D Thursday, November 5, 2009 METROSPORT 21 No longer in awe: Halfpenny We dont fear New Zealand any more, vows Halfpenny RUGBY: Leigh Halfpenny believes Wales are no longer in awe of the All Blacks. The teams meet at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday following a demoralising run of 20 successive defeats that has seen New Zealand amass almost 700 points at the expense of the Welsh. But Halfpenny says it is no longer a case of Wales just trying to keep the score down. I think the time where players were in awe of them has gone. Its definitely about us and not them this year, said the 20-year-old. We have moved on as a team. Before, we would be playing the All Blacks and trying to keep the score down. We have to have the belief now we can go out and play for the full 80 minutes and get a result. Giro dItalia is US bound CYCLING: Washington could one day host the opening stage of the Giro dItalia, according to race director Angelo Zomegnan. The three- week race will begin in Amsterdam next May and Zomegnan admitted: Weve had the idea of starting the Giro in America. SPORTDigest CRICKET Ireland apply to join the ICCs Test-playing eliteBy ryaN daNiels The International Cricket Coun- cil have received notification of Irelands intention to apply for full member status. Ireland, currently an ICC asso- ciate member but with one-day international status, are pushing to join the games elite group of ten countries in the hope of play- ing Test cricket. Ireland have made considerable progress on and off the field in recent years the highlight being qualification for the last eight of the 2007 World Cup but with success has come frustration. The country is now regularly producing players good enough for first-class cricket but for them to have any ambitions of playing at Test level they must opt to play elsewhere. ed Joyce and eoin Morgan have both earned england recog- nition after defecting and Cricket Ireland are anxious to avoid los- ing more talent in the future. ICC spokesman James Fitzger- ald said: We have received a let- ter from Cricket Ireland express- ing their intention to apply for full membership. In the event of them doing that the matter will be discussed at the next board meeting. The ICCs next board meeting is in February but any final deci- sion would have to be made by the general council at annual conference and the process is a long one. Bangladesh were the last coun- try to be elevated in 2000, three years after first submitting their application, while a Kenyan bid failed after four years. Cricket Ireland, who recently turned down a place in englands domestic 40-over competition in 2010, must also satisfy a number of stringent criteria to qualify for full membership. Should they press on for Test status, they would need to establish their own domestic first-class competition. Upwardly mobile: Cricket ireland are hoping the likes of William Porterfield will be given the chance to play Test matches for ireland Picture: Sportsfile golf hsbC ChampIons Sergio garcia is back from his mid-season slump and ready to defend his HSBc champions title this week in Shanghai. The Spaniard left Sheshan international golf club 12 months ago with the title and a career-high world ranking of second after beating ryder cup team-mate oliver Wilson in a play-off before enjoying a productive Middle east swing at the start of the year. But until a return to form at augusts Wyndham championship yielded a fourth-place finish, a top-ten position at the US open was all garcia had to show for his efforts until a recent upswing in form yielded top-tens at the BMW championship and the castello Masters. He now heads to Shanghai for the new World golf championships event to face a field boasting 20 of the worlds top 30, including top two Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. garcia said: on the performance side, it was probably a little disappointing year. But if i had to think about how i have matured and how i learned not only in golf but in life, i think its been a very positive so you always have to look on the bright side, said garcia. as a defending champion it brings confidence, it brings me good thoughts. its a course where i have done well, so its always a positive thing. Garcia out to defend Shanghai title Positive: Garcia foRmula onE Tearful: Toyota F1s Tadashi yamashita FIA to investigate Toyota pull-outForMUla ones governing body the Fia are to review the legality of Toyotas pullout from the sport. citing financial pressures, the worlds largest car manufacturer yesterday confirmed they are to become the third team in 11 months to pull out of the sport with immediate effect while reports suggest renault are also considering their future. That is despite Toyota signing up to the new concorde agreement so binding themselves to F1 through to 2012. and the Fia will now seek urgent clarification as to the teams legal position in the championship. Former Fia president Max Mosley initially called for the teams to work under a voluntary 45million cost cap, yet that was vehemently imposed and almost led to a breakaway series. instead, the teams agreed to reduce spending back to early 1990s levels within two years after a breakthrough meeting in June. The Fia have expressed a desire to ensure the cost-cut plans in place are working and F1 will be safeguarded for the future. a statement read: The Fia accepted the cost-reduction measures put forward by the teams on the basis they would ensure a long-term commitment to [F1]. Toyotas announcement demonstrates the importance of the original cost-reduction measures set out by the Fia. Toyota president akio Toyoda said: Betraying the fans was a hard thing to do, he said. u PIReLLI has ruled out replacing Bridgestone as the sole tyre supplier for F1. Bridgestone announced on Monday it would not renew its contract after the end of next season. But a spokesman for Pirelli said: We prefer to develop tyres for racing that can also be used on the road. Laois lose defender Reddin GAA: Laois boss Sean Dempsey must plan without rising star defender Ger Reddin next season. The centre- back, who made his debut in Junes Leinster SFC win over Louth and started against Kildare, is the latest victim of the recession. He plans to head to Australia in January to work and is unlikely to feature for the county in 2010. Laois hammered Wexford in a challenge match last weekend ahead of the November/December shutdown, but veterans Brian McDonald, Donie Brennan, Noel Garvan, Joe Higgins and Tom Kelly were not involved and may have played their last games for Laois. Harte joy at 10-year tenure Gaa: Mickey Harte says it is a privilege to be given the Tyrone football reins for an entire decade. The three-times all-ireland winning boss has agreed to manage his native county for three more seasons at least. He will remain in charge until the end of 2012, at least, when he will have completed ten years as boss. He had already agreed to stay on for one more year but county chiefs were happy to extend that by two seasons. i never think of it as a contract, its just a privilege to be there as Tyrone manager, said Harte (pictured). im delighted because its good to know that youre working over a period of time and that theres a process there we can continue to do things with going forward. Macklin targets world title BOXiNG: european middleweight champion Matthew Macklin wants to emulate Bernard dunne by becoming irelands next world champion. Birmingham-based Macklin takes on Uruguays rafa sosa Pintos at dublins National stadium december 5 and he said: People are talking about world title shots but for me its pretty simple, as long as i keep winning those chances will come my way. The whole country had a great sense of pride the night Bernard dunne won the world title and id love to repeat that. i certainly believe i can. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html