Australia Annihilate New Zealand In Centenary Rugby League Test Match

Oct 15, 2007 League Freak International Rugby League News 0

---

The World Champion Australian Rugby League team has demolished New Zealand by a score line of 58-0.

It took Australia about five minutes to kick into gear and once that happened they just looked three classes above New Zealand. The youngest backline in Australian Rugby League history was just oustanding showing power, speed, skill and great decision making.

Of the 8 Australian’s making their debut Israel Folau scored 2 tries, Kurt Gidley scored a late conversion and Jarryd Hayne, Greg Bird, and Brett Stewart scored tries.

Its hard to pick players out in such a complete performance.

Folau set the tone for the afternoon by scoring an amazing try, throwing off 6 New Zealand players in a powerful run that announced his arrival on the Test arena.

Hayne did everything asked of him while Greg Inglis scored a hat trick of tries as he continued to have the golden touch at this level.

While you won’t hear much about him, Cooper Cronk guided the side around the field well. His combination with Cameron Smith worked well and that helped Greg Bird’s game as he was able to find space all over the field and had an outstanding debut.

Steve Price, who started the game, was again at his outstanding best and along with Petero Civoniceva just ground down the Kiwi’s all afternoon.

Willie Mason was great off the bench and really stamped his intent to selectors that he wants to keep his place in the Test side.

Kurt Gidley added real spark off the bench while Brett Stewart showed touches of class at fullback and then out wide when a positional change was forced.

New Zealand were down to 12 players mid way through the first half when Steve Matai was sent off for a high tackle on Mark Gasnier that forced the center from the field for the rest of the game.

They Kiwi’s looked short of a run and just didnt gel at all as the game went on. Of particular concern was the halves play of Jeremy Smith and Ben Roberts who were nothing short of dreadful.

While Roberts did show signs of a good kicking game, I’ve seen enough of him to suggest that he is not the halfback that New Zealand want at Test level. Too many mistakes and no ability at all to guide the side around the field, he didnt work when partnered with Benji Marshall and again today just did not come up to the mark.

Krisnan Inu was injured for pretty much the entire game and eventually left the field with a shoulder injury while only Roy Asotasi can honestly say he played a game of any quality for the Kiwi’s, playing his usual extremely high standard of football.

Many people will point to the fact that New Zealand were missing Benji Marshall and Sonny Bill Williams, but the fact is anyone short of God himself would have made little differenece to the outcome and crushing score line.

The 58 point margin was the biggest winning margin by Australia over New Zealand in 100 contests between the two countries and must strike fear into the New Zealand camp heading towards next years World Cup.

This was a very young New Zealand side, but against an equally young Australian side, they were totally outclassed.

Moronic NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers should be embarrased and ashamed of himself for saying he laughed when he saw the Australian side named and claimed the World Champions looked vunrable and questioning their toughness. It was the last thing this young Kiwi side needed and, as always, Australia replied in crushing style.

With a brilliant 11 try romp, Australia put on a performance that puts to shame any of the rubbish you will see being paraded around in France at the moment in an inferior form of the game.

The future of Australian Rugby League was on show today, and as always, the future looks bright.

---

• Andrew Chalmers, Australia, Ben Roberts, Brett Stewart, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Kurt Gidley, Mark Gasnier, New Zealand, NZRL, Petero Civoniceva, Record Books, Send Off, Steve Matai, Steve Price

---

---