Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr
Rugby league-New Zealand dream of World Cup upset
By Greg Stutchbury
LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - New Zealand coach Frank Endacott said he didn't
even think about Australia before the rugby league World Cup began in
October.
However since last Sunday, Australia have been the only thing on the Kiwis'
minds as they began preparations for the final at Old Trafford, Manchester on
Saturday.
"None of us have spoken about them, till now," Endacott said after his
side's
49-6 semifinal victory over England last Saturday.
"All we spoke about was winning six games. That's five down, one to go."
New Zealand have cake-walked their way through the competition, scoring 309
points while conceding just 40 in their five games so far.
They thrashed Lebanon 64-0, the Cook Islands 84-10, and Wales 58-18 in pool
play before comfortably handing France a 54-6 thrashing in the quarter-finals
and demolishing England 49-6 in the semis.
But Australia represent a step up altogether and although the Kangaroos have
been full of praise for their neighbours this week, Endacott insists it is
his team who are the underdogs.
"There is no way we are favourites heading into the game," he said. "The
Aussies have been talking us up this week but we are having none of it.
"Sure we were dynamite (in the semi) but the way the Aussies performed
against the Welsh we are expecting a huge backlash and there's only one team
they'll be directing that at."
The Kiwis must also be mindful of the three dropped balls inside the English
20-metre area and Lesley Vainikolo's knock-on in goal which lost valuable
try-scoring chances.
Such opportunities against Australia will need to be taken.
The Kangaroos, dubbed "the Dream Team" by Australian Rugby League chief
executive Geoff Carr, and the 1-7 pre-tournament favourites, opened with a
22-2 victory over England at Twickenham before comfortably dispatching Fiji
66-8, and Russia 110-4 in pool play.
They then beat Samoa 66-10 before being shocked into action by a fired-up
Wales in the semifinal in Huddersfield, reaching halftime 20-14 down before
running out comfortable 46-22 winners.
Coach Chris Anderson said he expected the final to be close and the toughest
match of his two year rein as national coach.
"They are two quality sides who play some really good football," he said.
"It could go right down to the wire. They've gone through the competition
dominating sides physically and have played some really good football."
The World Cup desperately needs a close final after a tournament that has
featured too many one-sided games.
Endacott said last week that his team's biggest problem was that they had not
yet been pushed while Anderson was grateful for the Welsh wake-up call that
forced his players to dig deep for the first time.
The odds, while now reduced to 2-5, remain with Australia, who have won every
World Cup title to be contested since 1972 emerging triumphant in 1975, 1977,
1988, 1992 and 1995.
It is only the second time the Kiwis have made the final, the first was in
1988, where the Wally Lewis-led Australian side blitzed to a 25-12 victory.
And while New Zealand were thrashed 52-0 the last time the two teams met, in
the ANZAC test in April, the New Zealanders are not dwelling on it.
"It hasn't been mentioned," Endacott said.
"All we care about is this game. We have beaten Australia in 1997, 1998 and
1999. Why not 2000?"
mp
20:12 11-23-00
Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited.
Pat Noble
Always interested in your Carrs. Don't forget to visit:
< <A
HREF="http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=...
Carr Database at <</A><A
HREF="http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=...
WorldConnect Project </A>
http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=pnoble66