Australia v New Zealand - 'ANZAC' Test Match Day Thread

[Burns]

Welcome to the Official Match Thread for Discussion of the FINAL EVER ANZAC TEST.

1. Roger Tuivasa-sheck 2. Jordan Rapana 3. David Fusitua 4. Dean Whare 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Issac Luke 10. Adam Blair 11. Simon Mannering 12. Kevin Proctor 13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Matrin Taupau 16. Russell Packer 17. Kenneath Bromwich
18. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 19. Brandon Smith 20. Elijah Taylor

1. Darius Boyd 2. Blake Ferguson 3. Josh Dugan 4. Will Chambers 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Johnathan Thurston 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Cameron Smith 10. David Klemmer 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Matt Gillett 13. Trent Merrin
14. Michael Morgan 15. Jake Trbojevic 16. Tyson Frizell 17. Sam Thaiday
18. Jordan McLean 19. James Maloney 20. Justin O'Neill


TEST INFORMATION
Played at GIO Stadium, Canberra - Capacity: 25,000.
Referee: Matt Cecchin (AUS)
Touchline Officials: Brett Suttor, Chris Butler
Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Televised in AUS on NINE from 7:30pm Friday 6th May
Televised in NZ on SKY from 9:05pm Friday 6th May
Televised in UK on PREMIER from 10:30 am Friday 6th May

Questions/Answers Trivia
Q. How is the Game Selling? - A. Average. Officials said - "The final Anzac Test is unlikely to sellout with the Kangaroos saying tickets were "selling well, but there's still plenty available". http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rug...kangaroos-training-early-20170502-gvxiog.html


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So International RL fans, who wins and why? How important is this game in the grand scheme of the World Cup? Do New Zealand have to win?

Prediction: NZ to win, 26-14.

 

[adamkungl]

Best side NZ have put on the field since the 2014-15 (?) dominant run.

The result could affect WC preparations for Aus.

If Australia win they'll likely take the same side into the Cup, if they lose we could see some old heads and form slumpers drop out. Guys like Ferguson, Dugan, Chambers, Klemmer, Merrin, Morgan, Thaiday should by no means consider there positions safe given the competition.

NZ less spoilt for choice, this game won't effect them much either way. They might consider a win a psychological advantage, as it's the only time they'll play Australia this year before the WC finals.

Aus to win a close game but an improved performance from NZ from last years dour 4N showing.

 

[Coastbloke]

No wonder it's not sold out. There's no real promotion by the NRL and all the rugby league media wants to talk about is SOO..

The NRL is just letting the Mid year Test die a slow agonizing death..

 

[hutch]

Best thing for nz is Australia win this test and take this squad into the World Cup. There are much better players not involved in this Aussie side.

 

[flamin]

NZ team announced:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jordan Kahu 4. Dean Whare 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Kieran Foran 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jesse Bromwich (c) 9. Issac Luke 10. Russell Packer 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Simon Mannering 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Adam Blair 15. Martin Taupau 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Kodi Nikorima
18. Elijah Taylor 19. David Fusitua

 

[Burns]

Welp, we're 40min away from kick off. Have a very irrational fear we're going to see a heavy Australian victory.

 

[Burns]

12-0 to Australia after 18 minutes. Ugh.

 

[kal83]

For a player I thought pretty lucky to be there I think Dugan is having a great game so far.

 

[Burns]

Absolute nightmare result for the World Cup.

 

[Arucard]

How awesome is this Warriors spine?! Going great guns.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Well it's a World Cup year so it was nailed on the Kiwis would tank and ensure there was no way the WC could be promoted as a decent contest. They do it every time. Full strength squad and they put up less of a challenge than the patchwork side last year.

2013 32-12
2008 28-12
2000 52-0

 

[roughyedspud]

Both of us...England & NZ have let Australia off a massive hook the last couple of years..after the 2013RLWC we,NZ & ENG , should have dominated the aging Aussies..?we've both failed to step up

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Both of us...England & NZ have let Australia off a massive hook the last couple of years..after the 2013RLWC we,NZ & ENG , should have dominated the aging Aussies..?we've both failed to step up

What frustrates me the most is that NZL were on a role 2014 and 2015 and then fell off the cliff completely

 

[Irish-bulldog]

Well with kidwell as coach what did you expect lol, never coached an nrl team no f**king chance to beat the best. Nz always suck at these mid year tests, Samoa could of rolled those kiwis.

 

[jim_57]

Yeh not sure Kidwell is the man for the job, he is pretty safe until the World Cup though I'd imagine, same with Bennett and England.

 

[roughyedspud]

What frustrates me the most is that NZL were on a role 2014 and 2015 and then fell off the cliff completely

So where England....losing that world cup semi final,then losing them very tight games in the 2014 4 nations,a finger tip from beating Oz and a technical draw v NZ,we had a penalty 20m out straight in front with 60sec left...in a normal test we'd have taken the 2 to draw,but we needed the win.then beating NZ in the test series in 2015....then we hired Wayne effing bennet

 

[stryker]

Jillaroos would have beaten kiwis tonight. Too many Poly's in the team, every one see's big bodies and assumes its a good side. Need footballers, not flashy Benji clones and half arsed tough-guy chocky soldiers.

 

[Scubby]

How the hell is Kidwell coaching the NZ national team? What is his pedigree? I make it that the Kiwis have won just 1 of their last 8 tests.

 

[adamkungl]

The mid year test is always garbage.
Even if it's a close game, which seems rare (in my mind... this may not be reflected by reality) it's dour.

I won't miss it.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The extra 400,000 people who watch it compare to end of season games will.