Summary
Come in late, and you’d think 16-0 was a pretty comfortable scoreline, and in fairness it probably was.
Despite getting through an absolute mountain of defensive work, Stephen Kearney will perhaps be concerned by the disjointed, and at times scrappy, performance going forward from his side.
That said, the Kangaroos weren’t exactly packing the wow-factor going forward themselves. It was a controlled, professional, experienced performance – the old heads like Smith never really looked stretched by this depleted NZ line-up; but by the same token, they didn’t exactly cut the Kiwi defence to ribbons.
Some impressive performances, Kahu at fullback effected some critical tackles, and Proctor got through a mule-load of work up front.
Paul Gallen emerges with the man-of-the-match award; over two hundred metres gained for the big front-rower, and a decent fly of the flag for the tiny New South Wales Origin contingent. There you go, Mal, some of them Blues could do a job for you!
Blake Ferguson also had his moments out wide, as did Semi Radradra (when he was on the field). Reliable performances from the old heads, Boyd, Thurston, Cronk et co.
Australia were in the end dominant, but it was nevertheless a hard-fought encounter. It sets up nicely for the Four Nations and 2017 World Cup, if the Kiwis can get some of their bigger names back on the pitch.
Hope you enjoyed this wherever you followed from – thanks for your company tonight!
Full-time: Australia 16-0 New Zealand
80 min: And that’s the hooter! Harsh on the Kiwis, perhaps, they didn’t deserve to get done right in the dying seconds.
They defended bravely for that entire second half, but Australia shade a lot of the little details. A deserved result, but perhaps not a classic Trans-Tasman belter.
Try! Australia 16-0 New Zealand (Ferguson)
And right at the death, Ferguson finally gets his try on debut!
Nice work from Cronk and Boyd to create the space out wide, and the big winger ambles over.
Smith to take the conversion; he’s stripped JT of the duties, right from the very sideline, but it’s another missed conversion.
78 min: Gee, I thought I’d put the kaibosh on that; seconds later it’s Ferguson crossing and grounding! But the ball was knocked forward in the build-up by Dugan.
Yikes, Phil Gould leads the expert summaries from the box: “I love watching international footy, Ray, but this hasn’t been a Test match”.
75 min: A lovely passage of play, there – the bomb goes to Radradra who batts brilliantly back to Inglis; one-on-one with Kahu, but the young fullback does a sterling job. Papalii ends up with it, but the Kiwi defence stands tall.
Well, for all the talk of how much extra defensive work the Kiwis are doing; they don’t appear to be tiring too badly here. Promising for coach Kearney, he would be happy with this second half performance; they’ve kept Australia pointless.
72 min: Johnson probes again down the left, and it’s Beale looking to get outside his man. He tries the flick-pass back inside to Nightingale, but it goes to ground; Dugan’s covering tackle squashes the opportunity.
Rabs and co. debate the merits of the ‘one ref vs two ref’ policy of international rugby league.. Gee, it hasn’t been that dull, has it?
70 min: Here’s a window for the Kiwis. Johnson’s kick is batted dead by Ferguson, so a line drop out and another six looming.
If they go in here it will set up a nervy last ten; Australia have been solid, but not brilliant themselves; a try here could make it interesting.
But, ooh, you’re kidding me! Would you believe it, Johnson’s dropped it from the restart!
Straight through the fingers; not an opponent within 40 metres; what an absolute let off for the Kangaroos!
68 min: And it’s remarkable to say, with 68 on the clock, but that’s about the first real clean break of the evening; JT through the guts, and on the next play Cronk darts, and weaves, and gets himself to the line!
Has he done enough? Ooh, fabulous defence from the Kiwis; he’s ruled short and it’s a turnover.
You can question their polish, but you can’t question the passion or determination of some of these young Kiwis!
65 min: A couple of these big Kiwi forwards starting to look tired; Radradra, Gallen and Scott all garner good metres, and a couple of tired-looking tackles are going in here.
Nightingale defuses another bomb; they’ve definitely looked to target the left-side defence, or conversely, play to the strength of Ferguson, have the Roos.
63 min: JT tries the double pump again to put Morgan through, and Cowboys teammate Taumalolo knocks down the pass. Well read and intercepted there, but it’s six more for the Kangaroos.
They head to the Ferguson wing, but they duff it. Thaiday with an error during the play the ball, Kiwi defence stands firm.
Seventeen to play; who can be the X-factor for the visitors?
61 min: Gee, it’s a tough call whether Australia are defending brilliantly here tonight, or whether New Zealand just aren’t throwing much at them.
Johnson looks for a cheeky little chip, but it goes straight into the hands of JT. Can’t win a trick.
And here’s a curious one; Adam Blair goes on report for a chicken wing; who’s the recipient? Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday!
Fly on the wall of their next car trip together?
Updated
59 min: Here’s Matt Scott with some very good metres. He enables Cronk to scamper dangerously close. Now it’s Gallen winding up; it took a while to get going, but he did his best Radradra impersonation there!
Cronk tries the grubber but it hit’s the upright. A Kiwi defender flops on it; happy to take six more. Phew!
56 min: Kiwis on the attack! DWZ strips Radradra and they’re only 20m out.
But brother’s Bromwich have butchered it! They return the favour as some sloppy play out of dummy half and it’s a turnover.
Some talk Jesse Bromwich is being played out of position here; and the big lad doesn’t look too comfortable at times.
54 min: Australia spread their wings out wide, they’ve stretched the Kiwis, but Boyd and Dugan get their wires crossed! Half a chance absolutely butchered there; would you guess some of these guys haven’t played too much with each other? Dugan on the wrong line, and the pass goes harmlessly out. A let off.
51 min: DWZ escapes the attentions of Radradra under a cross-field kick, but the Kiwis struggle to get metres. They only muster 35m in their six, before Johnson resorts to the boot.
Now it’s Radradra and Inglis combine – it’s a break down the left flank but what a flying saving tackle that was from Kahu! The fullback’s saved a try there, and in the following play it’s the Brisbane youngster knocking it dead under pressure.
New Zealand with another drop out; they need to hold on here!
49 min: Some good runs from the NZ big men here. Bromwich looks to energise things, and Taupau gets some nice metres but he is absolutely clattered by Tamou! Massive hit, best of the game so far.
Nightingale looks to try his hand (feet?) at kicking, but his song is far from sweet; out on the full, and the moment is lost. Australia back with it.
46 min: A meandering attack here, it seems to be only Johnson looking to make things happen for the Kiwis but they’re handed an opportunity as Dugan spills it.
Some hints of a infringement in the tackle there, but New Zealand won’t mind because they’re getting some back-to-back sixes.
They probe, and test, but it’s all a bit scrappy. Australia hold on.
44 min: Johnson kicks well, and Boyd is forced to scamper out of his in-goal area. Radradra with another explosive run; solid metres there.
Thurston puts up a deepish-bombish effort; but that’s not really tested the Kiwi backline. Righto. What can they do with this six.
Penalty! Australia 12-0 New Zealand
No mistake from Smith, the gap is two converted tries.
Overly-cautious from the Aussies there? They could have sent a real message by taking the tap there; but perhaps with JT prone, the easy two was enough.
New Zealand really need to get some consistent time with the ball here, or it could start to get ugly.
Second half: Australia 10-0 New Zealand
40 min: Australia with the kick off, and they work a good opening set of six. Another cross-field bomb, designed for the human-impala Blake Ferguson.
Nightingale does well, and defuses, but he’s forced in-goal. NZ with a line drop out.
JT’s down in backplay – he got absolutely collected by Sam Moa, mooshka. Penalty to Australia, they elect to go for the easy points, Smith with the kick, as a groggy JT gets back to his feet.
Anyone following this from Fiji? Especially keen to hear your thoughts on Radradra’s first forty, well, thirty, in a green and gold jersey.
I imagine some wouldn’t be best please seeing the flyer line up for Australia, but then plenty have said they’re just happy to see a local lad playing on the bigger stage.
We’ll see how that particular story unfolds, as the players head back out on to the field.
Updated
The Kiwis having to get through a fair bit of defensive work – forty-odd more tackles for the visitors than the hosts; they really didn’t punish Radradra’s spell back in the sheds. But was that worth a penalty try? He certainly gave Proctor the full force of both hands in shoving him off the ball.
From there, Australia were reasonably comfortable going forward; metres looked easy in the middle of the ground, but some resolute defence on their own line.
Your thoughts on that first forty?
Half-time: Australia 10-0 New Zealand
40 min: The hooter sounds, but the Kangaroos really give it a good last shake. Ferguson darts down the right flank before chipping back inside. It’s collected in-goal by a teammate but some brilliant scrambling NZ defence and the ball is jolted free.
Some nice drama right at the death, the Kiwis really needed to keep that out, and they did.
Half-time, but it’s been Australia with the lion’s share of possession and metres, despite that early sin-binning.
Updated
39 min: It’s the Kangaroos probing again, nice stuff from Morgan to get just metres short of the line, but the Kiwi defence stands tall.
JT goes to the last; tries the double pump but it strikes the formidable midriff (sic?) of Thaiday, who’s pretty comfortably wrapped up.
New Zealand with a steady six, before Australia look one last shot.
37 min: DWZ looking pretty groggy, but the video refs were pretty quick to rule ‘arm-to-head’ contact. Hopefully the youngster’s okay, he seems to be back up.
No try, but JT avoids getting put on report for the infringement.
36 min: It’s a grubber to test the backline; JT tries to gather and Watene-Zelezniak spills it in-goal.
Greg Inglis grounds it; is this another try? Or was their high contact in the tackle?
34 min: The Kiwis need to make sure they close the last five-six minutes out here well; if Australia cross again, you’d surely think this one would be starting to get away from them.
Moa with a decent carry before Johnson’s kick allows Radradra to really wind up. He loses the ball in the tackle, but the referee had already called held.
The Kangaroos on half-way with four tackles to play.
Try! Australia 10-0 New Zealand (Inglis)
Too big, too strong! GI throws the dummy, then goes himself. JT and Morgan get it through the hands, and there’s no stopping Inglis from that range!
Thurston from the touchline, attempts another bending banana effort, but he’s well wide. No extras added.
32 min: Real ropey stuff here for the Kiwis! Tamou almost gets through and an attempt at a one-on-one strip earns the Kangaroos six more. It’s really ragged defence by about tackle ten, and here’s GI!
30 min: Johnson with a fine little grubber, and it’s forced by GI. Nice from the Kiwi halfback, he’s rewarded with a line drop out.
JT a bit lucky there, he went to ground to block Johnson’s attempt at recovering his own kick, and there was a very slight sniff of another professional foul there. Johnson complains, but to no avail.
Brown looking to keep the pressure on but McGuire throws a hand out to strip the ball. Dugan and friends now get a look at the NZ backline.
28 min: Penalty to New Zealand; they hadn’t done much with that set, but JT gets pinged for a hand on the ball. He got away with one earlier, so perhaps fair.
Kiwis with a chance here, 20m with a full six. What can they muster?
25 min: Tamou makes a real good lunge for the line – legs pumping like the rather-large engine that could, but Johnson does enough to hold on.
Australia get the last again and Ferguson absolutely flies to take the cross-field bomb! That’s an Cazaly-worthy leap from the winger; but he comes down 3m the wrong side of the stripe. Shame that, a wonderful leap; but the Kiwis hold on.
23 min: Cronk tries the 40-20 but doesn’t quite pull it off.
NZ with some much-needed time with ball in hand; and they manage to keep off a dangerous, swirling bombed kick.
Boyd hangs on, and Australia enjoy another penalty – this time Blair’s the infringer, done for roughing up Radradra, but to be honest, there really didn’t look to be much in that. Tough on the Kiwis.
Updated
21 min: Now I do have the score from the curtain raiser for tonight’s clash, between the Jillaroos and the Kiwi Ferns, but for those watching on TV, that’s coming up later.
I’ll keep the spoilers in the bag then, but twitter’s probably already ruined that for you any way. Sounds like a pretty quality clash, and great to see women’s league getting free-to-air coverage.
Penalty! Australia 6-0 New Zealand (Thurston)
No mistake from right in front, and it’s a converted try the difference.
17 min: Radradra’s back on the pitch, and gets another run at it. Any bets on how long he’ll stay back out for?
I’m not encyclopaedic in my knowledge; when’s the last time a player was sent off twice in one match? Has that ever happened? It that even possible?
Australia are having a good hard look at New Zealand’s right-side defence this time. The Kiwis seem to hold up pretty well, before Blair is penalised for ‘flopping in’.
Silly one there, they almost looked like they’d held on – but now it’s JT with a shot from right in front.
Phil Malcolm’s written in:
I’m skiving at work to watch your updates. Don’t blow my cover!
Best Haka was the 2008 Tri nations final. Willie Mason mouths off at Wiki leading the most fearsome haka of all times then gets absolutely levelled about 45s into the game. British commentator looked at his prone form and declared “He’s in Disneyworld!”
Lovely stuff.
And lovely stuff from you too, Phil. Don’t worry your secret’s safe with us.
Try! Australia 4-0 New Zealand (Boyd)
Blake Ferguson was quick to celebrate with his teammate, but others seemed less sure. So real concerns over whether there was a double movement there; it looked for a second like The Bunker wasn’t going to have much of it. On-field ref liked it enough to suggest yes, so there you go!
Thurston misses the conversion with a bending, hooking effort – 4-0 it stays.
13 min: Crucial patch here – the Kiwis really need to hold out, because this could be a morale-killer if the side with twelve gets past them.
Darius Boyd is held just inches out – has he got any of the pill on the white line? Has he grounded it?
The ref’s going upstairs..
11 min: Penalty to Dugan; the Kangaroos would be loving this; they’ve hardly felt the effect of playing with just twelve men. Cameron Smith in absolutely no hurry to take the kick to touch; but he eventually, reluctantly does so.
Darius Boyd has a real good look at the Kiwis left edge defence, before Thurston sneaks the grubber in. Good cover from Kikorima to snuff out a try, but he’s been pinned in-goal.
Line drop out from NZ.
1o min: It’s a lovely move from the Australians, they spread wide early and it’s Blake Ferguson charging for the corner; he’s desperately close – but has the sliding defence done enough?
Replays show the winger’s lost it in the tackle before he can ground it; good scrambling defence from the Kiwis, and they’re rewarded with a 20m restart.
8 min: New Zealand probe, and test the defensive line; they get only metres short, but on the last a scampering Johnson is slung into touch by Inglis – a quality contribution from big GI!
Australia get through their set, and now it’s fellow acronym Johnathan ‘JT’ Thurston coming up with a massive move. He hassles the Kiwi ball-carrier in the tackle, and it’s deemed a knock-on.
Australia 20m out, with a full set of six to come.
No try! Australia 0-0 New Zealand
So, the Kangaroos escape censure in the form of a penalty try, but it’s ten in the bin for their debutant Fijian! Semi’s off, and now it’s the Kiwis testing the try line again.
Not the best start to your international career, I’d warrant – off for a professional foul!
6 min: Ooh, what’s going to happen here!
Johnson with a nice little grubber to send Proctor through, but he’s shoved wide from Radradra. It looked like a might great push on first sight, and the ref’s gone upstairs to see if there’s scope for a penalty try.
What’s the verdict going to be? Also, will Semi be off to the bin?
5 min: Cronk goes to the air, before Greg Inglis absolutely nails Proctor in the tackle. Metres are hard to come by at the moment; it’s a determined patch of defence, but Dugan’s been pinged for hanging on too long in the tackle.
Penalty, and NZ are with it again 30m out.
3 min: An early penalty to New Zealand; they take their first 30m out, and Bromwich (Jesse) leads from the front.
First touch for debutant Ma’u, but he’s received a pass on the chest he wasn’t looking for, and the decoy runner’s fooled everyone, including himself and put it down, just 5m out! A bit of a let-off for the Kangaroos, there.
Kick off!
1 min: And we’re under way! New Zealand with the pill first; no mistakes bringing it out before Johnson sends a reasonable kick up-field.
Radradra with his first touch, and don’t the Kiwis give him a bit of a going over. Similar treatment for Gallen, before Australia too safely navigate their first set of six.
Both anthems have been met with respect up in the Hunter; not too many international fixtures come up Newcastle way, so what a treat this will be for Novacastrians.
And here’s the Haka. No forward motion from the Aussies, looks like they’ve learned their lesson. A few whistles early on, but the crowd seemed to generally enjoy it.
The players are in the dressing rooms, running through some last-minute stretches, and the Haka isn’t too far off. Anyone game to predict whether the Aussies will bring back the ‘slow march’ to greet it? It worked so well at the 2013 World Cup..
Speaking of Hakas, do you reckon the Kiwis can top this one?
Not only is this soccer players – sorry, actors masquerading as soccer players (which is at least a refreshing change from soccer players trying their hand at acting) – but it was also all just a massive stunt for a corporate sponsor.
What’s not to love?
Hello Newcastle, hello world – Richard Parkin here with you for this latest chapter of an ancient rivalry. Call it the ANZAC Test, the Trans-Tasman Test, the clash for the Bill Kelly Memorial Cup – whatever name it goes under, you know what you’re in for: 34 mountains of man-flesh just going at it, for 80 minutes.
A lot of talk presuming that because of injuries and other miscellaneous withdrawals that this is a weakened Kiwi outfit; try telling that to some of these kids in black and white – especially promising youngster Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Parramatta running fridge Manu Ma’u who come into this squad for their debuts.
Kearney will have these boys up for it, make no mistake – especially if it means ruining Mal Meninga’s first game in charge.
The Kangaroos coach is confident his Queensland Australia side can do the job with the holy trinity of Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith expected to deliver, as they have on so many occasions. There might be no Billy Slater, but Darius Boyd is in handy form, so expect these experienced characters to help quiet any nerves from Australia’s four debutants.
As always, we want to hear from you, the people – send your thoughts, predictions, premonitions to richard.parkin.casual@guardian.co.uk, or @rrjparkin via the twitters.
Where are you following tonight’s coverage from? Stuck at a bah (or bat) mitzvah and forced to sneak furtive glances at your phone? Let us know!
Preamble
With Origin around the corner it’s sometimes tough to get gee-ed up for a mid-season one-off Test match, but pipe down you nay-sayers, there’s still plenty at stake in this Trans-Tasman clash.
It’s been 63 years since a New Zealand side has won four straight against Australia, and you’d imagine that’s a pretty handy motivation.
Sadly, Stephen Kearney’s side has been ravaged – genuinely pillaged, sack of Rome style – by injury; not aided by the non-selection of key Warriors stars like Manu Vatuvei, Ben Matulino and Bodene Thompson due to their recent prescription-meds-related indiscretions.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall is the latest scratching, he joins Isaac Luke, Kieran Folan, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Simon Mannering, Dean Whare (need I go on..?) as non-selections; factors which make the Kangaroos solid favourites, no doubt pleasing first-game coach, Mal Meninga.
A few controversies in camp-Kangaroos however; many haven’t looked too favourably upon the selection of Fijian flyer Semi Radradra in the green & gold; he’s one of four debutants, including Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan and Blake Ferguson.
You’d argue traditional powerhouses Australia really don’t need the leg-up of raiding the ranks of significantly smaller nations, but having lost the number one ranking to New Zealand in recent times, the Kangaroos selectors are presumably keen to not take too many chances.
For Origin fans, it’s a pretty Queensland-heavy looking Roos side; no surprises the former Maroons supremo has backed the players he’s stood by at state level. But should they come unstuck tonight, don’t imagine NSW fans will be too impressed with just four representatives on display.
Plenty of pressure on Meninga and his men therefore – if ‘Dad’s Army: the Reboot’ goes south, expect repercussions ahead of the Four Nations. Either way, this should be a cracking start to a massive weekend of representative footy.
Richard will be with you shortly but in the meantime, take a look at what Paul Connolly had to say earlier today about the current state of international rugby league in Australia.
