Kangaroos Crush Tonga 18-0, Eye Cohesion for Crucial Clash Against New Zealand
October 22, 2024Australia recently secured an 18-0 victory against Tonga, scoring three tries, but the team’s new combinations displayed signs of inconsistency due to limited practice time together.
The Australian spine, featuring Dylan Edwards, Tom Dearden, Mitchell Moses, and Harry Grant, continues to seek cohesion as they prepare for their next challenge.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has indicated that he is likely to keep the same spine for the upcoming match against New Zealand, emphasizing the importance of stability.
The Kangaroos are motivated to avenge last year's significant loss to New Zealand, aiming for improved attacking fluency in this crucial match.
A victory against New Zealand would secure Australia's spot in the final, which is scheduled for November 10 in Sydney.
Meninga praised Trbojevic and Tabuai-Fidow for their defensive performance in the centres, noting their readiness and mental preparation for the match.
Despite injury concerns, Trbojevic performed strongly, including scoring through a long-range interception.
He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining fluency with a bye week following the match against New Zealand.
Meninga believes maintaining the same spine is crucial for team cohesion and is cautious about making changes at this stage.
Tom Trbojevic and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow impressed as a centre pairing against Tonga, both contributing significantly to the team's success.
Summary based on 1 source
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Source
news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site • Oct 21, 2024
Meninga’s call on Kangaroos changes