SPORT llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ntnews.com.au Faingaa out of Russia clash Merab puts boot into Romania Manu scotches Super rumour WALLABIES centre Anthony Faingaa yesterday was GEORGIA yesterday emerged triumphant in the first ENGLAND sensation Manu Tuilagi yesterday hosed all but ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup clash with ever Rugby World Cup clash between two teams from down reports linking him with a move to Super Russia in Nelson. The Wallabies were hoping Faingaa eastern Europe, recording a 25-9 win over arch rivals Rugby, insisting he was happy with current club would pass strict IRB concussion protocols after Romania in Palmerston North. Georgian five-eighth Leicester and wanted to carry on playing for his being KO’d in the last minute of Australia’s 67-5 Merab Kvirikashvili racked up 17 points with the boot adopted country. Samoan-born Tuilagi, 20, said he thrashing of the USA in Wellington on Friday. Coach for the winners. was delighted to have reached his first Rugby World Robbie Deans conceded yesterday ‘‘this weekend GEORGIA 25 (Mamuka Gorgodze try Merab Kvirikashvili con Kvirikashvili 5, Cup and would honour his contract with Leicester. Malkhaz Urjukashvili pens) d ROMANIA 9 (Danut Dumbrava 2, Florian we’ve still got some challenges — we’ve got five backs Vlaicu pens) at FMG Stadium. Referee: Dave Pearson. Crowd: 13,228. ‘‘I’m really happy to be at Leicester and I’ve still got a who aren’t available to us right now’’. couple of years there,’’ the centre said. Tiger burning bright GOLF BY MARK HAYES IT’S the news golf fans have longed to hear — and Greg Norman’s Internat- ional team fear the most. Tiger Woods, yesterday confirmed alongside Bill Haas as one of Fred Cou- PUB: ples’ Presidents Cup cap- tain’s picks, says he has finally been NT NEWS able to throw off the physi- cal shackles that have re- stricted him throughout Tiger Woods the US PGA Tour season. DATE: ‘‘My training sessions are great and (my) strength has come back,’’ Woods said. 29-SEP-2011 ‘‘My explosiveness has come back through my training and now I’m just trying to get my feels back. It feels great.’’ Australia’s former Brit- Injured winger Digby Ioane was passing and catching with ease at a fans’ day in Christchurch yesterday Picture: ADAM TAYLOR ish Open champion Ian Baker-Finch recently played a practice round PAGE: with Woods at Medallist Golf Club in Florida and said the former world No. 1 was playing pain-free 36 for the first time in more than a decade. COLOR: Digby’s riding high ‘‘He’s on track. He’ll be back as good as you could RUGBY UNION take between three and six no trouble with his hand. ‘‘I yesterday with ease at a fans’ imagine,’’ Baker-Finch By IAIN PAYTEN weeks to recover. just jumped on, it’s not like I day in Christchurch. said. Woods resumes at the The flying winger had the am going to do it again,’’ ‘‘That’s my goal to come Frys.com in California AN IMPROMPTU imperson- cast removed at the weekend Ioane said yesterday. back next week. It’s up to Rob- next week, then prepares C ation of the Man from Snowy and returned to the field for ‘‘A guy in the restaurant in- bie Deans if he picks me,’’ It’s up to Robbie for his third trip to Austra- M River has given Digby Ioane some running during the Wal- vited us. It was awesome, up Ioane said. lia in as many years. confidence he’ll be back on labies short stay in Hanmer in the mountains. ‘‘Rehab is going great.’’ Deans if he picks me ‘‘To go back down to Y deck for the Wallabies next Springs this week. ‘‘Our staff weren’t happy The return of Ioane will Australia again and play week — 21 days after break- But it was an illicit horse- when we came back to the ho- help solve the crisis of not in the Presidents Cup is K ing his thumb. back ride through the sur- tel, with my thumb.’’ enough fit Wallabies backs, something I’m really look- Ioane underwent surgery rounding snow-capped moun- Perhaps the more instruc- and allow Radike Samo to re- 35-year-old to handle the ing forward to,’’ Woods on his right thumb after tains on Tuesday with Will tive sign he’ll be back in the turn to the forward pack after switch with aplomb. ‘‘If any- said. ‘‘(I’m) really looking fracturing the bone against Genia and a local horseman quarter-final was the Reds a game on the wing against one can do it, Radike can do forward to . mixing it up Italy and was told it could that showed Ioane was having wing passing and catching Russia. Ioane backed the it,’’ he said. with the boys.’’ 1 of 20 double passes to see WINShaolin Warriors Direct from China, the legendary Shaolin Warriors will return to Australia punching, kicking and tumbling in a spectacular, dynamic new production. NT News is giving you the chance to WIN 1 of 20 double passes to this world famous event live in Darwin on Tuesday October 11th. Entries close Sunday October 2nd. shaolinwarriors mkt100101 36 NT NEWS. Thursday, September 29, 2011. www.ntnews.com.au.