Kangaroos trounced by giant-killer Kiwis in historic league test win

Press, 11 July 1983, Page 21

Kangaroos trounced by giant-killer Kiwis in historic league test win

From

JOHN COFFEY

in Brisbane

Young Joe Ropati had not spoken his first word when New Zealand previously won a rugby league test on Australian soil, and he was speechless again after assisting the Kiwis to a stunning 19-12 triumph at Lang Park, Brisbane, on Saturday evening.

The powerfully built Ropati, aged 20, had as wide a grin as those of his team mates as he sat beside James Leuluai in the New Zealand dressing room after the match.

Perhaps he was still relishing the moment, 15 minutes from full time, when he had scored a try in just his second test appearance. His completion of a flowing passing movement on the right wing had placed the Kiwis 13 points clear and into a position of safety. “How did I feel? Maybe I could sum it up like this,” said Ropati, raising his left arm in a victory salute. Glancing at Leuluai, Ropati suggested: “Maybe it was like James felt when he scored at Wembley.” Leuluai, a try scorer for Hull in the British Challenge Cup final earlier this year, and then in both tests against the Kangaroos, disagreed. “No, mate,” replied Leuluai. “Wembley was okay, but this is the highlight of my whole career. Test football is the ultimate and we have just beaten what was the best team-in the world. There will be plenty more of those results to come.”

It was open house in the New Zealand room after one of the greatest triumphs by a Kiwi combination. Not only did the Kiwis win. but their victory was thoroughly convincing and the final scoreline on Lang Park’s

electronic scoreboard did not fairly reflect the merits of the two sides. Australia’s first try was gained virtually before the game had started and the second when it was certain the Kiwis would level the home-and-away series. Eric Grothe placed Australia four points clear in the fourth minute when he capitalised on a loose ball near the New Zealand tryline. The concession of such an early try would have been enough for Kiwi teams of not too many years ago to progressively capitulate. Not this particular squad, however. It was 73 minutes before Australia touched down again. The replacement back, Steve Ella, slipping across from the dummy half position while two Kiwis, Shane Varley and Howie Tamati, were receiving medical attention.

It did not matter too much, although the transTasman Cup will stay in Australia’s possession on points-scoring aggregates over both tests, the Kangaroos having won by 16-4 in the first match at Auckland last month. New Zealand adhered perfectly to the script written by its coach, Graham Lowe. The tackling was much firmer than at Auckland, without any diminishing of the flair evident on that occasion.

Mr Lowe’s belief in tactical kicking was also completely justified. The long

punts of Nick Wright ensured that most of the match was contested in Australia’s territory, and short chip kicks by Gordon Smith and Shane Varley had the Kangaroos scrambling to cover.

The acknowledged pace of the Australian backs was more than nullified by the strong back line of Kiwi defenders. Only once were the Kangaroo backs in full flight, but even when Wally Lewis, Eric Grothe and Gene Miles surged 70 metres downfield there were enough New Zealanders present to cancel out the threat. Possession was evenly divided — Howie Tamati out-hooked Max Krilich for the fourth consecutive time, 13-11, and Australia had 10 of the 16 penalties — but the Kiwis made far better use of their share. The Kiwis had not scored a try against the Kangaroos for five years until Leuluai broke the drought at Auckland. On the hard Lang Park surface on Saturday evening there was a veritable downpour as the Kiwis shattered the Kangaroo formation three times. Fred Ah Kuoi created the first, and Graeme West was the only player on either side to follow him through to claim what was almost too easy a try. Uplifted by that simple manoeuvre, the Kiwis moved to a 9-6 half-time advantage. Wright (two) and

the Australian centre, Mai Meninga, kicked penalties and Wright nudged over a field goal. A magnificent break by Varley from the first scrum after the resumption settled where the ascendancy lay. Varley cut inside Meninga, evaded Ray Price, and drew Kerry Boustead before inpassing to Leuluai, whose perfect positioning gave him a clear passage to touch down.

Ropati’s magic moment was still to come. Smith, West and Leuluai made the initial running, and from the next play the ball Kurt Sorensen provided Ropati with the chance to surge past Grothe and score the try which extinguished many proud Australian records. It made certain that Australia would suffer its first defeat in 17 tests since 1978; that it would be beaten for the first time at Lang Park since the 1963 Kiwis won 1613; and that the Kangaroo captain, Max Krilich’s dream of retiring with 10 victories from 10 tests would not be realised. No-one would doubt that Australia has long had a champion team. On Saturday evening its proud record was shattered by a team of champions. As early as midway through the opening spell the Kangaroo forwards were beginning to buckle under pressure, on attack and defence, imposed by the

Kiwi pack. Mark Broadhurst and Dane Sorensen were mighty men up front, Tamati hooked and tackled with utter dedication, a much-more-committed Kurt Sorensen and also West and Gary Prohm completed a top quality pack performance.

If the Kiwi forwards had the physical attributes to subdue their rivals, then even more credit must be given to the considerably smaller back formation for achieving a quite unexpected dominance over the Kangaroos. Varley and Smith disproved the old boxing adage that a good little man should never beat a good big man. Fred Ah Kuoi and Leuluai made mockeries of the reputations of Meninga and Miles in midfield, Dean Bell and ropati relished their chances on the wings, and Wright had the game of his life at full-back. The Kiwis did not do the haka until after full-time. It was amazing they still had the energy to do so, and such were the suppressed smiles that it was probably the least fearsome haka in history. Details.— NEW ZEALAND 19 (Graeme West, James Leuluai, Joe Ropati tries: Nick Wright three goals, field goal) beat AUSTRALIA 12 (Eric Grothe, Steve Ella tries: Mai Meninga two goals).