Four Nations: Wales v Australian Kangaroos

[Smakked]

Interesting game, Aussie didnt have there head in it for the first 30

[Smakked]

Now Australia are playing.

[DIEHARD]

Kangaroos recover from shock early deficit to beat Wales in Four Nations clash

KANGAROOS 56 WALES 14

IF Wales could have stopped the clock after the opening 25 minutes, it would have been the biggest upset in the 103-year history of rugby league.

Leading 8-0 in 12 degree conditions at the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham, the home side had the Kangaroos ever so slightly out-of-sorts before the Australians restored the natural order of the rugby league universe in with a 56-14 victory.

With coach Tim Sheens making seven changes to Australia's regular first-choice starting side, the lack of cohesion was understandable.

Enter regular starting props Paul Gallen and Matt Scott and backrower Sam Thaiday and suddenly it was a different ballgame.

By fulltime Australia had run in nine tries as captain Cameron Smith and fullback Darius Boyd steadied the ship, with Cooper Cronk crossing for a hat-trick.

But the opening 25 minutes was not supposed to be the way this game rolled.

The home side rattled Australia with a surprising opening half onslaught, with retiring captain and five-eighth Lee Briers the architect of an 8-0 lead after 15 minutes.

When rookie Kangaroos winger Jharal Yow Yeh was left dazed and jelly-legged after returning a kick early on, the Welsh immediately capitalised to post the opening try through winger Rhys Williams.

It came after Briers rolled a perfectly-weighted grubber kick towards Australia's tryline as Yow Yeh was caught out of position and still recovering from being badly concussed.

From here, the Kangaroos were expected to lift the tempo and return serve but it was the Welsh who continued to dictate terms.

A Briers tackle bust four minutes later had Wales again on the attack, with the five-eighth slipping a nice offload to pave the way for winger Elliott Kear to make it 8-0 to the home side.

It took Australia until the 25th minute to finally crack the Welsh, with captain Smith burrowing over out of dummy half for an 8-6 scoreline.

Suddenly, what was supposed to be a walk-up start win for Australia had turned into an arm-wrestle.

And there was plenty of niggle from the Welsh, as they looked to slow down the Kangaroos play-the-ball.

Kangaroos debutant Beau Scott reeled out of a tackle and into a push-and-shove with Wales halfback Lloyd White from the restart of play after Smtih's try, with the pair threatening to trade blows before being separated.

Referee Phil Bentham then penalised White while Scott walked away fuming and clutching at the top of his head.

Rookie halfback Cherry-Evans got his first taste of international football in the 34th minute, with Smith shifting to lock and five-eighth Cronk moving to hooker.

On the stroke of halftime, Smith once again underlined why he is the Australian captain-in-waiting, splitting the Welsh defence from 45m out before drawing Welsh fullback Danny Jones and sending Cronk over.

It put the Kangaroos in front for the first time with the scoreline reading 12-8.

Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis then combined on the stroke of halftime to allow Cronk to bag his second for the night, sending the Kangaroos to an 18-8 lead.

In the second half, the floodgates opened as Cronk bagged a double to go with tries to Cherry-Evans, Boyd, Thurston, Inglis, Yow Yeh and Josh Morris.

The Kangaroos had a major scare on the last play of the game when fullback Boyd stayed down clutching at his knee.

With Billy Slater already out of the tournament, it would have been disaster.

But Boyd eventually got to his feet and shrugged the injury off.

AUSTRALIA 56 (C Cronk 3, D Boyd, D Cherry-Evans, G Inglis, J Morris, C Smith, J Thurston, J Yow Yeh tries; J Thurston 8 goals) WALES 14 (J James, E Kear, R Williams tries; L Briers goal) at The Racecourse. Referee: Phil Bentham.

http://www.foxsports.com.au

[Titanic]

I have on several occasions tried to get some feeling regarding Lee Briers from our mob ... this guy would be great with Prince (or without him). A kicking game, attacking smarts, tough and kicks goals. At 32, just the 6 to get our young blokes up.

[DIEHARD]

I have on several occasions tried to get some feeling regarding Lee Briers from our mob ... this guy would be great with Prince (or without him). A kicking game, attacking smarts, tough and kicks goals. At 32, just the 6 to get our young blokes up.

I rate him and love him and have said the same thing myself.

I guess his age and fact that we don't seem interested in UK players anymore counts against it.