2017 World Cup Week 5: Teams and Game Day

[greeneyed]

Holmes scores six as Australia thumps Fiji

Valentine Holmes become the first Australian to score six tries in a Test as the Kangaroos advanced to the World Cup final with a 54-6 win over Fiji on Friday night in Brisbane.

Holmes's stunning return came on the back of his five-try performance against Samoa last week, as the Kangaroos ran away with a 10-tries-to-one victory.

Australia 54 (Holmes 6, Slater 2, Gagai 2 tries; Smith 7 goals) def. Fiji 6 (Vunivalu try, Koroisau goal) at Suncorp Stadium. Half-time score: 22-2. Crowd: 22,073.

Read more: http://www.nrl.com/holmes-scores-six-as ... fault.aspx

Australia v Fiji: Five key points: http://www.nrl.com/australia-v-fiji-fiv ... fault.aspx

Ill-discipline costs Fiji: http://www.nrl.com/ill-discipline-costs ... fault.aspx

No Test retirement plans for Smith: http://www.nrl.com/no-test-retirement-p ... fault.aspx

Morgan the master on the big stage: http://www.nrl.com/morgan-the-master-on ... fault.aspx

[the bone]

22,000 is a pathetic crowd for a World Cup semi final. I thought Brisbane was the new heartland of rugby league?

[BJ]

I remember that Asian cup game well the atmosphere was nuts

Only difference was there were no corporate boxes sold for it, so that may factor into the numbers

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The problem with the corporate box and small unavailable sections of the Meninga stand only account for up to 2000 attendees.

The other missing 5000 comes up from approximately every 5th seat being empty if you look closely at the crowd in the video.

In The Australia France game 3 weeks ago whole bays were empty or maybe 10% full at best.

Anyone who wants to claim the advertised crowds for the rugby league World Cup have been accurate can buy my old Camry off me for a million and claim some additional bonus money from the ACT government for meeting the 6000 non Australia games and 12000 Australia game KPI.

[cat]

the games have been poorly attended due to 2 main factors

1. the ticket prices, (and lack of advertising) , compare the pair , A raiders home game is what $50 for a grandstand ticket? These were $75. Raiders game you are emotionally invested in the team, you get on most occasions 2 games if you want to come early, you like most if not all the players, you at least know them, you get the viking clap, interviews with past players etc

The test game, you get 1 game, you are not so emotionally invested in the outcome, you hate some of the players, you dont know others, you get no real extra entertainment,

so what do you get for your extra $25??


2. the Australian team in particular wasn't the best team to draw in fans, most people don't like them!

[The Greenhouse]

Welcome to our coverage of today’s World Cup semi final between Tonga and England. Kick off is at 4pm AEDT, 6pm NZDT. Broadcast on 7mate. England and Tongs are 1-17.

Tonga
1 Will Hopoate
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Michael Jennings
4 Konrad Hurrell
5 David Fusitu'a
6 Tui Lolohea
7 Ata Hingano
8 Andrew Fifita
9 Siliva Havili
10 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
11 Manu Ma'u
12 Sika Manu (c)
13 Jason Taumalolo
14 Sione Katoa
15 Peni Terepo
16 Tevita Pangai Jnr
17 Ben Murdoch-Masila

18 Sam Moa
19 Manu Vatuvei

England
1 Gareth Widdop
2 Jermaine McGillvary
3 Kallum Watkins
4 John Bateman
5 Ryan Hall
6 Kevin Brown
7 Luke Gale
8 Chris Hill
9 Josh Hodgson
10 James Graham
11 Sam Burgess
12 Elliott Whitehead
13 Sean O'Loughlin (c)

14 Alex Walmsley
15 Tom Burgess
16 Ben Currie
17 James Roby

[Green eyed Mick]

the games have been poorly attended due to 2 main factors

1. the ticket prices, (and lack of advertising) , compare the pair , A raiders home game is what $50 for a grandstand ticket? These were $75. Raiders game you are emotionally invested in the team, you get on most occasions 2 games if you want to come early, you like most if not all the players, you at least know them, you get the viking clap, interviews with past players etc

The test game, you get 1 game, you are not so emotionally invested in the outcome, you hate some of the players, you dont know others, you get no real extra entertainment,

so what do you get for your extra $25??


2. the Australian team in particular wasn't the best team to draw in fans, most people don't like them!

I don't know a single NSW supporter who has been watching Australia. On TV the commentary is a Smith / Slater circle jerk seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are up against NSW cup footballers.

[greeneyed]

Just half an hour to kick off! What a sight Mt Smart Stadium is, full of Tongan supporters!

[The Greenhouse]

Teams out on the park for the warm up, nor far away from match time. This should a cracking match! Stadium bathed in red and white, but not red and white of England. Great atmosphere.

[The Greenhouse]

What a sight the Stadium is! And there were people saying no one cares about the World Cup! Outstanding turn out, a sell out. And now here come the teams. They walk out side by side. Wow, look at the flags! Astonishing stuff.

[The Greenhouse]

Now the national anthems. First God Save the Queen. Now the Tongan anthem. That was amazing. The King of Tonga is in attendance.

[The Greenhouse]

The Sipi Tau comes next. Incredible atmosphere, just incredible!

[Johno]

Good if the crowd waited till after the cultural challenge thwn went nuts.

Players perform the challenge, with the mics would sound awesome, at the end the Tongans go awol

[The Greenhouse]

Here comes the kick off, Tonga start it, England have the ball in the first set!

[The Greenhouse]

2nd min England get the first penalty, Daniel Tupou pushes an England player out of the way, chasing the ball.

[The Greenhouse]

4th min Great opportunity for England, making the best of a Gale kick that was under pressure... but regathered by McGillvary, but the offload goes to Tonga.

[The Greenhouse]

10th min Great break from Widdop... Gale’s kick to the corner forces David Fusitu’a to take the ball over the touch line.

TRY ENGLAND to Jermaine McGillvary. They pass it wide from the scrum win and Widdop creates the overlap. Widdop converts, hits the post and it bounces through.

England 6-0

[The Greenhouse]

14th min James Graham down... but it’s a legal tackle. He plays on.

[Manchild]

No no no no no **** no. Please no.

[The Greenhouse]

15th min Sensational attack from Tonga, but they’re penalised for passing off the ground... the final pass! Lolohea puts in motion.

Now Hodgson makes a great run... but he’s got a left knee problem, the result of the tackle. He’s on his feet... Penalty to England.

[Manchild]

Pheeew i think he was just milking.

[The Greenhouse]

16th min Going to video... the referee has called an England no try to Widdop. Double movement. No... the tackle was broken. It’s going to be overturned. Correctly. TRY ENGLAND. Widdop converts his own try. Good work Whitehead in the lead up.

England 12-0

[Johno]

Tongan hand is on him as his ball carrying arm touches the ground

[The Greenhouse]

24th min Hodgson down again with the left knee problem. Being strapped. He’s played very well, but he is coming off!

[cat]

lets go tonga, dont want to see any more raiders knees go!!

[BadnMean]

Big team getting all the 60/40 calls even as usual.

Hodgo strained it and then kept playing til it snapped.

[The Greenhouse]

31st min Sensational tackle from David Fusitu'a to stop an England try. Had to be made, or it was four points. Hodgson back on the bench, and may come back.

[CJR]

Ban international league. If Hodgsons ACL is done I’m going to write some strongly worded emails


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[CJR]

31st min Sensational tackle from David Fusitu'a to stop an England try. Had to be made, or it was four points. Hodgson back on the bench, and may come back.

Okay that’s good news. I hope he sits on the bench to be honest. Need him fit!


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[cat]

hodgo can stay on the bench, anyone got superglue to prevent him coming back?

[Johno]

Those links a while back to Lolohea.... so happy they weren't correct.

[The Greenhouse]

37th min Sam Burgess misses a big opportunity... Tonga just get a hand to the pass before he can take it. Would have scored if he could take the pass.

Now Gale spills it under pressure of good Tongan defence.

England 12-0

HALF TIME

[dubby]

I dont like this dare ad. Some angry old bloke with a pot belly bleating about.

His product is bad, and he should feel bad

[The Greenhouse]

We’re back underway in the second half.

[The Greenhouse]

44th min Certain try for Tonga goes begging. Daniel Tupou puts it down, line wide open out wide.

England 12-0

[Johno]

We struck gold signing Whitehead