FOX FOOTY Supercoach preview: Blues

Carlton key men ... Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson and Heath Scotland. Source: AAP

Which Carlton players should you pick in your FOX FOOTY SuperCoach team and who should you avoid?

Perhaps the most intriguing team of the looming SuperCoach season. The questions leap off the tongue _ How will Mick Malthouse effect the Blues' fantasy output? Can the high-scoring _ but horribly injury-prone _ Jarrad Waite string games together? What effect will the captaincy have on A-graders Marc Murphy or Andrew Carrazzo?

Will Malthouse finally elevate Bryce Gibbs' game to the level many believe he is capable of?
But a closer look at Carlton and its new coach sheds some light on the uncertainty. Malthouse's Collingwood sides of 2010 and 2011 were renowned for their tackling pressure, forward press and contested possession hunger.

At Visy Park, Malthouse inherits a side that was already second and fourth in contested ball and tackle differential respectively last year.

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Midfielders Carrazzo, Murphy, Gibbs, Chris Judd, Brock McLean, Kade Simpson and Mitch Robinson are all primed for big seasons. The cattle is there to implement Malthouse's blueprint.

Chris Yarran has already admitted that Malthouse "is all about everything on the boundary line", but this shouldn't hurt the disposal tallies of the Blues' prime movers. Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and co. racked up some huge numbers playing to Malthouse's philosophies.

The spate of injuries at Visy Park spelled disaster for many SuperCoach sides in 2012. Do you put it down to a year of bad luck, or are Carlton players simply too risky to take on? Another question.

SUPERCOACH SUPERSTAR: Marc Murphy (midfielder) $602,900.
Plays 16 matches in an injury-interrupted season and still averages 112. An amazingly consistent player who hasn't averaged under three figures since 2008 when he averaged 99. Good inside, good outside and clean in possession, he is the ideal midfield choice.

BANK `EM: Heath Scotland (defender/midfielder) $535,600
Yes, yes, Scotland will miss the first two games courtesy of a club-imposed suspension for an off-season incident. But given head-to-head league matches don't start until Round 3 he could slot in nicely. One of the most consistent defenders in the game and rarely puts in a stinker. Of course, if you're gunning for overall SuperCoach honours you will want to avoid him.

Kade Simpson (midfielder) $501,300
Another in the super-consistent category, but one who not many coaches pick. Sits below the rung of A-graders at Carlton, but that gives you a point of difference.

BUY `EM: Chris Yarran (defender) $362,00.
Here is a player who could really improve under Malthouse. Comes at a bargain $362k, which suits the mid-priced strategy _ a winning formula last season _ perfectly.
"Yaz" has declared himself fitter than this time last year and has aspirations to break into the Blues' midfielder this in 2013. Easier said than done, but if Mick gives him the odd crack it the points will pour in.

Bryce Gibbs (defender/midfielder) $509,800
The sort of player who could really respond to a Malthouse rocket. Also dual-position, so play him in defence and watch him closely in the NAB Cup to monitor his midfield minutes. Should increase in value.

BURY `EM: Andrew Carrazzo (midfielder) $517,800
Controversial omission, but he loses his DPP status this year, meaning you can only pick him in midfield. Unique pick, but at nearly $520k there may be better options.

Brock McLean (midfielder) $568,600.
Deserves credit for an amazing 2012 that knocked the critics flat on their backs. But can he go any better? At 568k are you really going to give him a midfield berth before the likes of Judd, Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard or Stanton? Probably not.

WATCHLIST: Jarrad Waite (forward) $520,000
If you're willing to pick a bloke like this for Round 1 you're either a serial risk-taker or the most one-eyed Carlton fan on the planet. As injury-plagued as anyone in the game, Waite hasn't played 20 games in a season since 2008. But if he starts stringing them together and churning out the numbers he may prove hard to resist in the second half of the season.

Matthew Kreuzer (ruckman) $494,100:
Hasn't quite lived up to the hype yet, but he was recruited at No.1 because he starred as a No.1 ruckman. We know Mick is a big Kreuzer fan and if he plays him permanantly in his preferred position, big scores could ensue.

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Mathews named new Test skipper

New blood ... Angelo Mathews will take the reins as Sri Lanka skipper. Source: Theron Kirkman / AP

All-rounder Angelo Mathews has been appointed Sri Lanka's new Test and one-day captain for next month's home series against Bangladesh, selectors announced on Thursday.

The 25-year-old replaced prolific batsman Mahela Jayawardene, who stepped down after leading on a recent tour of Australia where Sri Lanka lost the Test series 3-0 and drew a one-day series 2-2.

Dinesh Chandimal, named Mathews's deputy in Tests and one-day internationals, will lead the side in T20 matches.

Mathews and Chandimal will lead the teams until the end of January 2014, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.

Bangladesh will play two Tests, three one-dayers and a one-off T20 match. The Tests will be played in Galle (March 8-12) and Colombo (March 16-20), while Hambantota (March 23 and 25) and Pallekele (March 28) will host the limited overs games.

Mathews, with 1,668 runs in 31 Tests, has also scored 1,784 runs and taken 54 wickets in 90 one-day internationals.

Jayawardene, with more than 10,000 runs both in Tests and one-dayers, led Sri Lanka to the finals of the 50-over World Cup in the West Indies in 2007 and then the World T20 at home last year.

The 20-man Test squad has six uncapped players - batsmen Ashen Silva and Kithuruwan Vithanage, seamer Dushmantha Chameera, spinners Tharindu Kaushal and Jeevan Mendis, and wicketkeeper-batsman Kushal Perera.

Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera and opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who toured Australia, were dropped while unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis returned to the Test squad.

Mendis, who played his last Test in May 2011, has so far bagged 62 wickets in 16 matches.

Kumar Sangakkara's participation in Tests is subject to recovery from an injury, according to the SLC statement.

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Crusaders edge Waratahs in trial

Israel Folau ... impresses again for the Waratahs in a trial. Source: News Limited

NSW Waratahs knocked back a whopping nine kickable penalty shots at goal as they fell 16-14 to the Crusaders in a scrappy Super Rugby trial at Allianz Stadium.

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika stuck with his policy for the trials of not taking three-pointers as they looked to get their attack fine-tuned ahead of their Super Rugby opener against Queensland on Saturday week.

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Young five-eighth Ben Volavola had an indifferent night at the office for the Waratahs but showed glimpses of class and enough to please Cheika with playmakers Berrick Barnes and Bernard Foley in doubt for the Reds' clash.

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Israel Folau was named man of the match as the star fullback made the most of his limited opportunities with several line breaks for the hosts who scored two tries to one.

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Folau brought the small crowd to their feet every time he chimed into the backline and showed enough to suggest he's in for a big year.

Although Cheika wasn't pleased with the amount of dropped ball, overall he was happy with the performance and defended the choice not to take penalty shots.

"I thought we weren't too bad considering we had about probably nine or 10 guys in their first game at the start of the game, so they were blowing like crazy from the start which I could tell.

"We knew what we were trying to do which is good. I like that. One of the big things we want to do is be very clear about how we want to play and just keep playing like that.

"... We want to win but I think you see by the way that we decided to take penalty kicks for goal that we understand the balance of what we want to get out of practice matches as well."

The Waratahs fought back well in the second half after trailling 13-0 at halftime.

Brendan McKibbin's injection at halfback for Grayson Heart in the 27th minute was pivotal for the Waratahs with the classy No.9 giving his side some much-needed direction.

NSW scored their first points of the night when back-rower Lopeti Timani charged onto a pass from McKibbin close the line with the big Tongan barging his way over on 60 minutes.

McKibbin slotted the goal from the sideline to make it 13-7.

The Waratahs hit the lead for the first time about seven minutes later when replacement hooker Luke Holmes scored after a rolling maul from a lineout close to the Crusaders' line with Brendan McKibbin kicked the conversion to make it 14-13.

The Crusaders hit back with a penalty goal to Tom Taylor to make it 16-14 much to the disapproval of the enthusiastic small crowd.

The first half of the match which was split into 20 minute periods didn't reach any great heights with the Crusaders scoring a try through prop Pa'ea Fununu off a rolling maul while the other points came from a conversion and penalty goal to star No.10 Dan Carter while replacement five-eighth Tom Taylor slotted kicked the first of his two penalties in the first half.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said the trial was a typical scrappy affair for this time of the year.

"These pre-season games are all like this. We were pretty disjointed and and pretty messy and for the last two weeks we've just been doing the same sort of thing. You just try and play with some structure, try some moves," he said.

"There's some things that need tweaking but nothing major, everything's in place."

The former All Black was impressed by Folau.

Blackadder confirmed that Carter left the field with a corked knee but said the injury was nothing serious.

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Quade: the past is in the past

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Long road back ... Cooper is keen to make amends for his forgettable outburst. Source:News Limited

Controversial Queensland Reds playmaker Quade Cooper is eager to put a topsy-turvy 2012 behind him and use his recent boxing success as a building block towards regaining the Wallabies No.10 jersey.

Cooper returns to the rugby field on Saturday night in the Reds' season-opener against the Brumbies and if his recent knockout of Barry Dunnett is anything to go by, he appears to be in the best physical shape of his career.

"I think it helped my footwork and when I started boxing … it helped with my knee rehab," Cooper told Fox Sports' Rugby HQ.

"I feel like I'm in a good space leading into the season from a footwork point-of-view and a fitness point-of-view as well."

Boxing aside, Cooper knows there's still plenty of hard work to come on the rugby field if he's to regain the superb form of 2011.

He's also chasing redemption with the Wallabies and coach Robbie Deans, who were the targets of his now famous "toxic" environment Twitter tirade and follow-up comments on The Rugby Club.

"It's a very important year but I'm not going to get clouded and all that sort of stuff from the past," Cooper said of the comments that saw him fined $40,000 and handed a two-match suspended ban.

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"I said a few things and I also apologised for a few of the things that I said.

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"There was a lot of emotions, up and down, with the way I was playing and a few things behind the scenes.

"But I'm not going to get caught up in that … I'm hoping that this year will be a positive year."

The 24-year-old fly half wants to make that unfortunate period a distant memory by winning back the Wallabies No.10 jersey and securing a place against the British and Irish Lions.

But that's easier said than done with good mates Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor both keen to fill the playmaking role, and talented Brumbies five-eighth Christian Lealiifano also on Deans's radar.

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Watch the Reds take on the Brumbies, Live and in HD from 7.30pm (EDT) Saturday on Fox Sports 2HD!

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"It's been a great building block with the start of the season with the boxing and getting fit and having a pre-season with the Reds boys," Cooper said of his start to 2013.

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"So I'm really excited about the opportunity of gaining back my spot in the Wallabies and it's a big year ahead with the Lions.

"And if I'm fortunate enough to put the gold jumper on and play again for the Wallabies this year, against the Lions, then that will be great.

"But then again, if I'm not selected for it then all I can do is play the best football I can and hopefully be a part of the 2013 set-up."

Cooper's journey back to the top begins at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

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Maddinson powers Blues to victory

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Quick-fire ... Nic Maddinson's half-century propels NSW to victory over the Redbacks. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

A blistering 85 from young gun Nic Maddinson trumped a brave innings by South Australia's Callum Ferguson as NSW claimed a 56-run victory in the one-day clash at the SCG on Thursday.

Maddinson's entertaining knock, his first one-day half-century of the summer, also overshadowed yet another impressive showing from Redbacks paceman Kane Richardson, who finished with 6-51 - his third five-wicket haul of the season.

The loss means SA may need to beat the Blues in the return fixture in Adelaide on Sunday to ensure they reach the final against Victoria.

ODD - Sydney Cricket Ground

14 February 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

South Australia 1st Innings

C. Bailey	19	26	0	0	73.08
C. Sayers	7	25	0	0	28
T. Copeland	12	1	42	2	3.50

But remarkably the bonus point win keeps the Blues' ultra-slim hopes of making the final alive - though that would require another bonus point win, and several results to fall their way.

Ferguson batted through pain after picking up a groin injury early on in his impressive 78 before falling to former Test paceman Trent Copeland (2-42).

But it wasn't enough to reel in the Maddinson-inspired target of 265, with South Australia starting behind the eight-ball when youngster Gurinder Sandhu (3-50) tore through their top order to reduce the visitors to 3-28.

Ferguson and Alex Ross (32 off 39) attempted to resurrect South Australia's flagging hopes with a 62-run partnership, but they departed in quick succession attempting to lift the runrate.

Richardson, who earned a $700,000 IPL contract with the Pune Warriors this month, then blasted 26 off 13 with two monstrous sixes - but when he was caught in the deep off young legspinner Adam Zampa (3-55 off 13 overs), the Redbacks' hopes of victory departed with him.

Earlier, it was Maddinson who stole the show on a dusty SCG wicket.

The 21-year-old's form in both short and long-form cricket has been unimpressive in the past 18 months - but turned that around with a brilliant Sheffield Shield century against Tasmania last week.

He backed up that bright innings with a powerful 74-ball knock, which included seven sixes, to drag NSW from a lethargic start to a match-winning total.

He put on 87 with Tim Cruickshank, who scored a patient 61, before a blistering 88-run partnership with Ben

Rohrer which came at quicker than eight runs an over.

NSW's total could've been even more imposing had it not been for Richardson, who lifted his season tally to 21 scalps when he ran through the Blues tail after knocking over Maddinson's stumps.

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Pistorius charged with murder

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Tragedy ... Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, FHM model Reeva Steenkamp. Source: Elite / AAP

Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been charged with murder over the shooting death of his model girlfriend.

Pistorius is alleged to have killed his 30-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who died of gunshot wounds at his home.

Police spokeswoman Denise Beukes said earlier reports that the suspect had been surprised by his girlfriend and had thought she was an intruder did not come from police.

She said there had been reports from neighbours of shouting and screaming coming from the house earlier in the evening. She said police had been called to the house on previous occasions after reports of "a domestic nature".

She said Pistorius was being "treated like any other normal person".

"He will be bringing a bail application and we will be opposing bail", she said, adding that there were no other suspects in the case.

Tragedy ... Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, FHM model Reeva Steenkamp. Source: Twitter

Police spokesman Katlego Mogale said a "26-year-old man had been taken into custody for shooting a 30-year-old woman".

"The deceased was shot four times and died on the scene. It is believed that she was the girlfriend of the accused," said Mogale.

The shooting took place in a house inside an upmarket security compound in Silverlakes, outside Pretoria, he said. Pistorius lives in the compound.

A car carrying her body just left Silver Woods Estate where Pistorius lives but media are not allowed in the estate, Beeld has reported.

Steenkamp's friends took to Twitter to express their sadness.

Known as the Blade Runner, Pistorius has won six Paralympic gold medals including two at London 2012.

A double below-the-knee amputee since childhood who runs on J-shaped carbon fibre prostheses, Pistorius made history in 2012 when he became the first double leg amputee to compete in the Olympics.

He took up running at the age of 16 and was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics and reached the 400 semi-finals in London 2012.

Most recently he stirred up controversy at the London Games after losing the T44 200m title - a event he was the strong favourite in.

The 25-year-old claimed he was at a disadvantage because his fellow competitors were "a lot taller" and he was unable to compete with their stride length.

The South African later apologised for the remarks.

Last year Time Magazine named him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.

Next month he was to be the star attraction of the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour.

Pistorius was to race in Australia for the first time at the Sydney Track Classic on March 9 and in Perth seven days later.

Athletics Australia CEO Dallas O'Brien said he was unaware how the reported shooting of his girlfriend would impact on his planned tour.

"Obviously we have been made aware of the tragic news story developing in South Africa around Oscar Pistorius and the reported shooting of his girlfriend," he said.

"Clearly, all the details around this incident are still coming to light, and for this reason we have no information at this time about how this affects Oscar's plans."

Almost six million South Africans have guns, and the nation has one of the world's highest gun ownership rates at 12.7 firearms per 100 people.

Pistorius lives in Pretoria, which was recently named one of the most dangerous places in the country when it comes to house robberies.

A recent report named the city as one of the top 20 most dangerous and violent areas to live in.

The capital also has four suburbs in the 10 most dangerous places to live in South Africa when it comes to attempted murder, rape, street robberies and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (assault GBH).

Pistorius is reportedly in police custody and will appear in court this Thursday in South Africa.

Pretoria is nine hours behind Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

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