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Australia and New Zealand’s efforts in Friday night’s Test silenced the doubters. Seemingly the whole of Australia’s rugby league media who billed the match as a no-contest.
This Test match was so much more than another mid-season international. It served to remind the rugby league public that the international game was still in good health, that Australia could still be challenged after their stroll through last year’s World Cup and the Kiwis can still play with pride.
Australian fans seem to have an apathetic view towards international football because the Kangaroos are so dominant. So was heartening to see a crowd of more than 25,000 watch their first Test in Sydney since 2008.
The Kiwis needed a big performance, as predictions of an embarrassing loss echoed from both sides of the Tasman. And they certainly delivered on performance, effort and energy.
Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney decided to make a fresh start with his selections after the limp end to the World Cup for his team. It was a case of out with the old, in with the new, but also partly due to a list of up to fourteen first choice players unavailable.
Kearney’s “Kid Kiwis” eyeballed their vaunted Kangaroo opponents for 60 minutes on Friday night but lacked a Kieran Foran, Thomas Leuluai or Issac Luke to break through and win. It was a valiant effort and silenced those who continue to question the mid-season Test’s validity.
The Kiwis played simple and no-frills football up front, winning the battle in yardage until Cronk’s try. New Zealand lost their way at the back end of the second half in attack – Shaun Johnson lacked another kicking option – but the decision to put Tohu Harris at five-eighth was inventive.
Let’s also consider the following statistics:
– Australia last trailed at halftime in the 2005 Tri-Nations final against New Zealand, an incredible 22 Tests ago;
– Friday night’s Test was the first time the Kiwis has led the Kangaroos going into the break since 2002, when they were in front 24-16 at Wellington;
– The Kiwis have scored 18 or more points against Australia only nine times in their last 34 matches (going back to the 2000 World Cup final);
– The Kangaroo’s 16 game winning streak equalling the period between 1979 – 1983, when they went unbeaten against New Zealand, Great Britain, France and Papua New Guinea;
– The last time New Zealand selected five debutants was in the aforementioned Test in Wellington, 2002.
Although New Zealand hasn’t won a mid-year Test against Australia since 1998, the last four have certainly been close. The Kiwis’ game last April was a fair margin (by 20), but prior to that, the differences were by 10, 8 (twice) and 4 points.
This performance was simply another gripping, closely fought Test match mirroring most of the recent battles between the two nations.
It was another boost for international football to go with the excellent Rugby League World Cup last year, as well as the Four Nations to be held later this season in Australia and New Zealand.
Test footy is all the better for the great spectacle on Friday night.
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