Roos wary of resurgent Britain
By Dean Ritchie
November 14, 2005

CONCERNED Australia players had fear in their eyes at full-time yesterday - despite beating France 44-12 in a one-off Test in Perpignan.

The Kangaroos walked off the Aime Giral Stadium ready to celebrate after an eight-try romp.

But then news of Great Britain's 38-12 Tri-Nations win over New Zealand in Huddersfield filtered into the dressing room - the matches were played at the same time - and players instantly forgot about their clinical win over France.

The Kangaroos will be dumped out of the Tri-Nations tournament if Australia loses to Great Britain by nine points or more in Hull next weekend.

It is that simple.

And players - who would have previously thought their position in the final secure - were now aware of the consequences.

"We didn't think Great Britain would do what they did," Craig Gower, Australia's captain yesterday morning, said.

"We could be out - it is a crucial game.

"It will be a huge match."

Full back Anthony Minichiello added: "If we don't win, then we might not make the final.

"We have been getting score updates in the dressing room as the Great Britain game went on.

"It will be a tough challenge for us."

Australia is plus six on for and against, New Zealand minus two, Great Britain minus four.

If Australia win next weekend, Great Britain will be eliminated.

"We've got a competition," Australia coach Wayne Bennett said.

"You play a final every time you play a Test match.

"We have to win next week - or control how we lose."

Yesterday's Test match was a physical hit-out for the Kangaroos.

France was tough and enthusiastic - but its defence at times was loose.

Australia scored two tries in the first seven minutes to immediately throw France on the back foot.

Each time France threatened a comeback, Australia scored again to dent the home side's momentum.

The crowd sang "we are going to win" - but France was never going to.

When the Kangaroos pushed the ball wide, particularly down France's right side, there were holes everywhere.

Bennett will have to make several difficult selection decisions this week because every player yesterday threw out a claim for Tri-Nations selection.

Australia players said they were ready this year for France - having admitted they were complacent in the corresponding game last year, when France led by 18 points early.

"We were ready this time," prop Jason Ryles said.

Prop Mark O'Meley added: "We didn't prepare last year so this time we knew it would be tough.

"They didn't take a backward step. French football will only get better when Le Catalans compete in the English Super League next year."

Australia's speed off their line defensively hurt France, which looked exhausted by full time.

"We lacked a little bit of skill," France coach John Monie said.

"I told the boys when the body tells you to stop, listen to the mind."

Australia 44 (A Minichiello 2 T Waterhouse 2 M Cooper S Prince C Gower W Mason tries; S Prince 6 goals) France 12 (L Frayssinous M Greseque tries; L Frayssinous 2 goals). Crowd: 7913. Referee: A Klein.
I am not reading too much in to this, the Australians are saying the right things out of respect to their host opponent, nothing more.

Great Britain were always going to get better as the tournament went on, some doubted that for whatever reason, though most knew it and whilst the scoreline was a surprise, the win perhaps was not.

NZ, like most, prefer back to back games and the week off hurt them not to mention the injury to Hohoaia(sp) which led to a mercy dash from Stacey Jones.

GB gained some momentum in their loss to Australia despite the being defeated by 14 points which came at the late stages of the test. The forwards once again stood tall gaining momentum and the GB backline executed far better than the first two tests.

I think we will win the next test setting up a Australia vs New Zealand final.

DeeGan