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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins

Wallabies beat Italy, Demons, Roosters, Dogs win thrillers: Australia sportwatch – as it happened

Israel Folau
Israel Folau scores for the Wallabies in their win over Italy at Suncorp Stadium. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

In summary

When I sat down with you the better part of eight hours ago I foreshadowed a packed day of action. Little did I know it would be one of the most intense days as well for the on-field results. Some absolutely brilliant finishes. Our codes at their best.

To start at the end. The Dees. Wow. Three goals in five minutes to win in Perth. Their third interstate win this year. Into the top four. Has a familiar ring to it. I wouldn’t be booking any September holidays if my heart was red and blue.

The Dogs know how that is from last year. And after sneaking home by a point over a fast-finishing North - controversially so - their back-to-back dream is still vaguely alive. But from where they were, excuse the cliche, they’ll be just happy with the four points.

A bit like those Wallabies. Albeit without the points at play bit. Italy got over the line twice in a minute inside the final ten to get within a point, with all the momentum and Australia’s scrum in a tatters; a man sent off too. But they steadied, to ensure their perfect record against Italy remains.

(New Zealand, meanwhile, loom. Doing their own job on the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park.)

In the league variety of the sport, some screaming NRL results. Not least the Roosters. Twice they had to score in the last seven minutes to force a draw against top of the table Melbourne. They did that, then only went and nailed the golden point. Mitchell Pearce the catalyst for pretty much everything to do with that.

The Cowboys came from behind to see off the Panthers, a wonderful, athletic try securing the late winning try.

In less compelling affairs, the Broncos went to Canberra and did what they needed to. Likewise Port, when they took the points from the Pies at the ‘G.

And you know what? That’s me done. A massive day sharing that with you all. Thanks for your company on sportwatch as ever. We’ll be back tomorrow to do it all again. Goodnight.

Updated

AFL: Bit more detail on the Doggies win by a point. A touch of controversy. via AAP:

The Western Bulldogs are back in the AFL top eight after a controversial one-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

The Kangaroos were denied a goal late in the match and also potentially at three-quarter time on Saturday night as the Bulldogs won 15.17 (107) to 16.10 (106).

Ben Brown marked and scored to put them ahead, but it was disallowed because a free kick was paid against the Kangaroos for a shepherd in the goalsquare.

The Bulldogs moved the ball down the other end of the ground and Jake Stringer marked.

He kicked a behind with about a minute left and the Bulldogs hung on grimly for the win, putting them back in the top eight.

Updated

AFL: Melbourne 15.9 (99) - WCE 14.10 (96)

Tom McDonald, five goals, two in the final term. Are we in an episode of Sliders on an alternative universe? Melbourne are three and zip interstate. And if their win in Adelaide last month was the price of admission for this young side in season 2017, beating the Eagles tonight earns them the right to be discussed as a serious top four contender. Your hearts should beat true tonight, Melbourne fans. That’s special.

MELBOURNE HAVE DONE IT! SING THE SONG! I’m singing the song and I hate this mob, they were that good. Three goals in five minutes to steal a thriller. First time they have beat the Eagles since 2009, and the first time they have been in the top four this deep into the season since, well, a VERY long time.

AFL Q4 0:24 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 15.9 (99). MCDONALD BLOODY GOES IT! HIS FIFTH! 11TH LEAD CHANGE! No idea how he got boot to ball. Special game, special winner. From a defender! 24 seconds to go, 17 men behind the ball! FOOTY!

AFL Q4 1:00 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 14.9 (93). BONE CRUNCHING TACKLES! Superb attack on the ball. In Melbourne’s forward pocket. A minute to go. Clear possession? Need one, somehow.

AFL Q4 3:00 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 14.9 (93). Huge hit! Shannon Hurn runs into a wall: Jack Viney. Looks bad, but both looked genuinely to be at the ball. He leaves the field with the trainers. They all take the time to slow the heart rate down a fraction. Three minutes to go, three points in it.

AFL Q4 4:00 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 14.9 (93). Pedersen again!
He’s everywhere! Contested mark, leans back on the set shot, but pops it across the face. Can’t say they didn’t have their chance. WCE need another goal. Oh how they will rue that Jetta miss from 20m - would have iced it. Talking point (as they say) if they get rolled here, that’s for sure.

AFL Q4 5:30 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 14.8 (92). LIQUID FOOTBALL! Pedersen moves it forward with the most precise kick to Tom McDonald running into the hot spot 20m out. Grab taken, set shot kicked, we’re inside a kick. They move the ball beautifully. Tons of time.

Updated

AFL Q4 6:30 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 13.8 (86). Take marks just like Cam Pedersen, Cam Pedersen’s what I need, whooah-oh! Big contested mark, clutch set shot goal. Game stillllll on.

AFL Q4 7:30 remaining: WCE 14.10 (96) v Melbourne 12.8 (80). Jetta, oh no! A wonderful tackle to ping Viney holding it. Goes back from 20m directly in front and sprays to the right. Moments before, Nathan Vardy (let’s go party) just misses from 50. They will need one more to be safe.

AFL Q4 11:30 remaining: WCE 14.10 (94) v Melbourne 12.8 (80). Tired boys out there now at Subi. But that doesn’t make McGovern any smaller. Fantastic contested mark deep in the 50. And after missing some earlier chances tonight, he does the job here from 30m. That pushes the lead back out to 14 points half way through the final term. Melbourne hit back but the Eagles have steadied.

AFL: Bulldogs 15.17 (107) - North 16.10 (106)

Heartstopper at the Docklands! Here I was thinking we had the close one at Subi, but the Dogs have got home my the smallest of margins via a Jake Stringer behind. Goodness me. All the best bits of that as it comes to hand (well, twitter).

Bit more detail from the ground. A touch of controversy! Via AAP:

The Western Bulldogs are back in the AFL top eight after a controversial one-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

The Kangaroos were denied a goal late in the match and also potentially at three-quarter time on Saturday night as the Bulldogs won 15.17 (107) to 16.10 (106).

The Bulldogs led by 26 points 11 minutes into the last quarter, but North roared back with the last four goals of the match.

Ben Brown marked and scored to put them ahead, but it was disallowed because a free kick was paid against the Kangaroos for a shepherd in the goalsquare.

The Bulldogs moved the ball down the other end of the ground and Jake Stringer marked.

He kicked a behind with about a minute left and the Bulldogs hung on grimly for the win, putting them back in the top eight.

Updated

NRL: How the Roosters did it. Not surprisingly: Mitchell Pearce in the middle of it all when it mattered. Via AAP:

Mitchell Pearce has recovered from Wednesday’s State of Origin heartbreak to kick the Sydney Roosters to a 25-24 golden-point win over Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval.

After the Roosters trailed by 12 points with eight minutes to play, Michael Gordon kicked a conversion from the sideline to send the match into golden point.

In front of 21,492 fans - the biggest NRL crowd in Adelaide since the Rams’ first game in 1997 - Pearce slotted an off-balance field goal from 35 metres out to claim the victory over an Origin-depleted Storm team on Saturday.

Pearce had earlier set up two tries, as the Roosters worked over Melbourne’s right-edge defence in the second half through Latrell Mitchell and Daniel Tupou.

AFL Q4 17:20 remaining: WCE 12.10 (82) v Melbourne 11.8 (74). Scampering down inside 50, Stretch to Petracca, into the open goal. All arms and legs; ugly but effective. Don’t strike me as a team about to give up. Salem don’t be back for the Dees tonight, done a hammy according to Ch 7. Viney’s shoulder has him resting too. So it’s huge job from here.

AFL Q4 19:00 remaining: WCE 12.10 (82) v Melbourne 10.8 (68). Super footy from Hutchings, taking the ball inside 50 by foot, taking a bounce, taking a shot and going just enough. Broke a tackle in the process. They have the last four of the game.

AFL Three-quarter time: WCE 11.9 (75) v Melbourne 10.8 (68). Mitchell puts another brilliant handball through, a snaked kick from Sheed hits the post. Sammy still doing this at will (1:33).

Best we’ve had.

Updated

AFL Q3 4:00 remaining: WCE 11.9 (75) v Melbourne 10.8 (68). Another free kick and goal, McGovern infringed close to goal and given a 50m penalty to ensure he kicks West Coast’s second in a minute. Their lead now swells beyond a single straight kick, which isn’t for nothing in the context of this oscillating evening. They have the last three!

AFL Q3 5:00 remaining: WCE 10.9 (69) v Melbourne 10.8 (68). Not the sort of game you can look away from for more than a minute or two. The tempo is finals-like. If this is an audition for September, Melbourne are ready for a part. But Hutchings from WCE is the beneficiary of Jordan Lewis being Jordan Lewis after the mark, a 50m penalty taking him to the kick-off line. That’s our tenth lead change!

NRL: Sydney 25 - Melbourne 24 (Golden Point)

The Roosters have done it! A converted try inside the last minute then the golden point victory over the top of the table Storm. Indeed, it was two tries inside the last seven minutes to get the draw to begin with. Have that!

From the ground (AAP):

Mitchell Pearce has recovered from Wednesday’s State of Origin heartbreak to kick the Sydney Roosters to a 25-24 golden-point win over Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval.

After the Roosters trailed by 12 points with eight minutes to play, Michael Gordon kicked a conversion from the sideline to send the match into golden point.

In front of 21,492 fans - the biggest NRL crowd in Adelaide since the Rams’ first game in 1997 - Pearce slotted an off-balance field goal from 35 metres out to claim the victory over an Origin-depleted Storm team on Saturday.

Pearce had earlier set up two tries, as the Roosters worked over Melbourne’s right-edge defence in the second half through Latrell Mitchell and Daniel Tupou.

Updated

AFL Q3 11:10 remaining: WCE 8.8 (56) v Melbourne 9.6 (60). Brillllllliant from Mitchell, wins the contested ball as he has done a thousand times before, dishing outa pristine handball to Karpany who kicks straight from 30. Important they got that one straight back. Margin back inside a kick. Jack Viney down the race for some medical treatment too. He’s been best on the ground, so that’s significant.

AFL Q3 11:30 remaining: WCE 7.8 (50) v Melbourne 9.6 (60). Two goals in a minute for Tom McDonald. It means another lead change, then extending it to ten points for the Dees. First, a set shot after a kicking in danger free at half back. The second, from a tighter angle on the 50 arc and drains it. Beautiful set shot kicking. Why they are the best in the comp on that measure. Noteworthy that the bounce from the middle wasn’t a good one - umpire should have called it back. Anyway, let’s get on with it.

AFL Q3 14:00 remaining: WCE 7.6 (48) v Melbourne 7.8 (50). Make that eight! Sloppy from Melbourne. Don’t see that with them often in 2017. Gawn gets the tap from a throw in close to goal, Dom Sheed roves it with easy, snapping truly.

AFL Q3 16:00 remaining: WCE 7.6 (48) v Melbourne 6.8 (44). Anoooother lead change at Subi, the seventh of the night, when Jake Melksham bangs home a conventional set shot.

NRL: Gordon kicks it! CLUTCH! We’re off to golden point land. Storm and Roosters 24-24 at the end of regulation. Top versus second. What a result!

NRL: TRY! IN THE LAST MINUTE! That puts the Roosters within a conversion of equalling the game at 24 each. Stand by...

AFL Q3 19:15 remaining: WCE 6.7 (43) v Melbourne 6.6 (42). Carbon copy to the start of the first quarter, a bomb into the 50, taken well by Petrie, who turns around the does just enough to pop through his fourth. The Dish turning the clock back. The Eagles back in front!

NRL: Game on in Adelaide. Melbourne briefly looked home with a try to Jahrome Hughes, but the Roosters hit right back via Daniel Tupou. And they have converted it. So it’s a six point game (24-18) with six minutes remaining.

Netball: The Australian Netball Awards presentation taking place in Melbourne.

What we know:

  • Super Netball Player of Year: Geva Mentor
  • Australian International Player of the Year: Sharni Layton
  • Young Star Award: Liz Watson
  • Australia Netball League Player of the Year: Sophie Garbin
  • Fast5 Player of the Year: Courtney Bruce
  • Joyce Brown Coach of the Year: Sophie McKinnis

Still waiting on the major award, the Liz Ellis Diamond. The Super Netball team of the year is in.

Updated

Old school from Leon Cameron. His Giants flogged Brisbane by ten goals but he’s given them a spray for not winning by more. Like this a lot.

“For three quarters we were good but we were really, really ordinary in the last quarter,” he said at the press conference. “It was concentration, not fatigue ... and probably just some players getting ahead of themselves.” (via AAP).

Let’s go... around the grounds. What a hectic half of footy that was. Hope you’re enjoying it. Plenty else going on around the country.

NRL: Melbourne Storm maintain their lead, with a quarter hour to go up 20-12. But Sydney have the most recent score, a converted try by Latrell Mitchell.

AFL: Just into the second half at Docklands, the Dogs lead stayed around the three-goal mark that they took into the first change. A goal to Picken makes their advantage 22 points over North.

Women’s World Cup: England might be regretting that decision to insert India, the visitors now 113-0 after 23 overs, Mandhana 73. Uh oh.

Channel Seven just used this as a half-time montage. Good enough excuse for me before we get back into it.

Now.

AFL Half-Time: WCE 5.7 (37) v Melbourne 6.6 (42). “His ruckwork over the last little while has been extraordinary,” says Peter Ball of Max Gawn who lands a picture-perfect pass in the hands of Hannan. A bad, unMelbourne-like miss from close range. Gawn earns another free at the traditional centre half-forward postion, to the hot spot. It ends up to Melbourne’s advantage. McGovern saves the day with a heaaaavy tackle. Siren! THEN IT BEGINS. They’re all at it. Clayton Oliver cops a whack to the chest after the siren by Schofield. He’s reported! Ha - barely touched him. Brilliant theatre at the end of a hotly contested half. And breathe.

AFL Q2 4:00 remaining: WCE 5.7 (37) v Melbourne 6.5 (41). Petrie’s third! Nice set shot from 40m, makes no mistake after a strong contested grab. Melbourne come screaming out of the guts from the restart, but Neal-Bullen has jusssst missed from outside 50. A quarter of near-misses. Don’t look away, this is a cracker. Jack Viney has already had 23 stats, by the way. Most of them contested.

AFL Q2 5:00 remaining: WCE 4.7 (31) v Melbourne 6.4 (40). Another brilliant defensive effort, Salem laying a perfectly timed and executed tackle, preventing Cripps of a shot on goal. Moments before, a late West Coast fist prevented Melbourne’s own certain goal. Tremendous defensive pressure on display from both sides. And now it’s Melbourne who need to make the most of the play they’ve largely controlled in this second term.

On the earlier sling. This is the twitter consensus.

AFL Q2 6:00 remaining: WCE 4.7 (31) v Melbourne 6.4 (40). Brilliant tackle from Frost to stunt a Melbourne surge. But they get it back eventually and... McGovern has spilled the easiest of marks directly in front! Reminiscent of Jack Darling in the 2014 Grand Final. Speaking of tackles: sling tackle paid! Yeo the man pinged, Tyson hits the deck. The Perth partisans hate it. Looked a bit harsh, but there was head-on-ground contact. No goals for a bit, but all happening.

Women’s World Cup: A quick look next door, and one of the very best players to watch in the world, Smitri Mandhana, has a half-century. India flying after being sent in, 71-0 after 15.

AFL Q2 12:00 remaining: WCE 4.6 (30) v Melbourne 6.3 (39). Here’s the thing: Melbourne are really, really good. It hurts a bit to say that, I am big enough to admit that. The whole merger thing, you know. But the way they moved the ball along the way, through half-forward, inboard to the spare man 20m out. What a delight. Tom McDonald is on the end of it. He makes no mistake. They seldom do, the Dees are the straightest kicking team in the comp at the moment.

AFL Q2 14:30 remaining: WCE 4.6 (30) v Melbourne 5.2 (32). Raining goals! Josh Hill got one back for the Eagles, but Mitch Hannan’s to put Melbourne back in front the more impressive, slamming it onto his boot with perhaps a tenth of a second reaction time (I’m making that up). 40+ out, and true! Up to five lead chnges now

AFL Q2 16:00 remaining: WCE 3.6 (24) v Melbourne 4.2 (26). Jeremy McGovern steps back for his fourth shot at goal for the night and it’s coming back and coming back... but hits the post. Down the other end and Melbourne kick a coast-to-coast goal to again stunt the Eagles momentum! Jazzy Jeff Garlett involved as usual, on the end of the inside 50, finding Bugg who converts from point blank range. Lead changes with every goal. This is good stuff.

Updated

NRL: Over at Adealide Oval, it’s half time in the top of the table stoush between the Storm and the Roosters. The Melbourne side lead 12-6 via converted tries to Addo-Carr and Croft.

AFL: Dogs have started well at the Docklands, ahead of North by 15 points half way through the second term. Ten marks inside their F50 for five goals. Efficient.

Lions: The All Blacks ran away with the opening Test in the end, 30-15 victors. Here’s the match report from Robert Kitson at Eden Park.

Before going around the grounds. Prompted by hearing Luke Darcy’s voice, the funniest thing I’ve seen in footy for a while for your quarter time enjoyment (one swear word, if you don’t like those). Can’t. Stop. Watching.

AFL Quarter Time: WCE 2.5 (17) v Melbourne 3.1 (19). A few wifi issues that quarter, my apologies for the silence. Resolved now. I did see West Coast spray a couple of late set shots adding to their sense of frustration. And Melbourne finally missed one too, Vince unable to convert from long-range after the siren.

AFL Q1 5:00 remaining. WCE 2.2 (14) v Melbourne 3.1 (19). Steadier for WCE, reward for earlier effort. The Dish has both of them for the Eagles.

AFL Q1 6:11 remaining. WCE 1.1 (7) v Melbourne 3.1 (19). Jack Viney brilliant on his opposite foot, and Melbourne are putting a dent in this early. Talk about making the most of limited chances. Here is the previous one. Class.

AFL Q1 8:30 remaining. WCE 1.1 (7) v Melbourne 2.0 (12). Melbourne have barely had a sniff, but they do have the leads! Clever punch back into the corridor, and Neal-Bullen gets the burners on inside 50 slamming it home. That’ll hurt the Eagles.

AFL Q1 9:30 remaining. WCE 1.1 (7) v Melbourne 1.0 (6). Subdued start far as the board is concerned. All very end to end, but no penetration. Shuey misses a set shot from 50. They lead the inside 50 count 9-2 early. Then we hear on the call - and this is pretty gear - that Jordan Lewis had to leave the field to pop his contact lenses in. Ever heard of that before?

AFL Q1 16:55 remaining. WCE 1.0 (6) v Melbourne 1.0 (6). Billy Stretch back in the senioors and straight into the book. Set shot converted after Gaff infringed deep inside the 50. Bit sloppy from the Eagle mainstay. A goal apiece it is.

AFL Q1 19:16 remaining. WCE 1.0 (6) v Melbourne 0.0 (0). Baaaaaaaaaaaaah! Consider that my ‘Peeeeeeep’ equivalent for an AFL goal-by-goal siren. And there’s a goal inside a minute! The Big Dish, Drew Petrie, gets his hands onto a bomb inside 50. Nice grab, nice set shot. We’re away at Subiaco.

Women’s Cricket World Cup: Heather Knight has won the toss at Derby and with a bit of cloud about, so England will have a jam roll first against India in their World Cup opener. Join our live blog with Vish, who is at the ground and watching closely. We went to Paris together this week for a little midsummer getaway. It was bloody lovely.

NRL: We are also away in the top of the table NRL clash between the Storm and Roosters in Adelaide. It’s a Sydney home game, where AFL was played just two nights ago. With tired Origin lads everywhere from the powerhouse sides, nine all up; five purple, four tricolour.

After a midseason stumble the Storm have won four on the trot and look top be the team to beat again, two games clear on top of the ladder. It will be a shootout though, Sydney the highest scoring team in the NRL. It is the first time they have played in 2017, the Storm smashing them twice last year.

AFL: Then in about ten minute we have the West Coast hosting the Dees, both teams coming in with 7-5 records, jostling for a position in the eight. Melbourne haven’t played finals footy for 11 years, so they require no incentive. And they have been good on the road, beating Adelaide away last month. Better still: they have All-Australian ruck Max Gawn back from hamstring surgery.

On the other hand, the Eagles haven’t lost to the Demons since 2009. Last time they met it was by a kick in Rd 18 at Subiaco, the venue for tonight’s game too. They also put together a very accomplished victory against Geelong last week. Volatile to the extreme in season 2017. Anything is possible from the blue and golds.

This wil be our feature goal-by-goal game for the night.

AFL: Next! Two games coming up this evening.

Starting now, the Doggies and North at Docklands. In the case of the Bulldogs, their premiership hangover is nearing Hawthorn 2009 levels. They’ve lost four of their last five, unable to kick a matchwinning score. They were easily beaten by Melbourne last week, which hurt.

The last time they met in round four, at the same venue, they were good enough to limp over the line by a kick. It’s getting to now-or-never when it comes to defending their famous flag.

AFL: GWS 22.14 (146) - Brisbane 12.14 (86)

All over at the Gabba as well, an even ten-goal win for GWS over botton-of-the-ladder Brisbane Lions. They go to a game clear on the ladder. The perfect way to see in Heath Shaw’s 250th game. Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton both slotted four, reinforcing why they are the clear premiership favourites.

Some additional detail from the ground, via AAP:

Dylan Shiel has starred in his 100th game, with Greater Western Sydney grabbing top spot on the AFL ladder with a 10-goal hammering of Brisbane at the Gabba.

In front of one of the smallest crowds of the season, the Giants outmuscled and outclassed the hapless, last-placed Lions, who suffered from the early loss of captain Dayne Beams (shoulder).

Classy midfielder Shiel set the tone on Saturday with a withering first quarter, finishing with 38 disposals in the 22.14 (146) to 12.14 (86) victory in front of just 11,742 fans.

The 24-year-old ran riot with 24 possessions, three clearances and a goal in the first half as the visitors jumped to a 33-point lead.

Updated

NRL: Brisbane 30 - Canberra 20

Game over! Matt Gillett backs up from Origin in the best possible way, over the line in the final minute to seal the win for the Broncos. They sleep tonight happily inside the top four. Siren sounds. Conversion made. That’s a 30-20 win over the Green Machine, their season just about over now. Brisbane with three tries to one in that second half really turned up the pressure when it mattered after going in 12-12 at the break.

Jarrod Croker from the Raiders on the radio: “We are going to have to do it a lot better or it is going to be too late.” Not wrong.

Updated

NRL: Dying stages, but the Raiders can’t make it work. Ten metres out from their own line the Broncos are feeding the scrum after an infringement from the hosts. Inside two minutes left, Brisbane lead 24-20. Can they kill enough clock with clean possession? Let you know in a couple of minutes.

Lions: A try and a penalty swells the All Blacks’ lead to 23-8 over the Lions in their First Test at Eden Park. A quarter hour to go, time running out for the visitors. Follow the final stages live with Gerard Meagher.

The recap. A plug. This is excellent. New product from HQ each Friday, bringing together the best of the Guardian’s sport from the week that was. Free, easy, just sign up at the link.

AFL: 20 minutes into the final term, GWS weren’t able to put the foot down for a monster win - yet anyway - the margin still 67-points as it was at the final change. Their forward line though... scary. Going to win everything, aren’t they?



NRL: From nowhere, Canberra are back in this game, dragging a try back in the 68th minute. Joseph Leilua showed “amazing strength” according to the caller, dragging multiple tacklers across the line with him. The video ref green lights the try. But the conversion is missed. It’s Brisbane still in the lead, 24-20.

Netball: I will be keeping an eye on the Australian Netball Awards ceremony that starts in the next hour in Melbourne.

Caitlin Bassett is expected to feature prominently on stage for her work in the national side then spearheading the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s premiership win last week.

The Liz Ellis Diamond is the feature award, covering both national and club games. Separate gongs of the year for the Diamonds and Super League will also be presented.

NRL: Try time! Broncs again, leading the Raiders 22-16. Rewarded for the immense pressure they have put the hosts under in this second half. It’s converted, so make that 24-16, in the 60th minute now.

Quickly round the grounds...

Eden Park: All Blacks still lead the Lions 13-8.

Gabba: GWS piled on four more in a hurry before three-quarter time, now 67-points clear.

Bruce Stadium: Try to the Broncs! They lead the Raiders 18-16 with just under a half-hour to go. “They’ve been outmuscled since half-time,” says the ABC radio call.

Neglected to mention earlier. Russ did an excellent thing during the week on Nicky Winmar’s ongoing omission from the Australian Football Hall of Fame. My head nearly came off for I was nodding so much. Recency bias, as he describes, must go. Your thoughts? Hit me.

Gorgeous shot from the Gabba.

AFL: Back to back majors for the Giants deep into the third term, both from the boot of Big Jezza Cameron. They’re seven goals clear now, and this becomes a percentage booster.

Speaking of Jezza... this from Glasto Silent Disco night before last. To the song that makes the sporting world go round.

Nathan Buckley. Some ambitious spin from the Collingwood coach in his press conference here, after his side were easily beaten by Port. Via AAP:

Collingwood’s AFL finals hopes are slipping away but coach Nathan Buckley insists their latest defeat isn’t a fatal blow.

The Magpies looked a long way off top-eight contention on Saturday in their 31-point loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG.

With just five wins and eight losses, the 13th-placed Magpies could fall into the bottom four, depending on other results over the weekend.

Buckley, however, isn’t giving up hope that the even nature of the competition this season might still work in the Pies’ favour.

“It’s pretty tight,” Buckley said.

“A loss is not fatal but it doesn’t help.

“If a side can go on a four or five-week winning run, you’re going to put a fair bit of a dint in it, especially as we play a lot of sides that are going to be through the middle or the higher part of the ladder.”

Updated

AFL: Half way through the third term at the Gabba, GWS have added three goals to two against the Lions, leading by a comfortable 38-point buffer. Port easily accounted for Collingwood earlier today, a 31-point win at the ‘G.

LIONS: All Blacks lead 13-8 in the First Test at Auckland. Brilliant try by the locals just before the half, by the reading of the live blog.

NRL: Remains 16-14 at Canberra, the hosts leading the Broncos into the break. The Cowboys knocked off Penrith 14-12 in the mid-afternoon kick-off. Adelaide Oval hosts the top of the table clash between the Roosters and the Storm later on.

Updated

Steve Harmison is a lovely human being. And doing a great thing in a new book opening up in depth about his depression. Have a look at this interview, in the paper today. Well worth it.

Updated

NRL: How about the wheels on Nick Cotrick? “He’s a 400m runner isn’t he?” says the radio call. Get in. He scores in the corner for Canberra five minutes from half-time. They lead Brisbane 16-12.

The All Blacks lead the Lions 10-0 at Eden Park. Remember you can keep following that on our live blog, too.

Women’s Cricket World Cup: We’re not far away from the tournament opener at Derby, hosts England playing India. Had the good fortune to witness a pretty amazing exchange the other night at the official launch at Whitehall in London with the Indian skipper, Mithali Raj. A journo - who had spent most of her media conference chatting to one of his colleagues and over her - asked who her favourite Indian or Pakistani male player is. Her response was rolled gold. I wrote a few words about it, and Vish Ehantharajah has a bit more few more when Raj spoke again at the pre-match conference yesterday.

Going to be a brilliant tournament. We’ll have OBO coverage for all of England and Australia’s games then into the finals. Get on board. See a full team-by-team ready reckoner to put in your favourites. Also by Vish, who is travelling with the England team. Very good.

AFL: Half-time at the Gabba. After sticking with the Giants for most of the opening two quarters, GWS kicked the last three of the half to open up a 9.8 (52) to 4.5 (29) lead at the long break.

NRL: Free-flowing opening 25 minutes at Bruce Stadium, the the Raiders and Broncos level at 12 apiece.

AFL: At the Gabba, the Lions are keeping the Giants honest in what looks a mismatch on paper. Greater Western Sydney are 14 points to the good 20 minutes into the second term. Here’s a good ‘un from the hosts, Lewis Taylor slotting one home to narrow that margin.

NRL: Next up in our trio of Round 16 games in the Rugby League today is 11th placed Canberra hosting 4th on the ladder Brisbane. The Raiders have been down on their luck this year, losing six games by less than a converted try. But this is a great time for them to be getting the Broncos, the origin window traditionally when they battle; three Brisbane players were in the bruising encounter on Wednesday compared to one from Canberra. Brisbane’s record on the road this year isn’t great either, winning just three of seven away fixtures. But they have won their last four on the trot against the Green Machine. We’ll keep a close eye on it. Play starts shortly.

Lions v All Blacks. It’s alllllll about to kick-off at Eden Park in their first Test Match. Be sure to open a new tab and follow along with Gerard Meagher. The Lions have won the toss. Anthems there shortly, which means GDNZ! What a treat.

Ground report from the Wallabies win.



AFL: Port Adelaide 13.15 (93) def Collingwood 9.8 (62)

Robbie Gray booted five goals as Port Adelaide cruised to a 31-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.

Port led throughout and put the result beyond doubt with a commanding third quarter in which they booted five straight goals.

The 13.15 (93) to 9.8 (62) victory lifts the Power to third on the ladder and puts Collingwood’s AFL finals hopes in serious jeopardy.

With just five wins and eight losses, the Magpies could fall into the bottom four depending on other results over the weekend.

(via AAP)

Updated

NRL: North Queensland 14 - Penrith 12

A last-minute sideline conversion from second rower Ethan Lowe has helped North Queensland escape with a thrilling 14-12 victory over Penrith in Townsville on Saturday.

Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt handed his side a chance to steal a win after flying high to take a spectacular catch for a 78th minute try and part-time goal kicker Lowe made no mistake to hand his side a much-needed win days after the club lost star halfback Johnathan Thurston for the season.

Cowboys forward John Asiata was denied what would have been the first try of his 65-game career in the opening minutes before Penrith made the most of some soft defence when Matt Moylan put second rower Corey Harawira-Naera over untouched for the game’s opening try. (via AAP)



Updated

RUGBY: Australia 40 - Italy 27.

It was scrappy, and not a lot of fun for Australian fans, but the Wallabies retain their undefeated run against Italy, despite the tourists giving them a serious scare deep into the second half with two tries in as many minutes to narrow the margin to one. But two late Australian tries - with Bernard Foley the clutch play of the game - secured the result. But make no mistake, there will be furious criticism of the performance for the sheer volume of handling errors, and a scrum that struggled for penetration throughout. Forlau and Naivalu both got over the line twice when the going was better for the home side, but the latter also copped a knock to the knee that ended his day prematurely.

“It probably shows where we are at,” says the captain Moore, citing a lack of confidence in the team at the moment. “We are not the finished product by any stretch. But the effort has been there.” August 19 they next play, against the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup leg. As Moore acknowledged himself in that chat, they have some way to go if they are going to seriously to compete in that series.

Updated

AUSTRALIA TRY! Rugby 79th minute: Australia 40 - Italy 27. Lovely! Taken a while, but the passing and running from deep in their own half, Hodge getting a look at the sideline and scampering down to the line. “It has been a performance riddled with errors, but Australia finishing on an outstanding note,” the assessment of Bray. Foley misses the conversion, but there is the final whistle!

AUSTRALIA TRY! Rugby 79th minute: Australia 35 - Italy 27. Bernard Foley with the matchwinner! Brilliant little run from four metres, stretching his right arm and slamming the ball into the turf from the tackle. Nothing pretty about that, but exactly what was required. He converts the try - his fifth straight kick of the afternoon - to almost certainly seal the victory.

Rugby 76th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 27. “You know you can’t do that from the ground,” says the referee to Steyn. He’s popped his hands in where they aren’t allowed and he’s off too! Both teams to finish this one man short.

Updated

Rugby 75th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 27. Yellow card! Toby Smith had been warned three times, but he’s lost shape again in the scrum. He’s off! Australia will finish this one short. This is getting desperate for the Wallabies, defending their one point lead. Italy surely will get their chance.

Updated

Rugby 72nd minute: Australia 28 - Italy 27. Frantic tempo now, with Australia needing a clean finish. Within a metre of the line Cooper is clobbered, the ball spilling forward in the process. The scrum will meet five out from Italy’s line. Australia with a chance to steady. “Can Australia produce a scrum to change momentum?” asks Bray. “Because this Italian scrum has changed the game completely in this second half.”

ITALY TRY! Rugby 69th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 27. “Harikiri from the Wallabies!” says Gordon Bray. Too cute passing across goal, Rory Arnold the player at fault, unable to get the ball out wide. Tommaso Benvenuti over for his second. The try is converted. One point game. Italy’s highest score against the Wallabies... who they have never beaten in 41 years of trying. Blimey!

ITALY TRY! Rugby 66th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 20. And they have! Crossfield kick is high, and Edoardo Padovani collects the deflection from Dane Haylett Petty and does the rest. The try is converted. An eight point game. Grandstand finish? Italy’s first win in Australia? Ample for it. They are dominating possession at the moment.

Rugby 62nd minute: Australia 28 - Italy 13. The scrum has been won by Italy today. A yellow card is threatened by the official for Toby Smith for three times losing his shape, close to the Australian line. Talk a penalty try if the Wallabies cannot get their act together in close. Important period here. Italy deserve to cross.

AFL: Collingwood defeated by 31 points at the MCG by Port. That will be, as they say, a talking point. Next in the footy: Brisbane and GWS. The Giants had the bye last week but were knocked off by Carlton two weeks ago – so need to get back on winners list to keep their top two standing. They have an average winning magin of 51 points over the Lions in their last three meetings, including a 79 point hiding at the Gabba last time the teams met in round 17 last year.

Rugby 56th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 13. Steven Moore comes off after a decent afternoon of toil in the no. 2. Between times, Italy fluffed another promising approach to the line, dropping the ball from close range. Australia increasingly look to have this under control. But they missed their chance to seal the game after an interception, Genia’s pass was a shocker, way over the head of Foley out wide.

Rugby 49th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 13. Bit of desperation from the Italian passing here, they just can’t break through and ultimately drop the ball. But in and around that, Naivalu is copped a whack to his knee. The trainers are on the field and the replay doesn’t look great. But he’s back on his feet. Relief for all in Camp Australia as he gets off the field without assistance, albeit limping.

AUSTRALIA TRY! Rugby 44th minute: Australia 28 - Italy 13. Sefanaia Naivalu’s turn for a double! Responding in the best possible way to the overturned try from just a minute earlier. Hunt in the middle of that with the crucial pass to open up the left. And some magic from Foley in there too, passing between his legs! As you do. Australia well on this after half-time. Foley converts for a fourth time.

NO TRY! Rugby 42nd minute: Australia 21 - Italy 13. Talk of atomic wedgies from the Australian support players get over line after the movement has concluded. That’s not what the TMO said, but it is what he thought.

NRL: Around the grounds to Townsville as well. Attritional stuff by the looks, the visiting Panthers leading the Cowboys 6-0 at the half. Corey Harawira-Naera has the try for Penrith.

AFL: Around the grounds, and Port are home at the MCG, leading Collingwood by 35 points with ten minutes to go in the final term. That will shatter the Magpies, who were still in touch with a tightly-bunched middle group of sides, but can’t afford to drop games at home in the run to September. Robbie Gray has five majors for the Power.

HALF TIME: Rugby: Australia 21 - Italy 13. “I think we’ll be pretty disappointed,” says back Bernard Foley when interviewed on the way off the ground. Laments their inability to hold onto the ball at important times. That final try of the half to the Italians, the most exciting passage of play of the stanza, has the margin where it should be in single digits. Especially having an early try disallowed controversially by the TMO. That said, Forlau looked unstoppable when the line was in sight, moving his impressive tally to ten tries in his past six international appearances. He might need one or two more to secure the result for the Wallabies in the second half here. Thankfully, he’s being well supported by Foley’s boot, converting all three tries with a trio of pristine strikes.

ITALY TRY! Rugby 37th minute: Australia 21 - Italy 13. “Campagnaro! He’s quick. Has he got the legs? He sure has!” Gordon Bray rolls his Rs with the best of them as the no. 13 slices his way through the middle of the field and isn’t stopped after Vendetti puts him through with some clean hands. They’ve earned the chance to go into the break within striking distance. The try is converted, and the margin is back to right.

Updated

AUSTRALIA TRY! Rugby 32nd minute: Australia 21 - Italy 6. Izzzzzzy! Another double for the winger, he has the home side’s third try. Easy peasy, none of this diving business, Forlau getting on the end of a tidy string of passes out to the right, the final one from Hunt slamming into his chest from long-range. Foley again converts; his kicking has been supreme at each time of asking so far today.

Rugby 23rd minute: Australia 14 - Italy 6. “It is said that Italy had a link to rugby all the way to the vatican,” says Gordon Bray. But he immediately mythbusts himself: the Pontiff was a goalkeeper. Carry on. They do get their second penalty at close range, Tommaso Allan popping through the three-pointer. The Scott Sio violation in the ruck is against the flow of play, with Australia exerting plenty of pressure after flicking the switch ten minutes into this opening half.

~Content~

AUSTRALIA TRY! Rugby 18th minute: Australia 14 - Italy 3. Israel! Five tries in three Tests for the big number 15. Sharp hands out to the right, passes all hitting the mark before Forlau does the rest, taking the responsibility to force himself over in the corner. Foley converts again, straight through the uprights. Italy were nearly in double figures within a couple of minutes, and now find themselves 11 down with Australian tails up.

AUSTRALIA TRY! Rugby 13th minute: Australia 7 - Italy 3. “He has the pace, he’s electric!” Sefa Naival down the left, too fast and over! Created after a scrum infringement, taken advantage of by the Australian backs. Their first real opportunity, with 97 per cent of play to this point in the host’s half. Foley does the rest to grab the extra couple of points on offer. Nice strike to get his day underway.

TRY! OVERTURNED! Rugby 7th minute: Australia 0 - Italy 3 Dean Budd has gotten himself over the line after a kick that caught Australia sleeping and gave Giovambattista Venditti space down the right. He’s been desparately tackled before the pass - is the foot on the line? Upstairs we go! “Can we rock and roll it,” asks the TMO in classic cricket third umpire style. “A cigarette paper in this,” reckons Gordon Bray. The TMO: “The blue player still has his finger on the ball and the ball is in touch...” that’s all you need to know. NO TRY. Goodness me. The Wallabies have got away with one there. Rattled.

Belated... but have some teams.

Australia: 1. Scott Sio 2. Stephen Moore 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Rory Arnold 5. Adam Coleman 6. Ned Hanigan 7. Michael Hooper 8. Lopeti Timani 9. Will Genia 10. Bernard Foley 11. Sefa Naivalu 12. Karmichael Hunt 13. Rob Horne 14. Dane Haylett Petty 15. Israel Folau

Italy: 1. Andrea Lovotti 2. Luca Bigi 3. Simone Ferrari 4. Marco Fuser 5. Dean Budd 6. Francesco Minto 7. Maxime Mbanda 8. Andries Van Schalkwyk 9. Tito Tebaldi 10. Tommaso Allan 11. Giovambattista Venditti 12. Tommaso Boni 13. Michele Campagnaro 14. Angelo Esposito 15. Edoardo Padovani

Rugby 2nd minute: Italy 3 - Australia 0. An early penalty. “The Italians will be disappointed they didn’t get seven points there,” the assessment of the TV. An early error from the boys in gold, a fumble at the back. They mishandle themselves as they take the advantage, but take the kick from directly in front. Well then.

Peeeeeep! We’re away.

And before we get into the real stuff, one error: “In joyful strains AND let us sing.” Nooo. Half a dozen changes for the Austrlaian team, and three confirmed for Italy. We’ll grab those from the authorities (err, twitter).

Anthems! Okay. We’re ready to roll. Italy first, then the Luke Kennedy with the Australian Girls Choir for Advance Austalia Fair. Few things better in world sport than anthems at a rugby international, no?

Just play pretend that this live from Brisbane.

Welcome to Saturday sportwatch! (It's a big 'un)

Welcome to an overflowing Saturday of action across this big, brown land of ours. I’m Adam Collins, and I look forward to riding shotgun with you a feast of footy, with plenty else to keep us cracking deep into the night.

Already underway are the Pies and Port at the ‘G. This was tipped to be the closest game of the round, but after two stonkers on Thursday and Friday night, they’ll take some beating. 13th placed Collingwood are on the improve, but still in need or urgent wins, playing catch-up in season 2017. But Port, in fourth spot currently conceding fewer points than anyway. The visitors currently lead by three goals half way through the second term.

In half an hour, our feature match of the afternoon: the Wallabies Test against Italy. Will it be another trainwreck for the Australians after getting turned over by Scotland last week? They can take some comfort it the fact that the visitors to Lang Park are just in just as much strife, losing to both Italy and Fiji during the mid-season international period. Get the popcorn.

At 3pm as well we’ll keep an eye on the Round 16 NRL clash at Townsville between Cowboys and the Panthers, seventh and eighth respectively after finding solid form after slow starts. Sadly, it won’t be Johnathan Thurston’s 300th game though, ruled out with a shoulder injury after his Origin heroics.

The next AFL bounce will be at 4:35pm when the hapless Brisbane Lions host the hip GWS. In practice, the cellar dwellers taking on the flag favourites shouldn’t be much of a contest, but the Orangemen did lose to Carlton before the bye.

To the Bruce Stadium in the national capital, for the Raiders and the Broncos. The hosts have came so close so often this season and still sit a win outside the eight. But they won’t get many better chances to overcome Brisbane, who despite sitting pretty in fourth are seldom at true full strength this time of year with tired Origin stars on every line.

Just on 5:30pm too we’ll have the next live blog kicking off as the British and Irish Lions begin their Test campaign against the All Blacks at the mighty Eden Park in Auckland. One of the best sporting grounds on the planet. Sure they’ll make the visitors feel welcome.

What’s next? Must be more footy. Of the AFL variety. The Dogs are in the middle of a deep premiership hangover, dropping four of their last five. Back on their home track at the Docklands though, where – despite getting done by Melbourne last weekend – they have an enviable record. North, struggling too, should give the champions every chance to return to the winners’ list.

Then we’re off to South Australia… for Rugby League? Sure, why not. Two nights ago AFL was hosted at the Adelaide Oval, now it is the top of the table NRL stoush between the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters. The Purple boys are flying, two games clear on top of the ladder having won four on the spin. But the Roosters know a thing or two about stringing wins together at this time of the season. With nine Origin superstars between the sides backing up, that surely won’t be for nothing.

Fancy some cricket? It’ll be at 7:30pm when the tenth edition of the Women’s World Cup begins in England. Specifically: to Derby, where Heather Knight’s England host Mithali Raj’s India in the tournament opener. We’ll have another live blog running for that, of the OBO variety. Watch out for the link.

Then last but not least, we go across the Nullabor for the most keenly awaited AFL fixture of the day. Can Melbourne – fifth after their smashing win against the Dogs last Sunday – win on the road again, this time against the Eagles? Good luck predicting that anything with West Coast, the competition’s least consistent side in 2017. Both sides sitting at 7-5, and Melbourne a chance to press again for a first finals berth in 11 years, it’s an old-fashioned eight point game at Subiaco. It will be our late feature game on sportwatch.

Phew. Exhausted yet? I reckon I will be in a few hours. Throw in there too the Australian Netball Awards, national badminton championships and American’s Cup all floating around through the course of our adventure together as well.

Don’t be shy in talking to me throughout. Would love to hear from you on the email as always, and on the twitter machine if that’s more your style. So take some time to soak it all in. Grab a drink, maybe a bag of twisties. I’ll do likewise. And we’ll be back for the anthems at the Wallabies not long from now at all. And want a song to get us going? Course you do.

Soak it in.

Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s the latest on the debacle that is Australian rugby union at the moment:

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