2011 Anzac Test Explained

Year:2011
Anzac Test
Home:Australia
Away:New Zealand
Home Abbr:AUS
Away Abbr:NZL
Home Half1:10
Home Half2:10
Home Total:20
Away Half1:6
Away Half2:4
Away Total:10
Date:6 May 2011
Stadium:Skilled Park
Location:Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Attendance:26,301
Network:Nine Network
Commentators:Ray Warren
Commentators2:Phil Gould
Commentators3:Peter Sterling
Tournaments:Anzac Test
Last:2010
Next:2012

The 2011 ANZAC Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand on 6 May 2011 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast. Australia won their tenth straight Anzac test with a score of 20–10.

Pre-game

The game was originally scheduled to be played in AMI Stadium in Christchurch but was moved because of the damages from the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. However, 250 earthquake victims and volunteer workers were flown in for the match. to be commemorated.[1]

New Zealand were given a chance by some pundits considering that they had beaten Australia in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final and in the 2010 Four Nations. Winning the Anzac test was seen as the one achievement that alluded the New Zealand team. However, Australia went into the match as favorites, having won the last nine Anzac Tests and having never lost to New Zealand in an Anzac Test in Australia. The odds for an Australian win opened at $1.35 but dropped to $1.22 while New Zealand was paying $4.25.[2]

The New Zealand national anthem was performed by J.Williams.

Squads

AustraliaPositionNew Zealand
Fullback Lance Hohaia
Wing Matt Duffie
Centre Simon Mannering
Centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Wing Jason Nightingale
Darren Lockyer (c) Five-Eighth Benji Marshall (c)
Halfback Kieran Foran
Prop Sam Rapira
Hooker Nathan Fien
Prop
2nd Row Adam Blair
2nd Row Bronson Harrison
Lock Jeremy Smith
Interchange Issac Luke
Interchange Ben Matulino
Interchange Fuifui Moimoi
Kade SnowdenInterchange Lewis Brown
Coach Stephen Kearney

*Replaced originally selected David Shillington who withdrew due to injury.

Match summary

New Zealand were criticized after the game for their unforgiving error rate, most notably for a period in the second half where five consecutive New Zealand errors allowed Australia to score two tries to secure their win.[3] [4] New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney said after the game "It seems a bit same old, same old – but I know we're taking steps in the right direction. The effort of the guys to keep hanging in there was a real positive.' [5] New Zealand had at least proved that they could be competitive with Australia again.

External links

-28.0669°N 153.3789°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Earthquake victims fly in for Anzac test . 5 May 2011 . . 15 September 2011.
  2. Web site: Punters jump on Kangaroos . rleague.com . 2012-11-07.
  3. Web site: Another sombre Anzac Test for New Zealand . Barclay, Chris . 7 May 2011 . . 15 September 2011.
  4. Web site: Slater, handling errors sink Kiwis . Kilgallon, Steve . 6 May 2011 . . 15 September 2011.
  5. Web site: A loss but Kiwis are progressing – Kearney . Kilgallon, Steve . 7 May 2011 . . 15 September 2011.