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Australia v New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Sunday 16th October 2011 . Twitchy, nervy, edgy. Not adjectives normally associated with New Zealand in the build-up to a key rugby fixture, but definitely an accurate description of the atmosphere that has engulfed the land of the long white cloud ahead of Sunday’s semi-final against Australia.
France v Wales Eden Park, Auckland Saturday 15th October 2011 . And then there were four. Saturday’s first semi-final sees the most fortunate team in the tournament, France, take on the most surprising, Wales, in an intriguing battle that is desperately difficult to call. Surely even the French themselves cannot believe that they are within touching distance of what would be their third World Cup Final
CAULFIELD CUP TIP – MIGHTY HIGH – Race 8 TAB No. 1 [Caulfield]
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory Hindmarsh Stadium Friday 14th October 2011 . Although Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory managed to pick up just a single point between them from their opening day fixtures, plenty of pundits and punters alike feel that Friday’s clash at Hindmarsh Stadium could be a dress rehearsal for this season’s Grand Final. Victory were certainly the more impressive of the two last weekend, more than playing their part in a pulsating draw with Sydney, while the Reds were largely out-played by Perth and as coach Rini Coolen admitted, thoroughly deserved their 1-0 defeat. The home fans will therefore be demanding a significant improvement on Friday as they lock horns with their fiercest rivals and a side who have caused them a world of pain in seasons past.
1st Twenty 20 – Australia v Sri Lanka , Friday 14 October, 3.00am (AEDST) in Cape Town . RECENT FORM : Australia has played four international Twenty20 matches this season, but with very limited success. The Aussies lost one game and won the other against England at home in January this year. But they had no success against Sri Lanka in more recent times, losing both matches by 35 runs and eight runs respectively away from home
What has happened to the great Australian stayer? Eight of the top 10 fancies for Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m) did their early racing outside Australia, including favourite December Draw. The only locals given a leading chance are AJC Oaks winner Absolutely and the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence. The Europeans are regular spring visitors, but in the past the bulk of them have come solely for the Melbourne Cup
? 2011 BMW Caulfield Cup Final Field and Barrier Draw No Runner Barrier 1 Mighty High 1 2 Drunken Sailor 18 3 Manighar 5 4 Unusual Suspect 7 5 Lucas Cranach 3 6 Precedence 20 7 Hawk Island 14 8 Shootoff 16 9 December Draw 11 10 Saptapadi 6 11 Tullamore 15 12 Absolutely 22 13 Dream Pedlar 19 14 Niwot 21 15 Domesky 9 16 Green Moon 17 17 Macedonian 10 18 Southern Speed 4 19e Spechenka 13 20e Lucky Eighty Eight 8 21e Anudjawun 12 22e Midnight Martini 2 ? For Full 2011 BMW Caulfield Cup Market, click here .
It probably goes without saying that in a match where only one try is scored, there aren’t too many attacking heroes. The Wallabies’ 11-9 quarter-final victory over South Africa was built on an epic defensive performance – pure and simple.
Australia v South Africa Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Sunday 9th October 2011 . Right, let’s start with the good news.
CAULFIELD STAKES TIP – PLAYING GOD – Race 5 TAB No. 8 [Caulfield] On the quick back up and is racing consistently at this level