Final: Australia v New Zealand

:00:38. > :00:43.Welcome to the international rugby league on the BBC. This afternoon

:00:44. > :00:46.the two best teams from Down Under battle it out up here at Anfield for

:00:47. > :00:59.the Four Nations trophy. The Kiwis verses the Kangaroos. Walk

:01:00. > :01:05.on. Against the reigning Four Nations champions. With hope in your

:01:06. > :01:09.hearts... Now we see the magic. What a try that is.

:01:10. > :01:21.And you'll never walk alone. And Nightingale will take it to the

:01:22. > :01:28.corner... You'll never walk alone. By Johnson again... You'll never

:01:29. > :01:35.walk alone. You'll never walk alone.

:01:36. > :01:42.Well, we are here at Anfield, as the stadium makes its international

:01:43. > :01:50.rugby league debut with a cracking game. The reigning world champions,

:01:51. > :01:54.Australia take onside ranked number one in international rugby league,

:01:55. > :01:57.New Zealand and the Kiwis will relinquish that title if they lose

:01:58. > :02:01.today. As far as the Australians are

:02:02. > :02:06.concerned, they have the exact same starting 13 that beat England at the

:02:07. > :02:16.Olympic Stadium last weekend. The only change on the bench is Shannon

:02:17. > :02:21.Boyd. As far as New Zealand are concerned, Harris, who normally

:02:22. > :02:27.plays second row comes in at half-back. While we are here at

:02:28. > :02:33.Anfield with a man representing New Zealand in the former Australian

:02:34. > :02:36.international and for once Brian Noble playing the neutral, aren't

:02:37. > :02:40.you? You have to have your sensible head on. If that is possible. I'm

:02:41. > :02:47.the referee today. Yes. How do you see this going? Well, I think

:02:48. > :02:57.Australia are in good form. They are after the number one spot. My

:02:58. > :03:01.feeling the Kiwis will have to do something.

:03:02. > :03:05.It is certainly not, it is a performance issue rather than a

:03:06. > :03:13.belief issue for the Kiwis. They know they can win when playing the

:03:14. > :03:18.Australians. They can perform with Tohu Harris going into the half-back

:03:19. > :03:27.is a big issue for them. Australia have looked so smooth throughout

:03:28. > :03:32.this tournament Any They know what point to get to. They defend really

:03:33. > :03:37.well. As far as New Zealand, they need to think outside the box. They

:03:38. > :03:43.need to play with off-loads and you need possession to do that. As Brian

:03:44. > :03:49.said, Robby, it is not a believe belief issue given what has happened

:03:50. > :03:53.between them over the last decade. Well, looking at the New Zealand

:03:54. > :03:56.team, the narrative out of their camp, is they have not hit the

:03:57. > :04:00.strengths they would have hoped so over the four weeks. What I think

:04:01. > :04:04.they have done is lulling everyone into a false sense of security, so

:04:05. > :04:10.the Australians come in too cocky and they will blow them away today.

:04:11. > :04:14.That is what I am hoping anyway. We will hear more from these three over

:04:15. > :04:19.the course of the afternoon. Right, it is the two best teams in the

:04:20. > :04:21.world going head-to-head, orchestrating the play this

:04:22. > :04:25.afternoon arguably the two best number nines in the world.

:04:26. > :04:33.Getting to play in places like this... We had a go, be involved in

:04:34. > :04:38.the final and we've done that. Cameron Smith, the captain... Going

:04:39. > :04:43.over... A lot of very good judges would say

:04:44. > :04:51.this sees the two best hookers in the world. It is good to be in the

:04:52. > :05:00.same category as Cam. I have been for the last two seasons. Two

:05:01. > :05:06.different type of hookers. Iaaac, he's a runner. When I was on the

:05:07. > :05:12.field we had to be ready. Any little opportunity he's seen,

:05:13. > :05:19.attack, he'll take you on. How he can control the game.

:05:20. > :05:23.Cameron Smith has got the measurement done. That is an

:05:24. > :05:29.inch-perfect kick. He's quite aggressive. And there's a punch-up

:05:30. > :05:35.going on here. You can see how he leads and you see him play, he

:05:36. > :05:39.doesn't look like he's tired. He's always been a threat to every team

:05:40. > :05:47.he's played against. It will be the same this Sunday.

:05:48. > :05:57.What is the art to being a good half? First and foremost you feed to

:05:58. > :06:03.provide good service to your team-mates, have a good awareness of

:06:04. > :06:07.what's going on in the field. Have a good awareness. If you don't it is

:06:08. > :06:12.costly. I wasn't naturally a hooker. I am naturally a full-back. That is

:06:13. > :06:18.probably why they have put me in the mid-. We are a dying -- In the

:06:19. > :06:23.middle. We are a dying breed. Playing in those key positions in

:06:24. > :06:27.the field where we are very much important to our team's performance

:06:28. > :06:34.out there. It has been a fabulous Four Nations. It is the Kiwis who

:06:35. > :06:37.are crowned champion of home soil. And it is your Four Nations. You

:06:38. > :06:45.don't want to give that up lightly, do you? No way. We dug pretty deep

:06:46. > :06:49.to get this top one ranking. We want to be the number one team this the

:06:50. > :06:59.world again. We want the Four Nations trophy. We' made the final.

:07:00. > :07:03.Hopefully. That blings us the number one ranking.

:07:04. > :07:09.Well, a week ago straight down pipside here at Anfield and John

:07:10. > :07:13.will kin will talk us how through New Zealand will play this

:07:14. > :07:18.afternoon. We heard about how returning to being the number one is

:07:19. > :07:22.so important to this test team. A proud nation. Their game has been

:07:23. > :07:27.built on power and punch through the middle of the fieldch we see their

:07:28. > :07:31.forwards here practicing, bursting through the line. One of the key

:07:32. > :07:36.things for the New Zealand side is the likes of these guys over here.

:07:37. > :07:41.Jason Taumalolo, who is about to carry the ball here. Off-loading to

:07:42. > :07:45.Jason Taumalolo. This man here is a huge, huge presence for the Kiwis.

:07:46. > :07:50.Watch out for Jason Taumalolo carrying the ball. Not only that, I

:07:51. > :07:59.believe to break the Australian team down the likes of him, 40-test

:08:00. > :08:05.veteran Blar, we see them bring in others into the game will be

:08:06. > :08:11.crucial. Excited about what this New Zealand pack can do this afternoon.

:08:12. > :08:16.Brian, how you wow describe this -- how would you describe this Four

:08:17. > :08:21.Nations? How would you describe the Kiwis? Bumpy. I don't think they

:08:22. > :08:30.have played at their best at times. They are to find the game with this

:08:31. > :08:36.team. All the Kiwis have the skill set to play second set football and

:08:37. > :08:41.Johnson is on his own today. A lot of pressure on him to attack both

:08:42. > :08:47.sides of the field, as Rob will outline later. You mention Johnson,

:08:48. > :08:52.you always want to talk about Shaun Johnson... Man crush. And show the

:08:53. > :08:58.try where he broke English hearts in the World Cup in 2013. Well, the

:08:59. > :09:02.Australians actually they don't fear anything in rugby but Shaun Johnson

:09:03. > :09:10.could give them some headaches. We know how quality her is. On a one-on

:09:11. > :09:14.one situation, to die for. He can create more prompts, there you can

:09:15. > :09:21.see he's not just holding the guy in front of him, he's holding three in.

:09:22. > :09:26.You can see the three or four arrows, that creates a space.

:09:27. > :09:30.He can do that to not just one defender but many. Australia have to

:09:31. > :09:35.be looking to defend and take his time off the ball. Cut down. This is

:09:36. > :09:38.what happens if you go out one minute out of time he will

:09:39. > :09:42.capitalise on that space and he's going to expose you and once he gets

:09:43. > :09:48.into broken play, absolutely anything can happen. We have seen

:09:49. > :09:53.him create tries and set up tries from these situations. Not only that

:09:54. > :09:58.put good kicks in with a set, defensively right on the

:09:59. > :10:03.opposition's goal line. I think Australia would have spoken

:10:04. > :10:10.about this week, don't spoke him. No-one fly out of the line and spook

:10:11. > :10:15.him. Hold your line nice and straight and you are bluffing, but

:10:16. > :10:20.if someone tries to go crazy at him and spook him in a run at the game.

:10:21. > :10:26.You have to work as a unit to deal with it? And you have to move up as

:10:27. > :10:30.a defensive line, but don't spook him into running into a hole. Shaun

:10:31. > :10:35.Johnson's body works independently of his brain. Its reaction. Took

:10:36. > :10:40.years and years if you run out, he will not set you up and think about

:10:41. > :10:46.it, it will react. Once that broken line comes, that's when it is

:10:47. > :10:51.dangerous to Australia. The other thing he's added to his game, he was

:10:52. > :10:55.as proud of his kicking game against Scotland as he was to do with

:10:56. > :11:02.anything to do with his team work. He will be relying on that. We can

:11:03. > :11:09.move on to Australia and John Wilkin will tell us how they will play this

:11:10. > :11:14.afternoon. You have your full-back, six, seven

:11:15. > :11:20.and nine and we will talk a lot about Cameron Smith but this player

:11:21. > :11:26.plays a fundamental role in everything Australia do. His link

:11:27. > :11:31.with Smith was the unlooking of England. If we look at his kicking

:11:32. > :11:37.game here, it is reputation, repetition. It is what Cooper Cronk

:11:38. > :11:42.brings to this side. If we get over here we will have a chance to chat

:11:43. > :11:46.with Cameron Smith who has led this side for so long. A huge game today.

:11:47. > :11:50.Are you excited to be at Anfield, I am sure? Fantastic. It is where we

:11:51. > :11:55.want to be in this tournament, the final at Anfield. It is a great

:11:56. > :12:00.ground. We are all very excited about being here. What do you expect

:12:01. > :12:04.from New Zealand today? It will be a pretty hot start from both games.

:12:05. > :12:10.They have picked a big, aggressive side. They have some sides on their

:12:11. > :12:13.bench too. A couple of young guys too, which brings excitement to

:12:14. > :12:17.their team. They will be quite physical. Our preparation has been

:12:18. > :12:20.great. We've had some good wins across this tournament and hopefully

:12:21. > :12:30.another one today. All the best mate. Cheers. Thanks. Oh special

:12:31. > :12:33.people En can shorten Cameron Smith. He's just one of several who can

:12:34. > :12:37.marshal Australia around the field. We were talking about the kicking

:12:38. > :12:44.ability of Cooper Cronk, for example. Well, Cameron Smith, Cooper

:12:45. > :12:51.Cronk and Frizell are all great kickers. For three options, three

:12:52. > :13:02.kickers, I think there'll be a few 40, 20s from those guys. New

:13:03. > :13:06.Zealand, the goal kicker is Johnson. Issac a little. You have been

:13:07. > :13:10.looking at something Australia did particularly against England,

:13:11. > :13:16.something they could do today. I think it is a picture, their backrow

:13:17. > :13:22.is good. It is Gillett. Blistering footwork. He tries to hold up the

:13:23. > :13:28.England defence. For our viewers he tries to compress. What he does is

:13:29. > :13:33.open the game up for Smith, for Cronk and for the next player. Here

:13:34. > :13:36.he is against the grain, if that is the right expression, with right

:13:37. > :13:41.footsteps, looking for an opportunity for himself to get

:13:42. > :13:45.through the line. We see five or six England defenders having to pay

:13:46. > :13:52.attention to him. It opens up the outside. Here we are again, who will

:13:53. > :13:59.come up, for Cronk and it is Gillett who is blisteringly quick. Has made

:14:00. > :14:02.several 90-metre breaks. Right footstep, right footstep. He

:14:03. > :14:05.attracts four or five England defenders, which makes the next

:14:06. > :14:09.player more appealing to the Australians. How do you defend

:14:10. > :14:13.against that? You have to straighten off on the inside of the pack. It is

:14:14. > :14:16.not just the guy who has stood inside. It comes all the way back

:14:17. > :14:19.from the marker players themselves. Actually to the other side of the

:14:20. > :14:23.mark of play as well. You have to defend from the inside out. If

:14:24. > :14:27.players come back on the inside and a guy with Gillett's footwork and

:14:28. > :14:34.speed off the mark, for a guy that size, it is dangerous if you don't

:14:35. > :14:38.do it from the inside out. Just the mental part of the game and

:14:39. > :14:42.mental toughness is so important, especially when you get to the

:14:43. > :14:46.biggest games of your career. You look for a moment when someone

:14:47. > :14:50.switches off and if he goes right for it, it might tie in. If he goes

:14:51. > :14:55.right foot again, it is one person who may switch off who can cost a

:14:56. > :15:00.Four Nations final. What happened on the inside, when the ball goes away

:15:01. > :15:04.from him, some lazy forwards go, I feel I can have a rest. This is

:15:05. > :15:08.where we talk about mental toughness, for that player to go, I

:15:09. > :15:13.cannot rest, I can have go from the inside as well. You can have a rest

:15:14. > :15:19.now. Here are both coaches with Tanya. The big team news for you,

:15:20. > :15:24.you put Tohu Harris in. Why did you decide that and why him? I said

:15:25. > :15:29.early on we had full confidence in whoever would feel that role and

:15:30. > :15:33.Tohu Harris has trained there the last three times. We've got full

:15:34. > :15:37.confidence in the job that he's going to do today. You have the same

:15:38. > :15:42.starting 13. Were you happy with what they did last week? Very happy,

:15:43. > :15:45.actually. Considering how well the English played and how well we had

:15:46. > :15:48.to hang in there particularly in the first half. They all deserve their

:15:49. > :15:52.spots this week and look forward to playing out here in Anfield.

:15:53. > :15:55.Obviously that number one spot in the world you want to keep it. They

:15:56. > :16:01.want it back. How much is a focus for that you for? It puts a lot of

:16:02. > :16:05.excitement into the game. To be able to play a ground like Anfield, it

:16:06. > :16:11.makes it more exciting and the boys and I are looking forward to the

:16:12. > :16:16.challenge which is going to be needed for the whole 17 to come out

:16:17. > :16:21.with the outcome we want. You are a Liverpool fan, what is it like to be

:16:22. > :16:24.here? It has been a buzz. With the press conference here with the

:16:25. > :16:31.captain's run, it is awesome venue and hopefully we will get a few fans

:16:32. > :16:40.out there calling for the Australian boys. Enjoy the game. I would

:16:41. > :16:44.imagine it hurts Australia not to be number one in the world? We don't

:16:45. > :16:50.think about it at all! LAUGHTER Everyone wants to be number

:16:51. > :16:53.one. When you are in sport you want to be in number one and hold that

:16:54. > :16:57.position too. It will hurt Australia. This is an opportunity to

:16:58. > :17:01.get it back, I guess. One of the frightening thing I think about

:17:02. > :17:05.Australia is the humility they have shown in this tournament. They are

:17:06. > :17:08.focussed. There is a laser beam focus they have about getting the

:17:09. > :17:13.number one position back. That is frightening for a Kiwi. Has it

:17:14. > :17:18.surprised you, the humility or from the New Zealand point of view? The

:17:19. > :17:24.Australians in the past, it could be argued they have walked around with

:17:25. > :17:27.a cockiness. This is it. The Four Nations final. The number one

:17:28. > :17:55.ranking is on the line as well. This is it. Live from Anfield on the BBC.

:17:56. > :18:01.And we wait for the teams to come out.

:18:02. > :18:06.New Zealand have to start much more quickly than they did at Coventry a

:18:07. > :18:11.couple of weeks ago. They have to be in the game after 20 minutes. If it

:18:12. > :18:23.is a one-score game, then they are. It is a performance for the Kiwis.

:18:24. > :18:26.It is carrying the ball, defending. I think Australia will know they

:18:27. > :18:37.will come with some aggression. This is it. As both teams walk below that

:18:38. > :18:40.famous "this is Anfield" sign. The first rugby game to take place. The

:18:41. > :18:45.Cop is nearly full here at Anfield. And as we have been saying, the

:18:46. > :19:15.number one ranking is on the line, as well as the Four Nations trophy.

:19:16. > :19:24.And as the fireworks go off and the flame burners around the side of the

:19:25. > :19:26.pitch go off, we are ready for the national Ann themes, starting with

:19:27. > :20:05.New Zealand. # Australians all let us rejoice

:20:06. > :21:58.For we are young and free # We've golden soil and wealth for

:21:59. > :22:03.toil # Our land abounds in Nature's gifts

:22:04. > :22:10.Of beauty rich and rare # In joyful strains then let us sing

:22:11. > :22:25.Advance Australia fair # Beneath our radiant Southern Cross

:22:26. > :22:31.We'll toil with hearts and hands # To make this Commonwealth of ours

:22:32. > :22:38.Renowned of all the lands # With courage let us all combine

:22:39. > :22:40.To Advance Australia Fair # In joyful strains then let us

:22:41. > :23:15.sing, Advance Australia Fair. # BOTH ANTHEMS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED

:23:16. > :23:20.THEN AND NOW BEFORE THE GAME GETS UNDER WAY, THE FOUR NATIONS FINAL

:23:21. > :25:38.the New Zealand players Well there is a challenge laid down.

:25:39. > :25:42.It is terrific. Every time we see it, it is terrific. We are about to

:25:43. > :25:48.get the real thing under way in a few moments' time.

:25:49. > :25:55.Shannon Boyd winning his 22nd cap here today.

:25:56. > :26:01.Dugan and Inglis, the centre partnership. The halves, the classy

:26:02. > :26:13.halves of Jonathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk. In the front row of

:26:14. > :26:20.Scott Smith and Woods. In the backrow Cordner, Merrin and Gillett.

:26:21. > :26:26.On the bench Morgan and Klemmer. And a man who has really impressed in

:26:27. > :26:37.this tournament Frizell and Boyd coming into the 17 today. So New

:26:38. > :26:52.Zealand have had a particular backhead.

:26:53. > :26:57.At number six they had had problems. So Taupau plays at standoff today.

:26:58. > :27:04.He is exceptional. Bromwich, Issac Luke in the middle of those. Another

:27:05. > :27:12.potentially eye-catching player. Jason Taumalolo, will we see the

:27:13. > :27:22.best of him today. On the bench Brown and Taupau. Eastwood and

:27:23. > :27:33.Tapine making up that bench. The referee is an Australian.

:27:34. > :27:42.This could be very special. Their journey has taken them through

:27:43. > :27:47.plenty of wind and rain in the past month. It is not golden skies over

:27:48. > :27:52.Liverpool, but Anfield is ready for the coming together of these two

:27:53. > :27:58.great rugby league nations. It is a true heavy-weight fight. The world

:27:59. > :28:02.number one rankings and a four nation's trophy, the price for the

:28:03. > :28:09.winners today. How do we see this going? It will be very tight. Under

:28:10. > :28:13.Keith Mangan they have not conceded more than 12 points apart from one

:28:14. > :28:20.game. They have not been so blunt with

:28:21. > :28:25.ball in hand. The enforced back selection of Harris at centre half.

:28:26. > :28:29.The kicking game will be crucial. Australia the advantage there with a

:28:30. > :28:38.number of kickers. Johnson has had an amazing game, he will play out of

:28:39. > :28:46.his skin. He is the main threat. Really looking forward to this game.

:28:47. > :28:49.It could be a classic. Blake Ferguson patching that easily

:28:50. > :28:55.enough. Australia back in contention. We have seen glimpse of

:28:56. > :29:00.Johnson. Four years ago, in that Four Nations final he was

:29:01. > :29:05.electrifying when New Zealand downed Australia in Wellington and the

:29:06. > :29:09.Kiwis followed his lead. Boy, do they need something similar here

:29:10. > :29:12.today. Australia, starting as favourites. They have been in

:29:13. > :29:16.tremendous form throughout this Four Nations. All three of their games

:29:17. > :29:24.have been very efficient with a great deal of flare. It revolves

:29:25. > :29:31.around the nine-seven-six of Cronk, Thurston and Cameron Smith. There is

:29:32. > :29:35.Cronk with a kick. New Zealand, well get used to this,

:29:36. > :29:40.this will be a familiar theme. New Zealand often have to start from

:29:41. > :29:43.close to their own goal line because of the efficiency of Australia.

:29:44. > :29:52.Relentless efficiency. That is what it is. Late, late call by the

:29:53. > :29:57.referee, on the field said play on. Jordan Rapana thought he had an

:29:58. > :30:03.opening. He's given the knock-on. That's what

:30:04. > :30:09.they do. Great yardage by the forwards. This is a hit, is it a

:30:10. > :30:14.knock-on? Does it go backwards? I think the referee has got it right.

:30:15. > :30:17.Lost control of the ball and although the New Zealand side tried

:30:18. > :30:20.to play on, that is the correct decision from the officials and it

:30:21. > :30:23.is a great attacking set, so early in the game for the guys in green

:30:24. > :30:39.and gold. That's a great ball and Blake

:30:40. > :30:42.Ferguson, with less than three minutes played, scores in the

:30:43. > :30:47.corner. Australia starting in the manner which they hope to play the

:30:48. > :30:57.entire 80 minutes, on the front foot and in the lead.

:30:58. > :31:03.That's a marvellous try, isn't it. Forced by the Australian, defence

:31:04. > :31:07.there, forced the error and then the split three-three, the Australian

:31:08. > :31:10.side and New Zealand went four-two defensively and that created extra

:31:11. > :31:20.man for Ferguson to cross. The outside defender is worried

:31:21. > :31:32.about his place, so the centre goes in. A beautiful pass. He's having a

:31:33. > :31:35.great year, Blake Ferguson, the Sydney Rooster winger. His

:31:36. > :31:38.international debut against New Zealand back in May. He

:31:39. > :31:43.international debut against New Zealand back in May. He is winning

:31:44. > :31:48.his sixth cap tonight, and that is his fifth drive. And one of the

:31:49. > :31:52.easier finishes he has had, created by that fantastic pass. Absolutely

:31:53. > :31:59.on the money. Australia see that there might be a weakness in Paris,

:32:00. > :32:07.the half-backs, they picked him out where he is defending and challenge

:32:08. > :32:11.him straightaway. -- a weakness in Harris.

:32:12. > :32:24.Johnathan Thurston, just in from this right touchline. Readjustment

:32:25. > :32:29.of the body armour. Thurston's kicking has been pretty good

:32:30. > :32:39.throughout this tournament as well. He is not going to be rushed. And he

:32:40. > :32:44.has just, just got it over. We remember it hitting the frame of the

:32:45. > :32:51.gold in the four Nations Grand Final a couple of years ago, and he has

:32:52. > :33:02.had one or two close measures since. You know, it's a problem for them.

:33:03. > :33:05.Brilliant pass by Boyd. Already, a big test of mentality for New

:33:06. > :33:11.Zealand. That draw against Scotland just over a week ago rather deflated

:33:12. > :33:15.them. They are here almost by default because of England's defeat

:33:16. > :33:21.to Australia, and they knew they were coming into it as rank

:33:22. > :33:25.underdogs. To concede so early, they are going to have to dig deep. It's

:33:26. > :33:31.a test of their mental toughness. They've got to hang in, forget about

:33:32. > :33:37.the scoreboard, work the process of rugby league and grind themselves

:33:38. > :33:45.back into the game. Cameron Smith, the dummy half, and Scott to his

:33:46. > :33:48.right. Drawn on. 40 away on the sixth tackle. What price a kick here

:33:49. > :34:02.that puts New Zealand under pressure? A super take. Cooper Cronk

:34:03. > :34:07.of Melbourne and Adam Blair, who was his team-mate up until a couple of

:34:08. > :34:12.years ago. I don't think he was too happy with Blair. He felt he

:34:13. > :34:17.followed through with the challenge, but the official has deemed there is

:34:18. > :34:20.no problem. Already committed. As New Zealand received the ball, they

:34:21. > :34:30.have now got an interference at the ruck. The need to put pressure on. A

:34:31. > :34:37.brilliant take. Pushing the Australian players back. So much

:34:38. > :34:43.traffic, so much pressure from the Australian side. Blair, across the

:34:44. > :34:51.line. Johnson bringing an the attack. Proctor, his off-load is

:34:52. > :34:54.good. Jason Taumalolo, and New Zealand with a decent response.

:34:55. > :35:01.They've got a penalty, which will help their cause. Issac Luke wants

:35:02. > :35:06.to take it quickly. New Zealand have to continue to off-load, to play

:35:07. > :35:09.second phase rugby league. When the Australian defensive line is so

:35:10. > :35:13.difficult to break down, that may be the key to a good New Zealand

:35:14. > :35:19.performance, off-loading the ball and plenty of support around the

:35:20. > :35:25.ball in collision. Six tackles deep inside their opponents' half for New

:35:26. > :35:33.Zealand. Johnson issuing the commands ahead of the kick. And

:35:34. > :35:36.you'd probably sense most of the English- Scottish rugby league

:35:37. > :35:42.supporters here would be on the side of New Zealand.

:35:43. > :35:50.Blair helped it on. Jesse Bromwich striding over the bodies of the

:35:51. > :35:52.Australian defenders, but they just about manage to put him down. Great

:35:53. > :36:12.position by New Zealand. Still tackles in the back. They love

:36:13. > :36:22.that by Jason Taumalolo. They love the physical contact. Five bomb, and

:36:23. > :36:28.here is the last. It's a poor pass. Johnson struggles to recover.

:36:29. > :36:32.Brilliant, out of Blair's handling. Terrific. The kick at the end is

:36:33. > :36:40.overcooked. But Blair, what was that about? New Zealand, their shoulder

:36:41. > :36:43.passes, they are having to check the movement, which takes all of the

:36:44. > :36:48.momentum out of the pace. The first task was to Johnson to say. They

:36:49. > :36:54.need to get the execution better if they are going to trouble the

:36:55. > :36:58.Australian defence. If he had had his hair cut, you would have thought

:36:59. > :37:06.that was Shaun Johnson, Adam Blair. He's a bit bigger. Australia have

:37:07. > :37:09.knocked on. I tell you, for all of the strutting start that they made,

:37:10. > :37:16.Australia, they are rocking a little at the moment. They are, but they

:37:17. > :37:20.will go back to plan one, their defensive work. Good defence, trying

:37:21. > :37:30.to play the ball quickly. Looked as though he lost it in the collision.

:37:31. > :37:42.Boyd Cordner with the error. A fair bit of pressure. New Zealand are

:37:43. > :37:51.asking questions of the Australian defence. Johnson on the inside half.

:37:52. > :37:55.Five tackles to go from here for New Zealand. Again, a great position.

:37:56. > :38:01.Bromwich once more thundering forward. Issac Luke wants it played

:38:02. > :38:06.quicker. Switches it left to Johnson. Inside again to the man of

:38:07. > :38:12.the moment, Adam Blair, who has had a terrific start to this game.

:38:13. > :38:18.Johnson is giving it across. It's gone short for Proctor. He has

:38:19. > :38:24.almost got it through. Two tackles. New Zealand scratching towards that

:38:25. > :38:27.line. Johnson kicked it for himself. No chase, but Darius Boyd still

:38:28. > :38:33.deems it necessary to put behind what a drop. Unfortunately for Shaun

:38:34. > :38:38.Johnson, there is nobody else is there to orchestrate the attack. He

:38:39. > :38:47.has to be on top of his game and so far he's been brilliant. They are so

:38:48. > :38:53.confident in their rock-solid defence. If they put them under

:38:54. > :38:57.pressure, they pound the ball, they say, see if you can break us down,

:38:58. > :39:04.and that is the challenge to the Kiwis. 14-84 Australia when these

:39:05. > :39:11.two met in the group stages of this championship. The first half of that

:39:12. > :39:14.game, Australia very dominant. They couldn't get over the line too

:39:15. > :39:22.often. New Zealand very nearly snatched it at the end.

:39:23. > :39:30.They are making a couple of line breaks. Issac Luke looks left. Jesse

:39:31. > :39:33.Bromwich twists and turns, and just as well for the Kangaroos that there

:39:34. > :39:48.were so many in green and gold. So a penalty. That is better than a

:39:49. > :39:53.try. From an Australian point of view. Despite Jesse Bromwich's best

:39:54. > :39:58.efforts. Australia are not going to allow him to ground the ball. They

:39:59. > :40:05.choose instead to give the penalty away. A great spell for the Kiwis.

:40:06. > :40:08.It started horribly, conceding in the third minute, but their response

:40:09. > :40:15.has been exemplary. Can they turn that into points?

:40:16. > :40:23.Issac Luke goes to the right-hand side and Johnson again. Butter

:40:24. > :40:32.fingered, Shaun Kenny-Dowall. The ball is dropped. That will be a huge

:40:33. > :40:37.disappointment. This is just a calamity for them. First tackle, ten

:40:38. > :40:48.metre area, they had to build the pressure and get something from it.

:40:49. > :40:53.Jon Wilkin on the sidelines. We have seen two ways in which New Zealand

:40:54. > :40:55.can approach Australia, one unfruitful, trying to break

:40:56. > :41:00.Australia down through structure, and the off-loads through Blair and

:41:01. > :41:04.Bromwich, in the game plan before, I thought it would work, and it's down

:41:05. > :41:10.the Australian line. More of that, less of the structured stuff.

:41:11. > :41:15.Australia have been charged with trying to break this ball away from

:41:16. > :41:20.their own goal-line. Cameron Smith that the feet of Ferguson. It is the

:41:21. > :41:23.outside backs who are going to get through some work here to try and

:41:24. > :41:28.make growing pressure on their forwards.

:41:29. > :41:53.Josh Dugan put down. Good use of the short head, creating an overlap.

:41:54. > :42:06.High enough to offer a challenge. Caught by Ferguson. Caught safely by

:42:07. > :42:12.Solomone Kata. You would be happy with that, under pressure, turning

:42:13. > :42:16.the ball over ten metres away from the New Zealand line. Once again,

:42:17. > :42:22.you trust this time the aggressive defence against New Zealand, out

:42:23. > :42:27.from their own half. The revelry offering to go back and play that

:42:28. > :42:33.ball again. Shaun Kenny-Dowall might feel he has a point to prove against

:42:34. > :42:35.Australia, that match against her. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, they are

:42:36. > :42:45.creating the numbers. Johnson makes some space. Valentine Holmes puts

:42:46. > :42:55.the foot down the other way. Back in black. New Zealand blow one chance.

:42:56. > :43:00.Australia work another. A great passage of play. More than a half

:43:01. > :43:05.chance by New Zealand and diffused by Greg Inglis, and Australia

:43:06. > :43:07.countering immediately. Desperate tackle, numbers on the right-hand

:43:08. > :43:26.side. Down goes Trent Merrin. Still got a couple of plays to go,

:43:27. > :43:36.Australia, in a decent position. Trent Merrin flicks it away. Darius

:43:37. > :43:40.Boyd! His past finds Josh Dugan. Australia in for a second. You've

:43:41. > :43:48.got to take your hat off to them, they have soaked up so much pressure

:43:49. > :43:52.and yet they come up with a try. Unfortunately for Johnson, he had a

:43:53. > :44:01.forward on the outside and couldn't get in support of him. Darius Boyd's

:44:02. > :44:08.concluding so far has been immense. The second try, Egypt the line. This

:44:09. > :44:13.is it, Proctor on the outside. -- he hit the line. This is the counter

:44:14. > :44:22.attack. Just watch Darius Boyd's inclusion. Number one, there is the

:44:23. > :44:26.off-load. He waits. Cronk, Harris, the number six, the forward makes it

:44:27. > :44:31.stand up, caught short on the defensive side. He is too slow,

:44:32. > :44:35.getting on the outside of him. He's got a step in once again, the

:44:36. > :44:43.second's got to step in, and an easy try. I've also got to admire the

:44:44. > :44:48.handling skills of Australia. Right from the off-load to all of the

:44:49. > :44:56.passes after that, every single pass was great to hand, no checking of

:44:57. > :45:06.stride. It was executed perfectly. -- every single pass was great then.

:45:07. > :45:17.Clinical. The centre came inside because they think he is too slow.

:45:18. > :45:19.Brilliant. How deflating is that for the Kiwi psyche, given that they had

:45:20. > :45:23.their opportunities, they have looked good, and yet they find

:45:24. > :45:44.themselves two scores behind. Successful from the touchline with

:45:45. > :45:55.his first attempt. Just wide with his second. But Australia lead 10-0.

:45:56. > :46:08.Tremendous work. Just look at the class. -- pass. The skill was

:46:09. > :46:12.phenomenal. Even when they got the error and they may be run by

:46:13. > :46:16.Valentine Holmes, it showed composure just to take the tackle,

:46:17. > :46:23.bring the ball back into play. They trust each other and trust the

:46:24. > :46:27.systems they are playing under. And we are saying goodbye to several of

:46:28. > :46:33.these Australian players in terms of performing on English soil, the

:46:34. > :46:38.likes of Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, probably. Maybe Greg Inglis

:46:39. > :46:42.as well. But we are saying hello to some future superstars, Valentine

:46:43. > :46:46.Holmes, Rush Duggan, winning only his sixth cap day-to-day. -- Josh

:46:47. > :46:58.Dugan. Smith up again. Thurston to his

:46:59. > :47:08.right hand side, trying to dodge under the high arm from Bromwich.

:47:09. > :47:12.Last tackle to come. Cooper Cronk gets the ball away despite the

:47:13. > :47:16.attention of Issac Luke, and Feeley has not provided safety for New

:47:17. > :47:23.Zealand. Another set of six, and Valentine Holmes held up. A penalty

:47:24. > :47:29.to Australia. They will be disappointed. Interesting that

:47:30. > :47:38.Australia are going for the two points. Here is the kick. In all

:47:39. > :47:46.honesty, Jordan Rapana has to reel back in. At this level, you've got

:47:47. > :47:51.to claim those kicks. It will go to a full two scores' difference. You

:47:52. > :47:56.have to admire the kicking game. Every kick is on the button, every

:47:57. > :48:02.one is there, and you have to compete for it. When there is

:48:03. > :48:06.traffic, as John mentioned earlier, there is a chance of a drop kick,

:48:07. > :48:13.and they work the percentages all the time. Thurston puts that over,

:48:14. > :48:24.his second out of three, and Australia are leading 12-0. Watching

:48:25. > :48:29.the warm up, the two kickers, Thurston and Cronk, where

:48:30. > :48:33.practising. All of them were in the correct area. It's like anything

:48:34. > :48:39.else, perfect practice next perfect, and that is what they are

:48:40. > :48:45.demonstrating once more. Issac Luke with the restart. Australia come

:48:46. > :48:50.again in the shape, in the first instance, of Matt Scott. It is

:48:51. > :48:55.relentless. Let's get this out of the way, Jonathan Davies, you have

:48:56. > :49:05.played here at this Anfield pitch. Yes, I scored exactly. Unbeaten on

:49:06. > :49:08.this pitch. I beat Wigan in the Charity Shield. It didn't happen

:49:09. > :49:14.very often in those days, but it's a fantastic place to play. When you

:49:15. > :49:18.play in the great arenas, Old Trafford, Wembley, Anfield, it's

:49:19. > :49:24.just a pleasure. They are great memories to have. Magnificent

:49:25. > :49:27.stadiums. It is a fantastically populated stadium as well, given

:49:28. > :49:34.that it's a neutral final, if you like. No home nation involvement,

:49:35. > :49:41.but still plenty of people back in, as Thurston with the chip. An easier

:49:42. > :49:44.catch this time. Boyd trying to get up there and dragged him down. New

:49:45. > :49:52.Zealand start in in familiar territory. If you are going to play

:49:53. > :49:56.Australia, you need to practice a lot of sets starting from your own

:49:57. > :50:01.five metres, because you will get plenty of chances to execute them in

:50:02. > :50:08.the game. That was clumsy from Issac Luke. He tried to cover his mistake.

:50:09. > :50:16.Forcing the error. Look where they are again. It's their field

:50:17. > :50:20.position. Possession is about 50-50 but field position has been in

:50:21. > :50:24.Australia's favour. It's been helped by errors like that from Issac Luke,

:50:25. > :50:30.trying to generate a bit of energy and speed. Unfortunately, an error.

:50:31. > :50:37.When you look at players like Brett Kenny, the errors made, maybe as

:50:38. > :50:41.individuals, they have players like Cooper Cronk, Thurston, Cameron

:50:42. > :50:49.Smith, but as a unit, I don't think I haven't seen better. Queensland's

:50:50. > :50:58.success has been based on those three and Australia's has as well.

:50:59. > :51:07.Australia pushing hard at this New Zealand line again. Cronk goes left

:51:08. > :51:13.to Scott. Another with that north Queensland connection. Now it is

:51:14. > :51:17.with Smith, and a short pass and an easy route over for Trent Merrin.

:51:18. > :51:23.New Zealand defenders all look at themselves on the back of that.

:51:24. > :51:32.Merrin crashes over a third Australian try. Boy, do they want

:51:33. > :51:36.this crown! They want the number one spot in the rugby league world

:51:37. > :51:40.rankings, and they are going to get it, on the evidence of the first 25

:51:41. > :51:46.minutes or so. One of the unsung heroes of this Australian pack. They

:51:47. > :51:49.have isolated him, one on one. The New Zealand defenders looking for

:51:50. > :51:54.the back man play, and it's a beautifully weighted pass from

:51:55. > :51:58.Cameron Smith to Merrin and it allows him to get one-on-one with

:51:59. > :52:10.the defender and crashed over for a very well worked for points. -- four

:52:11. > :52:19.points. When Cameron Smith picks the ball up, he just fades the goal the

:52:20. > :52:24.other way and goes back the other way, he keeps the defenders honest

:52:25. > :52:37.at the tackle. -- he just faints the goal. He goes right, then he goes

:52:38. > :52:41.the other way and holds the defence. We will have a look in just a

:52:42. > :52:49.moment. We will watch the conversion first of all from Johnathan

:52:50. > :52:55.Thurston. It's a bit delayed. They have to give the ball back

:52:56. > :52:58.eventually! There is an indicator for the Australians of where the

:52:59. > :53:02.ball is going to go, cause they have so many accomplished ballplayers, so

:53:03. > :53:08.many creators of attacking opportunities. Already, a fourth

:53:09. > :53:31.attempt at goal. He is in no rush. Eventually he

:53:32. > :53:36.kicks it, and it's over. So it's 18-0, Australia now lead. The role

:53:37. > :53:46.that Cameron Smith played in all of that, Jonathan. He gets the ball.

:53:47. > :53:51.Can't really see from that angle. He takes the ball up, and the interests

:53:52. > :53:57.the defender just enough to turn him in towards him for giving the

:53:58. > :54:01.softness of passes to Trent Merrin to crash over. They really have the

:54:02. > :54:12.skills and execute them to perfection. 23 minutes played.

:54:13. > :54:15.Australia leading 18-0. We are sitting back and admiring what

:54:16. > :54:26.Australia are doing. What about on the sidelines, Jon Wilkin?

:54:27. > :54:40.Well, he isn't there at the moment. We will speak to him shortly!

:54:41. > :54:48.Again the off-load, and Cameron Smith is finding a bit of room in

:54:49. > :54:49.which to run. He is put down desperately, but Australia are

:54:50. > :54:57.already inside their opponents' half.

:54:58. > :55:06.He has reeled the ball in. The error has come, this time not forced.

:55:07. > :55:13.That's a poor error away from the collision. It really is. In this

:55:14. > :55:19.mood, Australia are going to exploit that. Greg Inglis is put down on

:55:20. > :55:26.that occasion at least. But Australia are more again. Here is

:55:27. > :55:34.Boyd Cordner. Cameron Smith out of dummy half, but Aaron Woods just

:55:35. > :55:38.poaching forward again. Australia poised, New Zealand depending on

:55:39. > :55:47.their own line. Smith out, Cronk misses Batt. A couple, taken on by

:55:48. > :55:54.Josh Dugan. Use the link desperately getting to their man, but Boyd

:55:55. > :56:03.stands and weights. -- New Zealand desperately getting to their man.

:56:04. > :56:09.Last play in this set. It's a high one, a tester, Jordan Kahu

:56:10. > :56:15.underneath it, but that is where they start again, so close to their

:56:16. > :56:19.own line. I think we can now hear from Jon Wilkin. One of the most

:56:20. > :56:23.impressive things about this Australian side is something we talk

:56:24. > :56:29.about, the rugby league brains they've got in the team. Cameron

:56:30. > :56:34.Smith, first, and Cooper Cronk, they are not physically great specimens.

:56:35. > :56:37.In rugby league and union, we have been obsessing about creating

:56:38. > :56:42.athletes. These guys are not athletic. But they have great rugby

:56:43. > :56:47.brains and they understand the game. That has been the difference between

:56:48. > :56:52.the sides. I think that will be a knock-on from New Zealand. They

:56:53. > :57:03.tried off-load but it went forward. What Jon said is a passive factor.

:57:04. > :57:07.-- massive factor. If you look at both codes and those at the top of

:57:08. > :57:10.each respective code, it is the rugby league knowledge that is the

:57:11. > :57:15.difference. That is where English rugby league is struggling. I think

:57:16. > :57:20.it is game management and game understanding which is crucial in

:57:21. > :57:27.future the element of players, and they shouldn't have to be coached at

:57:28. > :57:32.this level in game management. The players out there are managing it

:57:33. > :57:37.very well. 11 sets out of 12 completed from Australia. There is

:57:38. > :57:45.an efficiency about them but also a flare. And Cameron Smith, is aerobic

:57:46. > :57:49.capacity and fitness. It is a rare hooker who does the full 80 minutes,

:57:50. > :57:56.but he does it week after week. He enjoys it. You can see that he

:57:57. > :58:06.enjoys the game, he enjoys the control and influence he has on the

:58:07. > :58:10.outcome of games. Tyson Frizzell is on the field, so expect some impact

:58:11. > :58:18.from him. Taken on by Shannon Boyd, the big fellow. Really big. He

:58:19. > :58:20.chases wild pigs back home. He is chasing Kiwis here today. Six tackle

:58:21. > :58:32.coming up. It's marvellous, a masterclass of

:58:33. > :58:39.rugby league, how to build pressure, the end of sets, just executed to

:58:40. > :58:43.perfection. That ball is rolling with perfect weight and there is

:58:44. > :58:49.nothing that Shaun Kenny-Dowall can do except ground the ball. It's

:58:50. > :58:56.another repeat in Australia. Great field position. -- another repeat

:58:57. > :59:04.from Australia. Issac Luke, looking for touch. A bit of a lift of

:59:05. > :59:07.pressure, but he hasn't found it, and he has given Australia some very

:59:08. > :59:11.cheap yards. Another penalty given away.

:59:12. > :59:19.Martin to Powell has just been announced as having come on. --

:59:20. > :59:22.Martin Taupau has just been announced as having come on. And

:59:23. > :59:29.Greg Eastwood is going to come on as well. Australia are within ten

:59:30. > :59:37.metres again. A real platform on which to work their magic. Now

:59:38. > :59:42.Frizzell. The Kiwis clinging on. Frizzell is slow to his feet. Again,

:59:43. > :59:53.a late call from the referee. It was. I don't think he was holding

:59:54. > :59:57.him down. A brilliant decision. Look, three scores, 18 points, three

:59:58. > :00:04.converted tries. 20 points, he's going to score another try. Just

:00:05. > :00:10.take the two points. It was high, no doubt. Contact with the right arm,

:00:11. > :00:16.with the head. So they have to give that. As Jonathan rightly point out,

:00:17. > :00:22.this will make it a four score game. As we said earlier, under Mal

:00:23. > :00:27.Meninga, the most they conceded was 18 points, last year against

:00:28. > :00:33.England, but they also scored 36, by the way.

:00:34. > :00:43.Here is Thurston looking to add another two. And Thurston does add

:00:44. > :00:51.another two. And Australia now lead, with nearly half an hour played,

:00:52. > :00:55.20-0. And Mal Meninga will be very pleased. He will give it

:00:56. > :00:58.eight-and-a-half out of ten until now. There was that period when they

:00:59. > :01:04.were broken with their off-loads. Apart from that the Green and Golds

:01:05. > :01:09.have been in total control. It has been a masterclass. First 30 minutes

:01:10. > :01:14.it has been a masterclass of how to play rugby league.

:01:15. > :01:19.Before this game began, New Zealand held the mantle as world number one.

:01:20. > :01:27.It was a title based on the history of the last two or three years, but

:01:28. > :01:32.Australia will be the new number ones when, if, they win today.

:01:33. > :01:38.But they are now the dominant nation, without any argument. They

:01:39. > :01:42.are the dominant nation again. New Zealand have a way to climb to get

:01:43. > :01:54.back up level with them and England likewise.

:01:55. > :02:17.-- Frizell. A big, big job to do here.

:02:18. > :02:21.They will not ease up, the Australians. They have good yardage,

:02:22. > :02:31.good kicking game. I don't think it is in their nature

:02:32. > :02:37.to ease up, Jonathan. They will do the same old things, grind the

:02:38. > :02:41.result out. The Kiwis have to try and get back

:02:42. > :02:46.in somehow. Look at the different yardage. They are kicking from

:02:47. > :02:50.within their own half T Australian kickers are kicking on the

:02:51. > :03:01.opposition 40-metre area or 20-metre area.

:03:02. > :03:03.It is the first play. Australia's inevitably tends to be between 20-40

:03:04. > :03:22.metres away from their goal line. Here's Boyd... A ninth try all for

:03:23. > :03:26.Four Nations we've had. It looks like they will whip their sixth

:03:27. > :03:31.here. A good run from Dugan and Cronk carries it on.

:03:32. > :03:36.Thurston is there to take the BA Johnson stops him in his tracks.

:03:37. > :03:44.Australia covering ground rapidly. Here they come again. Cronk dummies

:03:45. > :03:51.the inside BA New Zealand are on the ropes.

:03:52. > :03:59.Dugan might have had the appetite to get there first and get fingertips

:04:00. > :04:06.on that ball. We say "might" because the referee is going to the video

:04:07. > :04:14.re. Let's hear from the first time today from per fared Sutton. Pause

:04:15. > :04:17.it on the foot. Tackle six try. OK, kick chase on the right-hand side is

:04:18. > :04:21.onside. Stay on this. There's no interference. Can we go with

:04:22. > :04:26.something slow and continuous from ground level, please? Nice and slow.

:04:27. > :04:29.See Josh Dugan's hands coming through. The ball has been grounded.

:04:30. > :04:43.That will be a try. Josh Dugan celebrates. He doesn't

:04:44. > :04:49.know the decision yet. Now he does. Australian 24-0. Leaders of this

:04:50. > :04:54.game. Again it is the end of the... They asked enough questions during

:04:55. > :04:58.the set. Even when Cooper Cronk is tackled, Thurston comes from the

:04:59. > :05:03.left side, which is where he normally plays to the right, and

:05:04. > :05:09.puts that kick in. They work so well together. Marvellous break here.

:05:10. > :05:15.This is down the short side and then there's Dugan to start with.

:05:16. > :05:22.Off-loads to Cronk on the inside. Thurston is tackled. But later...

:05:23. > :05:29.Look, from the left to the right side, has Thurston. It is the great

:05:30. > :05:34.appetite. He wanted to ground that ball more than the New Zealand team

:05:35. > :05:40.wanted to shepherd it to safety. Watching a dummy run there, to come

:05:41. > :05:45.in and hold the defence. It is a subtle little kick and the perfect

:05:46. > :05:52.kick. It was quality, quality finishing. Quality team work.

:05:53. > :06:12.And he's curled it. Oh, he's hit the post.

:06:13. > :06:23.24 of 0. Holds the inside defence and then

:06:24. > :06:30.there's nothing on, except it is the perfect option. If the don't score a

:06:31. > :06:35.try, they have another repeat. But the kick, Jonathan, he was under

:06:36. > :06:40.intense pressure and he still executed so well. It was going to

:06:41. > :06:44.land and in it goes. So New Zealand desperately hoping

:06:45. > :06:54.they can keep these Green and Golds penned within their own half.

:06:55. > :06:59.But the history of the last 34 minutes tells us that will be

:07:00. > :07:03.difficult. Smith, left again. Taken on by Shannon Boyd. Wants to get the

:07:04. > :07:07.arms free. Cannot do so. Goes down with a ball in hand. Smith is up

:07:08. > :07:10.there. The Major General in the middle again. A step from Michael

:07:11. > :07:13.Morgan, who offers impact in a different respect. He's got fleet of

:07:14. > :07:18.foot, sharp step. There's the fifth. Australia looking

:07:19. > :07:30.for a good kick on the sixth. He might have been aiming for the

:07:31. > :07:37.post there. It was caught in goal, anyway. A quick tap restart allowed

:07:38. > :07:43.or not allowed because the Kiwi players were not all back behind the

:07:44. > :07:46.ball. You cannot restart. The interpretation is you cannot restart

:07:47. > :07:51.until all your players are back onside and they weren't. No matter

:07:52. > :08:00.how disgruntled the crowd are, the referee is right.

:08:01. > :08:04.And David Kidwell is twitching in his seat. It has not been a glorious

:08:05. > :08:09.Four Nations from his point of view. One point victory against England

:08:10. > :08:14.remaining amongst the only highlight so far.

:08:15. > :08:31.The draw against Scotland a particular low.

:08:32. > :08:43.Issac Luke gets in there. Where's the magic? There's the pass.

:08:44. > :08:55.Then the kick in desperation. Johnson is the only kicker. They

:08:56. > :08:59.close him down straightaway, the Australians have options. That was a

:09:00. > :09:02.panicked end rather than a structured composed end, which is

:09:03. > :09:06.what we are seeing from Australia. I agree with you, I think New Zealand

:09:07. > :09:11.can be disappointing, etc, etc. I don't think we should take anything

:09:12. > :09:16.away from this Australian. This masterclass of rugby league.

:09:17. > :09:21.A cautious look at the history books tells you that Australia's biggest

:09:22. > :09:26.win against New Zealand was 58-0, back in 2007. It might be occupying

:09:27. > :09:30.our attention as the game goes on. Look at that! What a response,

:09:31. > :09:40.Inglis and Morgan it was in there quickly.

:09:41. > :09:46.This time we will get a repeat set by a distance kick from Cameron

:09:47. > :09:55.Smith. A great chase and getting man-handled by Greg Inglis, who has

:09:56. > :09:59.picked him up over the ingoal area. -- in-goal area.

:10:00. > :10:12.Just do everything so, so well. It is Boyd on the catch.

:10:13. > :10:16.Klemmer with a big return. New Zealand spirits wilting, no doubt.

:10:17. > :10:21.It is relentless. There is another 40 minutes of this extraordinarily

:10:22. > :10:32.good Australian performance. Run on hard and it is not quite from

:10:33. > :10:35.Inglis. Still struggling. The referee is going to have a look

:10:36. > :10:48.here. He thinks no try on the field, but

:10:49. > :10:56.it is up to the video referee. Let's hear from Bernard Sutton. . Tackle

:10:57. > :11:00.three. The ball in his left-hand. He rolls

:11:01. > :11:04.over the goal line at this point. The ball is still up. Still up,

:11:05. > :11:09.still up. Keep it moving, please. The ball is still up. Going away

:11:10. > :11:12.from the ground. OK, keep this moving. Doesn't get

:11:13. > :11:17.any lower. Is there one more angle from behind? I cannot see anything

:11:18. > :11:22.near the ground there, Ben. At this point there is still no try.

:11:23. > :11:29.Keep this playing through. Up at that point. Still up at that point.

:11:30. > :11:34.And doesn't get any lower. The tackle is now complete. No try, Ben,

:11:35. > :11:41.going to the board. Tackle three, Greg Inglis plays the ball.

:11:42. > :11:45.So, no try. They go back ten metres and start

:11:46. > :11:52.again here with three more tackles to come. Well done there. There was

:11:53. > :11:55.an element of desperation there to present that and it takes some

:11:56. > :12:01.preventing when it is Greg Inglis carrying the ball.

:12:02. > :12:35.Been quiet so far in this game. He just had Inglis dragging down and

:12:36. > :12:39.lowering his expectations. The crowd got a little excited there. They

:12:40. > :12:42.could see a bit of fresh air from the New Zealanders there that

:12:43. > :12:46.quickly closed down and interesting fact about that kick as well.

:12:47. > :12:56.Normally a right-footed kicker, Cronk. Kicked it with his left foot

:12:57. > :13:00.that time. Just something different. Lewis Brown on the field in that

:13:01. > :13:14.dummy halves position at the moment. About five gone. Here comes the

:13:15. > :13:23.sixth. Looking to create some numbers.

:13:24. > :13:27.Shannon Boyd has it covered. Can he get out of there? You bet he can.

:13:28. > :13:35.Three New Zealanders there. They should have started with a drop. But

:13:36. > :13:41.Shannon Boyd found a way. Marvellous -- but Boyd found a wasmt He sees it

:13:42. > :13:46.three chases there. The great footwork, evasive skill allows him

:13:47. > :13:50.back into the field of play and prevents the repeats that Australia

:13:51. > :13:56.have had time after time. Lewis Brown missed the tackle. A lovely

:13:57. > :14:00.kick. Cameron Smith is loving every moment

:14:01. > :14:12.of this. It will not be lost in him that this is in all likelihood his

:14:13. > :14:16.last game on English soil in an Australian jumper.

:14:17. > :14:19.Knock-on given. I think that's the first time in

:14:20. > :14:24.nearly 40 minutes they have gone away from the script there. That's

:14:25. > :14:28.the first scruffy Australian toned a set. They saw the opportunity and

:14:29. > :14:31.they had numbers on the right-hand side. Cronk and Thurston had a look

:14:32. > :14:41.at it. It is is not quite finished the

:14:42. > :14:46.half. New Zealand have a penalty here.

:14:47. > :14:53.A lot of people getting out of their seats.

:14:54. > :14:56.Still a little bit of action to go. They will get one player won't they

:14:57. > :15:01.from the tap restart. Let's see what they do. Do they put

:15:02. > :15:08.the ball up to force an error? Do they off-load? Or do they run their

:15:09. > :15:11.half down? Does redemption begin here? Or is it the inevitable

:15:12. > :15:20.conclusion we expect? Brought back to the middle.

:15:21. > :15:25.A bounce into the hands of Tapie. It was Eastwood who tried to kick.

:15:26. > :15:31.As soon as the first tack sl completed that will be the end of

:15:32. > :15:36.the -- tackle is completed that will be the end of the first half.

:15:37. > :15:42.Australia leading 24-0. As a final, no contest. As a demonstration of

:15:43. > :15:51.high-class rugby league, Australia have no comparison.

:15:52. > :15:55.That has been a super show from the men in green and gold.

:15:56. > :15:58.Let's hear from the touchline. How tough a half for you guys?

:15:59. > :16:06.Obviously disappointing. We come with a game plan. Hopefully

:16:07. > :16:11.we can come out after half time a better team. How frustrating you had

:16:12. > :16:16.chances there. We couldn't execute. That is something we talked about.

:16:17. > :16:21.Like I said, hopefully we can come out a better team. Thank you for

:16:22. > :16:27.your time. Now let's bring in Greg. You must be thrilled with how

:16:28. > :16:32.clinical you guys have been? A great quality side. Struck out across the

:16:33. > :16:33.park. Another 40 to go yet. Do you exp President of the Board of Trade

:16:34. > :16:45.the message to be Do you expect the message to be the

:16:46. > :16:53.same? As a team we will be satisfied with that.

:16:54. > :16:57.Thank you for your time. Well a dominant first-half

:16:58. > :17:01.performance by Australia. More possession, more territory. New

:17:02. > :17:07.Zealand having to make 24 more tackles as well. Look at the total

:17:08. > :17:12.metres at the bottom. Over double made by Australia compared to New

:17:13. > :17:15.Zealand and your countrymen have been utterly, utterly dominant.

:17:16. > :17:23.They have. There was a period with New Zealand got with some off-loads.

:17:24. > :17:27.There was a turning point when New Zealand almost scored.

:17:28. > :17:30.I thought that was a turning point in the half from the Australia

:17:31. > :17:34.building pressure and pressure and the score lines ran out. How far

:17:35. > :17:39.behind have New Zealand looked to you? That is 40 minutes of hurt and

:17:40. > :17:43.very painful to watch that. Australia came with ruthless

:17:44. > :17:46.efficiency and brilliant in the way they have prepared and operated in

:17:47. > :17:55.those first opening 40 minutes. That is one of the team, the spine, with

:17:56. > :17:59.Smith and Cronk and Boyd, icing on the cake, out the back. Take my hat

:18:00. > :18:06.off to them. They have turned up and are killing it. It doesn't do a lot

:18:07. > :18:10.as a final if you are wanting a good game, but you are getting a good

:18:11. > :18:15.performance. If you want an exhibition of rugby league at the

:18:16. > :18:18.highest level from Australia, the best ecan say about New Zealand is

:18:19. > :18:24.Luke is kicking off well. Would have to.

:18:25. > :18:28.They have compounded themselves. The time that Kurt was talking about in

:18:29. > :18:31.the game, they bombed one end and Australia came down the other end

:18:32. > :18:35.and executed it. Since then they have made errors. They have tried to

:18:36. > :18:40.play their way back into the game in the wrong way. I would like to see

:18:41. > :18:44.the stat how many times New Zealand have started inside five metres. I

:18:45. > :18:49.think every time Australia have a yardage set they get past halfway

:18:50. > :18:55.and an attacking kick which is almost on the money and New Zealand

:18:56. > :18:58.five metres out of their own line. When England played Australia as

:18:59. > :19:02.well, they are so good and consistent at making the opposition

:19:03. > :19:07.start in their own five metres. It is not only what they are doing when

:19:08. > :19:11.they're attacking with their attacking kicks and the balls in and

:19:12. > :19:15.out, defensively, in that following set, you are kicking in yardage, be

:19:16. > :19:19.you find a very busy back field. You don't find any space. Starting the

:19:20. > :19:23.set on the halfway. Let's look at the first try. They got off to a

:19:24. > :19:26.great start. Blake Ferguson with this try.

:19:27. > :19:34.This is homework. Harris has been under the spotlight. He's a back

:19:35. > :19:41.rower and playing in the halves. Boyd saw that and set off. He uses

:19:42. > :19:47.pure speed there. The skip out to Ferguson to score in the corner.

:19:48. > :19:54.That is pure game plan. And the guys in commentary, Jonathan Davis said,

:19:55. > :19:59.in particular, highlighting throughout the first half Boyd's

:20:00. > :20:03.influence on timing. He runs that better than anyone in the game. He

:20:04. > :20:07.knows numbers and which person to get to and got to the sen tler. The

:20:08. > :20:12.pass was made easy. He would have been licking his lips with that

:20:13. > :20:21.space and two defenders there. As he said, the game could well have

:20:22. > :20:26.switched on this play playing. At that stage Australia us had the ball

:20:27. > :20:32.a good eight minutes. Every day of the week it is a try. It comes to

:20:33. > :20:35.Johnson and his props on his outside. Maybe should have given him

:20:36. > :20:40.the first time. The desperate thing here is they got four or five Kiwi

:20:41. > :20:46.defenders who get back and make the play. The Kiwis execute the next

:20:47. > :20:50.play and over the line. This is heartbreaking, when you are one pass

:20:51. > :20:55.away from a try and at the end of the set you are behind with a try

:20:56. > :21:00.scored against you. That completely took the wind out of their sails? It

:21:01. > :21:05.does and takes a lot of energy out of your tank. They were about to

:21:06. > :21:09.score and they have half a dozen forwards and then a try concerted.

:21:10. > :21:15.It takes a lot out of your team. We look at that play there.

:21:16. > :21:26.Harris again, once again Boyd has isolated him. Too much space. Harris

:21:27. > :21:30.is a back rower. He's a back-rower. Off the mark speed, which you have

:21:31. > :21:35.to have in that defensive position of two men and three men in, he's

:21:36. > :21:43.been exposed in that position. Let's look at the other two Australian

:21:44. > :21:49.tries. Merrin and Dugan together. Australia have been dominant. This

:21:50. > :21:53.is a really... As a defender on your line, you line one your body in

:21:54. > :21:58.front. He made the decision so easy for Cameron Smith. A great ball by

:21:59. > :22:02.Cameron Smith, but a poor read or poor concentration. And Gillett on

:22:03. > :22:09.the outside. He's got too much speed. Flicked past and Dugan. We

:22:10. > :22:14.talk about Dugan, he's been explosive all year with his strength

:22:15. > :22:18.and speed and quality. Cronk is nailed down there.

:22:19. > :22:22.They are relined so quick. Look at Cronk back to the other side of the

:22:23. > :22:27.field. Making sure they go the right way and make the right decisions.

:22:28. > :22:33.And the difference between the sides, Australia would have pushed

:22:34. > :22:37.that extra past pass. They have pushed past as the ball goes

:22:38. > :22:43.nowhere. Australia patient and constituent. Slowed it down for the

:22:44. > :22:47.kick. And -- pay sent and consistent. Slowed it down for the

:22:48. > :22:52.kick. The final kick was pressure. We saw

:22:53. > :23:04.the worst set the Australians came one a long kick from Cronk. I think

:23:05. > :23:08.a big part of that there, their worst yardage set but a great kick,

:23:09. > :23:12.energy-wise on the kick chase. You can do that when you've got the ball

:23:13. > :23:17.for that long in the first half and you've had a good field position.

:23:18. > :23:22.New Zealand have dealt with Cooper Cronk's kicks well. They have maybe

:23:23. > :23:25.dropped one. The point is not whether they catch them or not, it

:23:26. > :23:32.is where it leaves them. I think for it to start with, the kick has to be

:23:33. > :23:35.on the money. For Cronk and Smith and Jonathan Thurston, 90% of the

:23:36. > :23:40.time they are. It is the kick chase as well.

:23:41. > :23:43.The amount of green jumpers in the frame, that is important. They are

:23:44. > :23:48.not aggressive in defence when doing their attacking. They are aggressive

:23:49. > :23:53.defensively. For the viewers, where all these kicks are landing what has

:23:54. > :23:56.been happening on play one and two is the Kiwis came up with errors.

:23:57. > :24:01.When Australia get the ball back into this part of the field, they

:24:02. > :24:06.are in a poor position to pool some more points. Australia, they are

:24:07. > :24:11.happy to play their sets out. Kick chase, defend that set. Do the same

:24:12. > :24:16.thing for three, four sets. Building pressure is one thing. What

:24:17. > :24:20.Australia are doing is psychological warfare. Every opportunity they got

:24:21. > :24:24.to take two points and can increase the gap between the New Zealand and

:24:25. > :24:28.Australian team I can promise you, and I will be backed up, as alier

:24:29. > :24:31.you look at the score board going up and you know you are playing against

:24:32. > :24:36.the best in the world and you know it can be become a mountain

:24:37. > :24:41.insurmountable. One thing on the kicking because we were talking

:24:42. > :24:46.about how important it is and as Brian said for viewers out there,

:24:47. > :24:50.but for young kids who play rugby league, to concentrate more on the

:24:51. > :24:58.actual ball and how you kick it than take your eye off and looking to

:24:59. > :25:04.where you will kick it. I know being a Melbourne Storm player he's done a

:25:05. > :25:09.lot work with the players. He keeps his head down over the ball. He is

:25:10. > :25:13.not worried where it will land. He is worried about his contact on the

:25:14. > :25:16.ball. You look at his head t way he looks over the ball, he's not

:25:17. > :25:20.worried where it will landch he knows which part of the field it

:25:21. > :25:27.comes to. That is part of Aussie rules. I know Melbourne Storm have

:25:28. > :25:32.done a lot of practise with AFL players. Their technique as far as

:25:33. > :25:36.not worrying about where it will land is a huge part. As far as Shaun

:25:37. > :25:42.Johnson is concerned, what does he need to do? What do New Zealand need

:25:43. > :25:46.to do? Ultimately New Zealand need the ball. It has been nothing but

:25:47. > :25:49.Australia. We are showing after the first try when they get the ball

:25:50. > :25:53.there is enough power to give them space on the ball. The reality is

:25:54. > :25:57.they are not getting enough of that. When the New Zealanders have the

:25:58. > :26:01.ball they have coughed up some. It is an easy and ugly mistake. Given

:26:02. > :26:07.the ball back to them. Ball retention, need to respect the ball.

:26:08. > :26:11.Here are a few examples watching Johnson, the amount of balls behind

:26:12. > :26:16.him and the lack of execution, it is not having the Green and Golds. The

:26:17. > :26:20.execution is brilliant. He has so many behind him he has to check his

:26:21. > :26:25.footwork. How aggressive the Australian defence is. They are

:26:26. > :26:31.cutting down Shaun Johnson's time, everybody times on the ball, so you

:26:32. > :26:35.cannot make that nice, clean pass. Is he missing Lui? Maybe so. Maybe

:26:36. > :26:38.take a little bit of pressure, kick pressure off. I think New Zealand as

:26:39. > :26:56.a whole is missing him. I He works well as a defensive unit

:26:57. > :27:01.together. I suppose what I mean by that is as well, if you are a coach

:27:02. > :27:08.or an opposition player you can isolate Johnson a bit more. If you

:27:09. > :27:12.are looking at Australia, if you isolate Cronk you have others, etc,

:27:13. > :27:16.etc. We need to see how good the Australians are. That is not like

:27:17. > :27:21.me. Are you all right? Exactly! Do I need to get you a stiff drink! They

:27:22. > :27:25.have been clinical. Their passes out in front T way they have exited

:27:26. > :27:30.their own half. Their attention to detail, to the small things, has

:27:31. > :27:34.been first class. When you are off your game yourselves, as the Kiwis

:27:35. > :27:38.are, in that first half, then it is a big hill to climb. It is a

:27:39. > :27:43.reflection of how good Australia are as well. Australia are making them

:27:44. > :27:47.off their game. They are that clinical, they are that sharp. As

:27:48. > :27:52.far as Australia are concerned going into this second half, there'll be

:27:53. > :27:58.no easing off, will there? They will want to put their feet on the

:27:59. > :28:02.throats of Australia harder? What has worked is building pressure. New

:28:03. > :28:07.Zealand have made mistakes on the back of that. They've had some

:28:08. > :28:12.attacking footy. For New Zealand they need some field possession and

:28:13. > :28:17.ball. They've had little attacking sets as well. Here at Anfield the

:28:18. > :28:21.international rugby league number one ranking is on the line in the

:28:22. > :28:28.tennis. Tonight the number one ranking will be on the line there.

:28:29. > :28:33.Andy Murray against Novak Djokovic. You can see it all from 6pm. The

:28:34. > :28:38.winner will end the year as the world number one.

:28:39. > :28:43.What will they be saying to each other before they come back out, New

:28:44. > :28:47.Zealand? They will talk about the smaller things. They will talk about

:28:48. > :28:52.going out there, making sure Australia doesn't get the second

:28:53. > :28:58.phase. In Australian yardage New Zealand got spread a couple of

:28:59. > :29:03.times. A respectable, let's not give up any cheap errors and give

:29:04. > :29:06.Australia field position. Can you send a team out with

:29:07. > :29:11.damage-limitation for the second half? You can send them out with the

:29:12. > :29:15.fact we have not reflected our own performance here and do better for

:29:16. > :29:22.ourselves. We have to go out there and show our worth is more than was

:29:23. > :29:27.shown in the first time. -- in the first half. It will be, anything can

:29:28. > :29:32.happen. As we wait for both teams to come out, let's go down to the

:29:33. > :29:40.touchline. I have a very interested spectator,

:29:41. > :29:46.how is the foot, will you be ready for the first start of the season? I

:29:47. > :29:51.had a catch-up with a specialist a week ago. What did you make of the

:29:52. > :29:56.first half? The Aussies looked dangerous. If the Kiwis could have

:29:57. > :29:59.got that try in the right-hand corner where Shaun Johnson flicked

:30:00. > :30:03.out and got the ball, that would have made it more of a contest. They

:30:04. > :30:07.will be tough to stop second half. Does it make you feel better about

:30:08. > :30:11.what England did against Australia when you watched this?

:30:12. > :30:19.I think England didn't play brilliant. Everyone will be putting

:30:20. > :30:23.a dampener on what we did. They are both quality teams. I think the

:30:24. > :30:28.Aussies have proved today how good they are.

:30:29. > :30:42.Thank for your time. Second half on the way, and if it's

:30:43. > :31:08.anything like the first 40, Australia will be dominant.

:31:09. > :31:20.Let's get back to your commentary team, John K, Jonathan Davies will

:31:21. > :31:24.stop sometimes, you have to sit back and admire what is good in sport.

:31:25. > :31:29.He is very good at his sport. He isn't back in his, but his team are

:31:30. > :31:35.beating -- are getting beaten heavily. The Australians showing

:31:36. > :31:39.their class. The question is, do New Zealand have a desire to respond in

:31:40. > :31:43.this second half, or will it simply be Australia rolling it out again?

:31:44. > :31:49.We saw a terrific performance from them in the first half. They will

:31:50. > :31:53.not be taking anything off the pedal in this second period. They will

:31:54. > :31:58.want to score as many points as possible in a classy a fashion as

:31:59. > :32:04.possible. Absolutely. We talked about being ruthless in the changing

:32:05. > :32:07.room, but the first half was a masterclass. They were outstanding,

:32:08. > :32:13.Australia. New Zealand need to work hard. Their focus needs to perhaps

:32:14. > :32:20.be on attempting to win this second half. Burstyn looking immediately

:32:21. > :32:31.for Frizzell to offer an impact. -- Thurston. Australia going for the

:32:32. > :32:36.kick from Cooper Cronk. Not a real tester for Rapana, but the

:32:37. > :32:41.Australian defenders quickly running to make sure that it is kept to a

:32:42. > :32:49.minimum. Such a perfect first half. They will do exactly the same thing.

:32:50. > :32:55.The case is very good. When opportunities appear, they will try

:32:56. > :33:00.and take them. The Kiwis need not panic, they've got to try and finish

:33:01. > :33:03.their sets and do what the Aussies were doing. There is an opportunity

:33:04. > :33:12.in the second half to get a very good field position. Taken high.

:33:13. > :33:16.Late in the tackle count, which will be pleasing for New Zealand, because

:33:17. > :33:21.it will give them a decent field position in which to launch an

:33:22. > :33:28.attack. Good footwork there, and that's what isolated Klemmer, and

:33:29. > :33:33.the consequence was a high shot. New Zealand have been here before,

:33:34. > :33:37.encouraging position, but unable to deliver, and then crumbling. Can

:33:38. > :33:47.they offer a little more resistance here? Taken on by Proctor, but not

:33:48. > :33:53.too far. Kenny-Dowall at his heels. Injected to Joseph Tapine, one of

:33:54. > :34:02.the most promising second row players at the moment, only 22. It's

:34:03. > :34:06.with Jordan Kahu, bumping off initially Gillett. More where that

:34:07. > :34:12.came from. Still a couple of tackles to go. A bit loose, but into the

:34:13. > :34:20.hands of Johnson, so it matters not. On by Tapine again. Final play in

:34:21. > :34:22.the set. What can New Zealand do? Can they put pressure on the

:34:23. > :34:29.Kangaroos and at least get another set of six? Boyd finds safety back

:34:30. > :34:32.in the field of play, and the second attempt in their frustration, New

:34:33. > :34:38.Zealand, after the tackle was completed, putting him back in stock

:34:39. > :34:40.what should have been a defensive set, with Australia starting on

:34:41. > :34:44.their own line, is suddenly a penalty. Let's hear what they were

:34:45. > :34:53.saying in the dressing room. What was said? David Skidmore said, our

:34:54. > :35:00.ball control let us down, we need more possession, more control of the

:35:01. > :35:04.ball, and he needs them to tighten up the defence. Mal Meninga, not

:35:05. > :35:09.surprisingly, happy with the first half. He says the second half is

:35:10. > :35:15.about defence. He wanted the first contact, downing them in one. He

:35:16. > :35:23.wants effort and attitude. Ferguson has a bit of wit, throwing it back,

:35:24. > :35:27.and Cronk is there to catch. -- a bit of wigs. Fortune favours the

:35:28. > :35:36.Australians, making their own luck again. Three tackles. Cameron Smith,

:35:37. > :35:40.sizing things up. Thurston, switching it back for the big

:35:41. > :35:48.fellow, Greg Inglis. Always a handful. Dealt with. Here is Smith

:35:49. > :35:54.again. The general in the middle. The accountant, as he is known in

:35:55. > :35:57.Australia, always calculating. Boyd on the right-hand side, creating

:35:58. > :36:02.space for himself, as it happens. As he dragged himself over the line?

:36:03. > :36:13.The referee has a word with the touch judge. It's a try. Is Darius

:36:14. > :36:21.Boyd going to be given this? It's all down to the video referee again.

:36:22. > :36:26.Darius Boyd has the ball, tackle five tries. It's on his chest at

:36:27. > :36:31.this point. Hasn't promoted the ball. This is all momentum, still

:36:32. > :36:36.momentum. OK, so it's momentum that gets the ball. There is no

:36:37. > :36:43.promotion. Need to make sure that it did in fact the line. Is this the

:36:44. > :36:47.best angle, mate? It's off the ground at this point. It's now come

:36:48. > :36:56.off the ground. It's on the ground again. It's now over the line. Is

:36:57. > :37:00.that the best angle, Ken? The bottom part of the ball is actually shaded.

:37:01. > :37:06.Is that the best angle, nothing from side on? It have a look at other

:37:07. > :37:11.angles. Nice and slow here. The ball is over the line. Hold it there,

:37:12. > :37:16.please, Ken. Just roll back to back a frame for me. Hold it. Forward

:37:17. > :37:22.from there. Hold it there please mate. There is insufficient evidence

:37:23. > :37:27.to overturn the line decision. That will be a try. There is no promotion

:37:28. > :37:32.of the ball and it definitely get over the goal-line and appears to on

:37:33. > :37:39.the line. The on field decision is what they go with in the end. Darius

:37:40. > :37:47.Boyd is given the try. 28-0. Hard to argue against that. Jonathan Davies

:37:48. > :37:55.called it in the first half. Tohu Harris, defending on the wing.

:37:56. > :37:58.Really, I question his pace. Darius Boyd, to his outside, and it becomes

:37:59. > :38:04.a foot race. Although he works hard from the inside, can't do enough to

:38:05. > :38:08.prevent the ball brushing the whitewash. I'm in agreement that it

:38:09. > :38:13.was a try, but once again the deficiency was in the case, and

:38:14. > :38:19.Boyd, smart, kicked him out, two in from the wing, and over it goes.

:38:20. > :38:25.He's done it again. Stand off, have a go at him, and he's got on the

:38:26. > :38:28.outside and scored again. A reflection of Australia's

:38:29. > :38:37.pre-eminence in rugby league, it Darius Boyd's 20th cap here tonight.

:38:38. > :38:42.He's never been on the losing side. It's great that Ken keeps getting a

:38:43. > :38:49.mention. We love Bernie Sanders, because he keeps mentioning Ken. Ken

:38:50. > :39:01.is our match director. -- Bernie Sumner. A long afternoon for those

:39:02. > :39:08.gentlemen. On we go again, with Johnson with the restart. Australia

:39:09. > :39:19.bringing it back. Just the start to the second half that New Zealand

:39:20. > :39:26.didn't want. Cameron Smith goes to the left. A late run by Tyson

:39:27. > :39:30.Frizzell. Gathered some yards in. Smith waits and collect again, and

:39:31. > :39:37.again they plough down the blindside.

:39:38. > :39:48.Taken just below the knees. Has to go back and play it on the point at

:39:49. > :39:53.which he was tackled. Cronk gets the kick high. A fairly simple catch for

:39:54. > :39:58.Jordan Kahu, and he's doing a good job of relieving a bit of pressure,

:39:59. > :40:04.but still very deep in their own half. When they bring the ball from

:40:05. > :40:07.their own end, Australia, they are often peppered in the New Zealand

:40:08. > :40:13.right side with Shaun Johnson and, when they get a good ball, and

:40:14. > :40:23.attacking opportunity, they shifted inevitably to the New Zealand

:40:24. > :40:32.left-hand side, which is hardest. A reliever for New Zealand. Easy yards

:40:33. > :40:33.as well. A bit on the short side. Inglis is always an Cronk's

:40:34. > :40:46.shoulder. Decent position for New Zealand. How

:40:47. > :40:56.do you fare in the next five tackles? Harris takes it in. Dummy

:40:57. > :41:02.half is Lewis Brown. Johnson juggles it, but Eastwood takes a hold.

:41:03. > :41:06.That's a maximum of expectations in that position, really. Brown again.

:41:07. > :41:13.The crowds are getting behind New Zealand. They'd love to see them

:41:14. > :41:21.score a try. Step attempted, tackle completed. Two more plays to go. Now

:41:22. > :41:26.it's Johnson. Johnson into the teeth of the gale, and he can't get out

:41:27. > :41:30.again. So, with Johnson their main playmaker on the ground, they go on

:41:31. > :41:35.the sixth tackle and try and run it and off-load, and the risk does not

:41:36. > :41:42.provide reward. That's the difference. Shaun Johnson is on the

:41:43. > :41:44.ground. Nobody is there to take responsibility for the kick. They

:41:45. > :41:51.wanted a repeat set and it didn't happen. Very alert. Once again, the

:41:52. > :41:59.defence of Australia on their own line not found wanting in any shape

:42:00. > :42:03.or form. A couple of years ago in Wellington, New Zealand were winners

:42:04. > :42:08.of the Four Nations. By my reckoning, there are 11 players in

:42:09. > :42:14.this 17 today who were involved that day, so they have clearly got the

:42:15. > :42:17.capabilities in their side. I think this tournament more underlines how

:42:18. > :42:22.Mal Meninga has rebuilt this Australian side and put them right

:42:23. > :42:25.back on the pinnacle again. They were never far away. Yet an

:42:26. > :42:29.outstanding coach. He has proved that with Queensland and he has now

:42:30. > :42:36.started to prove that with the green and gold. With Smith, Cronk and

:42:37. > :42:37.others coming towards the end of their career, they will take some

:42:38. > :42:50.beating over the next year. Australia have it back. Easy yards

:42:51. > :42:56.given to them. Thurston, hurling it left. Inglis, away from the

:42:57. > :43:01.advancing Rapana. Still carrying it strongly. Rapana has been left on

:43:02. > :43:15.the ground and injured. Thurston can't will you a pass away.

:43:16. > :43:20.-- can't really. Edging closer and closer, and Smith is a look around.

:43:21. > :43:27.He knows there are options right and left. Cronk on the right, the short

:43:28. > :43:29.ball. New Zealand matching them at the moment, but Australia with

:43:30. > :43:38.plenty of promise. The Kiwis defending with only 12 men -- ten

:43:39. > :43:41.men on their line, because Rapana is still injured. Kenny-Dowall didn't

:43:42. > :43:46.want to take the risk when it looked as though that was going out. I

:43:47. > :43:53.think he had to play it. He had no idea what was around him. He should

:43:54. > :44:03.have caught it. Yes, he should. It hard enough defending but, given a

:44:04. > :44:12.free set... If he catches the ball, landed in goal, a cap 20. It's drop

:44:13. > :44:15.kick out to Australia. He needed to land it in the goal area and tap on

:44:16. > :44:22.the 20. As it is, repeat set Australia.

:44:23. > :44:28.We've got a hold up, because Rapana is still getting treatment. He was

:44:29. > :44:35.hurt when he tried to tackle Greg Inglis. Just caught the knee of

:44:36. > :44:43.Inglis. Completely accidental, but it's a defensive technique from

:44:44. > :44:50.Rapana. He isn't alone in that, Jordan Rapana, getting badly hurt

:44:51. > :44:54.trying to tackle Greg Inglis. The other Australian centre, Josh Dugan,

:44:55. > :45:00.had his jaw broken by Greg Inglis in a State of Origin game this year.

:45:01. > :45:06.Must admit, I've seen smaller centres than him. He isn't looking

:45:07. > :45:22.great. It's a headache. So Issac Luke comes back on the

:45:23. > :45:27.field. A bit of reshuffling, with Lewis Brown still out there as well.

:45:28. > :45:45.So Australia rolling forward again. Boyd. I think we've mentioned this

:45:46. > :45:54.before, but he was an 11 and a halflb Brady, Shannon Boyd. Not lost

:45:55. > :45:56.any size down the years. Inglis, held up, ten away from the Kiwi

:45:57. > :46:11.line. Morgan, a bit of a glare. It's three against two. A pass over

:46:12. > :46:14.the top from Boyd didn't hit the mark, somehow Ferguson keeps it

:46:15. > :46:25.alive. Kenny-Dowall will get there. In

:46:26. > :46:27.terms of international rescue, another drop out underneath the

:46:28. > :46:42.sticks. Tremendous passage of play, and well

:46:43. > :46:46.done, Shaun Kenny-Dowall. He had no option but to get rid of the ball,

:46:47. > :46:52.get it off the dead-ball line. Lots of pressure that time. Forces the

:46:53. > :46:58.spill. Out it goes, prevents the try. A great passage of play up to

:46:59. > :47:02.that, just plain what they saw. Some great structure, but also some great

:47:03. > :47:04.instinct from the Australians. The official crowd here today is just

:47:05. > :47:18.over 40,000. 24 out of 27 sets completed by

:47:19. > :47:20.Australia full stop outstanding. And 12 repeat sets as well. It's about

:47:21. > :47:37.growing pressure, isn't it? Michael Morgan is a coming talent,

:47:38. > :47:39.isn't he? Mal Meninga gave him his State of Origin debut last year, and

:47:40. > :47:54.his Australian debut as well. Boyd finding position, 15 away.

:47:55. > :47:55.Thurston, with a left foot steps. Smith receives. Shannon Boyd,

:47:56. > :48:07.twisting away. Final play in the set. Smith,

:48:08. > :48:17.Thurston, back to Cronk, quickly on, taken by Holmes. I don't think he

:48:18. > :48:25.got it. No try on the field. Great effort though. We have seen some

:48:26. > :48:38.miracles. Has he done something similar, or is it no try? Let's hear

:48:39. > :48:41.from Bernard Sumner again. Let's get a frame by frame. The ball is in the

:48:42. > :48:44.left hand of Valentine Holmes. The right-hand touches the touchline.

:48:45. > :48:52.Could we get something from the other angle to make sure that is

:48:53. > :48:59.Valentine Holmes's right-hand? OK, nice and slow here, nice and slow.

:49:00. > :49:04.That is Valentine Holmes's hand underneath the ball, just lower. We

:49:05. > :49:08.might go back to the site on shot. Definitely Valentine Holmes's hand.

:49:09. > :49:15.Frame by frame, and I'm going to get you deport this when his hand

:49:16. > :49:29.touches the line. OK. -- get you to pause this. He didn't display much,

:49:30. > :49:36.but it is no try. Not it. Just watching them reorganise themselves,

:49:37. > :49:44.Cronk and Thurston just piling into position, creating an opportunity on

:49:45. > :49:47.the left wing. Shaun Kenny-Dowall showed great urgency and pride to

:49:48. > :49:54.get across there to prevent that try. In the second half, it only

:49:55. > :49:57.for- Nero, but you sense there are more scores to come. -- it's only

:49:58. > :50:15.4-0. Another of those monstrous runners,

:50:16. > :50:21.Solomone Kata, and take stopping at times. Issac Luke looking to exert

:50:22. > :50:30.its influence from dummy half again. He goes to Bromwich.

:50:31. > :50:41.Five gone. The next is the sixth. Johnson kicks back towards that

:50:42. > :50:46.left-hand side. Ferguson is up there, and catches superbly well.

:50:47. > :50:55.Oh, it's a penalty for New Zealand. That was a good kick.

:50:56. > :51:06.Good call, Dugan. He went across the wing man. Went across his line of

:51:07. > :51:11.run. So the correct decision. New Zealand with an opportunity.

:51:12. > :51:17.Taumalolo. First point of call. Steam roller stopped. Oh, that's an

:51:18. > :51:28.awful pass. So another penalty for New Zealand.

:51:29. > :51:36.Here is a test of Australia's defensive pedigree, got a repeat

:51:37. > :51:42.set, rare for New Zealand, on the Australian line. Great handling.

:51:43. > :51:45.Great score from Jordan Kahu. And the biggest roar of the afternoon

:51:46. > :51:58.from 40,000 plus inside Anfield. It barely qualifies as anything to

:51:59. > :52:04.cheer about, but it was a very good finish. Jordan Kahu deserves it. I

:52:05. > :52:09.think he's had a good game. There is the penalty. Played at the dummy

:52:10. > :52:24.half. He did a pretty good job. Hitting the line, and the other

:52:25. > :52:30.attackers pushing through. It was Kahu who came up with the ball and

:52:31. > :52:36.crosses wide out. Greg Inglis slipped over, creating a bit of

:52:37. > :52:41.opportunity on the right-hand side. The off-load to Proctor a brilliant

:52:42. > :52:50.finish. A repeat set and pressure, doing well. A great roar to greet

:52:51. > :52:51.the Kiwis as they go back inside their half. A bit of encouragement

:52:52. > :52:57.supplied for them. Kahu has the kicking

:52:58. > :53:14.responsibilities as well. 28-4, it remains. Greg Inglis rushes

:53:15. > :53:22.out to the line. He slips, has to grab the Proctor head.

:53:23. > :53:32.A really good line that he hit. Good support play from Kahu. Jordan Kahu

:53:33. > :53:37.has had a good year. Made his debut against England last year. That's

:53:38. > :53:44.the first time we had a chance to view them over here. At club level

:53:45. > :53:55.with Brisbane, 15 tries in 20 appearances this last year.

:53:56. > :54:18.Australia are keen not to give too many cheap yards away.

:54:19. > :54:27.Great carry, good off-load, spun away. Now Johnson creating a bit of

:54:28. > :54:35.an overlap. They couldn't when Proctor is nailed by Thurston. Good

:54:36. > :54:42.defence by Thurston. Taumalolo trying to build up his own momentum.

:54:43. > :54:49.Issac Luke to Johnson, Johnson high. They are trying to isolate Ferguson.

:54:50. > :54:53.Ferguson, a good take of the ball. It would be a lot better if they

:54:54. > :54:59.went to the other wing. Ferguson is a very tall winger, very good in the

:55:00. > :55:05.air. You don't put pressure on, he will take those all day. Two tackle

:55:06. > :55:11.already gone, that tackle at the ten, and that's similar to what

:55:12. > :55:14.Australia were doing in the first half. They are challenging the

:55:15. > :55:20.opposition to clear their goal-line. We are seeing a response from New

:55:21. > :55:29.Zealand. Inglis with a great break, and then be passed to Valentine

:55:30. > :55:35.Holmes. -- and then the pass. Boyd goes behind Cooper Cronk, who still

:55:36. > :55:42.chases it. He knows the exact Anfield, he tries some soccer

:55:43. > :55:44.skills, he isn't very good. A penalty has been given for

:55:45. > :55:50.Australia, and it's all getting a little bit red-blooded in the

:55:51. > :55:58.middle. I think Josh Dugan put his feet up. We will have to see if it

:55:59. > :56:11.was intentional. Josh Dugan just running into the feet. I think it

:56:12. > :56:12.was Kata. He can't do that. No. Dugan not enamoured by that

:56:13. > :56:35.reaction. A bit of a slam dunk. Evil in those eyes, wasn't there.

:56:36. > :56:41.Just be responsible. Making contact. Putting the legs out. We don't want

:56:42. > :56:54.it to escalate. The penalty will go against your team. No complaints. As

:56:55. > :56:56.seen by everybody in the stadium. The only complaint the Australians

:56:57. > :57:02.have is that they didn't finish it. Sloppy. You feel that their high

:57:03. > :57:06.standards have just dipped a little as they are comfortable and they

:57:07. > :57:21.have won the game. Aaron Woods. Ten metres away. Smith, Cronk. Good play

:57:22. > :57:28.by Harris. Smith and Woods. A couple of plays still to go, Australia.

:57:29. > :57:38.Interestingly poised. Into the line comes Morgan. Inglis with a big

:57:39. > :57:45.carry. Johnson did well. The kick goes very sideways and Dugan knocks

:57:46. > :57:54.it backwards. It's picked up by Gillett, keeping it alive. Cronk. To

:57:55. > :58:04.the ground. It hit Taumalolo. It's getting feisty again. Leave the

:58:05. > :58:09.ball, please. Jason Taumalolo and Cooper Cronk were joint players of

:58:10. > :58:10.the year in Australia. There is a little fight going on as to who

:58:11. > :58:24.should keep the trophy, perhaps. Harris. Very much in that second row

:58:25. > :58:44.position now. Kenny-Dowall. Up and just beyond the halfway line.

:58:45. > :58:51.Now it's with Issac Luke. Grabbed by Matt Scott. Good play of the ball.

:58:52. > :59:02.He knew what he was doing, Issac Luke. As soon as Scott grabbed him,

:59:03. > :59:09.penalty. So Johnson finds position. New Zealand just getting a little

:59:10. > :59:12.flutter of enthusiasm here. There might be some possibilities to be

:59:13. > :59:17.earned from this game before it's finished. Jesse Bromwich just fired

:59:18. > :59:23.it forward again. A big, chucking effort.

:59:24. > :59:33.A good tackle. But contact from Matt Scott. They got in there. Shoulders

:59:34. > :59:43.made-to-measure. Now it comes to Kenny-Dowall.

:59:44. > :59:49.Out came Gillett, like a heat-seeking missile, to pour his

:59:50. > :00:07.man down. --: his man down. He hits and advancing Australian.

:00:08. > :00:15.The referee says, what here? More pressure. A maul for New Zealand to

:00:16. > :00:29.take on here. It's offside, isn't it? Definitely played that.

:00:30. > :00:36.40,042 the official crowd. A good atmosphere. Certainly in the second

:00:37. > :00:41.half when New Zealand have found a bit of energy.

:00:42. > :00:58.Harris with a feed. Johnson brings it to this right-hand side. On comes

:00:59. > :01:14.Five away, New Zealand in decent position. It is slow. Now it is

:01:15. > :01:29.played. Issac Luke goes left and decides it is not happening there.

:01:30. > :01:38.It is Blair t dummy half this time. Caught in the air by... Caught in

:01:39. > :01:47.the air now. Another penalty for New Zealand.

:01:48. > :01:58.Frizell, I think, flocked on... There might be an issue there. Yes.

:01:59. > :02:15.We've got to clean that up. I appreciate that.

:02:16. > :02:23.Got to clean up. Thanks Cameron. Which one is the ref! ?

:02:24. > :02:28.Plays for club, state and country, Cameron Smith.

:02:29. > :02:32.Proctor goes close for New Zealand. An excellent opportunity for the

:02:33. > :02:38.Kiwis to re-establish some pride here. Taken on by Bromwich. Gathered

:02:39. > :02:41.in, but squeezes his way out of the clutches of Morgan. More come in

:02:42. > :02:55.green and gold. Put him on his back. New Zealand, with taum taum, driving

:02:56. > :02:58.it in -- with Taumalolo, driving it in again.

:02:59. > :03:03.Bromwich held up again just short. They don't want to give anything

:03:04. > :03:04.away this side in green and gold. Kiwis desperate to get over there.

:03:05. > :03:19.Johnson skipping in. Helped on its way by Lewis Brown.

:03:20. > :03:24.Into touch, not into the hands of his team-mate. Decision making was

:03:25. > :03:31.excellent when New Zealand had ball in hand. He noticed, Greg Inglis,

:03:32. > :03:35.they had three on two. He put the skill under pressure. His wingman

:03:36. > :03:40.followed him, putting the skill under pressure again. The ball ended

:03:41. > :03:45.up over the sidelines. A great defensive effort from both wingman,

:03:46. > :03:58.Valentine Holmes and centre, Greg Inglis.

:03:59. > :04:06.Australia have been reduced to just one try this second half, Darius

:04:07. > :04:10.Boyd after the break. The Kiwis have played with pride and

:04:11. > :04:16.passion. They have given away another try here. It will mean this

:04:17. > :04:20.set will occupy a great deal of their own territory.

:04:21. > :04:29.A lot of penalties conceded in the last ten minutes or so. I think on

:04:30. > :04:33.the bounce as the referee pointed out to Cameron Smith They are

:04:34. > :04:37.clinical as well. Under pressure in their own 20 metres. It is up to the

:04:38. > :04:42.referee then to referee it and use the cards. They giving the penalty

:04:43. > :04:50.away because they trust... Here we go. Cronk running wide. How much

:04:51. > :04:54.Kiwis are back. Dugan keeps it in play.

:04:55. > :05:00.Good on them. Well done the Kiwis there. A great scramble. Shows the

:05:01. > :05:05.pride in the shirt there. Smith to Scott, who just slides in

:05:06. > :05:10.there, using his bulk. Making his presence felt. Australia,

:05:11. > :05:15.with Smith again. Now it is with Merrin. Merrin flicks away. Smith,

:05:16. > :05:22.underneath the arms of Proctor and Thurston. Going to be wrapped up by

:05:23. > :05:24.plenty of enthusiastic defenders again.

:05:25. > :05:30.Here's Cordner. Smith cannot see what he wanted, so takes the

:05:31. > :05:35.tackment. This is the last -- tackle. So this

:05:36. > :05:47.is the last. Dugan flicks it back inside. It

:05:48. > :05:53.should be Blair's and is. Harris has lost the ball. Went

:05:54. > :06:08.backwards. And Bromwich... Surge and an urge.

:06:09. > :06:20.Taumalolo to his left. Going further left.

:06:21. > :06:28.I am certain David Kidwell will be pleased with the second-half

:06:29. > :06:32.response from his team. Taumalolo a wonderful run by him. A

:06:33. > :06:37.mixture of stepping and size and power. He gets the penalty. On the

:06:38. > :06:45.fifth tackle as well. Again very, very clinical. I think, should be a

:06:46. > :06:50.yellow card that. It should be a yellow card. Cronk should be in the

:06:51. > :06:58.bin. He's warned Cameron Smith of penalties. So Blair, Adam Blair sets

:06:59. > :07:03.the position. Issac Luke, who seems to be troubled, hobbling a little.

:07:04. > :07:18.Away from Thurston. Meets his match, does he in Cordner. A dancing...

:07:19. > :07:22.Might just have claimed his second of the game and the kiwi's second of

:07:23. > :07:28.the game. Again we need it to be certain. Again we go to the video

:07:29. > :07:39.referee, Bernard Sutton. VIDEO

:07:40. > :07:44.REFEREE: He's entitled to promote the ball. The ball is off the

:07:45. > :07:50.ground. No double movement involved. Keep this moving. Keep it moving.

:07:51. > :07:54.Still has possession, still has possession and, keep it moving,

:07:55. > :08:00.please, Ken. Keep it moving, mate. Don't freeze it.

:08:01. > :08:05.OK, is there another angle on that? Make this continuous, please. OK,

:08:06. > :08:11.can we go back to the front-on angle? Is this your best shot? OK,

:08:12. > :08:17.keep it going. Keep it going. Not frame by frame,

:08:18. > :08:20.move it forward. And pause it now. OK, that will be a try then. Going

:08:21. > :08:46.to the board. So the Kiwis find themselves one.

:08:47. > :08:51.They have scored three more and convert all three if this is

:08:52. > :08:56.converted to put Australia under pressure. Stayed right. Very

:08:57. > :09:00.straight. 28-10. But we are seeing some real spirit

:09:01. > :09:07.and fight from the Kiwi nz the second half. A very good finish as

:09:08. > :09:15.well. And again good speed. It is the off-load. There's a lovely

:09:16. > :09:23.off-load. And Thurston spins out of the tackle. Good finish.

:09:24. > :09:27.28-8, Australia lead. I am certain they will be certain

:09:28. > :09:32.with the response of their team in this second half. It is 8-4, to look

:09:33. > :09:36.from half time and they have certainly played a lot better. Been

:09:37. > :09:41.assisted by a fair few penalties. Australia comes here, I believe the

:09:42. > :09:45.penalty count is 12-7 to New Zealand. They have taken advantage

:09:46. > :09:50.of it and defensively again, Dave, they have worked at it to keep this

:09:51. > :09:59.Australian team out. So a great response from the half time debrief.

:10:00. > :10:09.They are playing withvy bransy now, New -- with vibrancy, aren't they

:10:10. > :10:13.now New Zealand. That turning point when New Zealand were on top and

:10:14. > :10:17.nearly got across the whitewash and instead they spilt the ball, the

:10:18. > :10:22.ball went the other end and Australia scored the try. That was a

:10:23. > :10:27.massive turning point. If they had not scored, if and buts a and thaw,

:10:28. > :10:30.but having a different con-- and all that. But having a different contest

:10:31. > :10:43.here. Mistakes will happen as well. Thurston into the line. In comes

:10:44. > :10:50.Cordner. Inside it goes to Thurston again.

:10:51. > :10:54.Cameron Smith offering it. Merrin... He's a worker, isn't he? A labourer!

:10:55. > :11:04.I have been impressed with him in this tournament. Really have. Cronk

:11:05. > :11:09.again. Great defence. Kata, I think that was, who got in

:11:10. > :11:15.the face of Darius Boyd. Cooper Cronk will chip it high.

:11:16. > :11:20.Inglis's big arms get up there. New Zealand survive. That left edge

:11:21. > :11:23.defence of New Zealand are bet ther second half. Whether wl they change

:11:24. > :11:27.half time, they have rushed, tried to make decisions on the back and

:11:28. > :11:32.rushed them. There we see the knock-on. I don't know if it came

:11:33. > :11:36.off the leg. But never mind, let's get on with it.

:11:37. > :11:42.You can see there was an intent there from New Zealand to play some

:11:43. > :11:51.football inside their own 10-metre line.

:11:52. > :11:59.Kata to his left, not interested in support player, is Harris. Now it

:12:00. > :12:05.comes with Bromwich. Bromwich with a little subtle step.

:12:06. > :12:13.Bromwich has had a good game today. Johnson, Proctor...

:12:14. > :12:21.On his way to Gold Coast next season is Kevin Proctor, having spent quite

:12:22. > :12:27.a bit of time at Melbourne Storm. Leaps well. It will be a penalty.

:12:28. > :12:32.Inevitably. That just wasn't smart, that. It was

:12:33. > :12:35.a good kick, but needed to let him land before he went in with the

:12:36. > :12:43.shoulder there. Very polite or not very smart.

:12:44. > :12:53.Taken it in the air. No need... Let him land and then jam him with the

:12:54. > :12:57.shoulder. He copped one as well on the chin, didn't he?

:12:58. > :13:32.Australia, back towards the halfway line. Wanting to finish with a

:13:33. > :13:36.flourish here. Seven minutes to go. Seven minutes of the season

:13:37. > :13:40.remaining. It's been a memorable season. So many, for so many

:13:41. > :13:52.reasons. Wigan through adversity winning the

:13:53. > :13:56.Grand Final here. That wonderful Challenge Cup story that Hull FC

:13:57. > :14:03.have penned this season as well. So many reasons to remember this

:14:04. > :14:08.season. But we are belatedly going to be taking our hats off to this

:14:09. > :14:11.Australian side who anyonish off in style.

:14:12. > :14:26.-- who finish off in style. Last play. Where does it go? Smith to

:14:27. > :14:32.Thurston. Her comes Boyd. Never any doubts really from kick-off, but

:14:33. > :14:36.Australia are going to be crowned Four Nations winners, 2016. It is a

:14:37. > :14:44.brilliant angle from the second rower. Watch who it comes off. Hits

:14:45. > :14:48.centre field on the right-hand side and Thurston on the right-hand side.

:14:49. > :14:57.It depends where they see the weakness. He comes in to create the

:14:58. > :15:07.overlap. The take and the penalty. This is the finish. Cronk on the

:15:08. > :15:11.right. Thurston what a ball. Australia were annoyed they were not

:15:12. > :15:15.winning the second half. All of a sudden they said, hey, we will level

:15:16. > :15:26.it and hope that Thurston can claim the second half for them. That was a

:15:27. > :15:29.well executed play there. Well, it flies alone at Anfield the

:15:30. > :15:36.Australian flag. And they have come through a few

:15:37. > :15:38.storms. Not many. They have painted their own golden skies, haven't

:15:39. > :15:52.they. Thurston with a kick. 32-8, as it stands.

:15:53. > :15:59.Jonathan Thurston looking to add another two points to his Test match

:16:00. > :16:04.tally and he does. 34-8. Australia lead.

:16:05. > :16:10.Once again, the pre-eminent international rugby league nation.

:16:11. > :16:14.Thurston takes it to the line. It is a real aggressive line on the inside

:16:15. > :16:23.shoulder. Over he goes. Crashes over the whitewash. A real good try.

:16:24. > :16:26.I am sure Mal Meninga will feel job done with some style. Especially

:16:27. > :16:31.that first half. Four-and-a-half minutes to go. There might be more

:16:32. > :16:36.fireworks to come yet. Australia will not be content to finish there.

:16:37. > :16:40.They would love to get it to the 40-point mark.

:16:41. > :17:24.Looking for more holes in the kiwi's resolve in final few moments.

:17:25. > :17:33.They are running the clock down now, aren't they?

:17:34. > :17:45.And Mal Meninga, not long in the job now, is he? Only took over as head

:17:46. > :17:49.coach of Australia this year. Unbeaten, a winning coach every time

:17:50. > :17:52.they have taken to the field and impressive winners every time they

:17:53. > :17:56.have take on the the field. Australia have been the best team in

:17:57. > :18:01.this Four Nations by some distance, in all honesty and the challenge to

:18:02. > :18:06.both the Kiwis and the English team is to improve considerably in the

:18:07. > :18:13.next 12 months to challenge them with the World Cup.

:18:14. > :18:16.We cannot forget to mention Scotland, the role they've played in

:18:17. > :18:21.this Four Nations because they of course, to remind you, become the

:18:22. > :18:26.first outside the top three to take a point off one of the top three

:18:27. > :18:33.with that glorious performance last week against this New Zealand side.

:18:34. > :18:54.New Zealand are in an attacking position here.

:18:55. > :19:04.That sums up an afternoon for those in black shirts.

:19:05. > :19:10.That's one thing, it has not been executed well enough, I think

:19:11. > :19:12.because they have checked the run of the guy receiving the pass, a lot of

:19:13. > :19:25.shoulder passes. Risk and reward and took the risk.

:19:26. > :19:30.And the team got their reward. In the tackle count, over the side-line

:19:31. > :19:35.it went. So less than two minutes to go and

:19:36. > :19:37.David Kidwell, another one who is new to the job, he was not expecting

:19:38. > :19:45.it, of course. That's a good pass. The best pass

:19:46. > :20:08.Eastwood has had all afternoon. They will be happy to put their feet

:20:09. > :20:35.up after a very long season. Johnson, a big dummy from him and he

:20:36. > :20:38.skips back the other way. This is Blair, whose pass was not forward.

:20:39. > :20:44.The referee says, carry on. Johnson is going to run it.

:20:45. > :21:02.Skipping, drops it back. Eastwood drops it back to Taumalolo.

:21:03. > :21:08.Now with Issac Luke. It's basketball they are playing at the moment, not

:21:09. > :21:11.rugby league! Another set of six here for New

:21:12. > :21:15.Zealand. They are entertaining to the last.

:21:16. > :21:19.Issac Luke takes it in. That is the last though, and for all that flare

:21:20. > :21:25.and enterprise in the last few seconds it comes to all in the final

:21:26. > :21:30.reckoning. It is Australia who are back to top spot in world rugby

:21:31. > :21:36.league. It is official now. We knew it before, anyway, but they are

:21:37. > :21:42.world champions. World number one and a Four Nations winners. Too

:21:43. > :21:46.good. They have been so efficient with great leadership and great game

:21:47. > :21:50.management. Thoroughly deserve number one in the world n this

:21:51. > :21:55.competition. They will take some beating in next year's World Cup.

:21:56. > :22:01.They will and that first half was an outstanding example of how to play.

:22:02. > :22:09.That was a really outstanding first half. Australia posted 24-0 and

:22:10. > :22:15.deserved Four Nations champions and deserved number one in the world.

:22:16. > :22:19.38-8. Darius Boyd keeping up his impressive record. 22 caps. Never on

:22:20. > :22:26.a losing side. Cameron Smith, is this the last we

:22:27. > :22:31.see of him on English soil in an Aussie shirt? He will go around next

:22:32. > :22:38.year, so long as he keeps his health, he will go around next year.

:22:39. > :22:43.What a great expo nent of the game he remains, one of the best number

:22:44. > :22:46.nines there have been. So, let's hear I think from the Man

:22:47. > :22:55.of the Match, Darius Boyd. Congratulations. Man of the Match.

:22:56. > :22:59.How special to win the Four Nations? Definitely. We said at the start we

:23:00. > :23:04.wanted to get the world ranking back. A pleasure to play in front of

:23:05. > :23:08.Liverpool. Mal Meninga has been playing down that number one spot.

:23:09. > :23:15.Clearly you guys wanted it back big time? . Definitely. We wanted it

:23:16. > :23:21.back. We have trained hard all year. We've had a lot of blokes. How much

:23:22. > :23:26.of a pleasure is to play as a group you lot? You look like a well-oiled

:23:27. > :23:34.machine? We've had fun and trained hard. Mel and the coaching staff

:23:35. > :23:40.have help us. It has brought a lot of pride back. For a while we had a

:23:41. > :23:43.few losses with the Australian team. We upped our standards. It is a

:23:44. > :23:49.pleasure to win all games this year and go home with the trophy. Many

:23:50. > :23:52.congratulations. Let's bring in your captain, Cameron Smith. You are back

:23:53. > :23:58.to number one in the world. Sound good? Yeah. That is fantastic. It

:23:59. > :24:03.with us a goal of ours at the start of the year. We knew it would take a

:24:04. > :24:06.lot of hard work. The boys, we have transformed a few things throughout

:24:07. > :24:11.the team and the way we go about our football and I think it's just been

:24:12. > :24:17.a nice change with Mel bringing different things around the team and

:24:18. > :24:21.new players on board. So, I think we are undefeated throughout this whole

:24:22. > :24:24.season, which is great. When you say you have transformed things, you

:24:25. > :24:28.have always looked good. What have you transformed? A bit of the

:24:29. > :24:32.outlook on where we want the Kangaroos to be. The Jersey and what

:24:33. > :24:36.it means to the players playing in it and who actually we are

:24:37. > :24:41.representing. So, yeah, the older boys, we've always had a lot of

:24:42. > :24:44.pride in the Jersey. It is great to see all the young boys cherishing

:24:45. > :24:47.the international game and seeing the Kangaroos Jersey as the pinnacle

:24:48. > :24:51.of rugby league. How much do you feel you are building and looking

:24:52. > :24:55.forward to that World Cup and building on that? It is nice to

:24:56. > :24:59.finish Four Nations champions. We've not had it for a few years now.

:25:00. > :25:03.Look, I think we've done a lot of hard work this year. We've put the

:25:04. > :25:07.team into a good position, moving into the World Cup. Our first goal

:25:08. > :25:11.was to come here, make the final and win it. We've done it so far.

:25:12. > :25:16.Hopefully all the guys involved in this tour are all fit and playing

:25:17. > :25:22.well next year. Enjoy lifting that trophy. Let's bring in another of

:25:23. > :25:27.your long time team-mates, Jonathan Thurston. You have said you think

:25:28. > :25:31.this is your last game in this country. What a game for you? It is

:25:32. > :25:35.special. Taking the Four Nations trophy back home and to play on such

:25:36. > :25:40.a ground that has so much history. So, it has been a good campaign by

:25:41. > :25:45.the boys. We said from the start we wanted to create good memories. That

:25:46. > :25:48.is what we've done. How much is it conscious for Cameron Smith that

:25:49. > :25:51.your international career will not go on forever now and you want to go

:25:52. > :25:55.out with special memories? That is what it is about. Creating memories

:25:56. > :26:01.and making sure they are good memories. Mel has produced a really

:26:02. > :26:07.good squad. There's a lot of experience. It is good to see the

:26:08. > :26:10.younger players coming through and cherishing the Jersey and standing

:26:11. > :26:18.up for the international game. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Let's

:26:19. > :26:21.bring bring you in. How pleased with the second half response? It was one

:26:22. > :26:27.of those nights. We worked really hard this whole tour. We worked hard

:26:28. > :26:30.this week. Very disappointed with our efforts in the first half.

:26:31. > :26:35.Collectively as a group we let ourselves down. Our ball hanging was

:26:36. > :26:41.terrible. We come out in the second half and play footy, what we believe

:26:42. > :26:46.is the Kiwi style. Come off a good of good tries. They cleaned us up.

:26:47. > :26:51.Thank you for your time. No worries. Thank you.

:26:52. > :26:59.Australia are back at number one. They have won the Four Nations. They

:27:00. > :27:04.were impressive over the last four weeks. They certainly deserve to be

:27:05. > :27:10.winners of this tournament. It was so clinical. They completed really

:27:11. > :27:15.well. Built pressure. When they had a set play, they got the right

:27:16. > :27:21.people and I think they deserved to win today and the tournament.

:27:22. > :27:27.From a Kiwi perspective, what, if any positives can you take from it?

:27:28. > :27:31.As Blair said, it was positive in a respect. They have trained well.

:27:32. > :27:34.They have enjoyed the tour. They have not been able to glue it over

:27:35. > :27:41.the full 80 minutes. They will go back to the drawing board. The big

:27:42. > :27:45.one is the World Cup in 2017. I thought Australia were magnificent

:27:46. > :27:49.throughout the trip. Mal Meninga came here with a view to

:27:50. > :27:52.re-establish Australia as number one. The approach, hinted from

:27:53. > :28:00.Cameron Smith and Jonathan Thurston, there was a lack of pride in the

:28:01. > :28:06.kangaroo jumper. Re-established it should be the number one aim of any

:28:07. > :28:10.player. We are ready for the presentations of the 2016 Four

:28:11. > :28:16.Nations. Let's rejoin our commentators. The officials are out

:28:17. > :28:20.there. The Kiwis are on the floor at the moment. We will see, think I the

:28:21. > :28:25.Man of the Series first in Cooper Cronk.

:28:26. > :28:29.The Australia number seven. One club-man throughout his career, at

:28:30. > :28:37.Melbourne. He's been there since 2004. . His debut against New

:28:38. > :28:42.Zealand, back in 2007. What an established figure he has become for

:28:43. > :28:46.Australia in the nine years since. This is always a moment when the

:28:47. > :28:55.officials get their medals. It is good that the referees collect

:28:56. > :28:58.their momentos too. They serve a big purpose, of course, don't they. They

:28:59. > :29:05.get some stick at times, but of course we wouldn't have a game were

:29:06. > :29:07.it not for they. There's Bernard Sutton at the back,

:29:08. > :29:18.by the way. May be considered a missed

:29:19. > :29:23.opportunity today for Greg Inglis. If he had scored against New

:29:24. > :29:26.Zealand, he would have been Australia's record try scorer

:29:27. > :29:31.against New Zealand. Currently, he has 15 against the Kiwis. Coming

:29:32. > :29:38.out, Jesse Bromwich, from Melbourne Storm. We got first sight of him

:29:39. > :29:47.over here when he made his debut against Leeds in 2010. Kevin Proctor

:29:48. > :29:51.behind him, Johnson, Kata, Greg Eastwood, a familiar face to Leeds

:29:52. > :29:58.supporters, he had a spell of six or years ago with that club. Lewis

:29:59. > :30:04.Brown, Martin to power, -- Martin Taupau, so not the most memorable of

:30:05. > :30:08.Four Nations tournaments for these particular Kiwis. They won against

:30:09. > :30:17.England, but the horrible memory from their point of view of 18-18

:30:18. > :30:22.against Scotland at Workington. Issac Luke, the big fellow. Jason

:30:23. > :30:31.Taumalolo has had a great season domestically. He got that joint

:30:32. > :30:38.winner alongside Cooper Cronk. Medals collected. It's time for the

:30:39. > :30:54.winners to take to the stage. So Johnathan Thurston will come on

:30:55. > :30:57.here. As we heard, one of a clutch who might not be coming back to

:30:58. > :31:07.these shores again to play international rugby league. Cronk

:31:08. > :31:11.getting his. Blake Ferguson. How memorably this year has finished for

:31:12. > :31:17.him, with a try here today. Matt Scott. In force for north

:31:18. > :31:25.Queensland. Read less, the big fellow. -- Greg Inglis. Michael

:31:26. > :31:34.Morgan gets his as well. Along the line they come. Darius Boyd. So an

:31:35. > :31:42.international series coming to an end here today. The World Cup to

:31:43. > :31:47.look forward to next year. We have today heard news that the World Cup

:31:48. > :31:52.in 2025 will be in the United States and Canada. So we know where the

:31:53. > :31:57.next three will be, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in 12

:31:58. > :32:05.months, back here for years later, and then in the United States.

:32:06. > :32:15.Cameron Smith slowly making his way up onto the podium. Mat woods. A

:32:16. > :32:25.shake of the hand as well. -- Matt Woods. 38 tries in 31 appearances

:32:26. > :32:31.for St Helens, and now an Australian coaching hero as well. He led the

:32:32. > :32:39.Kangaroos back to the pinnacle of international rugby league. So

:32:40. > :32:44.Cameron Smith takes hold of the trophy, and they have got the whole

:32:45. > :32:52.world back in their hands. World champions, world number one ranking,

:32:53. > :32:59.and now a Four Nations title. Read gained by Australia. On top of the

:33:00. > :33:03.summit. The rest of the rugby league world can only look up and there and

:33:04. > :33:08.wonder, how did they get to where the Kangaroos have taken this game?

:33:09. > :33:15.Answers on a postcard from down under in 12 months' time. Australia,

:33:16. > :33:22.defending that World Cup, and they have it all at the moment. Worthy

:33:23. > :33:28.winners of the 2016 Ladbrokes Four Nations. We have got the rugby

:33:29. > :33:35.league Forum coming up on the red button after we go off air. Hashtag

:33:36. > :33:40.BBC R L if you want to put your questions and thoughts to the panel.

:33:41. > :33:49.We will be on the red button for half an hour after we come off air.

:33:50. > :33:52.Brian Noble, Dave Woods said then that all international rugby league

:33:53. > :33:59.playing countries will be thinking, how do we get to this level,

:34:00. > :34:05.including New Zealand and England? They are all 33, 30 four. They've

:34:06. > :34:09.just got to aspire to be the best. We have seen them re-establish

:34:10. > :34:17.themselves in the top of the ladder. Let's hear from Jon Wilkin.

:34:18. > :34:23.Fantastic series. You must be pleased with the result. Obviously

:34:24. > :34:27.it's great to win the Four Nations. Pleased for all the players. I

:34:28. > :34:34.thought we got better with each game. We brought our a game to the

:34:35. > :34:41.final. That is a coach's dream. We have taken back the number one spot,

:34:42. > :34:46.which is what we are after. The likes of Thurston, Cronk and Smith,

:34:47. > :34:51.what is it like to coach those guys? We sort of coerced them a little

:34:52. > :34:57.bit. They are fantastic players in their own right. Collectively, they

:34:58. > :35:03.are one of the best minds you will ever see in rugby league. Like

:35:04. > :35:07.Darius Boyd, letting the players -- getting the players' player, man of

:35:08. > :35:11.the match. We are lucky, but we still have to build a team.

:35:12. > :35:21.Everybody did their job tonight. Thank you and all the best. That was

:35:22. > :35:27.a very telling line you don't coach Thurston, Cronk and Smith. Those

:35:28. > :35:35.guys have been playing together for so long. They are like a club team.

:35:36. > :35:39.That is the hard thing about teams, trying to get everybody together and

:35:40. > :35:45.working on the same page. Those guys have so much experience of each

:35:46. > :35:50.other. And they will go on to next year's World Cup and play in it. But

:35:51. > :35:54.you look at other influential players over the course of this Four

:35:55. > :35:59.Nations, and they are in their mid-20s, so they will then take on

:36:00. > :36:02.the mantle from Smith, Thurston and Cronk. That is to be expected.

:36:03. > :36:08.Michael Morgan had a number of showings through the season. He

:36:09. > :36:11.partners on a weekly basis with Johnathan Thurston. So a great

:36:12. > :36:16.person to learn underneath, how to learn your trade. That's important.

:36:17. > :36:21.Maloney has had a great Four Nations. This is the next generation

:36:22. > :36:28.coming through. Darius Boyd is only a young man. He plays full-back for

:36:29. > :36:31.that Queensland team. So that team had the consistency through the

:36:32. > :36:40.year. That is where you want to get to. That's what you have to do.

:36:41. > :36:44.Cameron Smith is like an on field coach. He is so experienced and

:36:45. > :36:48.mature in the way he talks to the players before, on the field and the

:36:49. > :36:56.way he directs the team around. It's like having a coach on the field.

:36:57. > :37:00.Maybe it hasn't been that competitive a Four Nations, but it's

:37:01. > :37:06.been a privilege to watch Australia play the rugby league they have

:37:07. > :37:10.played. We have seen the ruthless methodology they go through. They

:37:11. > :37:18.are quite prepared to kick the ball for 35 minutes until they break the

:37:19. > :37:24.bank open. We haven't mentioned Inglis, Josh Dugan, some outstanding

:37:25. > :37:29.players. Thank you very much to all three of you for your company during

:37:30. > :37:33.the Four Nations. Hashtag BBC R L if you want to get in touch for the red

:37:34. > :37:39.button forum for the next half hour or so with Tanya and the boys.

:37:40. > :37:41.Australia have been dominant. They are back at number one. They are

:37:42. > :37:44.Four Nations champions. Thank goodness their cricket team keep

:37:45. > :38:47.getting skittled. Goodbye. Boy, do they want is Four Nations

:38:48. > :38:53.crown! They are world Hi, I'm Romesh Ranganathan and I'm

:38:54. > :38:57.off to live the American Dream... I always wanted to go to America,

:38:58. > :39:00.to see the family.