Wing harder than 15 for Izzy: Cheika

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Tough night ... Folau dropped a couple of balls in the face of some tough Reds defence. Source:AAP

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has slammed suggestions cross-code superstar Israel Folau is too raw to be playing fullback, claiming wing is in fact the more difficult position to adjust to.

Folau struggled on debut in the Waratahs season-opening Super Rugby loss to Queensland, and playing the pressure position of fullback, was frequently found out by the Reds' attack.

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But asked whether it would be better for Folau's development to be shifted to the wing to face Melbourne on Friday, Cheika hit back at the criticism and said the 23-year-old shifts between the two positions anyway.

"I don't know why there seems to be a perception that the wing is easier to play than fullback. In my way of thinking ... the wing is actually positionally much more difficult to play," he said.

"I've said it probably about 50 times now. But we play with an interchangeable back three. So he sometimes plays on the wing, sometimes at fullback."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says it was the right decision for NSW to throw their debutant into the deep end against Queensland and defended Cheika's decision to back Folau in the No.15 shirt.

Deans says Cheika had every right to have confidence in his big-name recruit and predicted Folau would be better for the experience.

"It was a baptism of fire obviously. It was always going to be, but he's a class footballer, and he'll be back don't worry about that," said Deans.

"It's easy from the grandstand. But he based his decision on a lot of background, from what he'd witnessed on the training ground and seen in pre-season fixtures."

The Australian Rugby Union on Monday started the 100-day countdown to the British and Irish Lions tour which kicks off on June 5.

By the time the first Test against the Wallabies rolls around on June 22, Folau would have had nearly a full season of Super Rugby under his belt.

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Despite his shaky start, Deans said it was too early to make a call on whether Folau a Test debut against the Lions would be too much to ask of the former league and AFL star.

"We'll make those assessments as we go," Deans said.

"There's risk in every choice you make.

"He's a huge talent and he can play fullback, he can play wing, he can play 13. He's getting in-game experience week to week and the competition is getting tougher, getting him closer to Test rugby week by week. So it's great, it's good for him and good to us."

Recovering Wallabies halfback Will Genia said Folau was more than capable of stepping up to Test standards inside four months.

Genia, who hopes to be back from his knee reconstruction for the Reds in round 5-6, said Folau had a lot to learn but was capable of adjusting quickly.

"I'm a massive fan of his. I hope he learns from it and becomes a better player and I think if he does he can have a massive future in rugby," he said

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GWS star punctures lung, breaks rib

Knock ... GWS player Matt Buntine handballs as he is tackled by Lions player Simon Black. Source: By Dave Hunt / AAP

Greater Western Sydney emerged as the biggest losers of the weekend's AFL pre-season action, with defender Matt Buntine to miss up to eight weeks with a punctured lung and broken rib.

The news was better for Hawthorn's Paul Puopolo, who landed awkwardly after a marking contest against Gold Coast Suns and went to ground clutching his knee painfully.

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Hawks football manager Mark Evans says Puopolo has bone bruising and could play in round one of the premiership season.

"I'm not sure about the severity of the bone bruising but that will really be determined by how it settles down,'' Evans told Melbourne radio station SEN.

"Sometimes you can play straight away and sometimes you might need to miss a few weeks, so we'll see how that goes over the next couple of weeks.''

GWS posted a shock win over local rivals Sydney in Sunday's pre-season triple-header at Blacktown, but Buntine was rushed to hospital after a crunching collision with Carlton forward Levi Casboult in their earlier match.

The 2011 No.5 draft pick needed his lung drained after it copped the full brunt of Casboult's knee.

Despite the severity of the injury, the AFL's match review panel deemed Casboult had no case to answer.

''(Casboult is) grabbing for the ball as he makes contact with his opponent. It was the view of the panel that Casboult was making a realistic attempt to gather the ball and the contact was accidental,'' the league said in a statement.

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy suggested his club would take a cautious approach with Buntine's recovery.

"We're not into the game of rushing these sorts of players back. We'll just bring in another kid,'' Sheedy said on Sunday.

"He's a pretty special sort of guy. He's going to be there for a long time and he reminds me a bit of Andrew McKay, who used to play at Carlton.''

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Henriques pushes Test into fifth day

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Fighter ... Henriques has impressed with the bat in his debut Test. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Australia's cricketers fought back to force the first Test against India into a fifth day and Moises Henriques says the tourists haven't given up hope of scoring a remarkable victory.

1st Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium

22 February 2013 - Day 4, Session 3

Australia 2nd Innings

M. Henriques	75	124	6	2	60.48
N. Lyon	8	47	1	0	17.02
I. Sharma	3	1	2	0	0.67

Australia will resume on Tuesday's final day on 9-232 with an overall lead of just 40.

Henriques is unbeaten on 75 alongside his first-innings score of 68 in a tremendous performance on debut in Chennai.

No.11 Nathan Lyon is on eight and they have added 57 for the 10th wicket after Australia appeared headed for an innings defeat at 9-175.

Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin has claimed 5-90 after his seven-wicket haul in Australia's first innings.

Australia's 84-over second innings has included only three overs of pace bowling from Ishant Sharma as Ashwin and fellow spinners Ravindra Jadeja (2-68) and Harbhajan Singh (2-55) exploit the crumbling red-clay pitch.

The tourists have only one frontline spinner and off-spinner Lyon had a difficult first innings, conceding 3-215.

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But Henriques says Lyon and Australia's pace attack are confident they can put India's batsmen under pressure, even with only a small total to defend.

"MS Dhoni was able to put on 100 or 150 (140) with the guy batting at 10, so if we come out tomorrow you just never know, especially on a day-five wicket," Henriques said.

"Our backs are up against the wall.

"We know that especially on a wearing wicket, it's only going to get tougher to start (for India's batsmen).

"It's that type of wicket where you almost have to concentrate as if every ball is your first one because you have to stay sharp and make sure you're alert for that one that does act a little differently.

"Sometimes you will get one that you just can't do anything about."

India had resumed on 8-515 and were all out for 572, boosted by Dhoni's 224, a record for an India captain.

He was one of five victims for Aussie quick James Pattinson (5-96).

Australia's top order of Ed Cowan (32), Shane Watson (17) and David Warner (23) failed to capitalise on their starts while Phil Hughes (0) at No.4 and Michael Clarke (31) were victims of a couple of sharp-turning deliveries.

Opener Warner batted at No.3 after a bout of gastro.

Matthew Wade (eight) was bowled attempting a slog-sweep against Harbhajan and Peter Siddle (two), Pattinson (11) and Mitchell Starc (eight) went cheaply before Australia's fightback late on Monday.

Meanwhile, team doctor Peter Brukner announced that reserve quick Jackson Bird would be sent home for precautionary scans on a back injury.

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Injured Bird to fly home from India

Flying home ... but Bird could head straight back to India if the scans are good. Source: Manan Vatsyayana / AAP

Pace bowler Jackson Bird will return to Australia after suffering from back pain while in India.

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Pace bowler Jackson Bird will return to Australia after suffering from back pain while in India.

Bird is in Australia's 17-man touring party but wasn't playing in the first Test in Chennai.

According to a Cricket Australia statement, the Tasmania quick will return to Australia in the next 24 hours to have precautionary scans on his back.

"Jackson has reported some low level back pain and we feel the best course of action to determine the issue is to send him back to Australia for scans," Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said.

"If the scans come back clear then he will return to India to take up his place with the squad."

The statement didn't say if Bird would be replaced by another player, but there would be plenty of candidates to fill his spot if CA were to send a replacement.

In all likelihood it would be a spinner, given the lack of success Australia's fast bowlers have had in the first Test, with New South Wales tweaker Stephen O'Keefe probably the frontrunner.

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The man to fill Rogic's shoes

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Back with a bang ... the Mariners have put their rivals on notice. Source: Paul Miller / AAP

What's the best response to losing your A-League ladder lead?

Belt six past the next best rival, return to the spot you believe is rightfully yours, before issuing the challenge to Western Sydney Wanderers: come and get us. 

Central Coast Mariners were scintillating against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, with the likes of Bernie Ibini, Mitchell Duke and Nick Montgomery running with purpose and pace that Ange Postecoglou's side couldn't contain as the match went on.  

But a secret to the Mariners' success could lie at the feet of a diminutive Kiwi, now enjoying an extended run in his favourite position, as an underrated replacement for prodigal sons Tom Rogic and Mustafa Amini, who have played in the attacking midfielder role in recent seasons. 

Enter Michael McGlinchey – scorer of a gorgeous hat-trick against Victory, which you can watch at the top of the page. 

McGlinchey laid on one assist and scored three times with his only three shots of the match as the 26-year-old New Zealand international put on a masterclass at Bluetongue Stadium. 

Shane Smeltz – his national team colleague – believes the Mariners have unleashed a secret weapon. 

"I know Mickey loves to play in the middle and maybe he'll get bit more of an opportunity to do that now and show his true colours," Smeltz told foxsports.com.au.

"We've seen with last night's game and maybe with Rogic gone now, maybe that's the role for him to fill – be a bit more creative going forward, whereas before you've had Rogic there and (Michael) sitting a bit deeper or wider." 

While the Mariners' lack of a finals x-factor has been questioned, Smeltz has nominated his countryman to fill the void. 

"What you're seeing this season is he's added goals to his game, which has been great," Smeltz said. 

"It's great for him, Central Coast Mariners and great for New Zealand's national team. With the games we've got coming up, it's good to see him, and others, hitting form. The more Kiwis firing, the better!"

While Arnold was annoyed at conceding two against the Victory, the truth is that the home side schooled the visitors in the latter stages. 

"It was a phenomenal performance," Craig Moore said on Sunday Shootout. "Every time they looked to attack they looked like scoring goals – they could have got double figures!

"I really like Michael McGlinchey – a really clever player. They've got a good balance across the field. On the back of a bad performance, what a great way to see your team bounce back." 

Mark Bosnich, however, had stern words for their finals rivals, Victory. 

"Melbourne Victory were pretty much pathetic," he said. "They've got a major job next week - a massive test of the players and the coaching staff, coming back from losses like this."

While the Victory pick up the pieces, the Mariners can bounce into a big week in their season – an AFC Champions League clash with Suwon Bluewings before the much anticipated Premiers' Plate showdown against the Wanderers. 

Smeltz explains why McGlinchey provides the Mariners with a player that Duke, Ibini and Daniel McBreen can thrive alongside. 

"He's someone always a pleasure to play with. He can see your runs.

"And you also know when you get the ball to him, he's going to keep the ball. 

"That, for me, is his biggest asset. He rarely turns the ball over."

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Dhoni demolishes Aussies in Chennai

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Hundred hero ... MS Dhoni played a real captain's knock on Sunday. Source: Manjunath Kiran / AAP

India still have two wickets in hand at 8-515 at stumps on Sunday after resuming in Chennai on 3-182 in reply to Australia's 380.

1st Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium

22 February 2013 - Day 3, Session 3

India 1st Innings

M. Dhoni	206	243	22	5	84.77
B. Kumar	16	56	2	0	28.57
M. Henriques	17	4	48	1	2.82

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 206 from 243 balls including 22 fours and five sixes.

Nathan Lyon - Australia's sole specialist spinner for a match on a crumbling pitch - has figures of 3-182 from 40 overs. Only seven Australia bowlers have conceded more runs in a Test innings.

Debutant tailender Bhuvenshwar Kumar contributed 16 not out in a 109-run partnership for the ninth wicket which demoralised Michael Clarke's side.

It was Dhoni's sixth hundred and first against Australia and came at a crucial time with his side struggling at 4-196.

The skipper shared a 128-run stand for the fifth wicket with Virat Kohli (107) after Australia had been in a strong position with India 4-196 when Sachin Tendulkar fell for 81.

Paceman James Pattinson claimed 4-89.

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Seven India batsmen have been bowled in the innings so far, which is two shy of the world record.

Tendulkar inside-edged a ball from Lyon onto his stumps, robbing the thousands of the screaming fans in attendance the chance to see the 39-year-old little master score his first Test hundred since January 2011.

Kohli's 199-ball century, the fourth in the 24-year-old's 15-Test career, was his second in successive matches against Australia after his 116 in Adelaide 13 months ago.

Kohli was caught at mid-on to Lyon's bowling and Ravindra Jadeja (16) was bowled by Pattinson shortly before tea.

Ravi Ashwin (three) was Lyon's third victim and debutant Moises Henriques' first wicket came when the seamer rattled the stumps of the feisty Harbhajan Singh (11) at 8-406.

Harbhajan entered into a heated debate with Australia's Matthew Wade after an lbw appeal was rejected with Harbhajan on zero.

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Playing from the back killing clubs

Solid as a rock ... Eugene Galekovic is a save of the week regular. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

'I like to play good football, play it out from the back and keep possession'.

It's a well-worn - seemingly compulsory - mantra we tend to be hearing time and time again as new coaches promise fans and media a style of play based on playing the ball along the carpet from the keeper.

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But there's a time and a place for everything – and Mark Bosnich thinks it's becoming an obsession that is costing A-League clubs precious goals. 

"There's a great emphasis on playing the ball from the back – but you've got to use your common sense," Bosnich said on Sunday Shootout. 

"Why go for something that's not worth the risk? 

"Just take your time and hit the long ball and look for the second ball." 

Former Socceroos centre-back Craig Moore agreed, adding that it's "all about decision making. You don't want to over play"

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"It's really doing my head in – and it's costing people," Bosnich said. 

"I'm blaming the goalkeepers too – they have control of the ball in that situation. 

"If nothing is on – go long. 

"If you keep doing that, you're inviting trouble at the wrong end of the pitch."  

Bosnich isn't advocating abandoning a style of play that has thrilled football fans in Australia, best deployed by Brisbane Roar in recent seasons, but rather a respect for keeping a 'clean sheet'. 

"It angers me a little bit because it gives away goals. 

"Goals are hard to come by – you can't keep giving away silly goals.

"It's important as we go into competitions like Asian Champions League (on the international stage)." 

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Ironically, Galekovic picked up the Save of the Week gong for his late exploits in Wellington, which spared a point against the Phoenix in a match that featured three stunning goals alongside the Adelaide howler.  

"Entertaining for the neutral; three outstanding goals. 

"Sending off (of John McKain) was a turning point – couldn't see Adelaide losing it until then. 

"Fantastic saves at the end by Galekovic denied them that. 

"I fear Phoenix's chances for the top-six – I don't think they can make it anymore." 

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'Stop it MS, before you hurt someone'

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Match etiquette ... Brett Geeves raises some questions about India's behaviour. Source: Sam Ruttyn / News Limited

Day three and the watchability of the cricket has gone up a level.

The cameramen seem to be panning into the crowd more and if you turn the sound down, you can hear the sound of screeching tyres, young folk swearing at each other and police sirens … depending on which suburb you live in.

As far as general camera panning goes; there is nothing like the sights of South African cricket facilities. How do I become a cameraman?

I think I would be terrific, until I had to focus on something for more than a few minutes or if I was asked to lift anything heavier than a box of beer. Cricket - got it.

Poor Nathan Lyon is being savaged.

Not only are the Indian batsman hopping all over him for 4.4 runs per over, but the Australian public and media are giving it to him also.

How about we try something here? GIVE THE BLOKE A BREAK!! An OFF BREAK!! (ha - they say you shouldn't laugh at your own jokes, but this has me giggling - sorry).

Bowling off-spin is a tough art - just ask Tim May. Actually, he was pretty successful and wrote an awesome book too - Mayhem, you should read it.

Um, what about Peter Taylor, the bloke they picked thinking they were picking Mark Taylor? One-day average of 28 with the ball and had the greatest bowling action of the modern era. The old hop, skip and a jump with a double wind up and half pyke. He was one of my favourites.

Sadly, his pencil thin yellow moustache was a big downer as it blended in with his canary yellow one-day gear and yellow hair, making him look like he was wearing a team issue balaclava.

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1st Test - MA Chidambaram Stadium

22 February 2013 - Day 3, Session 3

India 1st Innings

M. Dhoni	206	243	22	5	84.77
B. Kumar	16	56	2	0	28.57
M. Henriques	17	4	48	1	2.82

Jason Krezja could have been successful if the selectors gave him an extended run in the team. 12 wickets on debut is a phenomenal return and we saw glimpses of his capabilities when he played against South Africa in Perth.

His dismissal of Amla in the first innings was a classic off spinner's wicket. Drift away from the right hander, lulling them down the crease, then sharp turn between bat and pad for the conking of stumps.

Unfortunately for Jas, this was his only wicket of the game and he conceded something like 200 runs.

It would be difficult as a spinner not knowing if you are getting an extended run or if the first or second game will be your last unless you bag a five-wicket haul. Cameron White, Bryce McGainn, Beau Casson, Steve Smith, Jason Krezja and Xavier Doherty are all shaking their head in agreeance.

I am making a media rule; one that should be respected. If you are an Australian spinner and you have dismissed Sachin Tendulkar in a test match, you are exempt from any further media bashing. Starting … Jason Krezja is a pie lobber… NOW.

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As I write this, Nathan Lyon's economy rate has just reached 4.7 and MS Dohni has just reached 200 … WOW!!

Virat Kohli scored a ton and when he notched up his milestone, he and MS stopped play for a game of euchre.

After MS won the first game by reneging, they called the physiotherapist and 12th man down for some doubles and once this was completed the four of them took off to Chennai Golf Club for some skins, all while the Australian players waited patiently.

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OK, so this might be a genuine exaggeration, but why was there a seven-minute delay when Virat scored his ton?

Indian cricketers, in my experience, have no match etiquette and this is something that upsets Australian players.

It's the small things; not asking the opposition captain if a drink can be run out on the ground or if new gloves can be received, chewing with their mouth open, trampling on the line of someone else's putt and other small things that get under your skin when it's 45 degrees and the score is 4 for 500.

Moving forward, watch this sort of stuff closely. It happens a lot when India are batting and I can guarantee you that at some stage during the second Test, there will be a blow up of some sort. Expect Warner and Wade to lead the charge on this one.

It is said that MS Dohni signed a $50 million sponsorship agreement with a very famous soft drink company. It is also said that he plays cricket like a BOSS (Shane Warne said this) and is a terrific table tennis player.

The Indian people love MS because of his humble beginnings. He once worked as a ticket collector for the Indian Railway and is remembered by his colleagues as a straight forward employee.

Not exactly a glowing report by his fellow collectors of tickets!

Surely they could have provided the journalist with a little more than that. They did, however, recall a story of when MS and two other chums wore white sheets over their bodies and pretended to be ghosts.

MS, you are looser than the Australian men's relay team. Knocking on doors, making prank calls, interrupting others sleep, kicking people out of lifts and other general naughtiness.

Stop it MS, before you hurt someone!

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Raiders tame Bulldogs in Goulburn

Wild weather ... Blake Ferguson celebrates a try in Goulburn. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

Five-eighth Josh McCrone steered Canberra to a 22-18 trial win over last year's NRL grand finalists Canterbury-Bankstown in Goulburn on Saturday night.

The five-tries-to-three victory was played in difficult conditions with strong winds and driving rain lashing the NSW Southern Tablelands.

Canberra rocketed home in the second half with 18 points in 16 minutes after trailing for most of the match.

The Bulldogs went into halftime leading 6-4 thanks to Sam Perrett's try, while Blake Ferguson opened Canberra's account after a kick from McCrone was batted back by winger Sandor Earl to the rangy centre in the 32nd minute.

The Bulldogs, who fielded a strong team including fullback Ben Barba, hooker and skipper Michael Ennis and five-eighth Josh Reynolds, were quick to get on the scoreboard in the second half when star centre Josh Morris crossed after just four minutes.

Morris got on the end of a Kris Keating kick and planted the ball, with Krisnan Inu converting from out wide to make it 12-4.

Ennis, Barba and Morris left the field in the 57th minute and the Raiders crashed over soon after as they went on a scoring rampage to grab a 22-12 lead.

A McCrone cross-field kick resulted in a try to Raiders speedster Dimitri Pelo before big forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs powered over from close range to score a converted try to level the match at 12-12.

Earl and Jarrad Kennedy added tries for the Raiders with the Bulldogs scoring a consolation four-pointer through replacement fullback Drury Low in the dying minutes.

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Impressive Roosters tame Tigers

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Early crow ... the Roosters impress in their big trial win over the Tigers. Source:News Limited

Sydney Roosters rounded off an eventful NRL pre-season campaign with a 28-16 victory over Wests Tigers at a sodden Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

In a summer that has featured the arrival of Sonny Bill Williams, Michael Jennings, Luke O'Donnell, James Maloney and the appointment of new coach Trent Robinson, the Roosters go into the new campaign unbeaten after outscoring the Tigers by five tries to three to win the Foundation Cup.

The Roosters have a mouth-watering season opener against South Sydney on March 7 and will head into that game - where Williams will make his long-awaited debut - full of confidence.

Robinson's side opened the scoring after 17 minutes through exciting young back-rower Boyd Cordner who was picked out superbly by Mitchell Pearce and darted his way to the line.

The hosts were in again from their next attack when giant winger Daniel Tupou leapt above Matt Utai to haul in Maloney's crossfield kick.

The Tigers, who crushed Parramatta 41-4 in last Saturday's trial, responded well after a quiet start and were rewarded for some enterprising play when Benji Marshall scored a try on the stroke of halftime.

The Kiwi playmaker was picked out by Robbie Farah's perfectly-weighted grubber kick to dive forward and get his hand to the ball.

The second half saw both sides make a host of changes.

Tigers centre Chris Lawrence was forced off with a shoulder injury and Blake Ayshford went off with concussion after coming off second-best when tackling Aidan Guerra.

But it was the Roosters who looked the more likely to extend their lead after the break and Daniel Mortimer touched down under the posts following a break from Maloney.

Jennings added a fourth four-pointer when he showed his searing pace to latch onto Tupou's hopeful kick.

Roosters back-rower Guerra crashed over 12 minutes from time to ice the victory before the Tigers scored two late consolations through Joel Reddy and Matt Utai.

Maloney finished with three goals in what was an encouraging display from the former Warriors five-eighth, with Marshall kicking two.

Robinson, whose partner gave birth to their second child on Friday night, was satisfied with the performance.

However he was keen to point out the two wins his side recorded in successive weekends, after beating Manly last Friday, counted for little ahead of round one.

"I thought there was some good control in parts," Roosters coach Robinson said.

"The wins don't make a difference when it comes to round one but there's been parts of both trials where we've seen what we've wanted to see, both in attack and defence."

Tigers coach Mick Potter, who lost Braith Anasta and Tim Moltzen midway through the game due to gastro issues, said the display from his side showed they still had plenty of work ahead of them.

"At times there we couldn't go with them and it just shows we need to do a little bit extra at training," Potter said.

"Defensively we've got a little bit of work to do."

Lawrence (shoulder) and Ayshford (concussion) were both forced off but the Tigers' medical staff said they were not concerned.

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