Tag: Kiwis

Australia Firm Favourites to Wrestle Back Four Nations

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Major sporting tournaments aren’t usually hyped up with words like, “consistency”, “structure” and “control”, but in the case of the Four Nations rugby league final featuring New Zealand and Australia this weekend, they’re the words that accurately describe the qualities of the final’s favourites.

The Kangaroos are the overwhelming favourites to win Sunday’s final at Anfield because of their mastery in sucking the life out of opposition teams and forcing them into capitulating errors. It’s a formula that has served them well in all three of their round-robin games in the tournament thus far, and a structure that fellow finalists, New Zealand, have struggled to adjust to in their previous four meetings.

With the best completion rate of the tournament, the fewest errors made and the most experience playmaking spine imaginable, the Kangaroos should get the better of the undermanned Kiwis. Let’s look at the key talking points that reinforce their favouritism:

Teams

Australia: Darius Boyd, Blake Ferguson, Greg Inglis, Josh Dugan, Valentine Holmes, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (c), Aaron Woods, Boyd Cordner, Matt Gillett, Trent Merrin, Michael Morgan, David Klemmer, Tyson Frizell, Shannon Boyd, Jake Trbojevic, Justin O’Neill.

New Zealand: Adam Blair, Jesse Bromwich (c), Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, James Fisher-Harris, David Fusitu’a, Tohu Harris, Shaun Johnson, Jordan Kahu, Solomone Kata, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Issac Luke, Te Maire Martin, Manu Ma’u, Kevin Proctor, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau.

Team Selection Talking Points

Australia: Sam Thaiday’s absence will be felt by the Australia forward pack. On a playing field that’s been reduced by 9 metres – a move that is expected to create a game dominated by forwards – Australia have opted for Jake Trobojevic and Boyd Cordner to replace the big man. Although there could be changes once the teams actually run out.

New Zealand: David Kidwell is keeping people guessing, but Tohu Harris is expected to race to replace Thomas Leuluai at standoff. The thinking must be that the defensive edge and big game experience that he brings to the team is more favourable than the flair but inexperience of six game NRL Penrith player Te Maire Martin.

Form

Australia: The pre-tournament favourites have looked imperious in the tournament thus far. After rolling Scotland, resting some of their stars and still holding out the Kiwis and turning in a dominant second half to dispel the English, the Kangaroos are rightly at short odds to take out a second global title on the bounce. Mal Meninga has shown his success at Queensland wasn’t just about the players, as he’s instilled a belief and a culture amongst his team that has resulted in them playing sensational footy.

New Zealand: Even before the Kiwis loss to Scotland their form had been scrappy. Illustrated by the narrow win against England in round 1, and an inaccurate display against Australia the week after. But the real worry was the attitude and desire shown against the Scots last week. In a game they were expected to dominate, the Kiwis only just managed a draw. Andrew Johns was super critical of their arrogance ahead of the game and the control exerted by Shaun Johnson. While not entirely fair, the message is clear. The Kiwis must show passion right from the kickoff, start well and eliminate mistakes if they’re to be any chance in the final.

That said, history shows us they do get lucky in one-off finals from time to time.

Odds

Australia: $1.25 from Sportsbet.

England: $4.33 is the best for the Kiwis at Bet365.

Prediction and Tips

Who are we to bet against Kangaroos playmaker, Jonathan Thurston who is set to play his final game on English soil having never lost a game. Interestingly, Wikipedia already has Australia as the winners and New Zealand as the runner-up. Australia by 14.

Rugby League: ANZAC Test Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

International Rugby League – ANZAC Test Preview

Who

Australian Kangaroos v New Zealand Kiwis

Where

Suncorp Stadium

When

Friday, 7.45pm (Australian Eastern Time)

Odds

Australia – $1.44

New Zealand – $2.87

Form

Most recently, the Kiwis enjoyed narrow wins over Australia in their past two meetings during last years Four Nations.  The wins came against severely weakened opponents so we’re taking the recent form with an almighty grain of salt.

Despite turning Suncorp in to an overseas fortress, winning four of their past five there (including one against England), New Zealand have won just one-from-15 Anzac Tests since the annual clash’s inception.

Teams

Australia: 1 Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) 2 Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs) 3 Michael Jennings (Roosters) 4 Will Chambers (Storm) 5 Josh Dugan (Dragons) 6 Jonathan Thurston (Cowboys) 7 Cooper Cronk (Storm) 8 Matthew Scott (Cowboys) 9 Cameron Smith (Storm) 10 Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers) 11 Greg Bird (Titans) 12 Sam Thaiday (Broncos) 13 Corey Parker (Broncos).

Interchange: 14 Luke Lewis (Sharks) 15 Trent Merrin (Dragons) 16 Nate Myles (Titans) 17 James Tamou (Cowboys) 18th man: Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) 19th man: Josh Papalii (Raiders).

New Zealand: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4 Peta Hiku, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Kieran Foren, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Tohu Harris, 12 Kevin Proctor, 13 Simon Mannering (c).

Interchange: 14 Thomas Leuluai, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Sam Moa, 17 Greg Eastwood, 18 Lewis Brown.

Preview

History is New Zealand’s enemy tonight.

The Kiwis, who have a tendency to score first before badly running out of steam, are looking to overcome 13 straight ANZAC test match defeats, and will need to call upon every inch of NRL form that exists within their squad.

The New Zealand underdogs have belief after last years Four Nations, but injuries to key personnel including Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kieran Foran, and Jason Nightingale may have curtailed any momentum garnered from last seasons tournament win.  Instead they will rely on form front rower Jesse Bromwich and the electric footed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to inspire an upset that would leave a lot of punters upset.

Tim Sheen’s Australian squad are bolstered by several names who missed last years Four Nations finale, in addition to bright prospects Alex Johnston and Will Chambers.  Greg Inglis gets a chance to play his preferred fullback position after Billy Slater was ruled out through injury, and that in itself is a reason to tune in tonight.

Other mouth watering prospects include Cronk v Johnson, Scott and Woods v Matulino and Bromwich, Luke v Smith.

Prediction

Australia’s stranglehold over the annual fixture looks set to continue in tonight’s 2015 edition (also the 100th anniversary of the first major contribution of ANZAC troops in the First World War).  Despite the Kiwi’s Four Nations win (including the back to back wins) the Australians have too much quality on paper and are traditionally to fit for their trans-Tasman rivals in the early season figure.  We’re predicting the Kangaroos to pull away in the final quarter to win by 14. 

Sportsbet Betting Special

Representative Round Special – Place a Win / Try Combo bet on any Representative (Fiji v PNG, Samoa v Tonga) match this weekend and if your player scores a try but the team loses, you’ll get your cash back.

Kiwi’s Claim Four Nations Title in Thriller

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A sodden and windy ‘Cake Tin’ was the venue on Saturday night for a thrilling match completely befitting of the high quality Four Nations tournament where the Kiwi’s were the worthy winners, withstanding a late kangaroos onslaught to win 22-18.

The Kiwi’s led by an impressive display by their forward pack, and in particular Simon Mannering and Mattin Taupau, were well on their way to their first consecutive over Australia in 61 years when Mani Vatuvei crossed to give them a ten point lead with twenty minutes to play.

But as is their want the Australians never went away. An incredible team try finished off by Ben Hunt saw them close the gap to jut six points and when they had a full as of six inside the opposition twenty, heart break seem entirely possible.

As it was, referee Paul Bentham spotted a forward pass in a play that rule out a Sione Mata’utia equalizer, and the Kiwis escaped.

However, it was all the Kiwi’s deserved given they were the better side throughout the Four Nations finale.  Showing rare poise the Kiwi’s have potentially ushered in a new area of increased competitiveness against the traditionally superior Kangaroos.  The young side will undoubtedly take tremendous heart and belief from the four week series where the roles of Pita Hiku, Dean Whare, and Shaun Johnson have become more defined.

The result was not always inevitable, especially after Australia made the faster start.  Benefitting from two early penalties the visitors heaped pressure on the NZ goal line and that told when Whare and Johnson collided and failed to defuse a fairly innocuous bomb to allow Michael Jennings to score.  As the penalty count evened up, Shaun Kenny-Dowall was able to find open space and put the wheels in motion for NZ’s first try through  Jason Nightingale.  When Vatuvei scored his first try by isolating young winger Mata’utia the Kiwis ran out to an impressive half time advantage and finished strongly to nullify the shaky start.

Despite anxious moments at the beginning and end of the second half Shaun Johnson glorious solo effort was enough to crown the Kiwi’s Four Nations champions for the second time.  The memory of Johnson’s blistering speed and skinning of Greg Inglis will long live in the memory of Kiwi fans as they cling to a new hope of a golden era of New Zealand Rugby Leaue spearheaded by Johnson and Kieran Foran.

Observations

  • Australia missed Jonathan Turston enormously in this Four Nations tournament.  Cooper Cronk’s frailties were brought to fore, and the entire squad lacked Thurston’s spark and creativity, not to mention his extreme desire to win.

 

  • Jason Taumalolo deserves all the hype.  The fleet footed forward is the real deal; a destructive metre eater who last night added some cute offloads to his game.  Steven Kearney will do well to focus the Kiwi’s future game plans around him, Jesse Bromwich, and Taupau.

 

  • Australia will bounce back strongly.  Giving 11 debutants from a squad of 24 a taste of Four Nations rugby league was never going to be easy.  Ultimately, it proved too tricky for Tim Sheens, but the depth that has now been built in the wider squad will hold the team in good stead for the 2017 World Cup.

 

  • The one referee concept made a mockery of the 10m offside line.  Despite allowing a focus on decision making consistency the system didn’t necessarily settle the debate on whether the NRL should move back to one ref.

Four Nations Finalists Found After More Drama

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Drama and Destruction were the themes in two contrasting Four Nations matches this weekend.  New Zealand and Australia’s dominance of the Four Nations continued with both sealing finals births.

New Zealand v England (16-14)

The Kiwis scraped into the Four Nations final with a narrow victory over a gallant English side in the penultimate round of the Four Nations.

The Kiwis only needed to avoid a heavy defeat to sew up a Four Nations final birth, but instead chose the more dignified route, winning by two points in front a raucous Dunedin crowd.

The game was close for the duration with only a conversion separating the sides after Gareth Widdop cruelly hit the upright with this first two attempts.  Despite being close, this one always had the feel of a New Zealand victory, thanks in part to their fleet footed forward pack that ate up metres in the middle of the park.

A frenetic start saw four tries in the first 30 minutes, all to wingers, a theme that continued for the rest of the game.  Jason Nightingale’s early opener was cancelled out by a Ryan Hall effort before Josh Charnley briefly gave England their only lead of the night.  The wingers then continued to dominate the key plays.  Nightingale scored a try – Vatuvei bombed a try – Hall bombed a try – Hall scored a try.

Thomas Leuluai made a massive impact for the Kiwi’s both defensively and in the attacking end, compounding Isaac Luke to a fair few minutes on the bench.  Simon Mannering was epic in defence too and worthy of a mention.  England again showed they can match it with the top two of International league, and in James Graham, Geaorge Burgess and Daryl Clark have three forwards to build their future plans around.  That’s provided George Burgess doesn’t follow his brother to Rugby Union.

The finish lacked points but in keeping with the tournament trend, was full of tension.

The Kiwi’s can celebrate by turning their attention to the Four Nations final in Wellington on Saturday night.  The English, well they celebrated with a visit to a famous Dunedin student flat and smashed the front door down.

 

Australia v Samoa (44-18)

Joining New Zealand in the Final are the Kangaroos as they easily saw off the surprise package Samoans in Wollongong by 44-18.

After shaky performances in the first two weeks of the Four Nations the Australians finally played to their potential, relying on superstars Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans.

Cherry-Evans’ 30 minute breakaway try effectively sealed as much and ended Samoa’s bold Four Nations campaign.  Ill-discipline was the killer for the Samoans, Joey Leilua who was so dynamic against the Kiwi’s last week only bothered chalking up penalties this week rather than the more sought after Rugby League stats such as metres, line breaks and tries.  Josh McGuire who many believe should’ve have been playing for Australia, and not Samoa, was their most effective forward, while surprise package David Klemmer saw his stocks rise with an exceptional display.

The result delivers the expected Four Nations final and a repeat of last years Old Trafford showpiece.

Luckless Samoa Denied At The Death (Four Nations)

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England and Samoa were the unlucky teams in a pair of nail-biting finishes rarely seen in International Rugby League.

Both sides outplayed their highly fancied opponents and deserved upset wins only to be cruelly denied in the last moments.

New Zealand v Samoa

Shaun Kenny-Dowall’s late try was enough to sink a passionate Samoan effort in the Whangarei sun on Saturday afternoon.  In a game often lacking in quality, but featuring plenty of aggression, the complacent Kiwis were rocked by a powerful Samoan forward pack and riot running / fearsome haircut centre Joey Leilua.

Samoa were the better starters and took a surprise but deserved lead from a Tautau Moga breakaway try.  Moga had been suspended from the first week of games because of a nightclub incident, and his touchline dash may have mimicked his actions avoiding police of the fateful night in question.

The Samoans, who were paying $3 just to lead at any stage, played huge Bronco’s forward Josh McGuire at hooker for the opening stanza, and controlled played nicely through the usually erratic Ben Roberts.  New Zealand on the other hand showed none of their week one Four Nations form; they were untidy, and lacked imagination and spark in the attacking third.

The win for the Kiwi’s was less about their escape, but more about what Samoa achieved.  There is much to admire about the side that in one game have done plenty for the global game.  They have easily made the biggest impact of any of the fourth teams to play in the Four Nations.

New Zealand have not played well in either game so consider England a chance next week.

England v Australia

A finger nail was all that separated the sides on Sunday night in Melbourne.  A fiercely debated TMO decision that went against the English has made their qualifying path to the final much tougher.  The try / no try call came in the dying stages and saw winger Ryan Hall half force the ball and half smack it over the dead ball line while chasing a Liam Farrell grubber.  It probably wasn’t a try in my view, but it was a fortuitous Four Nations escape for the mediocre Aussies.

England dominated the first half; playing with width and enterprise they tired the Australian team who went into the break behind and risking a place in the Four Nations final.  Daryl Clark again ignited the English attack, leading to tries for Kallum Watkins and Ryan Hall.  Unfortunately for the sunburn susceptible English they went into their shell in the second stanza and were left exposed to a quicker ruck initiated by debutant Ben Hunt.

Discipline also let England down as referee Cameron Smith Gerard Sutton penalised heavily as the game’s momentum shifted.  In other highlights: Cameron Smith was man of the match, Ben Hunt was terrific and must play against Samoa, Greg Inglis scores tries for fun, and Sam Tomkins has a questionable new thigh tattoo.

Expect Aussie to put 40 on Samoa next week when the Four Nations picks its finalists.