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Rugby League World Cup 2017

Twizzle

The Alpha Male
May 25, 2008
4,955
4,735
Starts end of this week. Fist game for England is against the good guys on Friday Night Australian time

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1. Billy Slater 2. Dane Gagai 3. Will Chambers 4. Josh Dugan 5. Valentine Holmes
6. Michael Morgan 7. Cooper Cronk
8. Aaron Woods 9. Cameron Smith 10. David Klemmer
11. Boyd Cordner 12. Matt Gillett 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Wade Graham 15. Jordan McLean 16. Josh McGuire 17. Tyson Frizell
18. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 19. Ben Hunt 20. Tom Trbojevic 21. Felise Kaufusi


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1. Jonny Lomax 2. Jermaine McGillvary 3. Kallum Watkins 4. John Bateman 5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop 7. Luke Gale
8. Chris Hill 9. Josh Hodgson 10. James Graham
11. Sam Burgess 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Sean O'loughlin

Interchange: 14. Alex Walmsley 15. Chris Heighington 16. Tom Burgess 17. James Roby
18. Ben Currie 19. Kevin Brown 20. Mark Percival 21. Scott Taylor


Match Officials
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Other officials TBC
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
I'm not really a fan of Rugby League, but wouldn't it be quicker to just say that this is the final?

New Zealand can come on at half time if one of the other teams is being thrashed.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I probably used to watch as much League as Union 10-15 years ago, but I find it an increasing struggle to watch any RL nowadays... The game is so robotic and structured now, partly down to defences being so well drilled but that's not the sole excuse, and especially in the Super League standards have gone down and its all rather mediocre.

The international game is a bit of a farce, with players routinely switching nations and padding out teams to make a competition. Half of these teams are going to be packed with Australian players getting a gig wherever they can.
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
Heart says England but my head can't see anyone stopping Australia as they're stacked even without Thurston. Looking forward to watching Tonga the most, I might even put a bet on them beating the Kiwis.
 

Twizzle

The Alpha Male
May 25, 2008
4,955
4,735
I agree about Tonga, bit of a wildcard and will surprise a few teams.
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
I agree about Tonga, bit of a wildcard and will surprise a few teams.

Them, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea could well be the highlights of this tournament. Plus, it's great to watch Aussie and Kiwi players defect to the Pacific islands for a change.

Shame the coverage by the BBC is absolute crap. They're only showing the England matches and highlights for every other nation.
 
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talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
So I'm no expert but that defending for the first Aussie try was NFL levels of terrible.
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
So I'm no expert but that defending for the first Aussie try was NFL levels of terrible.

That was fatigue. England's failure to finish their sets and the persistent pressure it generated took their toll.

A much better performance in the second half though. Once England played a more expansive game they had some success and would have tied it up with a bit more composure.
 

Twizzle

The Alpha Male
May 25, 2008
4,955
4,735
Australia 18 - England 4

Venue: AAMI Park
Crowd: 22724
Halftime Score: Australia 10 England 4

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Billy Slater
2 points - James Graham
1 points - Cameron Smith

AUSTRALIA (18)
Tries: Matt Gillett, Billy Slater, Josh Dugan
Field Goals:
Conversions: Cameron Smith (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Cameron Smith (1/1)

ENGLAND (4)
Tries: Jermaine McGillvary
Field Goals:
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (0/1)
Penalty Goals:
 

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,437
6,677
I've now done some research, and for me it's hard to look past Lebanon.
I'm watching a replay of Aust v Lebanon. Its not my sport really being a South Aussie but don't mind watching some bigger games.
The Lebanon team had me interested, as we have a massive Lebanese community in Australia. Sure enough, they all, bar one player, live and were probably born here, and are coached by the legend Brad Fittler. :ROFLMAO:
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
:ROFLMAO: So happy to see this tournament blow up in NZ's face. Call out Tonga, lose. Throw shade on Fiji, lose. Maybe less talk next time?
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
giphy.webp
Me in those final minutes.

Credit to Tonga, that fight back was amazing but England really need to address this problem of going missing at the end of matches.
 
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Caboose

Active Member
Oct 20, 2003
824
90
Phew!!

Imagine if that had gone up to the video ref. A toss of the coin for who goes through to the final and it would have come down to an English ref.
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
Phew!!

Imagine if that had gone up to the video ref. A toss of the coin for who goes through to the final and it would have come down to an English ref.

I'd imagine the video ref was sat there thinking 'don't refer that, don't refer that, please for the love of God don't refer that'.
 

Caboose

Active Member
Oct 20, 2003
824
90
I'd imagine the video ref was sat there thinking 'don't refer that, don't refer that, please for the love of God don't refer that'.
Haha! If it was me up there I would have clocked off early!

Thinking about it though, had it been referred upstairs the ref would have given a no try referral based on his actual decision and I don’t see how it could be overruled as it’s not clear whether it was a knock on or stripped.

I bet McGillvary is a relieved man, should have taken the tackle and no had the ball stripped just before.

Great game though, hopefully the final won’t be as one sided as the last!
 
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