy, the “as of right now” caveat is notable. Jefferson’s statement leaves open the possibility, perhaps intentionally, that the team might pursue a quarterback through free agency or trade.
Jefferson added, “If you look at the film, he’s done very good things. Obviously, it wasn’t the most spectacular thing, those are things he understands that there are some things to work on. JJ is a really good QB.”
McCarthy’s Wacky 2025 Performance
McCarthy performed all over the board in 2025. He started the season with an absolute bang, winning the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award in his first-ever start after delivering a 4th Quarter comeback at the Chicago Bears. Fans rejoiced. A week later, he suffered a high ankle sprain and missed five games. He returned on the road at a hostile Detroit Lions house and played quite well in a crucial win.
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Then, the doldrums set in. McCarthy struggled with basic quarterback functionality, seeming to get hot only in the 4th Quarter with the game on the line. A brutal three-game stretch after the high ankle sprain ended with a concussion against the Green Bay Packers.
When McCarthy returned from the concussion, he tore apart lousy defenses, sponsored by the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants, even looking like a fringe Pro Bowler in spots.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) stretches during pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Jefferson prepared for another home test as the Vikings continued their regular-season push. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Of course, he sustained a hairline hand fracture at New York. The injury woes continued.
The Vikings finished 2025 knowing they had a young quarterback with the juice for big-time throws, questionable mechanics, a clutch gene, and an utterly alarming tendency toward injuries.
He May Have to Win a Battle
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When the 2025 season ended, head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to reporters at his year-end press conference, proclaiming his team’s goal was to create a deep quarterback room this offseason. That seemed to put McCarthy on notice — or at least insinuate that a veteran quarterback was on the way to compete with McCarthy.
Most believe Minnesota will find a way to add a prominent quarterback in the coming weeks, a list that might include Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, Malik Willis, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Tua Tagovailoa, or Geno Smith.
J.J. McCarthy celebrates after reaching the end zone as the Vikings seized early momentum against Dallas at AT&T Stadium on Dec 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. Minnesota leaned on McCarthy’s poise and timing during the opening stretch, energizing the sideline and quieting the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
SI.com‘sMark Morales-Smith wrote about the possibility of Murray joining the Vikings, “This would be an ideal landing spot for Murray. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has proven that he can get the most out of quarterbacks and was the coach who helped Sam Darnold turn his career around.”
“Murray has shown significantly more upside and potential than Darnold did before heading to Minnesota. If he landed in Minnesota, he would immediately sneak his way into the low-end QB1 conversation heading into the 2026 fantasy season.”
The Vikings could also add a better QB2 — they preferred Sam Howell, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer last season — like Jimmy Garoppolo or Gardner Minshew, instead of Kyler Murray or Mac Jones type.
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We shall see who enters the mix to challenge the Young Bull. Free agency is 17 days away.
Dec 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) runs onto the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
As of now, the Vikings have just four cornerbacks under contract for 2026, and two of them are former undrafted free agents in Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn. They also have question marks at safety after Josh Metellus had a relatively disappointing season, and we may finally have to face the reality that Harrison Smith has played the final snaps of his illustrious career.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) celebrates a stop in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. The Bengals won 19-17 to finish the regular season at 9-8.
That cornerback is Mike Hilton, who PFF has ranked as the 58th-best free agent this offseason.
Hilton is a rags to richest type of story as he began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. After bouncing around a little bit during his rookie year, he found a landing spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ultimately, Hughes would become a staple on defense in the 2017 season, appearing in all 16 games with four starts. Since then, he has put together nearly a decade of consistent NFL play before appearing in just two games during the 2025 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) celebrates a sack in the first quarter of the NFL Week 16 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. The Bengals led 17-0 at halftime.
Interestingly, though, Hilton has largely played as a slot cornerback throughout his NFL career. In fact, it’s overwhelmingly his top spot on defense. He has played 4766 snaps in the slot compared to just 140 snaps as a boundary cornerback in his nine NFL seasons.
If the Vikings were to bring Hilton in, that would mean Byron Murphy remains as one of the starting boundary cornerbacks in Brian Flores’ defense, which is the opposite of what many fans and pundits have advocated for.
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The reasoning behind this move from Mason Cameron, the PFF analyst who picked the spot, is interesting though. Take a look:
“Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has a reputation for running the most aggressive, blitz-heavy defenses in the NFL. That scheme requires multifaceted cornerback play, particularly in the slot, where the Vikings frequently deploy Byron Murphy Jr. Although talented, Murphy struggled inside in 2025, ranking in the sixth percentile in slot PFF coverage grade (49.3). Adding a full-time slot cornerback to better fill out the roster would allow Murphy to remain outside, where he’s far more effective.”
Nov 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy (7) reacts after a tackle during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Hilton also turns 32 years old in March, which means he likely isn’t a long-term solution for the Vikings at the cornerback spot. Especially after a 2025 season in which he was released by the Miami Dolphins after training camp and then suffered a season-ending injury in October, the end of his prime may be coming soon.
However, Cameron has an answer for that too:
“While Mike Hilton saw limited time on the field in 2025, his overall profile suggests he has far more to contribute in the right situation. Hilton could step in and man the slot role to a high level, evidenced by his 76.3 slot PFF coverage grade since the start of 2023 — the seventh-highest mark in the NFL over that span.
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Additionally, the veteran cornerback could be used as a versatile weapon in blitz packages, as he has been in previous stops with the Bengals and Steelers, with whom he generated seven or more pressures in each full season of his career.”
We’ll see; maybe Brian Flores can make more magic happen in his defense this year.
After his unexpected defeat to Jakub Mensik in Doha, Jannik Sinner remained composed as he reflected on the loss and looked ahead to the rest of the season.
Mensik’s serving made the difference, particularly early on.
“In the first set he served very well, almost 90% of first serves in. It was difficult to return and in the third I suffered a hard break,” Sinner said. “I made a couple of too many errors, but it can happen. I’m a little disappointed with how I handled some moments, but it can happen.”
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He pointed to the start of the deciding set as a turning point.
“I started badly in the third set, which was perhaps the key moment. There I made a few errors. I took that break there and after that I didn’t serve very well. Mensik played an excellent tie-break. Maybe I could have played the point at 4-3 better, but it’s easy to talk after the match.”
Despite the result, Sinner made it clear he is not concerned about his level.
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“Every player faces ups and downs. I’ve had two incredible years and now I’m having a little downturn, but it’s not something that worries me. I know I can play better tennis.”
He added:
“It’s normal to go through some tough times; I’ve had even tougher ones in the past. I know how to come back.”
Looking ahead to the season, Sinner identified his main objective.
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“One of my biggest goals will be Roland Garros, but that goal is still far away. I also have to remember what I’ve done in the last three years, where I’ve won a lot of matches and lost very few. The confidence to play good tennis is there.”
On suggestions of fatigue, he responded calmly.
“I wouldn’t call this ‘fatigue’ yet. I’ve only lost a couple of matches.”
Sinner confirmed he is feeling physically fine.
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“I felt good, I didn’t suffer from the humidity. We’re working physically. I had some problems after Australia, but now I feel pretty good again. Everything is fine. I’m not worrying about anything at the moment.”
Indian Wells is next, followed by Miami, and then the clay season with Roland Garros firmly in his sights
Jul 28, 2025; Miami Gardens, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Mike Hilton (38) speaks to reporters during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Remember the summer sentiment last year from Minnesota Vikings fans, suggesting the club sign cornerback Mike Hilton after the first few waves of free agency? The same guy is back in the rumor mill, and Pro Football Focus recommended the purple team sign Hilton next month when the free agency window opens.
Hilton’s name keeps circling back to Minnesota, and the fit makes sense if the Vikings want proven slot help fast.
Hilton is a seasoned veteran, a decent option for the team’s CB3 role if it prefers an older presence over a rookie draft pick.
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PFF Connects Vikings to Veteran Slot Corner Mike Hilton
It’s the return of a popular name in Vikings free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) waits as officials review his fumble recovery during second-quarter action against the Houston Texans at Paycor Stadium on Nov 12, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hilton hovered near the sideline while the call was examined in a tight Week 10 matchup. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
PFF: Hilton to Vikings Checks Out
PFF’s Mason Cameron sized up the best destinations for the NFL’s five best free-agent corners on Thursday, and Hilton earned a mention — news to many because Hilton isn’t necessarily considered a premier cornerback in this free-agent class. Nevertheless, Cameron claimed Minnesota is the best fit for Hilton.
He explained, “Best Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has a reputation for running the most aggressive, blitz-heavy defenses in the NFL. That scheme requires multifaceted cornerback play, particularly in the slot, where the Vikings frequently deploy Byron Murphy Jr. Although talented, Murphy struggled inside in 2025, ranking in the sixth percentile in slot PFF coverage grade (49.3).”
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“Adding a full-time slot cornerback to better fill out the roster would allow Murphy to remain outside, where he’s far more effective. While Mike Hilton saw limited time on the field in 2025, his overall profile suggests he has far more to contribute in the right situation.”
Hilton’s modus operandi has always been blitz-happiness, so connecting him to Flores is no surprise.
Cameron added, “Hilton could step in and man the slot role to a high level, evidenced by his 76.3 slot PFF coverage grade since the start of 2023 — the seventh-highest mark in the NFL over that span.”
“Additionally, the veteran cornerback could be used as a versatile weapon in blitz packages, as he has been in previous stops with the Bengals and Steelers, with whom he generated seven or more pressures in each full season of his career.”
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The Scorecard from Hilton
Hilton played just two games in 2026. The Indianapolis Colts scooped him after the Miami Dolphins cut him in August 2025. How PFF called Hilton a Top 5 free agent cornerback of 2026? Nobody knows.
Before playing just 70 snaps in 2025, Hilton, indeed, was quite fantastic. Here’s his resume:
It’s concerning that Hilton only played two games in 2025 — at age 31. That would usually suggest a career downturn. Somehow, though, PFF profiled him as a starter and covered free-agent asset.
A Fit if Vikings Don’t Swing for the Fences at CB
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The Vikings haven’t drafted a productive cornerback since Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Eight times in the last decade, two general managers have selected corners in all rounds of the draft, and none have translated to long-term staying power. Zero.
Aug 10, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) hauls in a pass while Miami Dolphins cornerback Mike Hilton (38) closes in defensively during first-half preseason action at Soldier Field on Aug 10, 2025. Hilton contested the catch as both teams evaluated depth pieces. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
So, it’s probably time for Minnesota to draft a CB competently, assuming youth in the pipeline is the preferred strategy.
Adding Hilton as a 2026 solution would not address the future, but Hilton could likely hold down the fort in his age-32 season.
Other FA Options at CB
Interim Vikings general manager Rob Brzezinski — Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired three weeks ago — could also sign a non-Hilton free agent, such as:
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Montaric Brown (JAX)
Jamel Dean (TB)
Trevon Diggs (GB)
Cordale Flott (NYG)
Josh Jobe (SEA)
Roger McCreary (NYG)
Greg Newsome II (JAX)
Jonathan Jones (WAS)
Asante Samuel Jr. (PIT)
Eric Stokes (LV)
Alontae Taylor (NO)
Jaylen Watson (KC)
Tariq Woolen (SEA)
Dec 4, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) stretches during pregame warmups at EverBank Stadium on Dec 4, 2023, before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hilton prepared for a Monday night matchup as Cincinnati continued its regular-season schedule. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
The Athletic‘sMichael-Shawn Dugar wrote about Woolen, arguably the top corner available in free agency, this week: “Woolen was essentially Seattle’s No. 3 outside cornerback but would upgrade several secondaries if signed elsewhere.”
“In 2021, Shaquill Griffin left Seattle and signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars that would be worth around $22 million per year under the updated salary cap. Woolen may not command that much but like Griffin back then, Woolen should have multiple suitors.”
Generally speaking, Hilton should be considered a fallback plan if Minnesota does not prefer a young cornerback.
Such has been Pollock’s impact that already children at rugby clubs across England have been spotted running around with black head tape on, scoring tries and imitating his pulse-checking celebration.
Northampton’s club shop does a roaring trade in sales of black head tape, which Pollock wears to protect his ears.
But his influence goes further than that.
Former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll came home from covering last Saturday’s game against Italy in Dublin to find his son dressed as Pollock.
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Bordeaux Begles players mocked Pollock, who ended up in a final-whistle scuffle, in their post-match celebrations after winning last season’s Champions Cup final.
“Pollock is an outstanding rugby player and I think he is brilliant for the game,” former Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol told Radio 5 Live.
“My daughters are 25 and 22 and they don’t know who Tom Curry or Ben Earl are. They know who Henry Pollock is.”
In less than six months, he went from being an England Under-20 player to playing for the British and Irish Lions.
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“He is a great character and I got on well with him on the Lions tour in a weird kind of way,” said assistant coach Johnny Sexton, who received a tongue-in-cheek 40th birthday message on tour off Pollock.
A number of solo tries – one which cut open Leinster in a Champions Cup semi-final win and a remarkable chip-and-chase against Sale Sharks – showed Pollock has the speed and finishing prowess of a Test winger.
Former Ireland wing Shane Horgan added on BBC 5 Live: “He does things that few others can, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a spectacular moment by him [against Ireland] that galvanises England’s performance.
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“You’ve got an extremely highly skilled, massively talented individual who has enormous self-confidence, and that confidence has not been blunted by anything yet.
“That is when you get those generational players. They have all the components but also this bullet-proof confidence, which means they can just keep on delivering throughout their career.”
Bruno Fernandes has been a talisman for Manchester United during a difficult period and he has been told to make a decision on his future despite his importance to the club
20:27, 20 Feb 2026Updated 21:23, 20 Feb 2026
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Bruno Fernandes’ importance to Manchester United in recent seasons cannot be understated. “Shut down Bruno, United won’t score!” said Ange Postecoglou of his Tottenham side’s plan in the Europa League final.
The Portugal international has been central to most positive actions on the pitch for United since he arrived at Old Trafford. It has not been enough to reestablish the club at the top of the Premier League, but no opposition coach can take on United without thinking about how to contain him.
“I knew if we shut down Bruno [Fernandes], they weren’t going to score,” Postecoglou said. “I just felt with United, the way they set up with Ruben [Amorim] and the kind of ways they would try to break us down if we were really solid defensively, as long as we scored, we had to get a goal.”
Since that devastating result, Fernandes’ future has been thrown up in the air. While the club signed figures such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in a bid to alleviate the pressure on Fernandes, the talisman still has 18 goal contributions this term, six more than any of his teammates.
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That was not always destined to be the case. Fernandes has admitted he weighed up a move to Saudi Arabia and spoke to Al-Hilal over a potential transfer last year after United showed little determination to keep him. The star ultimately preferred to stay put despite the Saudi club being prepared to bid £100million and offer weekly wages of up to £700,000.
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“More than hurting me, it makes me sad. I’m a player that no-one can criticise, I’m always available, I always give my best. I could have left in this transfer window, I would have earned much more money. I would have won many trophies this season but I decided not to go, not only for family reasons but because I genuinely love the club.”
Saha told CasinoHawks: “I think for the respect that we all have for Bruno Fernandes, I think he’s a terrific player, he has to consider his future because, looking at the strategy of INEOS, the way they think is very uncertain. It’s really difficult to anticipate.
“I can imagine a player of his stature, who has delivered as much as he has over the years, has to think about himself at some point. Those people at the top think about the club, and they think about their own position. The reality is, you can love the club as much as you want, it doesn’t matter. At some point, you have to make your own decision.
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“This isn’t to say, ‘Bruno, you have to go.’ No, he has to think about his own career. It’s not only about trophies because we know 100%, I have no doubt about that, that Bruno wants to win a major trophy with Manchester United.
“It would be his proudest moment because he really loves the club and he’s shown that with his dedication. He was disappointed because he has seen, he has heard some behaviour around his future that he didn’t like, so it’s up to him to make the decision.
“But he also has to consider staying as well if he feels that the club and the staff are really behind him, because he needs the support to go out there and be the captain we need.”
Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.
A second straight Signature Event on the PGA Tour, at one of the great cathedrals of the game, led to another quiet week for gear changes this week, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about in this space.
This week in California, there was actually plenty of discourse over grass.
If you’re unfamiliar with Kikuyu grass, that’s OK because this week is one of just two weeks a year on the PGA Tour when we see it — the other being Torrey Pines.
But with the heavy rains this week that have left Riviera soaked and soft, the approaches will present a unique challenge with a rare grass and added moisture. Especially when it comes to wedge play.
“Kikuyu grass and a little bit of added moisture can make golf really tricky,” Vokey Tour rep Aaron Dill said in a video posted to Vokey’s social media pages. “You’re not only adding this water in this poor weather that will influence spin, but you’re also moving strikes around the face because of that added moisture.”
Kikuyu grass is a stiff and hearty grass strain that, when tightly mown, nearly makes the golf ball sit up like it’s on a tee, not unlike Zoysia grass.
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But it differs in the direction in which it grows.
“It doesn’t grow straight up like most grass does,” Vokey Tour rep Shane Dyel told GOLF via email. “It crosses and weaves on top of each other, which is a very unique way of the grass growing.”
Giving more cushion underneath the ball might sound like a good thing for those playing to fast greens who want to slide their wedge underneath the ball and pop it into the air to land high and soft, but on the PGA Tour, the goal is to launch it lower with more spin.
To do that, you need to hit the ball on the bottom-most grooves of the wedge — Vokey reps say Nos. 2-5, ideally. With the teed up lies and the moisture, all of that is going to move a player’s strike point above that zone.
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“If it’s sitting higher and you find that higher strike point, the ball comes off with less speed, the spin decreases and your ball launches higher,” Dyel said. “If that’s happening, we need to be able to identify what type of sole is going to get you back to that optimal strike location.”
On a typical PGA Tour setup, ultratight lies lead to the narrow-soled and low-bounce T- and L-grinds dominating usage week-to-week. That makes the Genesis Invitational one of the busiest of the year for the Vokey Tour team in working with players to determine if they need to make a change.
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Titleist Vokey SM11 Tour Chrome Wedge
Titleist Vokey Design’s new SM11 wedges feature a new precise CG position across each grind in a loft, meaning every wedge will now perform the same way with the same strike.
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The adjustments they make are usually subtle. Unlike fitting a driver, where you might go from one polar opposite setting or shaft to another, wedges are more delicate and calculated.
“If you have a player who has typically used thinner soles, you generally want to gravitate more towards that unless you start to see height becoming an issue. So if you’ve got a T grind or an L grind player, you want to try something like an M,” Dyel said. “But if we add bounce and the ball starts coming out a little bit flatter and hotter, and we need to produce a higher, softer launch, but with the same spin, that’s when we might start looking at a wider sole, like .06K or K*.”
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Lots of talk about wedge grinds this week with the wet Kikuyu grass at Riviera, but it turns out, Marco Penge was one of the only players to change grinds in his Vokey wedges.
He went from an SM11 .04T-Grind to a wider K*-Grind.
Despite lots of players testing different lob wedges, Marco Penge was the only player to switch his Vokey SM11 lob wedge, going from a narrow-soled .04T-grind to a wider, but still versatile K*-grind.
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Penge isn’t alone with traveling with multiple Vokey lob wedges as others like Justin Thomas (T/K*), Ludvig Aberg (L/V) and others do as well.
The blades that refuse to die
Another member of the blade mafia fell this week as Maverick McNealy joined the growing number of PGA Tour members playing a Spider Tour X mallet. McNealy had played Toulon blades for his entire career and the one he was using most recently goes back at least to his time at Stanford.
Mav McNealy is the latest victim to have been Spidered.
He’s used various Odyssey Toulon blades his entire career and the one he was using recently he’s had since at least his rookie year. pic.twitter.com/U7NqO2DNPJ
With McNealy’s switch, there are just four players in the OWGR top 25 (Hideki Matsuyama, Alex Noren, Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg) who use a blade putter.
Aberg was asked why he still uses a blade this week and claimed, “it’s all I’ve ever known.”
Aberg, who was 86th in SG: Putting last season, revealed this week he switched Odyssey Ai-ONE No. 1 putter heads this year to one with less loft in an effort to get more forward roll.
Ludvig Åberg made a sneaky gear change in the offseason, transitioning into a new @odysseygolf #1 putter with less loft, to get a better roll. He was also testing a @ScottyCameron prototype mallet at Riviera. Åberg is one of five players in the top-25 of the OWGR to use a blade. pic.twitter.com/S3XCwVKwdR
He added he’s always preferred blades with soft inserts, but he’s open to change. He just hasn’t.
In some ways, that explains the difference between blade and mallet players. Aberg doesn’t refuse to play a mallet; he just simply sees keeping what he’s known as his best bet.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have made some of the highest-profile mallet switches over the last few years and both did so because they acknowledged it helped their games.
But McIlroy explained this week that he still likes to practice with blades.
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“I’ve made enough bad strokes with the Spider where the ball still went in the hole from inside six feet that, yeah, it’s a lot more forgiving,” he said Wednesday. “I practice with a blade at home because I think when you practice with a blade a little bit and then you go back to the Spider, it feels just that little bit easier.”
Something about Tiger Woods roaming around a PGA Tour event just feels right, and he’s been front and center this week as the Genesis Invitational’s host.
And something we’ve seen constantly from Woods this year at the TGL, while he recovers from back and ankle surgeries, is he seems thoroughly fascinated by other players’ gear.
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On Wednesday, he dropped in to Collin Morikawa’s practice round to talk shop with last week’s winner and check out what he has in the bag.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Woods was drawn to Morikawa’s MG5 lob wedge because the World No. 5 plays Woods’ TW-grind, something Woods hasn’t yet had the chance to do in competition with the MG5.
But the more interesting banter came when Morikawa was talking about his new TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter with a flow neck. Morikawa was explaining how the toe hang of the putter allowed him to feel a release through the stroke, something Woods has always been an advocate of.
“So this putter actually feels good because it swings,” Morikawa said. “A little toe hang, but it’s a mallet so it doesn’t open as much for me going back, but then it closes, which is what I need.”
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“I love that,” Woods replied.
Morikawa continued explaining that if a putter opens too much, then he struggles to square the face back at impact.
That’s when Woods chimed in with a thought on-brand with his ethos of putting.
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TaylorMade Spider Tour X Custom Putter
TRUE PATH ALIGNMENT The patented alignment system provides visual clarity and helps golfers better envision the line to the hole. WHITE TPU PURE ROLL INSERT Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the white TPU Pure Roll insert creates a softer feel. Grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward roll as well as better sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. The white insert also creates better symmetry with the white True Path alignment. THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance.
“It’s hard to shut it with that big of a grip, though,” Woods said.
On almost all of his putters, Morikawa had been using an oversized SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0 putter grip, seemingly to take more of his hands out of the stroke.
Woods has always been adamant about keeping the right-hand release active through the stroke. On his putter, he almost always played a slim Ping PP58 putter grip. When he felt he was getting too handsy in the stroke, he would switch to a slightly larger Lamkin pistol grip, but it would still be considered small by modern standards.
It’s counterintuitive to a lot of modern conventions about putting, but it’s also hard to argue with Woods’ results.
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But with Morikawa’s new putter, he uses a Golf Pride Tour Tradition, more traditional slim pistol grip. That earned the 15-time major champ’s approval.
“There ya go,” Woods said, smiling and nodding.
Check this out
This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out Aldrich Potgieter’s Scotty Cameron 009M putter as he gets in contention this weekend at Riviera.
Aldrich Potgieter returned to his 009M this week.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
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Odds and Ends
Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.
Both Min Woo Lee and Max Greyserman traded in their Elyte Mini drivers for the new Quantum Mini driver, which launched last week on the PGA Tour. … Wyndham Clark is enjoying free agency because he just made a change to his fourth different driver of the season with a new TaylorMade Qi4D 10.5 and Project X’s new Titan 70 TX shaft. … Max Homa moved from Cobra OPTM LS-K driver to the OPTM X with a lighter Fujikura Ventus Blue+ 6-X shaft . … While Aaron Rai recently went back to his M6 driver, Jason Day and Justin Rose are ditching their M6 3-woods. Day is now in a Titleist GT1 3Tour 14.5 3-wood and Rose added two new Qi4D Tour 3- and 5-woods this week. Rose was in a Qi4D (core) 7-wood previously. … Lucas Glover added a new Ping G440 K 9.0 driver with a Graphite Design Tour AD-UB 6-TX shaft. Glover previously used a 440 Max 10.5 head, but it’s been an ongoing trend for 440 K players to loft down. … Jhonattan Vegas added a set of Mizuno JPX 923 Tour irons. … Tommy Fleetwood (24.0!!!), Jacob Bridgeman (16.5, 21.0), Pierceson Coody (15.0), Robert MacIntyre (21.0) and J.T. Poston (21.0) added new Qi4D core fairway woods.
3 things you should read/watch
A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.
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