Embarrassed Brumbies refusing to panic

Brumbies coach Jake White hopes his team's horror showing against the Western Force will end up being the wake-up call they needed heading into the Super Rugby finals iphone cases for 5.

A whopping 17 handling errors combined with a series of brain fades consigned the Brumbies to a shock 21-15 loss to the lowly Force in their final-round clash in Perth on Saturday night.

The Brumbies would have been rewarded with second spot on the ladder and a home semi-final had they secured a bonus-point victory against the Force.

Instead, their embarrassing showing means they now need to win three finals games - including two on the road - if they are to snare this year's title.

Their quest begins in Canberra next Sunday afternoon, when they take on South Africa's unpredictable Cheetahs in an elimination final.

A win in that encounter would propel the Australian conference leaders into a daunting semi-final showdown with the Bulls in Pretoria a week later blackberry phone covers.

White conceded his team were mentally off their game against the Force, but backed them to return to their clinical best against the Cheetahs.

"We know we can't get any worse than we were tonight," White said.

"It's going to be a wake-up call now.

"We have now obviously got the low road in that we've got to play three games if we want to win the championship.

"But it's not all doom or gloom.

"We know we've played a lot of good rugby this year.

"We can't be worrying about the fact (of whether) this is going to dent any confidence."

In a quirk of the fixtures, the Brumbies and Cheetahs haven't met this year.

Although the Brumbies have won four of their past five encounters against the Bloemfontein-based side, they only prevailed by a point when the teams met in Canberra last year.

The Cheetahs have enjoyed their best season to date with a strong all-round attacking game and solid defence, and will be aiming to make their maiden finals appearance a memorable one wigs shop.

The Brumbies haven't featured in the post-season since winning the title in 2004, and remain quietly confident of going all the way despite their flop against the Force.

But they will need fullback Jesse Mogg and flyhalf Matt Toomua to regain their mojo if they are to achieve their goal of winning the title.

Both players endured a shocker against the Force, with Toomua committing the most basic of errors when he forgot to ground the ball after catching a wayward shot at goal by Force fullback Jayden Hayward.

O'Connor benched for Rebels swansong

Axed Melbourne Rebels star James O'Connor will have to make his final appearance for the franchise from the bench in their Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders at AAMI Park on Friday.

The Wallaby five-eighth's exclusion from the starting side comes just days after he was told he would not be offered a contract at the Rebels for 2014 thailand real estate.

Also preparing for his last game with the Rebels, coach Damien Hill said O'Connor was on the bench because he hadn't been able to train with the team since being selected in the Wallabies for the Lions series in early June and had been fighting an injury this week.

"James wasn't able to train Monday and Tuesday which gives him only the captain's run to prepare," Hill said.

"He has done extremely well to make himself available on the bench. I know this is a match he is very keen to play in."

The swansong from the bench will cap off a tough week for O'Connor.

The 23-year-old was thrashed with the Wallabies on Saturday night, reportedly spotted in a Kings Cross nightclub at 5.30am on Sunday and lost his gig at the Rebels later that day.

Then it emerged the Western Force, the club he left somewhat acrimoniously to join the Rebels, may be the only Australian Super Rugby franchise ready to pick him up.

Rebels teammate and Wallabies forward Scott Higginbotham further rubbed salt into the wounds on Tuesday when he endorsed O'Connor's departure from the club.

"If he sorts out those off-field issues, then there is no issue with him," Higginbotham said.

The Rebels had already excused O'Connor's good friend and Wallabies teammate Kurtley Beale from the Highlanders match which ends their season, saying he'd be better continuing his counselling for alcohol issues in Sydney, though they are keen to get him back next season.

Meanwhile, departing winger Cooper Vuna will return to the starting side for the match with Welshman Gareth Delve to captain the side in his last game for the franchise Hong Kong loan important notice.

"To be a foundation Rebel and help build this club from scratch, with incredible people, has been great," Delve said.

It will also be the final Rebels match for halfback Nick Phipps, prop Nic Henderson, hooker Ged Robinson, Vuna, assistant Rebels coach John Muggleton and coach Hill - who will be replaced by Wallabies coaching co-ordinator Tony McGahan next season.

Rebels: Angus Roberts, Jason Woodward, Tom English, Rory Sidey, Cooper Vuna, Bryce Hegarty, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (c), Scott Fuglistaller, Jarrod Saffy, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, James O'Connor, Kimami Sitauti.

US out to turn tables on Mexico

US football fortunes are on the rise as they head into the CONCACAF Gold Cup aiming to avenge a bitter defeat to regional rivals Mexico in the 2011 final hong kong company register.

Jurgen Klinsmann's United States warmed up for the 12th edition of the North and Central America and Caribbean regional football championship with a 6-0 rout of Guatemala in a friendly match in San Diego on Friday.

The United States and Mexico have contested the last three finals and will be favourites to duel for the title again, despite both bringing squads lacking some of the key players to feature in recent World Cup qualifiers.

The United States currently top the table in regional qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, but will be without such Europe-based stars as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley.

They welcome back veteran Landon Donovan along with Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden and Malaga's Oguchi Onyewu.

Players like Donovan and Onyewu will be vying to impress Klinsmann, with qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to resume in September Domestic Helper.

Donovan took a four-month break from football after helping the Los Angeles Galaxy win last year's Major League Soccer title, returning to work with the Galaxy in March.

Friday's friendly was his first international appearance since August, and Donovan didn't waste any time showing he was back.

He converted a penalty in the 56th minute for his 50th international goal and added a second goal in the 72nd minute.

Donovan acknowledged that the dominant victory over Guatemala, eliminated from World Cup contention and not in the Gold Cup, counted for little.

"We've got to do it when it matters, and I realise that," he said. "We were good tonight but we've got to get better."

Mexico's young Gold Cup squad, all culled from the Liga MX, will be hoping to make a splash of the kind that has eluded the more seasoned team that has struggled in World Cup qualifying and recently exited at the group stage in the Confederations Cup.

"I don't think at all that this is a 'B' team, forward Rafa Marquez Lugo said last month, noting the Gold Cup is a chance for Mexico players, like their US counterparts, to demonstrate what they have to offer before World Cup qualifying resumes.

Mexico won their record sixth Gold Cup crown in 2011, when they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the United States in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

The defeat signalled the end of Bob Bradley's tenure as US coach. He was sacked, opening the door for the hiring of former German international Klinsmann.

Mexico have a tricky Group A opener against Panama back at the Rose Bowl on Sunday, when Canada will face Martinique.

The United States open their Group C campaign against Belize in Portland on Tuesday cheap bookcase, with Costa Rica and Cuba in the same group.

Group B features familiar foes Honduras and El Salvador along with Trinidad and Tobago and a Haiti side energised by strong recent friendly results that include a narrow 2-1 loss to Spain and a 2-2 draw with Italy.

The tournament crown has historically come with a bid to the next Confederations Cup. However, this year's winner will battle the 2015 champions for a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

McCullum stars in Glamorgan win

New Zealand spin bowler Nathan McCullum was a matchwinner with the bat for Glamorgan in their English county Twenty20 defeat of Warwickshire in Cardiff marketing strategy.

McCullum smashed 18 from five balls as Glamorgan chased down 119 to claim a four-wicket win with five balls to spare.

Fellow-Black Caps spin bowler Jeetan Patel suffered in the penultimate over, struck for a four and a six by McCullum, who sealed victory with a six off Chris Wright in the first ball of the final over wine class.

The low-scoring win maintained Glamorgan's perfect start to the competition, putting them top of the Midlands, Wales and West group.

Elsewhere, retired Black Cap Scott Styris struck 46 off 33 balls but it wasn't enough to prevent his Sussex team losing by three runs to Surrey in London. Sussex reached 136-8 in response to Surrey's 139-6 Asian college of knowledge management.

Violent storms gone, but warnings remain

Storm damage is disrupting public transport in Wellington and posing a danger to South Island motorists warned to take care on slippery, pot-holed roads.

The violent winter storm that has buffeted New Zealand for several days has finally cleared, but authorities warn the effects of the polar blast could still be felt for several days.

In Wellington, 600 homes are still without power and buses have replaced trains between Wellington and Petone after a washout on the line.

The capital bore the brunt of Thursday night's storm, with power cut to about 30,000 homes and businesses and more than 500 concerned calls lodged with Wellington City Council.

Further south, motorists in Canterbury have been warned to take extreme care with black ice throughout the region making roads extremely slippery. Other councils say snow, slips and pot holes will remain a risk for drivers for several days.

More than a dozen main roads are affected by snow fall across the island, with authorities recommending chains and extra care.

In Central Otago, Federated Farmers have called for volunteers to help stricken farmers reach stock trapped by heavy snow.

Meanwhile, the clean-up has started in Sawyers Bay, Dunedin, where a large slip threatened 11 homes following torrential downpours on Thursday and Friday. Residents were evacuated in the early hours of Saturday but were allowed to return home later that day once the threat had abated.

Forecasters say the storm leaves behind a cool south westerly flow that will likely bring more showers to Auckland, coastal Waikato, Taranaki and Whanganui over coming days.

But areas worst hit by the storm - Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin - will see the most sun, with just a chance of a shower on Monday in Dunedin and Friday in Wellington, according to WeatherWatch.co.nz.

However, it warns "everything at the moment is messy and a bit chaotic weatherwise," with more rain possible nationwide by next weekend.

Runaway teen found in Gore

A Southland teen who repeatedly ran away with a 50-year-old man has been captured a fourth time and placed in a secure Child, Youth and Family home machine made sequin embroidery.

Willow Perkins, 14, ran away from her Invercargill home with John Barrett, from the town of Nightcaps, early this month.

It was the third time the pair had run away together, following two jaunts in April. She was re-captured but then escaped a fourth time from the CYF house in Blenheim she was sent to.

Detective Scott McKenzie of Winton police has confirmed Willow was found in Gore on Sunday following a tip-off from a member of the public wine tasting.

Mr Barrett was not with her at the time, and has recently been spotted alone in Picton, but police believe Willow may have been freely in his company at some stage following each of her escapes.

Police planned to interview him this week as part of their investigation.

Det McKenzie would not be drawn on the nature of the pair's relationship but maintains police had fears for her safety while on the run.

Willow has been returned to Invercargill where she is "back in the custody of CYFs and in a more controlled environment", the officer said Asian college of knowledge management.

Her family were very relieved she'd been found and supportive of the police operation, he said.

遇見，無論早晚

遇見，無論早晚。你是我回眸處的嫣然，你是我萍水相逢的溫暖。謹此文賀好友生辰。

——題記

玉蘭在窗前舞動著春日的風情，青草的氣息蔓延至鼻尖，樹枝上棲息著啾唧的小鳥，這一切的一切把黃昏映襯的格外誘人。偶爾樓下也會有幾聲呼喚，那一定是邀我去田間散步的好友。

盡管，窗外風情萬種，我依然靜坐屏前，用文字的形式思戀，舞一段人生路上的相遇。

一場花事，開在盛夏的文字裏。淺淺的記得 ，八月的月色照著不眠的心思，你在不經意間闖入了我文字的殿堂，用你細膩而溫暖的心聆聽著一滴滴雨聲，無論是憂傷的還是喜悅的。你說，你喜歡，很喜歡。

相逢，不是山高路遠，而是咫尺間。我深信：有些人，只一眼，就一生相知。

一個這樣的我，有些許多愁善感，喜歡用文字記下流年裏遇見的每一處風景，或人或物。 時常被文字裏的情感牽絆著，即便是杜撰的傷感也會帶給自己多愁的憂慮，總有一雙眼睛透過文字華美的表面，在女人小小的心思裏盤旋，之了，便是情真意切的關懷和慰暖。一程相伴，沒有海角天涯，只有姐妹之間的相伴相惜。

你是我萍水相逢的緣，亦是我網絡裏不可多得的姐妹花。如果說相遇，只是早晚，我相信我們一定會在某一天遇見。

多少次，你把關注和問候灑在我的空間，別人讀的是文字，你讀的是心；多少次，你把業餘時間傾注在我的文字裏，用你精美的制作詮釋著我每一處的情感，是唯美的，亦是用心的；多少次，你在一行行字符裏，感悟著我此起彼伏的情感糾結，把憐惜和疼愛隔著時空悄悄送來。與你，僅僅是萍水相逢，卻換來了一場雙瓣花樣的情誼。

你來了，沒有任何預兆，輕盈的步伐停息在我的小屋，久久站立。帶著玉蘭般的清香在指尖用心敲下一行行字符，從此，我的世界裏多了一份關愛，一份凝望。

我喜歡叫你萍姐，你喜歡叫我雨兒。

其實，並不常和你聊天。偶爾一次，總會在你淡淡的言語裏感受著遠方傳來的陣陣暖香。一直認為女子的情感是相同的，我的文字，你懂；我的言語，你明白。

今日黃昏，我攤開身邊所有的事情，用一箋心語述說流年。寫寫停停，筆墨間，有種暖暖的東西溢出……

又是春暖花開日，看窗外，遠處河畔的柳葉兒在枝頭翩躚，田間的杏花喜笑開顏，一壟壟麥田碧綠襲人；近處，玉蘭芳香，海棠繁華，好不熱鬧。此刻，我筆尖飛舞的文字因為春色而香，也因友誼而暖。

一箋墨香，浸染不同的城池，拉近了網絡與現實中的你和我。就這樣，在文字裏相逢，在文字裏知遇，在文字裏盛開姐妹花。風情萬種也罷，春意盎然與否？此刻皆與我無關。只想靜佇墨香裏，用我淺淺的筆墨為你抒寫一段春天裏的祝福，或許不是最美的，一定是最真誠的。

不經意間落筆， 鎖定了這幾個字符：遇見，無論早晚。你是我回眸處的嫣然，你是我萍水相逢的溫暖。