Weekend sport wrap

SBS World News Radio: Sport can offer fans the full gamut of emotions and experiences and this past weekend was a perfect example.

Weekend sport wrapWeekend sport wrap

Weekend sport wrap

From the redemption of the Australian cricket team to the anticipation of the teams at the top of the A-League, to the hope of the Socceroos looking forward to a big challenge and on to the disappointment of a Wallabies loss on foreign soil.

We start with cricket and, maybe, the start of Australia's climb back to the top.

An Australian team featuring three players on Test debuts has defeated South Africa by seven wickets in the day-night Third Test in Adelaide.

The changes were sparked by defeats in the first two Tests of the series.

South Africa still wins the series, two matches to one, but it is a badly needed boost for a side battered on the field in recent times and by the public and media off the field.

Fittingly, one of the debutants, Peter Handscomb, hit the winning runs.

Australia now has three one-day internationals against New Zealand before an intriguing three-Test series against world number two Pakistan starting in Brisbane on December the 15th.

In football, Australia has been drawn with world champion Germany, South American champion Chile and whoever wins next year's African Cup of Nations in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.

It is a tough draw for the World Cup dress rehearsal in Russia.

But coach Ange Postecoglou says his Socceroos will continue to play the same way, even against the much-vaunted opposition.

"It's exciting. Obviously, we've got some really strong nations, but that's why we want to come to a Confederations Cup and a World Cup, to test yourself against the best. And we're looking forward to it. We'll prepare properly, and we won't be afraid of anyone. We'll play every game to try and win, and see how we go."

On the home front, a draw by Sydney FC and a win by Melbourne City keeps them atop the A-League ladder after eight rounds of the season.

It is fitting because on Wednesday night they will play each other in the 2016 FFA Cup final.

Melbourne City's Luke Brattan has told Fox Sports his team has been focusing on each match individually this season and has not looked ahead to the big game.

But he says, now that it is here, it should be a good one.

"The mentality is really good, and we're going to take it game by game, no matter what. And you know, it should be great. I think that Sydney is the best team in the league at the moment. The table doesn't lie. So it should be a great game."

In rugby union, the Wallabies' winning run on their spring tour of Europe has come to an end in Dublin against Ireland.

Australia lost the match 27-24 but there are rumbles over the penalty count of French referee Jerome Garces, at 13-3.

Coach Michael Cheika wants a meeting with world referees boss Alain Rolland to explain, although he insists he has no personal issue with Garces.

"There's no problem for me with the referee -- I've got no problem with the referee, per se. The issues for us are the decisions in the game, not the relationship between the people. I'll go through the proper channels, as opposed to making it an issue out here, and see if we can get something."

Australia's final Test of the spring tour is next weekend against England.

 






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