Dominance Downunder

Australia Advance

F. A. Loxton

After three dominant performances in the group stage, Australia faced one of their toughest challenges yet in a quarter-final against Lebanon. With the likes of Mitchell Moses, Adam Doueihi and Josh Mansour fired up for the Cedars, it would be no walk in the park for the stacked Kangaroos side.

The fixture’s first controversy came with Mal Meninga naming both Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary, in an alphabetical order 19-man extended squad just two days out. This resulted in Cleary being named halfback, ending a long run as the staple halfback after losing the captaincy earlier this year. Whilst Cherry-Evan’s is the far more experienced half, the back-to-back premiership-winning Cleary is the form choice; with an unmatched kicking game.

Now that the team was named, the stage was set, and with Australia still strong favourites, rumours of an upset were looming.

The Kangaroos, however, brought intensity from the opening tackle and outclassed the Cedars. In just the fourth minute Josh Addo-Carr went over in the corner, with the presence of Latrell Mitchell too great on a simple left-edge draw and pass, and the dominance of the Kangaroos continued throughout the opening half. Just ten minutes later, Tedesco’s footwork broke the Lebanon line off the ruck and with Addo-Carr backing up on the inside he secured a second meat pie for the night. Then, off the back of a Nathan Cleary kick, Cameron Munster stripped an isolated Jacob Kiraz and a simple flick pass let ‘the fox’ score a third try before the 20th minute.

This slow start from the Cedars left them down 14-0 with the fastest man on the field scoring a hat-trick and it only getting worse from there. Australia’s next try came from the same left edge with Latrell steamrolling Lebanon’s outside backs making it appear like they had fewer men on the field. This only continued with a 29th-minute-Cameron Murray try after a line break from Angus Crichton. The Cedars looked all but finished and needed someone to step up if there was a chance for a comeback.

After several more Kangaroos tries from Murray and Josh Addo-Carr, Lebanon was facing a 34-point deficit, but hope struck as the Australian skipper went off with a corked knee. 

Mitchell Moses took full advantage of this, putting a grubber behind the line for Josh Mansour to score, although this was the only glimpse of their pool stage form. Australia smothered them.

The final quarter of the game was once again an Australian highlight reel, with Harry Grant combining with Josh Addo-Carr for his fifth try of the match. Bringing him back to first place on tournament tries. 

Overall, Australia was beyond impressive in the quarter final. Their chemistry, power and speed seem to be unmatched, and with one of the most star-studded teams in history, it’s no wonder they are favourites to win it all. Saturday night’s win will see them face New Zealand for a spot in the grand finale, and with a long rivalry, critics are saying it will be the match of the tournament.