It was a week of upsets and shock results in the international rugby league world, but a few of the usual performers shone through with wins heading into the World Cup at season's end.

The newly formed Greek international side has scored a shock 18-8 victory over the usually dangerous AA/TSI side in today's clash played in Sydney. Despite their star-studded lineup, the Aboriginal All-Stars were out-enthused by the Greek side, with Trais Touma picking up PoM points in his first game of rugby league.
AA/TSI: Shannon Hegarty. Fields 2/2
Greece: Trais Touma, Allianya Takawira, Joel Rullis, and Scott Rhodes. O'Loftus 1/4
PoM Points: Nathan Sykes 3, Trais Touma 2, and Allianya Takawira 1.

Fielding what critics called a 'sixth string side', the Australian Kangaroos have still proven too strong for the hapless French in today's clash in Perth. The Aussies named a side predominantly made up of RSC and Divison Two talent, but Northern's Michael DeVere was the catalyst for the 15-10 win, the former NSW centre scoring fourteen of his side's fifteen points.
Australian Development: Michael DeVere 2. DeVere 3/3. Bush 1 fg.
France: Olivier Sarramea. Michalak 3/3
PoM Points: Michael DeVere 3, Freddie Banquet 2, and Pascal Jampy 1.

In an exciting inter-island match, the Cook Islands have scored their first victory in almost two years, when they upset New Zealand 17-8. Today's game against Samoa proved to be the finest in several years from the side, who got home on penalties in a 23-16 win.
Cook Islands: Tyrone Pau, Regan King, and Willie Talau. Paul 5/6. Hohaia 1 fg.
Samoa: Shontayne Hape, Brian Lima, and Franco Luullai. Muliana 2/3
PoM Points: Regan King 3, Willie Talau 2, and Joe Vagana 1.

New English coach Anthony Magro has had his Lions send out a loud and clear message to the other top nations in the world of rugby league, with the Englishmen showing no mercy in humbling Ireland 24-0 in today's clash at London. The game was a spiteful clash, with Tommy O'Reilly and Michael Withers both sin-binned during the game.
England: Stuart Reardon, Jonny Wilkinson 2, and Keith Senior. Wilkinson 4/5
Irish: None.
PoM Points: Jonny Wilkinson 3, Andy Farrell 2, and Keith Senior 1.

The newly formed Malta Knights have scored an upset win over Lebanon in their first ever game of international rugby league, racing home from a 12-2 deficit at halftime to record an exciting 14-12 victory.
Malta: Mat Toschak and Trent Pariah. Magro 3/3
Lebanon: Kandy Tamer and Mohammed Zian-Ali. El Masri 2/3
PoM Points: Michael Vella 3, Samer El Masri 2, and Trent Pariah 1.

Scotland have stamped their authority in today's clash against New Zealand in Glasgow, starting the Kiwis' tour of the British Isles with an embarassing 28-10 annihilation. The Scottish, ranked fifth in the world after a better than expected World Cup campaign, ran in five tries to two against a weak looking Kiwi outfit.
Scotland: Scott Logan 2, Gordon Ross, and Simon Taylor 2. Ross 4/5
New Zealand: Evarn Tuimavave 2. Paul 1/2
PoM Points: Gordon Ross 3, Simon Taylor 2, and Alex Synn 1.

In his first game as South African coach, Wagga's Theo Kamis has guided the world's seventh ranked side to an 18-6 victory over fellow 2003 World Cup finalists in Johannesberg today. It was a dour affair, but Kamis' chargers did him proud- the backline particularly dangerous.
South Africa: Hanse Gibbs, David Ferriol, and Clyde Rathbone. Tatu 3/5
Tonga: John Hopoate. Hansen 1/1
PoM Points: De Wet Barry 3, Hanse Gibbs 2, and Clyde Rathbone 1.

It wasn't an impressive win, but Wales have started off their 2005 international campaign with a 26-16 victory over a tenacious and courageous Russian side. The Bears lead heading into halftime, but a flurry of tries saw the Welsh race back for a match winning lead.
Wales: Marc Calderwood, Steve Devine, Wes Davies, Daryl Cardiss, and Stephen Jones. Harris 3/6
Russia: Maximilian Tsaitskov, Andrei Doumalkine, and Demiti Pelovski. Ramonov 2/4
PoM Points: Stephen Jones 3, Andrei Doumalkine 2, and Marc Calderwood 1.