WHERE HE GOES.. THEY FOLAU
Tomkins: Israel is key for our space invaders
AUSTRALIA captain Meg Lanning is expecting to feel chills at the MCG for her side’s potentially recordbreaking T20 World Cup final against India.
Over 75,000 tickets have been sold for tomorrow’s final in Melbourne, with organisers aiming to break the record for the highest ever attendance at a women’s sporting event.
Lanning said: “I’ve been to the MCG when there are 100,000 fans there and the atmosphere is absolutely incredible.
“I’ve had goosebumps watching. To think we will be in the middle of that is pretty amazing.”
SHEBELIEVES CUP USA (0) 2 ENGLAND (0) Press 53
Lloyd 55
Tomorrow: Japan v England (New Jersey, 7.15pm)
(3 unless stated) 0
UK OPEN, Minehead, Selected - 1st Round: M De Decker (Bel) bt L Ashton (Eng) 6-2, K McKinstry (NIrl) bt F Sherrock (Eng) 6-1. 2nd Round: T Evetts (Eng) bt B Van Peer (Hol) 6-1, S Waites (Eng) bt G Nentjes (Hol) 6-1. 3rd Round: J Klaasen (Hol) bt J Askew (Eng) 6-4, S Waites (Eng) bt M Raza (Lat) 6-2, L Humphries (Eng) bt K Anderson (A) 6-5.
2ND T20I, Kandy
Sri Lanka 155-6 (20 overs). West Indies 158-3 (17 overs). West Indies won by 7 wkts. West Indies win series 2-0.
3rd ODI, Sylhet Bangladesh 322-3 (43 overs, Das 176, Tamim 128); Zimbabwe 218 (37.3 overs, Raza 61, Saifuddin 4-41). Bangladesh win by 123 runs (DL Method). Bangladesh series 3-0.
1ST T20I, Greater Noida Ireland 172-6 (20 overs, Stirling 60); Afghanistan 133-5 (15 overs). Afghanistan win by 11 runs (DL method).
COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS, DOHA, 2nd Round (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71): 132 A Sullivan 66 66, J Campillo (Spa) 66 66
133 M Kinhult (Swe) 68 65, J Luiten (Ned) 65 68, A Bjork (Swe) 70 63, R Langasque (Fra) 69 64, O Fisher 69 64
Tour Match (day 1 of 3): Sri Lanka Cricket XI v England (Katunayake ,4.30am).
3rd ODI: S Africa v Australia (Potchefstroom, 8am).
Elite League (7pm): Dundee v Glasgow, Manchester v Coventry.
Vitality Superleague: Saracens Mavericks v Severn Stars (3pm), Manchester Thunder v Loughborough Lightning (5pm).
Betfred Super League (5pm): Catalans Dragons v Salford. Betfred Championship (5pm): Toulouse v Batley.
Guinness Six Nations: England v Wales (4.45). Women’s Six Nations: England v Wales (12.05), Scotland v France (7.45).
Gallagher Premiership (2.30): Exeter v Bath, Saracens v Leicester (1pm), Wasps v Gloucester.
SAM TOMKINS says Israel Folau has already significantly improved Catalans Dragons’ attack – because opposition teams are too preoccupied with his threat.
The controversial Australian signing (left) has played just twice for the Dragons in wins over Castleford and Hull FC.
But Tomkins says his presence is having an impact for Steve McNamara’s side ahead of tonight’s clash with Salford. Team-mate Tomkins said: “We’ve not seen too much of him. “I think teams have overmarked him. Castleford certainly did – they were putting a lot of defenders in front of him which made it pretty easy on the other side of the field. Our left edge are playing really well but some of that is down to the numbers that are being sent down Israel’s side.
“It was the same at the weekend at Hull, our middles did a brilliant job of getting us back in the game and then Israel always seems to be in front of one or two defenders.
“Ben Jullien scored two tries and they were down to Josh Griffin being too worried about Israel Folau. If Israel is not in the centre, I don’t think Ben gets two tries.
“As we play more and Izzy gets more used to us, we will see a bit more from him.
“But it’s clear he’s a real athlete and he’s going to do something special for us hopefully.
“When you’re playing full-back or half-back, it’s a luxury having someone on an edge who you can throw the ball to and they can do their own thing.
“I think that’s what makes the best outside-backs, people who don’t need too much creating for them, they sort of do it themselves. And Israel has certainly got that in his locker.”
Tomkins (above) is keen not to underestimate the Red Devils despite a disappointing start that has seen them win just one of their five matches, having reached last year’s Grand Final.
He added: “They’ve had a lot of changes, Jackson Hastings was a key for them. They brought Kevin Brown in but him missing the last two games won’t have helped.
“They will have earmarked this game as one to get them back on track and having Kevin back will help.
“There’s a lot of players in that team that experienced that feeling of getting to a final and they don’t suddenly turn into bad players.
“I’m sure they will turn it on at some point – I just hope it’s not this week.”