Robinson quits as Scotland coach

Failure ... Robinson had little success in his time as Scotland's coach. Source: AFP

Scotland coach Andy Robinson has resigned a day after his side lost to Tonga, the Scottish Rugby Union announced on Sunday.

The Englishman had been under contract until after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but the 21-15 upset loss to the Tongans in Aberdeen meant that the Scots had lost 10 of their last 13 matches, including elimination from the World Cup at the group phase for the first time.

They also lost their three November internationals, all at home, to New Zealand, South Africa and Tonga.

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In a statement issued by the SRU, Robinson, who was appointed in June 2009, said: "It's been a privilege to be the head coach of Scotland and I'd like to thank the fans, players, coaches and staff for all their support over the years.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the players and the coaches in the last few years.

"I believe I have left the team in a better position than when I took over and have great confidence in the players and the coaches for the future.

"I am very disappointed by our recent results but I have belief in the players to develop into a winning team."

Scottish Rugby's Chief Executive, Mark Dodson, said: "Following the sequence of recent results during the EMC Autumn Tests a change in head coach is required to take the team forward and build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

"Andy has overseen some fine results as Scotland head coach since he was appointed in June 2009 but the recent defeats have been very disappointing.''

A recruitment process for a new Scotland head coach will start with immediate effect, the SRU said.

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Panesar puts England on brink of win

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Fiver ... England spinner Monty Panesar has snared two five-wicket hauls in the second Test in Mumbai. Source:AP

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen struck record-equalling 22nd Test centuries before Monty Panesar spun England into a commanding position at stumps on day three of the second Test in Mumbai.

Cook (122) made an unprecedented fourth consecutive century as captain and Pietersen cracked a scintillating 186 as both men drew level with three all-time greats in Wally Hammond, Geoff Boycott and Colin Cowdrey as their country's most prolific centurions.

2nd Test - Wankhede Stadium

23 November 2012 - Day 3, Session 3

India 2nd Innings

G. Gambhir	53	109	5	0	48.62
H. Singh	1	1	0	0	100
G. Swann	13	4	39	2	3.00

Cook's second successive hundred against India - following his rearguard 176 in last week's defeat at Ahmedabad - and Pietersen's first since last summer helped England post 413, giving them a useful first-innings lead of 86.

It was then time for England's spinners to take centre stage and, with the pitch beginning to turn and bounce appreciably, they made immediate inroads to leave India tottering on 117-7 at stumps - a lead of only 31.

Panesar, fresh from his five-wicket haul in the first-innings, claimed five more in the final session on day three, a feat which sees him become the first England spinner to take 10 wickets in India since Hedley Verity did so in Madras back in 1934.

The left-arm spinner accounted for Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni and Ravi Ashwin, while spin partner Graeme Swann snared Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli to make England firm favourites to level the four-match series on Monday.

Sehwag was the first of seven India batsman to depart after tea, edging a spinning Panesar delivery to Swann at slip, while Pujara endured a rare failure, presenting Jonny Bairstow with a sharp catch at short leg.

Sachin Tendulkar, playing what could be his last Test match in front of his home crowd, once again fell to Panesar, playing back to a quicker delivery which pinned him lbw for just eight - his 10th successive score of less than 28.

India slumped to 65-4 when Virat Kohli inexplicably hit a Swann full toss straight to sub fielder Joe Root at mid-off and England's day got even better when Dhoni edged Panesar to Swann and Ravi Ashwin spooned the same bowler straight up to Samit Patel.

Gautam Gambhir (53 not out) held firm for India and remains key to the home side's fading chances of posting a target which may trouble England on a wearing pitch.
Controversial

Captain Cook and Pietersen shared a superb 206-run partnership for the fourth wicket to help England claim a vital first-innings lead on the stroke of tea at the Wankhede Stadium.

Cook, out on his own with his fourth century in his first four Tests as captain after his two while standing in for Andrew Strauss in Bangladesh two-and-half years ago, reached three figures with a cover-driven four off Harbhajan Singh.

Pietersen operated at a quicker tempo throughout in an innings which gave England telling impetus and truly rubber-stamped his return to the fold after his disagreements with management and senior players last summer.

Five minutes after Cook completed his century, Pietersen did likewise, from only 127 balls - with a reverse-sweep just wide of slip off Harbhajan for his 15th four.

When Cook finally departed, via a faint edge behind in forward-defence as Ashwin found some turn, Pietersen jogged 30 yards down the wicket and past the stumps to voice his personal acknowledgement as the captain made his way off the pitch.

New batsman Bairstow (9) fell shortly after in controversial circumstances in what proved to be the final ball before lunch, his bat/pad catch being taken by Gambhir at silly point, but not before the ball had deflected off the fielder's grille.

Pietersen continued to take the fight to India, sweeping Pragyan Ojha for three further sixes before the left-armer finally got his revenge with Dhoni claiming a sharp catch behind the wicket.

With the ball spinning and bouncing appreciably, England's tail meekly folded from 382-5 to 413 all out, with Ojha continuing his impressive series with figures of 5-143.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was involved in a mix-up with Stuart Broad and as a result run-out for 21, while Broad propped a catch to silly-point; James Anderson went in the same Harbhajan over; and Panesar was last out slog-sweeping straight to deep midwicket.

Read the full story at Sky Sports

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McIlroy ends season in winning style

Unstoppable ... McIlroy charged home to win by two shots. Source: AP

World No.1 Rory McIlroy responded in magnificent fashion to Justin Rose's course record round of 10-under par 62 by making five birdies in his last five holes to win the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday.

At the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, McIlroy had fallen two shots behind world No.7 Rose with a bogey on the 13th hole, but regrouped to finish at 23-under par following his final round of six-under par 66.

Rose had started the day six shots behind overnight leaders McIlroy and world No.2 Luke Donald, but his bogey-free round helped him set the clubhouse target at 21-under par 267.

McIlroy had already wrapped up the Race to Dubai European money list crown by taking an unassailable lead coming into the tournament. He also topped the money list on the USPGA Tour, only the second player to do so after Luke Donald last year.

Donald (71) finished tied for third place at 18-under par 270 along with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

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'Time for Ponting to call it quits'

Time ... Malcolm Conn says Ricky Ponting must make Perth his final Test. Source: Greg Wood / AFP

What a tragedy it has come to this.

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Ricky Ponting, rated by Allan Border as Australia's greatest batsman after Bradman, should jump before he is pushed.

A retirement announcement and a fitting farewell during the last Test against South Africa in Perth would help to recapture some of the dignity lost in Adelaide.

The rehabilitation of Phil Hughes continues apace. His 158 against Victoria in Melbourne on Sunday made the left-hander the leading Sheffield Shield run scorer this season with 510 runs at 57.

He turns 24 on Friday and already has 20 first class centuries.

If there is ever a time to give Hughes another chance it is against Sri Lanka in the three-Test series starting in December, although the first Test in Hobart could be a torrid affair given Western Australia were bowled out for 67 there on Sunday.

Australia must try and put together a settled side for the Ashes in England next year, and clearly it is unrealistic to believe Ponting will make the trip, however much he wants to.

It is not just that Ponting has made 0, 4 and 16 in this series while Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey have filled their boots, or the fact that Ponting turns 38 inside a month.

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Hussey will turn 38 in May before next year's Ashes tour. His age is not an issue after 257 runs in this series at 86, with two centuries and a second innings top score of 54 on a wearing wicket on Sunday.

Ponting has 20 runs at an average of under seven and does not look like playing an innings of substance.

Tellingly, this is just the second time in a 167-Test career extending almost two decades that Ponting has been bowled twice in the one match.

The first would be a dim and distant memory when the India spinners got him on a dodgy Feroz Shah Kotla pitch in Delhi back in 1996 during just his fourth Test.

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This Test will be seared in his mind. First there was the full outswinger from Jacques Kallis which forced Ponting to overbalance and land on all fours as the ball clattered into his off-stump.

Then there was the tentative chop on to a regulation delivery outside his off-stump on Saturday, one of the worst shots, or non-shots, he has played during a long and illustrious career as Australia's most prolific batsman.

This is not a sudden tumble from the brief 60 career-average Ponting achieved with a century against England during the 2006-07 whitewash. It has been years in the making.

Ponting went two-and-a-half years scoring only one century and averaging just 33 before his amazing series last summer, when he played a central role in beating India 4-0 with a hundred and a double hundred.

A more detailed look shows his 108-run series average was a deluge amidst the drought.

During the past two years, Ponting's series averages have been 16 against England, 31 in Sri Lanka, 17 in South Africa, 33 against New Zealand, 108 against India, 24 in the West Indies and under seven in this series.

It's time.

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Ten-man Victory defeats Wanderers

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Against the odds ... Archie Thompson celebrates his goal. Source:News Limited

A ten-man Melbourne Victory overcame a controversial first-half send-off to secure a gritty 2-0 win over Western Sydney at Parramatta Stadium.

The Victory, already without star playmaker Marcos Flores through suspension, looked in for a tough night after defender Sam Gallagher was shown a red card just 16 minutes into his first A-League game for the club.

But the Wanderers failed to make their numerical advantage count, with captain Michael Beauchamp having a night to forget.

The centre back's own goal just before halftime gave Melbourne the lead and he was at fault again as Archie Thompson doubled the visitors' advantage in the 60th minute.

It was a valuable win for Ange Postecoglou's side, given the circumstances, and they climbed into equal third on the table with a third win in four games.

The Victory looked unlucky to be reduced to 10 men in the first place.

Wanderers striker Dino Kresinger appeared to have fouled Gallagher from behind but play was allowed to continue.

Kresinger then broke on goal before being brought down by Gallagher just outside the box and referee Ben Williams produced a red card without hesitation.

Shinji Ono fired the resulting free kick just wide and Western Sydney tried hard to get on top before the break.

But the nearest they came was a close range header by Mark Bridge in the 22nd minute that was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

Instead the home side went into halftime behind, after Beauchamp accidentally turned the ball into his own goal while trying to clear a dangerous Gui Finkler ball.

The Wanderers put Melbourne under some pressure early in the second half and were perhaps unfortunate not to get a penalty after Adam Traore appeared to hand-ball in the box.

But again they conceded against the run of play when Socceroos striker Thompson struck.

Beauchamp coughed up possession on the halfway line, allowing Marco Rojas to streak downfield and find Thompson with a deflected pass.

Although Coe was forced into action a couple of time as the Wanderers chased the game, the Victory held their lead well from then on.

Postecoglou praised his players for sticking to their natural game even after going down a man.

"It was a challenge today for sure,'' Postecoglou said.

"We've spoken about it in the last couple of weeks, we're playing some good football but I guess from our point of view if we're going to be contenders we need to show a little bit more character and resilience under difficult situations.

"I thought today we were tremendous in that area.''

Postecoglou said he had not seen the send-off but but been told Gallagher was clipped by Kresinger first.

"If that's the case it's disappointing, because it's a big decision,'' he said.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was pleased with his side's ball movement but felt his players tried to force things too much in attack.

He felt the send-off may have actually worked against the Wanderers.

"It's frustrating really because we started the game so well and it was almost as if it was the worst thing that happened to us,'' Popovic said.

"I felt the players seemed a little stressed and a little bit nervous having the extra player and we kind of forced things a little bit too often.''

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Kallis out and Pattinson in doubt

Doubts ... Jacques Kallis (L) is out and James Pattinson is very doubtful for the Perth Test. Source: AP

It looks likely that two of the key men in the Australia-South Africa series have been ruled out of the third and final Test at the WACA.

Australia's fiery quick James Pattinson is a major doubt after being rushed for scans on a side injury on day three of the second Test, while Proteas' star all-rounder Jacques Kallis may be playing his last Test in Australia after aggravating a hamstring injury during a gallant innings.

2nd Test - Adelaide Oval

22 November 2012 - Day 3, Session 3

Australia 2nd Innings

M. Clarke	9	25	1	0	36
M. Hussey	5	8	1	0	62.5
M. Morkel	9	2	24	1	2.67

Australia could be on the verge of securing the world No.1 Test ranking in Perth, but they might have to enter the crucial third Test without the 22-year-old.

It will be a nervous wait for results, but it would seem he's at least very long odds to contribute to Australia's bowling efforts in the fourth innings.

Backing up for another Test just three days later in Perth on Friday would be a big ask.

Pattinson's explosive pace would be keenly missed on the fast bowler's paradise that is the WACA.

The Victorian, complaining of pain along his left side, left Adelaide Oval during the opening session on Saturday.

It's the latest blow in his injury-plagued career.

The express quick missed most of last summer with a foot injury and suffered from stress fractures in his back as a teenager.

He's also been forced to miss matches in the past year due to abdominal and buttocks strains.

Meanwhile South Africa superstar Kallis will not be fit for the series-deciding third Test.

The 37-year-old defied his torn right hamstring, and Australia's bowlers, for nearly two hours in making 58 on Saturday's third day of the Adelaide Test.

Frequently grimacing in pain, Kallis will bat again in the second innings in what could be his last Test appearance in Australia.

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"It's unlikely he will respond in time to be fit to take his place for the Perth Test match because we have got a quick turnaround,'' South Africa's team doctor, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, told reporters.

"Selectors are considering who to send over as cover.''

Kallis, batting at number nine, was in great discomfort during his courageous knock.

The 37-year-old strolled between the wickets and leant on his bat for support numerous times during breaks in play.

His pain was never more obvious when ducking to avoid a series of short balls from Australia's fast bowlers, instinctively reaching with his hand for the torn muscle after ducking.

"We knew he was always able to bat, the challenge was what is going to happen,'' Dr Moosajee said.

"Safe to say that he probably aggravated his injury by running and batting.

"Every time he stretches forward or he ducks under a bouncer or takes off or stretches or lunges forward, he is straining that area particularly.''

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Log on to Foxsports.com.au to follow our live Test blog with Trent Hile on day four of the Adelaide Test.

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Kallis tore the hamstring while running in to bowl during Australia's first innings on Thursday.

The 157-Test veteran will become the second South African batsman ruled out of the Australian tour, after JP Duminy ruptured an Achilles tendon in a freak injury during the first Test in Brisbane.

Duminy will miss six months of cricket, having collapsed during a warm-down after the opening day of the Brisbane Test.

NSW tearaway Mitchell Starc shapes as favourite to replace Pattinson should he be ruled out.

Starc has carried the drinks for Australia at the Gabba and in Adelaide and his 2012 performances in shorter-form cricket have been excellent.

WA quick Nathan Coulter-Nile, rising NSW paceman Josh Hazlewood and Victorian allrounder John Hastings would come into contention for a call-up to the national squad if Pattinson is ruled out.peHowever, Starc would almost certainly be the man to play.

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Redknapp is new QPR manager

Appointed ... Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has been given the QPR job. Source: AP

Queens Park Rangers confirmed on Saturday that Harry Redknapp has been appointed as their new manager, replacing the sacked Mark Hughes.

The former Tottenham boss will take up a two-and-a-half year deal at Loftus Road with QPR bottom of the Premier League ahead of their match against Manchester United later Saturday.

Redknapp, who will be in the stands at Old Trafford to watch his new side, told the club's official website: ''I'm delighted to be back in the managerial hot-seat at QPR.

''When I spoke to the shareholders and they told me about their plans I knew this was too good an opportunity to turn down.

''There's no doubt there's a lot of ability in the squad, but for one reason or another things haven't gone as well as everyone expected since the start of the season.

''I can't wait to get to work and get the results necessary to kick-start our season.''

Redknapp's appointment came just a day after the sacking of former Manchester United striker Hughes, who had been in charge only for 10 months.

He managed to stave off relegation for QPR on the final day of last season, but the club have struggled this year, failing to win any of their opening 12 league games and they are currently four points adrift at the bottom of the table.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes said: ''Harry was our number one target, the unanimous choice of the board and we're delighted we've been able to attract him to the club.

''He has a proven track record in the Premier League and has all the characteristics we were looking for to get us out of the current situation we find ourselves in.

''His man-management skills are second to none and we are confident he is the right man to lead us away from the bottom of the table.''

Hughes is the second Premier League manager to lose his job this season, after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by Chelsea last Wednesday.

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Phoenix rise from ashes

Phoenix flying ... Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix play-out a 1-all draw. Source: Sean Middleton / AAP

A sublime goal from Wellington Phoenix leading goal-scorer Jeremy Brockie salvages a 1-1 draw against the Perth Glory.

The Glorys' main strike weapon, Shane Smeltz, broke the scoreless deadlock in the 62nd minute with a classic from the Kiwi.

But all credit goes to Brockie after he snatched an improbable away draw, turning his defender inside out and calmly slotting home the equaliser.  

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Late Vidosic winner breaks Sydney

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Winner ... Dario Vidosic scored a late winner for Adelaide United. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Sydney FC suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat as a late winner gave A-League leaders Adelaide a 2-1 victory at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

Badly needing a result after three straight losses, the Sky Blues looked set to at least salvage a point in front of 13,317 fans after Yairo Yau had levelled the scores in the second half.

But in-form Reds midfielder Dario Vidosic struck in the 88th minute to continue the Reds' brilliant start to the season and move them five points clear atop the table.

After conceding a whopping 14 goals in their past three games, Sydney were much improved in their second match under caretaker coach Steve Corica.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Adelaide	8	6	1	1	7	19
2	Central Coast	7	4	2	1	7	14
3	Newcastle	7	4	0	3	-2	12
4	Perth	7	3	1	3	1	10
5	Western Sydney	7	3	1	3	0	10
6	Victory	7	3	1	3	-4	10
7	Wellington	7	2	2	3	1	8
8	Brisbane	7	2	1	4	1	7
9	Heart	7	2	1	4	-1	7
10	Sydney	8	2	0	6	-10	6

But they remain rooted to the foot of the table while the search for a new head coach continues.

Corica admitted the defeat was crushing despite some signs of heading back in the right direction, especially after halftime.

"I think (we were) much better second half. We got the goal and we looked likely to score the next one as well," Corica said.

"But that's football. When you're down .. it's tough to take really.

"We've just got to get on with it.

"We've got to find a win from somewhere so we'll work hard again next week and see if there's any more boys that can come back in and we'll go from there."

The match marked the long-awaited return of former Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina from a serious knee injury, coming off the bench in the second half for his first A-League appearance in almost two years.

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Re-live the game as it happened with our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights of all the key moments!

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Vidosic, who received a national recall this week, created the opener for Adelaide in the 21st minute.

His perfectly-executed back-heel flick allowed Fabio Ferreira to break on goal and unleash a powerful finish for his first A-League goal.

The Reds were unlucky not to be 2-0 up at halftime after Marcelo Carrusca had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside seven minutes prior to the opener.

Sydney's best chance of the half came when Alessandro Del Piero's ambitious free kick was tipped over the bar by Eugene Galekovic in the 42nd minute.

But they looked sharper after halftime and capitalised when Yau put them back on terms with a great finish in the 57th minute.

The Panamanian showed great pace in collecting an Adam Griffiths long ball and beating Galekovic from a tight angle.

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Sydney suffered a nervous moment in the 63rd minute when referee Peter Green showed a red card to Seb Ryall, before realising it was only his first yellow of the night and allowing him to remain on the field.

Culina received a standing ovation when he came off the bench in the 68th minute to cap a remarkable return after two bouts of surgery.

Despite chances to both teams, the match looked headed for a draw before Vidosic struck.

Nigel Boogaard hit the bar from close range and Evan Kostopoulos had an air swing but Vidosic made no mistake with a third attempt for the Reds.

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Adelaide coach John Kosmina felt his players made life hard for themselves by trying to force the pace of the game but hailed their fighting spirit.

"Our guys showed a lot of character, a stack of character to stay alive in the game and score the winner like we did," he said.

"We've been building towards that (first half performance) and it was good. Now the trick is to take that into the second half as well."

Kosmina backed Vidosic to continue improving, saying he felt he had not reached even half of his potential.

"He was on fire tonight. He wants his spot back in the Aussie team and if he plays like that he deserves it," Kosmina said.

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Neill misses out on AFC award

Unlucky ... Lucas Neill misses out on the final shortlist for Asian player of the year. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Australia captain Lucas Neill has missed out on being named Asian player of the year after he was omitted from the three-man shortlist, organisers said on Friday.

The former English Premier League defender and Iran's Mohsen Bengar, who were both nominated earlier, were left off the final list which now consists of South Korea's Lee Keun-Ho, Iranian veteran Ali Karimi and Zheng Zhi of China.

Lee will be viewed as favourite for the annual honour after he was named man of the match when Ulsan Hyundai clinched the AFC Champions League title unbeaten earlier this month.

Karimi won the award in 2004 and China's Zheng has helped Guangzhou Evergrande clinch the Chinese league and cup double under World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi.

The winner will be announced at the Asian Football Confederation's awards ceremony on Thursday.

Only players present at the ceremony are eligible to collect the award.

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