Video: Socceroos book Brazil spot

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Brazil bound ... the Socceroos seal their spot in the 2014 World Cup. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

The Socceroos have secured their World Cup finals spot next year with the most nerve-jangling of 1-0 wins over Iraq at ANZ Stadium, thanks to substitute Josh Kennedy's header with seven minutes left.

Australia's hopes of direct qualification looked to be hanging by a thread until Kennedy headed home a Mark Bresciano cross to book the Socceroos a third successive World Cup finals berth.

For much of Tuesday night's match, the Socceroos' hopes of getting to Brazil seemed set to be decided either by the result of the Oman-Jordan match or by further playoffs as a draw beckoned.

The home side continued to be frustrated by a stoic Iraqi defence and their own lack of composure in attack.

Frustration levels among the 80,523 crowd rose even higher when the Socceroos had a goal disallowed in the second half, when Robbie Kruse's 65th minute volley was ruled out as Iranian referee Faghani Ali-Reza called a foul on Sasa Ognenovski from the preceding move.

But Kennedy - introduced into the match with 13 minutes left for Tim Cahill - saved the day for his nation.

On a pitch uneven in surface and made trickier by pre-match rain, the Socceroos had a difficult first half.

They created more chances but were frustrated by Iraq's solid defence, occasional feigned injury, and their own lack of a killer ball in the front third.

The Socceroos were also unable to easily break into counter-attack, with Iraq clearly having done their homework - applying extra pressure to Bresciano and lone striker Cahill.

The two best first half chances fell to Cahill - a third minute shot which forced goalkeeper Noor Sabri into an excellent reflex save and an acrobatic 35th minute effort after Sabri collided with a defender while trying to deal with a cross.

"I really don't know what to say - it's amazing," Kennedy told Fox Sports after the match.

Coach Holger Osieck couldn't contain his joy.

"I can't rank it,'' he said when asked where he'd place it on the list of his accolades.

"Tonight it's the best.

"I think this one is very special for me for a number of reasons.

"First of all I like to work for Australian football and I like to work with these boys.

"Over the years we have really established a very good relationship.

"Hopefully after today's victory I get at least another year."

Captain Lucas Neill admitted the performance wasn't great, but it was a case of mission accomplished.

"I'm proud of everybody. It's been a really tough campaign. We've stuck at it, showed mental strength," Neill said.

"Sorry, it wasn't pretty. But we've beaten what was in front of us and pushed ourselves on to a very exciting tournament."

[View the story "Socceroos v Iraq, ANZ Stadium, Sydney" on Storify]

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Brumbies gallop over sleeping Lions

History ... Tevita Kuridrani scored a crucial first half try against the Lions. Source: Lukas Coch / AAP

The Brumbies have clung on for a dramatic 14-12 victory over a fast finishing British and Irish Lions outfit to become the first provincial team to beat the touring side in 16 years.

1 Tries 0
Tevita Kuridrani 5'
3 Penalties 4
Jesse Mogg 40'	Stuart Hogg 40'
Jesse Mogg 46'	Stuart Hogg 57'
Jesse Mogg 54'	Owen Farrell 64'
	Owen Farrell 72'

The win in front of a crowd of 21,655 makes the Brumbies the first provincial side to beat the Lions since South Africa's Northern Transvaal in 1997, now known as the Bulls.

The win delivers a massive mental blow to the visitors, who are just four days out from the first Test against the Wallabies.

Brumbies coach Jake White said the Wallabies would take confidence from the win.

"To get a win against the Lions - it doesn't happen. Even the Brumbies in their heyday couldn't do it,'' he said.

"I've been lucky enough to win a junior and senior World Cup. But to beat the Lions. It's as high as it gets.''

The Lions played right into the strengths of White's Brumbies, the home side winning the kicking dual on the back of the boots of flyhalf Matt Toomua and fullback Jesse Mogg in soggy weather conditions.

The Brumbies also applied enormous pressure on the Lions' lineout, forcing hooker Rory Best to have a wayward night he'd rather forget.

Brumbies captain Peter Kimlin, who was a standout in the upset, said he could take knowledge of the win back into Wallabies camp.

"We went in there with a pretty clear mindset. We just wanted to keep it simple, hard workrate and big defence,'' he said.

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Miss something? Re-live the action with Match Centre, featuring video highlights!

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The Brumbies withstood an early Lions attack, winger Shane Williams coming within a metre of scoring in his return Lions match before being bundled into touch.

The home side then worked their way out of danger, Mogg spreading a kick return wide to Andrew Smith, who drew two defenders before putting centres partner Tevita Kuridrani into the clear.

The Fijian-born flyer then made a mockery of the final two defenders, using young English winger Christian Wade as an impromptu shield against fullback Rob Kearney to open the scoring in the fifth minute.

The Brumbies missed three opportunities to extend their lead with one missed conversion and two missed penalties, before Mogg kicked a penalty from 45 metres out to extend their lead to 8-0 in the 39th minute.

Both sides then traded two penalty shots each, before the Lions made four changes in the 57th minute, the substitution of Englishman Owen Farrell for Hogg having significant impact.

Farrell steadied the directionless Lions and the results were immediate, the replacement No.10 knocking over two penalty goals to reduce the deficit to 14-12 in the 72nd minute.

But it wasn't enough, the Brumbies holding out to become the first side Australian provincial outfit to beat the Lions since 1971.

Lions coach Warren Gatland said he felt his side didn't have the intensity required in the first half.

"Not the easiest conditions tonight, the Brumbies were really effective with what they did,'' he said.

"They didn't play any rugby, they just kicked a lot of the ball and competed really hard at the breakdown and tried to frustrate us and were successful.''

Gatland added the win may be the wake-up call the Lions needed before the Test opener against the Wallabies in Brisbane on June 22.

Lions captain Rory Best said his side was smashed at the breakdown.

"They put pressure on us and our confidence started to go,'' he said. ``We lacked that little bit of composure.''

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Tomic breaks win drought

Victory ... Bernard Tomic breaks his win drought at Eastborne. Source: Michel Euler / AP

Bernard Tomic won his first match in almost two months as he beat British wild card James Ward in straight sets in the opening round of the grass-court event at Eastbourne.

With his father and coach John court-side for the second straight event, Tomic gave his Wimbledon preparation a badly-needed boost with a professional 6-3 6-4 win on Tuesday.

Despite pulling out of the doubles at Queen's Club last week, Tomic showed no signs of the hamstring injury suffered during a first-round French Open loss last month.

He'll face either South African fifth seed Kevin Anderson or Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the next round.

It was Tomic's first win since his father was charged with allegedly assaulting Bernard's former training partner, Frenchman Thomas Drouet, during the Madrid Masters in May.

Tomic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2011, said he was relieved to have secured a win.

"I played very well,'' Tomic said. "I practised ok the last three or four days and my leg's probably not 100 per cent but I'm feeling OK out there, which is a good thing.

"... This was a very important match for me. A lot has happened the last month or two but I'm happy with the injury, I'm not feeling it.

"Every match here I play is going to be more confidence for me and every match here I'm going to have to use for Wimbledon, so hopefully my leg holds up every match.

"It's good to win here and now I've got a chance of doing well here again I've got to play well tomorrow.''

Tomic said the issues surrounding his father and coach were not playing on his mind.

"I'm not thinking about that. That happened that week when it happened and now the last four or five weeks, it's fine,'' he said. "It's not a big issue for me.''

John Tomic was present for his son's first-round singles loss at Queen's Club last week, despite his ATP coaching credentials remaining suspended, and he was again on site to see his son play in the seaside town on England's south coast.

His ATP ban does not prevent him from attending tournaments as a paying spectator, and officials at Queen's and Eastbourne have opted not to prevent him from doing so.

He was barred from attending the French Open last month and will also be refused entry at Wimbledon next week.

John Tomic sat with Bernard's agent Fraser Wright among spectators and didn't show too much emotion, though he clapped as his son fought back from 15-40 down to serve out the first set in 28 minutes.

Tomic continued to serve well in the second set and broke his 216th-ranked to go ahead 5-4 and served out the match with minimal fuss.

World No.64 Tomic had not won a match since a first-round win on clay in Barcelona in late April, losing his past four matches.

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As it happened: 'Roos Brazil-bound

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Brazil-bound ... the Socceroos celebrate Josh Kennedy's 83rd-minute goal. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Australia have qualified for their third consecutive World Cup after shrugging off a dogged Iraq 1-0 in Sydney.

An 83rd-minute winner to substitute Josh Kennedy got the job done after nerves wrangled for much of the ANZ Stadium clash.

Re-live all the drama, video highlights and social media reaction on another golden night for the World Cup-bound Socceroos below.

[View the story "Socceroos v Iraq, ANZ Stadium, Sydney" on Storify]

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Socceroos player ratings v Iraq

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Rating ... Archie Thompson and Tim Cahill continue to provide spark. Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

The Socceroos are headed for Brazil after beating a stubborn Iraq 1-0 in Sydney.

Who shone for the 'Roos and whose performance left a little to be desired?

Check out our Player Ratings and let us know if you agree by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page.

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MARK SCHWARZER: Wasn't the busiest man on the pitch. Teen striker Saif Salman forced a save from the veteran gloveman in each half. Apart from two other saves, was barely troubled. Rating 6

LUCAS NEILL: Solid in defence without being flashy. His leadership and vocal presence is always key. Rating 6.

TIM CAHILL: Put Iraq under pressure almost immediately forcing a great save with a powerful left-foot drive after just two minutes and was always dangerous. Was very tightly marked and fouled often. Had a few opportunities go begging but was always dangerous. Rating 7.

MARK MILLIGAN: Defensive work was outstanding, won the ball at key moments and had several strong tackles. Displayed a higher work rate than midfield partner Bresciano and got forward when needed. Rating 7.

SASA OGNENOVSKI: Solid in defence and had a rare shot on goal in the first half. Again partnered up well with Neill. Rating 6.

LUKE WILKSHIRE: Defensively strong. Made several runs forward and combined well with Kruse. Rating 7.

ROBBIE KRUSE: Supplied a constant flow of balls forward and had several dangerous runs. Sent the 80,000-crowd into raptures seemingly breaking the deadlock with a long-range screamer in the 65th minute only to have it disallowed. Rating 8.

TOMMY OAR: Had an outstanding game. Was a constant thorn in Iraq's side with superb attacking play down the left. Played a beautiful ball forward to Cahill to set him up perfectly for an early attempt at goal. Was a real work horse this game. Rating 8.

BRETT HOLMAN: Looked flat and sluggish and didn't give the side that crucial spark in the front third he usually does. Was set up by Kruse to break the deadlock in the second half but didn't do much with it. Rating 4.

MATT MCKAY: caught out of position a few times in the left-back spot, giving the Iraqis an area to exploit early on. Improved in the second stanza and showed some great build-up work. Rating 7.

MARK BRESCIANO: Was heavily marked and rarely found himself in space. Found a way to lose his markers twice in the second half and had a crack at goal both times. Provided a perfectly placed ball into the box resulting in Kennedy's ensuing goal. Rating 8.
Substitutes:

TOM ROGIC: Came on for a lacklustre Holman in the 61st minute. Looked dynamic from his first touch and had an instant impact providing a much-needed spark up front. Rating 7.

JOSH KENNEDY: Came on for Tim Cahill in the 78th minute. The move proved a master-stroke by Osier with the lanky striker climbing high to finally break the deadlock with a superb header in the 83rd minute to ensure the 1-0 win and send the Socceroos to Brazil. Rating 9.

ARCHIE THOMPSON: Came on for Kruse in the 79th minute. Added much-needed fire power up front. Rating 6.

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'No one does drama like Socceroos'

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What a moment ... Defenders Lucas Neill and Sasa Ognenovski celebrate. Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

It just had to be like this.

A glance around the stadium at 80 minutes made grim viewing. We were warned it wasn't going to be easy, and a gallant Iraq were out to re-ignite ghosts of past campaigns.

But no one knows drama like our Socceroos.

Tim Cahill looked infuriated when his number came up. Then Holger Osieck proceeded to take off his star from the Jordan game, Robbie Kruse.

The much-maligned German rolled the dice and came up trumps like never before.

Tom Rogic, on for Brett Holman, threatened every time he glided in his inimitable way during his 30-minute cameo.

Then came Kennedy. The giant striker who hasn't been seen in green and gold since late 2011 rose to meet the most inch-perfect chip from Mark Bresciano.

"Amazing couple of hours. As frustrating as it was to be on the bench, waiting to get on, it seemed like destiny - my time to shine," the jubilant striker told foxsports.com.au after the match.

Bresciano's worth – and the way the playmaker has re-ignited this campaign – has been much discussed. But there was no better example of his game breaking abilities than with our World Cup dreams on a precipice.

Kennedy – Jesus, fittingly, let the puns begins – might have nabbed the John Aloisi moment, but once again Bresciano was there for the vital contribution in big games, just like he was as a goal scorer way back in 2005.

Others often get the headlines but has anyone been involved in as many of Australia's game-changing moments over the last decade?

It was a strange night under the bucketing skies at ANZ Stadium. This was no Oman-esque performance; but the Socceroos could never quite click into full flight.

Iraq looked good on the ball; Australia were overrun in the middle at times; those pockets of space exploited against Jordan were not there against the gallant Lions of

Mesopotamia. And as the scoreline remained level, every phase without a goal clipped another finger nail in the stands.

Osieck insisted post-game he wasn't interested in analysis, and frankly, it is a time for celebration.

De-construction will take place in the light of day, and a look at the cold hard facts of the state of the squad will rumble on for the next 12 months.

Now? Relief. Jubilation. Euphoria. History.

For some, like Oar, Rogic and Kruse - three prodigious talents all thrown into the deep end at the vital moment in this campaign - it will be their first World Cups.

Rogic, who was thrown on as a game-breaker by Osiek, told foxsports.com.au after the match: "going to a World Cup? Would've never thought it was possible.

"I got a good half-hour on there. Obviously I was a bit nervous ... he gave me a few words before I went on, told me to just do my job and relax and have a bit of fun.

"It's a priceless moment. Unreal.

"I didn't know what to do (when we scored)."

What a cauldron for the players. It was nerve racking in the stands. How did they cope – not just with the pressure to score, but with the burden of knowing the prize on offer?

Oar told foxsports.com.au: "we didn't think we'd leave it as late as we did, but it's overwhelming joy now.

"The longer it went without scoring, I could sense the crowd getting more nervous. I think the boys stuck with it, we were persistent, and we got our reward in the end.

"I'm over the moon, exhausted, to be honest, but we're really looking forward to celebrating together."

For Kruse, his football life really can't get any better at the moment,

"I've had a great two years but this is the pinnacle," Kruse said.

"Nothing can top this feeling. When the ball hit the back of the net I was lost for words. It's the first time for a lot of us... We're just going to treasure the moment now.:

Whether all the veterans make it to Brazil will be a well worn debate by the time we reach the middle of 2014.

But for now, no one can doubt the influence Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Sasa Ognenovski and Mark Bresciano wielded on the side. They deserve their historic moment in the sun. 

"As a footballer, to play for your country at a World Cup is a dream come true," Bresciano said.

"Now I'm going to my third. You can imagine how special that is."

It was a bumpy ride, turbulent at times, but we got there.

"Tonight, it's the best," coach Holger Osieck, who was part of Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning effort, declared in the post-match press-conference.

Anyone who says that tonight was no Uruguay is missing the point.

The Socceroos tackled the pressure head on and prevailed.

Three consecutive World Cups, after an absence of 32 years – that's worth doing the samba to.

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T-Rex looms on NSW Origin radar

Canterbury Bulldogs ... backrower Tony Williams scores a try. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

If Laurie Daley wants size and power in his NSW lineup this year, he might be tempted to ignore Tony Williams' slow start to the season and stick with the 118kg second-row powerhouse.

Williams has come under the spotlight in the early rounds of 2013 for failing to set the competition alight following a big-money switch from NRL rivals Manly in the off-season.

But the powerful second-rower, who played two games for the Blues last series, has two attributes Daley treasures - size and strength.

Williams proudly holds his State of Origin appearances as arguably his finest achievements in rugby league, despite representing Australia and winning the 2011 premiership with the Sea Eagles.

And, fresh from his best performance of the season in the Bulldogs' 40-4 victory over Wests Tigers, Williams revealed he is desperate to earn another crack at the Queenslanders.

"It's massive. It's something special, something I've always dreamed off," Williams said on Tuesday.

"To actually represent the state, that's one of the big goals I've looked up to.

"It's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Hopefully I get back there."

It's no coincidence Williams, who scored his first try of the season against the Tigers, enjoyed his best showing of the season last weekend - the return of big boppers Sam Kasiano (shin splints) and James Graham (suspension) worked wonders for him.

With defenders drawn into the middle to look after the Bulldogs big men, Williams was able to find one-on-one situations out wide - like in the eighth minute when he opened the scoring.

"It's helped me out on the edges," he said of their return.

"It gets me involved for a bit of one-on-one (situations). It's a massive boost for us."

Williams said he had not been troubled by external criticism questioning his form or pay packet, but admitted he was still to hit top gear this season.

"(The criticism) didn't really faze me earlier in the year. The boys have faith in me and I know what I'm capable of," he said.

"A bit of confidence (is back). But there's still a lot of improvement (for myself and) as a team as well."

Bulldogs teammate, and fellow NSW hopeful, Aiden Tolman has no doubt Williams would make an impact against Queensland's imposing pack.

"I definitely think he can be damaging at that level that's for sure," Tolman said.

"He's a big human, he's got plenty of power and speed.

"If he was picked in that side I'm guessing he'd be outstanding.

"If his form warrants it, then why not? He's proven at that level before." 

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Bucks, Scott slam marking rule

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Contest ... Tom Hawkins grapples with Michael Jamison. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Geelong coach Chris Scott believes it's hurting the AFL's power forwards. Hawthorn defender Brian Lake says it's helping the small forwards and umpires boss Jeff Gieschen thinks it's all in their imagination.

Gieschen insists nothing has changed from previous seasons in the way umpires rule on marking contests.
But Scott, Lake and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley are among a chorus of players, coaches and fans who beg to differ.

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Where many perceive increasing inconsistency and heavy-handedness, Gieschen says for 10 years there has been a rule disallowing pushing, holding, bumping, blocking or interfering with the arms in marking contests.
He adds umpires aren't being instructed any differently now.

But Scott says if that rule was enforced to the letter, no contact would be legal.

He said interpretation had to be a factor and there had been an unwelcome change in that this year.

"My personal view is that if we've been saying you can't bump, block, push or hold in a marking contest then two of the greatest footballers of all time in Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall would have been ineffective,'' Scott told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's not a great development in our game.''

Scott said any marking contest involved two players pushing against each other and it was sometimes just the stronger one who was penalised.

"If one is stronger than the other, the push is going to become more obvious,'' he said.

Two incidents this season have fed views of a changing interpretation.

Collingwood's Ben Reid was denied a mark on Anzac Day, with a free kick instead paid to Essendon's Tom Bellchambers for what most observers felt was good body work by the Magpie.

While Gieschen deemed that decision correct, he admitted the wrong call was made on Saturday to penalise Adelaide's Scott Thompson for putting a hand on the shoulder of Hawthorn's David Hale before marking in a crucial last-quarter incident.

Scott felt for umpires, saying even the official explanations of such incidents were extremely confusing.

Buckley, who was clearly infuriated by the Reid decision, was also left none the wiser.

"It doesn't clear it up,'' Buckley said.

"Right now, half a push is okay, but a full push isn't acceptable. I don't know (about) an 80 per cent push, how that's going to be adjudicated.''

Lake, a two-time All Australian with the Western Bulldogs, said in the past he liked to outmark forwards but now looked to spoil more to avoid infringing.

"You've probably got to be a little bit safer on that side of it, which brings in the small forwards,'' Lake told SEN radio.

"As you can see this year the small forwards are kicking bags of goals.

"The ball's probably coming to ground a little bit more because defenders are a bit afraid to take those contested marks.''

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I need to step up, admits Benji

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Wests Tigers ... Benji Marshall admits he must step-up. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

A candid Benji Marshall admits his poor form is a major factor in the Wests Tigers' disappointing start to the season and is desperate to rediscover what made him one of the best players in the NRL.

The injury-ravaged Tigers sit at the foot of the NRL ladder having lost seven top-line players with coach Mick Potter forced to include a raft of inexperienced youngsters in his side over the last month.

But Marshall said he must shoulder a share of the blame for the side's five successive defeats - the latest being a 40-4 shellacking by Canterbury last Friday. 

The New Zealand superstar is still nursing a toe problem that recently ruled him out for two weeks and knows he needs to step up against Cronulla on Friday at Allianz Stadium.

"Even before I was injured I wasn't sure with where I was at with my form," Marshall said on Tuesday.

"My job is to provide attack and direction to the team and that hasn't really happened this year.

"I don't really know what to put it down to.''

A collection of Marshall's flick passes could fill a highlights reel of their own, but the 28-year-old said he needs to focus less on the spectacular and get back to basics.

"When you become a ball player you start to believe you are a ball player more than a runner," he said.

"I want to go back to being a runner first and a ball player second.

"Instead of worrying about putting other people over I need to start going for the line myself."

The Tigers have once again named a youthful side for the clash with the Sharks and Marshall has urged the likes of James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen to have the confidence to back themselves.

"I can't say too much to those boys when I am not stepping up," he said.

"But when I came in I was a bit shy, but guys like John Skandalis, Mark O'Neill and Benny Galea would sit me down and tell me that I needed to come out of my shell.

"They said 'we may be older than you, but we're your forwards and we need you to talk to us'.

"That made me feel really comfortable and I think we have the same sort of thing here.

"A lot of the guys are a little bit shy in expressing what they think.

"You can see they want to say something but they don't want to. And that is half the battle." 

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Gallen not named for Tigers clash

Cronulla Sharks ... skipper Paul Gallen has not been named for Friday's match. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Paul Gallen's renowned recuperative powers seem destined to fall short of getting him on the field for Friday's clash with Wests Tigers.

The NSW and Cronulla captain, who suffered a medial ligament strain on Sunday, was not named in Tuesday's team list after failing to convince coach Shane Flanagan he would be ready in time.

The inspirational lock forward is working around the clock to be fit and will be given until game day to be a late call-up, but Flanagan believes the short turnaround will prove too big a hurdle to overcome.

"It's a bit early (to completely rule him out) yet, but I don't like his chances," Flanagan said on Tuesday evening.

"It's a Friday night game, maybe if it was Sunday we might be ok. I don't think he's any chance."

In Gallen's place, off-season recruit Chris Heighington will start in jersey No.13 against his former club while fellow ex-Tigers Beau Ryan and Andrew Fifita have also been given starting roles.

Meanwhile, Manly and St George Illawarra delivered more good news to NSW fans, naming both Brett Stewart and Brett Morris despite injury concerns.

The pair, understood to be pencilled into Laurie Daley's starting lineup for the State of Origin opener, both failed to finish Monday night's tense Sea Eagles victory.

Both clubs are confident Stewart (back) and Morris (knee) will be able to take the field this weekend.

Dragons coach Steve Price said he was hopeful Morris and veteran centre Matt Cooper, who missed Monday's match with a toe injury, would face the Gold Coast on Sunday.

"Both players will be monitored by our medical staff throughout the week in the build-up to the game and given every opportunity to prove their match fitness," he said.

The Gold Coast welcome back star wingers Kevin Gordon and David Mead from injury, bolstering their backline for the Dragons match-up, while Brisbane centre Justin Hodges (hamstring) also returns.

Newcastle will be without key five-eighth Jarrod Mullen (knee), forcing skipper Kurt Gidley into the halves alongside youngster Tyrone Roberts.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary will experiment with his fourth halves combination of the year, naming rookie Isaac John to play five-eighth alongside Luke Walsh, with Tom Humble the man to miss out.

John faces a baptism of fire against defending premiers Melbourne, who named an unchanged lineup despite having their 15-game winning streak stopped by Canberra last round.

Youngster Glen Fisiiahi gets a crack at the Warriors fullback role with Kevin Locke sidelined for one to two weeks with a back injury, while powerful centre Konrad Hurrell also returns at the expense of the injured Jerome Ropati (hamstring).

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