2010 Anzac Test

The 2010 ANZAC Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand on 7 May 2010. The match coincided with the official opening of AAMI Park in Melbourne. The match was won by Australia with a score of 12–8.

2010 (2010) Anzac Test  ()
Australia
 New Zealand
12 8
12 Total
AUS 66 12
NZL 08 8
Date7 May 2010
StadiumAAMI Park
LocationMelbourne, Australia
Sam Thaiday
RefereesRichard Silverwood
Attendance29442
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

The teams

The squads for each side were announced on 2 May 2010.[1][2] The selectors for the Australian team made only five changes to the squad that won the final of the 2009 Four Nations. Three of those changes were due to injuries.[3] Notable among the selections was the omission of Brisbane Broncos centre Israel Folau. There had been rumours that Folau was considering moving to the Australian Football League or rugby union; however, the selectors insisted he had been dropped for form reasons. Manly centre Jamie Lyon was called up in Folau's place, and to act as goal-kicker due to Johnathan Thurston's injury-enforced absence.[4] Thurston, the incumbent Australian half back, missed the match with a shoulder injury. He was replaced in the position by Cooper Cronk.[5] Michael Weyman, a prop forward from the St. George Illawarra Dragons was the only member of the squad representing Australia for the first time.[6]

Australia Position New Zealand
Billy SlaterFullbackLance Hohaia
Brett MorrisWingSam Perrett
Greg InglisCentreJunior Sa'u
Jamie LyonCentreSteve Matai
Jarryd HayneWingJason Nightingale
Darren Lockyer (c)Five-eighthBenji Marshall (c)
Cooper CronkHalfbackKieran Foran
Petero CivonicevaPropFrank-Paul Nu'uausala
Cameron SmithHookerIssac Luke
David ShillingtonPropSam Rapira
Luke LewisSecond-rowBronson Harrison
Sam ThaidaySecond-rowZeb Taia
Paul GallenLockAdam Blair
Kurt GidleyBenchAaron Heremaia
Josh PerryBenchSika Manu
Anthony WatmoughBenchJared Waerea-Hargreaves
Michael WeymanBenchBen Matulino
Tim SheensCoachStephen Kearney

The New Zealand team included two debutants: Aaron Heremaia and Zeb Taia. Alex Glenn was named in the 18-man squad but was left out of the 17-man team.[7][8] One of the notable selections was 19-year-old Kieran Foran being named as half back for the first time:[7] Commentators predicted he would be the long-term incumbent in the position, with former Australian halfback Andrew Johns suggesting he could become the best player in the world.[9][10]

Opening of AAMI Park

The match was the first event to be held at Melbourne's AAMI Park, a rectangular stadium built for rugby league, rugby union and soccer in a city known for its preference for Australian rules football.[11] Despite having been officially sold out[12] wet conditions on the night meant an attendance of 29,442, which nearly satisfied the stadium's 30,050 capacity.[13][14] The opening ceremony featured the NRL's all-time highest point-scorer, Hazem El Masri kicking a goal.[15]

The National anthem of New Zealand was performed by Elizabeth Marvelly and the National anthem of Australia was performed by Katie Noonan.

Match details

The first half of the match was low-scoring, as wet conditions caused numerous ball-handling errors.[16] Australia took a 6–0 lead at half-time, after Brett Morris scored a try to add to an earlier penalty goal from Jamie Lyon. Morris' try was scored in the 39th minute of the first half and was the result of a grubber kick from Darren Lockyer.[16] Morris scored a second try shortly into the second half to make the score 12–0. Sam Thaiday set up the try with a flick pass as he was being pushed out of the field of play by New Zealand defenders.[16][17] New Zealand pulled back two unconverted tries through Jason Nightingale and Junior Sa'u; however, they were not able to make up the 12-point deficit, and Australia won the match 12–8.[17] The match was affected by wet conditions that forced more conservative play. After the match, New Zealand captain Benji Marshall claimed that his side was at least as good as the Australian team, citing that the difference in the scoreline was caused only by Australia's better goalkicking.[18] Australia's Sam Thaiday was named Man of the Match.[16]

Cameron Smith and Zeb Taia were both injured in the course of the match in tackles involving club teammates Adam Blair and Kurt Gidley respectively.[19]

Match summary

7 May 2010, 8:00pm

12 Australia
Tries 2 Morris (39', 48')
Goals 2/3 Lyon (32', 49')
Field Goals
8 New Zealand
Tries 1 Nightingale (68')
1 Sa'u (78')
Goals 0/2 Luke
Field Goals

Half Time: Australia 6 – 0

Man of the Match: Sam Thaiday

Referee: Richard Silverwood

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Attendance: 29,442

Scoring timeline

32nd – Australia 2–0 (Lyon penalty goal)
39th – Australia 6–0 (Morris try)
48th – Australia 12–0 (Morris try; Lyon goal)
68th – Australia 12–4 (Nightingale try)
78th – Australia 12–8 (Sa'u try)

See also

References
  1. "League: Kiwis squad named to play Australia". New Zealand Herald. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  2. Jancetic, Steve (2 May 2010). "Israel Folau out as Cooper Cronk and David Shillington named in Australia's side to play New Zealand". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. Brooks, Scott. "Preview: Kangaroos v Kiwis". Sportal. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  4. Honeysett, Stuart (3 May 2010). "Israel Folau snubbed by Test selectors". The Australian. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  5. deKroo, Karl; Rickets, Steve (3 May 2010). "Cooper Cronk replaces injured Thurston for Test". Courier-Mail. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  6. Jackson, Glenn; Paxinos, Stathi (3 May 2010). "It's old hands on deck for season's first Test". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  7. "Kearney Tips Foran for Bright Future". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  8. Marshall, Matt (7 May 2010). "Sheens ready for Kiwi onslaught". Herald Sun. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  9. Read, Brent (7 May 2010). "Gary Freeman says Kieran Foran has the class to cement position in NZ Test team". The Australian. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  10. Phelps, James (7 May 2010). "Foran – let me take NZ forward". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  11. Hand, Guy (8 May 2010). "AAMI Park the shape of things to come". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  12. AAP (2010-05-03). "Anzac Test officially a sell out". tvnz.co.nz. New Zealand: Television New Zealand Limited. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  13. Brown, Terry (8 May 2010). "Crowd roars for new star". Herald Sun. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  14. Reed, Ron (8 May 2010). "Bubbling with excitement on opening night". Herald Sun. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  15. Read, Brent (2010-05-08). "Kangaroos shine brightest against New Zealand". The Australian. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  16. "Roos hold off fast-finishing Kiwis". ABC Grandstand Sport. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  17. Jackson, Glenn (8 May 2010). "Inglis reigns supreme on new home turf". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  18. Massoud, Josh (8 May 2010). "Australia defeat New Zealand in Anzac Test". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  19. Walter, Brad (8 May 2010). "Tough season gets even worse for Smith". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
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