By Steve Kaless
October 26th 2009 @ 5:44am
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Four Nations review: Kiwis look the goods
New Zealand's Nathan Fien, right, tackles Australia's Johnathan Thurston, left, during their Four Nations rugby league match at the Stoop Stadium, London, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
It was a good weekend for the underdogs in the Four Nations, and it’s almost beyond comprehension that England finished top of the table after their first forty minutes against France.
Without question the side that most impressed over the weekend was New Zealand.
Hit hard by injuries, the Kiwis showed their World Cup victory was no fluke as they went to within two minutes of recording another victory against the Aussies.
It would have been a deserved win as well on the back of a five star defensive effort.
Stephen Kearney added further to his growing reputation with his effort, the Melbourne Storm assistant must surely be the best coach not to have a head coaching job.
The Kiwis forwards certainly matched their Australian counterparts and their backs stood up to the superstars in green and gold.
Junior Sa’u backed his choice in the centres with a physical showing, but if any player symbolises the mystical powers of a New Zealand jumper then surely it is Lance Hohaia.
Another outstanding performance from a player who rarely grabs the headlines at club level but seems to grow in stature when he puts on the New Zealand jumper, and looks be forming a habit of scoring great individual tries against the Aussies.
Frank Pritchard’s effort also rates a mention (clearly his confidence was up after being named in the Roar team of 2009!), he was a real handful lurking on the fringes of the ruck.
While Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ all action performance by the Sydney Roosters bound youngster was probably the first piece of good news to reach Bondi Junction in a fair while.
For all of their possession, the Australians struggled to give the famed backline any real quality ball. Jarryd Hayne was largely anonymous and Brett Morris had a debut to forget, except for his try.
On Friday night, the French looked set to cause the mother of all upsets as they took a 12-4 lead at halftime, only to be overwhelmed in the second half by a resurgent England side.
Anyone still holding the stereotype of a French male as an effeminate figure riding a bicycle while smoking a long cigarette needs to have a look at the French forward pack; size is certainly not a shortcoming.
Discipline is tough. Needless penalties cost them dearly and trips to the judiciary for David Ferriol and Jean Phillipe Baille could land a hammer blow on their chances against the Kiwis in Toulouse.
England breathed a sigh of relief with their victory and will be looking to build on their second half performance; they must also take heart from the Kangaroos’ far from invincible form on Saturday.
But, much to chagrin of England fans, while the New Zealand jersey seem to improve their players’ ability, the English jersey seem to drain them of any previous form.
Tony Smith will be searching far and wide for the answer as they face the old enemy in Wigan on Saturday.
The pies will be hot, let’s hope the action will be as well.
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Mr cheese said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:48am | Report comment
There is only one l in the surname of Baile, methinks.
It will be interesting to see how many tickets they can see for the RL international in Toulouse. Their team’s average in the National League One is around 2,000. The aristocrats of Stade Toulouse rugby union club cast a long shadow, me semble-t-il.
By the way, Steve, do Australian people really see the average Frenchman as an “effeminate figure riding a bicycle while smoking a long cigarette” ???? That’s a bit like people over here saying that Aussie has no culture. Apart from anything else, the government brought in an anti-smoking ban a couple of years ago ( in public places, at least ).
As for the bicycles, they’re no good at these days. The Grande Boucle is more likely to be won by an Aussie ( Cadel Evans ) than by a Frenchman. 24 years and counting…..
Best wishes,
The Link said | October 26th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
A strong Kiwis is essential to the future of international RL and for the game in NZ to pull itself off the canvas post SPARC review. The starch and enthusiasm in defence was a sign of a real cohesive unit. The key for them now is consistency. Could this be the next big rivalry after State of Origin in RL?
Key question to decide the 4 nations is do the Kiwis have another gear on top of this performance? Rest assured the Aussies were stuck in 2nd for most of the game. A re-match in 3 weeks looks assured.
M1tch said | October 26th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Id expect the Toulose game to get something like 8000
One of their last tests against England got 12 000
Alan Nicolea said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Steve
Indeed NZ’s performance was the best thing that happened to the Roosters in 2009. Hargreaves is a star in the making while Frank Paul Nuuasala ran the ball with verve that i have not seen in Roosters colours yet. They will all be better players for this experience and i am now looking forward to 2010 with a little more optimism!!!!!!
The Link said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Waerea-Hargreaves is an interesting example of player development. If he had stayed in Rugby, its highly likely he’d have been playing Super 14 2 years ago, but would’ve this been the best thing for his development? Contrast this to Manly’s approach, Des Halser brought him slowly through the ranks via the Toyota Cup side. He played a handful of first grade games at Manly but he has had the chance to build his physique and understanding of top level football without being under the microscope of first grade all this time. This is similar to how Steve Folks treated SBW at the Dogs.
oikee said | October 26th 2009 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Yes, WHG is (hard-graves) is something else, he and Adam Blair seem to do it with ease. Not to mention the other big boppers who all seem to have legs like 40 pound sledgehammers.
Hoy said | October 26th 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
WHG looks a fair bit bigger than when he was playing ARC. He looks like he spent the two years in lower grades pushing tin in the gym.
I said elsewhere that I was sad not to see him playing for the last two years since the ARC. All the talk when he signed for League was that he was of the ilk of SBW, however I think he is probably not as mobile now, due to massive bulk being put on. At the time it might have been right, as he was a pretty mobile flanker, but I doubt he has the ball skills of SBW.
Also, Link, it is a bit different that he has grown up playing Ruggers, and so he might have been right playing super 14 two years ago. He certainly would have been under the pump playing league straight away, and probably wouldn’t have made it then. What I am trying to say is I find it infinitely more interesting the way League differs from Union in the way they bring players through Grade, teaching them the game, rather than what Rugby does in this country, and announce the League convert signing and then give them a jersey straight away, before even knowing if they have any rugby nouse what-so-ever.
League way makes much more sense, but then when money is involved, sense often isn’t hey?
The Link said | October 26th 2009 @ 4:30pm | Report comment
Hoy – wasn’t he a golfer or something and took up RU pretty late in the piece?
Hoy said | October 26th 2009 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
Whoa, you might be right. Bit different, but then not as different as Chess with Joe Roff.
OldManEmu said | October 26th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Steve – LOL regarding Pritchard doing it for The Roar…and yes he was very good.
The Kiwis looked very organised in attack, Melbourne Stormesque the way they played both sides of the ruck.
Blair was awesome and Fui Fui gave the Australian defenders something to think about.
It was a great game.
True Tah said | October 26th 2009 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Good to see Pritchard actually do something for once.
Steve Kaless said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:10am | Report comment
OME,
I must admit I only felt slightly vindicated after Cranky Frank’s game. But Steve Kearney deserves the most respect admit pulling the right reign and selecting Junior Sa’u over Krisnan Inu. Those asking “what is he thinking” before the game where pretty quiet afterwards.
Republican said | October 26th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
So, here we have a country of 4 – 5 mill competing against the worlds best (Kangaroos) from a country that has a pop of 20mill yet the Kiwis constantly threaten to dethrone the Aust League super power. Why and how?
NZ have derived a great deal from being able to access the Australian elite league comp for some years now however the question must be asked has Aust simply been a bifg fish in a little pond all this time, since there are only two serious competitors internationally in the sport that is really just a two horse race with one a Goliath, having NO fire in the belly while the oteher is a mere David with heaps of pride and passion, especially when pitted against Australia.
I also believe Sheens is a less than ordinary motivator to be coaching a team of this stature. The Kwis will have another crack at us in the final, running rings around a burnt out Australian line up me thinks. Now they dominate both rugby codes it would seem.
Pippinu said | October 26th 2009 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Dominate – a bit premature.
But the same psychology is at work here as exists (or has existed) when Qld plays NSW in SOO or when SA used to play Victoria in the AFL version.
You don’t need to employ team psychologists under those sorts of circumstances!!
Hoy said | October 26th 2009 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
I agree Pip, a little early to say the Kiwis dominate.
Everyone says they play better in tournys than they do in the one off, however when they consistently beat us, rather than make a game of it every now and then, I will be worried. Not to say I am not worried now…
I think Sheens is not a good national coach, I think there have been some bad selections in the Kanga forward pack and the Kiwis have got a good up and coming coach, and some passion to play footy rather than bash people for 30 minutes and then fall away like they used too. Although they do a good job of bashing people too…
I think with the right people in the right places, Australia would always be unbeatable, however in looking at the squad that went over, it was completely wrong. I don’t know who picked it or why, but I wouldn’t mind knowing why they picked the back row they did, why they picked Gallen, Gidley etc. Some bad selections there that don’t warrant their pick.
katzilla said | October 26th 2009 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
The Warriors were silly to let Fien go. Unlike most Kiwis he has a great kicking game.
The Kiwis forward pack is so physical and for longer periods then usual. And having a prop (now playing lock wtf) that can play the ball at the line? Adam Blair is building himself up to be the next Ruben Wiki, seeing him run in from 20 odd metres away to get into Gallen was great too. The Kiwi forwards need an inspirational senior forward to show them the way, especially with quite a few young guys coming through.
Now if only we could get Tuiaki and the beast back on the wings.
Republican said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:26pm | Report comment
The clear difference Pippinu is that both Qld and NSW are League demos as are SA and Vic Aust Footy ones. League has not reached that status In NZ and has a small profile compared to Union in that country, however, as they do in all manner of sports, NZ rise to the occasion when playing against Oz which I believe this has more to do with Oz’s arrogance and dismissive mindset, of NZ’s fervour whenever they meet, rather than being about talent. The Aust League team should seriously wipe the carpet with the Kiwis. If they could take the passion they inspire when playing the state of origin to these mickey mouse events then this would be the case.
It is a blessed relief the that the Kiwis don’t’ play much real footy because that would be the ultimate indignation to our national libido having them humiliate us at our own game – and they probably would believe me.
Hermin said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:34pm | Report comment
The national provincial comp is building steam every year. It has gone from never been talked about to FTA on Maori TV which is a huge boost as League is predominantly played by Maori and Pacific Islanders in New Zealand. While union is still huge, In Auckland league has a very big following especially in South Auckland and it would be close to rivaling union.
I’m a fan of both codes however union is tops for me. In saying that I find myself switching to league more and more frequently I’d say this year more so as the quality of the Super 14 was so poor and the NRL so exciting.
True Tah said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
Hermin have you been watching much of the Air NZ Cup?
Hermin said | October 26th 2009 @ 7:10pm | Report comment
Yes the ANZC has been great this year, Underdogs winning games they really should never have won on paper. Crowds have been great atmosphere around the country has been up, something we haven’t seen for many years.
The finals this year are a mirror image of last season, the ranfurly shield has gone South for the first time in 50 years which has to be a good thing. I think everyone outside of the Canterbury plains was / is very pleased with the Ranfurly Shield result. All the games this weekend especially were intense even though many had nothing riding on them. North Harbour will be hugely ashamed after the mauling they took from lowly Manawatu. Counties were very unlucky to get pipped at the post by Otago. The game of the round aside from the Shield match would have to have been the middle of the table match between BOP and the Naki. It was a try fest of two halves and the Naki while deserved winners will be rueing a season of missed oppurtunities.
Ian Noble said | October 27th 2009 @ 1:38am | Report comment
Stece
I was there and I wasn’t too impressed by the Kangaroos. The Kiwis were the better side and as I see on another thread there are concerns about Ganson is not really the answer. The Kangaroos seemed to be deviod of ideas and direction and were lucky to draw and if the Kiwi kicker had been on song they would have lost.
I suspect the Kangaroos will be better for the run out and should thrash England who were pretty poor in their first game.
Knives Out said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:12am | Report comment
Ian, what is the capacity at the Stoop?
Steve Kaless said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:13am | Report comment
I agree Ian,about the Aussies looking short of a gallop. However if they should be better for their hit out then surely so will England be.
I think England will have grown in confidence watching that game and believe if their forwards can contain things (which shouldn’t be out of the question) they may just be able to cause a boil over.
Time will tell.
Ian Noble said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:17am | Report comment
KO
The new South Stand was opened for the Bath game at the beginning of October increasing the capacity to circa 14500. Sorry about the approx figure as at all grounds the true figure is never given as I believe they have to keep a number of seats free for safety reasons.
sledgeross said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
The Roos need to drop Lockyer.
The Aussies played their best footy in the green and gold when Greg Bird was 5/8. merci’
Tom Alexander. said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
I think kearney is the first coach who is a former NRL Premiership Winner who is also currently coaching (as an assistant) in the NRL. there must be a few firsts in there somewhere. Come to think of it, he would have to be a 2 time premiership winning assistant coach as well. learning his trade from both Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett is probably going to make a huge difference to the Kiwis over the coming years (tactics and preparation wise etc) . He would probably know the Australian game pretty much inside out and back to front learning off those 2.