A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Cooper has last word over Carter
QUADE COOPER booted a last-minute penalty to allow the table-topping Queensland Reds to snatch a 17-16 victory over seven-time champions the Canterbury Crusaders in a pulsating Super rugby tie in Brisbane yesterday.
Canterbury captain Richie McCaw was penalised for using his hands, directly in front of the posts, and the Reds outhalf nervelessly split the middle.
In a match billed as a World Cup preview between New Zealand and Australia’s chief playmakers, Dan Carter had the measure of Cooper for much of the match, and booted two late penalties to put the Crusaders two points ahead with seven minutes left.
However, Cooper had the final say, slotting home the winning kick seconds before the hooter after missing all three of his previous penalty attempts.
Parisse targets Ireland game in World Cup
SERGIO PARISSE predicts Italy’s World Cup campaign will hinge on their group clash with Ireland.
Italy have never qualified for the knockout stages but Azzurri skipper Parisse has revealed the fixture against Brian O’Driscoll’s men on October 2nd has been identified as the pivotal encounter.
“Our game against Ireland is the last match of the group. Even if we lose to Australia we have the potential to qualify if we beat Ireland.”
Ireland needed a a last-gasp drop-goal from substitute Ronan O’Gara to snatch a dramatic 13-11 victory at the Stadio Flaminio in this year’s Six Nations.
“We were very close to beating Ireland in Rome. We are not far off them in standard,” said Parisse.
“But then when you see a side like Leinster playing well in the Heineken Cup, you know Ireland will be in top form for the World Cup.”
Hansen eyes All Blacks main job
ALL BLACKS assistant coach Steve Hansen has worked with experts on his media relations skills in a bid to sell himself as a potential successor for Graham Henry after the World Cup, local media reported yesterday.
The former Wales coach Hansen, who has endured fraught relations with New Zealand media in the past, has been Henry’s assistant since the 64-year-old took the reins of the national team following their World Cup failure in 2003.
“The key priority is winning the World Cup,” Hansen was quoted as saying by New Zealand Herald, citing an interview with NZ Rugby World magazine.
“That’s the reason we all put our hats back in the ring . . . But then after that . . . do I want to coach the All Blacks as the head coach? Yeah, I do. It’s not something you set out to do when you are coaching but the further you go along and the more rewards you get, the more you start to say ‘yes, that’s an ambition’.”
Saracens hold off Tigers
ENGLAND STAR Ben Youngs acclaimed Schalk Brits’ “phenomenal” man-of-the-match performance after Leicester failed in their quest for a third successive Premiership title on Saturday.
South African hooker Brits was at the heart of Saracens’ memorable Twickenham triumph, creating the game’s only try for wing James Short and proving a colossus in attack and defence.
England Saxons coach Stuart Lancaster insisted yesterday’s 38-32 defeat to the Barbarians at Twickenham had been a “valuable experience” for his young side.
The shadow England team surged into a 17-point lead with tries from Henry Trinder, Ugo Monye and James Simpson-Daniel but the Barbarians staged a comeback either side of the interval.
Tim Visser, George Smith and Joe Van Niekerk added to the first-half tries from Benoit Baby and Frederic Michalak as the Barbarians took control.
