Bundaberg Rum Test
Australian Kangaroos 50 d. New Zealand Kiwis 12

2006 International Test Matches Index [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: International Test Matches

Another one-off test, another Kiwi hiding
Sat May 6, 2006
Year after year we get subjected to it and year after year it continues to happen. The Kiwis come to a one-off test match and then proceed to get hammered.

Have we learnt nothing from past history? The best Kiwi teams are the ones who actually play with a full compliment of players. Why then do we persist with these one-off shambles? Ok, so it makes a bit of money for the ARL and NZRL, but what about the harm it does to the game in New Zealand? Are these games really worth it? You have to wonder.

The Kiwis started off well enough with David Kidwell scoring after David Faalogo was denied the benefit of the doubt moments earlier. People often rave about how these games are played along NRL guidelines and yet the Faalogo no try made you wonder if that was actually so. Kidwells try was the catalyst for Andrew Johns to put his stamp on the game and did he ever.

Johns ensured the Australians played most of the first half at the Kiwis end of the field and then he proceeded to put on a magical display in the second half as Australia carved the Kiwis up at will.

When Timana Tahu scored to make it 20-6 you got the feeling the game was slipping away from the Kiwis. Instead, it was Tahu who actually helped get the Kiwis back in it when he gifted Sonny Bill Williams a try. Moments later, Karmichael Hunt slipped into a Frank Pritchard tackle and the Australians lifted a notch. From that moment on the game was over as the Australians put on 30 unanswered points.

Johns was brilliant for the Australians and it will be nice to never see him in a Kangaroo jersey again. The Kiwis tried hard, but they were no match for the Johns inspired Australians. The decision by the Kiwis to select Benji Marshall probably backfired with Marshall clearly favouring one side when tackling. Williams got better as the game went on, while Tame Tupou had a solid debut. Their kicking game was, atrocious.

Obviously the Kiwis have some work to do before the end of year Tri-Nations, but they do have the advantage of having a host of players still to make returns to the test side, assuming the clubs will release them of course. Australia wont have Johns and that will make a huge difference as there isnt a player in the game today whos on the same planet as him.




Australia win and win easy
Sat May 6, 2006
Australia has bounced back from their Tri Nations embarrassment defeating New Zealand 50-12 in front of a bumper Suncorp Stadium crowd of 44,191 with Karmichael Hunt stretchered off the field in the second half after a big hit from Frank Pritchard.

The Kiwis came into the match full of confidence from the Tri Nations success last year but their effort last night will only heighten the call from Bob Fulton that their Tri Nations success was a "fluke". Australia were red hot with Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Danny Buderus in supreme form whilst Benji Marshall was barely 50% fit and the absence of Stacey Jones was telling.

More than a few points came out of this Test match:

- Australia's Test record during the season since 2000 is staggering and 38-point margins is the norm. New Zealand and Great Britain have no answer and quite frankly there isn't one. Both nations do better in the off season when the mysterious injuries came out.

- Lockyer is still the No.1 fullback in the game and will go close to Immortal status if his career if he stayed there.

- Jones is as important to New Zealand as Johns is to Australia. If the Kiwis can get Jones for the Tri Nations they are a massive chance. However, if Jones is unavailable they are up the creek without a paddle. Johnathan Thurston or Matt Orford will fill Johns' position and they are fine thought but no Johns.

- Hunt was out of his depth despite the scoreline. Australia put on five unanswered tries when he went off the field. Commonsense will now prevail in the future Queensland and Australian fullback selections.

- There is great hope for New Zealand in the future with more new talent emerging. Their two biggest obstacles are going to be the lure of playing State of Origin and the resistance of NRL/Super League clubs to allow Kiwis to play for their country. The problem is that the RLIF don't run the game and it's run by the 27 (soon to be 28) elite clubs in Australia, England, New Zealand and France.

Both sides had early shots at penalty goals with Johns successful and Webb very wide of the mark. New Zealand did get off to a great start when David Kidwell charged onto a reverse decoy play to score near the near posts. Webb missed another easy attempt exposing the lack of kickers, which is a far cry from the Matthew Ridge and Daryl Halligan days. The Kiwis got great field position due to a horrendous pass from Hunt near his own line where Matt King under pressure lost the ball.

Australia scored two tries in the opening half with Johns and Lockyer putting Matt Cooper into space down the left hand side and Mark Gasnier in probably his last Rugby League Test for Australia crashing over in the right hand corner. Johns only coverted the Cooper try with Australia leading 12-4. Webb and than Johns landed penalty goals for Australia to lead 14-6 at the break.

Timana Tahu scored the first of his two tries five minutes into the second half as Australia raced to a 20-6 lead. New Zealand received a lucky break when Tahu tried to tap a chip kick near his line back to Hunt with the ball going loose and Sonny Bill Williams being on the spot to score. At 20-12 there was hope for the Kiwis but the game changed in Pritchard put Hunt out of the match with a hit that was legal last year, however it is illegal this year. The switch of Lockyer back to fullback saw the Australians absolutely cut loose and from there it was by how many.

Australia scored six tries with Johns, Lockyer and Buderus turning it on after the Australian forwards led by Petero Civoniceva and Willie Mason created absolute damage up the middle. New Zealand badly missed Ruben Wiki's leadership, experience and strength as Mason in particular was unstoppable.

Hindmarsh and Tahu scored as Buderus exposed New Zealand's left side defence with Johns converting both tries for Australia to lead 32-12. Mason slipped a great offload to Gasnier who in turn passed to Lockyer backing up from the custodian role to score under the posts for Australia to skip further clear.

Lockyer's first try appeared to put the shutters on the match but in the last three minutes Australia for good measure scored two more tries with Buderus catching out disgraceful defence up the middle to scoot 30m to score under the posts and Johns leaving his last impact on Test football crossing kicking to an open part of the ground where Lockyer scored his second try with the only people competing for the ball being his own teammates including Steve Menzies.

Buderus won the official Man of the Match award and he was absolutely outstanding but not far behind him were Mason, Johns and Lockyer.

New Zealand were disgraced but their lack of depth was exposed missing Jones and Wiki. One player to stand tall for New Zealand was Souths backrower David Fa'alogo and he'll go back to his club side full of confidence that he can handle it against the best. Marshall was still feeling the effects of his damaged shoulder and Williams was starting to hit his straps where he was attempting his trademark shoulder changes as he desperately tried to lift his struggling teammates.

Life without Johns will be interesting for Australia as his return lifted those around him. New Zealand coach Brian McClennan needs a miracle or just Jones if they are to be a chance to defend their Tri Nations title.

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