A round-up of the day's sports news in brief
All Blacks open defence of title against Australia
RUGBY:Graham Henry's All Blacks open the defence of their Tri-Nations title against Australia tomorrow in Auckland (8.30am, Sky Sports 2) under intense scrutiny and facing opposition who are making rapid strides towards international consistency.
The side for Saturday’s match at Eden Park is the strongest available to Henry. Backrows Richie McCaw and Rodney So’oialo have returned from injury, as has regular winger Sitiveni Sivivatu. Outhalf Stephen Donald has again been given the opportunity to fill the gap left by the injured Dan Carter.
Robbie Deans’ Wallabies side will be attempting to commemorate openside flanker George Smith’s 100th Test match with their first victory at Eden Park since 1986.
NEW ZEALAND:M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; S Donald, J Cowan; T Woodcock, A Hore, N Tialata, B Thorn, I Ross, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), R So'oialo.
AUSTRALIA:A Ashley-Cooper; L Turner, S Mortlock (capt), B Barnes, D Mitchell; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, A Baxter, J Horwill, N Sharpe, D Mumm, G Smith, R Brown.
Referee:Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Coakley makes a steady start
GOLF:Rebecca Coakley carded a first round three-under-par 69 but still trails the leaders by four shots in the Spanish Open at the Panoramica Golf Country Club.
Setting the pace after seven-under-par 65s are Becky Brewerton from Wales, Maria Boden from Sweden and Spanish amateur Carlota Ciganda, reeled off five birdies in her closing seven holes.
The two-time European Amateur champion and 2007 British Amateur champion is in her first year on a golf scholarship at Arizona State University received an invitation to play in the LET event.
Coakley’s round included five birdies in halves of 35 and 34. Hazel Kavanagh shot 71 while Martina Gillen, Claire Coughlan-Ryan and Tara Delaney finished on 73.
McCarthy takes bronze in Lithuania
ATHLETICS:Waterford athlete David McCarthy has continued Ireland's impressive underage success of late by winning the bronze medal over 5,000 metres at the European under-23 championships in Kaunas, Lithuania. McCarthy clocked 14:00.78, with the gold medal going to Spain's Mohamed Elbendir in 13:55.10.
Elbendir made a decisive break with just under three laps remaining and came home a convincing winner, but McCarthy battled it out brilliantly for the runner-up medal, but France’s Noureddine Smail just pipped him in 13:59.23, while Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands ended up fourth in 14:03.87. It was another hugely encouraging performance from McCarthy, who has just completed his second year on scholarship at Providence College, Rhode Island, and particularly as it comes after a year-long collegiate season, which only concluded last month with him making the final of the NCAA 1,500 metres. Among the other Irish in action in Kaunas was sprinter Jason Smyth, who missed out on a place in the 100 metres final after running 10.60.
Dunne must face Thai
BOXING:Bernard Dunne's camp is weighing up its options after the WBA announced there will be a purse bid on Monday for a mandatory super-bantamweight title defence against Thai fighter Poonsawat Kratingdaeg.
Brian Peters, Dunne’s promoter must seemingly now do all in his power to ensure the defence is made in Dublin, where a partisan crowd would ensure a frosty reception for the challenger.
