Footy heavyweights the Kangaroos take on the underdogs that just won’t quit, the Tomahawks of the USA, in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals in Wrexham. We’ll have live scores and commentary from midnight AEDT.
Rugby league has had its fair share of fairytale stories and famous upsets.
Think Manly and Newcastle in the 1997 grand final, Sheffield over Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup final or even New Zealand defeating Australia in the 2008 World Cup final.
Footy fans love a shock result.
But a USA win here today would beat all of those a million times over.
The dog walkers and personal trainers of America against the millionaires and superstars of Australia’s NRL. It’s some mismatch.
The USA weren’t even supposed to get this far. Wales were expected to reach the quarter-finals, hence the staging of this game in Wrexhham.
No-one thought the Tomahawks would win one game, let alone two, and they’ve win three when you add in the warm-up uspet over France just before the tournament started.
The Yanks have injected some romanticism, some spirit and some adventure into this World Cup. It’s not just about big stars and highly-paid professionals.
It’s about people having a go and working hard for each other. Teams coming together and lifting as a result. The Tomahawks have certainly done that and then some.
With the Wiggles behind them they have shocked the world so far. But all good stories have to come to an end.
Theirs is at the hands of Australia in Wrexham. Bureta Faraimo against Darious Boyd. Joel Luani against Cameron Smith. Michael Garvey against Greg Inglis. It goes on.
This game can only go one way.
If the Tomahawks can break the Kangaroos defence and score a try, which Fiji and Ireland couldn’t do, then that will be a victory in itself.
If they can limit the Australia attack, and perhaps restrict it to just a 20 point, then that would be a massive effort.
Anything else would be a bonus.
We’ll have live scores and all the match action in Wrexham from midnight AEDT.
al
Guest
Hayne's superiority in attack over Tate far outweighs Tate's supposed superiority in defence...
Doug
Guest
Mate some people have to much to say when they know so little about what there saying
DSF
Guest
What was the actual crowd attendance it was pretty funny looking at empty stands, reminds me of club footy.
JR Salazar
Guest
A decent performance from the USA, despite the result. They can hold their heads high knowing that they got as far as the quarterfinals.
Chesny
Guest
Of course it will be an Australian, New Zealand final. the only thing will be the amount of hard games they have that spate them. they have both had a pretty ssoft build up
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Pretty impressive from Australia, some very good tries but also some pretty soft ones. Jarryd Hayne was a standout, scoring four tries and setting up a few others in the unfamiliar position of centre. The only worry for the Kangaroos could be an injury to Billy Slater. I think a World Cup final rematch with the Kiwis awaits.
John Davidson
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Australia 62 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'79 Thurston converts Australia 62 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'78 WHAT A PASS. TRY to Hayne. Corey Park just pulled off the pass of the game with a flick to put Hayne through for his fourth try. Awesome Australia 60 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'77 Inglis takes a bomb and then beats about six to start an attack. Australia 56 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'74 Yanks kick is too big, unfortunately. Australia 56 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'74 USA with a penalty on the Aussie line. Can they score? Australia 56 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'73 Samoa is held up in goal, but they're checking with the video ref. And it's NO TRY Australia 56 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'71 Faraimo smashes Papalii in a tackle. Australia 56 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'70 Thurston converts Australia 56 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'68 Corey Parker puts Bird away but his pass back in is knocked out from the USA so the Aussies get the ball back. And then from the scrum Hayne goes through a soft tackle and gets his hat-trick. TRY Australia 54 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'67 Hayne forces a knock on from Paulo with a good tackle. Australia 50 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'66 Cooper Cronk knocks on. Australia 50 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'65 Great kick from Cherry-Evans at dummy half forces a USA dropout. Australia 50 USA 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'64 Priestly was almost through but his pass inside goes astray Australia 50 USA 0