0:00:16 > 0:00:23Hello. This is Melbourne. It is 26 degrees, sunny, lovely, and the
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Rugby League World Cup 2017 is about to get under way. Over the next five
0:00:27 > 0:00:31weeks we will have it covered on the BBC from three countries and 13
0:00:31 > 0:00:36venues. It gets under way with one of the biggest rivalries, Australia
0:00:36 > 0:00:41against England. We have a top team down under to bring it to you. I am
0:00:41 > 0:00:46off to the studio here in Salford to present it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:38France have the first try. Outrageous rugby try.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56You just can't stop the kid.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03England have the lead.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16High fives all round.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38And the supporters are going mad.
0:02:44 > 0:02:56He has got the ball down.World champions again.
0:02:56 > 0:03:0014 teams with hopes of winning the Rugby League World Cup. Welcome to
0:03:00 > 0:03:06highlights of the opening match of this 15th tournament. We will show
0:03:06 > 0:03:09you co-hosts Australia against England in a moment, but first, this
0:03:09 > 0:03:17is how the tournament works. There are four teams in pool a and B. They
0:03:17 > 0:03:20play three matches, each playing their pool opposition once and then
0:03:20 > 0:03:22the top three qualify for the quarterfinals.
0:03:44 > 0:03:51Let's take you to Melbourne. The opening game of the 2017 Rugby
0:03:51 > 0:03:55League World Cup, Australia against England. Your commentator is our rub
0:03:55 > 0:03:58the correspondent, Dave Walsh.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03England. Your commentator is our rub the correspondent, Dave Walsh.This
0:04:03 > 0:04:07is the way they are lining up.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It is a very settled look to the England side.
0:04:28 > 0:04:35Here is Aaron Woods. James Graham, wrapping himself around the knees.
0:04:45 > 0:04:55David Klemmer slams his huge body into the England line.That was too
0:04:55 > 0:05:01big.England have a tap on the 20. Cronk will be disappointed because
0:05:01 > 0:05:04he had it nails, with the numbers against England.
0:05:11 > 0:05:17A good start from Australia offensively.Two different styles.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Australia were keen to get to the edge, to move away from the ruck
0:05:20 > 0:05:29area.There is a lift for England, because the penalty for offside and
0:05:29 > 0:05:40the chance to settle a funeral is. Aaron Woods has been penalised. --
0:05:40 > 0:05:43the chance to settle a funeral 's.
0:06:38 > 0:06:49The last tackle play coming next. Over the top to McGillvary. And
0:06:49 > 0:06:56England will claim the opening try of this World Cup. No recourse to
0:06:56 > 0:07:04the video referee. What a to refix start for the English side. -- what
0:07:04 > 0:07:12a terrific start.They have asked questions on both sides of the
0:07:12 > 0:07:15field, and O'Loughlin is the key on both sides. McGillvary just had to
0:07:15 > 0:07:22catch it.It was a good set. They were prepared to move the ball, play
0:07:22 > 0:07:27what was in front of them. Great vision and it will give them great
0:07:27 > 0:07:38confidence early.From very near the touchline, not quite close enough.
0:07:38 > 0:07:49That is what you need when you are underdogs in a game.Asking
0:07:49 > 0:07:51questions, outnumbering the Australians, a great start for
0:07:51 > 0:07:56England.Lomax is causing problems.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08What you don't do is give a team like Australia free possession,
0:08:08 > 0:08:16which England did then.Having survived one spell, England have two
0:08:16 > 0:08:18survive again.
0:08:34 > 0:08:43One more opportunity for Australia. McGillvary took no chances.He has
0:08:43 > 0:08:46just become a wicketkeeper for England. That is the fourth time he
0:08:46 > 0:08:53has cleaned up round the back and booted the ball out.A great tackle,
0:08:53 > 0:08:57stood his ground and stepped in on the player. That is what you do,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00build confidence with your defence.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Good, flowing movement from England again.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22It was a loose pass, intercepted by Chambers. Mistakes from both sides
0:09:22 > 0:09:27with the handling.It was loose, the final pass.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48Have we seen an interchange?No interchange yet. I don't think we
0:09:48 > 0:09:52are far off it, because there are some big boys blowing out there at
0:09:52 > 0:10:02the moment.England's defence already back on its own line again.
0:10:11 > 0:10:17He made some space for himself and I think he found a way to get over.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21The referee again absolutely certain. For all the defending that
0:10:21 > 0:10:25England have done, they will consider that a real disappointment
0:10:25 > 0:10:33for Matt Gillett to get over from where he did.This was fatigue. Too
0:10:33 > 0:10:41much defence to do. He stepped off his right foot and it was the fact
0:10:41 > 0:10:45that they could not shape their line-up. He was too fast and too
0:10:45 > 0:10:54strong.Cameron Smith, kicking to refix Lee well, right in between the
0:10:54 > 0:10:55uprights.
0:11:09 > 0:11:18Again, a quick pick-up, carried forward by Morgan.
0:11:21 > 0:11:30They have got time here. Frizzell has come onto the field, a Welsh
0:11:30 > 0:11:36international at the last World Cup. And he has won a penalty. Right in
0:11:36 > 0:11:43front of the sticks. Do they go for two?They will play because they
0:11:43 > 0:11:46feel they have good possession and there is wear and tear in the
0:11:46 > 0:11:50England team.They have set themselves up here.
0:12:05 > 0:12:13Slater. It is too easy again, it seemed. Billy Slater bamboozling the
0:12:13 > 0:12:19English defence with a thread of a pass and then a skip to the line.
0:12:19 > 0:12:29Australia have back-to-back tries, and a lead of 10-4.Other than when
0:12:29 > 0:12:35they scored the try, all of the ball has been in the England half.
0:12:41 > 0:12:51People that wide, so it remains 10-4.You cannot give Billy Slater
0:12:51 > 0:13:04that amount of time.They need to take away their time by hustling.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08They will have to think about a kick on the last again. Morgan with the
0:13:08 > 0:13:18height.They start on the ten metre line, so they are striving to get
0:13:18 > 0:13:22over the halfway line. It is a different ball game for Australia,
0:13:22 > 0:13:27kicking 30 metres out every time. And no mental pressure for Australia
0:13:27 > 0:13:36either. There is a concern here for Burgess. There is a little in
0:13:36 > 0:13:41tangled and. Matt Gillett seemed to be worried about Sam Burgess' health
0:13:41 > 0:13:50for a moment. That is where the injury was. Is it a hamstring?I
0:13:50 > 0:13:54would not be surprised if it is his knee. Having said that, I failed
0:13:54 > 0:14:00when I tried to become a doctor.If it is a medial in his knee, we are
0:14:00 > 0:14:06talking tournament.I wonder if he carried that in with him. They are
0:14:06 > 0:14:10not prodding and poking, so they might have an idea what it is.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29It is the triumvirate that strikes and puts Australia in this position.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Maguire is held up short, but brilliance down the middle by the
0:14:32 > 0:14:40Melbourne three. McGillvary with the interception and a clearing run. He
0:14:40 > 0:14:44might not go the distance, but how many times has he been the last
0:14:44 > 0:14:49ditch defender who has come out with something special?What a save that
0:14:49 > 0:14:54was, McGillvary to the rescue. They were done and dusted with England
0:14:54 > 0:15:03right hand side defence and he picked it out of the air.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07What about the gamebreaker up the middle. They have broken them up the
0:15:07 > 0:15:15middle a couple of times with that inside pass to Slater.Graham and
0:15:15 > 0:15:18the parser ways, a quick closing down job on Widdop. Nothing he could
0:15:18 > 0:15:27do. Roby to Graham. Looking for some honest endeavour to give England a
0:15:27 > 0:15:34platform on the last play. Might this be a good time to score? It is
0:15:34 > 0:15:37punched out of play from an Australian hand. They'll take that
0:15:37 > 0:15:47and they'll take this, a lead at half-time 10-4. England start a set
0:15:47 > 0:15:58in an excellent attacking position. Roby.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11England encouraged for the moment. Great footwork by Hill again. He's
0:16:11 > 0:16:15got our hands and feet and the power, but the Australians have the
0:16:15 > 0:16:23answers. In defence, Graham, quickly away... Gale! Lomax caught that and
0:16:23 > 0:16:26put it away. England were in for a try, and I think Jonny Lomax knows
0:16:26 > 0:16:34that.They just need a bit of composure, to ease back.
0:16:40 > 0:16:47Hodgson to O'Loughlin. His head snapped back at a challenge from
0:16:47 > 0:16:56Klemmer. Hodgson again. Widdop caught it. Fantastic juggling effort
0:16:56 > 0:17:02from Gareth Widdop. That was important. That is a good carry from
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Hill and the off-load, a bit scruffy but it did its job. Good footwork on
0:17:05 > 0:17:14Cameron Smith. Last play looms. 30 metres out. Widdop sticking it high.
0:17:14 > 0:17:22Slater. Great kick, but he's lost it! Billy Slater lost it! We've seen
0:17:22 > 0:17:27him make a mistake or two down his career, just one or two, and
0:17:27 > 0:17:31sometimes costly, harking back to the 2008 World Cup when he gave New
0:17:31 > 0:17:37Zealand a chance to win. Is this an early chance for England to get
0:17:37 > 0:17:40level?England's performers in this second half desert that element of
0:17:40 > 0:17:44luck and deserved this attacking opportunity now. Desperate deserved
0:17:44 > 0:17:51that element of luck. He was more worried about getting his foot in.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56It would have been a 20 metre restart. All of those things in his
0:17:56 > 0:18:02mind, and the first thing was to catch the ball, which he forgot.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Obviously his foot slipped, and a big opportunity for England. Even if
0:18:05 > 0:18:11you are not going to score, build pressure, build pressure.It's Gale,
0:18:11 > 0:18:17and now Bateman. They could do with a set without any mistakes. At the
0:18:17 > 0:18:24very least. Roby is going to go from dummy half, and bounced into the
0:18:24 > 0:18:28in-goal area, but he's held up. The referee doesn't need the video
0:18:28 > 0:18:35referee. He is having a quiet night tonight, so far, sitting in the box
0:18:35 > 0:18:42to our left. The referee made the calls.Nose down, backside up.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47Slater is underneath the ball, for sure.He rarely makes more than one
0:18:47 > 0:18:54mistake per game. O'Loughlin dancing into the dummy half position.
0:18:54 > 0:19:01Hodgson, Hill. Hill tried to push himself through the gap, but it
0:19:01 > 0:19:08closes. James Roby stand and wait. Back it goes to Gale again. Lomax!
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Graham puts his nose through as well. Bateman, six tackle, what's
0:19:12 > 0:19:18Bateman doing? Trying to go for the line. Lomax got there as well. Carry
0:19:18 > 0:19:25across to Gale and it's with Hodgson puts the kick to the in-goal area.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30Australia getaway with one. Morgan wraps it up.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Hodgson inside to O'Loughlin.
0:19:43 > 0:19:54There is Graham. Look at this for a position. England, 12 away, they've
0:19:54 > 0:19:57still got tackled in the bag, Roby with the dummy, and now to Lomax,
0:19:57 > 0:20:02who steps away from the defender. There are more coming. His ambitions
0:20:02 > 0:20:10are suffocated eventually. O'Loughlin, Widdop. Hodgson to Gale.
0:20:10 > 0:20:19They go wide. Bateman on the edge! The flag from the touch judge said
0:20:19 > 0:20:25that the ball was lost. It's Australia who get it back with a tap
0:20:25 > 0:20:33on the 20.You back him every day of the week. England have been the
0:20:33 > 0:20:39better team in this second half. Wayne Bennett watching on will be in
0:20:39 > 0:20:41courage. He was saying that night was all about performance, not
0:20:41 > 0:20:49necessarily outcome. -- that tonight was all about performance.
0:20:59 > 0:21:0735 away from where he wants to be. It's Cronk. Now Wade Graham. Penalty
0:21:07 > 0:21:18to Australia.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23Australia going for goal to try and win the game in this moment.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Definitely go for the goal. But both teams are tired looking and this
0:21:26 > 0:21:32break the deadlock and gives them a chance to suck them in, to get some
0:21:32 > 0:21:37air but also, if he misses it, they get the ball back from a drop out.
0:21:37 > 0:21:45So a chance to potentially win the game here for Cameron Smith. But
0:21:45 > 0:21:51this over, England have to score twice. The second half so far has
0:21:51 > 0:22:02yielded no points. This could be the first of them. He has kicked one
0:22:02 > 0:22:07from two so far tonight, Cameron Smith. Make that two out of three,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11and an 8-point lead now for the Australians. It will take something
0:22:11 > 0:22:17rather special for England to rescue anything points wise from this game.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Gale, Currie, great introduction for him to this World Cup. Getting up to
0:22:42 > 0:22:48speed. James Graham again, the big body of his swaying and surging
0:22:48 > 0:22:53one-way and the other, and slips to the ground in the tackle, and Roby
0:22:53 > 0:23:02Calexico. It comes the six, Hodgson, slinging it back to Widdop, who get
0:23:02 > 0:23:07away from a couple of defenders. He is going wide. Currie. Widdop with a
0:23:07 > 0:23:15kick. It goes into the hands of Josh Dugan, who is away, and this will be
0:23:15 > 0:23:20a dagger in the heart of England. Josh Dugan is a meter past. The runs
0:23:20 > 0:23:2580 metres to score the try that makes absolutely certain of an
0:23:25 > 0:23:30Australia victory. England were going for it, but it's the
0:23:30 > 0:23:36Australians who get it, 16-4. And it's going to be an opening night
0:23:36 > 0:23:39victory for this World Cup for the green and gold.I'm not sure they
0:23:39 > 0:23:44deserve this, but they're trying to catch the game. If you don't attack
0:23:44 > 0:23:47those type of clicks, you leave it open to do what Josh Dugan does. You
0:23:47 > 0:23:55get the bounce, and he'll be caught from there. Against the run of play,
0:23:55 > 0:24:02England chasing the game.The passion and attitude by this play,
0:24:02 > 0:24:08Graham. Look at the front row but he turns and chases.I think the carrot
0:24:08 > 0:24:12is intact. You can see that exemplified by James Graham.-- the
0:24:12 > 0:24:19character is intact. I don't think we are going to get every start, and
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Cameron Smith knows that, in all likelihood, this will be his last
0:24:22 > 0:24:26kick. In all likelihood, his last game in a green and gold shirt on
0:24:26 > 0:24:34this ground. It comes, left footed. He has just put it in. The fireworks
0:24:34 > 0:24:41go up in celebration of that, and it's 18- for now, and Australia, on
0:24:41 > 0:24:44the balance of the game, a fair scoreline? Or did England deserve a
0:24:44 > 0:24:51bit more?They probably think they deserved the win, but England were
0:24:51 > 0:24:54the better team in the second half, exemplified by the way they've
0:24:54 > 0:24:58played. A number of opportunities with Lomax and other players in the
0:24:58 > 0:25:06team.The hooter sounds and the last tackle the night is John Bateman,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09which might be a memory they take throughout the tournament. That's
0:25:09 > 0:25:15the first byte opener of this World Cup 2017. -- first night.
0:25:15 > 0:25:22Disappointment for England but does it end here. These two might yet be
0:25:22 > 0:25:25involved in the final in Brisbane, but it's Australia and take the
0:25:25 > 0:25:30spoils tonight. They beat the English 18-4.
0:25:33 > 0:25:39You had to fight hard for the victory.We were prepared for a
0:25:39 > 0:25:42tough battle and we certainly got it. A bit scratchy in attack but we
0:25:42 > 0:25:45got a bit of improvement to do there. All in all, a tough effort
0:25:45 > 0:25:53and a good start.What did you think of England's performers and their
0:25:53 > 0:25:57strengths?I thought their strengths were their back three. Their wingers
0:25:57 > 0:26:01are hard to handle, their full-backs play very well and they shift the
0:26:01 > 0:26:04ball, making you defend from sideline to sideline. They're going
0:26:04 > 0:26:10to go a long way.I also have Sean O'Loughlin, so close, you got off to
0:26:10 > 0:26:12a wonderful lead and you now appreciate how great Australia are
0:26:12 > 0:26:18and how close you are.They are a good side that we came up against.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Both sides still a bit rusty and if you every to improve on for both
0:26:23 > 0:26:29sides, so disappointing, but it's Australia and not a bad place to
0:26:29 > 0:26:32start. Not pleased with a loss but we can take a lot from it.Positives
0:26:32 > 0:26:42and negatives, but was -- positives from the performance.It's the start
0:26:42 > 0:26:46of the tournament and we need a performance. We got lads that
0:26:46 > 0:26:50haven't played for a number of weeks. Fatigue showed a big part
0:26:50 > 0:26:54tonight. I don't think I've seen a Test match like that in a number of
0:26:54 > 0:26:59years. That was a real test. To start this tournament, it was a
0:26:59 > 0:27:03fantastic game exhibition.Toulouse Sam Burgess in the manner you did,
0:27:03 > 0:27:08what is the news? We are hearing it could be out in three or four weeks.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12Three or four weeks, it's a ligament. We got some good medical
0:27:12 > 0:27:15people and we'll be looking at Sam. He's a good healer, so we are
0:27:15 > 0:27:22looking at maybe 74 hours.He seemed determined to stay on.He did, he
0:27:22 > 0:27:26was like, struck me up and I'll get back out there, but it's a
0:27:26 > 0:27:29tournament and we want get him back. Wood so you're confident you'll have
0:27:29 > 0:27:38him back. Yes, he's going to play a big part.Australia have their 12th
0:27:38 > 0:27:43successive win over England, putting themselves on top of Pool A. He will
0:27:43 > 0:27:49be helping that Sam Burgess will be fit later in the tournament,
0:27:49 > 0:27:57hopefully for the semifinals. Coming your way across the BBC, tomorrow
0:27:57 > 0:28:01lunchtime, 1:15pm, highlights Papua New Guinea against Wales, New
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Zealand against Samoa and Fiji against the USA. On Sunday,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08highlights of Ireland against Italy, Scotland against Tonga and France
0:28:08 > 0:28:16against Lebanon. And you can follow the Rugby League World Cup on the
0:28:16 > 0:28:22BBC over the next five weeks across TV, Radio 5 Live, a website, the BBC
0:28:22 > 0:28:25sport app, and you can get notifications on your phone or
0:28:25 > 0:28:31tablet. You'll get updates, half-time scores etc. Just sign up.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36That's it. The Rugby League World Cup 2017 is up and running. The
0:28:36 > 0:28:39battle passes from England to Wales, and you'll be able to see they get
0:28:39 > 0:28:49on at 1:15am -- 1:15pm on BBC One in our highlights show. Good night.