New South Wales Rugby

Australia A fall just short in Pacific Nations Cup decider

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Sunday, 6 July 2008
ARU Media Release

The match, played in superb conditions, saw some late changes to the Maori line up just before kick off with Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton a late withdrawal and Hoani MacDonald coming into the starting XV. Isaac Ross taking MacDonald's place on the bench.

In good news for the Maori the Crusaders Ben May had recovered from his virus and was included in the starting line up with the Blues Bronson Murray dropping to the bench. There was also a positional switch with captain Liam Messam moving to No.8 and the Hurricanes Thomas Waldrom moving to open side flanker.

The Maori made excellent use of the conditions early swinging the ball wide with a promising attack cut down from a strong tackle from Western Force fullback Drew Mitchell.

Australia A then enjoyed a good spell of possession and it seemed that Queensland Reds winger Digby Ioane would score after a long pass from inside centre Timanu Tahu but the smothering Maori defence stopped him inches short.

Then from a Maori mistake at a line out close to their line Australia A were given a scrum five metres out. No.8 Leroy Houston did well to retain possession at the scrumbase before a long ball from flyhalf Daniel Halangahu to captain Morgan Turinui saw Australia A threaten,

Turinui fed a quick short pass inside to Tahu who outpaced the cover to score 15 metres in from touch. Halangahu added the conversion to put Australia A up 7-0 after ten minutes.

The Maori had a chance to equalise soon after when flyhalf Bruce Callum sliced straight through the Australia A defence but his pass inside to MacDonald went to ground on the Australian 22.

The game ebbed and flowed through the next 15 minutes with the influence of the Sevens player in the Maori squad showing through in the hi-tempo and ball movement from the visitors but poor execution by both sides saw a number of chances go begging.

The Maori had a chance to get on the board in the 31st minute with a penalty attempt from Bruce from 40 metres out but the kick sailed narrowly wide.

But soon after a good touch finder from Bruce saw a line out just metres out from Australia A's line. The Maori disrupted the Australian throw in and several phases later, a quick ball from the base of the ruck saw Tanerau Latimer stroll over untouched next to the posts. Hurricanes scrumhalf Piri Weepu converted to even the scores up at 7-all.

The Maori had another chance minutes later when a quick line out throw from Ioane went astray. Australia A recovered but the Maori were in a minute later after a quick ruck ball saw Messam show surprising speed to cut through the Australia A defence and gallop thirty metres to score.

Weepu again converted to take the Maori to the half time 14-7 in front.

At half time Australia A coach Phil Mooney brought on Waratahs utility Sam Norton-Knight for Halangahu and Queensland Reds flanker Hugh McMeniman, who had flown in from Brisbane in the morning where he was a replacement for the Wallabies against France the previous evening, for Houston.

The changes seem to invigorate Australia A who dominated possession in the first ten minutes of the second half leading to two penalty goals to Brumbies winger Mark Gerrard, to bring the hosts within one point at 14 - 13.

With half an hour to go Mooney again went to the bench bringing on young Queensland Reds scrumhalf Ben Lucas for the Waratahs Brett Sheehan.

AustraliaA hooker Sean Hardman went to the blood bin soon after with young Brumbies hooker John Ulugia given his chance.

Australia A were then given a chance to go in front with a penalty for obstruction 43 metres out but the attempt from Gerard faded just to the left.

Mitchell then left the field with a leg injury to be replaced by Waratahs utility back Matt Carrraro, with Gerrard going to fullback.

Ioane continued to torment the Maori defence showing incredibly strong leg drive and upper body strength and one run led to an attacking line out metres from the Maori line with twenty minutes to go.

The ball was swung to the right and then came back to the left and just when it seemed to have broken down Tahu stayed on his feet to somehow weave his way through three Maori tacklers and score a miraculous second try to put Australia A back in front 18-14. Gerrard was unsuccessful with the conversion.

Weepu had a chance to bring the Maori within one point two minutes later but his penalty attempt from wide out, forty metres from the line, hit the upright with McMeniman acting quickly to save a dangerous situation from the rebound.

The Maori then received a contentious penalty from a late hit by Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin, pushing the Maori deep in to Australia A territory. But a tighthead from the Australia A pack allowed Norton-Knigh tto clear well.

With seven minutes to go the Maori began to throw the ball from side to side, and aided by some ruck penalties awarded by Fijian referee James Bolabiu against Australia A when they were in possession, the visitors were given a late chance to snatch the game.

Hurricanes centre Tamati Ellison found a gap down the left hand side and then passed inside to Hurricanes flanker Thomas Waldrom who barged his way over between two Australia A defenders. Weepu then converted from wide out to put the Maori in front 21-18 with just two minutes to go.

Gerrard then had a final chance to draw the game and win the title for Australia A, after yet another penalty at the ruck against the attacking side, but his penalty attempt from 45 metres fell just short to give NZ Maori the Pacific Nations Cup title for 2008.

NZ Maori 21 (Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Thomas Waldrom tries; Piri Weepu 3 cons) d Australia A 18 (Timana Tahu 2 tries; Mark Gerrard 2 pens, Daniel Halangahu con) at the Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: NZ Maori 14-7. Referee: James Bolabiu (FIJ). Crowd: 8707.

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