Rugby League World Cup 2013: The standout moments

Best team Australia

Tim Sheens’ side deserved to return to the world summit after some scintillating displays. With the exception of England‘s effort in the opening game, no team came close to matching them. The Kangaroos scored 244 points and conceded just four in five matches, producing slick and decisive attacks with relentless ease and simply overawed New Zealand in the final, going 404 minutes without conceding a try. Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris topped the try-scoring charts with nine apiece, while Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Sam Thaiday and Cooper Cronk all played pivotal roles. Yet led by Cameron Smith, Australia were more than a collection of talented individuals.

Best player Sam Burgess England

One of three brothers in Steve McNamara‘s squad, he was a colossus throughout. Burgess may have been guilty of a wild challenge on Sam Thaiday in the opening game that resulted in a one-match suspension, yet while the Australian press labelled him a “thug”, the 24-year-old simply sat out the game against Ireland and came back more determined to make an impact. His brother George showed glimpses of why he is rookie of the year, yet Sam Burgess was at the heart of England’s campaign. An almighty force with ball in hand, he had looked to have sealed the hosts’ place in the final with a try against New Zealand. A future captain?

Best try Roger Tuivasa-Sheck NZ v Eng

This was a try of epic proportions. A finer passage of play you are unlikely to see in any game across either code. For England, it was a sucker punch, having taken an early lead in the semi-final, but Tuivasa-Sheck’s first effort of the match simply had to be applauded. On the last play of the set, New Zealand somehow transferred the ball from left to right, feeding in Dean Whare on the wing. Whare then produced a moment of magic, reverse-passing the ball to Tuivasa-Sheck when his entire body was flying into touch. Tuivasa-Sheck still had to bundle his way over the line. Whare, though, was the real hero.

Best game New Zealand 20-18 England

A thriller, a heartbreaker, or both, depending on your perspective. England bowed out in dramatic fashion, Shaun Johnson scoring with 20 seconds remaining and sending the resulting conversion over to secure the Kiwis a place in the final. This game had everything: brilliant tries, inspiring forward play and a mightily dramatic finish. The kind of match that leaves you breathless and exhilarated at the final whistle, albeit if the result left Wembley stunned and England fighting back the tears. There was a sense of bewilderment afterwards, but it was an honour to witness such an enthralling contest.

How did the public respond?

Ticket sales were extremely encouraging. There were seven stadium sell-outs and stadium records at Avignon, Huddersfield, Leigh and Perpignan, with the final attendance of 74,468 at Old Trafford an all-time high in international rugby league. The pre-tournament target was 500,000, and although the end figure for sales was 458,463, World Cup organisers claim that the target was always taking into account individual games for the double-headers at Cardiff and Wembley, rather than the event as a whole. In that case, the final figure surpassed 550,000, although critics would argue that both stadiums significantly emptied for the Wales v Italy and Fiji v Australia matches after the initial showpiece games.

Other highlights

There were plenty. The hakas, the hits and the hair-raising moments. The Fijians in Rochdale, Scotland‘s march to the quarter-finals and the USA‘s surprise run. Fiji sharing a prayer with their opponents at the final whistle, Sonny Bill Williams inexplicably running over the dead-ball line, Samoa’s comeback against the Kiwis in Warrington, there were a number of unforgettable moments during a tournament packed with colour and good-feeling between the competing nations.

Was it a success?

Undoubtedly. Following the disaster of 2000, this World Cup ran smoothly from start to finish. It spread the game away from league’s traditional heartland – 40% of tickets were purchased outside the north – while staying true to its roots at the same time. Premier Sports did a fine job broadcasting the tournament, while the BBC’s figures for England’s matches were encouraging. A peak audience of 2.3m tuned into the defeat to New Zealand, with 2.4m watching their opening game with Australia. More matches on the BBC would have improved the World Cup’s reach, but this may well be remembered as the competition that put international rugby league on the map.

What next?

Legacy is a word bandied around after every major sporting event, but if ever there was a time to build on the increased exposure of the game it is now. There is still a major disparity between the level of Australia, New Zealand, England and the remaining sides, but that should not stop the top teams playing regularly against each other. The Four Nations next year will be a start, on the road to the 2017 World Cup, but there needs to be regular internationals for England against their southern hemisphere rivals. Keeping the many fans who have only recently watched their first league game interested must also be a priority. Perhaps the key is a strong London Broncos team, although that is some way away.

Article source: http://www.fanatix.com/news/new-zealand-v-france-rugby-union-match-preview-and-live-streaming/123234/

Rugby League World Cup 2013: The standout moments