RUGBY WORLD CUP 2008

Sat 15 Nov - 2030 EST Semi Final 1
Sun 16 Nov - 2030 EST Semi Final 2
FINAL Sat 22 Nov 6.30-9pm

The Australian side:

The NRL grand final teams, Manly and Melbourne provide 11 of the 24-man Australian World Cup squad.

Nobody has challenged the selectors on their choice of the Australian squad, one bristling with skill, ingenuity and awesome power.

Manly skipper Matt Orford and Broncos fullback Karlmichael Hunt will have their share of sympathizers but it would have been impossible to include either when you look to who is filling the halfback and fullback spots.

Manly boast six of their grand final winning team, the team that “monstered” Melbourne 40-0 in the most one-sided grand final in the game’s 100-year history.

But six falls shorts of the eight players Souths (1970), Easts (1975) and, indeed, Manly (1995) provided for a World Cup after winning their respective grand finals.

Australia are the logical World Cup favourites but coach Ricky Stuart may have a furrowed brow after seeing two or three of the Melbourne players capitulate in the grand final. One of those players, Michael Crocker, appeared as though he had had enough for year 2008.

Australia has won nine World Cups from 12 attempts and this side looms as a try-scoring machine.

Two of the game’s greatest leaders, Darren Lockyer and hooker Cameron Smith will guarantee the right options are taken. The selection of Manly winger David Williams adds another rung on the excitement ladder. What a crowd pleaser!

Stuart faces an unenviable task of who to omit from his starting line-up for the opening game against New Zealand at Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday, 26 October.

(info from Rugby League World Cup website http://www.rlwc08.com/teams/Australia.aspx)


LIVE CRICKET

20/20 All Stars - from the Gabba, Brisbane - Thu 13 Nov from 6.30pm

FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND
starts Thursday 20 Nov at the Gabba

SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND
starts Friday 28 Nov in Adelaide

FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
starts Weds 17 Dec in Perth

SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
starts Boxing Day from the MCG

THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
starts 3 Jan from Sydney

20/20 - Australia v South Africa - 11 Jan from the MCG

20/20 Australia v South Africa - 13 Jan from the Gabba

One Day - 16 Jan from the MCG

One Day - 18 Jan from Bellrive

One Day - 23 Jan from the Sydney Cricket Ground

One Day - 26 Jan from Adelaide

Australia v South Africa from the WACA 30 Jan

Australia v New Zeland from the WACA 1 Feb

Australia v New Zealand from the MCG 6 Feb

Australia v New Zealand from the SCG 8 Feb

Australia v New Zealand from Adelaide 10 Feb

Australia v New Zeland from the Gabba 13 Feb

20/20 Australia v New Zealand from the SCG 15 Feb.