The final mid-year Anzac Test has ended in a commanding win for Australia, who have beaten New Zealand by 18 points at GIO Stadium in Canberra.
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Final score
Australia 30
New Zealand 12
Australia will be out to kick-off their preparation for the Rugby League World Cup in style against New Zealand, who so often struggle in the annual Anzac Test, being played in Canberra this year. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEST).
The Kangaroos might be coming off a rampant victory at the Four Nations at the end of last season, but there are still questions to be answered about the squad that will take the field for the final mid-year Test.
The fitness of Johnathan Thurston is the biggest one, with the Cowboys superstar not playing for the last three weeks. James Maloney has been named in the squad as cover, but there is no easy fix to replacing one of the greatest players in history.
Mal Meninga’s side also come into the match without Greg Inglis, Matt Scott and Aaron Woods, who are all out of action through injury.
The losses of Inglis and Scott could bite the Kangaroos. The back five will be led by fullback Darius Boyd, with Blake Ferguson, Will Chambers, Josh Dugan and Valentine Holmes making up the rest.
Andrew Fifita and David Klemmer will make up the starting front row, but they will have to play big minutes, with an interchange bench made up of second rowers Tyson Frizell and Sam Thaiday, lock Jake Trbojevic and utility Michael Morgan.
What the Kangaroos do have the is the duo of Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith who is playing his 50th Test. They have been in superb form with the Melbourne Storm sitting at the top of the NRL table.
When you look at the Kiwis side on the other hand, it’s stability and class throughout the spine. Given Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran and Isaac Luke are now playing on the same side week in and week out, that’s only going to improve the national side.
Their combinations have looked better with each passing week for the Warriors, and throw in a pack featuring Jesse Bromwich, Adam Blair, wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo, Russell Packer, Martin Taupau and veteran Simon Mannering and it’s a daunting prospect for Australia’s slightly weakened forwards.
The difference maker for New Zealand maybe their outside combinations. With Foran and Johnson linking to either Jordan Rapana or Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who are two of the best wingers in the NRL, there is going to be a stack of pressure on the Australian outside backs, who have been left wanting in defence previously.
Prediction
The Kiwis haven’t often won this mid-year Test match, but I’m going the upset here. Their forward pack is fearsome, and the prospect of Johnson playing off the back of Taumalolo and Taupau is mouth-watering. The Kangaroos are facing an uphill battle here.
Kiwis by 10.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the final mid-year Anzac Test from 8pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Republican
Guest
NZ are far more competitive in League than we are in Union while League hardly deserves the tag of a niche code in NZ, so in that respect, they punch well above their weight. Conversely, Union in Oz is given a voice by the high expat Kiwi diaspora.
john williams
Guest
most kiwis just don't care about league
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I was actually bring serious. Support play seems to be missing these days. It's great to watch players run off of the ball carrier, always sniffing for a chance.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That kind of attitude has been going on for years with Channel Nine. During a St Helens v Roosters WCS match, as part of the match preview, Yvonne Sampson asked Fittler about St Helens and all he could say was that he doesn't know because he doesn't watch much Super League... As a professional he couldn't even spend five minutes before the coverage reading a Wikipedia article. But as the only game in town Channel Nine commentary have no need to be professional. They know they can get away with it. They are absolute rubbish.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Last nights game when Trbojevic scored Lockyer said "Good work he's scored in his debut...well, it's not his debut but it's his first test try." Wrong again. Basic fundamentals. It seems none has a culture where there is no research required. They just lob up and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, right, wrong or indifferent.
Sylvester
Guest
I thought the Kiwis were pretty good, bar a couple of costly defensive lapses. They've certainly played worse for better looking scorelines. The Aussie line was just impossible to crack. A couple of tries from kicks and intercept are not necessarily the result of bad play from NZ.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
New Zealand didn't show up. I don't know what Kidwell is doing with them. They were number one in the world not long ago. Kidwell is taking them backward. Half the team play with each other week in, week out with the Warriors. They shouldn't have to be 'coached' at Test level. The coach should be letting them do what they do best ; rampaging forwards, Foran sending Johnson off to broken lines and have the wingers and centres follow Shaun around for the pass or kick that will eventually come. Last night I saw little support play, little scramble in defence and Foran and Johnson playing to some kind of script that wasn't working. Whatever Kidwell is doing with them, it's not working.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
One of the worst commentators I have ever seen. But I don't think he cares so alas it doesn't matter does it.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Funny, when NZ teams smash OZ teams in union, all union fans cries, but when OZ smash NZ in league, no Kiwi is crying. How come?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Kiwis a bit lacking. Only one team came to play in that first half and the Roos never got out of 2nd in the second half.
Herman Hoth
Guest
How so Sleiman? Ball control a bit lacking?
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's it, I'm done. Jillaroos player down with injury. Lockyer: she's lost a shoe but it looks like she's hurt something else as well.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's right.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Not much atmosphere at the ground, not helped by the lopsided score I suppose.
sham
Guest
It was a Test match.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
We can thank Michael Morgans effort for denying Gillett and Cronk another try saver though I'm still convinced Mannering never got it down. The number of Kiwi halfbreaks and near tries that ended with a last gasp effort from Gillett tonight was insane and made to look all the more impressive with a solid defensive half next to him in Cronk. Incredible defensive combination between the two.
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report A full match report will be published on site later. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 Anzac Test as Australia picked up a big win over New Zealand. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. It's a big International triple-header tomorrow and The Roar will have all three games live. It all kicks off at 3:15pm (AEST) when the Cook Islands play Papua New Guinea. Samuel Ashton will be live for that. I'll be back at 5:30pm for Fiji and Tonga, before Samoa play England at 7:40pm with John Coomer to guide you through that one. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The man of the match is Matt Gillett! A sensational game, especially on the defensive end from the Kangaroos back rower.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Cheekbones are usually 2-3 unless the bone is shattered aren't they? Or is that eye sockets?
Dingo McNumbat
Roar Rookie
Watching players almost walking across the tryline during the last 10 minutes of a supposed international match is just pathetic.