Aussies on red alert: Roberts earns kudos

WORLD CUP DIARY:WALLABIES STAR Adam Ashley-Cooper has billed Wales centre Jamie Roberts as player of the World Cup.

Roberts will be part of a Wales team aiming to win the bronze medal match at Australia’s expense on Friday.

And Ashley-Cooper, who took over at fullback for an injured Kurtley Beale during the Wallabies’ semi-final defeat against New Zealand two days ago, believes he deserves huge acclaim.

“Personally, I think Jamie Roberts has been player of the tournament,” Ashley-Cooper said.

“He has had a fantastic campaign. He’s a great player, and it is going to take a lot of us to stop him.”

WALES CENTREGavin Henson looks set to be unveiled as a Cardiff Blues player tomorrow.

Henson, 29, has been without a club since being released by Toulon at the end of last season, and saw his dreams of appearing at the World Cup dashed when he suffered a wrist injury playing for Wales against England in August.

But his agents, Arruga Sports, tweeted yesterday: “Congratulations to Gavin Henson for signing with Cardiff Blues . . . Great news!”

A separate tweet also stated that Henson will be officially presented as a Blues player today. The tweets were later removed. While Henson has produced his best rugby at inside centre, he has said outhalf is his favoured position.

Henson, who has 33 caps to his name and was a Lions tourist in 2005, had also reportedly held talks over a return to the Ospreys, although the Liberty Stadium side maintained that any talks would only be held as a “courtesy” to the player.

Henson left the Ospreys in October 2010, negotiating a release from his contract after going on an extended period of unpaid leave.

HARD-MAN IMAGE

NEW ZEALAND star Andy Ellis is convinced his "toughness rating" has received a massive boost since staggering off the Eden Park pitch with his face smeared in blood during Sunday's semi-final win over Australia.

Not that Ellis would consider squeezing every last drop of gory glory from his facial injury, of course.

Then again, the scrumhalf did confess to accentuating his abrasion to boost his bravery standing with the fans.

"I'd like to think so. I think the fact that when it was bleeding I actually wiped it over my face to really give that impact. I started limping, as well, just to give that real hard-man edge, so I think my rating has gone up," said Ellis yesterday.

AVIVA HISTORY

HISTORY WAS made last Friday as Lansdowne and Old Belvedere became the first club teams to play in the Aviva Stadium. The match was also the first to be streamed live on Irish Rugby TV. Now they feature on the union's newly-launched Irish Rugby YouTube platform. The new Irish Rugby YouTube channel will feature exclusive content from the Ireland team but will also serve as a platform to promote club rugby.

Coverage kicks off with highlights from the Lansdowne-Old Belvedere game with commentary from Adrian O'Farrell and Gordon Black, to mark the historic event.

Crazy prices: 900 final tickets still available

YOU CAN still get a ticket for Sunday's final but you will have to pay a steep price for the privilege.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011) announced that a limited number of tickets will be released today for the Final between New Zealand and France.

There are approximately 900 tickets available in categories A, B and C.

This release follows the finalisation of ticket requirements for the two competing teams and their unions.

Tickets can be purchased at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets or at selected Ticketek outlets and venues.

And those prices . . .

WORLD CUP FINAL TICKETS:

Category A: $1,278 (€740)

Category B: $1,124 (€650)

Category C: $767 (€443)