Four Nations tournament firing on all corners
Roar Guru
By Alan Nicolea, 26 Oct 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Four Nations, Kangaroos, Rugby League
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The twenty all draw between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis in the second game of the Four Nations tournament has capped off what has been a very intense and fascinating start to a competition that once again had to prove its worth to those doubting its place on the Rugby League calendar.
Like last year’s Rugby League World Cup, there are many people deriding the Four Nations because of Australia’s so called international dominance, even though the side is yet to win a big tournament since the 2006 Tri-Nations.
Indeed many people still think that the Kiwis remarkable victory against the Kangaroos in the World Cup final was a fluke, brought about by the silly error from fullback Billy Slater during the second half of last season’s decider.
Any doubts surrounding the credibility of New Zealand’s victory against Australia twelve months ago were put to bed on Sunday morning, as Stephen Kearney’s men came within a whisker of producing another so called upset.
After Eels prop Fui Fui Moi Moi started proceedings badly for the Kiwis, New Zealand were forced to defend their line for extended periods against a Kangaroos backline that needs no introduction in regards to the quality they possess.
For all the star power in Tim Sheens’ ranks however, New Zealand defended their line superbly, thus giving the indication that the Kiwis have turned many corners since their abysmal showing in 2007 against the same opposition.
As is so often the case, the Kiwis produced six points in their few touches of the football, as forward Adam Blair gave off a beautiful short ball to Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala to score the first try of the night.
New Zealand’s bright start however came under threat on a constant basis, as the Kangaroos took control of possession.
With the assistance of six straight penalties, the Kangaroos were finally able to level the scores with a divine long range try set up by the clinical passing of Melbourne Storm duo Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis.
Their work allowed Dragons winger Brett Morris to score his first test try in his maiden appearance in the green and gold.
Finding themselves level at halftime, Stephen Kearney’s men started producing costly errors in their own territory during the early stages of the second half.
Kiwi fullback Lance Hohaia had the ball stripped off him by Australia halfback Johnathon Thurston, who went on to score a critical try that put the Kangaroos in the lead.
Hohaia then produced a knock on after failing to catch a bomb, which saw the Kiwis concede a further two points thanks to a penalty conversion from Thurston.
New Zealand managed to rally however and were left galvanised after Knights centre Junior Sau muscled past four defenders to score a great try.
Despite still trailing by two points, the Kiwis were starting to cause havoc around the ruck, thanks to the quality ball playing services of both Benji Marshall and Lance Hohaia.
Hohaia got a just reward for his performance, slicing through some tiring Kangaroos defence to score a try that gave the Kiwis the lead.
Enigmatic Panthers forward Frank Pritchard then scored what looked like the winning four pointer for New Zealand, as Stephen Kearney’s men were on the edge of achieving rare back to back victories against their illustrious trans-Tasman rivals.
A superb offload from Kangaroos centre Greg Inglis however, saw hooker Cameron Smith burrow his way through the Kiwis defence to score a match saving try with just two minutes remaining.
Whilst both sides left the field feeling a little empty handed for their efforts, the 20 all draw was a fitting result between two Test nations that suddenly find themselves much more evenly matched than most people think.
Throw this result in with the tough uncompromising performance from France in their loss to England, and the Four Nations tournament has experienced the best opening it could have hoped for.
No doubt if all four nations continue to be as competitive as they were during the opening stages of the tournament, then perhaps international Rugby League stands in great stead in its quest to spread their global wings.
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Michael B said | October 26th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Aus vs NZ game was awesome. Played at break neck speed, it had skill, hits, drama… & the place was going crazy with all the ex pats really getting into the game.
The Kiwi’s came to play and the thing that impressed me the most about them was their fitness. They played at high tempo and intensity for the entire game. Previous Kiwi teams would have started tiring around 60 min mark, but this team kept going to the final whistle.
Can’t see England beating either team, so it will likely be a NZ vs Aus final – Can’t wait for it!
Eamonn said | October 26th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
12,000 was the crowd…..a lot of ex-pats obviously didn’t show up, never mind the locals.
Michael B said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
The stadium only takes about 12,000 people. So they pretty much filled it to capacity. Not sure what you’re point is? I’m sure every person who walked out of the stadium at the end of the match would have been extremely satisfied.
Thanks for your troll comments.
The Link said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Given England wasn’t playing the crowd wasn’t too bad for a RL game in London. When the 4 nations are played in the UK again they should do this game again in the capital. The quality of Rugby Football on offer was deserving of a bigger crowd however.
M1tch said | October 26th 2009 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
it was a great crowd, good move from the organisers to put game in London..
Expect the eng v aus game at Wigan to be close to a sell out
Viscount Crouchback said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
12,000 is abject. It was cheek of the highest order to play this game within a stone’s throw of Twickers. The rugby league authorities know perfectly well that the game in England is invisible outside the proletarian towns of the north. I am not quite sure what point they were trying to make by playing the game in London but it obviously backfired badly.
Let us hope that the IRB takes a Bledisloe Cup clash to, say, Manchester or Leeds. I am confident that the attendance would be rather higher than 12,000.
M1tch said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
Yeh they do its not rocket science..
Think of publicity of rugby league in melb and then take away 75% of coverage and you have RL in London.
Rah rah is a bigger game than RL no dispute there.
Also it didnt backfire when it still just about sold out at the Stoop, they would have been pretty happy with that.
Knives Out said | October 26th 2009 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
I think the capacity is closer to 15,000, Michael.
Michael B said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
I just don’t understand why these trolls need to come on here to a Rugby League story and make snide comments about the crowd.
This is just inferior complex of the highest order.
Hopefully this cheers you up – something needs to!
M1tch said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
because it was a positive story about Rugby League, International Rugby League to boost.
It simply angers so many people that the game is played.
M1tch said | October 26th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
New Zealand winning the world cup has the best thing to happen to the game …well since the split. They no longer dear us (perhaps only the 1 off anzac game). England are building for 2013, their squad is young and they are planning to be a force at their own World Cup.
We need to continue with comps like the European Cup and Pacific cup to contine to grow the game and keep players wanting to play for their own country.
sledgeross said | October 26th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Can someone please tell me why Lockyer keeps getting picked. he offers very little in attack or defence these days. he was absolutely woeful.
Also, why did Hayne on touch the ball a few times?
Alan Nicolea said | October 26th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Michael B
Indeed the Kiwis always seem to function when it really counts and they will be very difficult to beat throughout the campaign now. If it is an Aus vs NZ final, i really think it would be a toss of the coin job.
M1tch
Comps like the European Cup and the Pacific Cup are all great driving forces behind RL’s international growth and i agree that players need to start playing for their country of Origin, aka Anthony Tupou for Tonga if the code is to see the competitiveness grow across all nations.
M1tch said | October 26th 2009 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
Its been a long time coming, but we are finally seeing what can be done on the international stage. One thing though is it will be basically impossible to stop players wanting to play Origin even if they want to play for their own country. Which is why a quota system of 1 or 2 should be introduced, so a player of say Tongan heritage and has played junior footy in nsw/qld can play Origin but play for their home nation (and not for Australia)
The world cup was a success due to players playing for their home nation, using this a guy like Jarryd hayne could play Origin but also for Fiji
This is probably a 10 year plan becuase we need to have playing for the Island nations worth something, the pride and passion players get from Origin we need this in pacific islands too.
Hammer said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
It shouldn’t be forgotten that the Kiwis have a history of performing well in this competition (well the Tri-nations) .. this can only be good for the game as a whole – a worthwhile international component is what is missing from league
Alan Nicolea said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Sledgegross
Lockyer could have dropped the ball ten million times yet he will still be picked for Australia. He is just too much of an icon to just leave out of the side. Oh, and he is also the most capped player in Kangaroos history and he may also be retiring from representative football anyway so i imagine the coach would want him to get the necessary send off that he deserves IMO. But yeah, he was flat against the Kiwis and can ill afford to produce another performance of that magnitude against the English at their home ground.
sledgeross said | October 26th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
And thats fair enough Alan, he has been a good player in the past. Im just worried about his lack of involvement, and his ability to assert himself when needed like a captain and 5/8th should. I know the forwards were not as dominant as we would like, but Lockyer just seems to coast these days. Im not saying there are better options, but he really needs to stop hiding and step up to the plate. Our lack of another ball runner/player 2 wide of the ruck really played into the Kiwis hands. The way they were rushing up put tremendous pressure on us, and its predictable when they know that Lockyer is not going to run the ball.
Mick from Giralang said | October 26th 2009 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
There aren’t a lot of classy five eights around at the moment to replace Lockyer.Anasta and Barrett have been tried before and came up wanting.
Brett Finch? (only joking…)
oikee said | October 26th 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Well if Lockyer retires and Thurston moves to Union, all you guys will be wingeing when the kangaroos get beaten like the wallabies do. Enjoy this while it lasts, the power of balance has shifted, god help us when the Poms and French start to get better.
sledgeross said | October 26th 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
Oiks, there is enough talent to cover them long term at least. Lockyer, as I alluded to previously, has been largely ineffectual in rep games for the last 3 seasons. Thurston is talented, but there are enough talented halves that, with a bit of development, could be quite good.
NZ have a good crop at the moment, and play to their strengths, they will always be tough. The Poms are transitioning somewhat, and the crop they have coming through might make them useful in a year or two. France showed they have talent, if not the nous to cause a scare, and PNG and the pacific island nations continue to develop.