Rugby League Tri-Nations 2005

[nibbs]

lol @ australia... 24-0

 

[Blaze]

lol @ australia... 24-0

Yes Nibbs lol indeed. We are the world champions of league.

If it hadn't been for the socceroos, Australia would have had one of their worst sporting years in a long, long time.

 

[bugssy]

well done to the kiwis however i think its now time for a change at the gtop of the ladder, hey bennett, time to move on pensioner and let a younger coach take over........

 

[Tim]

Yeah I was quite shocked to wake up and see 24-0, but thats a great result considering we've still got Williams & Marshall to come back into the team.

 

[Zinzan]

Yeah I was quite shocked to wake up and see 24-0, but thats a great result considering we've still got Williams & Marshall to come back into the team.

Don't forget The Volcano !!!! - Lesley that is.


On the game....did Australia just play incredibly badly or was it a case of the kiwis not allowing them to play? Bit of both I say.

Even at half time I wasn't convinced NZ had it in the bag. I've seen us blow leads too often before, but once Australia were forced to play catch-up, the mistakes came. IMO the Aussies played far too flat...meaning they were under immense pressure when recieving passes leading to all the knock-ons.

But It was just one of those days where the bounce of the ball went against Aussie and for us.

Ruben Wiki was just inspirational!!!

Aussie fans may try and argue they were missing a few players such as Locker. But when you consider NZ were without Marshall, Sonny Bill and The volcano then its not much of an argument.

A glorious day for NZ sport. Lets just hope our cricketers are inspired by their winter code cousins.

 

[Blaze]

Bennett has to go. Hopefully this puts some hunger back in the aussie jersey. They never seem to play with passion these days. Now that they are no longer number 1 they should have plenty of motivation to prove their critics wrong.

Bring on the Anzac day test next year. Man that will be a ripper.

NZ at full strength

1. Webb
2. Webster/Vainakolo
3. Toopi/Whatuira
4. Vagana/Hape
5. Vatuvei/Utai
6. Marshall
7. Jones
8. Rauhihi
9. Faiumu/Hohiaha/Tony
10. Wiki
11. Sonny-Bill
12. Pritchard
13. Halutau/Anderson

14. Asotasi
15. Cayless (either)
16. Lauitiiti
17. Kidwell

Probably forgetting some guys but sill that is a pretty good looking team. Australia are in for a tough 5 years (at least) IMO

 

[Burpey]

Hopefully that get rids of Bennett. I've never really rated him as a coach, he just had an awesome team at the Broncs in the 90s. Also, his selections were terrible (eg Mason and O'Meley)

However, congrats to the Kiwis. Better team, deserved to win it

 

[Zinzan]

Hopefully that get rids of Bennett. I've never really rated him as a coach, he just had an awesome team at the Broncs in the 90s. Also, his selections were terrible (eg Mason and O'Meley)

However, congrats to the Kiwis. Better team, deserved to win it

Also it was pretty clear which team wanted it more

 

[chaminda_00]

Bennett got to go, his best days are well past him.

Well done to the Kiwis they played brilliantly thoughout the tournment apart from that one game against GB and really deserved to be world champs. They have really put International League back on the sporting map. The next ANZAC Test is going to be something special.

 

[JASON]

Brilliant Performance by the Kiwi to beat the Aussies !!

This is supposed to happen only once in several years, but having done it twice in the same year the kiwis are making a habbit of it !

Brilliant efforts from Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones, Brian Mclennon(Coach), the whole team in fact !!

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Better savour this one.

It could be another twenty years before we give Australia such a hiding.

 

[Craig]

Is it me or does Matt Cooper look he is trying to grow a mullett? Just look at the back of his head...

 

[Burpey]

Is it me or does Matt Cooper look he is trying to grow a mullett? Just look at the back of his head...

Yeah, he is. He had a rat's tail during the year as well. He has a fascination with growing that part of his hair

 

[shaka]

Wat a sweet victory that is.

 

[Burpey]

You know the biggest positive out of the series? No injuries to Dragons players!

 

[Smudge]

You know the biggest positive out of the series? No injuries to Dragons players!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, sums up the futility of international rugby league.

 

[Craig]

Yeah, he is. He had a rat's tail during the year as well. He has a fascination with growing that part of his hair

Personally he looks like a bogan with that rat's tail he is growing.

 

[Burpey]

Personally he looks like a bogan with that rat's tail he is growing.

I don't think anyone would dispute it, himself included. He did grow up in the Illawarra, big chance of being a bogan.

 

[SquidAU]

It's been hard being an Aussie sports supporter this year......the Ashes, the Wallabies, the Kangroos

27 years of dominance ends the same year 32 years of pain and disappointment ends.

I guess I feel neutral now.......

 

[bugssy]

Bennett has to go. Hopefully this puts some hunger back in the aussie jersey. They never seem to play with passion these days. Now that they are no longer number 1 they should have plenty of motivation to prove their critics wrong.

Bring on the Anzac day test next year. Man that will be a ripper.

NZ at full strength

1. Webb
2. Webster/Vainakolo
3. Toopi/Whatuira
4. Vagana/Hape
5. Vatuvei/Utai
6. Marshall
7. Jones
8. Rauhihi
9. Faiumu/Hohiaha/Tony
10. Wiki
11. Sonny-Bill
12. Pritchard
13. Halutau/Anderson

14. Asotasi
15. Cayless (either)
16. Lauitiiti
17. Kidwell

Probably forgetting some guys but sill that is a pretty good looking team. Australia are in for a tough 5 years (at least) IMO

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dont forget a 1 dean haletal (incorrect spelling but hey)