By Roger Vaughan
December 11th 2009 @ 1:38am
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Langer says criticism of Ponting is rubbish
Former Test opener Justin Langer has slammed as “rubbish” the criticism levelled at Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting. Langer has returned to the national team this summer as an assistant coach and said on Thursday that Ponting remains a strong and skilled leader.
But the skipper is a lightning rod for some critics in the wake [...]
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![After a comprehensive 3-0 rout of Ireland in their recent friendly in Limerick, the Socceroos will be out to extend their winning streak when they take on Korea Republic in Seoul.
But without the talismanic Tim Cahill in their midst, Australia may need to find a new match-winner when they run out at Seoul World Cup [...] Mike Tuckerman: Time for some fringe Socceroos to step up](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/time-for-socceroos-th.jpg)
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![On the 23rd of March 1895, on a grassy clearing in Northern London, a group of women gathered to make history. Few would notice, and even fewer cared. But history it was. A whistle was blown and 22 women played out the first recorded game of women’s football.
For the record, North London won 7-1 [...] Davidde Corran: Women’s football is finally back in business](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/womens-football-bompastor-sauerbrunn-th.jpg)
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Australia has put forward a World Cup [...] Davidde Corran: A-League must focus on quality not size](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/a-league-focus-quality-not-size-minniecon-th.jpg)
![I might be English, related to a member of the Ashes winning team and a patriotic supporter of my national side, but I’m worried. With the next instalment of the Anglo-Australian rivalry just nine months away – I know there is plenty of other cricket before then, but it is an Ashes year so nothing [...] Alec Swann: Watson could prove the difference in Ashes battle](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/australian-cricket-watson-th.jpg)
![You might not have felt it, but there was a definite shift in the AFL this week. It might have been a minor one, but it was unquestionably there: the beginning of the end for what is known as the outside player. The omission of Nick Stevens rammed it home.
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![I’m no expert on rugby league commentary, so it’s only when I’m positive I have some good ideas that I would pop something in the suggestion box for the “voice of rugby league” and the “super coach.”
Now, I love a punt as much as the next man. But I’m finding it hard to define [...] Steve Kaless: Suggestions for the Channel Nine commentary team](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/early-points-soward-young-th.jpg)
![With the inaugural NRL All Stars set to kick off this weekend, perhaps just one thing is left to be discussed before we focus on the action on the field: can, or will, the concept ever become bigger than Origin?
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The Wallabies had just backed up the Rugby World Cup win with a successful tour of Ireland and Wales, marred only [...] Matthew Horan: How I missed cricket’s Ball of the Century](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/how-i-missed-cricket-shane-warne-th.jpg)
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![Queensland rugby going broke. Melbourne struggling to find players. The ARU hemming and hawing over requests for the Force to bring in replacements for their staggering injury toll. The Waratahs losing ugly.
And all four provinces out of the five on the Super 14 table.
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![UEFA ban Eduardo for two matches for diving, Chelsea are blockaded by FIFA from making any signings until 2011 after illegally poaching Gael Kakuta, and now Manchester United will “appeal for ideas (from fans) as to how to curb (the vile chant directed at Arsene Wenger during the last round of Premier League action).”
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Roger Rational said | December 11th 2009 @ 2:32am | Report comment
Nice to see ol’ Brown Nose Langer up to his old tricks. Some things never change.