Sport - Rugby Union http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/ http://www.eblah.com en 2008 Super 14 Season http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1205677270/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1205677270/#num1

Quoted Text
Force cross the final frontier

    By Tim Clarke
    March 15, 2008

A HALF-TIME spray has stirred Western Force onto arguably the best win in their short history, a 27-17 victory over the Blues – their first ever triumph on New Zealand soil.

Ten points down at half-time, the Force capitalised on an injury to Blues playmaker Nick Evans to score 20 unanswered second-half points to conquer the trans-Tasman frontier on their sixth outing.

Skipper Nathan Sharpe said a team-led talking-to at the change-over sparked the comeback which elevates Force to fifth on the Super 14 ladder.

"All the boys put a rocket up themselves at half-time and you saw the result in the second half," Sharpe said.


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23380281-5002381,00.html]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2008 01:21:10 Tasman World Cup 2007 http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1191715067/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1191715067/#num1 Who'd have thought it?  

Wallabies shattered by World Cup exit

World Cup exit ... George Gregan and the rest of the Wallabies reflect on what might have been after Australia's 12-10 defeat to England (AFP: Pascal Guyot)

Wallabies coach John Connolly admitted his side left their worst performance until last, following their 12-10 World Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of England in Marseille this morning (Australian time).

The Wallabies slumped to the ground in disbelief after failing to handle the unrelenting England pressure in the tense clash.

It was a bitter international farewell for record-capped half-back George Gregan, in his 139th Test match, and also for his long-time team-mate, 102-capped Stephen Larkham, who missed the match with a knee injury.

More acute for the Wallabies was that for the third time in tournament history it was bitter rivals England who were their World Cup executioner.

Rob Andrew's drop goal dumped them out in the quarter-finals of the 1995 World Cup in South Africa and Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal won England the 2003 final in extra-time in Sydney.

This time the Australians were rattled by resurgent England, flustered into error and failed to find any attacking flow, despite scoring the only try of the match through winger Lote Tuqiri.


'Worst performance'

"It was our worst performance. England controlled the breakdown very strongly and from that we never got any momentum. Our game never got off the ground," said Connolly, who also coached his last match for the Wallabies.

"At no stage did we control the breakdown in any shape or form, we were always on the back-foot, when we did get on the front foot we were dangerous, but we were flustered and we lost a fair bit of composure and made uncharacteristic errors, things we pride ourselves on not doing."

Captain Stirling Mortlock was particularly crestfallen for his long-time team-mates Gregan and Larkham to bow out of the World Cup on a losing note.

"I think that Stephen and George have given so much, not just to Australian rugby, but to world rugby. For them to bow out in the quarter-final, as well as everyone involved in our team, is extremely disappointing," he said.

"It's an extremely quiet, dull dressing room at the moment. They're extremely disappointed with the way we played today. But credit goes to England with their breakdown. We didn't get any rhythm."

Mortlock was dismayed with missing three of his four penalty attempts, one a last-ditch 47-metre effort two minutes from full-time which went wide.

"Personally, obviously goal-kicking-wise, I'm very disappointed. I should've kicked them," he said.

- AFP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/07/2052791.htm

and...

All Blacks follow Wallabies out of World Cup

World Cup hosts France produced a stunning second-half fight-back to beat New Zealand 20-18 in their World Cup quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this morning (Australian time).

For the All Blacks, 13-0 up as early as the 30th minute, defeat was arguably as devastating as their equally unexpected 43-31 loss to France in the 1999 World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.

France now face old rivals England - who earlier this morning (Australian time) inflicted more misery on the southern hemisphere by beating Australia - in next Sunday morning's (Australian time) semi-final at the Stade de France in St Denis.

"Bravo to all the players," said France coach Bernard Laporte.

"After losing the first match to Argentina, we suffered a lot of things but tonight the response was there. We beat a great team and we want to go further."

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said he could not explain the defeat.

"I'm lost for words. With France we always knew they could come back in the second half. We lost our composure. I thought we could get it back," he said.

"We believed we had what it takes. In the first half, they forced us to play aerial ping-pong. We didn't want to play like that. It's a day you try to forget."

The French did not go ahead until 11 minutes from time courtesy of a try from centre Yannick Jauzion, which owed much to replacement fly half Frederic Michalak.

Flanker Thierry Dusautoir's try had earlier drawn France level with novice fly half Lionel Beauxis kicking two penalties and a conversion.

Half-back Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's conversion of Jauzion's try made it 20-18 heading into the final minutes.

In the last minute, New Zealand full-back Leon MacDonald missed a field goal attempt, which would have won the match for the All Blacks and France were left to celebrate a famous victory.

New Zealand saw Luke McAlister and Rodney So'oialo both score tries with fly half Dan Carter's boot adding the remaining eight points through a conversion and two penalties.


Early setback

France suffered a setback in the fifth minute when flanker Serge Betsen fell awkwardly after tackling All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko and was left flat out on the turf.

Betsen, after several minutes of treatment, walked off the pitch with and was replaced by Imanol Harinordoquy.

Laporte had given a first Test start at full-back to Damien Traille and opted for Beauxis at fly half over Michalak, the clear intention to kick for territory and then use their line-out to regain the ball.

But McAlister, in a foretaste of what was to come, then evaded the French defence after following up his own chip ahead.

His move eventually set up a ruck deep inside the French 22 where recalled former France captain Fabien Pelous was penalised for not rolling away.

Carter's resulting 13th-minute penalty put the All Blacks 3-0 ahead.

Then McAlister again scythed his way through France's midfield and found half-back Byron Kelleher.

The ball was worked left with number eight Rodney So'oialo passing to Ali Williams, out on the touchline where winger Vincent Clerc did just enough to force the lock into touch before he put the ball down although it needed the video referee to make the call.

However, France's reprieve was short-lived. Fly half Carter released McAlister who again burst through to find Jerry Collins, whose return pass set up a 17th-minute try for McAlister.

Carter converted and the All Blacks were 10-0 ahead.

Beauxis then missed a 24th-minute penalty before Carter, maintaining his perfect strike-rate, knocked over one himself from 48 metres to extend New Zealand's lead.

Elissalde also failed with his first penalty attempt from out on the right, before Beauxis made amends for his earlier miss on the stroke of half-time to leave New Zealand 13-3 ahead.

Beauxis scored the first points of the second half, with a penalty after a deliberate obstruction by McAlister on Jauzion saw the All Black sent to the sin-bin by English referee Wayne Barnes.

France drew level in the 54th minute with a well-worked try.

The charging Harinordoquy was held up just short of the line but France retained possession and Clerc's well-timed pass released openside Dusautoir who went over on the right hand side.

Beauxis converted and the match was tied at 13-13.

France's forwards then enjoyed a purple patch but New Zealand, having been initially taken aback, weathered the storm and saw So'oialo burrow his way over for a try confirmed by video referee Chris White.

But Carter's missed conversion meant that, at 18-13 ahead, New Zealand still had plenty of work to do heading into the final quarter.

Laporte, with 13 minutes left, played his trump card by sending on the gifted, but erratic Michalak for Beauxis.

It was a move that paid dividends barely two minutes later. Traille broke clear before finding Michalak, taking the ball at pace, who in turn released Jauzion for a well-worked try.

- AFP/Reuters

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/07/2052792.htm]]> Sun, 7 Oct 2007 09:57:47 Paula Junior Rugby Union http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1158472616/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1158472616/#num1 Sun, 17 Sep 2006 15:56:56 Paula Wendell Sailor banned for drug use http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1153474837/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1153474837/#num1 Sailor cocaine incident a one-off: coach

New South Wales rugby coach Ewen McKenzie says he does not believe that disgraced star Wendell Sailor was a habitual cocaine user.

Today the Waratahs and Wallabies winger saw his Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract torn up and received a two-year ban for testing positive to the drug back in April.

McKenzie said the news was a sad end to a controversial career.

"I don't think these were actions that were a habitual problem, I think it was a one-off, but he's been caught," he said.

"In the end he has bought the game into disrepute.

"He'll keep himself fit, he's naturally inclined to keep himself in good shape. In terms of rugby and definitely in terms of the Waratahs and from I am reading from the ARU it's a closed book there, but I guess it doesn't rule out him doing something else.

"We are certainly not proud or anything of what's happened and it has been a major disappointment but that's the way it's panned out and I think in the end the sanction is entirely exactly what it should be."

Sailor played less than one season for the Waratahs after arriving there from the Queensland Reds.

The former Brisbane Broncos league star played 37 Tests for the Wallabies. His ARU contract had been due to expire at the end of next year.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1693171.htm

____________________________________________________


Sailor axed over cocaine use

Controversial Wallabies winger Wendell Sailor has had his Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract torn up for using cocaine.

Today the ARU announced Sailor's contract was being terminated with immediate effect and he had been banned from playing for two years.

The ARU's independent judicial committee informed Sailor of its decision this morning.

ARU chief executive Gary Flowers said he was extremely disappointed with Sailor and had no hesitation in sacking him.

"His actions have been nothing short of irresponsible," he said.

"He already had a track record for poor behaviour which had seen him called in front of ARU and Wallaby team disciplinary committees on several previous occasions.

"The use of any illegal drug is contrary to the ethical concepts of sportsmanship, fair play, good medical practice and is potentially harmful to the health of the individual," he said in a statement released by the ARU.

"We also reject the arguments of those who claim we have no right to be testing for so-called 'recreational drugs'.

"There is no such thing as recreational drugs, these drugs are illegal, they are harmful to the people using them and they are not acceptable for use by our sportsmen and women.

"Australian rugby will not accept people in their playing ranks who are not good role models for the children of Australia.

"On the field, Wendell has been a great competitor with an outstanding work ethic, and his 37 Test caps are a great achievement. He has also been involved in charity and community work.

"However he has now let himself down, as well as letting down his NSW Waratah team-mates and Australian rugby fans."

Sailor tested positive to cocaine in April this year. His contract had been due to run through to the end of 2007.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200607/s1692998.htm

Good decison by the ARU.]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2006 19:40:37 Paula NZ versus Aussie http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1152344557/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1152344557/#num1
But anyway, thought I'd just come in and say...
GO THE ALL BLACKS!]]> Sat, 8 Jul 2006 17:42:37 kiwi Initials on the NSW jerseys !! http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1139218980/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1139218980/#num1
Hmm, what will we see soon on the back of players?? B-S, F-U, F-W, P.O.Q, what next ?? ]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2006 20:43:00 babes_mate Phil Kearns http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1130057508/ http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/eblah/m-1130057508/#num1 Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:51:48 BB