ANZAC Trans-Tasman Test Results

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ANZAC Trans-Tasman Test Results

Post by Dizzys_on_fire »

Australia Kangaroos - 32

Tries: Sing, Berrigan, Carroll, Lockyer, Tonga, Minichiello
Goals: Fitzgibbon (4)

def.

New Zealand Kiwis - 16

Tries: Ropati (2), Utai
Goals: Lolesi (2)

Half-Time: Australia 22-10

Crowd: 40,317
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane


http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,86 ... 14,00.html
Australia 32 New Zealand 16
UNDER-RATED prop Steve Price was last night anointed as the new Kangaroos cornerstone as Australia ground to a tenacious Test victory to retain the Trans-Tasman trophy over New Zealand.

Form ... Steve Price tries to break a Kiwi tackle.
With hardman Shane Webcke, the pulse of Australia's forward pack for the past decade, retired from international football it was the equally experienced Price who emerged to form the building block for the Kangaroos to dominate.

After recovering from what coach Wayne Bennett labelled a sluggish start, Price laid on Australia's fifth try for left centre Willie Tonga with a sensational show of strength in the second half.

The Warriors captain, playing against five of his new teammates, powered through four New Zealanders before slipping a superb one-handed offload to Tonga, who bulldozed over.

The performance prompted Kiwi captain Ruben Wiki to nominated Price as Webcke's successor for the next few seasons, ahead of Petero Civoniceva, Mark O'Meley, Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey.

"He was awesome. With Webcke retired Pricey really added the go-forward for Australia," Wiki said.

"He was on fire and he really deserved his spot."

Leading 22-10 at halftime, Australia emerged to remain a class above New Zealand courtesy of some magic touches from captain Darren Lockyer and a resilient defence.

The Kangaroos crafted two superb opening-half tries to winger Matt Sing and lock Tonie Carroll, while centre Shaun Berrigan scored an opportunistic four-pointer off a mistake from Wiki.

The opening second-half exchanges were brutal and relentless, Kangaroos back-rower Craig Fitzgibbon making a superb try-saving cover tackle on runaway New Zealand winger Matt Utai to ensure the score remained 22-10.

Price was reluctant to accept the chalice of Webcke, instead deflecting praise on to the rest of Australia's forwards, who clearly out-pointed their opponents.

"Anytime you get to play for your country is a huge honour so for me in front of my home crowd in Brisbane, this was a very special night," Price said.

"To say I've taken over from Shane Webcke is probably a bit much.

"I'm an old bloke, too, but I'm certainly relishing the opportunity to play at this level."

Bennett labelled the Kangaroos defence the difference while New Zealand counterpart Daniel Anderson called Australia "a class above".

Bennett joked that all that was missing was a good fight, although even that went close when Kangaroos back-rower Nathan Hindmarsh and Kiwi winger Jamaal Lolesi went on with an off-the-ball wrestle in the opening half.

"Australia were probably a little bit too classy on the night but some signs were pleasing," Anderson said.

"We forced the Australians to work hard for their points. It's frustrating for the team because we know we have to be very good. We need to take every opportunity handed to us and tonight we didn't quite do that, but there were positives."

Kiwi debutant Benji Marshall showed signs of breathing life into New Zealand over the next five years, setting up the visitors' opening try with a brilliant chip, chase and regather.

In a superb debut, Marshall signalled a potential solution to the Kiwi playmaking problem as the Kangaroos grafted to victory in front of 40,373 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

The double injury setback of Tonie Carroll and Shaun Berrigan being forced off for the Kangaroos was not enough to halt their relentless determination, with Carroll returning late in the second half.

It was a superb kick from captain Lockyer that paved the way for the Kangaroos' sixth and final try. The Kiwis scored a late 85m runaway to fullback Jerome Ropati, his second for the evening, to add some respectability to the scoreline.

Fitzgibbon labelled the spirit of the Kangaroos' defence the catalyst behind the home team retaining the Trans-Tasman trophy. "There were times when it was very physical but the boys just all kept hanging in there, there is just so much spirit in this side," Fitzgibbon said.

Hooker Luke Priddis was impressive in his debut for the Kangaroos, while Lockyer also bagged a try of his own.
Jason Gillespie - 54* (155)

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Post by King-Eliagh »

Whats this beaussie? A massive crowd for a rugby league test match? I thought test matches in league were pathetic and noone cared about them? And even sweeter is the fact it was attained in Rugby League Heartland: The Gold Coast! :lol: Say goodbye to an afl team there beaussie...that grounds never gunna be an oval :lol:
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xman wrote:
KE, why is an even comp important?
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Post by Beaussie »

King-Eliagh wrote:
Rugby League Heartland: The Gold Coast! :lol: Say goodbye to an afl team there beaussie...that grounds never gunna be an oval :lol:
Since when is Suncorp Stadium or Lang Park as some prefer to call it on the Gold Coast? :roll:

Cararra will be staying oval shaped now that the AFL has offered to pay the Gold Coast City Council money to keep it that way.
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Post by King-Eliagh »

Same difference. QLD is rugby league heartland, the afl wont get carrara, dont lie to us all. :)
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KE, why is an even comp important?
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Post by Dizzys_on_fire »

In addition KE, the Test Match was the most watched program of the week in Queensland's south east corner.
Jason Gillespie - 54* (155)

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