Rugby League: Australia trounce New Zealand

By PETER JESSUP

AUSTRALIA 48 NZ 6

SYDNEY - There were no signs of an Origin hangover as a committed Kangaroos side hammered a Kiwi team devoid of attacking ideas 48-6 at Aussie Stadium in Sydney tonight.

The lack of serious pace and of specialist players at five-eighth and fullback cost the Kiwis dearly.

Willie Talau was unable to spark anything on attack from No 6. David Vaealiki was found wanting positionally in defence at the back, and the result was a major kick-gain to the opposition, who controlled the game and played it at their pace - at the Kiwis' end.

The pressure produced five first-half tries without response.

The Kiwis had some hard luck with the bounce of the ball, but were generally out-played.

Stacey Jones went off injured in the second spell, Nigel Vagana switched to fullback and Joe Galuvao to the centres, but the tide could not be stemmed and the Aussies kept pushing their advantage via wide balls from Andrew Johns and the pace they had on the flanks.

The Kiwis had come out hard and fast but the Aussies absorbed the physical stuff.

The Kangaroos lost Gorden Tallis after 12 minutes with a right knee medial ligament tear that will keep him out of football for a month. But they didn't lose intensity. They showed no signs of tiredness post-State of Origin, as suspected.

They rose to the occasion and fired - the Kiwis didn't. It was over by the break, the Kiwis 30-0 down and looking lost.

There were bad signs early for the Kiwis. Logan Swann and Vagana smashed Brent Tate and the ball came loose. Vagana raked it back and Swann grabbed what looked a legitimate ball and went untouched 10 metres to the tryline.

The two video refs, Australian Phil Cooley and New Zealander Alan Caddy, called it a strip and denied the points.

The Kiwis twice allowed bombs from Johns to bounce; they left holes in the middle of the park; they allowed the Aussies to make too much ground on each play.

Anthony Minichiello made the big moves for the Kangaroos' first try on 15 minutes, sparking them with a 40m kick-return.

Stephen Kearney gave away the game's first penalty for a high shot, and quick ball from left to right beat the scrambling defence, Minichiello looping a basketball pass to Tate who turned it inside. Matt Sing had a juggle then took the four points.

The home side continued to make too much easy ground. Johns took advantage of the flagging defence with a grubber in goal and Tate cleaned it up, an easy kick making it 12-0 after the first quarter.

The Kiwis looked rattled. They could not make line-breaks.

Tate kicked a ball over the sideline, but the Australians were awarded the scrum. A Jones kick went out on the full. The Kiwis needed something to break their way, but it didn't happen.

Shane Webcke produced a brilliant off-load for try No 3 after 25 minutes, sending Jamie Lyon away and he turned Parramatta team-mate Vaealiki inside out on a run to the posts.

Bryan Fletcher made the big break to grab position for the next try, Willie Mason running an angle to score after 32 minutes.

Lyon had his second just before the break after another Fletcher bust, and it was 30-0.

It was never going to be easy building a comeback after the break. Awen Guttenbeil signalled their intentions to play catch-up early with a ball that went to ground. A few plays later Tate found another big hole and went 90 metres up the sideline, with none of the Kiwis able to keep pace.

It was 53 minutes before they broke the Australian line and by then the Kangaroos were slackening, confident of victory.

The Kiwis won their first penalty of the game when Galuvao was tackled without the ball five metres out and from the resulting plays, Richard Swain found a big hole to run in, then converted his own try.

Joy was short-lived, Sing getting his second when speed again found the Kiwi cover wanting, Shannon Hegarty scoring one on debut, Craig Wing the last, and the crowd of 30,065 hanging around only for the entertainment of sparkling tries to Aussie - not because it was a contest.

Australia 48 (Matt Sing 2, Brent Tate 2, Jamie Lyon 2, Willie Mason, Shannon Hegarty, Craig Wing tries; Andrew Johns 6 goals)

New Zealand 6 (Richard Swain try; Swain goal).

HT: 30-0.