World Cup decider the final frontier for Kiwis
November 16th 2008 07:43
New Zealand find themselves in a rugby league world cup final after disposing of the English 32-22, in a game that neither team played at the level necessary to beat raging tournament favourites Australia.
The Kiwis should have won this game comfortably, considering they raced out to a sixteen lead nil courtesy of tries by Jerome Ropati, Sam Perrett and Lance Hohaia.
When New Zealand had possession in England’s half of the field, they had the space to do as they pleased as the lions defence was helpless on occasions against the Kiwis’ second man play tactics.
England looked amateur in defence when confronted with swift ball movement by the likes of Nathan Fien and Benji Marshall. They had little answers as New Zealand pilled on a start that would overwhelm the English for the entirety of the contest.
Not that they stopped trying. England still believed they could pull a result out of the fire, considering the kiwis did the same last week against the same opposition.
And that’s what the Poms did in the end. Led admirably by Jamie Peacock, England got back in the game, thanks to a barnstorming try from their captain.
That four pointer was the momentum shifter for the English. Their forwards started making easy metres up the middle of the ruck and the Kiwis found themselves back peddling for the last eleven minutes of the first half as the Lions really took their game to another level.
Indeed their pressure turned into points right on halftime, courtesy of a smart and productive play from a scrum in the middle of the field. McGuire was the beneficiary from a pinpoint grubber in behind the New Zealand defence which put England only six behind, despite trailing by as much as sixteen earlier in the half.
England had the momentum and were productively dominating the Kiwis in all areas of the park.
Unfortunately for them, England failed to take their opportunities, as has been the case for the majority of this world cup. The Lions needed to consolidate their pressure but fell short once again against a tiring, but stable Kiwi defence.
Like a worthy world cup challenger, New Zealand made England pay for their lack of execution in their half of the field. The Kiwis were the first ones to score in the second half despite a barrage of English raids.
West’s Tigers forward Bronson Harrison scored the try for New Zealand that stretched their lead back to twelve.
Once again New Zealand were in a position to take the match by the scruff of the neck. But they too failed to capitalise on England’s inadequacies by producing errors of their own.
This time, it was England who benefited on the scoresheet, thanks to a Martin Gleeson solo effort which left the Lions trailing only by six once again.
Just as if the fire was starting to reignite England’s campaign, Kiwis halfback Nathan Fien produced a cross field kick that left the Lions defence in shambles, which allowed Jerome Ropati to score his second try of the night.
The Lions once again replied courtesy of a Danny McGuire solo effort. But neither team was able to turn momentum into points.
Benji Marshall then sealed the result with a try in the corner, after England failed to keep control of a Fien cross field bomb.
While England bid farewell from what was arguably a disastrous world cup tournament for them, New Zealand head to the final, albeit with a mighty task at hand as they seek to put eighty minutes of perfect football together against their most likely opponents - the Kangaroos.
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