Three weeks of excitement culminates in a final that could go pear shaped pretty quickly if the reports of a savage virus running through the Australia camp is anything to go by.
The virus threatens to derail the confidence gaining Australians who are desperate to overturn a first round loss to the Kiwi’s, and save their coaches’ job. As the media swarm on Tim Sheens and the entire Kangaroos squad, the focus for the New Zealanders has been on finding a way to match the intensity they operated at in game one but have failed to match since. That task has become a lot tougher with the scratching of influential hooker Thomas Leuluai (with a shoulder injury), who was shaping as an important piece of the Kiwi’s ruck defence.
Another major obstacle in the way of a New Zealand Four Nations win is history; The Kiwis haven’t won consecutive games against the Kangaroos since 1953. On the other hand the Wellington venue could provide a home town lift, and the Kiwi’s are always capable of springing a surprise in the final of major tournaments.
The last time the sides met (in the first round of the Four Nations) the Kiwi’s thumped the Kangaroos sprinting away to a 30-12 win. The win was based on aggressive defence and added pressure on the opposition’s superstars. However, since then the Aussie team have got their act together with impressive wins over England and Samoa. As the Kangaroos get more time with each other, and as Tim Sheens settles on his best side, they continue to improve and appear to be on course to become the fearsome all-conquering side we all know.
In Greg Inglis and Cameron Smith they probably have the two best International Rugby League players on the planet, and big finals are usually won by big plays, by big players. That’s why I can’t see them losing this one. Close, but Australia by 6.
Odds
Australia $1.76
New Zealand $2.10
Four Nations odds courtesy of Sportingbet Australia.
Teams
New Zealand: 1-Peta Hiku, 2-Jason Nightingale, 3-Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4-Dean Whare, 5-Manu Vatuvei, 6-Kieran Foran, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Jesse Bromwich, 9-Issac Luke, 10-Adam Blair, 11-Simon Mannering (c), 12-Kevin Proctor, 13-Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14-Lewis Brown, 15-Greg Eastwood, 16-Martin Taupau, 17-Tohu Harris, 18-Gerard Beale, Bodene Thompson (two to be omitted).
Australia: 1. Greg Inglis, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Dylan Walker, 5. Sione Mata’utia, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Josh Papalii, 11. Sam Thaiday, 12. Greg Bird, 13. Corey Parker.
Interchange: 14. Boyd Cordner, 15. Robbie Farah, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Ryan Hoffman, 18. Ben Hunt, 19. Josh Jackson, 20. David Klemmer (three to be omitted).
Win Big – Four Nations Special
First Try Scorer – Adam Blair – $67
Four Nations odds courtesy of Sportingbet Australia.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
