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Australia vs England, Rugby League World Cup in Melbourne

THE Kangaroos have stunned Australian sport by executing a historic Indigenous Australian cultural celebration.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
9 min read
October 27, 2017 - 10:58PM
Cameron Smith performs acknoledgement to country
Cameron Smith performs acknoledgement to country

Rugby League World Cup 2017 live

Australia has kicked off its Rugby League World Cup campaign with a win over England.

THE Kangaroos have extended their winning streak over England to 11 matches, running away to a 14-point win in the Rugby League World Cup opener. On a historic night for Australian sport, the Kangaroos’ performance of an acknowledgment to country before the game kicked off stole the show from the action that unfolded at AAMI Park.

10.10pm

Rusty Kangaroos survive late scare

The Kangaroos have shaken off a rusty start to open their Rugby League World Cup defence with a gritty 18-4 win over England.

But in what could be a major blow to England’s tournament hopes, star forward Sam Burgess limped from AAMI Park on Friday night with a first-half knee injury and failed to return.

Wayne Bennett’s side were brave in repelling Australia’s territorial dominance, and were aided by a new-look Kangaroos spine who struggled for cohesion in attack.

But veteran Billy Slater continued his dream comeback to the game with a stirring return to the international arena, scoring a crucial go-ahead try for a four-point lead at the break.

The game remained on a knife’s edge for most of the second half, and England couldn’t convert their rare raids on the Australian line into points. In front of a crowd of 22,724, England utility James Roby almost reduced the lead when he burrowed his way from dummy-half but was held up over the line.

Slater, who finished with a game-high 200 metres in his first Test since 2014, also helped save another possible England try late in the game by pushing Ryan Hall into touch.

Cameron Smith kicked the advantage to eight points with a penalty goal in the 76th minute, before Josh Dugan sealed the win with an 80-metre runaway try in the closing minutes.

An upset appeared on the cards when England drew first blood through Gareth Widdop’s dubious long ball for winger Jermaine McGillvary in just the fourth minute.

The Kangaroos had a number of opportunities to reply, including three-straight sets on the England line, but were rusty in attack and were turned away each time.

It wasn’t until Matt Gillett stepped off his right foot and found space in the 23rd minute that the home side equalised, before taking the lead with Slater’s try not long after.

The veteran fullback dummied his way past a tiring defence in the 29th minute, giving Australia a four-point lead at the break.

McGillvary was easily England’s best by almost matching Slater’s 200-metre output.

— AAP

9.55pm

Dugan pounces to secure Kangaroos win

Josh Dugan ran 80m untouched to secure a confidence-boosting win for the Kangaroos.

Dugan found himself in the perfect position when a Gareth Widdop kick bounced into his lap. He suddenly found himself with the Steeden in his hands with nobody standing between him and the try line 80m away.

He was able to slow down as he reached the try line with Widdop never getting within 10m of Cronulla’s new signing during the chase.

The try gave the Kangaroos a 18-4 lead with less than a minute to play.

The home side ran out the clock to start their World Cup campaign with a 14-point win.

9.50pm

Kangaroos kick decisive penalty goal

Cameron Smith slotted a penalty goal to extend Australia’s lead to more than a converted try with four minutes remaining.

It came on the back of a controversial penalty 30m out of the English line.

England had been right on top in the contest after forcing the Aussies to defend inside their red zone for most of the second half.

Smith’s kick took Australia to a 12-4 lead.

9pm

Australia leads 10-4 at half time

The Kangaroos were right on top of England in the minutes before half time, but the English held on desperately to ensure they are still within one try at the half time break.

8.55pm

Sam Burgess walks off with injury

Sam Burgess walked off with a knee injury and went straight down the tunnel to the dressing rooms to receive treatment.

Burgess tried to play on after appearing to jar his knee as a Kangaroos player tackled him low around the legs.

After limping around the field for a couple minutes, Burgess eventually hobbled off the field and was clearly in some distress.

8.45pm

Welcome back Billy

Billy Slater extended Australia’s lead to six points when he scored his first try for the Kangaroos in more than 1200 days.

Slater was in the right place to run onto an offload near the try line before making a quick dart to find a hole between three defenders in the English defensive line.

8.35pm

Aussies strike back

Matt Gillett scored the simplest of tries to get the Kangaroos on the scoreboard in the 24th minute.

The Broncos star ran onto a pass from Cameron Smith as the Kangaroos were camped on the English line. The second-rower only had to put on a simple side-step before cutting inside to score just wide of the posts.

It gave the Kangaroos a 6-4 lead after 24 minutes.

8.30pm

Cronk bashed

Kangaroos superstar Cooper Cronk stayed down afte he received a late hit to his face from English star Sam Burgess.

Cronk was also hit late in the back by Burgess just minutes after needing to wipe blood away from his nose.

8.20pm

England strike first

England snatched a 4-0 lead after just five minutes.

Jermaine McGillvary finished off a sweet backline move to score in the corner, having to streatch above his head to grab a pass that threatened to sail over his head before he fell over the try line.

8.05pm

Smith stars in acknowledgement of country

The 2017 Rugby League World Cup kicked off with an Indigenous Australian celebration led by Aussie performer Casey Donovan.

The ceremony then introduced the 14 competing nations by parading one legend from each country around AAMI Park.

After Donovan’s performance, which included Dave Dobbyn’s classic Slice of Heaven as a light-hearted Kiwi anthem and Ganggajang’s iconic Sounds of Then (This is Australia), the Kangaroos players formed into a circle around captain Cameron Smith, who knelt down in crouching position as injured superstar Johnathan Thurston read out a prepared statement designed as an acknowledgment to country and an ode to the values the Kangaroos stand for under coach Mal Meninga.

After standing to his feet as his teammates took a knee around him, Smith declared with a microphone attached to his collar that: ‘We as kangaroos acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional owners of this land”.

7.30pm

England make last-minute change

Australia has confirmed Jordan McLean, Dane Gagai and Wade Graham will make their Kangaroos debuts against England.

The Kangaroos confirmed they will not be making any late changes to the team announced earlier this week.

England has been forced into a late change with Alex Walmsley dropping off the bench due to a virus. He has been replaced by Ben Currie.

6.45pm

‘It’s never happened before’

JT is going to be proud as punch.
JT is going to be proud as punch.

Kangaroos assistant coach Michael Hagan said the players are not nervous about doing something never seen previously in Australian rugby league.

“It something that hasn’t been done before and they’ve put some practice into the routine and I think it’s going to be a really good way to start the campaign,” Hagan told Sky Sports Radio.

“I think the fans will really appreciate what the players have done. I know JT has worked really hard in the background with Mal and Cameron Smith to get it up and running. The players are happy to have a crack.”

Thurston will also feature during the opening ceremony as the Australian flag-bearer alongside 13 other rugby league legends each representing one of the 14 countries involved in the tournament.

The pre-match rehearsals suggest there was some major last-minute revision.

6pm

Mal talks up English ambush

England believe Australia are ripe for the picking in Friday’s Rugby League World Cup opener, according to Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga.

Australia haven’t lost to England in 22 years, however Meninga insists the old enemy are adamant they can flip the tournament on its head at AAMI Park.

“They’re one of the major forces in the game of rugby league. They’ll probably think we’re at our most vulnerable tomorrow night. Again, we’re prepared for that,” Meninga said on Thursday.

Meninga made six changes to the team who beat New Zealand in their most-recent Test in May, including the unavailability of key duo Darius Boyd and Johnathan Thurston.

He said the new faces in the team, as well as the expectation of Australia cantering to a World Cup win, were factors the team needed to address during camp.

“The first game of any series, you’re not quite sure about your combinations. You get clunky when you talk about combinations and execution,” Meninga said.

“So we’ve got a few guys who haven’t played for a while consistently, week in, week out. We’ve worked really hard this week on making sure that we take our club form into (Friday night’s) tonight’s game.”

Meninga was also quick to ensure there was no complacency in the side, particularly among debutants Dane Gagai, Wade Graham and Jordan McLean.

“They’ve really bought into what we want from a cultural point of view and it’s all about attitude and make sure they grab the moment,” he said.

Asked whether he considered England as their biggest threat to defending their global crown, Meninga said: “I think our greatest threat is ourselves.

“We need to make sure that we don’t be complacent, that we don’t get too far in front of ourselves. We don’t want to be seen as being selfless in the way we respect our opposition.”

England have made their own changes to the side who defeated Samoa in a May Test, including fullback Jonny Lomax.

Seven players, led by forwards Sam Burgess and James Graham, play in the NRL.

“They’re a big side and they’ve got a lot of experience in the middle so I would imagine that’s where they’ll be trying to force the issue, try to get on top of us,” Meninga said.

“And they’ve got a lot of experience.

All those players play in the NRL competition so they’re not overawed by who they’re playing against and they’ll be confident going into tomorrow night.”

— AAP

6pm

Slater’s 1274-day wait

He’s back.
He’s back.

Kangaroos veteran Billy Slater says he is proud to have climbed the final mountain in his storied comeback and is excited to wear his beloved Australian jumper again.

Slater will on Friday end a 1274-day wait since his last Test in the green-and-gold when he runs out for the Rugby League World Cup opener against England in Melbourne.

The last time he represented Australia was a 30-18 win over New Zealand in May, 2014.

His recall completes a fairytale comeback from twin shoulder surgeries that almost ended his career, having also made a successful return to the State of Origin arena with Queensland.

Perhaps more famously, he helped guide Melbourne to an NRL premiership earlier this month.

“I’m very proud to be where I am again today. It’s been a tough and long road, but I suppose when you get these opportunities to represent your country again, it’s all worthwhile,” he said.

“And I’ve always been proud — wearing the Australian jersey is a huge honour.”

“It’s a long campaign, a World Cup, but I suppose the focus is on (Friday) night. We’ve got a tough opponent in England and we’re focusing on getting off to a good start.”

The Test also marks the final occasion the Storm’s big three in Slater, Cooper Cronk and skipper Cameron Smith play together at AAMI Stadium. The trio have played together since Cronk made his debut in 2004, however the veteran halfback played his final game for the Storm in their grand final win over North Queensland.

He is widely tipped to join the Sydney Roosters next season, however Slater said it was only appropriate they end their time together at Melbourne in the Australian jumper.

“It’s been a long career for the three of us together and to have one last game here at AAMI Park in the same jersey, it’d be fitting,” he said.

RLWC officials are expecting a crowd of 25,000 for the match. “Ticket sales overall are going well and we’re hoping as the excitement builds, fans will get behind this world class event,” a RLWC spokesperson said.

— AAP

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