Nine-time winners Australia sounded an ominous warning to their rivals with a comprehensive 30-6 victory over New Zealand in their rugby league World Cup opener yesterday.
The Kangaroos put five tries past the Kiwis, two to 19-year-old center sensation Israel Folau, with his Melbourne Storm teammates Greg Inglis and Billy Slater cashing in with a try each.
Australia continued their dominance over New Zealand to stretch their unbeaten World Cup run against them to 13 games.
PHOTO: EPA
It was a blow to New Zealand’s chances of wresting the World Cup trophy from Australia and they now face a battle with opening day winners England for the second spot in Pool 1.
Scrum-half Johnathan Thurston cast aside a match-eve family tragedy to lead the Kangaroos to victory before 34,000 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Only a day after his uncle was beaten to death in a park in Brisbane, Thurston produced a composed performance, having a hand in three of Australia’s five tries, landing four goals and directing the attack in a man-of-the-match effort.
He was brought off in the 72nd minute, taking his record to eight wins from as many Tests for Australia.
Captain Darren Lockyer was another standout player, making a seamless return 18 months after he last played for Australia.
Lockyer and Thurston have not played together since Queensland’s last match of last year’s State of Origin series, but they quickly slotted into the groove to control the tempo of the match.
Nothing went right for the Kiwis with their only player from the English Super League, Wigan scrum-half Thomas Leuluai, largely ineffective and star Wests Tigers standoff Benji Marshall well below his best.
Manly center Steve Matai was also put on report for a high tackle on Kangaroos’ lock Paul Gallen in the 13th minute that may lead to a suspension.
The only shining light for New Zealand was a strong solo try by Melbourne Storm forward Sika Manu in the 27th minute, as he scattered three defenders in posting the Kiwis’ only try of the game.
The Kangaroos will take on England in Melbourne next Sunday, while New Zealand face Papua New Guinea on Saturday.
■ FRANCE 36, SCOTLAND 18
AFP, CANBERRA
Skipper Jerome Guisset scored two tries as France launched their rugby league World Cup campaign with a 36-18 victory over Scotland in their Pool 2 match yesterday.
The Catalans Dragons back row made a successful return to the ground where he played four games for the Canberra Raiders in 1999 to lead “Les Chanticleers” to a six tries to three victory and make a big down-payment on a semi-final spot.
The French, coached by Australia’s former Wigan mentor John Monie, had to work hard to put away the dogged Scots, who trailed 18-12 after 53 minutes, but could not withstand France’s strong finish.
With 12 players from the English Super League’s Catalans outfit, the French are favorites to win their way through to the semi-finals from their pool, which also includes Fiji.
Standoff Thomas Bosc and scrum-half Maxime Greseque combined well to initiate most of their side’s attacks, with Lezignan prop Adel Fellous proving a handful with his dynamic running.
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