| Author | Message | ||
     Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1658 Registered: 9-2004 |
Well done Australia, what a match maybe next time we Brits will win! | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2755 Registered: 4-2003 |
Patrick, Which match - the first Australia - England Cricket Test Match in Brisbane last week or the Rugby League World Cup in Brisbane last night? The Australian Kangaroos captain Boyd Cordner is a local from the small Manning Valley village of Old Bar where my partner has her home: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/rugby-league-world-cup-2017-australia-scrape-out-60-victory-in-final-against-wayne-bennettinspired-england-20171202-gzxh7d.html Crossing the Equator has proved to be a problem for the British teams. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1659 Registered: 9-2004 |
David the rugby world cup, watched it live in the morning here, high humidity was maybe the prob but it was a close call. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2757 Registered: 4-2003 |
Patrick, The problem was the fact that Wayne Bennett, a respected and successful Australian coach was recruited by the English Rugby League expressly for his knowledge of the Australian players and tactics. The way the game evolved was to stop the Australian players by slowing the game down and concentrating on defence to stop scoring and hope for gaps to appear in the Australian defence to score tries. England had several opportunities to score which didn't quite succeed and an upset result could have easily gone England's way. BTW, if truth, luck and refereeing justice had prevailed in the semi-finals; Tonga instead of England would have been playing Australia in the final and the game would have been fast, open and entertaining with a very strong chance that Tonga could have won if things went their way. Tonga have a large number of professional players in Australian and New Zealand first grade teams and the Clubs are also recruiting quality juniors from Tonga for the future. The fact that the overseas Tongan professionals chose to play for Tonga and not Australia/New Zealand indicates strong competition will continue in future World Cups and Fiji may come forward as well especially if their Rugby Union players are poached for the high-paying Aussie/Kiwi professional Rugby League teams. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1660 Registered: 9-2004 |
David, maybe the E R League should have a word with the Tonga personal for help, or maybe the OZ team will be just unbeatable! Time will tell. |
