Australia Europe
1 Darren Lockyer 1 Clinton Schifcofske ©
2 Mat Rogers 2 Tony Fabri
3 Mark Gasnier 3 Marco Brividio
4 Matthew Gidley 4 Allianya Takawira
5 Timana Tahu 5 Matthew Rieck
6 Brad Fittler 6 Braith Anasta
7 Andrew Johns © 7 Brent Sherwin
8 Shane Webcke 8 Michael Vella
9 Danny Buderus 9 Luke Priddis
10 Jason Ryles 10 Jason Stevens
11 Ben Kennedy 11 Leonardo Orelli
12 Gorden Tallis 12 Carlos Ricardo
13 George Smith 13 Scott Magro
++Interchange
14 Luke Bailey 14 Dane Carlaw
15 Nathan Hindmarsh 15 John Skandalis
16 Craig Wing 16 Paul Dezolt
17 Dominik Bush 17 Matteo Giocometti
The rain came down in sheets at Melbourne’s Olympic Park as the European side came onto the field lead by Clinton Schifcofske. After their dramatic come-from-behind victory over New Zealand in the quarter finals, Europe would be going into their match against a full strength Australian squad as heavy underdogs. But in their last two encounters, the Europeans had managed a loss and a tight draw against the reigning champions, and had plenty of confidence on the back of Scott Magro’s tremendous tournament form.
The Europeans didn’t let the critics or bookies put them off, weathering an early Aussie storm before a penalty got them in excellent field position. Some complacent defence close to the line gave Europe an ideal opportunity, Leonardo Orelli slicing through a despairing Mark Gasnier tackle to score the opening try of the match. Scott Magro had little trouble with the conversion, putting the ‘away’ side up 6-0.
The Australian side plugged away at the European defence, but found themselves continually thwarted by solid defence from the likes of Jason Stevens and Michael Vella. Frustration could have crept into a lesser side, but the Kangaroos held their cool and it paid off. After a particularly fruitless European set resulted in a turn over, the Aussies played some basic one out football before a short Buderus pass put Webcke in control only five out. The big Perth forward put a mean palm on Carlos Ricardo to crash over and score Australia’s opener. Johns mirrored Magro’s early form to make it 6 all. Two minutes later Andrew Johns made it 8-6 and put Australia in front for the first time after Dane Carlaw put a gruesome high tackle on Jason Ryles.
The rain kept pouring down, but control remained remarkably well as two of the world’s finest sides did battle. The atrocious conditions made both sides play safety football, but this made for some intense defence as the ground began to get muddy and visibility was reduced. It was again some good forward play that resulted in Europe scoring, Luke Priddis literally sliding over in the mud to get Europe’s second. Magro again converted, despite slipping in the mud, and it was 12-8.
The lead changed again in the 34th minute, and ironically, it came from the first really expansive passage of play in the half. A long Dominik Bush pass put Timana Tahu down the sideline, and the winger was quick to pass inside to Matt Gidley when the cover came across. A sloppy pass was picked up adeptly by Fittler, who stepped around some defenders before flicking it outside to Andrew Johns to ice the cake. The halfback and captain converted his own attempt to make it 14-12 shortly before halftime.
A short kick-off gave Europe a good opportunity before halftime, but some great scrambling defence in the wet held the Europeans out to leave it at 14-12.
HALFTIME: Australia 14 lead Europe 12
The halftime speech from Chris Maunder must have been something special- the Europeans coming out like a flash flood and steam-rolling the Aussie defence. It didn’t change when the Australians got the ball, a stinging set of six forcing the Aussies to lose ground. A penalty from the next set put Magro in striking distance, and the scores were levelled again at 14 all. Despite the driving rain, the big crowd were on the edge of their seats.
The cries of ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’ stirred something in the green and gold jerseys, and from the kick-off it was them putting the hard hits on their opposition. North Sydney’s Jason Stevens must have wondered what he did to offend Mat Rogers when the Manly winger hit him hard and with the help of Gorden Tallis, carried him into touch. So close to the line, it was always going to be nigh on impossible to hold the Aussies out, and they slid over out wide through Matt Gidley to make it 18-14. The kick made it 20-14.
Europe needed to be the next to score to keep things interesting, but the Aussie defence seemed to handle the wet weather better than their northern counterparts, repelling repeated assaults and making easy metres in the wet. A try to rookie sensation Dominik Bush in the 52nd made it 26-14, and only a minute later it was game over when Nathan Hindmarsh raced away after a pinpoint Wing shortball put him into the clear. At 32-14, the Aussies had turned a possible thriller into something close to a whitewash.
Even champions get cocky, and the Australian side showed a distinct lack of respect for their opponents as they began to grandstand to an already pleased crowd. Walker-Bush on the side, his job secure, didn’t look impressed as his side squandered opportunities with stupid passes and last tackle options. But the conglomeration of Italians, Greeks, and other Europeans were clearly beyond winning the match, and a final try in the 69th minute to Andrew Johns finalised the scoring at 38-14 in front of the hosts and dual favourites.
FULLTIME: Australia 38 def. Europe 14
AUSTRALIA
Andrew Johns 2
Matthew Gidley
Nathan Hindmarsh
Dominik Bush
Shane Webcke
Johns 7/7
EUROPE
Leonardo Orelli
Luke Priddis
Magro 4/4
PoM Points:
Andrew Johns.....3
Darren Lockyer...2
Mark Gasnier.....1
