Internationals Weekly Wrap: Week III

Kangaroos too strong for Kiwis in Melbourne

The Kangaroos picked up a handy 36-18 win over New Zealand at AAMI Park on Saturday night behind a shock Lindsay Collins double.

Collins’ double – which came in the space of just nine minutes midway through the opening period – saw the hosts jump out to an 18-6 lead before an aerial Ronaldo Mulitalo effort on the stroke of the break cut the deficit to six for the Kiwis.

Dylan Edwards notched his first try in green and gold on the other side of half-time before Fa’amanu Brown burrowed his way over for the Kiwis with 10 remaining to cut it back to eight.

Ben Hunt and Cameron Murray scored late tries to seal it for the Kangaroos as their focus turns to the Pacific Cup Final in Hamilton next week.

Murray scored a try, ran for 146 metres, and made 22 tackles without a miss whilst James Tedesco assisted on a try and ran for a game-high 203 metres.

Joseph Tapine ran for 149 metres with six tackle breaks and made 35 tackles for the Kiwis whilst front row partner James Fisher-Harris ran for 119 metres and made 42 tackles.

Kiwi Ferns upset Jillaroos in historic showing

The Jillaroos’ 17-game winning streak stretching back to 2017 has been snapped courtesy of a brave Kiwi Ferns outfit who managed to hold on for a 12-6 win in Melbourne on Saturday.

The hosts were on the front foot early thanks to a Jaime Chapman try but their lead dried up on the stroke of half-time thanks to a powerful Mele Hufanga effort.

Leianne Tufuga crossed 62 minutes in to give the Kiwi Ferns their first lead of the encounter which they were able to hold on to.

Georgia Hale was in everything for the Kiwi Ferns running for 157 metres and making 44 tackles – both team-highs – whilst fullback Apii Nicholls assisted on a try and ran for 116 metres.

Jess Sergis proved a handful all evening long running for 213 metres with 12 tackle breaks whilst Jakiya Whitfeld ran for 165 metres with five tackle breaks.

England claim series win over Tonga in Huddersfield

A hard-fought 14-4 win over Mate Ma’a Tonga in Huddersfield handed England a 2-0 lead in their best-of-three series over the weekend.

In miserable conditions, Matty Ashton scored the first try of his England career just six minutes in before snagging a second prior to break to give the hosts a 12-0 lead.

A 47th-minute penalty goal extended the English lead beyond a pair of converted tries early in the second stanza with a Toluta’u Koula try resulting in the only points of the affair for Tonga.

Ashton scored a double and ran for 105 metres whilst Mikey Lewis assisted on a try and ran for 100 metres with four tackle breaks.

Koula scored a try and ran for 200 metres with eight tackle breaks for Tonga whilst Haumole Olakau’atu ran for 161 metres with five tackle breaks and made 23 tackles.

The final clash of the series will be played Sunday morning (1:30am AEDT) at Headingley in Leeds.

Fiji Bati take down Kumuls in Port Moresby

Fiji took down Papua New Guinea 43-16 in Port Moresby in a surprise result on Sunday afternoon behind doubles to Maika Sivo and Kurt Donoghoe.

Alex Johnston scored just two minutes in for the hosts before a first half Donoghoe doubled helped propel Fiji Bati to a 19-4 half-time edge.

Two Sivo tries in as many minutes plus a Caleb Navale try broke the game wide open for the Fijians before debutant Jason Qareqare capped it off with a late effort.

Sivo scored two tries and ran for 209 metres with six tackle breaks whilst Jahream Bula assisted on a try and ran for 138 metres with six tackle breaks.

Johnston scored a try, assisted on another, and ran for 130 metres for the Kumuls whilst Jack de Belin ran for 126 metres and made 29 tackles.

Fortunately for the Kumuls, the two sides will meet again in the Pacific Bowl Final at the same venue next Sunday afternoon.

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