GTRSRULE!!!

Briscoes crashes out of opener March 7, 2005 AUSTRALIAN driver Ryan Briscoe has made an inauspicious start to the 2005 Indy Racing League when he crashed out of the season opener today. Briscoe, who spent 2004 as a test driver for Toyota's Formula One team, was able to walk away after hitting the barrier at turn 4 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway Oval but his Target/Chip Ganassi racer needed rebuilding. It was the second incident of the Toyota Indy 300 weekend for Briscoe, who also contacted the wall in practice on Saturday and said before the race that "there's more to driving these ovals than just turning left". The rookie lasted 61 of the scheduled 200 laps but was far from alone in crashing out. Only 10 of the 22 starters were running at the end of the race won by Briton Dan Wheldon, the runner-up last season to Andretti Green Racing team-mate Tony Kanaan in the IRL championship. The race featured a frightening late eight-car pile up. The big wreck began moments after a restart when Kosuke Matsuura, trying to pass pole winner Tomas Scheckter on the outside, slid sideways and hit Scheckter. Before all the crashing and banging ended, the accident also took out Briscoe's Kiwi teammate Scott Dixon, Scott Sharp, Bryan Herta, Roger Yasukawa, Ed Carpenter and 22-year-old rookie Danica Patrick, making her first IRL start. Patrick, the only woman in the field, was running 10th when the accident occured. She was sent a nearby hospital for observation after being diagnosed with a concussion and later released and is expected to be ready to race in the next IRL event in two weeks at Phoenix International Raceway. AAP Webber revs up young wannabes By Guy Hand March 7, 2005 MARK Webber has urged young Australian racers to test themselves overseas and take heart from the example of the their compatriots breaking through in numbers in world motorsports. The latest is V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose, who will attempt to break into NASCAR racing in the US next year. Webber remains the highest-profile Australian race driver abroad, finishing a creditable fifth in the season opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix yesterday. But Australia also has Queenslander Chris Atkinson in the World Rally Championship, Sydneysider Ryan Briscoe driving in North America's premier open-wheel category, and several motorcycle riders in Moto GP and world superbikes. Would-be top-line race drivers should test themselves on the world stage instead of immediately going into V8 Supercars, as some younger drivers have done in recent years, Webber said. Most of V8 racing's premier drivers cut their teeth in Europe before returning to touring car racing, including Ambrose, Steven Richards and Russell Ingall. "Sometimes I get a bit frustrated that the guys have the carrot of the V8s in front of them very early and they don't want to go to Europe," Webber said. "They just see the comfort zone of racing touring cars here and they don't go any further. "They should ignore the touring cars for longer and go to Europe." Webber said he was proud to see other Australians perform well in overseas motor sports categories. "No question about it we've got the talent down here – we've got the people to do the job," Webber said. "You've got to earn your respect in Europe. "Will Power's doing that (driving open-wheelers in Europe). "He's trying over there and he's working hard. "We've got Chris Atkinson doing well in the rally cars, Mick Doohan killed them on the bikes, we've got sprint car drivers doing well, Jason Crump on dirt bikes. "Of course we can do it. Motor racing in Australia is a passion of ours and I love watching Australians doing well in other motor sport categories. "If we've got people in those categories, it's only going to help youngsters to have a dream and have the passion to come through." AAP Renault getting Fisi-cal By Robert Smith March 7, 2005 GIANCARLO Fisichella believes Renault has the goods to challenge Ferrari and McLaren for this season's Formula One world title, with the next round of the battle in Malaysia a fortnight away. Team to beat ... Renault celebrates a great victory in Mellbourne. Pic: Agence France-Presse The Italian journeyman produced his greatest drive in Formula One yesterday to land the season-opening Australian Grand Prix for the French team and give it the early edge over world champion Ferrari in the 19-round contest. Fisichella and teammate Fernando Alonso brought Renault 16 points from first and third placings compared to Rubens Barrichello's eight runner-up points for Ferrari. Michael Schumacher, the seven-time drivers' world champion, failed to finish after a minor crash with the BMW-Williams of Nick Heidfeld. Fisichella breathed life into the new season with his all-the-way victory and later spoke of Renault's great potential for the season. "We showed our pace in winter testing and today we showed how quick we are," Fisichella said. "We still have good potential and I think the team with Ferrari and McLaren will fight for the championship." The Formula One circus packs up and heads to Kuala Lumpur for the second grand prix of the year at Sepang on March 20. "I think this race demonstrates the good potential of the team this season: the team is pushing hard on the development of the car," Fisichella said. "That should mean we can build on this start later in the season. We are very optimistic for the next race in Malaysia." Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said there was more room for his team to improve in the months ahead. "It's a fantastic result for the entire team and the Renault group," Briatore said. "We have made a good car this year and Fisi and Fernando knew exactly how to make use of it in Melbourne, they both drove fantastic races. "We must take the season race by race, and I think there is still room for us to improve further." It was Renault's first Formula One victory since Jarno Trulli won the Monaco Grand Prix last May. Ferrari put a brave face on their failure to land the Australian Grand Prix for the sixth time in the past seven years. Its new and improved car will not be used until the European section of the season in late April early May. "We are reasonably happy, considering we came here with the old (2004) car," said head engineer Ross Brawn. "To finish second after such a dreadful qualifying is not bad. Both guys drove a great race. Rubens was exceptional as he had a braking problem from the early stages, but he was able to manage it very well." Barrichello's super effort for second place was Ferrari's major positive after Schumacher's failure to finish. The Brazilian's eight points helped save Ferrari from conceding too much early ground to the French team. Schumacher, who had won four of the past five Australian Grands Prix, was seventh when he came in contact with Heidfeld and his race was over 15 laps from the chequered flag. The McLarens of Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen were in the points at sixth and eighth respectively after showing pace in practice and qualifying. Australia's Mark Webber also believes his Williams team can improve as the season moves on and challenge for podium positions. "It could have been better," Webber said. "We got done in the pits and it should have been a better result. Fifth would have been good until we started the race, then I wanted more. "Reliability was strong today so that was a good thing, but once you get going you always want more, so that was the frustrating thing." With AAP Agence France-Presse

Apprenticeship over for Atkinson By Chris Lines March 7, 2005 CHRIS Atkinson's one-race apprenticeship in the World Rally Championship is over, but he is not feeling pressure ahead of the biggest race of his career in this weekend's third round. Atkinson debuted at the Rally of Sweden last month, impressing observers with his speed in the unfamiliar ice and snow. But this weekend's Rally of Mexico raises the expectation level several notches, with Subaru expecting Atkinson to be more at home on gravel and the Queenslander carrying the responsibility of his performance counting towards the team's championship points for the first time. Atkinson and young French team-mate Stephane Sarrazin were hired as `project' drivers this season, with Subaru's focus on getting Petter Solberg to win the drivers' title. "Sweden was totally treated as a learning experience by the team, where this is a little different," Atkinson said from Mexico. "But if you start worrying about points scoring, then you might lose focus." "Obviously the team would like a points finish, but that really isn't a pressure situation for me and I'll approach it the same way I approached Sweden. "It won't be easy – your top guys are here and they have all been here before. "It's a big challenge now – we have a lot more experience than we had before Sweden and a gravel event will help us. "If we keep our nose clean we can come through with a decent points finish." The Mexican rally, first held last year, is staged in the mountains surrounding the city of Leon, with the surface typically light gravel and stones on a firm sand base. Atkinson believes the surface will suit his driving style, able to call upon his Australian experience. "Australia has a huge variety of surfaces – I definitely think there will be somewhere in Australia similar to here," Atkinson said. "Although it can help a bit, everyone has a huge amount of experience – more experience than me – so we are still coming from behind." As the new boy in Sweden and the first Australian to get a permanent drive in WRC, Atkinson was a specimen of curiosity. After just one event, however, he already feels more at ease. He spoke to the media today from a bowling alley, where he had just enjoyed knocking off Solberg. "We know where we sit a little bit better than we did before Sweden, bowling with Stephane and Petter and having a good time," Atkinson said. "I feel comfortable before this event, I definitely fell a lot more relaxed but still focused on what I have to do." AAP

Rossi says Sete biggest threat From correspondents in Tokyo March 7, 2005 MOTO GP champion Valentino Rossi expects former Honda team-mate Sete Gibernau to be the biggest threat to his bid to winning the title crown for a fourth year in succession. "We had a lot of tough battles in the last two years, Rossi said. "I think he will be the most difficult rival for me this year, too. "Honda has also improved its machine like we did, so there will be a lot of tough battles, for sure. But we are quite strong, we have more confidence than we had last year. Rossi, also the 2001 world 500cc champion, switched to Yamaha from Honda after wrapping up the 2003 MotoGP title for a second year running. He claimed the championship again after winning nine races last season while Gibernau won four to finish runner-up in the overall standings. "It's always difficult (to win the championship). We'll try... but it's never easy," Rossi said. "I think it was a good result to win nine races, so I'll also try to win (the same number of races) this year." Yamaha, which was announcing its motor sports program for the season in Japan, said its new machine had more power at top speed than last year. "We did a lot of tests on different tracks with the new bike," Rossi said. "I think the new bike has good improvement from last year's. We improved the engine and chassis. The set-up is not 100 percent yet, but we are ready for the first race. "We will have 17 races. Each race is important, because the winner always receives 25 points, but to win the Italian Grand Prix has always a special taste for me, so it's the most important race, for sure," added the defending Italian GP champion. The Grand Prix series will start at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain on April 10. AAP

'Rambo' Schumacher under fire From correspondents in Berlin March 8, 2005 GERMANY'S seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is usually the darling of the domestic media but he was in the firing line after clashing with compatriot and BMW Williams driver Nick Heidfeld in the Melbourne Grand Prix on Sunday. With 15 laps until the chequered flag Ferrari ace Schumacher, 36, refused to allow countryman Heidfeld to pass and the pair collided before spinning off onto the grass. "Rambo Schumi," headlined Bild daily. "Heidfeld was quicker but Schumi just edged him onto the grass. Then he offered no apology." Schumacher insisted neither driver was to blame claiming it was just part and parcel of motor racing. "I saw him behind me just as I came out the pits and made it clear I was going to defend my position," said Schumacher. "It is optimistic of Nick to think I am going to just let him pass inside me." But the win-at-all-costs attitude of the Ferrari driver prompted Bild to ask: "Is Schumacher really that bad of a loser?" Bild, Germany's most popular tabloid, was not alone in asking questions about the behaviour of the former Benetton driver. "Schumacher on the stocks," read sport 1. "His actions crown a miserable weekend." "Relaxed Schumi has no conscience," added the Frankfurter Allgemeine. Formula One chiefs have confirmed that no action will be taken against Schumacher or Heidfeld after watching television replays of the incident. Agence France-Presse

Southerners overwhelm north By Julian Guyer in London March 6, 2005 Northern Hemisphere 19 Southern Hemisphere 54 THE southern hemisphere has comfortably defeated the northern hemisphere in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Rugby Aid tsunami fundraiser at Twickenham. The south outscored their opponents eight tries to three, with New Zealand fly-half Andrew Mehrtens landing all six of his conversion attempts and man of the match Wallaby full-back Chris Latham, who scored two tries, one other. Latham was delighted to help victims of the devastating December 26 tsunami. "It was definitely great to be able to do something," he said. "The devastation was unbelievable. You sit at home and think about what you can do. As for the game that is the best rugby match I have played in for a while." Latham was also happy to have played alongside several players, who are normally opponents in Super 12. "Usually they're knocking seven bells out of me! Its been a phenomenal week for me meeting up with the guys and playing with them. Its been awesome. The aim was to have fun first and foremost ...and win." With the northern hemisphere being coached by England World Cup-winner Sir Clive Woodward, the man who will lead the British and Lions in New Zealand later this year, the game had been billed as a "trial" match for that tour. But how much he gleaned from a fixture where, in the early stages of the second-half many spectators in a half-full stadium amused themselves with the questionable gesture of a 'Mexican Wave' was debatable. Both scratch teams treated the match like a Barbarians game, running and kicking to touch penalties they would otherwise have tried to strike between the posts had the game been a full international. Inevitably, there were plenty of handling errors all round early on as the sides tried to run the ball from all angles, although England centre Ollie Smith, pushing for a Test starting place, showed glimpses of class, The south took the lead in the 13th minute when veteran Samoa wing Brian Lima linked well with All Blacks captain and centre Tana Umaga, who crossed for a try. However, the north hit back to level the scores seven minutes later. Uncapped Worcester prop Chris Horsman burst forward and found north skipper and former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio in support. The veteran back-row almost crossed the line himself but he was hauled down a yard short by Latham. However, Dallaglio's pop-up pass found England reserve hooker Andy Titterrell. His try was converted by Ireland fly-half David Humphreys. Five minutes later the south, who put in by far the more crunching tackles throughout, went ahead when Lima sprinted clean through down the blindside. The north responded minutes later when Humphreys' towering cross-kick was palmed back short of the line by Italy right-wing Mirco Bergamasco and former England back-row Pat Sanderson pounced for the try. Humphreys, however, missed the conversion and the south were 14-12 ahead. Two more converted tries then saw the south extend their lead to 28-12 at the break. First Latham, following a pass from Samoa lock Opeta Palepoi sprinted clear for a try under the posts. And just before half-time Springbok flanker Schalk Burger, the IRB's world player of the year, burst through off the back of a ruck with the north defence again flat-footed. After some uninspired play at the start of the second period, the south went further ahead when replacement forward and Samoa skipper Semo Sititi was on the end of an overlap out on the left created by Fiji wing Sireli Bobo and Latham. Mehrtens converted and at 35-12 the south, coached by 1999 Australian World Cup-winning chief Rod Macqueen, had ended the match as a contest. Woodward effectively conceded as much by bringing on all his remaining replacements in quick succession. As space opened up, Bergamasco restored some northern pride with a try on the hour mark, which Wales's Ceri Sweeney, the replacement fly-half converted. But the south were far from finished and after Mehrtens's high kick landed over the goal-line, Latham touched down for his second try. Springbok centre Jaque Fourie and Sititi again both added further tries before the finish. The IRB hoped the match, which followed similar charity cricket and soccer matches in Melbourne and Barcelona respectively, would raise at least £1 million ($2.4m). Agence France-Presse

south beat north 54 - 19

30 mins til kick off

1 hour til kick off fox sports 2

nice work kero. hmm y doesnt the aru do that? austraila needs a i 5th team. so we all have 5 teams

spam? ur the 1 spaming my thread. if u dont like the thread u PISS OFF & ignore the thread then.

I'm not gonna have it @ a pub or club. gonna go into town instead

gtrsrule!!! medium

Macqueen backs all-stars idea By Bret Harris February 28, 2005 FORMER Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen wants to see the northern hemisphere versus southern hemisphere match become a regular event on the world rugby calendar. Macqueen will guide the southern hemisphere against the Clive Woodward-coached northern hemisphere in the tsunami appeal match at Twickenham in London on Sunday morning (AEDT). If the fund-raiser is successful, Macqueen believes the concept should be continued on an annual or bi-annual basis. "I think it is important to have north versus south or Barbarians games," Macqueen said before flying to London last night. "When you play club football you can be insular and it is the same situation at provincial level. The same even applies to the international level. "It is wonderful to get the opportunity to play alongside some of the great players who you have played against. The reality of this game is that it was organised very quickly and the timing is not ideal. But if you had a planned situation you could play this game once a year or once every two years and it would be very special." Four Australians are in the southern hemisphere team -- George Gregan, Chris Latham, Phil Waugh and Japan-based Toutai Kefu, a late replacement for injured New Zealand backrower Jerome Kaino. The match will bring about what could be a slightly awkward reunion of Reds fullback Chris Latham with his old coach Macqueen. Macqueen pulled Latham from the field after he missed a vital tackle on Jason Robinson in the first Test of the British Lions series in 2001, a call the brilliant Reds' fullback has always believed was unfair. It took Latham a year to recover from that blow, but he has since redeemed himself so spectacularly for the Wallabies that many critics rate him as the main rival to Robinson's standing as the world's best fullback. Somewhat less awkward will be the reunion of Latham and All Blacks captain Tana Umaga after the two locked horns in the Reds-Hurricanes match at Ballymore on Saturday. "I was talking to Tana after the game and he told me he had phoned his brother in London earlier in the day and been told that the temperature there was two degrees and it was snowing," Latham said. The Super 12 encounter was played in a steamy 29C. "It's a great honour to be playing with guys like him in this match." Gregan, who will miss the Brumbies' match with the Bulls in Canberra on Friday, admitted it was difficult to leave the team amid their injury problems, but he never considered pulling out. "It is tough, but I'm committed to this," Gregan said. "We've got pretty good back-up, as we showed on Saturday night." The Australian Reds furious at charity withdrawals By Bret Harris March 2, 2005 QUEENSLAND Reds are angry and frustrated over the withdrawal of European Test stars Fabien Pelous and Shane Williams from the northern hemisphere team to play the southern hemisphere in the tsunami appeal game at Twickenham on Sunday morning (AEDT). The Reds reluctantly released Wallabies fullback Chris Latham for the southern hemisphere side and are angry over Pelous and Williams dropping out of the northern squad to play for their respective French and Welsh clubs this weekend. "It is bitterly disappointing," QRU chief executive Theo Psaros said. "All three Australian provinces provided support for the charity match. A week before the game European clubs are pulling guys out. It is amateurish. "It highlights once again how poor the timing of the match is." The four Australian Super 14 teams face the loss of key players again next season with the ARU looking to bolster the national sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The ARU is negotiating an agreement with the state unions to each release a starting 15 player and a non-22 squad member to the sevens team to give it the best chance of winning the gold medal. This means NSW, Queensland, ACT and WA could be without the likes of Latham, Mat Rogers and Matt Giteau for one or two Super 14 games next March. "We have approached the provincial unions about fielding the highest quality team possible," an ARU spokesman said. "The Commonwealth Games are an important showcase for Australian rugby." The ARU showed it was taking the Commonwealth Games seriously by yesterday appointing former Wallabies fullback Glen Ella as head coach of the sevens team. One of the best sevens strategists in the game, Ella's first assignment will be the World Cup in Hong Kong this month. Meanwhile, ACT Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher is expected to name rookie Adam Ashley-Cooper at outside centre ahead of Wallaby Clyde Rathbone for the Super 12 game against the Bulls at Canberra Stadium on Friday night. Fisher must choose between Ashley-Cooper and Rathbone as a replacement for Wallabies outside centre Stirling Mortlock, who is sidelined for at least four weeks with a knee ligament injury. Ashley-Cooper moved from the wing to outside centre when Mortlock left the field in the Brumbies' win over the Crusaders in Canberra last Saturday. Veteran centre Joel Wilson has recovered from a hamstring injury and is expected to be named on the bench. The Australian Macqueen orders tsunmai show March 2, 2005 ROD Macqueen will urge his Southern Hemisphere team to put on a show in Sunday's (AEDT) tsunami benefit rugby union game with the Northern Hemisphere at Twickenham. Macqueen leads a team that includes Wallabies George Gregan, Phil Waugh and Chris Latham plus Japan-based Toutai Kefu in the match with a team coached by his old adversary Clive Woodward. And the 1999 World Cup-winning coach says the game is a big opportunity for rugby union to show itself in its best light and raise thousands of dollars for the tsunami appeal. At his team's hotel here, Macqueen said: "It is an honour for me to be involved with a team of this calibre. "We are here to represent the code, entertain and raise money. Were hoping for a very big crowd and it is our role to entertain them." And Macqueen is looking forward to locking horns with his Woodward and Ireland's superstar centre, Brian ODriscoll, who will lead the northern hemisphere side. "Clive and I have had a few tussles over the years and this will be the last one and we have had pretty similar careers," he said. "It is always good to come up against a respected adversary." Macqueen has vivid memories of O'Driscoll, who scored a memorable try for the British Lions against his Australia side in Brisbane in 2001. "He's always been a good player and he's a thinking player and those two things combined make him very dangerous." said Macqueen. "There is a lot of respect for him amongst this team and he is still improving with every game he plays. "He leads the players around him and had got to be one of the best players in the world." The southern hemisphere players have rarely played together and have had minimal preparation for the contest. But that will not be a problem, according to Macqueen. "When you look at the leadership we have in this team, its not going to be too difficult," he said. "We have players who understand what each other are doing and therefore they will be able to demonstrate their skills." AAP http://http://www.stompshop.com/' target='_blank'>

:Party: u had a big 1 ofcourse. right?

purple- ish 33 gtr strathy. white 33 s2 & red ferrari 360 superdome loading dock. & silver 333 s2 ithink between superdome & p5. man some sh1t went down in penno this morning while i was waiting 4 a cab. 5 coppa cars within 10 mins. 1 searching the park behind library. bitch didnt indicate. 2 chics got out. & started searching. when i was leaving in the cab a paddywagon came flying down. they were all speeding, no lights.

black 32 city cny 941 & silver 33 in the c t @ 2ish monday morning

saw a navy 32 gts 432? in narrabeen outside his/her house

Button predicts end of Ferrari era From correspondents in London February 26, 2005 BRITISH Formula One driver Jenson Button believes that Ferrari's stranglehold on the world championship is about to end. "Ferrari have been on top for a long time and it can't stay like that," the BAR driver told the BBC. "Williams have been on top for three or four years at a time, the same for McLaren. It doesn't last 10 years. "My goal for this season is to stand on top of the podium and look down on Michael (Schumacher)." Schumacher has won five of his seven world drivers' titles with Ferrari – all of them coming in the last five years – and there appears to be no sign of a let-up in the partnership's drive for success ahead of the new season. But Button says he has had enough of finishing behind the German. "Last year was an exceptional season for the (BAR) team, getting 11 podiums, but this year we really need to start fighting with Ferrari and challenging for race wins," said the Englishman as he sets his sights on the opening race of the 2005 season in Australia next weekend. The Englishman also admits he would relish the chance to drive for the Italian outfit and believes if he was in a Ferrari then he would be the number one. Asked who would be the best driver if everyone were in a Ferrari, Button said: "I'd say myself. However, we will never know because we will not always be in the same car. "F1 is a big team effort – it is not just the driver. There is an engine, chassis, aerodynamics. There is so much to it." Button also believes McLaren duo Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen could both have matched Schumacher's achievements with Ferrari. "I think Michael has the best equipment at the moment. But that is down to him – he has really got the team around him and got the right people in place," he added. "He is the seven-time world champion, that's the difference." Agence France-Presse F1 star revs up at landmark February 27, 2005 AUSTRALIAN Formula One driver Mark Webber said it was special, but eerie, to have the Sydney Harbour Bridge all to himself today. Webber completed five up and down laps of the bridge in last year's Williams car this morning. He said he was nervous and the ride was bumpier than he expected, but everything went well. "To drive across the bridge was pretty eerie obviously, having it shut off and it was special for the team, the amount of effort they have all gone to have the bridge shut off," Webber said. "It was incredible to drive the car across there, it was special, and I think it will sink in. Actually I was quite nervous, I just wanted to make sure it all went well and it did. The car ran well." The 28-year-old driver is about to embark on his first season with Williams. "The opposition we are up against is incredibly strong, but Williams knows that and we will also be a force in the future," he said. "I think the first few races will be a little bit tough for us, we are not hiding away from that." The new F1 season starts next weekend in Melbourne. AAP

yeah baby. she is hot :aroused: :drooling: she IS a kawaii nihonjin rezz. i wouldn't b complaining.

Tahs' secret weapon By Peter Jenkins February 27, 2005 NSW are planning to unleash two massive flankers with rugby league backgrounds when they take their Super 12 campaign to Durban for a clash with the Sharks on Sunday. Wycliff Palu, a 120kg wrecking ball, helped splinter the Chiefs as the Waratahs opened their season on Friday night with a 25-7 bonus-point win at Aussie Stadium. But with openside star Phil Waugh to miss the first of two games in South Africa because of the North-South tsunami benefit match at Twickenham, coach Ewen McKenzie is ready to go for further bulk in the pack. Rocky Elsom, who dabbled in rugby league with the Bulldogs before joining the Waratahs two years ago, is the front-runner of three contenders to fill the No.7 spot. Elsom was used as a replacement for Palu on Friday and, at 106kg, is more than 7kg heavier than the other two possibilities - Lei Tomiki and Stephen Hoiles. "The options are to go with a specialist like Tomiki, or use Rocky or Hoiles," McKenzie said yesterday before NSW left for South Africa. "They are all capable of playing there. I actually think Rocky prefers to play on the ball. He doesn't read the game as such, he's more into the direct contest. And the South African sides don't tend to play a small openside. So I don't think it's such an issue in terms of having a bigger guy there." The Elsom option would continue the McKenzie trend for up-front intimidation. The Sunday Telegraph

Waratahs outclass and outmuscle Waikato Chiefs February 25, 2005 - 10:05pm Story by: Other [/b]:PhotoPop("] Lote Tuqiri scores a brilliant try on the way to NSW's 25-7 win over the Chiefs. The NSW Waratahs have kicked off their 2005 Tooheys New Super 12 campaign with a four tries to one, 25-7 comprehensive defeat of the Waikato Chiefs tonight at Aussie Stadium in front of 30,815 fans. The Waratahs were more professional, organised and enthusiastic across all areas against a Chiefs outfit that failed to rise to the occasion and looked a far cry from the unit that made a huge impression last season. Fullback Mat Rogers, who missed most of last season through injury and was sorely missed by NSW, again emphasised his importance with a man of the match performance. Rogers opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a planned chip kick into open space in front of the posts within the Chiefs 22m. Teammate Morgan Turinui, anticipating the move, surprised the Chiefs when he shot through a gap to score. After Rogers converted the try and the Waratahs led 7-0, Chiefs' flyhalf David Hill had one of his team's few chances for points but failed to convert the penalty. Rogers then executed a piece of brilliance in the 38th when he deftly scooped a low pass then grubbered his way to the Chiefs' tryline, threading and jumping his way past Sailosi Tagicakibau and Byron Kelleher to pluck the bouncing ball and dive over the line in one motion. Failing to convert, Rogers then played a key role in extending his team's 12-0 lead. From a scrum near halfway, NSW executed a midfield move to compress the Chiefs' defence then unleashed the ball out wide. Rogers hit the line in space and when he was tackled popped out a pass to winger Lote Tuqiri who ran an angle to score. The result was an emphatic, half time lead of 17-0. There was little the Chiefs could do. Against a well-organised Waratahs midfield defence, and struggling against NSW in the lineouts, the Chiefs made mistakes under pressure and gave away penalties at critical times. And so it continued in the second half. When Turinui bagged his second try for the evening in the 64th minute the Waratahs led 22-0 and any chance of a Chiefs' fightback was wiped out. Rogers' missed the conversion for Turinui's try and kicked only one from six attempts. It was the only blot on an otherwise perfect scorecard for the NSW goalkicker. A penalty, converted by Waratahs newcomer Peter Hewat late in the game, extended NSW's lead to 25-0 with their winning margin reduced by a late Chiefs' try. The Waratahs travel to South Africa and will meet the Sharks in Durban whilst the Chiefs travel to Jade Stadium to play the Crusaders. NSW Waratahs 25 (Morgan Turinui 2, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri tries; Rogers con, Peter Hewat pen) defeated Chiefs 7 (Sosene Anesi try; David Hill con) at Aussie Stadium, Sydney. Half-time: NSW 17-0. Referee: Craig Joubert (RSA).

O'Driscoll leads tsunami side From correspondents in London February 26, 2005 SIR Clive Woodward has announced his northern hemisphere squad for a tsunami rugby aid match against the southern hemisphere at Twickenham on March 5. The squad, to be captained by Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll, includes players from all the Six Nations countries. The North's starting XV will be announced next week, with South head coach Rod Macqueen having already named his line-up. The former England head coach, who will lead the British Lions on their tour of New Zealand, said: "The guys that have been named are world class, and I am looking forward to working with such an outstanding group of players. "The game promises to be a great spectacle. Both teams are fielding top-quality sides, and I really hope that the rugby public and community get behind this game so that we are playing in front of a packed out Twickenham to raise as much money as possible for such a deserving cause." North squad: Lawrence Dallaglio (England), Ben Cohen (England), Aurelien Rougerie (France), Damien Traille (France), Fabien Pelous (France), Raphael Ibanez (France), Pieter de Villiers (France), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), David Humphreys (Ireland), Chris Paterson (Scotland), Chris Cusiter (Scotland), Gordon Bullock (Scotland), Simon Taylor (Scotland), Andrea Lo Cicero (Italy), Marco Bortolami (Italy), Sergio Parisse (Italy), Dwayne Peel (Wales), Ceri Sweeney (Wales), Jonathan Thomas (Wales), Rhys Williams (Wales), John Yapp (Wales). South squad: Chris Latham (AUS); Rupeni Caucaunibuca (FJI) Jacque Fourie (SA) Tana Umaga (NZ), Sireli Bobo (FJI); Andrew Mehrtens (NZ) George Gregan (AUS, capt); Toutai Kefu (AUS) Phil Waugh (AUS) Schalk Burger (SA); Ifereimi Rawaqa (FJI), Victor Matfield (SA); Kobus Visagie (SA) John Smit (SA), Carl Hoeft (NZ) Reserves: Bruce Reihana (NZ), Brian Lima (SAM), Ephraim Taukafa (TON), Opeta Palepoi (Sam), Semo Sititi (SAM), Moses Rauluni (FJI), one player to be announced. Agence France-Presse

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