Rugby League World Cup: England hammered by Australia

by Nesta Quin, our correspondent Down Under

Despite having many of its players poached by the French Rugby Union and England’s Super League, the Australian Rugby League team, the Kangaroos, tonight in Melbourne buried any hopes of an exciting World Cup by dismantling England 52-4 in a match that was as entertaining as it was embarrassing.

England had no answer to the power, speed, skill and suntans of their Antipodean adversaries and for much of the match the Australians toyed with the visitors with the ease of a croc with a German tourist in its jaws. 

England tried hard but were outclassed all over the park. The biggest difference between the sides was around the ruck where Australia had the Queensland quartet of Cameron Smith, Scott Prince, Darren Lockyer and Billy Slater calling the shots and creating opportunities in every set of six.

England’s kicking game was almost non-existent and several times on the last tackle they kicked in hope rather than with purpose and they suicidally gave Australia advantageous field position time after time.

On the attack near the tryline they were no better and this was highlighted when fullback Billy Slater ran the length of the field to secure his hatrick after an errant grubber was picked up by his Melbourne and Queensland team mate Greg Inglis.

The most embarrassing moment of the match happened when in desperation England attempted a short kick off only for Inglis to snaffle the pigskin and trot 50 metres untouched to score under the posts. 
England’s captain Jamie Peacock never stopped trying and James Graham gave all he had but the rest of the team did their best work before the kick off when singing God Save The Queen. 

Barring the outbreak of the ebola virus in the Kangaroo camp or a morbidly scary Haka from the Kiwis, the Rugby League World Cup will be staying where it has for the last three decades; collecting dust in the trophy cabinet at ARL headquarters.

AUSTRALIA 52 (G Inglis 3, B Slater 3, A Laffranchi 2, J Monaghan tries; S Prince 8 goals) bt ENGLAND 4 (J Roby try)

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