Kangaroos cruise into final
November 16, 2008

AUSTRALIA did what was expected - and for much of the time as they pleased - in trouncing Fiji 52-0 at the Sydney Football Stadium to advance to a World Cup final against New Zealand.

Despite some willing and at times fiery second half defence from the unheralded Bati, the Kangaroos rarely got out of first gear as they ran in ten unanswered tries in one of the most anti-climactic semi-finals in the history of professional rugby league.

Rarely has a side playing for a berth in a final been given less chance of victory before a ball had even been kicked than Fiji, their mix of NRL fringe players and park footballers no match for the world champions who flexed their muscles early before coasting home over the closing hour.

Billy Slater continued his sensational tournament with a hat-trick of tries to move to a tournament best of seven while Brent Tate also scored a first half double before leaving the field with a hip flexor injury that has him in doubt for next week's clash with the Kiwis.

Johnathan Thurston bagged a hat-trick which, along with his six conversions, completed a personal tally of 24 points.

Another Greg Inglis magic act and a Paul Gallen try after just 63 seconds completed the scoring for the home side.

The Bati needed just about everything to go their way if they were to even stay close to the Kangaroos, but a knock-on from just the second tackle of the match gave an early indication that a miracle wasn't on the cards.

It was ten minutes later until Fiji got to touch the ball again, by which stage the score was 16-0 with Tate's second in the 16th minute sending statisticians scurrying for the record books.

But Fiji, who had done remarkably well just to make it the final four ahead of more fancied sides such as Samoa and Tonga, ensured the match did not turn into an embarrassment as they added some discipline with the ball to some sting in defence.

The result was only one try, a Slater four-pointer in the corner, over the ensuing half hour, the Melbourne flyer completing his hattrick nine minutes after the restart to instigate another points spree over the closing stages of the contest.

Thurston took over with his three tries coming in the space of just ten minutes, Fiji denied a late try due to a questionable forward pass ruling, much to the disappointment of the enthusiastic Bati followers.

"It was a physical game and we're going to have some bruises tomorrow," skipper Darren Lockyer told the Nine Network.

"Full credit to Fiji and how far they have come in this tournament, the scoreboard didn't reflect the intensity of the tackles out there.

"Our defence is great at the moment and we are going to need to keep that standard next in the final against the Kiwis."

Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart said his side's blistering start was always going to make it tough for Fiji, though he admitted he had some concerns over Australia's relatively easy passage into the final.

"The last two weeks is probably not the ideal preparation in regards to playing a final against New Zealand, how we handle that is going to be the most important issue now," Stuart said.

"It was very hard for (Fiji) in that first segment of the game, we had five sets of six to their one tackle.

"Any football team will score tries if you've got five sets of six against one tackle."

Tate said he hadn't given up hope of taking on the Kiwis, the Warriors centre left ruing a cruel piece of luck which could see him miss his first game of the season.

"Hopefully it's just a cork," Tate said.

"I'm not even going to think about (missing the game) at the moment, I've played every game this year so hopefully he (Stuart) can give me every opportunity for next week."

The Fiji camp was thrilled with not only their best ever result against Australia, but also their best finish in a major tournament.

"We learn a lot of things from this game," coach Joe Dakuitoga said.

"Maybe you give us another ten years and we can compete with all these big nations."

Compounding the loss was news winger Akuila Uate was rushed to hospital after the game with a suspected broken ankle.