Cooper to face ARU hearing: report

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Charged ... Cooper could face the music next week. Source: Dave Hunt / AAP

Quade Cooper's future in the Wallabies jersey is set to come under close scrutiny at an Australian Rugby Union code of conduct hearing next week into comments he made criticising the national team.

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The controversial playmaker will face an ARU hearing in Sydney on Wednesday over a charge of bringing the game into disrepute following incendiary comments on Fox Sports' The Rugby Club and on his Twitter account.

Senior Wallabies players are understood to be keen to see Cooper punished for the latest in a litany of off-field discretions.

The Queensland Reds five-eighth's public airing of his vitriolic criticism of the Wallabies set-up under coach Robbie Deans, including claims of a "toxic environment" has deeply angered current and former players and coaching staff.

That in itself could ensure the hardline precedent over player misbehaviour set by the ARU when winger Lote Tuqiri's multi-million dollar contract was torn up in 2009 for off-field indiscretions could be followed.

Cooper, who is sitting out the Wallabies' spring tour to Europe due to a knee injury, faces the threat of his current contract, which ends on December 31 this year, being torn up, or the prospect of a hefty fine.

The World Cup No.10's history of indiscipline, including a boozy late night incident with Kurtley Beale at a Brisbane nightspot in June and a disagreement between the duo and Wallabies teammate James O'Connor in Paris in 2010 are likely to count against Cooper.

Former Wallabies coach John Connolly had earlier suggested a year's ban from the Wallabies could be a possible punishment for Cooper. But the former Queensland mentor stopped short of calling for a ban on Saturday.

"I have no problem with Quade Cooper as a player or a bloke, but he has to be held accountable for what he said," Connolly said.

"Imagine if he was an All Black.

"Quade needs to realise how lucky he is, most blokes would give their right arm to play for the Wallabies.

"I don't know why this hasn't been hit on the head sooner.

"But he has criticised the team publicly, said he wasn't being allowed to play to his potential and wouldn't play for Australia again and those comments are out of order."

ARU chief executive John O'Neill and chairman and former Wallaby Michael Hawker are both likely to sit in on the ARU panel to decide Cooper's fate.

The panel might need to tread a fine line on any sanctions against Cooper amid fears he could be lost to the Wallabies and the code altogether.

Cooper has previously spoken of a desire to play alongside good friend Sonny Bill Williams in the NRL, or he could opt to continue his career in Europe.

They are two options which would undoubtedly upset the Queensland Rugby Union given the Super Rugby winner has a contract to play with the Reds in 2013, a contract that is dependent upon a top-up from the ARU.

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Stoner takes pole after crashing

Remarkable ... Casey Stoner on his way to claimin pole position on Saturday after crashing. Source: Jake Nowakowski / News Limited

Casey Stoner proved he was human.

Then, perhaps that he's superhuman.

Stoner claimed pole position at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in extraordinary style on Saturday, clocking his best lap after being flipped off his bike at high speed.

Already carrying an ankle injury, the Australian dusted himself off, got on a new bike, then immediately clocked a flying sub-1min 30sec lap time to give himself the best possible shot at a sixth successive win at Phillip Island in Sunday's race.

He backed up that amazing effort with even quicker laps for the rest of the session.

His best of 1:29.623 put him on pole ahead of Yamaha's championship leader Jorge Lorenzo (1:30.140) and Stoner's Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa (1:30.525).

Another record attendance of more than 40,000 watched Stoner on Saturday in his home MotoGP farewell before he retires.

He started the day with more head-shakingly quick laps in morning practice, following on from dominating both practice sessions on Friday.

But after a fast early qualifying lap, all held their breath as Stoner was bucked off a bike which trailed desperately close to his injured leg as both slid off the circuit.

After limping away and visiting the pits to get some new wheels, Stoner then came out and did what no one else has yet been able to do at Phillip Island this weekend - break 1min 30sec.

He has now done it six times this weekend - auguring well for his shots at history and destiny on Sunday.

Stoner said he was thrilled to be on pole for his farewell Australian race, especially after his fall.

"I was on my 'out' lap on a hard tyre, and the thing just decided to flick me,'' Stoner said.

"I was very fortunate it didn't come down on my foot.

"I'm very happy to be on pole considering all that's happened for my home Grand Prix."

Lorenzo leads Pedrosa by 23 points in the championship going into the penultimate race of the season.

They are the only two riders who can win the MotoGP title.

Australian Kris McLaren, making his MotoGP debut as a late replacement rider for the Avintia team, failed to qualify inside the cutoff time for Sunday's race.

McLaren, from Leongatha in Victoria, had a fall just prior to Stoner's.

He improved markedly on his Friday practice times, but was still the slowest of the 20 riders.

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Ocean Park wins Cox Plate

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By a whisker ... Glen Boss rode Ocean Park to victory at Moonee Valley. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

New Zealand star Ocean Park has produced a sweeping run from the back of the field to give glamour jockey Glen Boss a third Cox Plate triumph.

In a stirring finish, Ocean Park wore down the three-year-old All Too Hard to claim Australia's weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

"I feel like this is my finest moment .. this horse is just a winner," Boss said.

"To all those who doubted him, stick that up your shirt.

"He gave me a great ride and always felt like he was going to win throughout the run."

Settling in the second half of the pack, Ocean Park made a long, sustained run to put himself into the race at the 400m.

In search of a fourth successive Group One triumph, Ocean Park levelled up to All Too Hard at 100m before edging ahead.

"It's the epitome of every trainer's career," Ocean Park's trainer Gary Hennessy said.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Pierro finished third, just ahead of Ethiopia.

Modern-day great Makybe Diva gave Boss his breakthrough Cox Plate win and he partnered So You Think in the first of the horse's two victories in the race.

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Jeronimo fires Reds over Phoenix

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At the double ... Jeronimo continued his impressive start in the A-League. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United folk hero Cassio celebrated his 100th A-League game with a goal as the Reds downed Wellington Phoenix 3-1 on Saturday.

Argentine striker Jeronimo Neumann scored twice as Adelaide netted three goals in the final 40 minutes to deliver the Phoenix their first loss of the season.

The Phoenix finished with 10 men after Ben Sigmund was controversially sent off in the 77th minute.

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

Wellington's Stein Huysegems scored the opening goal in the Hindmarsh Stadium fixture before the visitors were overwhelmed by Adelaide, who return to the top of the ladder with the win.

Jeronimo's brace was punctuated by fan favourite Cassio's 68th minute goal, which gave Adelaide a 2-1 lead.

Cassio, after a 20 metre run that sliced open Wellington's defence, flicked to Jeronimo, who fed the ball back to his teammate and the Brazilian promptly scored with a slick left-footer.

Replays suggested Jeronimo might have been offside when the ball was played to him, but the goal still stood.

Adelaide's comeback triumph came after Phoenix talisman Paul Ifill created Huysegems' strike with a crafty through ball in the 42nd minute.

As a flat-footed Adelaide defence stood hoping for an offside call, Ifill's insightful pass played the Belgian international into ample space.

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Huysegems closed within 10 metres and powered a left-footer with such force it gave Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galevokic no chance.

Adelaide hit back just 10 minutes after halftime when Jeronimo scored.

After a scramble, Wellington's attempt to clear their defensive area rebounded into the path of the Argentine just 10m from goal.

While fortunate to find the ball at his feet, Jeronimo's finish was clinical - a left-footer which equalised against the flow of play.

Jeronimo repeated the dose in the 85th minute after being played into space by Adelaide's creative Dario Vidosic, his left-foot finish sealing the victory for the Reds.

While Phoenix captain Andrew Durante was fuming after the game about Jeronimo's actions that saw Sigmund sent off, coach Ricki Herbert was riled at a goal by Wellington's Jeremy Brockie being ruled offside in the 59th minute.

"You have seen the video footage, write it yourself, I probably don't need to put words in your mouth," Herbert said.

"At the end of the day we have got an opinion and sometimes we can't voice it and I think that is to be respected.

"But all we ask for, is there an equal sort of line across the board?

"I think Jeremy's goal was a great goal.

"I thought Cassio's goal ... that is offside.

"You make your own assessments on those.

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Vettel, Webber fastest again

Same again ... Vettel and Webber have dominated qualifying recently. Source: Greg Baker / AAP

Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel completed a third-successive Red Bull front row lockout on Saturday when he took pole position for Sunday's Indian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Mark Webber.

The 25-year-old German, who is seeking to become the youngest triple champion in F1 history, made an error on his first flying lap in the top-ten shootout but responded with a second effort in one minute 25.283 seconds to clock the fastest time.

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It was his fifth pole of the season and the 35th of his career.

"All in all it has been a great weekend so far," Vettel said.

"We have to keep pushing - there are a lot of races to go.

"I'm happy to be on pole but there's a hard race coming up tomorrow."

His Australian partner Webber did his utmost to match him, but could only deliver 1:25.327 and took second as Red Bull proved they have the overall pace to start as clear favourites.

"It wasn't the smoothest (flying lap) for (Sebastian) and also for me," said Webber.

"On the last corner I got a little on the Astroturf on the exit and didn't have the cleanest run to line, but I'm driving the car.

"It was a pretty tight run thing between Seb and I. The McLarens were doing a very slow out-laps, and I had no grip in the first sector. I was surprised to end up in second."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton took third place late in the session to jump ahead of his teammate and fellow Briton Jenson Button.

The two Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are on the third row.

Alonso, championship leader for a long period of the season, is now six points behind Vettel and, with four races remaining, needs to deliver a strong result, if not a victory, to stay in serious contention.

But the Red Bulls appear stronger, Vettel having overturned a 39-point deficit to Alonso by winning the last three races in Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

The German also won the inaugural Indian last year at the 5.125km Buddh Circuit, 45km south of New Delhi.

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Wanderers beat Roar for first win

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Landmark ... Wanderers celebrate their first A-League goal, scored by Mark Bridge (second left). Source:AAP

Striker Mark Bridge headed home Western Sydney's first goal as the rookie A-League club secured a maiden win in a massive 1-0 upset of defending champions Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.

After missing a sitter in last weekend's 1-0 derby loss to Sydney FC, Bridge nodded in the drought-breaker 18 minutes into the first half, leaving Brisbane and the home fans shellshocked.

Brisbane's defence gave Bridge far too much space to move after Dutch import Youssouf Hersi delivered him a perfect ball off a short corner kick from star Japanese import Shinji Ono.

It ended 288 minutes of anxiety for for the Wanderers, who failed to score in their opening three games, though Bridge may have been lucky to grab his place in club history.

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

It could easily have gone to 22-year-old midfielder Aaron Mooy, whose fourth minute speculator rebounded off the right post into the left post as powerless Roar 'keeper Michael Theo looked on.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic said before the game he was hoping for a "lucky goal'' to put Brisbane under pressure.

Mooy almost provided it.

The coach had to wait another 14 minutes but there was nothing lucky about Bridge's goal and Western Sydney grew in confidence.

They made Brisbane look average in the first half with eight corners to nil.

The magnitude of the upset can be measured by Brisbane's fabulous Suncorp Stadium record, having lost just three of their previous 34 home games.

The visitors continually upset Brisbane's rhythm.

Popovic's defensive structure closed down the Roar in the middle of the pitch where they are usually very dangerous.

Hersi tormented Brisbane's defenders all night, taking the sting out of the crowd, who expected most of the action would be directed at Wanderers 'keeper Ante Covic who was rarely tested.

Covic had heated words with Brisbane's Jack Hingert, who he claimed had clipped him in the head with his boot searching for the equaliser.

Popovic kept his emotions under control despite the significance of the win for the club and the pressure on his players to score.

"Obviously the stats don't lie and we hadn't scored but there was no lack of confidence in this group,'' he said.

"We came here with a belief we could win the game if we played well and in the end we did that.

"At no stage did we doubt ourselves before the game.''

Popovic said keeping a class outfit like Brisbane scoreless for 90 minutes was equally as satisfying as the win.

"It would have been an injustice had we come away tonight without those three points, which can happen in football,'' he said.

"We didn't get down on ourselves when we didn't get a win or a goal in our first three games and we certainly won't get ahead of ourselves after this.

"It's three points, three great points.''

Roar coach Rado Vidosic looked in shock after the loss, unable to offer an excuse after two high quality training sessions during the week.

"They were very hard to penetrate, their defence was excellent,'' he said.

"They looked better (than us) on the fast break and could have punished us with more goals.''

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Durante labels Jeronimo a cheat

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Heated ... Durante was clearly displeased with Jeronimo's actions. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United's double-scorer Jeronimo Neumann has been branded a cheat by Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante for diving in a bitter A-League fixture at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.

The Phoenix were left fuming after defender Ben Sigmund was given a straight red card for bringing Jeronimo down as the last defender during the Reds' 3-1 win, but replays suggested the Argentine's reaction was significantly delayed.

Durante was incensed at the time, as he was when Cassio scored Adelaide's second goal after receiving a pass from a seemingly-offside Jeronimo, and the Wellington skipper didn't hold back during the post-game interview with Fox Sports.

"We got a few tough decisions against us," Durante said.

"I think the first one was offside from what I saw, the second one he's dived. He's a cheat.

"In my book, if he's dived, he's a cheat. I think the referees were shocking tonight.

"To end the game with a referee's decision like that ... I mean, that linesman on that far side did nothing to help this game. I thought it was extremely poor.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was equally disappointed with the match officials, and while he said he wasn't aware of Durante's comments, he had a similar message.

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"Let's have a look at the review on the dive - if the boy hasn't dived, then fine, we all move on, it happens from time to time," Herbert said.

"But if he has, then maybe there is a chance to make a bit of a statement here."

Adelaide coach John Kosmina was surprised at Durante's comment about Jeronimo.

"That is a bit unfortunate, not a nice to thing to say," Kosmina said.

Kosmina suggested referee Jared Gillett, who made headlines last season for awarding a stoppage time penalty for Brisbane Roar in the A-League grand final, was in best position to judge whether Jeronimo dived.

"The referees make decisions that you agree with sometimes and they make decisions that you don't," he said.

"Looking at the replay, it was a hard one to call.

"And he was in a better position than I was, and probably in a better position than the cameras, because he was right behind it."

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Wallabies, All Blacks can't be split

Even split ... All Blacks winger Hosea Gear (C) is chased down by several Wallabies. Source: Adam Head / News Limited

Kiwi-turned-Australian radar boot Mike Harris kicked the Wallabies to arguably the most honourable draw in their Test history on Saturday night by denying the All Blacks a Bledisloe whitewash at Suncorp Stadium.

Harris slotted five penalty goals from as many attempts and coolly kicked the final three-pointer in the thrilling dying minutes as the Wallabies drew 18-l8 with the world champions.

6 Penalties 6
Michael Harris 3'	Daniel Carter 7'
Michael Harris 28'	Daniel Carter 11'
Michael Harris 32'	Daniel Carter 53'
Michael Harris 40'	Daniel Carter 55'
Kurtley Beale 51'	Daniel Carter 67'
Michael Harris 75'	Daniel Carter 71'

In a nail-biting finish where the result could have gone either way, All Blacks maestro Dan Carter narrowly missed a match-winning field goal four minutes after the hooter sounded.

It denied New Zealand a record-equalling 17th straight Test win.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was proud his team held the All Blacks tryless, was rapt by the immense effort but wasn't  celebrating the result.

"I suspect (the players) will be frustrated because it's a game there they know they could have won," he said.

"We're not happy with the outcome but I imagine the All Blacks aren't either."

While Deans denied he was sweating when Carter lined up his last-gasp drop goal, which missed by a foot at most, Sharpe admitted he was gravely worried.

"I thought 'oh shit'," the 112-Test veteran said.

Beale was unsure whether he pulled the right rein by foregoing a drop-goal attempt at the death after multiple phases but Sharpe backed his decision to allow the forwards to rumble ahead in the hope of a penalty close to the sticks.

All Blacks mentor Steve Hansen lamented a poor performance by his side but paid tribute to the character they showed to almost pull a win out of the bag.

"We're really, really disappointed - too many avoidable penalties and too many avoidable mistakes," Hansen said.

"It was probably one of the ugliest games of rugby that I've been involved in."

Despite being a tryless affair, the sell-out 51,888 crowd was captivated by the ebbs and flows of an encounter both sides looked set to clinch at different times.

The injury-ravaged Wallabies, 13-point underdogs, had threatened to produce one of the biggest upsets in Australian Test history when they led 15-6 after 50 minutes.

But the momentum turned viciously as flanker Michael Hooper was sin-binned and Carter kicked four straight penalties to grab a three-point lead with 10 minutes left.

While Auckland product and former New Zealand Under-20 playmaker Harris, playing his first trans-Tasman Test for Australia, levelled the scores with five minutes left, Australia desperately tried to seal the result.

They set up for a field goal of their own through countless pick-and-drives in the All Blacks quarter but Kurtley Beale never got the chance for a heroic attempt as prop Sekope Kepu was penalised for leaving his feet.

Expected to be easy meat for a full-strength Kiwi outfit eying a record-equalling streak, Australia aimed up in a stirring first-half effort.

It was a night where almost everything rolled the right way for the Wallabies, who were far more proactive than the first two Bledisloe Tests, in the first 50 minutes.

Carter missed two penalty attempts he'd normally bury, the All Blacks wasted gilt-edged attacking opportunities through poor handling and the Wallabies won the breakdown battle.

But their inability to punish the All Blacks early in the second half when prop Tony Woodcock was sin-binned was a telling sign.

Kiwi No.8 Kieran Read was a justified man-of-the-match while Beale was Australia's most dangerous player and skipper Nathan Sharpe starred in his final match on home soil.

In a sometimes heated clash, Richie McCaw was singled out for special treatment from Wallabies flanker Scott Higginbotham, who could be in trouble post-match after kneeing and head-butting the All Blacks skipper.

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Heskey leads Jets to Mariners win

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Difference ... Former England striker Emile Heskey was involved in both Jets goals. Source:AAP

Star import Emile Heskey found the net for the second straight game as Newcastle Jets defeated Central Coast 2-1 in a pulsating F3 A-League derby at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.

The Jets survived a thrilling finish after Patrick Zwaanswijk looked to have earned the Mariners a share of the points when he headed home in the sixth minute of stoppage time, only for the assistant referee to controversially rule him offside.

Ryan Griffiths gave the home side a fourth-minute lead when former England striker Heskey was clipped by Michael McGlinchey in the box after he had pinched a poorly played pass from the Mariners defence.

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

Griffiths sent Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan the wrong way from the spot, and it stayed that way through to halftime.

Heskey then gave his side some breathing space on 61 minutes, but James Virgili deserved all the credit after the youngster went past both Pedj Bojic and Zwaanswijk on a mazy run before setting up the ex-Liverpool front man for the easiest of finishes from close range.

Bernie Ibini netted what turned out to be a consolation goal for the Mariners in the 72nd minute after he was on the end of a McGlinchey cutback after striker Daniel McBreen had won the initial header.

Jets keeper Mark Birighitti had no chance as Ibini tapped in from the edge of the six yard box.

The match was a typically feisty local derby with a series of niggly fouls throughout the contest, referee Ben Williams issuing nine yellow cards.

Jets midfielder Ruben Zadkovich was lucky not to be given his marching orders after a cheap foul in the 52nd minute sparked a melee.

Players from both sides had to be separated as tempers threatened to boil over, with Williams doing well to contain the trouble.

While Mariners coach Graham Arnold was clearly disappointed to have the last-minute equaliser denied, he was more aghast at the awarding of the penalty to the home side after Heskey was felled in the box.

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"I just thought it was a pretty average performance from the ref to be honest,'' Arnold said.

"Mickey McGlinchey weighs 67 kilos and Emile Heskey weighs 100 kilos.

"My blood pressure has gone through the roof.

"I will probably be labelled a whinger but that's the way it goes.''

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Arnold's opposite number Gary Van Egmond preferred to focus on the brilliance of the young Virgili.

"He (Virgili) is now going to get a lot of attention from other teams and it is something that he is going to have to get used to,'' the Newcastle coach said.

"We put things in place and the boys carried it out, which was great.

"Emile was superb again today and he helped with the assist on the first goal as well as scoring the second. You can't ask for much more from him.''

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Lorenzo on pole in Malaysia

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Flying ... Jorge Lorenzo steers his Yamaha to the fastest lap of Malaysian GP qualifying. Source: Vincent Thian / AP

MotoGP leader Jorge Lorenzo seized pole position for Sunday's Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix after the Yamaha rider produced a lap record in the final qualifying session.

The Spaniard clocked a lap of 2 minutes 00.334 seconds at the end of the one-hour qualifying session on Saturday, breaking the Sepang circuit record of 2:00.518 set by Italian rider Valentino Rossi in qualifying in 2009.

Lorenzo's closest rival, fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa on a Honda, was in menacing form and posted the second fastest time while his Australian teammate Casey Stoner, with an ankle injury, posted the fourth quickest.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso was third fastest, with Britain's Cal Crutchlow, also on a Yamaha, taking fifth. American Ben Spies, on a Yamaha, took sixth on the grid.

Pedrosa clocked 2:00.528, 0.194 seconds slower than Lorenzo in a close-fought battle, while Dovizioso posted 2:00.567.

It will be Lorenzo's seventh pole start of the season.

Lorenzo, who is eyeing a win in Sepang, said a pole position would enhance his chances for victory and deny Pedrosa's shot for the championship title.

"I managed to set a new lap time in the last lap with new tyres. Pole position is a very good position but we need to set-up the bike (for Sunday)," he said.

Lorenzo missed last year's Malaysian Grand Prix due to injury, a race which was subsequently cancelled after 24-year-old Marco Simoncelli was killed in a second lap crash.

Lorenzo could take his second title this weekend if he wins and Pedrosa fails to finish in the top 12.

Meanwhile, Pedrosa, who set the fastest time during practice sessions, complained of chatter during the qualifying session, a problem that has plagued Honda from the start of this season.

"The weather was hot and we had a lot of chatter and this made riding difficult. I hope there will be less chatter," he said.

Title-hopeful Pedrosa, who is battling for his first ever MotoGP crown, is 28 points adrift of Lorenzo, who has 310 points. Pedrosa is on 282, while Stoner has 197.

Nine-time world champion Rossi's bad season for Ducati continued after he crashed during the first few minutes of the third practice. He qualified eleventh on the grid.

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