2008 World Cup FINAL - Australia v New Zealand *Match Thread*

[Timmah]

Australia will play New Zealand at Suncorp in next weekend's 2008 World Cup Final.

Australian Kangaroos:
Billy Slater; Joel Monaghan, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Brent Tate; Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston; Petero Civoniceva, Cam Smith, Steve Price, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Karmichael Hunt, Craig Fitzgibbon, Anthony Tupou, Brent Kite.

New Zealand Kiwis:
1 LANCE HOHAIA (Vodafone Warriors)
2 SAM PERRETT (Sydney Roosters)
3 SIMON MANNERING (Vodafone Warriors)
4 JEROME ROPATI (Vodafone Warriors)
5 MANU VATUVEI (Vodafone Warriors)
6 BENJI MARSHALL (Wests Tigers)
7 NATHAN FIEN (Vodafone Warriors)
8 NATHAN CAYLESS (c) (Parramatta)
9 THOMAS LEULUAI (Wigan)
10 ADAM BLAIR (Melbourne)
11 DAVID FA’ALOGO (South Sydney)
12 BRONSON HARRISON (South Sydney)
13 JEREMY SMITH (Melbourne)
Interchange:
14 ISSAC LUKE (South Sydney)
15 GREG EASTWOOD (Brisbane)
16 SAM RAPIRA (Vodafone Warriors)
17 SIKA MANU (Melbourne)

COACH: STEPHEN KEARNEY




Australia by 24.

 

[Dutchy]

There was 10 mins left when you posted this.

Way to put the mock on an awesome Fiji comeback!

 

[Timmah]

:lol:!!!!!

 

[dogz08]

Australia 50+ New Zealand 0 ... the way Australia are playing it might happen..

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I think NZL are a much better side than they were in game 1.

 

[wittyfan]

Australia by 32.

 

[jdizzle]

I think NZL are a much better side than they were in game 1.

You're kidding right?

Australia by 40+

I'm not sure if this world cup has been the best advertisement for international league...

 

[Glen from the Mount]

Kiwis by 4.

 

[Chook Norris]

I think NZL are a much better side than they were in game 1.

i think they are too, but so are Australia...... 10X better as well

don't think they can beat this Oz side

Aust by 15

 

[roopy]

Unfortunately the other countries are at a low ebb and Aus seems to have the makings of a great side.
I would have said they might be off pace after two 'soft' games in a row, but both PNG and Fiji have been harder physical opposition than the Poms and Kiwis were, if not up to speed with the skills of the game at this level.

 

[Pierced Soul]

the two soft games wont help australia but i dont thinkt he kiwis are good enough

for NZ to win Australia have to have a very off night (like the 05 tri nations finals) and the kiwi's have to be perfect

 

[hutch]

I'm not sure if this world cup has been the best advertisement for international league...

i think its been a great advertisement. we finally have 8/9 reasonably competitive sides, who arent playing at that bad of a standard. its just that we have australia, by far and away the best rugby side of any code who are playing sensational and peaking at the right time. nz can still possibly upset them, but they will need to play near perfect to get close enough.

 

[Timmah]

Our world cup was far less farcical than anything Rugby served up. Nations like Namibia part of the comp, 142-0 scorelines? Please.

There's been no score greater than 60 from memory, and a lot of close, competitive games.

The final should be another but Australia will skip away at the end.

 

[cb4]

australia got 52 twice i think thats the biggest scores

australia will win this game by 20

 

[Timmah]

NZ team:

1 LANCE HOHAIA (Vodafone Warriors)
2 SAM PERRETT (Sydney Roosters)
3 SIMON MANNERING (Vodafone Warriors)
4 JEROME ROPATI (Vodafone Warriors)
5 MANU VATUVEI (Vodafone Warriors)
6 BENJI MARSHALL (Wests Tigers)
7 NATHAN FIEN (Vodafone Warriors)
8 NATHAN CAYLESS (c) (Parramatta)
9 THOMAS LEULUAI (Wigan)
10 ADAM BLAIR (Melbourne)
11 DAVID FA’ALOGO (South Sydney)
12 BRONSON HARRISON (South Sydney)
13 JEREMY SMITH (Melbourne)
Interchange:
14 ISSAC LUKE (South Sydney)
15 GREG EASTWOOD (Brisbane)
16 SAM RAPIRA (Vodafone Warriors)
17 SIKA MANU (Melbourne)

http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=17232

 

[AuckMel]

I just can't see us playing at the level required for 70-75 minutes to win this game.

New Zealand by 8

 

[kia ora storm]

NZ by 18...Smith to grapple Blair and Inglis to chicken wing Manu.

 

[40/20]

NZ by 4,come on kiwi's

 

[Charlie124]

Australia by Halftime.

 

[typicalfan]

if NZ can stave off the Roos in the opening 20 then they are a shot. If not then its going to be a long night