International Test Match Comparison : Kangaroos vs Wallabies

How many international test matches were played by the two oval ball codes in Australia? Rugby Union puts much greater emphasis on internationals so obviously the Wallabies will have played more. Looking at the data going back to the 1960's in decade blocks is how I did it below. The 2020's are for four years so that number is lower.

The increase in international RU matches must surely have reached a peak. Covid did knock it back in 2020. Back in the 1960's, the nearest neighbour NZ didn't want to play the Wallabies becuase they were of mediocre standard. 

As for the Kangaroo RL side, it's had a constancy. They actually played more tests in the 60's than RU but how that has changed. RL is a sport based around pro clubs with a little time begrudgingly allowed for test matches. 

Winning has been something the Kangaroos always did better than their RU counterparts. It's a more popular sport and has always been professional which did entice players RU players across to the light side. Going pro in the mid 90's encouraged one Wallabies player to proclaim RL would be dead in a short time.

The reality is RL in Australia has strengthened while RU has faltered. The win rate of the Wallabies reflects that from its peak in the 1990's to less than 40% so far this decade. Admittedly, the 2020's is a short period to draw conclusions on but the 2022 win rate was 36%, so yet another poor season for the side in yellow. 

Others in the series are as follows. Simply click on the country name to go there: England, France, New Zealand.

The WC Festival

I was thinking about how in ice hockey many top NHL players don't go to their WC. They still have it anyway and it's popular. It also means without the best always there, the winner is more variable. So I thought about a RL WC festival held a year before a WC, a comp where all the players with NRL or SL contracts are excluded. A WC for the semi pros and amateurs. 

Australia would be made up of Qld and NSW comp players, home nations sides from the Championship and the French from Elite 1. It would be a great leveler and would give nations without access to full pro players a chance do better. One sided games would be far fewer yet the standard would still be entertaining. I'd watch it and enjoy many of the games more than at a full WC. 

For countries like Greece - that sent a side over to this WC to get mercilessly walloped three times - a chance to compete and gain greater benefit from the experience. It would motivate people in emerging RL nations to take up the sport and hopefully get picked to represent their nation. Any profit would be shared among the nations involved. 

Pie in the sky I know but I like putting out ideas to challenge the status quo. RL needs to do more to encourage the sport in 'emerging' nations and to encourage international RL generally. We need to try different things otherwise we'll keep getting what we already have, a few good nations and a bunch of stragglers totally outclassed.

Pic: ERL.Ireland v Serbia.

World Cup Historical Rankings : 1954-2021

I've put a summary together of all World Cups in a way to evaluate participation and success. One the left, all the games played at World Cups have had points allocated to them. They are three for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss. The right side shows percentages of the left side. 

Key: W=Win, D=Draw, L=Loss, G=Games played.

RL WC Trivia (Women's)

 Here's my top ten for the women's game:

1) Of the six tournaments, NZ and Australia have each won three trophies. NZ the first three, the Jillaroos the last three.

2) The Kiwi Ferns won the first eighteen games they played at World Cups. Australia has now won its last eleven.

3) Six nations have been to only one World Cup. Three have been to all six.

4) New Zealand is the only country to appear in all six finals.

5) In the last four tournaments, the winning sides have been scoring between 88 and 90% of the points. 

6) Most games were played at the rather convoluted 2003 event (25). 

7) There have been two teams that didn't represent an individual country. A New Zealand Maori side in 2003 and a combined Pacific in 2008.

8) Tonga has not won any of its ten WC games. 

9) France has won only one of its twelve matches. Its only win was against Tonga. 

10) The biggest grand final winning margin was NZ defeating NZ Maori 58-0 in 2003.

RL WC Trivia (Men's)

So many things to choose from. Here are my top ten.

1) There have been sixteen tournaments going back to 1954. (1954 final right)

2) Three didn't have a grand final, 1957, 1960 and 1975. Of the thirteen that did, Austalia was in twelve of them. 

3) GB / England failed to meet Australia in a WC competition for the first time in the 2021 event. 

4) There have been 260 matches in total (including three forfeited which were counted as played).

5) The lowest average winning margin for a tournament is 1970 (10). It also had the lowest points per match (29). The highest average winning margin is in 2021 (37) and the highest points per match (56).

6) There have been 11,151 points scored over 260 matches (257 played). Three games were forfeited by France in 1988 due to financial issues.

7) Australia has a tally of 85 WC matches (including one forfeit). GB/England has played 80 and NZ 75 (one forfeited).

8) GB/England has the most drawn games (6), twice as many as any other country.

9) The closest final was in 1972, 10-10 with GB declared the winner over Australia having defeated them earlier in the competition. The next closest was in 1977, 13-12 to Australia over GB. 

10) The most points scored in a grand final was 54 in 2008 when NZ defeated Australia 34-20. The least was six in 2017 when Australia prevailed over England 6-0.

Wheelchair RL WC History 2008-21

 2008: Host - Australia. Winner England

Four sides were invited but the NZ team pulled out. Those that attended were England (winner by 44-12), Australia (runner up), France (presumably third) and the Barbarians (an invitation squad to make a fourth team). 

I don't have any other information so if anyone could provide some, please let me know at rdc1234@gmail.com. Thank you. 

2013: Host - Australia. Winner France

After some digging, I managed to get all the results. Six nations were represented in three groups and one crossover game with the other group. This gave each team at least three matches. 

Group Stage: France was convincing winner of its group with Australia advancing with just one win after losing its cross over game with Wales. England took the other Group although it lost its crossover fixture with France. 

Semi Finals/Playoffs/Final: France defeated a spirited Welsh side and likewise England against Australia. The two bottom pool nations went head to head, with Ireland beating Scotland. Third and fourth involved Wales and Australia, the former winning a tight one. The final pitted unbeaten France against England and in a close one, France took the title 42-40.  

2017: Host - Australia. Winner France

There were seven nations this time around, Ireland not here from last time but Italy and Spain added. The top four sides met in a super group and the lesser three in the other.  

Group Stage: France won its group from England, Australia and Wales. Italy took the other ahead of Spain and Scotland.

Semi Finals/Playoffs/Final: France overwhelmed the Group 2 winner and England confirmed its supremacy over Australia. Wales defeated Spain for the fifth spot and Australia was too good for Italy for the third placing. In the Final, England led with moments to go but France sweaked home in a tight one 38-34.

2021: Host - England. Winner England

France was hoping to make it a threepeat but England were well prepared to stand in their way. The average winning margin ratio throughout the Wheelchair competition was 79 to 21 or rounded 8 to 2. The final itself was just four. 

Group Stage: This went as expected for those two top nations but the USA surprised, being at it was the least experienced team. However, Wales defeated them and took the semifinal place in their stead. 

Semifinals/Final: Australia gave France a stern test although never looked like creating a huge upset. Were they keeping some in reserve for the final? England was far too good for Wales, their speed and execution impressive.

The final was always going to be a different animal, with two closely matched sides in the most important game. It certainly didn't disappoint and the better side on the day lifted the trophy. Five tries to three and biased calls from one of the officials keeping it from being more. 

For a round by round summary of the 2021 tournament, simply click on the following labels:

round 1, round 2, round 3, semifinals/final.

World Cup 2021 Match Summary : Men's

There has been plenty written about the games in the blog here. To get more detail on each round, simply click on the following labels: round 1, round 2; round 3, quarter finals, semifinals/final. Here are the scores from each contest.

Women's RL WC History 2013-21

In part two of the women's World Cup history, we look at three more tournaments. You may want to look at 2000-08 edition first, which can be viewed by clicking here.

2013: Host - England. Winner Australia

After two larger tournaments, the format went to just four sides. NZ had won the first three titles but this time not so.

Each side played each other once in the group stage, with NZ coming out on top. The two sides propping up the table played off for 3rd and 4th. while the top two went into the final. Australia upset the Kiwi Ferns, the latter losing their first ever World Cup contest. 

2017: Host - Australia. Winner Australia

There were six sides in the 2017 edition, France was not here but the Cook Is, Canada and PNG were added. 

Group Stage: Australia easily won its group, with England progressing on a superior points differential. New Zealand were even more convincing in their group with the Ravens and Orchids. 

Semi Final/Final: England was no match for the Kiwi side and the same was true for Canada against Australia. The Final was close but Australia won their second World Cup.

2021: Host - England. Winner Australia

An additional two nations were included, with France making a return and Brazil in their first WC. Brazil had only played one international before, their qualifying victory over Argentina. Would a Pacific nation been a more sound choice?

Group Stage: England won its undeniably weaker group, with only PNG giving it any sort of challenge. Brazil showed how much it progressed through the tournament with a narrow, last minute loss to Canada. 

Australia got through top of its group, courtesy of a two point victory over arch rivals the Kiwi Ferns. The Cook Islands and France no match for the two strongest teams. 

Semi Final/Final: With short turn arounds between games another issue to be managed carefully. The finalists would have to address that as best they could. PNG are a solid side but were completely outplayed by the reigning champions. NZ had the tougher assignment but overcame a plucky Lionesses side. 

The depth Australia had in its squad and less strenuous semi allowed them to rotate the players more so had the Jillaroos hitting the final with freshness. The Kiwi Ferns had played their best side to get past England so they looked tired from the outset of the final. After a narrow 10-8 margin between the sides, a 54-4 drubbing in the final was not anticipated. 

For a round by round summary of the 2021 tournament, simply click the following labels: 

round 1; round 2, round 3, semifinals/final.

Women's RL WC History 2000-08

It may surprise many that there have been six women's tournaments, going back to the year 2000. It's had many formats and teams have come and gone but is settling down as it progresses. Let's look at the history. We start with the first three tournaments. 

2000: Host Country - England. Winners New Zealand

Only three nations competed, Australia, GB (England) and NZ. In the first stage of the event, each team played each other once with NZ winning both matches, GB a win and a loss, Australia two losses. 

They then had playoff matches, with NZ and GB both defeating Australia and going into a final. NZ overcame England 26-4 in that encounter.  

2003: Host Country - New Zealand. Winner New Zealand 

Eight nations and the NZ Maori made up an impressive nine team competition. They were divided into three pools. There were two phases and a finals series, making up 25 games. 

Phase One: GB, Australia and NZ were the group winners. Samoa, NZ Maori and the Cook Is were the second placed sides, and they joined the top three in Phase Two. Tonga, Niue and Tokelau were eliminated but played off for Bowl and Plate titles. 

Phase Two: The top two from each group would progress to the semi finals and the third side eliminated. NZ Maori won Group 1 with GB second on points differential. NZ and Australia progressed as did Niue and Tokelau in Group 3.

Plate/Bowl: The lower ranked Bowl title went to Tokelau and the Plate was won by Samoa at the expense of the Cook Is. 

Semi Finals/Final: NZ easily defeated GB and the NZ Maori defeated Australia, setting up an all NZ final showdown. The NZ team turned it on and ran away with the final 58-0.

2008: Host Country - Australia. Winner New Zealand

A more conventional format was used in the 2008 edition. Seven nations took part with a Pacific regional side included. France and Russia made their first appearance at a WC. 

Group Stage: In Group 1, Australia and England progressed with Russia and France eliminated. For Group 2, NZ and the Pacific went through with Samoa and Tonga going no further.

Semi Finals/Final: NZ got past GB and Australia likewise the Pacific region. The final was easily won by NZ for their third title in three attempts. 

The Kiwis had were undefeated in the fifteen WC matches they had played over three tournaments. They were the benchmark. The question was could they maintain that? The next in the series reveals all and can be accessed by clicking here. 

2021 WC Attendance Figures: Women's

The women's game starting to take off and some players are now getting paid to do so. The attendance numbers are growing, a sign that interest in this side of the code is on the up. That will translate into more women getting financial rewards for their effort. 

The below attendances were good compared to what would have been expected even a few years ago. The grand final figure was for a double header with the men's version. It's impossible to say how many were there for the women's event so with all doubled up games, the number of tickets sold is credited evenly to both matches. That's got to be world record for women's RL, albeit achieved in the circumstances mentioned.

2021 WC Attendance Figures: Men's

Below is a comprehensive coverage of attendance at the tournament. Each round with accumulated totals, then a summary of the rounds by country. Teams that played England got a boost so that skews things a bit. Then the finals, leading up to the Old Trafford attendance of over 67,000. 

It could have been better, with selection of venues, ticket procurement issues and pricing affecting numbers adversely, not to mention constraints during these post Covid times. With all those things to consider, not a bad result in the end. 

World Cup 2021 : Semi Finals/Final (Men's)

Australia 16-14 Kiwis

The Kangaroos were favourites but the Kiwis had an edge in the forwards. In the first half the stats slightly favoured the NZ side but the Kangaroos took their few chances well and looked to go into the break ahead but a nicely executed move by NZ had them in front 14-10. 

They would have to kept outperforming the Roos in the second period to win because even parity in that department would hand the tie to Australia.

So it proved to be. The Kiwis spent too much time in their half and while possibly unlucky with a very nice try disallowed, they couldn't control the game like they did in the first half. The only try of the second half was too soft with the Kiwis momentarily clocking off defensively. 

Samoa 27-26 England (picture above)

The massive win in round one counted for nothing and within minutes Samoa was ahead 4-0. A sin bin didn't seem to hurt them although England was not icing the chances it created. Eventually, England got ahead after 25 minutes but continued to miss opportunities and looked clunky. 

After 30 minutes Samoa got another chance and finished that to lead 10-6. Samoa looked sharper than the hosts. England hadn't had a poor game in the tournament but this was looking their least fluid. 

Within minutes of the resumption, England was back in front 12-10 taking full advantage of a defensive mistake. Immediately Samoa came back with a spectacular adlib try, then another one to be ahead 20-12. With 15 minutes to go England only trailed 18-20 so the atmosphere was electric. A penalty had it tied. Samoa got an intercept try, then England went the length of the field to have it 26-26 at full time. 

Extra time was quickly decided after an England mistake, handing Samoa territorial opportunity. A drop goal to Samoa and it was over. England had chances to win this but it wasn't a good performance by them and they got what they deserved.

Grand Final: Australia 30-10 Samoa 

Within two minutes Australia got a touchline call in their favour. Who would have thought? Anyway, early attacks for Samoa were ended by poor kicking and when Australia got at the other end, they showed how it is done with small in goals. They led 4-0 after 15 minutes. 

By the quarter mark it was 10-0 to the kangaroos and threatening to get ugly. Samoa was fighting but its attacks wer easily dealt with and Australia was clinical when chances came their way. 14-0 was the margin at the break. 

Early in the second period, a Kangaroo got sin binned for a headshot after play had stopped. Samoa couldn't take advantage of the brief numerical advantage and it was 20-0 with a quarter to go. Play maker Jarome Luai was having no real impact but suddenly set up a try for Samoa. Could they dream?

With ten to go, it was 26-6 and game over. It finished 30-10 and another Kangaroo title. They were not a great side but very well drilled, especially defensively. Samoa didn't play their best game but they weren't allowed to with the smothering defence they faced. 

World Cup 2021 : Semi Finals/Final (Women's)

Australia 82-0 PNG

The conditions were very foggy and typical of North England in autumn. The Jillaroos were expected to win this and after ten minutes lead 6-0. The ineffective PNG kicking game was nullifying the hard work they were putting in. Then the floodgates started to open. Some of the mistakes that were creeping into the PNG game would have made under six players blush. 40-0 at the break was the result.

In the second half, PNG tackling became less effective as they tired and presumably became disspirited. The Orchids had some good performances against less experienced sides but against the Jillaroos, they went missing in action. They got back into it toward the end of the game but their attack was firing blanks so no danger there. 

New Zealand 20-6 England (Picture above; rlwc2021)

The game started with a Kiwi mistake and a Lioness try. The Kiwis started having success in outmuscling their opponents and had opportunities probing with their right side attack. NZ got to an 8-6 lead after 30 minutes but England was holding up well and happy to keep the deficit to two points. Some of the passing and handling was clunky from both sides. 

In the second half, England attack proved to be sterile and while the Kiwis weren't great either, they had enough firepower to turn some opportunities into points. The standard between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres was starkly exposed. The Lionesses were galant but it's execution that wins games and they were poor in that department. The result was no surprise.   

Grand Final: Australia 54-4 New Zealand 

With gaps between games short, Australia had the deeper squad and rested players which was helpful to keep the players fresh. NZ used the same players more often and that had the Kiwi side looking sluggish from the outset. Within five the sharper Jillaroos were ahead. Kiwi attacks were being dealt with but not the other way around. 20-0 at the turn around.

The second half was the Jillaroo show and it was 38-0 with a quarter to go. Just when it looked like the Kiwis wouldn't score they manufactured a fine try. Then Australia came back with more tries, one off a forward pass but why give a well beaten side a break? 

2021 WC Attendance Figures: Wheelchair

The average attendance for matches was 2,293, a fine result for a form of the game largely unknown within the RL fraternity, let alone the public at large. The final was a sellout and a record attendance for Wheelchair RL at 4,526. 

Double header games skew the figures as some spectators would only go to one fixture of the two. The reality is there was no way of accurately separating them. Even allowing for that, good support and possibly the most successful part of the RL WC 2021. 

World Cup 2021 : Semi Finals/Final (Wheelchair)

France 84-40 Australia 

France as holders of the trophy and full of talent was expected to win and win well. They did take the lead almost immediately. Australia wasn't lying down though and at the quarter mark, it was 24-10 to the Tricolours. The Kangaroos couldn't go with them and the half time tally was 54-10.

The second half started the Wheelaroos got into the game more as the Frenetic pace of the first half eased a bit. The scoreline was 66-22 with a quarter to play and from there both sides were scoring tit for tat. The second half scoreline was 30-30.

England 125-22 Wales

After ten minutes England led 18-0, the speed and quality on show and in abundance. Wales was trying but just outclassed. 70-6 at the break but Wales was more effective in the second half. Still, it was a comprehensive display.

Grand Final: England 28-24 France (Picture above: England on attack)

Right away, there was a tightness in this encounter as two close sides came together. Early calls were all going France's way and they took the lead 8-0 after ten minutes. England finally got on the scoreboard on the 18th minute but they couldn't get a ref's call in their favour. England got a try so clean even the officials couldn't take that off them. 14-12 to the French six at the break...I mean five. 

England started the better and took the lead but France wasn't going away and it was 22-20 to England with a quarter of the game to go. With nine to go, it was 22-22. Then a fine try to England's captain got them ahead 26-22 with two minutes to go. A conversion would have been nice. Still, it was enough to deliver the WC to the England side. It doesn't happen very often.

World Cup 2021 : Round Three (Wheel Chair)

 

Australia 52-32 Spain

The winner into the semi finals, the loser goes home. Spain were impatient and making mistakes. It was 16-6 to the Wheelaroos after 16-6, 20-10 in 30 minutes. Youth and speed favoured the Aussies too and the 32-10 score at the turn around was a good place to be. Spain gave a crack in the second period but were not good enough to catch up. 

England 121-0 Ireland

It was only going to be a deluge of points from England and they didn't disappoint. The speed and execution had them up 66-0 at the break. A world record crowd of over 3,800 saw a repeat of the first half. 

France 116-6 USA

It was always going to be a one sided match, damage limitation the goal of the USA. The 64-0 half time score one both sides could be reasonably satisfied with. A great game to admire France's speed and skill but not a nail biter by any means. 

Wales 70-36 Scotland (picture above)

An important game to decide who advanced to the semi finals. At the quarter mark, Wales was ahead 24-6 and 36-20 at the break. Wales were the better but the score was close enough to make it anyone's. The second period Wales raced away with it. Wales into the semis.

World Cup 2021 : Round Three (Women's)

Canada 22-16 Brazil

It was a scrappy game throughout but the effort and closeness of the score kept it interesting. Canada was expected to be too good but it was Brazil who scored an early try. Canada finally got a try after 25 minutes which settled them but they could only manage a 10-6 lead at the break. 

When Brazil got an intercept try to take it to 10-10 and with a few minutes to go 16-16, it was proving far closer than pundits had thought. A last gasp try to Canada got them home. It was a relief for the Ravens and their only win. For Brazil, no win but morale boosting effort which should do something for the game back home. 

England 42-4 PNG

PNG came out very physically and got an early try to boot. PNG's aggression seemed to tire them, England weathered it and gradually started to control proceedings. Vicky Whitfield was outstanding in the England pack. 14-4 at the turn around.

England dominated PNG through the forward drives and the points followed. A tough encounter both sides needed. PNG needs more quality and not just reliant on hard hits. England needs to convert more of the chances they work hard to set up. 

Cook Is 26-18 France

The game started cautiously with neither side impressing. At the quarter mark, the Moana led 6-0 from a barge over try. Several minutes later, France replied with a try of their own, the first in the tournament. The Cooks replied immediately under the posts. France was struggling to contain the big Moana forwards. 12-4 to the Cooks at half time. 

Almost straight off the leaders extended their lead but a long range response from France had the score at 16-10. A couple more tries and the Cooks prevailed. The size of the victors was telling but France was gutsy. 

Australia v New Zealand (picture above)

Both sides excelled in defence and it took 20 minutes before the deadlock was broken, the Jillaroos the beneficiaries. It took another ten minutes for the Kiwi Ferns to reply and become the first team to score against the Jillaroos in the tournament. It would have been tied but a kick in front of the posts was a bridge too far! For two top sides, too many mistakes. Score after the first forty 6-4. 

The second half continued with sloppy play. Finally the Kiwis got ahead for the first time after 55 minutes, 8-6. Then the Jillaroos hit back just after 60 minutes to lead 10-8. That's how it stayed, two tries apiece so nothing in it. It was error strewn though, both sides guilty. 

World Cup 2021 : Round Two (Wheel Chair)

Round two has been weally good so here are the summaries.

England 104-12 Spain. (picture above)

The game had a blistering start with a try apiece after two minutes. There was initially a frenetic pace but then England took control of possession the game. Spain kept trying to catch out England with early kicks but it didn't work. The half time tally was 50-10 to England. 

The second period was one way traffic as Spain was unable to mount any serious attack. If there was a prize for the most players they could knock over it would be Gonzales. The first several minutes in the first half were close, and then to see the final score!  

Australia 76-18 Ireland.

Australia was quickly ahead 18-0 but just after the 20 minute mark it was 18-12 so game on. Then after a struggle, Australia hit late with a string of tries were ahead 42-12 at the break. The second half started tight but the speed and experience of Australia had them pull away. 

France 80-15 Scotland.

Hot favourites France raced to a 10-0 lead but after 15 minutes it was 10-6 so Scotland was giving it a real go. Still, the speed of the French side was always going to be too much. As things weren't entirely going their way, they got frustrated and a bit niggly. 50-6 at the turn around. 

Scotland kept trying hard and France was not as rampant as could be expected. With a bit more class, Scotland would have iced a few more chances.  

Wales 50-32 USA.

A win for the USA and they were into the semi finals. A win for Wales and it's open between these sides and Scotland for that coveted place. It was tight with the USA scoring at the quarter mark to give them a 14-6 lead. Wales came back in a enthralling contest to be ahead 30-22 at the break.

By the three quarter mark, Wales had pulled ahead, 44-26 the score, their experience was counting. Some of Wales' handling was getting better as the game progressed. Wales finished the stronger, the USA side looked like the intense tournament had drained them. 

USA v Canada 2022

Both missed out on the World Cup. Seeing as both countries have limited domestic competition, the standard isn't high but important that such games are played. I won't reveal the final score.

World Cup 2021 : Round Two (Women's)

Round two is completed so here are the match summaries.

England 54-4 Canada. (picture above)

The Ravens had plenty of possession early on but struggled to make the most of it. Unfortunately for then, when England got near their line points were conceded too easily. 30-0 the score at the turn around. Canada did manage a nice try but there was only one outcome. I would say from what I've seen so far, England will not win the WC.

PNG 70-0 Brazil.

Brazil had a mountain to climb against a much more experienced PNG Orchids. The wet weather wasn't respected so there was some scrappy play. There was strong defence from both sides too, but the difference was PNG were playing at the right end of the field and regularly turned chances into points. It was 18-0 to the Orchids at half time.

Frankly, I skipped through the second half as Brazil was too inexperienced to be here and a hard watch. I hope they learned something and it does give the game a lift in Brazil. 

Australia 92-0 France. 

I could not believe what I was seeing. Within a few minutes the two following incidents. An Australian player kicked on the 5th tackle into a French player at point blank range and somehow it was ruled played at. Then a Jillaroo player held the jersey of the tackler so she can't get up and ruled six again. Both led to tries. It was always going to be one result but the early officiating was a farce.

Needless to say, I don't watch rubbish so for the first time at the world cup I bypassed it. Get your act together WC officiating. You don't give a clearly better side pathetically unfair calls. 

New Zealand 34-4 Cook Is. 

The Kiwi Ferns were hot favourites over the Moana but wet conditions made handling tricky. Whenever they got near the Cooks line, points usually ensued. That said, just 14-0 when the teams changed ends. The Moana got one try which a small victory for them. Overall, the gap between the sides was obvious when it came to attacking play.

World Cup 2021 : Quarter Finals (Mens)

The quarter finals arrived and here's what happened.

Australia 48-4 Lebanon.

Australia were the hot favourites and after a quarter of the match, they led 30-0 at the break. It was a well drilled Kangaroos that outplayed their opponents. Lebanon wasn't bad but made to look ordinary. The second stanza was more even, partly due to some clunky play by Australia. 

England 46-6 PNG.

England hit the ground running scoring 38 points in under 30 minutes. The best weather play I've ever seen. That was also the half time score as PNG got some possession and the greasy conditions had a say. 

The second half was more what was expected with an arm wrestle ensuing. The Kumuls finally got a try in the 70th minute which was well deserved. In the end, the 46-6 scoreline was unexpected but reflected a clinical effort by England. 

NZ 24-18 Fiji. (Picture above)

The Kiwis have an impressive squad but have below par games in their arsenal. It was looking like that here as the Bati took a deserved 12-0 lead after the first quarter. NZ didn't look too inventive on attack and the 12-6 lead to Fiji was well deserved. 

An immediate score after the break had Fiji looking at a huge upset. The Kiwis came back to tie the scores then got a gaol from what seemed a fortuituous call for NZ. A last gasp try from NZ got them home anyway. 

Tonga v Samoa. 

This is always a tough game with Tonga the slight favourite. After a quarter of the contest Samoa was looking better and led 12-4. Tonga came back and the half time 12-8 scoreline had the game in the balance. 

The arm wrestle contiuned but Samoa got its nose ahead 20-12 with a quarter of the match to go. Then with ten to go it was 20-18 and with players tiring it was anyones. Despite desperation from both sides at the death it was Samoa that earned the right to progress. They seemed the more polished team on the day.  

World Cup 2021 : Round One (Wheel Chair)

The wheel chair side of RL is part of a wider tournament. This is my first viewing of this RL version of the code apart from a few highlights videos. The first round featured four games and the summary follows (two to come).

Ireland 55-32 Spain. (Pic above)

Spain started with speed and slickness and established a strong lead early on. It was 30-4 at the 28 minute mark. Ireland then steadied the ship for the next 12 minutes and only trailed 10-30 at the half time break.

Ireland now had some momentum Spain came back and by the three quarter mark, it was 42-20. Spain was too well organised for the Irish side, but the latter certainly showed a lot of character.

England 38-8 Australia.

A top game was expected and they didn't disappoint. Australia took a lead 6-0 in a tight first quarter. Then England cut loose and Australia couldn't go with them. The speed of England's play was telling and they led 26-6 despite some ordinary goal kicking. The second period was tight but the home side were the better side and comfortably so.  

France 158-6 Wales.

This was the favourite France putting on a show. A couple of tries with players in front of the kicker notwithstanding, their lead of 66-0 after 25 minutes was a quite a show. Wales then got a converted try but the half time score of 96-6 was some mismatch. The second half the same.

USA 62-41 Scotland.

I didn't know what to expect here but after 4 minutes, it was 12-0 to the USA. Frenetic play ensued with Scotland coming back nicely in a tit for tat scoring pattern. The USA slipped ahead late to lead in a fascinating encounter 38-24.

Mistakes and some scrappy play didn't detract from the spectacle due to the energy and enthusiasm exhibited. The USA players were speedy and chased kicks with success. For a country new to the sport, an excellent outcome first up.

World Cup 2021 : Round One (Women's)

The women's side of RL is part of a wider tournament. The first round featured four games and the summary follows.

England 72-4 Brazil. (Pic above)

Brazil was playing just its third international match so little was expected in terms of a win but huge step up and a learning curve. It was 34-0 at the turn around and the second half was a continuatuion of the first. 

Unsurprisingly, England were too good but Brazil managed to score a try, which was nice for them. England will have to be a lot better if they want to win the tournament. They fell into the trap of taking shortcuts rather than doing the basics and building off the back of that. 

PNG 34-12 Canada.

PNG were favoured with experience in the NRLW in Australia. The first 25 minutes were tight but too many fumbles and wayward passes kept the score to zero. Finally, PNG got some field possession and made it count. Then Canada came back and the Ravens lead 6-4. The orchids then got another one to lead 8-6 at the break.

A minute into the second period and PNG was in again. Canada was tiring and PNG's conditioning started to count. Canada battled bravely on defence but the Orchids were slicker out wide and ran away with it at the end. The scoreline didn't reflect the efforts but it did the quality.

Australia 72-0 Cook Is.

The Jillaroos were the favourites here and indeed for the tournament. They soon stamped their authority on proceedings and the Moana were struggling to get hold of the ball and apply any pressure on the opposition. They did manage some time on the Jillaroos line late in the half but it ended up 32-0 to Australia.

The second half started with the Cook Is missing a gilt edged chance to score. Normal transmission then resumed and the Jillaroos ran out comfortable winners. 

New Zealand 46-0 France.

The Kiwi Ferns were hot favourites but were clunky initially and the game was surprisingly even. NZ took the lead after 24 minutes with a try out wide. As the half progressed the Kiwis looked more likely while the few chances France worked hard for didn't threaten much. Half time score was 20-0.The second period was as expected although France toiled and kept the score somewhat respectable. 

Widnes Vikings League Placings : 2000-24

With promotion and relegation in UK Rugby league, teams can have a patchy record in the top flight. A few simply haven't done enough to figure in this series but the Widnes Viking just made the cut. A club with a fine legacy has fallen somewhat in recent times. From the mid 70's to the early 90's it was one of the best.

It fell out of the top flight in 1995 but returned in 2002. That year it was one place short of a finals berth but from there it was a steady decline, ending with relegation in 2005. Neil Kelly had taken charge in 2001 and was Super League coach of the year in 2002 but had to go due to the deteriorating on-field results. Frank Endacott stepped in for the 2005 season but to no avail.

Denis Betts came to the club with it in the second division Championship and while they got the wooden spoon in 2012, they were spared the drop because promotion-relegation wasn't operational at that time. By 2017, a system known as the Qualifiers was being used and although coming last in the league that year, survived the drop. It wasn't as fortunate in 2018, unable to stave off relegation in the playoffs. 

Francis Cummins took charge for the last nine games of the 2018 season but couldn't save them. Early in 2019, the club went into administration and while narrowly avoiding liquidation had 12 points deducted as a penalty. The club is nowhere near getting back into Super League in the foreseeable future. 

RL; The Evolving Game

France took to RL c 1934 and by the outbreak of WW II, were a top international team. That couldn't happen today. Looking at some of the rules (many before my time) showed what a different game it was. I'm not a rules nerd but try to keep up. So as I see it:

After the war the game had zero to five yard defensive lines, depending on rule changes over time. No replacements became two for injuries. There was no limit on tackles, you only lost possession for rule breaches. The game was slower, the impacts less intense.

Over the years ten metre defensive lines, limited tackle, four rotating replacements, six again calls. The game is super fast, players need to be fit, muscled and think very quickly. It works in a pro comp but doesn't work when sides are mismatched as evidenced in WC internationals. Pitting full time athletes against part time and amateur players is producing one sided score lines and few if any upsets. 

The solution: In horse racing they have a handicap system but I can't see that being adopted in RL. So I'd propose two WC divisions, each of eight teams with promotion / relegation between them. Putting Jamaica up against NZ or Greece against Samoa isn't right.

Summary: RL rules have evolved over time to suit a pro comp. They are then used in internationals but they are not designed for such uneven playing rosters. Even a moderate difference in standard can quickly blow out a to huge, lopsided score line. The WC was once played by fewer sides with closer matches. The desire to bring more teams in like other codes is good, but it doesn't work in a game which rewards superiority to an extreme degree. 

World Cup 2021 : Round Three (Mens)

The Third round of the RL WC 2021 has nearly been completed. I've been watching closely and here are my candid observations which I will share. Some games are still to be played, updated soon.

Group A:

England 94-4 Greece. 

Greece had an amazing journey to get here but was no chance. However, a clunky England and a polished Greece effort had the score only 10-4 to England after 20 minutes. Then England got into gear and the scoreline raced to 44-4 by half time. 

Greece was brave but part timers and amateurs were always going to struggle with the pace of the game and the final score reflected that. Not a perfect game by England and next week(s) will test them. 

Samoa 62-4 France.

Could the French team put off an upset against a disappointing Samoa? The latter started better and took an early 16-0 lead. France came back but couldn't convert anything into points. Then Samoa came back and suddenly the half time score of 28-0.  

The second half didn't change anything, France showing little penetration and Samoa turning both chances and half chances into points. The scoreline didn't reflect the effort France put in but the modern game is ruthless like that.

Group B: 

Australia 66-6 Italy. 

Another big victory on the cards but it was 'only' 20-0 after the first 30 minutes. Then a couple of tries on half time had it blow out to 30-0 at the turn around. The UK ref was in awe of the Kangaroos as usual.

The second half was a continuance with Italy scoring a slick try. The ref continued with his 'never give the lesser side an even break' mentality. I sped through some of the second half due to that. Italy worked hard and deserved better officiating. 

Fiji 30-14 Scotland. (Picture above).

A comfortable win for Fiji Bati was on the cards, a slippery ground perhaps a bit of a leveler. The scoreline of 12-4 to Fiji after 30 minutes and 18-8 at the break was a nice surprise for the Bravehearts. With better goal kicking for Scotland...

Scotland having a player sin binned for an accidental high hit cost them. With 15 minutes to go, the score was an amazing 24-14 and as the game started to get feisty one from each side was sin binned. Scotland have been so poor this tournament but this was a level or two up for them. Fiji didn't seem to cope so well with the wet conditions. 

Group C: 

Lebanon 74-12 Jamaica. 

The less fancied Jamaica started brightly but once the Cedars got hold of the ball, they were slick. They led 30-0 at the quarter mark as Jamaica's defensive frailties were harshly exposed. Jamaica expertly regained the ball from their numerous kick offs but their attacking forays were effectively dealt with. 

Lebanon had a player sin binned at the end of the first half for a cheap shot. 42-0 at the half time hooter.

Lebanon took off their leading player for the second stanza with an eye on next week. Despite being a player down, Lebanon was still in control. Then suddenly a length of the field try got the Reggae Warriors on the scoreboard. They got another too but unfortunately for them kept conceding

New Zealand 48-10 Ireland. 

The Kiwis were hot favourites but for the first 15 minutes it was the Wolfhounds that lead, albeit by two points. Five minutes later it was 10-2 to NZ. After 30 minutes it was 16-6 so not the score most expected. 24-6 was the turn around score.

The Kiwis took control, helped by some 'kindly' calls by the referee and Ireland having some head injuries reducing their bench. 44-6 with about a quarter of the match to play looked ominous. However, a clunky NZ effort limited the damage. 

The sport is supposed to be cleaning up itself regarding head shots, but this game showed its resolve - at this tournament at least - on this is unacceptably feeble.

Group D: 

Tonga 92-10 Cook Is. 

The favoured Tongan team scored quickly but then a 'try' to the Kukis was denied which I thought it was OK. Anyway, Tonga stamped their authority on the game and the scores were soon rattling up. 52-0 at the half way point!

The second half had the Kukis getting a few points but they couldn't handle the Tongan forwards throughout and paid the price. The Cook Is coach said they just didn't turn up and apologised for the performance. 

PNG 36-0 Wales. 

PNG wanted to confirm their place in the next round with Wales an outside chance with a big score win. The rain poured down, making handling difficult. Still, PNG soon showed their class while Wales struggled to put pressure on their opponent. By half time, it was 24-0 to the Kumuls with Wales looking naive at times.

The second half was better for Wales but I don't know how long the game would have to been played for them to score. Solid defence by PNG and clunky attack by Wales ensured PNG didn't concede.

World Cup 2021 : Round Two (Mens)

The second round of the RL WC 2021 has nearly been completed. I've seen every match in full and have a few observations to share. 

Group A:

England 42-18 France. 

The hosts were hot favourites against a youthful France and were up 18-0 in quick time. Then France got a roll on and turned opportunities into points. The 18-12 half time score was a surprise although I never felt France had enough to win.

The second half started like the first with England taking control but France was playing with more belief despite falling behind on the scoresheet. England won't win the WC against the top sides on that performance and France has a chance to make the next round on theirs.

Samoa 72-4 Greece.

A star studded Samoa was hurting after a shocking defeat, taking on a team at their first World Cup. It didn't look good for Greece. After 5 minutes it was 12-0 to the island team and it looked like this was going to be an embarrassment. Thankfully, the scoring didn't maintain that momentum but I found it a hard watch.

For the first ten minutes of the second period not only was Samoa unable to score but Greece got a very good try! But then normal service was resumed. I must say the Greek players were gutsy and showed some enterprise.

Group B: 

Australia 84-0 Scotland. This was always going to be a one sided contest. Scotland looked a very ordinary squad against Greece and here they were coming up against one full of skill and ruthlessness. So it proved as Australia scored a point a minute up to half time. I was picking a century score as Scotland would tire. 

The second half continued the one sided affair. However, Scotland played their 'best' in the last fifteen minutes which scuttled the ton being achieved. 

Fiji 60-4 Italy. 

Fiji had the much more experienced roster so a big ask for Italy. Two mistakes from the Azzurri and a good kick chase by Fiji had them three tries up and ahead 18-0 after 15 minutes. A late shot by a Fijian player deserved time on the sideline but substandard officiating kept him on the pitch. It ended up 30-0 at the change around.

The match was more open in the second period and Fiji showed their flare. Then after 15 minutes, Italy scored a slick try but any hope of a fight back didn't materialise as the Azzurri were tiring. Another late Fijian cheap shot only resulting only in a penalty. Player protection?

Group C: 

Lebanon 32-14 Ireland. 

A close encounter was expected and much riding on the outcome. An Irish win and it was bye-bye to the Cedars. The first 20 minutes were tight, but ten minutes later, it was 20-0 to Lebanon. Lebanon was effectively ball stealing in the tackle. Both sides had a player sin binned as they left the field for half time after one of a few skirmishes. 20-4 was the halftime score. 

The Wolfhounds started the second period the better side and at the 50 minute mark it was 20-10. Lebanon regrouped and pulled away. The Cedars were more polished and clinical, while the Wolfhounds were passionate but less controlled.

New Zealand 68-6 Jamaica. 

This was a David v Goliath confrontation. The Kiwis didn't disappoint with an 18-0 lead in 20 minutes,  poor goal kicking keeping the score lower than it could have been. Despite that, NZ lead 34-0 at the break.

Jamaica came out and again tried so hard, their short kick off game was amazing but their tactical kicking was abysmal. The last try going to the Reggae Warriors was a highlight. (Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Pic above) had a fine game.

Group D: 

Tonga 32-6 Wales. 

Tonga is one of the favourite teams against a side mainly of part timers. It could only have one outcome and at first, all Wales could do was defend. Then Wales took a surprise lead and at the quarter mark, they lead 6-0. It was proving to be a surprisingly even contest. Tonga seemed a bit flat but they took full advantage of some mistakes late in the half and lead 16-6 at the turnaround. 

The second period was again a gutsy effort from Wales but their mistakes and poor options on attack meant it was about how they could keep the score respectable. The scoreline flattered Tonga although they were clearly the better side. The first ever female World Cup ref did a decent job but like all refs at the tournament, the lesser sides haven't been given any favours.

PNG 32-16 Cook Is. 

PNG were the favourites but having no luck with decisions in the last game, it was a must win match for them. The Kukis were into the quarter finals with a victory. Unexpectedly then, the first half was a tight affair. PNG were slightly on top but lost a man for ten minutes and that gave the Cooks a leg up. The score at the break was 10-8 to PNG.

PNG came out of the blocks and took control of the game by opening up a handy lead. The Kukis never gave up but couldn't go with the Kumuls. 

Palau XIII Broncos League Placings : 2000-23

Palau XIII Broncos hasn't been featuring in the Elite 1 top flight much in the 21st century but its recent efforts at playing at this level deserve recognition. It is based at Palau-del-Vidre in the Occitanie region and switched from the XV man code in 1952. While it is optional to be promoted in the French Rugby league, they took the plunge in the 2013-14 season. For a small club, a brave move indeed.

I would like to talk about all the historical victories at the top of the game in France, but the club's success has come in lower divisions when winning lower grade league titles. That makes their current status at the top all the more meritorious. I hope than sustain their place viably and without putting themselves at too much financial risk. It has the smallest budget of top flight teams.

It withdrew voluntarily from the top flight Elite One after the 2020-21 season so its brief stay at the top ended with solid results for a club on a tight budget.  

World Cup 2021 : Round One (Mens)

The first round of the RL WC 2021 has been completed. I've seen every match in full and have a few observations to share. 

Group A:

England 60-6 Samoa. For a game that was supposed to have the island nation as favourites (never by me I'll add), it turned out very differently. 

The half time score of 18-6 to the host nation meant it was still there for either side to take. However, England took control and Samoa fell apart under the pressure. The scoreline was a surprise.

France 34-12 Greece. France has a long history in the game and Greece is relatively new. The former is rebuilding its reputation and the latter has only recently become legalised after a bizarre governmental ban. 

France took control and led 20-0 at the break but Greece battled hard and scored a couple of tries while not letting the scoreline get too much away from them. Greece surprised many with its effort while France will need to up their game to get through to the knock out stage.

Group B: 

Australia 42-8 Fiji. Australia are the favourites and while they comfortably won the match, they weren't at their best. Fiji were galant but short on quality. Fiji scored first but Australia came back to lead 18-4 by half time. In the second half the Kangaroos were always in control  

Italy 28-4 Scotland. This was a tough one to predict but Italy was polished and Scotland clunky. The Azzurri led 12-0 after the first stanza and went on with the job, effectively shutting out their opponents until conceding a late try. 

Group C: 

Ireland 48-2 Jamaica. Ireland had more quality in its squad and that showed. From the get go Ireland was on top and comfortably led 18-2 when the sides changed ends. They added another 30 unanswered points in the second forty. Jamaica showed plenty of heart but that wasn't enough against some classy opponents. 

New Zealand 34-12 Lebanon. The Kiwis were clear favourites but Lebanon always proves to be a tricky outfit and this was no different. Short kick offs worked for them and they soon led. The NZ side came back and led 18-6 at half time. Another brisk start by Lebanon and it was 18-12 but then the Kiwis turned it up a notch and pulled away. 

Group D: 

Tonga 24-18 PNG. Tonga had the much stronger roster but never got on top. The game was close throughout although the 18-6 half time score may have looked otherwise. PNG bombed a certain try down the touchline which would have had it 18-12. 

PNG took the game to their more fancied opponents and got to 18-18 and should have been ahead but for a try being ruled out which seemed OK to me. A last gasp try after an amazing sequence of passing got Tonga a late winner. 

Cook Is 18-12 Wales. The Cook Is team had many pro players while Wales was almost exclusively part timers. However, the Welsh side defied their status and their well drilled and disciplined style unsettled their adversaries. By half time Wales were surprised leaders 12-8.

In the second half the Cook Is team upped their game, played in a controlled manner and kept the Welsh side pinned in their own half. At around the three quarter point, two quick tries had the Island nation ahead 18-12 and looking like pulling away. However, the arm wrestle resumed, with Wales having a chance at the end to tie the match but they came up short. An absorbing contest. 

Picture source: SkySport.

World Cup Draw : 2021

I've bumped forward this article written some time back. Due to a postponement, it was been put back a year but it's starting in a few days. To see a detailed article click here. It also shows towards the bottom which media outlets you can watch matches through. I'm planning to sign up with Spark Sport in New Zealand. 

Now for the older article:

The draw was made by Prince Harry, the patron of the Rugby Football League. It took place at Buckingham Palace with the Prince alongside Dame Katherine Grainger DBE (former Olympic rowing champion) and Jason Robinson OBE (former Rugby League player). It covers men's, women's and wheelchair competitions.

	Men's World Cup
	Group A	England	Samoa	France	Greece
	Group B	Australia	Fiji	Scotland	Italy
	Group C	NZ	Lebanon	Jamaica	Ireland
	Group D	Tonga	PNG	Wales	Cook Is
	Women's World Cup
	Group A	England	Brazil	PNG	Canada
	Group B	Australia	NZ	France	Cook Is
	Wheelchair World Cup (Men)
	Group A	England	Australia	Spain	Norway
	Group B	France	Wales	Scotland	USA

In the men's draw, Jamaica is a surprise package, qualifying ahead of the USA and Canada. So too is Greece, where the game is severely hampered at home by authorities. Hopefully, qualifying will help the situation there. 

For the women, Brazil is new to the game and the dark horse for that tournament. As for the Wheelchair games, it's nice to see three non-traditional sides there in Norway, Spain and the USA.