- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
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.