This wasnt supposed to be the plan my pommy friends. You were supposed to play like that last week, not against us. I wrote them England off after last weeks pathetic fringe defense. I thought Bridge & Fox were excellent and definely shored up their right hand defense. Their world class pack was also awesome.
Now go out their and smash this lacklustre Australian side and get the monkey off your back.
In 1990 I watched my first Aus Vs GB series as a young buck. In game 1 GB pulled off a massive win at Wembley. Game 2 and only the brilliance of Ricky Stuart & Mal Meninga save the Lions from snatching a draw. Game 3 rolls around and GB choke badly. Australia wins easily.
In 1992 I watched with great excitement a Lions tour of Australia. In the first test, Australia smash GB, with the likes of Daley, Langer & Meninga running riot. In game 2, the Lions extract revenge and hammer the Aussies in Melbourne. I vaguely remember Offiah & Schofield playing extremely well in that game. In game 3 GB were always a step behind of Australia. The Lions pushed them, but the Roos were never going to lose even if Offiah scored a late try to bring the scores close. Another missed opportunity for GB.
1992 World Cup Final The match is close all game until Kevvie Walters puts Steve Renouf over for a try to win the WC in the final few minutes.
1994 and the Kanagroos head over to GB in what would ultimately be the final real Roo Tour. The 94 series follows a similar pattern as the first. GB come out and stun Australia with a victory in the first game at Wembley, this time with only 12 men. Jonathan Davies..what a player. In games 2 & 3 Rick Stuart comes back into the side like he did in 90. The Canberra connection of Stuart, Daley, Meninga, Walters, Clyde & Mullins run riot on the Lions, winning both games comfortably.
1995 World Cup Australia sends over a B team. England manage to defeat this weakest Kangaroos side ever assembled 20-16 in the first game. Australia B manage to somehow miraculously make the final after an extra time victory over the Kiwis in the semi final. England choke in the final, and Australia B scab a 16-8 win.
In 1997 Super League sends over a considerably stronger Kangaroo side with the likes of Daley, Langer, Ettingshausen, Sailor, Nagas, Tallis, Clyde, S.Walters & Lockyer on board. Australia dominates the first game winning 37-20. I remember Kenny Nagas bagging 3 tries in that game. In game 2 the Lions fight back with a 20-12 victory. In the deciding match, the worlds best player at the time Laurie Daley shows his class by scoring 3 tries and leading the Kangaroos to victory.
1999 Tri Nations GB choke again and get slaughtered 42-6 in Brisbane by the Kangaroos.
2000 World Cup Australia easily defeat GB 22-2 in their only meeting of the tournament.
In 2001 Australia cut their tour of GB short due to 9/11. They still played 3 tests Vs GB however. In the first game, it was 90 & 94 all over again with GB pulling off a great victory 20-12. Games 2 & 3
bang, bang. GB chokes again.
2002 Sydney Test Match LOL
In 2003 no one seemingly wants to go on a Kangaroo Tour with 15 odd players pulling out due to a variety of reasons. Australia sends over a squad which rivalled 95s for sh*ttiness with players such as Phil Bailey, Hegarty, DeVere, Villasanti, included. An aging Darren Smith makes the test side while playing out of the SL. Michael Crocker plays 5/8. Morley gets sent off in the first game after peforming a coat hanger in the first 5 seconds. GB loses all 3 games in the final 10 minutes. Choke, choke, and choke.
2004 Tri Nations GB push Australia hard but end up losing 12-8 in their first meeting. In their second encounter, GB stuns Australia with a great 24-12 victory. In the final, the Kangaroos obliterate GB in the first half. Australia ends up winning 44-4. A bad choke by the Lions.
2005 Tri Nations GB gets dominated by Australia in both games. 20-6 & 26-14. GB pull off a victory against the tournament winners NZ though. So it gives them hope for the following year.
2006 Tri Nations GB pull off an awesome victory in Sydney, with Sean Long playing particularly well. The Lions end up outclassing the Kangaroos 23-12. In their second meeting, the Lions choke yet again and the Kangaroos dominate 33-10.
2008 World Cup Smashed to pieces in Melbourne. Ouch. Choke.
And we all saw what happened last week.
Im still waiting after all these years Poms!!
Dont let International Rugby League down.
Carpe muthaf*ckin Diem!!!