Kiwis and Kangaroos in form for Four Nations
Roar Guru By Alan Nicolea, 9 Oct 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Four Nations championship, fui fui moi moi, Kangaroos, Kiwis rugby league, NRL, Rugby League
Australia's Greg Inglis races away for a try during the New Zealand Kiwis v Australian Kangaroos Centenary test at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday Oct. 14 2007. Australia won the game 58-0. AAP Image/Hagen Hopkins/PHOTOSPORT
As expected, both the Kangaroos and the Kiwis have selected strong squads to take part in the inaugural Four Nations championships, which should showcase some free flowing rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere.
The tournament will kick off on the 24th of October where Australia will play New Zealand in an opening match that promises to be a terrific encounter for numerous reasons.
Unlike their below par performances which regularly occur in the annual ANZAC Test match against the Kangaroos, the Kiwis actually present themselves as formidable opponents if their past results in big tournaments is anything to go by.
New Zealand have won two of the past three major finals against Australia, including the 2005 Tri-nations title and last year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Although the Kangaroos will be favourites to land their maiden Four Nations crown, rest assured that a final against the Kiwis will not be a walk in the park.
But if either team are to start thinking of a place in the final, the result of the first game between the Tran-Tasman rivals will be critical to New Zealand’s and Australia’s chances of progressing deep into the tournament.
The main reason being is that England will also present themselves as more than worthy opponents against both the Kangaroos and the Kiwis cause for international silverware.
And let’s not forget new inductees France, who literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this championship, which will make them potentially tricky opponents against the remainining three nations who are all expected to do well.
Whilst the Four Nations promises to be a fairly open and even affair between the likes of England, Australia and New Zealand, the present form that is evident in the Kangaroo and Kiwis squads should see both Southern Hemisphere giants contest the final.
Tim Sheen’s Australia line-up is once again filled with superstar players who are all in tremendous touch.
NRL premiers, the Melbourne Storm, have six players in the 24 man squad, including world class backline stars Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.
Dally M player of the year Jarryd Hayne will also line up for the Kangaroos, while the 2009 NRL leading try scorer, Brett Morris, will also make his debut for Australia, replacing the injured Israel Folau.
Upfront, forwards such as Ryan Hoffman, Brett White, Nathan Hindmarsh, David Shillington, Ben Hannant and Anthony Watmough all had stellar season’s this year for their respective clubs, and will be difficult to contain for the Kiwis.
That said, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney will also mastermind a side that actually looks more potent than last year’s World Cup winning unit.
Although the absence of destructive wingers such as Manu Vatuvei and Taniela Tuiaki to injury is a huge blow for the Kiwis, backline stars such as Krisnan Inu, Sam Perrett and Bryson Goodwin have the present form on the board to keep Australia’s superstar backline under straps.
In Benji Marshall, New Zealand also possess arguably the most gifted ball playing half in the NRL at the moment such was his late season form during the latter half of 2009 for the Wests Tigers.
Whilst the New Zealand backline is solid, the form of their pack of forwards at the moment probably overshadows that of the Kangaroos.
Storm duo Jeff Lima and Adam Blair were simply outstanding during the course of Melbourne’s finals run, with Blair in particular falling just short of winning the Clive Churchill medal in the Grand Final against the Parramatta Eels.
Throw in arguably the leading prop in Rugby League at the moment, Fui Fui Moi Moi, and the NRL’s leading offloading machine Bronson Harrison, and it is easy to understand why New Zealand have the necessary weaponry to once again stand on top of the Rugby League world for the second year running.
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October 9th 2009 @ 4:49pm
Dan said | October 9th 2009 @ 4:49pm | Report comment
While I agree it’s been a lot closer in recent years, one does get the distinct impression with the Kangaroos that they need to be off their game for the opposition to have a chance… the quality of NZ and GB has been gettting better, which is making the margin of their “off days” lower, but it still always seems to me that if the side clicks, then they’re going to destroy whoever they play.
October 9th 2009 @ 4:53pm
oikee said | October 9th 2009 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
The kiwis forwards are all in great form, which should lay the foundations for their backs. Having seen this, the poms will come out all fired up and do a number on us, hopefully we dont get blown away in front of a blood-thirsty crowd,
Anyone who thinks you just rock up and take the prise is out of their mind. I have watched the Kangaroos since the 70′s, beleive me, they deserved every last victory. Long live the Kangaroos. Well its all we have got left for a victory this year.
cheers.
October 9th 2009 @ 5:08pm
Mick from Giralang said | October 9th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Have the Poms announced their squad yet?
October 9th 2009 @ 5:15pm
oikee said | October 9th 2009 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
No, they have their grand final this week-end, they have annouced a team with the likes of Peacock, (very angry man) , Ellis who we all know can play from the tigers, Burgess, who is moving to souths next year, along with other hard heads, wont be easy. And they have a few good talented backs this year, Eastman seems like a beauty, and another younster called tomkins., slippery as a eel.
No we dont take them lightly. They will be hard to beat, coached by Tony Smith who knows us, because he was a aussie,. but now a pom. Dont give them a inch.
October 9th 2009 @ 7:54pm
Knives Out said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:54pm | Report comment
Eastmond has a lot of potential, oikee, as does Tomkins. They’re both unpredictable which can either be a good thing, or a very bad thing. The question remains how they would cope at this level with experienced players like Keith Senior and Martin Gleeson absent (although Senior has noted that he couldn’t ignore a recall). I will be interested to see where Eastmond plays. He has a real teak toughness and an ability to break the line. I wait with baited breath to see the final squad.
October 9th 2009 @ 7:59pm
Knives Out said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:59pm | Report comment
Stefan Ratchford is quite a clever player too, oikee, as is his Salford buddy Richie Myler.
October 9th 2009 @ 7:03pm
Alan Nicolea said | October 9th 2009 @ 7:03pm | Report comment
Oikee
Have you ever thought about coaching the Kangaroos, or the Wallabies for that matter? Your no mercy attitude would be a great selling point for a head coaching position, in particular your no mercy approach against the old enemy. This Four Nations tournament is really something to look forward to.
October 10th 2009 @ 8:04am
oikee said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Alan, i think if you look back throughout the Kangaroos history, they all had the same approach. Even the players were well aware of how good Brittian really are, why anyone would think otherwise is plain daft. I have already made my prediction, i think the kiwis will be to strong, they have a great team.
No worries knives out, i will keep a eye out for them. The final will be a cracker if going by what the semi;s produced. I think the Saints will be to good this time, Cheers.
October 10th 2009 @ 10:09am
Mick from Giralang said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Oikee = Tommy Raudonikis. Boy, couldn’t the Wallabies use some of that mongrel at the moment.
October 10th 2009 @ 12:38pm
oikee said | October 10th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Mate, they would be to scared to lose, or even if they had big Mal staring them down. Look at what Kearney and Bennet did for the kiwis. Get onto Wigan next year, the storm assistant coach is in charge of them now.
October 10th 2009 @ 10:18pm
Knives Out said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:18pm | Report comment
Don’t get me wrong, oikee. I’m not predicting anything great (especially after I got caught up in that world cup ‘best prepared England team ever’ hype) but it’s nice as an English league fan to see some new faces and perhaps a team that is more balanced than previous outfits.
The final should be good today. I’m sitting on the fence for this one. St Helens haven’t been themselves this year and Leeds have looked maybe a little one dimensional without Buderus. Maybe this being Sean Long’s last game will swing it for St Helens?!
October 10th 2009 @ 10:38pm
Mr cheese said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:38pm | Report comment
KO,
you seem to change every now and again, between someone who likes RL and someone who calls it one-dimensional.
To be fair, that is pretty much my position too. I want to like it more than I do, but I do enjoy the odd match.
My prediction is that Leeds will win a tight final after a dart from the miniature genius Rob Burrow.
As for 4 nations, does this stuff get any coverage in NZ ? I always find that confusing: a country in which RU is an obsession. Do any of them actually like RL, or is it like England where many people ( sadly ) look upon RL as a bit of an unwanted embarrassment.
October 11th 2009 @ 2:22am
Knives Out said | October 11th 2009 @ 2:22am | Report comment
I said that league could be perceived as one-dimensional having noted my position as a fan, Mr cheese. I do enjoy league, but not as much as union. Perhaps I want to like it more than I do – like you. I would get up at 07.00 on a Saturday to watch union but I’m not sure I’d do the same for league. Perhaps I reflect the slightly developing UK warmth toward the sport – slowly.. slowly?
I won’t be making any bets on the final, that’s for sure. As boring as it sounds it really could go either way.
I really don’t know how popular RL is in NZ. I’d like to know the answer, however.
October 11th 2009 @ 10:02am
Mick from Giralang said | October 11th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Mr Cheese: For someone who claims to be ambivalent about our game you seem to spend a lot of time on a league forums offering comment.
October 10th 2009 @ 8:49am
Alan Nicolea said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Oikkee
I too think the Kiwis have a great team that has most of its players in form. Geez i would have really fancied them to take the four nations if both Vatuvei and Tuiaki were fit for New Zealand. Still, to call a player like Bryson Goodwin into the squad shows the improved depth in New Zealand’s squad.
October 10th 2009 @ 12:33pm
oikee said | October 10th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Yes, i was looking through the Kiwi sqaud, and to have a replacement like goodwin and nightingale is how much depth they do have. Hey mick, i dont think its the wallabies, i just think the other nations are stronger at the moment. They brag about how many nations play the game, well they have to expect to lose more games now. Their is not much between the best and the worst in union. Their all about the same.
Anyhow, back to league, i think we might be a little bit underdone in our forwards, hope i am wrong, but i wont be disappointed if we lose. I know the guys will put in 110% effort. You can always count on that.
I can tell you this, we will beat france.
October 10th 2009 @ 8:47pm
lauboy said | October 10th 2009 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
Doubt it, Alan
Kangaroos to win the tournament convincingly.
Although can someone explain how Hayne and Jennings can be picked in the Kangaroos when they played for other countries last year?
Under the rules, isn’t there a 2-year standown period for players wanting to switch countries?
October 10th 2009 @ 9:54pm
Tom Alexander. said | October 10th 2009 @ 9:54pm | Report comment
Looking at that English forward pack (Morley, Ellis, Carvell, Westwood, Burgess and Scarsbrook etc ) looks a pretty formidable line-up. They certainly have more experience than the the kiwis who are minus Asotasi, Cayless, Smith plus Vatuvai and Tuiaki on the wings are big gaps to fill. The one thing the Kiwis do have in their favour though is familiarity with the Aussie players and they look a bit more mobile around the back-row with Blair, Lima, Pritchard, Eastwood and Moi Moi. Be interesting to see if the French on home soil in front of their home crowds will finally play to their potential. Being mostly Catalans Dragons players combinations shouldn’t be an issue. Could be more competative than we think. Hope so.
October 10th 2009 @ 10:33pm
Tom Alexander. said | October 10th 2009 @ 10:33pm | Report comment
Unfortunately it seems to be a case of “make it up as you go along”. It also consists of pulling the rug out from under any other fledgling country that shows any interest in selecting and developing players whom the ARL deem their exclusive property. The rules will always be a dogs breakfast so long as the IRLF not to forget the ARL and the NSWRL have the likes of Colin Love and Co running the game at so many levels. Don’t get me wrong they may have been good administrators back in the days when chook raffles were the norm and there wasn’t much at stake outside of the local clubs and districts. But not in this day and age where transparency and accountability are a must. Wonder if they are the last of the Dinosaurs referenced to by Phil Rothfield?