World Cup Quarter Final
Kangaroos v Samoa
8:30pm AEDT Friday 17 November
Darwin Stadium, Darwin
The round robin matches are done and dusted and it’s quarter final time in the Rugby League World Cup. Friday night sees the Kangaroos head to Darwin for their knock out clash with the Samoans, and they will be turning up the heat on the islanders in more ways than one.
Many fans are still scratching their heads about how Samoa, who haven’t won a game in the tournament, have found themselves with a finals berth over a team like Ireland, who have performed so well and even sprung an upset. But such are the vagaries of this unique competition, and we find ourselves wondering if the Samoans have anything left in the tank that might be able to at least contain the Australians.
For their part, the Kangaroos have returned to a full strength team for the quarter final clash. Billy Slater returns at fullback, and Michael Morgan has retained the number 6 jersey despite not quite dominating in the manner he did late in the NRL season. Somehow, Aaron Woods and David Klemmer are available for selection after dodging suspension for a dangerous tackle, and both return as first choice props. Josh McGuire has won the battle to replace Jake Trbojevic at the back of the scrum, with Wade Graham and Tyson Frizell both earning a spot on the bench. Again, there will be no obvious utility back on the bench, but with plenty of versatility across the backline, Mal Meninga will be hoping Graham can fill a hole for him if need be. This is a clear pointer to the coach’s expectation that this is a battle that will be won and lost up front.
It’s fair to say that the Kangaroos are yet to put together a complete performance in this World Cup. If the Samoans are smart, they will have learnt from the way the Lebanese played the Australians last week, and will be looking to slow the game down as much as possible. If Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are allowed to control the tempo of the game, things could get ugly, but if the Samoans hustle and bustle they can at least look to disrupt the Aussies and take away their rhythm. Despite stellar club seasons, Smith and Cronk have both looked a little clunky at times in this tournament, and with the big games right around the corner, they will be keen to get rid of the rust this week.
The Tongans’ stirring win over New Zealand last week means the Kiwis are more than likely waiting for the Aussies in the semi-finals. On the other side of the draw, expect Tonga and England to progress to next week and meet in what could be an epic showdown. If the Tongans can keep the momentum up and sneak into the final over the English, this will go down as the greatest Rugby League World Cup in recent memory. But for now, get on the Australians to cover the 33.5 start the Samoans are being given. Enjoy your footy!
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