Australia World Cup Preview
October 17th 2008 08:50
All die hard League fans know there is no need to go through Australia's history to demonstrate why they are raging favourites for this years world cup. Their roster is classy and their style of play is, so far, unmatched.
The nine time world champions are eager to notch up their tenth crown at home to round up the centenary celebrations for Rugby League in this country.
So what could possible bring the Kangaroos back down to earth when the world cup kicks off on October 26th?
Regardless of their dominance, Australia are in a very tough group, which compromises England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
If England and the Kiwis are primed for the occasion, things could get rather prickly for the Kangaroos.
Injuries have also disrupted their cause in recent weeks with the exclusion of key players Justin Hodges, Matt Cooper, Michael Crocker and Brett Stewart.
Throw in the departure of Mark Gasnier and Australia's stocks have been tested somewhat.
But if a side can bring in players like Karmichael Hunt, Darius Boyd and Anthony Tupou into the squad, that alone shows the depth and dominance the Australians possess over the other nine nations in this tournament.
Their finest starting seventeen is frightening to say the least and coach Ricky Stuart knows how to get the best out of his players.
Although all of Australia's players are labelled superstars back at their respective clubs, just who infact will dominate for the Kangaroos when their world cup defence kicks off against the Kiwis at the SFS?
Billy Slater at fullback has the chance to make the no.1 Test jersey his own if he can orchestrate the form that nearly garnered him the NRL's greatest individual honour this season.
Indeed Greg Inglis will be desperate to showcase his unparalleled skills in the centres, after experiencing a lean finals series at five-eighth for Melbourne.
Johnathon Thurston will too, be eager to display his match winning capabilities after enduring his worst season in first grade which ended in the Cowboys just avoiding the wooden spoon.
Maybe Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer will show all the qualities that made him the only present player to be inducted into League's 100 greatest ever Australian players.
The options are indeed endless for this Australian side. They are a world class unit who are able to take a game away from any opposition in the blink of an eye.
But the great thing about the Kangaroos leading up to their world cup assault this year is their consistency.
Australia play for the full eighty minutes. In the end, that's what really separates them from the rest of their opponents.
Whether they are leading by 20 or behind by the same margin, the Kangaroos don’t know how to quit.
Of course all that confidence comes with winning so many world cup titles and playing in arguably the toughest competition on the planet.
If teams in the end want to match Australia's standard of play, they are ultimately going to have to compete with the home nation for the full eighty minutes.
Any drop off in concentration and the Kangaroos put you to the sword, end of story.
If potential challengers England and New Zealand fail to display flair and consistency in the super pool, the Kangaroos should be on their way to claiming a tenth world cup crown.
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