Rabbitohs skipper, Greg Inglis, has helped Australia to a 16-0 win over New Zealand in the 2016 ANZAC Test by scoring one of the side’s three tries.
Playing in his 35th Test Match, the Rabbitohs fullback was heavily involved in proceedings, in part owing to his shift to the front line and the centres. In total, Inglis made 183 metres with the ball in hand, 10 tackles, seven tackle busts and two line-breaks.
The win didn’t come easy for the Aussies though in what was described as a scrappy affair by Kangaroos players that included an early sin-binning.
The Test drama started early when the Kiwis got themselves in prime attacking position, with a grubber-kick into the in-goal seeing Kevin Proctor come within an inch of scoring. The only thing stopping the forward from planting the pill down though was a professional foul from Kangaroos debutant, Semi Radradra. The winger was promptly sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes, seemingly putting all the early pressure on the Aussies.
But despite being reduced to 12 men, the Kangaroos showed no signs of concern, continuing with their game-plan, albeit it at reduced speed at the break-down in an attempt to wind-down the effects of the sin-binning.
By the 14th minute, the Kangaroos asserted their authority through fullback, Darius Boyd, who powered his way over in the corner to take an early four-point lead after a review from The Bunker.
Not long afterwards, a penalty to the Kangaroos right in front of the posts saw the Aussies take the opportunity to boot their way a further two points ahead through Johnathan Thurston to take the score out to 6-0.
An arm-wrestle ensued, but after some controlled touches by Australia, coupled with a number of penalties and repeat sets, Inglis found himself dummying and powering his way over the try-line with the ball in hand for his 28th Test try to make it 10-0.
The Kangaroos continued to dominate proceedings with two more scoring opportunities eventually being diffused by the Kiwis – the sides going to the break with the Aussies leading 10-0.
On the resumption, a late shot on Thurston from Sam Moa saw Cameron Smith kick his side a further two points ahead from short-range, placing the early second half pressure on the Kiwis who were by now 12-0 down.
The decision to take the two would prove correct with points difficult to come by in the second stanza thanks in part to some desperate defence from the Kiwis.
With just under a minute in the match remaining and with the Aussies on the attack, the green and gold’s shifted the ball wide to eventually land on the chest of Blake Ferguson, who raced into the corner to seal the match at 16-0.
Australia 16 (Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Blake Ferguson, tries; Johnathan Thurston 1, Cameron Smith 1, goals)
Defeated
New Zealand 0
