Rugby League World Cup: Quarterfinals Previews

Sudden-death football is now upon us with only the tournament’s top dogs remaining to fight it out for the Paul Barrière Trophy. Spectators have a quartet of inspiring showdowns to look forward to this weekend with each nation desperate to extend their World Cup campaign by at least another week.

Australia vs. Lebanon at John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield (Saturday 5 Nov, 06:30am AEDT)

In the opening quarterfinals clash, Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium will play host to the Kangaroos of Australia and the Cedars of Lebanon who have met just once in their respective histories – a 34-0 win to Australia in the group stage of the 2017 World Cup.

Australia went undefeated in their three group stage outings and finished with the tournament’s second-most potent attack (64.0 ppg), stoutest defence (4.7 ppg), and highest average margin (+59.3 ppg). Still the World Cup favourites after entering the tournament as the shortest-priced nation, Australia’s firepower is difficult to ignore as they aim to win their third-consecutive World Cup.

Lebanon, meanwhile, finished the group stage with wins over Ireland and Jamaica and finished with the tournament’s sixth-best attack (39.3 ppg), equal-sixth-best defence (20.0 ppg), and sixth-highest average margin (+19.3 ppg). Outlasting the Australians will require some type of miracle for the Cedars but they have some key strengths to their side and will draw on the same belief and passion that dragged them to wins over the Wolfhounds and Reggae Warriors and kept them within reach of the Kiwis for much of their clash.

Australia enter the clash as short-priced favourites and will more than likely get the job done quite comfortably, however, this Lebanese team has proven to mesh well and allow their stars to spread their wings.

Australia will view this game as an opportunity to continue building partnerships and synergy – they have trotted out three different halves pairings throughout their three group stage clashes and whilst James Tedesco, Ben Hunt, and Valentine Holmes are the only players to have appeared in every game. Their decision to rotate their players will keep the squad fresh but a potential trade-off is a lack of familiarity among key men.

Lebanon’s biggest match of the tournament was their second-week win over Ireland which proved the catalyst for their quarterfinals qualification. The likes of Mitchell Moses, Adam Doueihi, and Jacob Kiraz will sniff around for opportunities all game long but how close they get will likely depend on how long their inexperienced forward pack can match their opposites.

[adrotate group=”9″]

England vs. Papua New Guinea at DW Stadium, Wigan (Sunday 6 Nov, 01:30am AEDT)

England’s quest for World Cup glory continues in Wigan where they will face a Papua New Guinea outfit who they last faced at the 2017 World Cup in Melbourne which they won 36-6.

England came away with three wins from three group stage clashes and finished with the tournament’s best attack (65.3 ppg), equal-second-best defence (9.3 ppg), and second-highest average margin (+56.0 ppg). Shaun Wane’s men enjoyed arguably the nation’s most dominant group stage ever at a World Cup and will be eager to get the job done against the Kumuls and advance one step closer to a World Cup Final on home soil.

The Kumuls, meanwhile, earnt wins over the Cook Islands and Wales and went close to upsetting Tonga in their World Cup opener en route to the tournament’s eighth-best attack (28.7 ppg), fifth-best defence (13.3 ppg), and seventh-highest average margin (+15.3 ppg). The Kumuls have never advanced beyond the quarterfinals at a World Cup and will be eager to knock off the hosts in Wigan.

England will enter this one as favourites but any level of complacency may prove unwise against a well-constructed Kumuls side that has picked up wins over Fiji and Great Britain over the past three years and came within a whisker of upsetting Tonga in their tournament opener.

England’s playmakers, who have been superb all tournament, will be relied on to take advantage of potentially limited attacking opportunities against a Kumuls side who have held their opponents to four tries or less in their past seven outings.

Papua New Guinea’s forwards, meanwhile, will have their work cut out for them against a strong English pack headed by Thomas Burgess, Victor Radley, and John Bateman. Perhaps rugby league’s proudest nation, the Kumuls have never qualified for a World Cup semi-final; the players will be aware of the magnitude of this clash.

New Zealand vs. Fiji at MKM Stadium, Hull (Sunday 6 Nov, 06:30am AEDT)

New Zealand will face Fiji – who famously knocked them out of the 2017 World Cup in a try-less clash in Wellington – in the third of the sudden-death playoffs at MKM Stadium in Hull.

New Zealand made it through the group stage unbothered with three wins from three games finishing with the tournament’s third-best attack (50.0 ppg), tied-second-best defence (9.3 ppg), and third-highest average margin (+40.7 ppg). Still viewed by bookmakers as the side most likely to trouble the Kangaroos, the Kiwis were less convincing than anticipated throughout their three group stage outings and will be chomping at the bit to get another shot at a Fijian squad that ended their last World Cup campaign prematurely.

Fiji, meanwhile, bounced back from a first-start loss to Australia with wins over Italy and Scotland and finished the group stage with the tournament’s seventh-best attack (32.7 ppg), equal-sixth-best defence (20.0 ppg), and eighth-highest average margin (+12.7 ppg). With many of their stars having not travelled to the UK for multiple reasons, their odds of repeating their herculean efforts of the 2017 World Cup appear slim, however, Joe Rabele’s men will refuse to die wondering against a fearsome Kiwis outfit.

The Kiwis enter the showdown as favourites despite a clunky trio of group stage wins as they aim to avenge their shock loss in the 2017 World Cup quarterfinals. The Fijians have some obvious strengths but, with several of their big names unavailable, a path towards downing New Zealand appears murky.

New Zealand will view this one as a type of final dress rehearsal before their highly-anticipated semi-final against Australia. Jahrome Hughes proved a welcome inclusion with the star halfback the best on ground in their last-start win over Ireland.

Fiji are a worthy opponent and, at full-strength, would prove a headache for Michael Maguire’s men but expecting players without any first-grade experience to match the might of Kiwis seems a bridge too far. The likes of Apisai Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, and Maika Sivo will ensure the Kiwis keep their wits about them defensively whilst lower-graders Taniela Sadrugu, Penioni Tagituimua, and Josh Wong have surely turned some heads with their performances thus far, however, it will take a major effort to keep pace with these Kiwis.

[adrotate group=”9″]

Tonga vs. Sāmoa at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington (Monday 7 Nov, 01:30am AEDT)

This final quarterfinals clash may prove the most intense of them all with Mate Ma’a Tonga and Toa Sāmoa set to do battle in Warrington for the first time since Tonga came away with a 38-22 win in Campbelltown in 2018.

Tonga finished atop Group D with a trio of wins and finished with the tournament’s fourth-best attack (65.3 ppg), fourth-strongest defence (11.3 ppg), and fourth-highest average margin (+38.0 ppg). Perhaps not as dominant as some may have hoped throughout the group stage, all eyes will be on the production of their spine which is still surrounded by an air of uncertainty, however, the prowess of their forwards and outside backs will make them a bruising matchup for whoever stands in their way.

Sāmoa bounced back from a shock 60-6 defeat to England in the World Cup opener to get the job done against Greece and France en route to the tournament’s fifth-best attack (49.3 ppg), eighth-best defence (22.7 ppg), and fifth-highest average margin (+24.0 ppg). Many drew a line through Sāmoa after their humiliating first-start defeat in Newcastle, however, they did a decent job of steadying the ship and there is still a tonne to like about their roster.

Of the four quarterfinals clashes, the bookmakers view this one as the tightest with Tonga favourites but Sāmoa not far off the pace. Many have understandably had a difficult time washing away the bitter taste of Sāmoa’s loss to England but, if their playmakers can sprinkle a touch of class on top of their powerful group of outside backs and middle forwards, an upset could undoubtedly be on the cards. Whichever side fails to get the job will fly home indignantly disappointed in the outcome after entering the tournament full to the brim with optimism.

Tonga will be keen to build off their 2017 campaign which finished within inches of a World Cup Final berth and that journey really kicks into gear against Pacific rivals Sāmoa. Their spine is still unsettled, however, their middle and edge forward rotation is on par with the best in world rugby league and will be key in ensuring their playmakers have ample opportunity to generate points.

Sāmoa have never advanced beyond the quarterfinals at a World Cup and have their strongest ever squad at their disposal. The road, however, gets no easier with a loaded Tongan unit standing in their way of World Cup Final qualifier in London. Health and unavailability has proven unkind to Matt Parish’s men but a path to victory undoubtedly exists particularly if their middle rotation – Junior Paulo, Josh Papali’i, Royce Hunt, Spencer Leniu and Marty Taupa’u – can cultivate long periods of momentum against their counterparts – Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake, Tevita Tatola, Siosiua Taukei’aho and Moeaki Fotuaika.

Fill In The Form To Get Our NRL News Straight To Your Email For FREE!