MONDAY APRIL 28 2014 SPORT 23 Sheens springs no surprises By IAN McCULLOUGH RUGBY LEAGUE LINE UPS FOR ANZAC TEST MATCH AUSTRALIA coach Tim AUSTRALIA: Billy Slater (Mel), Darius Boyd (New), Greg Inglis (Sths), Josh Morris Sheens admits his team will be (Cant), Brett Morris (SGI), Johnathan Thurston (NQ), Cooper Cronk (Mel), James overwhelming favourites to Tamou (NQ), Cameron Smith (Mel) (c), Matt Scott (NQ), Sam Thaiday (Bris), Greg beat an inexperienced New Bird (Gold), Paul Gallen (Cro); Inter: Daly Cherry-Evans (Man), Nate Myles (Gold), Zealand side in Friday’s Anzac Boyd Cordner (Syd), Corey Parker (Bris). 18th: Matt Gillett (Bris). Test but expects the Kiwi play- NEW ZEALAND (squad): Gerard Beale (SGI), Adam Blair (WT), Jesse Bromwich ers to have a point to prove. (Mel), Kenny Bromwich (Mel), Greg Eastwood (Cant), Tohu Harris Mel), Siliva Havili Sheens’ 17-man squad (NZW), Ben Henry (NZW), Peta Hiku (Man), Isaac John (Pen), Shaun Johnson contained few surprises with 14 (NZW), Simon Mannering (NZW) (c), Sam Moa (Syd), Jason Nightingale (SGI), Kevin of the side that won the Rugby Proctor (Mel), Martin Taupau (WT), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Syd), Dean Whare (Pen). League World Cup in Manchester last November selected. returns to rugby at the end of has a little bit more football It’s in complete contrast to this year, was also overlooked under his belt and he plays Stephen Kearney’s squad with Tohu Harris, who the right centre for NSW,” Sheens which has just five survivors dual international replaced in said. “In a short preparation he from the 34-2 hammering in the World Cup squad, recalled. knows everything we’ve done the final at Old Trafford and In-form Parramatta star for the last two seasons as he’s six newcomers including rook- Jarryd Hayne would have been been in and around the squad. ie Warriors hooker Siliva Hav- picked at centre but misses out Sheens has changed the ili who has only a handful of due to a shoulder injury picked make-up of his interchange NRL appearances to his name. up in the Eels’ loss to North bench with Cronulla’s Andrew Star prop Jared Waerea- Queensland on Saturday. Fifita replaced by Gold Coast’s Hargreaves is among those Canterbury centre Josh Nate Myles. axed by Kearney, who is with- Morris is preferred to long- Sydney Roosters back- out the injured key players time incumbent Justin Hodg- rower Boyd Cordner is pre- Kieran Foran, Issac Luke, es, but Sheens said the door ferred to Canberra’s Josh Frank Pritchard, Elijah Taylor was not closed to the veteran Papalii and joins Corey Parker and Thomas Leuluai. Brisbane and Queensland star. and Daly Cherry-Evans who Sonny Bill Williams, who “We went for Morris who keep their utility spots. Bears guns in line for Titans squad LITCHFIELD made an im- four pointers with Luke Ma- Souths 22-4 on Saturday, with pressive start to the NTRL sea- hood, Jason Mackrow and the Sharks scoring four tries son, scoring 10 tries in their Luke High all crossing for tries. through Kinston Halab, Leslie 48-4 win over Katherine on Other scorers were Tyrone Amber, Damian Kick and Friday. Jennings, Bobby Flanigan, Phil Robbie Greenwood with Kyle Six of the tries were scored Charlton and Cash Ward. Fisher adding three conver- by the forwards and the Bears’ Jake Barnes added three sions. six-strong starting pack have conversions and Ward one. Carlos Pia scored the only been asked to join the NT Ti- “Our forwards were too fit, try for Souths. tans’ training squad. too fast and too good,” club In the other game in Round Front row forward Jason president Mal Barnes said. 1, Brothers defeated Nightcliff Sydney Roosters second rower Boyd Cornder pipped in-form Brisbane forward Matt Gillett for a spot Tomes grabbed a hat-trick of Mackillop Sharks defeated 30-16 on Saturday. on the Australian bench for Friday night’s Anzac Test match against New Zealand in Sydney Drought ends Phillips’ boot delivers points to Cougars SUPER RUGBY THE Cheetahs collected their ROUND 11 first win in Super Rugby since By DOUG BOOTH Fly-half Matt Weyers Swampdogs but the strength in Outside centre and new P W D L +/- BP Pts February by beating fellow RUGBY UNION showed tremendous individual depth allowed him to put a recruit Whitmer Tuputala Sharks 9 7 0 2 88 3 31 Brumbies 9 7 0 2 56 2 30 strugglers the Stormers 35-22 skill to jink through the Pirates’ quality side on the field. It paid came up with two tries of his Force 9 6 0 3 10 3 27 yesterday. A LATE penalty to Zac Phillips defence for a fine try. Phillips off as the Rabbits won 50-14 to own. Rhys Mulholland looked Hurricanes 9 5 0 4 43 6 26 The Cheetahs rebounded enabled Casuarina to earn a added the conversion to make secure a bonus point. right at home at fullback and Chiefs 9 4 2 3 4 5 25 Waratahs 9 5 0 4 44 4 24 from an early try to Stormers one-point win over University the half-time score 7-6. Tom Hiramatsu made his prop Tom Wright looks to Highlanders 8 5 0 3 16 4 24 flanker Nizaam Carr with five in NTRU action on Saturday. The second half began in debut on the wing and showed have cemented his spot in the Crusaders 8 5 0 3 28 2 22 of their own for a bonus-point Three penalties to Robbie controversial fashion with the he is one of the fastest players top grade. Blues 9 4 0 5 -16 4 20 win at Free State Stadium. Butcher, the first two early in Cougars penalised before the in the NTRU this year. The Rabbits take on Uni Bulls 10 3 1 6 -18 6 20 Rebels 8 3 0 5 -29 4 16 Fullback Hennie Daniller, the match, looked to have kick-off for dissent. The Rabbits skipped to a Pirates at University in a Lions 9 4 0 5 -40 0 16 centre Rayno Benjamin and given the Pirates the edge. Butcher slotted home the 26-0 half-time lead against the much-anticipated clash next Reds 9 3 0 6 -40 4 16 Springbok utility back Willie le But plenty of possession penalty from the halfway line enthusiastic Swampdogs with weekend. The return of at least Cheetahs 10 2 1 7 -88 4 14 Roux went over in the first 40 allowed Casuarina to stage a for a 9-7 lead to the Pirates. four first-half tries. five players will mean some Stormers 9 2 0 7 -64 2 10 to set up the Bloemfontein- late comeback to snatch the Casuarina dominated in the Keegan Neal was given the tough decisions for the coach- RESULTS based team’s second win of the points in a 10-9 win. forwards for most of the captaincy duties with regular ing staff. BLUES 21 WARATAHS 13 season. Replacement Cornal Butcher put University second half but they could not skipper Lepani Nabuliwaqa Palmerston held off a BRUMBIES 41 CHIEFS 23 Hendricks and Trevor Nyaka- ahead after 10 minutes with make their possession count away. second-half resurgence by SHARKS 18 HIGHLANDERS 34 ne sealed victory. two penalties. until Phillips slotted home the Neal led by example at five- Dragons to win their second HURRICANES 35 REDS 21 The Cape Town outfit But the Cougars scored the winning penalty. eighth and controlled the match of the year, 21-19. The FORCE 15 BULLS 9 slipped back to the bottom of only try of the clash just before Souths coach Tim Atkinson lethal Rabbits backline which Crocs led 14-0 at half-time. the standings, replacing the half-time to take a one-point was without eight regular first- terrorised the opposition The win leaves Palmerston ROUND 12 improving Cheetahs. lead. graders for the clash with defence. in fourth position. FRIDAY Blues v Reds Eden Park, Auckland 5.05pm CHEETAHS Rebels v Sharks 35 AAMI Park, Melbourne 7.10pm STORMERS Written off but now a Force to be reckoned with SATURDAY 22 Crusaders v Brumbies ON paper, the Western Force Sias Ebersohn nailing five pen- the year, when the Force were in heart. Even a host of injuries AMI Stadium, Christchurch CHEETAHS don’t possess the starpower to alties in the wet to secure the tipped to collect the wooden to key players hasn’t shaken 2.05pm Tries: R Benjamin, H Daniller, C reach the Super Rugby finals. victory. spoon after losing their open- their belief. Chiefs v Lions Hendricks, W Le Roux, T Nyakane But the team’s heart and Four wins from their re- ing two games. While the Scrumhalf Alby Mathew- Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Conversions: E Watts 2 5.05pm Penalties: E Watts 2 commitment to the cause has maining seven games should Waratahs, Brumbies and Reds son (ankle) and winger Luke Waratahs v Hurricanes left them with a prime chance be enough for the Force to seal possessed outfits laden with Morahan (hamstring) are at Allianz Stadium, Sydney 7.10pm STORMERS to defy the naysayers by secur- a maiden finals berth. Five Wallabies, the Force were least a month away from re- Stormers v Highlanders Tries: N Carr, J De Villiers, D Newlands, Cape Town 10.30pm Williams ing a top-six berth. wins might get them a home nothing more than a working- suming, while lock Hugh The Force rose to fourth on final. class team featuring a host of McMeniman (collarbone) and SUNDAY Conversions: K Coleman P Grant Bulls v Cheetahs Penalties: P Grant the standings after grinding The buzz surrounding the rugby rejects.