A big crowd was on hand at Sydney's Aussie Stadium to see world #1
ranked side, Australia, clashing with the thirteenth ranked Tongans,
who snuck into the finals after emphatic wins over Scotland and Russia.
The Aussies got off to an ideal start to lead 2-0 courtesy of Andrew
Johns' boot, before North Queensland's Andrew Lomu muscled his way over
in the 6th minute to score the opening try and give Tonga and unlikely
6-2 lead.

Australia's class players clicked into gear from here, Andrew Johns
levelling things with his try, before Brad Fittler combined with Darren
Lockyer to score Australia's second in the 20th minute to make it 12-6.
Australia had gone from underdone to on fire in a matter of minutes.
While George Smith broke the line at will, it was John Hopoate's 27th
minute linebreak and try that had all eyes glued to their televisions
as the game was once again level at 12 all. The Tongan defence muscled
up to Australia's offence, and halftime saw both sides level at 12 all.

HALFTIME: Australia 12 drawn with Tonga 12

It took less than five minutes for Brad Fittler to find a chink in
Tonga's armour, the new Wollongong signing using his characteristic
step to get around Lee Hansen and score a brilliant solo try. Johns'
conversion put Australia back in control at 18-12. Australia weren't
allowed to run away however, Tonga's defence stinging and their
backline slick, Fifiata Moala crossing in the 68th to level things once
more and set up a thrilling final ten minutes in the opening quarter
final.

Prop forwards Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey combined to put Australia
back ahead, Ryles getting through some flimsy defence and offloading to
bench star, Bailey, to score a possible match winner and set it up at
24-18 with four to go. Australia were able to defend their line and
play safety football, getting through 24-18 in an entertaining clash.
The Australian's now meet the winner of the New Zealand vs. Europe
clash next weekend.

Australia 24
Luke Bailey
Andrew Johns
Darren Lockyer
Brad Fittler
Johns 4/5
def.
Tonga 18
Fifiata Moala
Andrew Lomu
John Hopoate
Hansen 3/4

PoM Points
Brad Fittler 3
Andrew Johns 2
Luke Bailey 1

In the second quarter final of the weekend, a sold out Telstra Stadium
was on hand to see the clash between Ireland (world number two and
tournament favourites) and England (world number four after pool
matches). With the ledger at 1-1 this year, with Ireland scoring a two
point in in the most recent encounter- this game would not only be
about a semi-final berth, but also about pride in the British Isles.

England scored first blood when Gary Connolly went around Brian
O'Driscroll and put Jason Robinson in for the opener after only ninety
seconds of play. The shock move of dropping Jonny Wilkinson to the
bench meant Andy Farrell was kicking, but the captain was equal, making
it 6-0 early on. While Ireland had a try disallowed in the third for
double movement, England had worries when Gary Connolly signalled to
the bench and Danny Orr had to be helped off. A penalty and quick tap
gave Ireland its opening try, Ronan O'Gara going over to make it 6-4
after the conversion was missed.

Ireland were in again from the kick-off, a powerful set ending in
another O'Gara try- this time converted by the try-scorer to make it
10-6. The tables had turned in the absence of livewire half, Orr. A
messy period followed, but Jamie Peacock thrived, crashing over in the
16th to put England ahead again, the try this time converted by Kevin
Sinfield. England had a third try disallowed in the 22nd, but Sinfield
put them up 14-10 with a penalty not long after. The second quarter
played out without further points, both sides safe in defence and
offence.

HALTIME: Ireland 10 trail England 14

Shock selection Martin Gleeson put England up by ten in the fourty
eighth, the latest addition to the Capetown squad scoring the try after
making the bust that set it up. With Wilkinson still off the field,
Sinfield converted to put England in a commanding position. Keith
Senior sought to put the game beyond doubt when he muscled over Brian
O'Driscroll in the 6th to score England's fourth try- duly converted by
Sinfield to make it 26-10.

The injection of yet to be blooded Gold Coast rookie, Shannon O'Reilly,
paid immediate divideds for Ireland however- the winger scoring a try
with his first touch to make it 26-16 after O'Gara's conversion.
England compounded Ireland's resurgence by blowing chances to put the
game away, and an edge of your seat finish was promised when Brian
O'Driscroll scored a soft try in the 75th to make it 26-22. Stupid
penalties put Ireland on the attack in the final minute, and Barrie
McDermott pushed his way over despite the attentions of three English
defenders to score and level things. O'Gara converted after the siren,
and the Irish fans went ballistic as they progressed to the semi finals
courtesy of a 28-26 win. The game, which saw England as dominant
leaders, will surely go down as a World Cup classic.

Mild controversy surrounded the finish, with all player of the match
points going to Englishmen. English coach Mark Fowler's job is through
to be safe, even though ace Jonny Wilkinson was injected far too late
to make a real impact. However, it is doubtful that the superboot could
have done much, as England once more proved they know how to lose a
game from anywhere.

FULLTIME
Ireland 28
Ronan O'Gara 2
Terry O'Connor
Brian O'Driscroll
Barrie McDermott
O'Gara 4/5
def.
England 26
Keith Senior
Jason Robinson
Jamie Peacock
Martin Gleeson
Farrell 1/1
Sinfield 4/4

PoM Points
Martin Gleeson 3
Gary Connolly 2
Jamie Peacock 1

In sunny Brisbane on Sunday, New Zealand played host to a European side
suffering from a major commitment crisis after they were hammered 54-10
by the Irish Wolfhounds. With the winner of this match set for a sudden
death semi final against Australia, it wasn't going to get any easier
either- neither side has beaten Australia in the past four years.

If Europe had commitment issues, they didn't show it early on, their
defence full of passion as Scott Magro, Michael Vella, and Jason
Stevens embarked on a bruising opening spell. Little known winger, Tony
Fabri, got Europe off to an ideal start when he went in off a long
Takawira pass- the try converted to see Europe as shock 6-0 leaders
early on. In all three games thus far, tries had been scored in the
opening, and in the both previous cases, the first try scorer had
ultimately lost. Would the trend continue?

Ali Lauititi made sure New Zealand didn't get far adrift in the sixth,
the big Sydney forward out-classing Europe's pack and putting Andrew
Mehrtens in for a try. The five eighth maintained his faultless effort
with the boot, and the game was once again level, 6 apiece. New Zealand
dominated the next period, but couldn' capitalise, having tries
disallowed and players injured- including star, Nigel Vagana. Even a
scrum win against the feed couldn't put New Zealand in, and that name
Tony Fabri came up again as the winger snared his second in the 30th to
make it 12-6. The try came from a brilliant intercept, the likes of
which will no doubt be remembered.

New Zealand's nightmare continued in the 33rd, Leonardo Orelli scoring
a soft try after Carlos Spencer fumbled the ball on his own line. The
try was again coverted, and the Europeans lead 18-6 after being under
the hammer only minutes ago. It seemed like longer to Kiwi fans, no
doubt.

HALFTIME: New Zealand 6 trail Europe 18

New Zealand needed to come out firing, and did just that by trying a
short kick off from the outset. It paid divideds, the field position
giving Galavao a try, and Mehrtens duly converting to make it 18-10 in
favour of the Europeans. Europe crumbled under the pressure, Stacey
Jones going in for a soft try after Carlos Ricardo made a rookie error.
Mehrtehns set his tournament tally at 24 straight goals to make it 18
all. In the space of fifteen minutes, New Zealand had turned it around
and looked the better side again. Could Europe stop the rot?

Messy football ensued, and although it wasn't pretty, it made for
entertaining football. New Zealand's on location and across the Tasman
roared collectively when Stacey Jones nailed a pressure field goal to
make it 19-18 in the 72nd, but Allianya Takawira's penalty goal only a
minute later had it at 20-19 and things looked set for yet another
tight finish. A routine set by Europe in the 78th laid a platform, and
untapped resource, Tony Fabri, went over for his third to seal the
match at 24-19, with Takawira's conversion icing the cake at 26-19.
Europe had upset New Zealand to progress to a sudden death semi final
against the Australian Kangaroos.

FULLTIME
Europe 26
Tony Fabri 3
Leonardo Orelli
Takawira 5/5
def.
New Zealand 19
Joe Galavao
Andrew Mehrtens
Stacey Jones
Mehrtens 3/3
Jones 1 fg.

PoM Points
Tony Fabri 3
Carlos Spencer 2
Allianya Takawira 1

In rainy Melbourne, a stark contrast to the beautiful weather in
Brisbane, the Scottish side would play host to a South African Rhinos
side eager to prove that it can compete in Rugby League at the same
level it once competed in Rugby Union. The Scots would be relying on
rookies Dream Waters and Seamus O'Grady to lift- whilst South Africa
would be hoping the Van Der Westuizen brothers would fire.

South Africa looked to continue the trend of opening tries inside the
first two minutes, with Jaco Van Der Westuizen leaping high after only
sixty seven seconds. However the try was called back for offside, and
Scotland avoided a nasty positon to begin play in. It was a real ebb
and flow opening forty, with both sides enjoying periods of flare and
dominance, followed by periods of struggling defence. Scotland drew on
Scott and Chris Logan's experience, whilst the South Africans found
their main inroads through Mtombe Msabo- who played the game of his
career.

Despite all of this, the only points of the first half came right on
half time, Oliver Wilkes hitting a long range penalty to put it 2-0 in
favour of the Scottish- who were hoping to set up an all British Isles
final against the Irish.

HALFTIME: Scotland 2 lead South Africa 0
The low-scoring first half was all but forgotten after only thirty
seconds of the second half, Capetown's Sebastian Mpofu (brother of
Dumisani Mpofy) scoring the game's opening try to put the Rhinos up 6-
2. The Scottish refused to be drawn into South Africa's style of play,
Oliver Wilkes hitting another penalty goal in the 50th to make it 6-4.
Wilkes made it 6 all in the 55th, before Braam van Straaten hit back
with a penalty of his own to make it 8-6. Fans might not have been
enthralled by the Union style of play, but both sides showed plenty of
determination and class.

Seamus O'Grady finally scored Scotland's opener in the 60th, getting
some good service from captain Scott Logan, who popped a ball up in the
tackle to put the young star in and make it 12-8 in favour of the
Scots. Winger of the tournament contender, Jamie Bloem, made sure his
side didn't fall behind in the 62nd, his try levelling things- but van
Straaten unable to hit the sideline conversion sweetly. South Africa's
lack of a specialist goal-kicker may prove to be their weakness.

Wilkes emphasised the importance a goal-kicker carries in the 68th when
he hit yet another penalty, putting it at 14-12 heading into the final
ten minutes of play. South Africa's ill discipline began to really hurt
them, Wilkes getting another penalty goal in the 73rd, before Dream
Waters scored a crucial try to make it 22-12 in favour of the Scottish
with very little time left for a Rhino resurgence.

It never came, Scotland defending well and playing a good field
positional game to keep the South Africans out of the game. The siren
rang, and Scotland would progress to a semi final against the Irish
giants with hopes of continuing their fairy-tale World Cup campaign.

FULLTIME
Scotland 22
Dream Waters
Seamus O'Grady
Wilkes 7/8
def.
South Africa 12
Jamie Bloem
Sebastian Mpofu
van Straaten 2/3

PoM Points
Seamus O'Grady 3
Dream Waters 2
Scott Logan 1

Team Rankings
After the first round of quarter finals, here's what the ASRL weekly
thought of the teams on show.
1. Ireland: Won a thrilling final against an old enemy.
2. England: May have lost, but did so against classy opposition.
3. Australia: Had to win a tough and spiteful encounter.
4. Europe: Came from behind to seal a memorable win.
5. Scotland: Relied heavily on the boot of Olive Wilkes, and can't
expect Ireland to give away as many penalties.
6. Tonga: Pushed Australia to the very limit
7. New Zealand: Lost the game when they dropped behind 18-6, and were
only allowed back in by European complacency.
8. South Africa: Played themselves out of the game with niggling
tactics and foul play.

Next Week
Australia vs. Europe @ Telstra Stadium
Ireland vs. Scotland @ Aussie Stadium

hahahahaha r u for real? thats so funny, i cant believe we beat the kiwis haha. oh well, going down australia :P