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The NFL is once again offering a heaping helping of Thanksgiving Day games for 2024. Week 13 kicks off on Thursday with a tripleheader with three of the four NFC North teams in action. Between the Bears-Lions (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS), Giants-Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET Fox), and Dolphins-Packers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), there are also plenty of fantasy football considerations, whether you're looking for the best advice for seasonal leagues or top tips for DFS contests. Here's a complete breakdown of the slate to help you know which players have the most and least favorable matchups and assist with those tougher lineup decisions. WEEK 13 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions Start 'em, Sit 'em Chicago Bears starts and sits Start: WR D.J. Moore, RB D'Andre Swift Sit: QB Caleb Williams, WR Keenan Allen, WR Rome Odunze, TE Cole Kmet, Bears D/ST, K Cairo Santos Sleeper: RB Roschon Johnson Moore has gotten going with interim OC Thomas Brown and has the best chance to produce as the No. 1 option in the passing game with the Lions' pass defense improving each week and rough on the slot (Allen) and tight end (Kmet). Swift won't find much room to sled on his former team, but he'll be motivated and can come through as a checkdown receiver in a negative game script. Williams is coming off a big game against the Vikings' defense at home, but you can't trust him on the road. WEEK 13 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE Stock Watch | Start 'Em, Sit 'Em | Sleepers | Busts | Usage Report | Flex Finder | Weather Detroit Lions starts and sits Start: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, RB David Montgomery, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, QB Jared Goff, Lions defense/special teams Sit: TE Sam LaPorta, WR Jameson Williams Sleeper: K Jake Bates Gibbs has been red-hot and Monty should run with extra juice in a backfield revenge game of his own. They both should score again, but this time, leave some fun for Goff. The Bears' secondary is tricky outside and can contain the big plays (see Williams), but they can be eaten in the slot (St. Brown). LaPorta is just out of TE1 range for the season, and you can't trust him too much in a minus matchup. Detroit's defense also has been hot, and that doesn't change at home. New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Start 'em, Sit 'em New York Giants starts and sits Start: WR Malik Nabers, RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. Sit: QB Tommy DeVito/Drew Lock, RB Devin Singletary, K Graham Gano, WR Wan'Dale Robinson Sleepers: TE Theo Johnson, Giants D/ST, WR Darius Slayton Nabers and Slayton can benefit from a big downfield production pivot from a banged-up DeVito to a big-armed gunslinger in Lock. Tracy is getting too much work over Singletary to sit. The Giants' D has a good pass rush and won't need to worry as much about deep action. Johnson can keep up the recent pace Dallas Cowboys starts and sits Start: WR CeeDee Lamb, K Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys D/ST Sit: QB Cooper Rush Sleepers: RB Rico Dowdle, TE Luke Schoonmaker Lamb and Aubrey have been every-weekers for a while, but Dallas' defense finally can be used again at home against an uncertain and shaky Giants QB situation. Rush had a solid floor game last week, but this is a bad downfield matchup. He has his best shot throwing to Schoonmaker along with Lamb on short-to-intermediate inside routes. Dowdle would be a volume-based play in a plus spot if needed during a no-bye week. Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers Start 'em, Sit 'em Miami Dolphins starts and sits Start: RB De'Von Achane, WR Tyreek Hill (if he plays), TE Jonnu Smith Sit: QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jaylen Waddle, RB Raheem Mostert, K Jason Sanders, Dolphins D/ST Achane needs to be a big part of the game plan in the outdoor elements for the Dolphins to keep winning. Check Hill and the wrist injury, but you should stick with him if he is healthy enough to go. Smith has been too involved in high-leverage situations through the red zone to sit. Tagovailoa has a tough matchup away in the cold, and Waddle is still difficult to trust, despite last week's needed slump breakout. Green Bay Packers starts and sits Start: RB Josh Jacobs, WR Jayden Reed Sit: QB Jordan Love, WR Christian Watson, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Dontayvion Wicks, TE Tucker Kraft Sleeper: Packers D/ST The weather in Green Bay for Thursday night is expected to be in the high 20s with a chance of snow. That's perfect late November/early December weather for Lambeau Field. The Packers got the power-running Jacobs to churn in the frozen tundra, and he'll explode again against a middling Dolphins run defense. Getting the ball out to Reed quickly should be the passing gameplan for Love, who has limited upside in a bad spot. The defense should make some big plays, too, in a correlated play to Jacobs. It's tough to feel any of the other pass-catchers or Love with lowered attempts for a second straight week. WEEK 13 DFS STRATEGY: Sleepers and Values FanDuel NFL Thanksgiving cash game lineup picks QB: Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, Giants $6700/$6,400 RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions $8,400 RB: Josh Jacobs, Packers $7,800 WR: D.J. Moore, Bears $6,700 WR: Jayden Reed, Packers $6,900 WR: Darius Slayton, Giants $5,400 TE: Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys $4,000 FLEX: De'Von Achane, Dolphins $9,000 D/ST: Packers $4,200 DraftKings NFL Thanksgiving tournament lineup picks QB: Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, Giants $4,500 RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions $7,500 RB: Josh Jacobs, Packers $7,000 WR: D.J. Moore, Bears, $5,600 WR: Jayden Reed, Packers $5,700 WR: Rome Odunze, Bears $5,000 TE: Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys $3,400 FLEX: De'Von Achane, Dolphins $7,700 D/ST: Packers $3,000 The whole premise of these lineups was to get Gibbs, Jacobs, and Achane all together. To do that, it required going the cheapest at quarterback and tight end. The Packers' D is in the best spot at home related to Jacobs and Reed. Odunze and Slayton are the garbage time dart throws as downfield targets for QBs who might be trailing for much of their games. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >When already this year you’ve bungee-jumped , jetskied and led your party to its best election result for a century, how can you possibly top that as a politician? If you are Ed Davey, the answer is obvious: try for a Christmas No 1. That, at least, is the ambition for the Liberal Democrat leader, who has teamed up with a choir of young carers to record an original song of theirs, complete with a Christmas-heavy video featuring festive jumpers and hats, tinsel, and baubles being hung on a tree. As with Davey’s many stunts for the general election, there is a serious purpose: to generate awareness of the plight of carers, particularly younger ones, and to raise money for good causes. The genesis of this latest move by 2024’s most consistently surprising MP came in the spring, when the widow of Davey’s former choirmaster sent a recording of him aged 13 singing a solo version of In The Deep Midwinter. After the election, when Davey and his team sought ways to push their message over carers, the idea of music came up again. The party hit on the idea of teaming up with the Bath Philharmonia orchestra and their Young Carers’ Choir to record a version of their self-written song, Love is Enough, which is released on Thursday. The result is uplifting and festive, and perhaps just the right side of saccharine to appeal to Christmas listeners. It does not, however, feature much audible input from Davey, whose contributions are slightly buried in the glossy mix. Asked if his adult voice is not quite as angelic as when he was a 13-year-old soloist, Davey told the Guardian: “Definitely. But the young carers is what it’s all about. It is the Young Carers’ Choir with Bath Philharmonia – featuring me. I’m not central to this. I sang all the choruses, by the way.” Davey has made a better deal for carers a key element of his party’s policies, drawing heavily on his own experiences as a young carer to his mother, and his caring responsibilities now to his teenage son, John, who is disabled. One of the Lib Dems’ breakout moments in the election was an election broadcast video that showed Davey with John, which was widely watched and praised. The Christmas single has a similarly policy-based aim beyond the money raised, which will go to the Carers Trust and Bath Philarmonia. Davey said he also hoped to generate publicity for the help available to young carers. Davey said that, while filming the video, he chatted to many of the choir members: “When you talk to young carers, you don’t actually talk much about their caring responsibilities, but one or two told me about them. “And I was in awe of what they are doing, with such heavy responsibilities. I think that getting a break, like doing this single, meant a lot to them.” Is the Christmas No 1 really in their sights? “I think Mariah Carey and all the rest of them are very worried,” Davey responded, deadpan. It might not happen. But when it comes to a party that began the year with 15 MPs and ended it with 72, you can never rule it out.
In the quirky world of Telugu politics, a peculiar 'sentiment' has gained traction: Spend time in jail, and you might just land the Chief Minister's chair. With Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and A. Revanth Reddy famously ascending to power post-incarceration, the theory has sparked more gossip than a Tollywood blockbuster. Now, tongues are wagging that BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao might be eyeing this unconventional route to Telangana's top job. KTR's repeated fiery challenges to CM Revanth Reddy — daring him to "show some guts" and throw him in jail — have only added fuel to the rumour mill. "Send me to jail if you dare," KTR has been heard saying, leaving political observers wondering if he's more eager to pack a jail bag than win an election for his party the next time round. But Revanth, never one to miss a punchline, has a sharp retort ready. "Even if KTR goes to jail, he won't become CM," Revanth quipped. Why? Because KTR's sister, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, has already "beaten him to it," spending five months in Tihar Jail in the Delhi liquor scam case. By this logic, Kavitha holds a better shot at the CM crown — jailbird seniority, perhaps? The bizarre rivalry has turned into a comedy of political errors, with Revanth taking every opportunity to dismiss KTR's ambitions. "Just going to jail isn't enough, my friend. You need the people's vote too," Revanth jibed recently, delivering a masterclass in political shade. Do bikes dream of growing into a car? Sure, why not, appears to be the attitude of the Visakhapatnam traffic police who recently issued a challan to a car owner in Bobbili in Vizianagaram district for not wearing a helmet while driving. The shell-shocked car owner, a woman, repeatedly explained, in vain, to the police that her car was parked at her home at the time of the so-called offence. Fed up with the notices to pay the fine, the car owner checked the challan carefully and found that the vehicle number was wrongly printed. The challan was for a vehicle with registration number of 8417, that of a motorcycle owner in Visakhapatnam, while the car's registration number was 8471. The cops apologised to the car owner, and then sent a fresh notice to the bike owner. No word yet if that fine has been paid. -=-=-=-=- Politicians face testing times constantly, that is a given for their line of work. But those vying for the position of the chairpersons of the agriculture market committees in Jukkal Assembly constituency in Kamareddy district, had to take a test. For real. This was the idea of Congress MLA Thota Laxmikantha Rao, who set up a six-member committee to conduct a written test for appointment of Madnoor market committee chairperson's post. Congress activist Ailawar Soujanya secured highest marks in the test and was appointed as market committee chairperson. This new approach has won Rao some admirers within the rank and file of the party including minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. But since nothing is politics is in black and white, dissident Congress leaders staged a protest against the Jukkal MLA at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad the other day. The dissident group also poured out complaints against MLA for ignoring senior cadres and encouraging newcomers into the ruling party. -=-=-=- Making mountains out of molehills may come easy to some, but sometimes, the mountain ends up being a huge problem. That is apparently the fix that officials of the civil supplies department find themselves in Kakinada. The story goes thus: Kakinada collector Sagili Shan Mohan received information that PDS rice was being exported from the anchorage port and was being done so without the requisite permissions. This resulted in an immediate inspection-cum-raid with the civil supplies officials and technical staff, following which 640 tonnes of rice, believed to be meant for the PDS system, was seized. In the end it turned out that the exporter revealed that this was not the case, and that bank guarantees were in place and everything about the rice was legit, and that is when the rice was loaded onto the ship. Officials are now scratching their heads to figure a way out about the 'seizure', if one goes by the whispers doing the rounds in government circles. -=-=-=-= A small drink a day may not keep the doctor away but it surely can attract the attention of the opposition party looking for ammunition. Such is the case after TD MLC B.T. Naidu's recent comments during the oath-taking ceremony of Somisetty Venkateswarlu as chairman of the Kurnool Urban Development Authority. In all apparent innocence, as part of his praise of Venkateswarulu, Naidu let it slip that among Venkateswarlu's good qualities were sticking to having just one 'small, negligible quantity' of alcohol daily at 8.30 pm, and calling it a sign of 'discipline'. While the remarks drew some laughter from the gathering, this attracted the attention of opposition YSRC leaders who were quick to start poking Venkateswarlu's 'discipline' with posts on social media platforms mocking the TD's choice to head KUDA. -=-=-=-=- Never look a gift horse in its mouth, or so the saying goes. But when it comes to nice little expensive gifts, there are few and far between who say no. One among them turned out to be the CPI(ML) MP Sudhama Prasad from Bihar, who the other day turned down small gold and silver gifts presented to members of the parliamentary standing committee on railways during a tour of Bengaluru, Tirupati and Hyderabad, led by committee chairman C.M. Ramesh. Word doing the rounds is that Prasad criticised the gifts received by members, calling it profligacy, and sent the gift pack back expressing concern that such practices discourage transparency, especially relating to corruption. Prasad is also learnt to have written to Ramesh urging an end to the misuse of public funds and questioning the need for luxurious accommodations for committee meetings. -=-=-=-=-=- In the corridors of Telangana’s bureaucracy, where decorum and discretion usually reign supreme, a retired IAS officer turned government adviser, K.S. Sreenivasa Raju, has become the unlikely epicentre of controversy. Tasked with overseeing infrastructure and projects, Raju seems to have developed a hobby: Poking his nose into every issue imaginable, whether it falls under his purview or not. And his knack for ‘unfiltered commentary’ is proving to be the spice — or bane — at Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's review meetings. According to insiders, Raju's penchant for making satirical comments about senior IAS officers during high-stakes discussions has raised more than a few eyebrows, and hackles. These quips, often delivered in a razor-sharp manner, have left senior bureaucrats, particularly those at the level of special chief secretary or principal secretary, seething with frustration. It's not just embarrassing; it's downright humiliating, feel IAS officers. The murmurs on the bureaucratic grapevine suggest that Raju's proximity to Revanth affords him a level of impunity that few dare to challenge-at least openly. However, patience among his peers appears to be wearing thin and whispers of an impending showdown are growing louder. "It's only a matter of time before the dam breaks," warned a source familiar with the situation.
Fairfield 72, Wake Forest 65None
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Big pharma pushes Trump team to ease Medicare drug price negotiation rulesLess than a month after winning the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers are spending big again to add one of baseball's best pitchers to their star-studded roster. Blake Snell and the Dodgers agreed to a $182 million, five-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal is subject to a successful physical. The two-time Cy Young Award winner broke the news personally by posting a photo of himself on social media in a Dodgers uniform — No. 7. Snell gets a $52 million signing bonus, payable on Jan. 20, and annual salaries of $26 million, of which $13 million each year will be deferred. Because Snell is a Washington state resident, the signing bonus will not be subject to California income tax. Snell would join two-way star Shohei Ohtani and fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop Los Angeles' rotation, giving the Dodgers the first megadeal this offseason following Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract and Yamamoto's $325 million, 12-year agreement last offseason. Ohtani didn't pitch this year while recovering from right elbow surgery but is expected back on the mound in 2025. He won his third MVP award — first in the National League — following a huge season at the plate exclusively as a designated hitter. Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts as a rookie, then won twice in four October outings. Down to three healthy starting pitchers during the postseason, Los Angeles overcame a string of injuries to its projected rotation in winning the franchise's second World Series title in five years. Right-handers Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler then became free agents this fall, creating more voids on the staff. But the addition of Snell would fill a large one at the top with a legitimate ace. Snell's $36.4 million average salary would rank as the fifth-highest among active deals next year behind Ohtani ($70 million), Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler ($42 million), New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37 million). Among expired contracts, it also was exceeded by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (both $43.33 million) under deals they agreed to with the New York Mets. ESPN first reported the details of Snell's contract. Earlier this month, Snell opted out of his deal with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after he was slowed by injuries during his lone year with the Giants. The left-hander agreed in March to a $62 million, two-year contract that included a $17 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2026, a $15 million salary for 2024 and a $30 million salary for 2025, of which $15 million would have been deferred and payable on July 1, 2027. Snell, who turns 32 next week, went 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts this year, throwing a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2 for one of only 16 individual shutouts in the major leagues this season. He struck out 145 and walked 44 in 104 innings. He was sidelined between April 19 and May 22 by a strained left adductor and between June 2 and July 9 by a strained left groin. Snell won Cy Young Awards in 2018 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with San Diego. He is 76-58 with a 3.19 ERA in nine seasons with the Rays (2016-20), Padres (2021-23) and Giants. Because he turned down a qualifying offer from San Diego last November, the Giants were not eligible to give Snell another one and won’t receive draft-pick compensation. Los Angeles expects All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw back in the rotation next year. Other starting candidates if healthy include right-handers Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Bobby Miller. Ohtani is coming off right elbow surgery in September 2023 and left shoulder surgery on Nov. 5. Glasnow didn’t pitch after Aug. 11 because of right elbow tendinitis. Kershaw, who turns 37 in March, had foot and knee surgeries on Nov. 7. He declined a $10 million player option in favor of free agency, but is expected to return to Los Angeles. May is coming back from Tommy John surgery in July 2023 and from an operation this past July to repair a tear in his esophagus. Gonsolin spent 2024 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Miller, an 11-game winner as a rookie in 2023, was sidelined early this season by shoulder inflammation. He struggled to a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA in 13 big league starts and ended the regular season in the minors. Yamamoto was sidelined by right triceps tightness between June 15 and Sept. 10, then returned and went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four postseason starts. AP Baseball Writers Janie McCauley and Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
New CPEC playbook This is critical time for Pakistan to reconsider its growth trajectory and align with international trends Amidst global economic uncertainty, developing nations are striving to minimise long-term economic setbacks and foster recovery. To break free from the low-income trap and achieve sustained prosperity, these countries are prioritising productivity, technological advancement, and innovation as fundamental pillars of their economic strategies. Emerging economies in Asia, as highlighted by the McKinsey Global Institute, have positioned themselves as leaders in technological platforms, resource management, energy solutions, and capital development. Examining the economic impact of demographics across regions reveals that Asia’s urban population is expected to grow from 1.6 billion to 3.0 billion by 2030. A prime example of how geography, a sizeable population, and connectivity can drive economic success is China’s extraordinary rise. With trends like glocalisation, nearshoring, and friend-shoring reshaping the global investment landscape, Asia is poised to become the centre of the global economy by 2050. While these global trends offer opportunities, they also bring domestic political and economic challenges, including low productivity, into sharper focus. This is a critical time for Pakistan to reconsider its growth trajectory and align with international trends. Breaking the cycle of low income and setting the stage for a future centred on productivity and innovation will require gradual yet consistent advancements in the country’s industrial and economic structure, renewable energy initiatives, and technological adoption. Over the past decade, China has been Pakistan’s leading investor. Through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it has not only helped address Pakistan’s energy shortages but also constructed critical infrastructure, including the Gwadar Port, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s Blue Economy. Gwadar’s strategic connectivity to the hinterland via the coastal highway and its linkage to global markets through the recently operationalized Gwadar International Airport, funded by a $230 million Chinese grant, underscores its importance. Moving forward, it is imperative to focus on establishing processing and manufacturing industries within the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and the Gwadar Free Zone. This should be followed by a phase of maturity where endogenous mechanisms for sustainable growth are firmly in place. The development of Gwadar city infrastructure, as outlined in its master plan, will be crucial to realising the full dividend of the port city and addressing the genuine concerns of the local population. The next phase of CPEC may not involve mega-projects but should feature initiatives aligned with evolving global trends, regional needs, and Pakistan’s economic priorities. However, the emerging geopolitical landscape poses significant challenges to CPEC’s progress, notably in the form of security concerns and narrative-related issues such as recent terrorist attacks and debates surrounding anti-CPEC/BRI sentiments within the broader context of US-China rivalry. While discussing this new phase, it is essential to support and address the concerns of existing Chinese investors, who will play a pivotal role in attracting new private or state-owned enterprises to Pakistan. Regular engagement with these stakeholders is imperative. Strengthening security infrastructure through technology-driven solutions, particularly in critical areas like SEZs and mega energy projects, is equally important. Additionally, incremental investment and financing models must be adopted for large-scale projects like the ML1 railway project. Dividing such projects into manageable phases with clear milestones will help attract investment and ensure steady, measurable progress. There is also untapped potential for collaboration between Chinese Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Pakistani businesses, particularly in sectors such as engineering, automotive, IT, chemicals, textiles, and agro-based industries. Encouraging Chinese SMEs and start-ups to visit Pakistan through tailored tourism and academia initiatives could serve as a precursor to investment. Simultaneously, the Pakistani business community must be motivated to seize these opportunities. Establishing a High-Tech Education City under CPEC, through partnerships with Chinese universities and research institutions, could be a transformative step forward. Given Pakistan’s resource-constrained environment, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) offer a viable model for financing large-scale projects. However, the government must enhance the capacity of officials engaged in PPP nodes, particularly at the provincial level. Offering realistic, non-financial incentives tailored to each region’s unique needs will further strengthen this model. It is essential to reflect on why Pakistan has struggled to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at the same level as countries like Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand, despite offering competitive incentives, a favourable geographical location, and a relatively large population. Furthermore, Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio remains significantly lower than the regional average. Investors, whether domestic or foreign, private or state-owned, are drawn to Pakistan’s large market size and abundant human and mineral resources. What they need is a conducive environment characterised by pragmatic governance, financial security, and personal safety. The incentives required to attract investment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be the same as those for Punjab and Sindh, which benefit from superior infrastructure. Pakistan needs a tailored approach that acknowledges the heterogeneity of investment opportunities across the country and implements region-specific strategies to attract both domestic and foreign investments. A recurring challenge in Pakistan’s economic planning has been the gap between policy formulation and implementation. Incentive packages must not only be well-conceived but also reliably executed to build investor confidence. An incremental approach to economic development could involve targeting one SEZ, one Integrated Tourism Zone, one Mineral Zone, and at least one CPEC Agri-Tech Zone for 2024-25. These are achievable goals, provided the plans are kept straightforward and free of unnecessary complexity. The success of CPEC’s next phase will also depend on a meritocratic approach, where officials responsible for delays and inefficiencies in project development are held accountable. Talent development will play a critical role in ensuring Pakistan’s workforce is equipped to meet the demands of emerging industries, particularly in high-tech sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), and renewable energy. In this regard, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has a crucial role to play. The road to recovery will undoubtedly be slow, but with confidence-building measures and a focus on sustainable development, Pakistan can still capitalise on emerging opportunities. Decisive action and a clear vision are essential for navigating the challenges ahead. The nation’s youthful population, strategic partnerships, and potential for innovation provide a unique opportunity to build a brighter and more prosperous future. By prioritising these efforts, Pakistan can position itself as a regional leader and a catalyst for sustainable growth and development. The time to act is now. The writer is a project management specialist and is a faculty member at various institutes/universities, while also having served as a diplomat in China and Vietnam. He can be reached at: hdb4049@gmail.comNone
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Ireland ran out 22-19 winners in Dublin but the Wallabies have restored pride on their European tour, after a dismal World Cup campaign last year. Australia had chances to win and looked a thoroughly different side to the one that was thumped 40-6 by Wales in September last year. Coach Joe Schmidt has shown the Wallabies have enough firepower to challenge the British and Irish Lions next year when at one stage it looked like the upcoming series would be a completely one-sided affair. How Australia’s players fared against Ireland 1) James Slipper - 6.5 Gave his all for 50 minutes but was penalised for collapsing a scrum just before half-time that led to an Ireland three-pointer. In Dublin in 2022, Slipper made the bold call that he wanted to play against the Lions and at 36 next year, looks set to do so. 2) Brandon Paenga-Amosa - 7 Australia didn’t lose a lineout all night, with Paenga-Amosa having a pleasing end to the tour. It was a major improvement from last week against Scotland. Jake Gordon sprints away for the Wallabies. Credit: AP 3) Taniela Tupou - 7.5 Picked off an intercept and streaked down the field but threw a loose pass to ruin the good work. His scrum work was good but certainly not dominant like we know he can be. Came off after 45 minutes in a more polished performance than some this year. 4) Nick Frost - 6.5 Second on the tackle count for Australia (17). Won five lineouts, the same as Ireland’s James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne. Was excellent in Dublin two years ago and backed that up here. Involved in a nice breakaway link play with Harry Wilson that once again highlighted Frost’s athleticism. 5) Jeremy Williams - 6.5 A solid 59-minute shift from someone who was not in the Wallabies frame last year. Did his job at the lineout and will feature next year against the Lions after a good spring tour. 6) Rob Valetini - 8 Valetini’s bad games are few and far between. Made 14 carries - four more than any other Australian player - to go with 10 tackles. Was almost yellow-carded for a forearm while carrying the ball into his former Brumbies teammate Mack Hansen. Pictured next to Hansen after the match, with the latter enjoying a Guinness. 7) Fraser McReight - 8.5 One of his best games in a gold jersey. Pulled off three turnovers at critical moments that gave the men in gold a major energy lift. Only blemish was an inaccurate, rushed pass to Tom Wright that was put down with four minutes to go with the Wallabies searching for a match-winning try. Tim Horan described McReight’s timing at breakdowns “amazing”. Topped the tackle count with 21. 8) Harry Wilson - 7.5 The sight of red headgear in space is becoming more common as Wilson and Frost combined with Ireland on the back foot. 13 tackles and 10 carries rounded out a productive day for the skipper. After not featuring for the Wallabies at last year’s World Cup, it has been some turnaround. 9) Jake Gordon- 7 A reasonable 61-minute shift with no major issues. Kicked high in midfield for Suaalii, a play which we could see more of during the Lions series. Service was solid as always and gets to rucks quickly. 10) Noah Lolesio - 7 Nailed all his kicks at goal, including a 48-metre penalty in the final quarter of the match. His wrap-around and service out the back in the lead-up to Jorgensen’s try was outstanding and shows what he’s capable of at this level. The Wallabies have lost their final game of 2024 to Ireland. Credit: AP 11) Max Jorgensen - 7 Finished off a nice team try in the 18th minute to put Australia up 8-0 but barely got his hands on the ball after that. Eight tackles across his 80 minutes. 12) Len Ikitau - 7 Tried to get into the game but didn’t have as big an impact as other games on the tour. Is No.12 his best position? Jury is out. How the Wallabies backline shapes for the Lions will be fascinating. Made more tackles than any Wallabies back (13). 13) Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - 6 Certainly not as spectacular as he was on debut. Put a huge shot on Keenan early. Not as effective winning balls back from restarts. Five carries for 15 metres. Threw the ball away with three minutes to go and the Wallabies searching for a five-pointer. Got found out a few times defensively in the notoriously difficult No.13 channel. 14) Andrew Kellaway - 7 Ever reliable. Won a turnover and made nine carries for 25 metres. Great try-saving tackle that knocked the ball clean out of an Ireland player’s hand. 15) Tom Wright - 6.5 Standard showing without any major highlights. Ran the ball for more metres (42) than any Wallaby. Threw the final pass for Jorgensen’s try. 16) Billy Pollard - 5: No dramas with any throws after coming on with 23 minutes to go. 17) Isaac Kailea - 5.5: A late replacement with Angus Bell ruled out ill. Footwork into contact a highlight. Made eight tackles in his 30-minute stint on the park. 18) Allan Alaalatoa - 6: Did his job and the stuff no one looks closely at. Gave Ireland prop Cian Healy a hard time. 19) Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - 5: Came on with 21 minutes to go. No real highlights. Seven tackles. 20) Langi Gleeson - 5: Same boat as Salakaia-Loto, coming on with six minutes to go. 21) Tate McDermott - 6: Ireland kept a close eye on McDermott in a period where the home side had a lot of the ball. 22) Tane Edmed - n/a: Beaming with pride at becoming Wallaby No.709, Edmed’s debut only lasted three minutes as he came off for a Head Injury Assessment. He looked shattered. “Are you serious?” Edmed said as he walked off. 23) Harry Potter - n/a: Came on with 95 seconds to go. Not enough time for any wizardry.
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