Kiwis Set for Frost Bite White Bombing the High- Landers from the Midfield
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SPORT llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ntnews.com.au Brumbies’ bolters but Izzy the X-factor we need RUGBY UNION Nick Phipps on the outer with Rugby starting debut in the ion did not rule players out of extended radar at the start of Cooper and the sidelined Ber- coach Robbie Deans inviting past month but appears to participation in the three- the year. rick Barnes. ISRAEL Folau is a step closer seven uncapped players to the have pushed regular Wal- Test Lions series, adding a Despite their rocky start to Deans will select his top 25 to becoming a dual internat- two-day camp in Sydney. labies front-rower Kepu out of ‘‘wide net’’ had been spread 2013, the Waratahs boast 10 players for the Lions series on ional after being included in a The Brumbies have been the current reckoning. through the three camps in players, Queensland seven May 19, and those will enter 30-man Wallabies camp to rewarded for the ACT side’s No. 8 Fotu Auelua, back- the past three months. and Melbourne two. Wallabies camp on June 3. prepare for the blockbuster strong start to the Super rower Ben Mowen, halfback Fifty players attended the Former league internat- He said the last camp would British and Irish Lions series. Rugby season with 11 players Nic White, playmaker Christ- first in January, while 30 ional and AFL flop Folau, allow players to complete pre- But Folau’s NSW Waratah named, including six yet to ian Lealiifano and fullback gathered at the second two- who has impressed in his im- tour commercial obligations. teammates Sekope Kepu and play Test rugby — headed by Jesse Mogg are the other un- day assembly in February, provement at fullback for The players would also be Drew Mitchell have joined bolter prop Scott Sio. capped Brumbies involved. but Sio, Auelua, Mowen and NSW, will be joined by fellow taking part in specific rugby- the likes of Quade Cooper and Sio only made his Super Deans said selection exclus- Mogg weren’t even on Deans’ Waratah backs Adam Ashley- related planning. An ACT of pluck by Smith STALWART flanker George Smith has led the Brumbies to a decisive 30-19 win over the Highlanders after his backs launched a relentless PUB: aerial assault against their winless Super Rugby foes in Dunedin last night. NT NEWS Smith’s highlights includ- ed forcing a turnover that led to an early penalty goal and scoring a try off the back of a disintegrated roll- ing maul in the 31st minute. The Brumbies continued DATE: their trend of blitzing sides early, opening the scoring in the third minute when winger Henry Speight 13-APR-2013 brushed off his opposite Hosea Gear, stepped inside fullback Ben Smith and then carried Ma’a Nonu over the line for a try. However, the blistering start was immediately over- shadowed by an injury to Brumbies outside centre PAGE: Andrew Smith. The Highlanders bounced back immediately through three penalty goals to debu- 44 Pedal to the metal as Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen (left) and Jason Bright check out the new Pukekohe track at yesterday’s practice session Picture: GETTY IMAGES tant flyhalf Hayden Parker after keeping the ball closer COLOR: to the fringes of the ruck to narrow the score to 10-9. But the Brumbies didn’t fall away from their game- plan, with fullback Jesse Mogg and halfback Nic C Kiwis set for Frost bite White bombing the High- landers from the midfield. M MOTORSPORT race had been held on a street four Kiwi drivers among the include two new corners at ‘‘It’s a very unique track, The tactic paid dividends Y circuit in Hamilton. 27-man field, three of them the end of the back straight. it’s always a good fun place.’’ in the 31st minute when the MARK Winterbottom is be- The 31-year-old’s best lap of finished in the top six on the ‘‘I’ve always enjoyed it Whincup, who leads the Highlanders failed to clean K ing stalked by Holden’s Kiwi 1min 2.6918secs in his Falcon practice timesheets. here; I’m happy we’re back,’’ series despite having not won up a Mogg rainmaker and contingent as he aims to FG was just 0.015secs quicker Coulthard, who won two of he said after the last of four a race over the first two the Brumbies were reward- notch a rare V8 Supercars than championship leader the three races in Tasmania practice sessions. rounds this season, is also a ed with the 5m line-out from race win for Ford in Auck- Jamie Whincup, while fellow last weekend, was followed ‘‘I actually enjoy this place fan of the new track. which Smith scored. land this weekend. Holden driver Fabian Coulth- by compatriots Shane van more than Hamilton. But it ‘‘This joint has massive Winterbottom clocked the ard was third fastest. Gisbergen (fifth) and Scott looks on paper easier than character,’’ said Whincup. fastest time in practice yes- The drivers will be compet- McLaughlin (sixth), while what it is out there. Auckland-raised Coulthard SCORE terday for Round 3 of the ing for the inaugural Jason Jonny Reid was the slowest ‘‘The back straight’s still admitted victory would have BRUMBIES 30 (George Smith, Henry championship, which has Richards Memorial Trophy, in the field. long enough to get a breather. special significance given his Speight, Joseph Tomane tries; Christian Lealiifano 3 cons Lealiifano returned to the Pukekohe named in honour of the pop- Winterbottom felt comfort- But with the new and old sur- friendship with the late Rich- 2, Nic White pen) d HIGHLANDERS track on the southern out- ular Kiwi V8 driver who died able to be back at Pukekohe faces, the car is tracking all ards, whom he teamed with 19 (Aaron Smith try; Hayden Parker skirts of the city. of cancer in 2011. after $A5.45 million was over the place, even in a to make his Bathurst 1000 con 4 pen) at Forsyth Barr Stadium. For the past five years, the Although there are only spent upgrading the track to straight line. debut in 2004. Referee: Chris Pollock. Birdies come home to roost for Aussies at Augusta GOLF Spaniard Sergio Garcia, but it old Leishman knew he had played his only previous Mas- it short in the middle on 11, so By MARK HAYES was a red-letter day for Aust- thrilled people at home. ters with a missed cut in 2010, I could have buried that (and) ralian golf as joint 2011 ‘‘They’ll probably be a bit looked likely to take another thought I hit a good putt on 12, MARC Leishman leads the US runners-up Adam Scott (-3) shocked after my last month chunk out of him early but it just missed,’’ said Leish- Masters after an opening- and Jason Day (-2) also surged or two, but it’s probably excit- when his opening drive kick- man, whose precise irons round Australian birdie feast into contention. ing for them,’’ he said. ed left into the trees and were his chief weapon. at Augusta National. They and fellow Queens- ‘‘It’s exciting for me. It’s ex- forced a bogey. ‘‘It was awesome getting on Fighting off illness and lander John Senden (even) citing to have this for a coun- But a soothing birdie on the those sort of runs. I had only early nerves, the Victorian combined for a remarkable 16 try town like Warrnambool. third, then a par putt on the about a six-footer (2m) on 13, a ripped apart Augusta Nat- birdies on top of the seven ‘‘Hopefully they’ll all be ex- fourth settled his nerves and 2-footer (60cm) on 14, 2-footer ional’s famous back nine with Leishman rattled home. cited and up early tomorrow the good times soon flowed. on 15, and then obviously five birdies en route to the Pre-tournament favourite to watch it. A kick-in birdie on the 8th holed that bomb on 16 from I lowest Australian opening- Phil Mickelson (-1) later be- ‘‘But I never really got was joined by similar excel- don’t know how far that was, round score since Greg Nor- moaned how soft the greens ahead of myself, because I lence on 10, 13, 14, 15 and a but it was in a different zip man’s tournament record 63 had been, with 33 players know that this course can bite mighty bomb from about 12m code, I think.’’ in 1996. shooting scores under par. you pretty quickly.’’ on the 16th hole. Leishman admitted to fight- He was joined at the top late While he was keen to keep a The course, which he ad- ‘‘I hit a lot of good iron ing a viral infection for the in the round by enigmatic lid on the big picture, 29-year- mitted did just that when he shots on the back nine . left past month. Marc Leishman at Augusta 44 NT NEWS. Saturday, April 13, 2013. www.ntnews.com.au.