This is the final of the 2005 rugby league Tri-Nations series between Australia and New Zealand at Elland Rd, Leeds, Saturday 26 November. Australia had eliminated Great Britain the week before, a result that the Kiwis were sweating on since they’d been hammered 38-12 by the Lions in their previous outing. Australia went into the final clear favourites, as they’d not lost a series or tournament final since 1978, and the Kiwis hadn’t beaten the Kangaroos twice in the same year since 1953. But, having broken their 46-year old Sydney hoodoo earlier in the series, the Kiwis had some cause for confidence. The Kangaroos were missing key players from earlier in the tournament like Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns but still sported a strong experienced side, while the Kiwis had missed rising stars Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall throughout the campaign. The Kiwis were buoyed by Stacey Jones’s decision to again postpone his retirement to play in the final, a decision necessitated by Lance Hohaia’s injury against England A, although Jones only arrived back in England one day before the final after attending the birth of his child in New Zealand earlier that week.
Teams:
New Zealand: 1. Brent Webb; 2. Jake Webster; 3. Paul Whatuira; 4. Clinton Toopi; 5. Manu Vatuvei; 6. Nigel Vagana; 7. Stacey Jones; 8. Paul Rauhihi; 9. Motu Tony; 10. Ruben Wiki (c); 11. David Kidwell; 12. Louis Anderson; 13. Shontayne Hape. Reserves: 14. David Faiumu; 15. Roy Asotasi; 16. David Solomona; 17. Ali Lauititi. Coach: Brian McClennan.
Australia: 1. Anthony Minnichiello; 2. Matt King; 3. Mark Gasnier; 4. Matt Cooper; 5. Brent Tate; 6. Trent Barrett; 7. Craig Gower; 8. Petero Civoniceva; 9. Danny Buderus (c); 10. Jason Ryles; 11. Luke O’Donnell; 12. Craig Fitzgibbon; 13. Ben Kennedy. Reserves: 14. Craig Wing; 15. Willie Mason; 16. Mark O’Meley; 17. Steve Price. Coach: Wayne Bennett.
Referee: Steve Ganson (England)
27 сен 2024
