Aussies Clinch First
Despite the absence of influential five eighth, Brad Fittler, the Australian Kangaroos have been able to recover from a slow start to the 2003 World Cup with a solid 26-6 win over an undermanned Papua New Guinea side. Without the influence of their talented lock, Graham Luana, the Kumuls struggled to put together sets of six in the intense Brisbane heat.
Australia: Darren Lockyer, Mark Gasnier, Dominik Bush 2, and George Smith. Johns 3/5
Papua New Guinea: Melvin Hart. Tepend 1/2
PoM Points: George Smith 3, Andrew Johns 2, and Darren Lockyer 1.

New Zealand Down England
A sixtieth minute try to Central Coast’s Matt Utai has lifted New Zealand to an emphatic 24-18 win over the English Lions, the nation’s first win over a league power in the last year. The final twenty minutes were far from dull, with the Kiwis defending tenaciously to gain first position the ‘pool of death’.
England: Paul Sculthorpe 2 and Jason Robinson. Wilkinson 3/5
New Zealand: Nigel Vagana 2, Matt Utai, and Carlos Spencer. Mehrtens 4/4
PoM Points: Paul Sculthorpe 3, Nigel Vagana 2, and Paul Deacon 1.

Young Star Bloems
With their chances of a miracle World Cup finals appearance on the line, the South African Rhinos have turned to new Capetown signing and former Port Moresby star, Jamie Bloem to lift the side to a solid 20-8 win over a gradually slipping French side. Bloem played the finest game of his career, snaring a double and continually bamboozling the French threequarter defence.
France: Pascal Jampy. Tallic 2/2
South Africa: Jamie Bloem 2, Desi Kadima, and Quentin De Villiers. van Straaten 2/6
PoM Points: Jamie Bloem 3, Tom O’Shea 2, and Sean Rutgerson 1.

Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Actually, it’s more like an ecstatic roar after the Irish Wolfhounds catapulted themselves into World Cup favouritism by hammering Pool B rivals, Europe, 54-10 to ensure first position in their pool. The Irish were simply flawless, moving the ball as if they were the world champions, and capitalising on Europe’s most passionless display in the emalgamated nation’s short history.
Ireland: Michael Eager, Tommy O’Reilly, Ronan O’Gara, Tommy Martyn 3, Barrie McDermott, Brian O’Driscroll, and Craig Greenhill. O’Gara 9/10
Europe: Clinton Schifcofske and Tony Fabri. Takawira 1/2
PoM Points: Ronan O’Gara 3, Luke Ricketson 2, and Tommy Martyn 1.

Fiji Remain Undefeated
The Fiji Batis would have been forgiven for taking today’s game against winless Lebanon lightly, after taking two former world champion nations on in style. An 18-10 halftime scoreline in favour of Fiji showed a little complacency, but something said by North Sydney’s David McElroy lifted the Fijians and got them home to a solid 32-18 win which sees them in a position to shock the league world and make the finals.
Lebanon: Romeo Magro and Chris Salem. El Masri 4/4
Fiji: Lote Tuqiri, Joe Black 2, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Kalaveti Tuiyabayaba, and Jone Kuraduadua. Tuqiri 4/7
PoM Points: Rupeni Caucaunibuca 3, Joe Black 2, and Veramu Dikidikilati 1.

Samoa Finally Record a WC Win
Despite their winless status going into this game, the Samoans would have been happy with their showing against higher placed nations, but made it clear they intended to beat the struggling Germans and beat them well. Despite the promise, Samoa were lazy across the field, but still had enough to record a 16-6 win. The Samoans were helped by Germany’s complete lack of discipline, the ‘Blood Warriors’ conceding eighteen penalties to six.
Samoa: Doug Howlett, Brian Lima, and Inoke Ratudina. Ratudina 2/3
Germany: Bernd Mahrleim. Fisher 1/1
PoM Points: Doug Howlett 3, Henry Faafili 2, and Inoke Ratudina 1.

Tongans Win Attacking Display
The Tongans have shocked the Scottish in a high scoring clash today, scoring seven tries to Scotland’s five to score a valuable 42-26 win over the formerly undefeated leaders of Pool C. Tonga add another piece to an already complicated Pool C equation, drawing on the experience of its backline stars Hopoate and Vaikona to snare a win.
Scotland: Richard Horne, Simon Taylor, Simon Knox, Scott Logan, and Andrew Henderson. Ross 3/5
Tonga: Lee Hansen, John Hopoate 2, Tevita Vaikona 2, Willie Manu, and Brent Kite. Hansen 7/7
PoM Points: John Hopoate 3, David Fifi’iaha 2, and Tevita Vaikona 1.

Aboriginals End Wales’ Season
The AA/TSI have scored twelve points in the final sixteen minutes of their do or die clash with Wales to record a solid 30-18 victory over the former world number three ranked side. The Welsh played their finest football until the 60th minute- when they slipped back into their recent form to lose a game they should have won.
Wales: Hefin O’Hare 2 and Anthony Farrell. Harris 3/3
AA/TSI: Rhys Wesser, Scott Prince, Dean Widders, and Anthony Mundine. Trindall 5/6. Narwan 1/1. Prince 1/1
PoM Points: Colin Charvis 3, Harry Prince 2, and Rhys Wesser 1.

Below is a delayed Round 3 game

Welsh Changes Signal Victory
Some tactical advice from world class coaches Nathan Hoy and Chris Walker-Bush has helped the struggling Welsh Dragons claw their way to an 18-10 victory over the Russian Bears. Whilst the result was far from impressive, the move of Iestyn Harris to fullback seemed to have ammended some of Wales’ defensive and offensive woes. Likewise, the return of Briers to halfback and Cunningham to hooker ammended some awkward defensive patterns.
Wales: Dean Busby and Hefin O’Hare 2. Harris 3/4
Russia: Dayne Neirinckx. Gavrilin 3/3
PoM Points: Daryl Cardiss 3, Lee Briers 2, and Hefin O’Hare 1.

Tables

Pool A
Australia 4/3/1/0/98/51/+47/ 6 points
PNG 4/2/2/0/68/55/+13/ 4 points
South Africa 3/2/1/0/55/42/+13/ 4 points
France 3/1/2/0/37/68/-31/ 2 points
Cook 2/0/2/0/10/52/-42/ 0 points

Pool B
Ireland 4/4/0/0/146/44/+102/ 8 points
Europe 4/3/1/0/94/94/+0/ 6 points
Samoa 3/1/2/0/42/44/-4/ 2 points
Japan 2/0/2/0/34/80/-46/ 0 points
Germany 3/0/3/0/20/74/-54/ 0 points

Pool C
AA/TSI 4/3/1/0/81/66/+15/ 6 points
Scotland 3/2/1/0/66/56/+10/ 4 points
Tonga 3/2/1/0/82/73/+9/ 4 points
Wales 4/1/3/0/70/78/-8/ 2 points
Russia 2/0/2/0/14/44/-30/ 0 points

Pool D
New Zealand 4/3/1/0/98/76/+22/ 6 points
England 4/2/1/1/93/58/+37/ 5 points
Fiji 3/2/0/1/72/38/+34/ 5 points
USA 2/0/2/0/34/51/-17/ 0 points
Lebanon 3/0/3/0/34/108/-74/ 0 points

Damn Crappy Lebanon... me thinks I need to get them to eat a Kebab before our next match against USA.

Your team will need more then that

after usa win u'll be :ouch:

Methinks that your team has been eating kebabs and you don't know about it. Bet the only kebabs they could find had off garlic sauce and beetroot on them and that explains their problems. No doubt the hommus had turned as well.

Nein Feiken Shiezer lalalalalala