Pool A
Australia Kangaroos 52 d. England 4

2008 World Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: World Cup

Brilliant Australia out class England
Mon November 3, 2008
How often does the term "outclassed" get used in sports reporting? Probably more than it should. Last night Australia truly defined the term with a 52-4 victory in front of 36,297 at Melbourne's Telstra Dome that absolutely devastated an English side who really, honestly, wasn't that bad when the game was in the balance - Australia were just in another league.

It was a game that started well for Australia, who had Scott Prince come into the side to replace Jonathon Thurston, who, according to Australian coach Ricky Stewart, probably could have played tonight; but was not going to be risked.

England was the first to make an error in the opening exchanges, conceding a silly penalty on halfway that put the Aussies in great field position- Something they grew accustomed to in the 1st 18 minutes. In the 5th minute, Cameron Smith snuck out of dummy half and managed to put in a superb grubber that club team-mate and local hero Billy Slater instinctively got on the end of for the 1st try of the night. In the 9th minute, when threatening to attack the Aussies, a bomb gone wrong from Rob Burrow ended up with an offside penalty that put Australia back on the attack. Some great hands from Lockyer and Slater on exploited England's weak right hand defence and Greg Inglis walzed over for the 2nd try and a 12-0 lead.

After this frantic start, things settled down. Tackling from both sides was strong, but it was 5th tackle options that was telling- Australia kept the pressure on with their kicking game, pinning England back in their own half while England didn't have any options, being caught in possession on the 5th at one point.

England then had a period of sustained pressure. For 20 minutes, England showed attacking flair, with Rob Burrow and hooker James Roby in everything and put enough defence pressure on to get the Aussies on the back foot and forcing passes. Unfortunately for the English this only led to one try- James Roby sneaking over- this ultimately cost them any chance of winning this match, something captain and coach lamented in the post-match press conference.

In the 33rd minute Inglis crossed the tryline, again on Englad's right side of defence. Replays showed him bounce the ball over the line, but the video referee saw nothing wrong and awarded the try. This broke any resolve the English had. Anthony Laffranchie scored just before half time and it was good night to any chance England had of finding a way back. 22-4 at Half Time.

The 2nd half was home to some scintillating football from the Australians, but again, England had their chances. Burro dropped an intercept that was his for the taking, Billy Slater spilled a bomb 10 meters out from his own line but all England could produce was a sloppy set of 6 with the ball being passed behind the line twice.

A penalty goal in the 52nd minute for a lifting tackle b Danny McGuire was the cue for the 2nd half floodgates. A glorious cut-out ball from Billy Slater put Monaghan in the corner. 28-4. Billy Slater then ran 95 metres to score his 2nd try of the night, turning Mark Calderwood inside out in the process and getting a standing ovation from the Melbourne faithful. They didn't get a chance to sit down as from the kickoff, Greg Inglis picked up the loose ball and ran 50 metres to score after the short kick-off attempt was tapped down to empty ground.

So that was Inglis' hat-trick sorted, now for Slater's. That came in the 71st minute, again exploiting England on their right. The scoring ended the way it started with another Cameron Smith grubber, this time Laffranchi was on the end of it for his second try. 52-4 final score. Australia totally outclassing (there's that word again!) the English and stamping their authority on this World Cup.

Post match, English coach Tony Smith described the loss as a "good thumping by a very good team", but backs his side on bouncing back for next week's match against the Kiwis, stating that "you just pick yourself up, this one will be easy to bounce back from". He described the dressing room as "quiet, everyone's hurting".

England forward Adrian Morley was visibly shattered and could barely get a word out, spoke of the period in the 1st half when the game was in the balance "If we converted that pressure, it would have been a different game. Dominate for a period like that, you need to come away with more than a try".

Australian coach Ricky Stuart was delighted with his troops, but did point out that "we had to hang in there for a while". He described Billy Slater as "nothing short of brilliant" and described the team's performance as "some of the best individual talent I've seen at this level." He was glad that his team had put in a full 80 minutes.

Stuart confirmed that some of the fringe squad players (the "emus") would be getting a run next weekend against PNG.

A great night for Australia, you just can't see them losing in this tournament. For England, all is not lost - they get another chance next week.

RESULTS THUS FAR
England 32 d Papua New Guinea 22 - Stats | Reports | Forum
France 36 d Scotland 18 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Australia 30 d New Zealand 6 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Tonga 22 d Ireland 20 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Samoa 20 d Tonga 12 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Fiji 42 d France 6 - Stats | Reports | Forum
New Zealand 48 d Papua New Guinea 6 - Stats | Reports | Forum
Australia 52 d England 4 - Stats | Reports | Forum


Thurston Ruled Out
Sun November 2, 2008
Johnathan Thurston has been ruled out of tonight's World Cup match against England with a shoulder injury.

The North Queensland Cowboys playmaker, who had reconstructions of both shoulders 12 months ago, has been replaced in the starting line-up by Gold Coast Titans Scott Prince.

Prince will also take over the kicking duties.

Australian officials were confident Thurston would be available for selection for next Sunday's match against Papua New Guinea in Townsville.

Wed October 29, 2008
• Australian Side to play England
  

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