Aussies fire at Gold Coast sevens

Pama Fou ... was a constant threat for Australia on day one. Source: AAP

Amidst the colour and carnival atmosphere of the Gold Coast international rugby sevens tournament, Australia are making a serious bid to win the event.

Australia haven't won a sevens tournament on home soil in a decade but they go into Sunday's finals day in a strong position to end that drought after winning all three of their pool matches on Saturday.

Top spot in Pool B and a quarter-final against Kenya was the prize for a thrilling 15-14 win over defending champions Fiji in the last match of the day.

Jordan Tuapou was the hero for Australia, diving over in the corner late in the second half to seal the stirring three tries to two victory.

Fiji scored in either half through Joji Baleviani Raqamate but a double to Allan Fa'alava'au and Tuapou's brave effort secured Australia's first sevens win over Fiji since May 2011.

"To finally finish it off was a great plus," Tuapou said.

"It was a team effort but obviously in the end I ended up getting the ball just to put it down.

"It's a great confidence boost for us ... it doesn't matter about the first day, it's what you put on the paddock the second day that counts."

Only Luke Morahan's knee injury less than a minute into the tournament dampened the party atmosphere among the 12,558 fans at Robina Stadium dressed in all sorts of fancy-dress outfits.

Morahan limped off the field with medial ligament damage to his knee in Australia's opening match against Tonga, a game the hosts won impressively 31-14 to get their sevens world series campaign off to a good start.

"It's not looking too good, I don't think he'll be back out tomorrow unfortunately," captain Ed Jenkins told reporters.

In fact, the injury is all but certain to end Morahan's hopes of going on the Wallabies end of season tour of Europe, after the Queensland Reds back rushed back from international duty in Argentina to be part of the sevens team.

His teammates didn't seem to miss the flier however, sealing a quarter-final berth with an emphatic 22-0 thrashing of Scotland in their second game in Morahan's absence before their epic win over the Fijians.

Jenkins has labelled South Africa as the competition favourites after they completed a trio of wins in Pool A by upsetting the fancied New Zealand 31-21 in the penultimate match.

South Africa now face France in the quarter-finals with the winner of that match to meet Pool C winners Samoa or Fiji in the semis.

Australia will face either Argentina or their great rivals New Zealand if they overcome Kenya.

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Watch all the day two action of the Gold Coast sevens LIVE from 11.25pm (EDT) Sunday on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2HD.

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Kangaroos grind out tough win

Physical ... neither side gave an inch in the closely-fought Test. Source: Renee McKay / AAP

Australia downed New Zealand 18-10 in a high quality rugby league Test in Townsville on Saturday night.

3 Tries 2
Ca'eron S'ith 23'	Issac Luke 7'
Ja'es Ta'ou 34'	Gerard Beale 38'
Darius Boyd 71'
2 Conversions 1
Johnathan Thurston 36'	Krisnan Inu 8'
Johnathan Thurston 73'
1 Penalties 0
Johnathan Thurston 62'

In an arm-wrestle of a game, Tim Sheens' side outlasted the Kiwis in front of a capacity crowd of more than 26,000.

New Zealand have not beaten Australia in a one-off Test since 2003 and skipper Cameron Smith becomes only the third man to captain a side to three trophies in a year after helping Melbourne to the NRL premiership and Queensland to a seventh straight State of Origin series.

Darius Boyd's try seven minutes from time sealed the win after a brilliant flick pass from Paul Gallen put the winger clear to run under the posts.

Johnathan Thurston's conversion saw him eclipse Mick Cronin's long-standing Australian record tally of 102 points against the Kiwis, after the hosts were forced to withstand an early barrage of pressure from Stephen Kearney's side after the interval.

Some strong defence prevented the tourists taking the lead, after the sides were locked at 10-10 at the interval.

However, Thurston scored from a penalty to give the hosts a slender lead on 65 minutes, after Krisnan Inu was harshly penalised for a strip on Greg Inglis.

Gerard Beale earlier finished off a wonderful move with a try on the stroke of halftime to level the scores.

Sam Perrett was the architect, leaping high above Billy Slater to haul in a Benji Marshall bomb and offload to Issac Luke.

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Re-live the game as it happened by clicking on our live blog at the bottom of the page!

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Luke's cut-out pass found Dean Whare who put Beale over in the left corner.

North Queensland prop James Tamou looked to have given Australia the advantage at the break with a fine try, before the Kiwis hit back.

New Zealand started strongly, Perrett going close to opening the scoring after Tony Williams had knocked on before Luke dived out of dummy-half to break the deadlock after seven minutes.

Tim Sheens' men looked sluggish and struggled to find their rhythm in the opening exchanges as the tourists controlled the game.

However, a forward pass from Luke handed the ball over and allowed the Kangaroos to finally exert some pressure.

David Shillington and Matt Scott, who was named man of the match, both made big hit-ups to move the ball downfield and Cooper Cronk almost put Brett Morris over with a kick to the corner.

Scott, playing in front of his home crowd, then made a fantastic break and skipper Cameron Smith ghosted past two defenders and over the line to get his side on the board.

Thurston missed the conversion but was on hand to apply the extras to Tamou's try, after the giant frontrower sidestepped two tackles to find the line.

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Re-live the game: Roos v Kiwis

Big clash ... the Kangaroos take on the Kiwis on Saturday night. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

It was another excellent Test match between rugby league's biggest international rivals Australia and New Zealand.

And if you missed it, you can re-live all the action as it happened, by reading through our live blog at the bottom of the page.

Find out what happened from start to finish, in a game full of twists and turns as the Kangaroos finished the rugby league season on a high with their 18-10 win over the Kiwis at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.

Click on the icon below to re-live the game as it happened!

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Aussie cyclist admits doping

Stepping down ... Matt White has admitted to doping while with US Postal. Source: Matt White / AAP

Former pro racer Matt White has admitted to taking drugs during his time riding for Lance Armstrong's US Postal team.

White has voluntarily stood down from his positions with Australia's road cycling team Orica-GreenEDGE and Cycling Australia.

"I am aware my name has been mentioned during talks that USADA has had with former team mates of mine in their investigation regarding doping activities at the US Postal Service team," he said in a statement.

"I am sad to say that I was part of a team where doping formed part of the team's strategy, and I too was involved in that strategy.

"My involvement is something I am not proud of and I sincerely apologise to my fans, media, family and friends who trusted me and also to other athletes in my era that consciously chose not to dope."

White, 38, has become the first Australian casualty from the US Anti-Doping Agency's damning 1000-page plus report on the US Postal team's doping regime.

The report claimed the team of seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong conducted the "most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program that sport has ever seen".

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The report contained the sworn testimony of 11 of Armstrong's former teammates with disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis stating he had shared testosterone and EPO with White.

"Given my admissions above, I have been in contact with my employees and will be voluntarily standing down from my positions with the national men's high performance program with Cycling Australia and as a sports director with GreenEDGE Cycling while inquiries into my case are conducted," said White, who retired from riding with pro team Discovery Channel in 2007.

White rode for the US Postal team between 2001 and 2003 before that team took on Discovery Channel as principal sponsor.

He said he had not been involved in any doping in his roles at Cycling Australia and Orica-GreenEDGE.

"In my roles with Slipstream Sports, Cycling Australia and now at ORICA-GreenEDGE, I have always acted within the ethos of clean sport and I am very proud to have worked with the new generation of clean superstars," he said.

"A lot has changed for the better, cycling is totally different now, and I have seen these changes as an athlete and also in management with my own eyes in the last decade."

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Berdych through to Shanghai semis

Berdych ... wins his Shanhai Masters quarter final over Tsonga. Source: AAP

Tomas Berdych came out on top against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their Shanghai Masters quarter-final on Friday, a battle between two of the contenders to reach the ATP World Tour Finals.

The Czech fourth seed won 6-3 7-6 (7-4), grabbing a crucial break against the powerful Frenchman in the eighth game of the first set and edging the second set tie-break to set up a semi-final against Novak Djokovic or Tommy Haas.

"I think it was a really solid game and solid performance from beginning until the end. Yeah, I was feeling quite well on court," said Berdych, who next month is set to be part of the Czech team playing Spain in the Davis Cup final.

"You know, I think the biggest difference between me and Jo was I was able to take the small chances during even the first and especially the second set. It was not many of them, but I was able to keep it and convert it on my side."

Fifth seed Tsonga had early chances to break in the second set but failed to capitalise and Berdych remained unbroken throughout the contest.

With four berths still up for grabs at next month's elite eight-man showpiece in London, Berdych, 27, is sixth in the Race to London while Tsonga, also 27, is in eighth spot.

World No.1 Roger Federer, Djokovic and Shanghai Masters defending champion Andy Murray have already qualified for London, along with the injured Rafael Nadal.

Also in action in the last eight in Shanghai on Friday, Murray faces the Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek, Djokovic plays German veteran Haas and Federer goes head-to-head with 10th seed Marin Cilic of Croatia.

Federer's win on Thursday over Davis Cup teammate Stanislas Wawrinka guaranteed him a record 300th week as world No.1 when the next rankings are published on Monday.

Haas, 34, who reached a best of No.2 in the world, is one victory away from reaching 500 singles match wins.

Berdych said despite a busy end to the season, he would give his all to try to win the Davis Cup for the Czech Republic in Prague.

"Even if there is just a small energy left in my body, I'm going to give it there, leave it there, try my best. Then after that there is the off-season, and I can rest."

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Livestrong to fight on

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Lance Armstrong can never ride again in the world's top cycling races. His attempt to win elite triathlons in middle age is over. He even got booted from the Chicago Marathon.

His cancer-fighting foundation, however, plans to plunge ahead, despite the sanctions laid on Armstrong by the US Anti-Doping Agency and its blistering report that portrays the cyclist as cheating his way through seven Tour de France victories.

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The agency has now ordered those wins erased.

To the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a $500-million charity built on the "Livestrong'' brand, it's not about the bike.

Chief executive and president Doug Ulman said the goal is to "keep fighting for the mission'' of helping cancer victims.

He and the charity's other leaders are banking on the idea that the good done by Armstrong the cancer fighter will overcome any damage to the organisation done by the fall of Armstrong the athlete.

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"His leadership role doesn't change. He's the founder. He's our biggest advocate and always will be,'' Ulman said.

"People with cancer feel ownership of the brand. It was created for them.''

Although Armstrong cancelled a public appearance in Chicago on Friday, Ulman said he will be a big part of several days' worth of events in Austin next week to celebrate the foundation's 15th anniversary, including a fundraising gala expected to raise $2 million.

Crisis management experts, however, think that might be the wrong approach.

Gene Grabowski, executive vice president of Levick, a Washington-based crisis and issues management firm, suggested Armstrong step away from his public role for a while. The charity must be allowed to keep the focus on the work and should not engage in the public debate over whether Armstrong doped, he said.

"We have an iconic leader of an organisation shown to allegedly have feet of clay,'' Grabowski said.

"If the organisation is that important to Lance, he might consider handing the reins to another high-profile person.''

Armstrong denies doping and has said he'll no longer comment on the accusations.

He founded the charity in 1997 after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain.

The charity grew rapidly after he won the first of seven consecutive Tour de France titles in 1999.

And in 2004, the foundation introduced the yellow "Livestrong'' bracelets, creating a global symbol for cancer awareness and survivorship.

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AFL sticks with NAB Cup format

Format ... The NAB Cup will remain as a round-robin tournament in 2013. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Love will be in the air on February 15 next year for footy-starved fans, with matches returning through the NAB Cup the day after Valentine's Day.

And the AFL will stick with its drawn-out schedule with the pre-season competition to again start with a lightning round and span five weeks in total.

The league today announced all 18 clubs would play two mini games - starting in 126 days - before two full-scale matches in March.

The best-two ranked sides, based on wins and then percentage, will then play off in the grand final.

The AFL abolished its knockout finals format this year, ensuring all teams played "live" matches up until the final weekend.

Etihad Stadium, Patersons Stadium, Blacktown and Metricon Stadium will host the triple-headers with the lightning round to open the tournament and be played across two weekends.

Clubs will be split into six groups of three for those matches.

The AFL Players' Association this year requested a shortened NAB Cup to allow a second bye in the home-and-away season, but that has been rejected.

The round-robin format is expected to see sides grouped on location, with the two Queensland, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney teams likely to go head-to-head.

The NAB Cup decider is locked in for March 15 or 16.

Adelaide toppled West Coast in this year's grand final.

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Slap on wrist for Schumacher

Schumacher ... has got a slap on the wrist for an incident in practice. Source: Mark Baker / AAP

Michael Schumacher's faltering conclusion to a glorious career hit another bump on Friday when he was officially reprimanded for impeding two other cars in practice for the Korean Grand Prix.

The 43-year-old seven-time world champion got in the way of the HRT pairing of Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan in the afternoon practice at Yeongam, where the Mercedes driver was fifth fastest.

Schumacher, who announced in Japan last week that he was retiring for a second time, was reprimanded after a similar incident earlier this year at Barcelona where he impeded Lewis Hamilton during final practice.

The German was handed a 10-place grid penalty for last week's Japanese Grand Prix after he ran into the back of Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne in the previous race in Singapore.

Then at Suzuka he took the blame for another high-speed accident during practice, saying he misjudged the entrance to the Spoon curve before sliding across the run-off area and ploughing into the barrier, losing his front wing.

Despite the latest mishap, he said: "I was pleased with both sessions today.

"As expected, it looks like our car is better suited to the circuit. The day went well, so I think we can get into the top 10 tomorrow and plan our strategy on that basis."

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Roar comments 'disrespectful'

Ange ... has labelled comments from his old players 'distateful'. Source: Joe Castro / AAP

Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou has described comments by some of his former Brisbane players before Saturday night's A-League showdown as distasteful and disrespectful.

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The day after controversial Roar striker Besart Berisha declared his former coach was in his sights, star teammate Thomas Broich said the club's new coach Rado Vidosic was the "brain" behind their two A-League titles under Postecoglou and would make Brisbane a "better team".

"I was actually looking forward to the trip (to Brisbane) but to be honest I've found the whole week a little bit distasteful from my point of view,'' Postecoglou told Brisbane radio 4BC's Sports Today on Thursday night.

"I think it's been a little bit disrespectful.

"For two-and-a-half years I worked pretty hard up there with the players and the club.

"I never came out and said I was totally responsible for that (two titles).

"But certainly through the tough times, and there were plenty of tough times at the Roar, I was the person front and centre taking responsibility for all that.

"I was a little bit surprised by the comments coming out of the club."

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Enjoy the most comprehensive coverage of Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory with Fox Sports.

Watch all the action on Hyundai Matchday Saturday, from 7.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1HD on Saturday.

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Postecoglou arrived at Brisbane in October 2009 when the club was on its knees.

When he left earlier this year they had won back-to-back A-League titles and been hailed one of the great sides in the league's history.

Under Postecoglou they set an amazing unbeaten streak of 36 games and they also went on the club's worst losing streak before recovering to beat Perth 2-1 in the grand final.

"I've got some fantastic memories from my time with the Roar. The supporters were great to me, the whole club was great," Postecoglou said.

"I thought I had great relations with the players but I guess times change, things evolve and people move on and I guess I need to as well."

Postecoglou, who has set about rebuilding the Victory, said his former club remained the benchmark of the A-League.

"We've got some work to do to get up to that level but it (Suncorp Stadium) will be a good test for us," he said.

"Hopefully they will get a big crowd, which by all reports they will and it will be a cracking game for everyone."

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Did the Roar players go too far with their comments about Ange or were they within their rights? Leave a comment below to join the debate.

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Benefit of doubt rule under cloud

Benefit of the doubt ... this could be the moment that ends up changing the rule. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Referees boss Bill Harrigan has queried whether the benefit-of-the-doubt rule has a future after a number of controversial decisions marred the end of the NRL season.

The game's whistleblowers and video referees attracted unwanted attention with a number of baffling decisions that prompted plenty of debate and Harrigan says laws need to be scrutinised with fans struggling to understand referees' rulings.

Speaking on Sydney radio on Thursday night, Harrigan said he'd like to see the benefit-of-the-doubt rule reviewed for 2013.

"We've had in place now for probably six, seven, eight years, maybe longer, a policy with the benefit of the doubt that you have to have 100% conclusive evidence there to take a try off him," Harrigan told Triple M's Rush Hour.

"And we can see this year that we just didn't fit in with the general punter out there who's watching the game."

One notable dubious call came in a tense semi-final between North Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium.

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With the game delicately poised in the 63rd minute and the Sea Eagles leading 16-12, Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran jumped to contest the ball with Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston.

Foran appeared to knock the ball forward before winger Michael Oldfield touched down.

After several reviews of the incident, video referees Steve Clark and Paul Simpkins awarded a try, only for referees bosses Harrigan and Stuart Raper to confirm the decision was incorrect 24 hours later.

The pair were subsequently stood down for the following weekend's preliminary finals.

"So, I think next year we have to have a good look at that and come back with - with all probability did he touch it?," said Harrigan.

"So, let's talk about the Kieran Foran one which everyone saw - in all probability did he touch it? Yeah he did.

"Take the try off him. So I think that's when we'll get on the same page as everyone else."

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Aussies name GC Sevens squad

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Australia's rugby sevens coach Michael O'Connor has named his 12-man squad to play in this weekend's opening round of the IRB world series on the Gold Coast.

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O'Connor has had the luxury of naming the most experienced squad in his tenure as Australia's sevens coach with Ed Jenkins set to captain the team for the second year in a row.

The squad also features former Gold Coast Titans rugby league player Shannon Walker as well as Queensland Reds back and Wallabies squad member Luke Morahan.

"The side we've selected is a well-balanced, experienced team," O'Connor said.

"None of the 12 are making their debut this weekend, which is a real change to last year.

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Watch the Gold Coast Sevens Live and Exclusive, and in High Definition, on Fox Sports 2 from 11.30m (EDT) on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14.

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"When you look at sides we put on the part last season I think we had at least one debutant in every tournament of the nine-leg series."

Australia have been drawn in pool B of the tournament against Tonga, Scotland and defending Gold Coast champions Fiji.

Their campaign begins at 1.40pm AEST on Saturday against Tonga.

Australia men's sevens squad: Ed Jenkins (capt), Allan Fa'alava'au, Matt Lucas, Pama Fou, Jesse Parahi, Sean McMahon, Lewis Holland, Jordan Tuapou, Will Miller, Jacob Taylor, Luke Morahan, Shannon Walker.

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Rooney's second child on the way

Expecting ... Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen have received good news. Source: Dave Thompson / AAP

Wayne Rooney is to become a father for the second time in May, the England and Manchester United footballer's wife, Coleen, has revealed on Twitter.

She told her 840,000 followers that the couple were "thrilled" to be expecting a brother or sister for son Kai, who was born in November 2009.

"A few people guessed, so news is out ha!! Me, Wayne and Kai are thrilled that we are expecting a new addition to our family around May time," she tweeted.

"Its still only early but bursting with excitement! Also wanted the news to come from us, before anyone else!" added the expectant mother.

The childhood sweethearts from Liverpool, now both 26, wed in a lavish ceremony in June 2008, but their relationship has come under scrutiny in the past following newspaper reports that Rooney used prostitutes.

"Wayne, Coleen and their families are thrilled and delighted that Coleen is expecting their second child," a spokesman for the couple said.

"They wanted to share the great news on their popular social networking sites and that is why Coleen tweeted the news ahead of any speculation.

"Everyone is thrilled for them."

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