Slater injury reopens door for Tate

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The injury to Billy Slater has reopened the World Cup door for Josh Morris, Michael Jennings or Brent Tate to take over at left centre when Greg Inglis moves to fullback for Saturday's semi-final at Wembley.

It looked as though Morris, Jennings and Tate had all played their final game on tour prior to the game against the United States and it was going to be a long two weeks before they returned home.

But Slater's injury means one of them will be in the starting team this week.

The three specialist centres were overlooked for the right centre spot last week but Jarryd Hayne's four try haul more than justified coach Tim Sheens' decision.

Both Hayne and Brett Morris finished with four tries each playing together on the right edge that equalled an Australian Test and World Cup record for the most tries scored by an individual player.

Brett Morris beats a tackle from Michael Garvey of USA on the way to scoring his third try during the Rugby League World Cup Quarter Final match against USA. Source: Getty Images

Brett Morris scored all his tries in the first half while Hayne opened the scoring in the third minute and then scored a hattrick in the second half.

Hayne was an absolute handful almost every time he touched the ball and was also instrumental in the try Cameron Smith scored and another of Brett Morris'.

Hayne said it was the first time he had scored four tries in a match since he was 18 and he said even though fullback is now where he plays most of his football he feels right at home in the centres.

"I'm comfortable out there and the right hand carry and right hand step, it's my preferred side," Hayne said.

Australia's Jarryd Hayne over for a try past US player Joseph Paulo, during the World Cup Rugby League quarterfinal match against USA. Source: AP

He said Sheens' decision to gamble on him didn't come as any great shock.

"No, we'd been talking about it since the start and when I got named he said he hadn't been able to give me a chance and this is my chance to play on the right edge."

Hayne certainly ran with it and the X-factor he gives the Kangaroos just adds another dimension to what is the most dangerous backline at this tournament.

None of their rivals have the firepower to match the Kangaroos out wide and given Australia haven't conceded a single try in their last three games they also have the best defence.

The Kangaroos will take on the winner of the quarter final played overnight between Samoa and Fiji.

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Brett Morris agreed the game against the United States was Australia's best attacking performance of the tournament and eight tries down the right edge showed his combination with Hayne is going to be hard to break.

"I think with the ball it was [our best performance]," Brett Morris said.

"We executed the plays we wanted to. We got some points on the board.

"That was one thing coming into the game we wanted to achieve. Our structures worked.

"We made a couple of errors there and losing Bill didn't help but we found our way in the back end of the second half and fixed it up."

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MOM Hooper shines for Wallabies

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MICHAEL Hooper has continued his incredible form of the last year by winning the Wallabies' players' player an incredible sixth time after an inspired display against Ireland.

Only former skipper Nathan Sharpe comes close, winning the internal 'Man of Gold' award three times before he retired.

Hooper's outstanding performance at Lansdowne Road was made sweeter by scoring the first and second Test tries of his career, with his double against Ireland punctuating a frenetic all-round game.

The runaway John Eales medallist of 2013 and Waratahs player of the year, Hooper has made it clear he doesn't intend to slacken off at the back end of a draining season.

After the game at Aviva Stadium Hooper was also given the official man-of-the-match award - which are often different to the Wallabies' players' player - and this was despite being sin-binned for 10 minutes.

Hooper will be hoping to surpass his mighty performance next week in Edinburgh when the Wallabies play Scotland - who have beaten Australia in their past two encounters including last year's 9-6 debacle in Newcastle.

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"What worries me is that they beat us in Australia last year, so they've got the rub on us," Hooper said.

"It's going to be a tough game, we want to get three out of three now.

"It would be very nice [to get revenge].

"The conditions were like Scotland last year in that Newcastle game, it's meant to be tops of three [degrees] so we've got to adapt to that and manage to play to the appropriate conditions.

"It will be a new experience, a new challenge for the group."

Hooper said the side had begun improving after the series loss to the British & Irish Lions, when Ewen McKenzie took over from Robbie Deans as coach.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - NOVEMBER 16: Michael Hooper of Australia scores a try during the International match between Ireland and Australia at Aviva Stadium on November 16, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

"We've been building from the Rugby Championship, the England game was a bit of setback but our performances have been getting better each week," Hooper said.

"One week our attack will be on but the defence will be missing, it's just about marrying those up and getting the full performance.

"And it's tough to do, coming over here, in the back end of the year, hostile conditions."

Hooper's second try came off a stunning 20-metre rolling maul, and he believes it will be a valuable weapon against other sides in future.

"They've obviously got to be prepared for that, teams we face in the future," he said.

"It's tough to come by, once you get recognised as a mauling team everyone throws a lot more numbers in there and gets more aggressive.

"Any more additions to [our attack] is massive."

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Ange set to stick with Neill

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A DEFIANT Lucas Neill appears to have won over new Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and looks set to start in tomorrow's friendly against Costa Rica, although an announcement on the captaincy won't be made until Monday afternoon.

And Borussia Dortmund keeper Mitch Langerak will have first crack at nailing down the no.1 keeper's spot post Mark Schwarzer, ahead of Club Brugge's Mat Ryan.

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Coach Ange Postecoglou will ditch the no number 9 (central striker) system he favoured at Melbourne Victory, returning to a more traditional 4-2-3-1 formation for his Australian debut.

Postecoglou played three different teams and gave every outfield player a run in his first XI during a high intensity session yesterday at WIN Jubilee Oval in Kogarah.

But his first side _ presumably the one he's leaning towards _ had Neill paired up with Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams in defence with Brisbane Roar's Ivan Franjic and Heracles Almelo's Jason Davidson at right and left-back respectively.

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Germany-based striker Matthew Leckie was up front with Mark Bresciano in the no.10 position with Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan the screening midfielders.

His second formation saw Tommy Oar replace Dario Vidosic on the left wing, Tom Rogic swap with Bresciano and Leckie making way for Tim Cahill.

Speaking prior to training Milligan, who spent 18 months under Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory, told fans to expect changes on Tuesday night.

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"I think we're going to play a different formation from Victory," Milligan said.

"We want to create a situation where the fans want to come out and watch us again and make sure that when we are at home we're playing in front of big crowds and we're entertaining.

"In terms of training drills, of course there are some similarities, but it's a totally different ball game coming into the national team.

"As players we have to adapt to that and it's the same with Ange coming from Melbourne to the national level. He's dealing with different sorts of players, not dealing with them every day but only every couple of months.

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"The players are very experienced, compared with a very young side at Victory, and he's a very good man manager to understand the different places players have come from in their careers, and what they need to get the best out of them."

Costa Rica's profile in Australia belies its quality. Having already qualified for next year's World Cup, they're ranked 31st in the world, 26 spots above Australia according to FIFA.

But while Postecoglou will be experimenting in his first game since replacing Holger Osieck, Milligan said he is expecting a win.

Lucas Neill and coach Ange Postecoglou at Socceroos training. Source: No Source

"The general message has been we need to create a great sporting moment every time that we go onto the field," he said.

"It's not only important we have a good performance on Tuesday but we need to get a result, there's only limited games going into the World Cup."

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Scott closing in on Tiger at summit

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ADAM Scott has his eyes on an unprecedented "Scotty Slam" at this week's World Cup.

But with Australian teammate Jason Day's family suffering unthinkable losses in the Philippines typhoon, Scott might also have to lend a shoulder to his great mate as he deals with the tragedy.

Scott, who rode a rollercoaster to defend his Australian Masters title at Royal Melbourne yesterday, immediately turned his focus to Day and another triumph at the same venue.

"My game is in pretty good shape so my focus is to go and get Jason revved up and make sure he's in good shape on Thursday," Scott said.

Scott, on his US Masters celebration tour, won its Australian namesake a week after completing the career triple crown of our top three domestic tournaments with a win in the PGA on the Gold Coast.

With Australia a warm favourite for the World Cup, then the Australia Open at Royal Sydney the week after, Scott is in position for an unprecedented month to cap an amazing year.

"I know there's a big focus on the individual prize (this week) … but there still is a team event and I think it would be great for the tournament and also Jason and I to win the World Cup down here."

Asked his thoughts on following Robert Allenby's golden 2005 charge to win the triple crown in one season, Scott said with a smile: "Well, it's looking good now.

"I think it's a funny one because I'm going to play an event in between and whatever happens doesn't really matter.

"It will certainly be on my mind when I get to Sydney, that's for sure, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun for me to try and do that because I remember how big a deal it was for Robert when he did it."

Scott is also closing on Tiger Woods at the summit of world golf.

The World Cup carries world rankings points for the first time and if Scott can complete the "Slam", he could, by early-December, close to within a point of Woods who once held what seemed an unreachable lead.

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62 reasons World Cup is a joke

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INTERNATIONAL sport is Australia v England in the Ashes at the Gabba, Wimbledon, a golf major, world championship athletics and swimming, a Bledisloe Cup, boxing in Las Vegas or the Tour de France.

Some sports are not meant for the international stage - and the rugby league World Cup is one of them.

Australia's 62-nil quarter-final win over USA on Sunday was a farce, a game played in front of 5726 fans on a pitch that still had lines marked out for the local soccer team.

That team and individual records were broken is an insult to our champions of the past who once earned their milestones and greatness against genuine opposition in the days when Tests and World Cups were restricted to countries that could actually play the game.

JOIN BUZZ AS HE BLOGS FROM 10AM

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The scoreline against USA should have been 70-plus but for Johnathan Thurston's rare day off with the boot.

At one stage of the first half four tries were scored in seven minutes against a team of brave but totally outclassed players.

For more than 20 years I've been listening to the same old lines from rugby league officials about having patience with the international game and developing countries.

From Kevin Humphreys to Ken Arthurson to Dave Smith … blah, blah, blah, blah.

When Australia beat Russia 110-4 in England in 2000, we were told to give them time.

The same when we beat France 74-nil in 1994 and PNG 82-nil in Townsville in 2000.

Seriously, no one cares.

Outside of Australia, New Zealand and England, it's a tournament of manufactured teams filled with NRL players, many of whom have never even visited the countries they are representing.

Distant relatives, grandmothers and great aunties, somehow allow them to qualify.

Brett Morris of Australia beats a tackle from Michael Garvey of USA on the way to scoring his third try. Source: Getty Images

Players who quite frankly are flat out making NRL squads each week, let alone play at an international level.

It's all shown on 7mate - a channel a lot of people can't even get - at either one or six in the morning.

If there was any real interest in the tournament, Channel Nine and Fox Sports would be showing it.

This rubbish is not fair on the NRL clubs who fork out millions of dollars of wages to the elite players.

They should be resting and recuperating in the off-season, not spending eight weeks in England on what's become not much more than a boozy holiday, with a couple of serious games against the Poms and Kiwis.

Half of them are likely to struggle next year or suffer form lapses and burnout because they missed a proper off-season.

Supporters of USA show off their colours during the Rugby League World Cup Quarter Final. Source: Getty Images

Cronulla have already lost Luke Lewis for half of 2014 and Storm could have similar problems with Billy Slater's knee.

There is one simple solution to fix this debacle.

In future World Cups should be played over three weeks and only include Australia, New Zealand, England and a country that wins a qualifying tournament.

Even a Rest of the World side could be thrown in as the fourth team.

Anything that gives us competitive football.

Anything that makes it worthwhile to suffer sleep deprivation from sitting up in the early hours of the morning.

No doubt the final in two weeks will be a blockbuster, almost certainly the Kangaroos v Kiwis.

Foran v Thurston, Sonny Bill v Gallen, Luke v Smith.

It's just a joke we've had to wait eight weeks and watch so many meaningless floggings to get to it.

Australia's Greg Bird, right, is caught with a hign tackle by US players Mark Offerdahl. Source: AP

HIGHLIGHT

The Corey Parker flick-pass for Jarryd Hayne's fourth try against the USA was the best since Benji Marshall's in the in 2005 NRL grand final.

LOWLIGHT

Watching so many records get broken at the World Cup against sub-standard teams. It's not fair on champions of the past who achieved their wonderful milestones against genuine opposition.

FAREWELL TO A GREAT

Have we seen a greater sporting champion/ambassador than Sachin Tendulkar in the last 50 years?

Possibly Rod Laver or Roger Federer but I can't think of too many others. The Little Master's farewell speech on Saturday night was so classy, so stylish, so special.

ROCK SOLID

The Wanderers continue to protect an incredible defence record in the A-League.

They have never conceded a goal in the opening 20 minutes of a game.

It's a credit to Tony Popovic's coaching that they take the field so pumped every week

SHHH

Reports are emerging from the Kangaroos camp in Manchester that Titans forward Nate Myles is not the only player who doesn't get on with Cameron Smith.

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See you Slater, G.I.'s No.1

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Greg Inglis never wanted to take over from Billy Slater under these circumstances.

But with Inglis aged 26 and Slater 30, the future for Australia is likely to arrive in London this Saturday when Inglis runs out in the No.1 jumper in a World Cup semi-final.

As cruel as it sounds in the aftermath of Slater's potentially tournament ending knee injury suffered in the 62-0 demolition of the United States, the immediate talking point that followed the game was how exciting it was to see Inglis back where he now belongs.

At his best Inglis is the most dangerous attacking force in rugby league and fullback is where he plays his best football.

The South Sydney superstar makes no secret of the fact he wants to be known as the world's best number one one day - but following the injury to Slater, Inglis was reluctant to start talking himself up.

But asked if he would relish the opportunity to play fullback this week, Inglis said: "I would love to wear that number one but I am not the coach.

"A lot happens in a week so we will just have to wait and see."

Greg Inglis is by Akuila Uate of Fiji during the a Rugby League World Cup group match. Source: Getty Images

While Slater was yesterday awaiting results of an MRI scan he appears next to no hope of playing any further part in the World Cup after going down clutching the same knee that he injured in State of Origin II last year that sidelined him for almost two months.

Slater went up to catch a bomb in the second minute of the second half and when he landed he said he knew he was in trouble.

"I knew straight away what it felt like," Slater said.

"It's a classic (posterior cruciate ligament) injury.

"I had a grade three PCL last year. Although my knee was hitting the ground last year it was in the same position."

Billy Slater runs the ball during during the clash against USA. Source: Getty Images

Slater went for scans in Manchester after the game and when he returned to the team hotel the Kangaroos' management didn't seem to have great confidence in his immediate future given there is only a maximum of two games left at the World Cup.

You had to feel for Slater as he stood there in the freezing cold in Wrexham in northern Wales talking us through the injury that came at the end of his week from hell.

The nightclub fight, the fallout, now this.

Someone said to him it was a shocking way to end it, to which Slater deadpanned: "Sure is."

But for Inglis, you just wonder if this is the beginning of the next chapter in his already brilliant career.

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Before he suffered his knee injury in Origin III this year Inglis was on another planet to every other fullback in the game _ and the way he went chasing the ball against the United States was like he was finally back to his menacing best.

He set up Jarryd Hayne for the first try on the right edge and then scored the next himself down the left.

He also put Brett Morris over for one of his four tries in the countdown to halftime and then in the second half when he took over from Slater at fullback Inglis gave the poor Tomahawks hell and had at least four players on his back when he bulldozed over for his second try.

He said after the game that was his plan was to simply to get more involved.

"In the end I just want to get my hands on the ball and run a bit more," he said.

Inglis had a quite game first up in the tournament opener against England before Tim Sheens moved him to fullback for the second game against Fiji and he ran for more than 200 metres.

He didn't play against Ireland but he made up for his absence against the United States.

It was by far Australia's best attacking performance at the World Cup and the third straight game they haven't conceded a try.

Brett Morris and Jarryd Hayne both equalled an Australian Test and World Cup record with four tries each while Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk were the other try scorers along with the double to Inglis.

AUSTRALIA 62 (J Hayne 4 B Morris 4 G Inglis 2 C Cronk C Smith tries J Thurston 7 goals) TOMAHAWKS 0 at The Racecourse. Referee: Henry Perenara.

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Feauai-Sautia could be called on

DUBLIN, IRELAND - NOVEMBER 15: Chris Feauai-Sautia of the Wallabies during the Australian Wallabies captain's run at Aviva Stadium on November 15, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) Source: Ian Walton / Getty Images

ROOKIE Chris Feauai-Sautia has emerged as a possible shock candidate to play Scotland next Saturday after the red card to centre Tevita Kuridrani against Ireland.

Kuridrani was sent off for a tip-tackle on Irish backrower Peter O'Mahony in the 73rd minute of Australia's win, and could be suspended for the remainder of the spring tour.

Ordinarily Adam Ashley-Cooper, who has been playing on the wing, would come straight in to the No.13 jersey but he is nursing an injured shoulder from the win in Dublin.

The "stinger" injury to Ashley-Cooper will be monitored this week in Edinburgh, and if he fails to come through Feauai-Sautia would be an option for coach Ewen McKenzie.

No other player in the squad specialises in the outside centre position, which Feauai-Sautia - the youngest member of Australia's touring squad - has played at the Queensland Reds under McKenzie.

McKenzie is hoping Kuridrani, a revelation over the last month, will be cleared but history suggests the IRB will be unsympathetic.

"We've got other guys who can play there," McKenzie said.

"That's life.

"It will be disappointing but if that's what it is, that's what it is."

Meanwhile, the Wallabies could be forced to hold their training sessions indoors this week as Edinburgh shivers under ice-cold temperatures.

Parts of the city have already seen snow.

"All of the coaches have coached in that environment before, we will work our way through," McKenzie said.

"We've got enough skills in the team to cope with whatever turns up.

"Being cold is not such issue, I think a lot of these grounds are heated so the snow doesn't even appear on the field.

"But in training, it's not so much about snow as it is about ice, you get sharp edges, there's a few hazards.

"We might have to go indoors."

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Calls for NRL to ban gang tackles

Adam Blair tackled during the St George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers NRL game at the SCG. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

ST GEORGE Illawarra coach Steve Price has controversially called on the NRL to consider banning the gang tackle.

Price stressed rugby league would be faster - and sustain significantly less injuries - by limiting each tackle to just two defenders.

Data reveals play-the-balls used to take around four to five seconds to complete a decade ago - that figure is now seven seconds because three and four defenders are in every tackle.

Price's proposal would also outlaw the dangerous cannonball tackle and rugby league's twisting and wrestling tactics.

Having only two defenders in every tackle would also ease the strain and physical pressure on the bodies of NRL players.

Four forwards in a tackle could weigh a combined total of about 420kg - the equivalent of a cow.

Price is hoping for the change with NRL head of football, Todd Greenberg, saying any recommendations would go to the game's competition committee early next month.

''I'd definitely like to see the third man eliminated,'' Price said.

''That's a decision (for) the NRL committee to make.

''I'd like to see the game sped up around the ruck and create more space.

''It will be more entertaining from an offensive point of view. That's what the spectators want to see.

''It will also eliminate a lot of twisting and injuries. You want to see your best players playing the game week in, week out. That's what the fans pay their money for.

''I'm a fan of player safety and eliminating injuries.''

Price said rugby league should focus on attack.

''If you do bring in the two-man tackle it will reduce the seconds it takes for the play-the-ball,'' he said.

''It's a decision (for) the NRL have to make but we'll have to wait and see.

''Each year the amount of force the players are generating in terms of impact is quite severe.

''It's something we need to look at in rugby league going forward.''

Greenberg said last night he against the move in theory but the NRL would listen to any way of improving the game.

''We will not place a complete ban on a third man in a tackle. (But) we have listened to a range of different opinions and will ultimately make a decision with the games best interests,'' he said.

''We will consult with the competition committee in our next meeting in early December and then any recommendations will go to the commission in late December.''

Manly coach Geoff Toovey argued the three-man ban would be difficult for referees to police.

Toovey did want to see an end to the cannonball tackle.

"I think everyone agrees we could do without that tackle in the game but I'm not so sure about the three-man rule,'' Toovey said.

"I can't see it working. I don't think you could stop players coming in to help a tackle being made.

"You might need to in order to put a player to ground or stop an offload."

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