Shaun Johnson’s brilliance and Manu Vatuvei’s brute force have inspired New Zealand to a nailbiting 22-18 win over Australia in the Four Nations final in Wellington on Saturday.
Johnson’s running game was a constant threat to the Kangaroos’ defence all game and his 58th-minute try when momentum was with the Australians handed the Kiwis the dominance they never surrendered.
Vatuvei’s second try five minutes later on a cold night, in which he barged over the top of Kangaroos youngster Sione Mata’utia, was his 20th international four-pointer and put him ahead of Nigel Vagana on the top of the Kiwis’ all-time try-scoring list.
It was the Kiwis’ first back-to-back wins over their trans-Tasman rivals since 1953 and like their 30-12 victory three weeks ago, it came as they outmuscled the Kangaroos pack.
The tournament win is the Kiwis’ fourth in the last nine years – with their 2005 Tri Nations win, the 2008 World Cup win and the 2010 Four Nations win – and despite Australia’s emphatic victory in last year’s World Cup, New Zealand have genuine claims as the premier international team of the last decade.
The Australians were without nine players from their World Cup-winning team for this tournament, but Tim Sheens’ tenure as Kangaroos coach is sure to come under scrutiny.
The Kiwis led 14-6 before 25,183 fans at the break but Mata’utia reduced that gap to two when he scored his first Test try just two minutes after the resumption of play.
Australia were the best side for much of the first part of the second half until Johnson turned the game on its head as he broke the Kangaroos line and swerved past Greg Inglis to score a magical individual try.
A 77th-minute Ben Hunt try gave the visitors hope of a late victory, but the Kiwis were up to the task.
New Zealand repelled a series of promising Kangaroos raids early before Dean Whare fluffed a Cooper Cronk cross-kick for Michael Jennings to pounce for a converted try in the 11th minute.
In a high-quality, fast-paced game with few errors the Kiwis worked their way back into the contest on the back of some damaging running from Jess Bromwich, Greg Eastwood and Martin Taupau with halves Johnson and Kieran Foran taking advantage.
In comparison, Australia’s forwards struggled to take them through the middle of the ruck.
The Kiwis opened their account in the 23rd minute when Jason Nightingale somersaulted his way over out wide after Shaun Kenny-Dowall scythed his way through the Australian ruck in a swerving 40m run.
A 27th-minute Johnson penalty goal for a dubious Cameron Smith high tackle on Kieran Foran put the Kiwis ahead.
They added to that in the 35th minute when Manu Vatuvei scooped up a low pass from Johnson and brushed past Mata’utia.
Taupau was stretchered off in the 45th minute with a neck injury.
DMC
Guest
Hi Shaw, I know because I have watched Manu play most NRL games since he debuted, and watched quite a few tests involving Savea. Savea is faster, and far far more skilled than Manu. Unlike Manu. Savea has excellent hands, can chip and grubber, really sound defensively making great reads and hard tackles, and turns a lot quicker than Manu. Both are obviously very powerful. Manu is probably my favorite player in league, him and Johnson. But Savea would own league.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Billy this is just as bad a post as those desperately looking who to blame there were 13 quality NRL/ origin players out there and those on début were pretty damn good. OZ a bit light in the forwards for once. I think that some people have lost a bit of balance, perspicacity and game understanding when it come to a loss. Like a row of darleks saying "Does not compute, does not compute!" One eg Thaiday was great until he was injured and even then made a great and important tackle! And even if some players are past their international best which is debatable, how about thanks for putting your bodies on the line and for all those wonderful memories over the decades of dominance you gave us! Just a thought!
Billy
Guest
It's good for the sport NZ won, but clearly not against the best in the 4 nations - australia played againts prob the best NZ team in wc and NZ inc Johnson, sbw, jwh, and NZ couldn't score a try. Deserved winners but not against the best
Russell Johnson
Guest
"At the end of the day it was a great game with two brave committed teams hammering out a close game. Say what you like about individual decisions it would be totally one eyed to say the Kiwis didn't deserve to win." Now everyone this is what coping with defeat looks like and all your forensic auditing is about your inability to adjust to one loss.I'll just repeat that for the hard of managing one loss! The people in the UK must be chortling to a person now if not convulsed by belly laughs! After how many years of total dominance ? You are now staging a witch hunt or navel gazing and considering how things are not what they were! I know losing is never a good thing but nor does it signal the end of the world as we know it!
Watcher
Guest
Aussie C team, what a crock. Let us look at who NZ didn't have available for selection for the final. Tuivasa-Scheck, Watene-Zelzneack, (sorry about wrong spelling) Hurrell, Leuluei, Waerea-Hargreaves, Matulino, Moa. Some reasonable talent there. I accept losing Scott etc affected the Aussies, but they wern't alone. Further although they lost this could be valuable for the development of the Kangaroos as Smith, Cronk, Slater and Thurston are closer to the end of their careers. At the end of the day it was a great game with two brave committed teams hammering out a close game. Say what you like about individual decisions it would be totally one eyed to say the Kiwis didn't deserve to win.
hooker
Guest
True Daniel Slater has been friend to nz in the past gifted kiwis a world cup he isn't a player kiwis fear .Thurston is take more serious
Daniel
Guest
The Kiwis had some great players missing too, and that was from a smaller talent pool. As for Billy Slater, he's been a great asset to New Zealand in international tournament finals before... Back to the match though, and we had a thriller! Martin Taupau has made a lot of fans with his pre-injury performance, Johnson danced like Fred Astaire and big Manu (who can be inconsistent) had a great game. Australian defence was tested time and time again, but they kept the scores close enough for a nailbiting finish. Klemmer's just a kid by prop standards, but he looked really promising. It proved that, as a French Rugby League journalist wrote many years ago "These Australians! You can't just kill them once; you have to go back and kill them again. And do it a third time, just to be sure." The Kiwis are coming to the UK next year, and may well be an even stronger squad than they were in the 4 Nations. It's going to be great!
Russell Johnson
Guest
I think you all need to get a grip! Ask any UK fan, coach, player, and administrator if they'd like to be in your shoes right now and they'd be like a rat up a drainpipe! You have good players getting on a bit! You have excellent ones in the prime! And plenty more up and coming! All of which is just normal. One loss does not define the entire universe and Tim Sheens nor the Kangaroos......get over it.
pizzy
Guest
Origin too qld and nsw fans should boo as it makes a joke of origin
Nigel owen
Guest
Agreed the depth is not there for aus anymore not that many players are out ..the tamou comment is gold too bit harsh though it is what it is youd have to feel a nob been a kiwi lining up in kangaroos while national anthems play or the haka
Nigel owen
Guest
Yeh but if jt cronk or inglis hurt you wont consider it full strengh team no guarantee your team you say is full strengh will be available next year or the next If your team has no respect for jersey to not turn up and play cause they tired no one elses problem
Russell Johnson
Guest
Surely you mean blame everyone Aussie in spitting of the stadium ! You are right the Aussies could have won and when he hit the post twice I began to think this is just not enough...... Unfortunately, because they are only used to winning some the Aussies on here are finding it a bit hard to take though not all thank goodness, and the Kiwis are rubbing it in, both of which are understandable, very Leaguie and just one of those cases where logic can be in short supply!
drop kick
Guest
Johnson playing well in the two games that mattered was interesting great players love that stage made inglis eat dirt not many have done that
shaw
Guest
Buzzard you seem proud of tamou he's not an Aussie Is poor to mention this name when saying who is short .don't you feel a bit odd him playing origin or for oz .state of what Eva lost its point origin .gallen Morris twins add little Thurston yes. Slater was nzs mvp in world they won so up and down under pressure did better than bunji
shaw
Guest
The days of them having lots to come back are well gone the amount of kiwis in Nrl has turned that Your thinking in the past when three or four kiwis in Nrl and a few in England rest amatuer They have shown by selected tamou the depth is not there .turncoats in any sport should not be selected or respected actually k tamati needs to sort that bloke out
kiwi
Guest
I'm a New Zealander, and thrilled with the win(s), but shaw and k tamati, how about a little humility and class? Don't the words, "Lord, let my words be sweet and tender, for tomorrow I might have to eat them" have any relevance? You know Australia will come again, and we will find ourselves on the receiving end again in the future. Just enjoy this!
Aaron
Guest
You do realise that NZ has only 4 million and league is a minority sport there. You should give the some credit, and also remember that most of the first choice Aussie players are on the wrong side of thirty. This is the future Aussie team, and based on what we saw, I don't think there is going to be too much between the two nations over the next few years. Also bear in mind that NZ were missing about five first class players as well.
Buzzard
Guest
@Shaw Thurston, Slater, M.Scott, Tamou, Gallen, Morris twins....thats 7 top players to add to Smith, Inglis & Cronk. I remember the difference with those guys in the Roos team in last years world cup final. I agree Shaw enjoy the occasion but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Stay humble and enjoy the ride. NZRL is in a good place at the moment & a lot to look forward to in the upcoming years but Australia are still the benchmark. The gap is closing though.
muppet
Guest
Wow Morris twins out
muppet
Guest
Well said the Morris twins really these are the guys missing that would've changed game .depth is not there anymore .I can't believe Morris twins mentioned ho ho ho