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Before I done a review on 1992 and 1993 and got a lot of feedback, this time Im doing a post on the 1995 World Cup.
The 1995 World Cup was to be a successful international competition, the first time in history that a single world cup had contain more than four teams. But despite all the conflicts and controversies in not only Australia but the world of Rugby League, with Super League, that saw many players and clubs turn their back on representative football to sign with Super League, the 1995 Centenary World Cup would celebrate 100 years of Rugby League. The World Cup was staged in England with the 10 teams containing Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and South Africa.
The year of 1995 would be the beginning of the turmoil in Rugby League, but it didn’t stop what would be a successful moment in International Rugby League.
The Australian team contained all of the ARL signed players and no Super League aligned players, which meant they were without the likes of Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Alan Langer, Bradley Clyde, Glen Lazarus and many more. Penrith Panthers playmaker Brad Fittler, who would later sign with the Roosters, was announced as Australia’s captain and Australia’s squad to England contained 25 players:
Brad Fittler (c), Wayne Bartrim, Tim Brasher, Mark Carroll, Mark Coyne, Brett Dallas, Jim Dymock, David Gillespie, Paul Harragon, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns, Nik Kosef, Paul McGregor, Steve Menzies, Billy Moore, Danny Moore, Adam Muir, Robbie O'Davis, Dean Pay, Aaron Raper, Jason Smith, Geoff Toovey, Rod Wishart. Gary Larson replaced Paul Harragon during the tournament due to injury.
Australia went into the World Cup as favourites, with New Zealand and England the other two teams likely to pinch the title.
The Kangaroos opened their campaign against England at Wembley Stadium, which drew over 40,000 fans. They started off with Steve Menzies scoring the first try of the match. But an amazing turnaround saw England recover to score two tries and lead at half time, the Aussies came back not long after the break, but a try to English centre Paul Newlove had sealed it, England upstaging Australia in the opening game of the world cup to win 20-16. After their win over Australia this was their best chance to take back the trophy to the mother country. For Australia though their next task was an easier one.
They took on South Africa, rugby league’s minnows, at Gateshead. A number of rookies forced their way into the team including Andrew Johns, Aaron Raper, Nik Kosef, Adam Muir, Matthew Johns. Paul Harragon captained Australia for the first time. The match started off well, Australia scoring try after try in quick succession and never looked like losing. In all they tore apart a South African side to win 86-6, a record score for an international. Andrew Johns couldn’t have asked for a better debut scoring 30 points. Paul Harragon sustained a nasty injury and was later ruled out of the tournament, his replacement was Gary Larson.
The next match was against Fiji at Huddersfield, a team that had the likes of Noa Nadruku. But Fiji were no match for the Australians who outclassed them 66-0. Andrew Johns, who had retained place after an individual performance the match before, was once again outstanding. Brett Dallas also contributed scoring 4 tries in the match.
Australia’s easy run got tougher, they made the semi-finals and played New Zealand. This was a tough task for the Australians, although they started off pretty well thanks to Steve Menzies and Brad Fittler. At one stage they led 20-6 and looked like wrapping it up, but New Zealand never gave up scoring 3 more tries to level the scores. A try to Kevin Iro with 2 minutes remaining, locked it up at 20 all and it was up to Matthew Ridge’s conversion to win the game for New Zealand. Unfortunately it missed and the game was forced into extra time. But Terry Hill’s try in extra time wrapped it up for Australia winning a nail-biting game 30-20 and would advance into the final. Australia met rivals England in the final, who defeated Wales in the semi final.
The final was played at Wembley in front of 66,000 fans. Australia had named an un-changed line up from the semi final, with Andrew Johns forcing his way into the side at hooker. For England their forward pack led by Andy Platt was ready and prepared for a big one. They started off well getting a penalty in the early in the fourth minute. Bobby Gouding’s penalty goal put England in the lead 2-0. Australia struck back however, after a mistake from the kick off by England. Rod Wishart scored a controversial try in the corner, thanks to a grubber kick from Johns. Australia lead 6-2. The match was physical and tough, Mark Carroll was making hard hit ups, Dean Pay was making some classy tackles and Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler gave the English defence headache’s. England gave it everything but still couldn’t get over the line. Not even a Martin Offiah 70-metre bust, in which fullback Tim Brasher brought the winger down. Two more penalty goals from Australia and another from England, had the Aussies leading 10-4 at half time.
Early in the second half England kicking game got the better of them, a dummy half move from them had finally got them over the line, with a try to centre Paul Newlove. The score was 10-8 but unfortunately Gouldings conversion out wide was unsuccessful. The match got tougher from both sides, both of them targeting the opposition’s goal line. It finally worked for Australia; a try to Tim Brasher in the 70th minute had given them an 8-point lead and the match looked well but over. England tried to force their way over but it was Australia’s defence and Brad Fittler’s courageous performance that got the Aussies home for their 8th World Cup win and their continuing dominance since 1975. Australia won the match 16-8, and Andrew Johns was later named man of the match. Brad Fittler described it as one of his greatest moments in his career.
Although there were cricket scores and some poor crowds, it is still one of the best World cups in history, despite all the controversy with Super League. Australia had done it in style even without the likes of Daley, Stuart, Clyde and Ettingshausen.
More great moments to come.
The 1995 World Cup was to be a successful international competition, the first time in history that a single world cup had contain more than four teams. But despite all the conflicts and controversies in not only Australia but the world of Rugby League, with Super League, that saw many players and clubs turn their back on representative football to sign with Super League, the 1995 Centenary World Cup would celebrate 100 years of Rugby League. The World Cup was staged in England with the 10 teams containing Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and South Africa.
The year of 1995 would be the beginning of the turmoil in Rugby League, but it didn’t stop what would be a successful moment in International Rugby League.
The Australian team contained all of the ARL signed players and no Super League aligned players, which meant they were without the likes of Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Alan Langer, Bradley Clyde, Glen Lazarus and many more. Penrith Panthers playmaker Brad Fittler, who would later sign with the Roosters, was announced as Australia’s captain and Australia’s squad to England contained 25 players:
Brad Fittler (c), Wayne Bartrim, Tim Brasher, Mark Carroll, Mark Coyne, Brett Dallas, Jim Dymock, David Gillespie, Paul Harragon, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Andrew Johns, Matthew Johns, Nik Kosef, Paul McGregor, Steve Menzies, Billy Moore, Danny Moore, Adam Muir, Robbie O'Davis, Dean Pay, Aaron Raper, Jason Smith, Geoff Toovey, Rod Wishart. Gary Larson replaced Paul Harragon during the tournament due to injury.
Australia went into the World Cup as favourites, with New Zealand and England the other two teams likely to pinch the title.
The Kangaroos opened their campaign against England at Wembley Stadium, which drew over 40,000 fans. They started off with Steve Menzies scoring the first try of the match. But an amazing turnaround saw England recover to score two tries and lead at half time, the Aussies came back not long after the break, but a try to English centre Paul Newlove had sealed it, England upstaging Australia in the opening game of the world cup to win 20-16. After their win over Australia this was their best chance to take back the trophy to the mother country. For Australia though their next task was an easier one.
They took on South Africa, rugby league’s minnows, at Gateshead. A number of rookies forced their way into the team including Andrew Johns, Aaron Raper, Nik Kosef, Adam Muir, Matthew Johns. Paul Harragon captained Australia for the first time. The match started off well, Australia scoring try after try in quick succession and never looked like losing. In all they tore apart a South African side to win 86-6, a record score for an international. Andrew Johns couldn’t have asked for a better debut scoring 30 points. Paul Harragon sustained a nasty injury and was later ruled out of the tournament, his replacement was Gary Larson.
The next match was against Fiji at Huddersfield, a team that had the likes of Noa Nadruku. But Fiji were no match for the Australians who outclassed them 66-0. Andrew Johns, who had retained place after an individual performance the match before, was once again outstanding. Brett Dallas also contributed scoring 4 tries in the match.
Australia’s easy run got tougher, they made the semi-finals and played New Zealand. This was a tough task for the Australians, although they started off pretty well thanks to Steve Menzies and Brad Fittler. At one stage they led 20-6 and looked like wrapping it up, but New Zealand never gave up scoring 3 more tries to level the scores. A try to Kevin Iro with 2 minutes remaining, locked it up at 20 all and it was up to Matthew Ridge’s conversion to win the game for New Zealand. Unfortunately it missed and the game was forced into extra time. But Terry Hill’s try in extra time wrapped it up for Australia winning a nail-biting game 30-20 and would advance into the final. Australia met rivals England in the final, who defeated Wales in the semi final.
The final was played at Wembley in front of 66,000 fans. Australia had named an un-changed line up from the semi final, with Andrew Johns forcing his way into the side at hooker. For England their forward pack led by Andy Platt was ready and prepared for a big one. They started off well getting a penalty in the early in the fourth minute. Bobby Gouding’s penalty goal put England in the lead 2-0. Australia struck back however, after a mistake from the kick off by England. Rod Wishart scored a controversial try in the corner, thanks to a grubber kick from Johns. Australia lead 6-2. The match was physical and tough, Mark Carroll was making hard hit ups, Dean Pay was making some classy tackles and Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler gave the English defence headache’s. England gave it everything but still couldn’t get over the line. Not even a Martin Offiah 70-metre bust, in which fullback Tim Brasher brought the winger down. Two more penalty goals from Australia and another from England, had the Aussies leading 10-4 at half time.
Early in the second half England kicking game got the better of them, a dummy half move from them had finally got them over the line, with a try to centre Paul Newlove. The score was 10-8 but unfortunately Gouldings conversion out wide was unsuccessful. The match got tougher from both sides, both of them targeting the opposition’s goal line. It finally worked for Australia; a try to Tim Brasher in the 70th minute had given them an 8-point lead and the match looked well but over. England tried to force their way over but it was Australia’s defence and Brad Fittler’s courageous performance that got the Aussies home for their 8th World Cup win and their continuing dominance since 1975. Australia won the match 16-8, and Andrew Johns was later named man of the match. Brad Fittler described it as one of his greatest moments in his career.
Although there were cricket scores and some poor crowds, it is still one of the best World cups in history, despite all the controversy with Super League. Australia had done it in style even without the likes of Daley, Stuart, Clyde and Ettingshausen.
More great moments to come.
