Samoa Back On Form As They Thrash Brave Greece

Two sides who were both defeated in the first pool round met in Doncaster as Samoa were massive favourites to score a decisive victory over a Greek side who fared well against the French last weekend.

Both coaches shuffled their packs, Samoa looking to put the nightmare of their heavy first round defeat at the hands of England last weekend, while Greece knew that an inaugural World Cup win was a distant hope. Flu had gone through the Greek ranks while Samoa lost a number of players to injury after last weekend.

Samoa were expected to win, it would be a disaster for them if they didn´t put in a convincing performance to go with the two points.

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Samoa Back On Form As They Thrash Brave Greece

Two sides who were both defeated in the first pool round met in Doncaster as Samoa were massive favourites to score a decisive victory over a Greek side who fared well against the French last weekend.

Both coaches shuffled their packs, Samoa looking to put the nightmare of their heavy first round defeat at the hands of England last weekend, while Greece knew that an inaugural World Cup win was a distant hope. Flu had gone through the Greek ranks while Samoa lost a number of players to injury after last weekend.

Samoa were expected to win, it would be a disaster for them if they didn´t put in a convincing performance to go with the two points.

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Tonga Beat Wales After Early Scare

Whatever else happened in the Tonga v. Wales game at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens, history would be made as a female referee, Kasey Badger from the NRL, took charge for the first time ever in a World Cup match.

Wales lost narrowly to Cook Islands in their opening game and knew that defeat today would effectively end their competition in the, so-called, group of death against a Tongan side who defeated Papua New Guinea by six points in their opening game.

Tonga were the clear favourites to win the first ever meeting between the two sides and were given a forty-six point handicap on the bookies coupon before kick-off. John Kear´s side had a mountain to climb to give themselves something to play for in their final game.

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Tonga Beat Wales After Early Scare

Whatever else happened in the Tonga v. Wales game at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens, history would be made as a female referee, Kasey Badger from the NRL, took charge for the first time ever in a World Cup match.

Wales lost narrowly to Cook Islands in their opening game and knew that defeat today would effectively end their competition in the, so-called, group of death against a Tongan side who defeated Papua New Guinea by six points in their opening game.

Tonga were the clear favourites to win the first ever meeting between the two sides and were given a forty-six point handicap on the bookies coupon before kick-off. John Kear´s side had a mountain to climb to give themselves something to play for in their final game.

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PNG Edge Towards Quarter Finals After Defeating Cook Islands

The group of death, group D, threw Papua New Guinea against the Cook Islands in what was effectively a shoot-out for second spot in the table. With the Cook Islands still having to play group leaders Tonga, and PNG with a final game against the weakest side in the group in Wales, the winner of today´s game would be in the best position to secure a quarter final encounter with the hosts England.

PNG were installed as the bookies favourites and were handicapped by sixteen points on the coupon but the Cook Islands were full of confidence after their win over Wales in the first round and came into the match knowing that a win would take them through.

The game had the potential to be a classic.

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PNG Edge Towards Quarter Finals After Defeating Cook Islands

The group of death, group D, threw Papua New Guinea against the Cook Islands in what was effectively a shoot-out for second spot in the table. With the Cook Islands still having to play group leaders Tonga, and PNG with a final game against the weakest side in the group in Wales, the winner of today´s game would be in the best position to secure a quarter final encounter with the hosts England.

PNG were installed as the bookies favourites and were handicapped by sixteen points on the coupon but the Cook Islands were full of confidence after their win over Wales in the first round and came into the match knowing that a win would take them through.

The game had the potential to be a classic.

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WOMEN BUILD UP TO WORLD CUP

Brazil’s Amazonas make their northern hemisphere rugby league debut tonight (Thursday) when they take on France at Featherstone, (kick off 7.30pm, local time) in a World Cup warm up game. The South Americans arrived yesterday and are keen to put their squad work into practice.  

“There is a diverse mix of sporting backgrounds among the group including jiu-jitsu and judo champions, previous Olympians, basketball players, dancers and football players who have made the switch to the 13-a-side game,“ noted Brazil team manager, Robert Burgin. “As Brazil and France won't meet in the group stages of the World Cup, we are viewing it as a historic fixture to launch our campaign from.”READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

WOMEN BUILD UP TO WORLD CUP

Brazil’s Amazonas make their northern hemisphere rugby league debut tonight (Thursday) when they take on France at Featherstone, (kick off 7.30pm, local time) in a World Cup warm up game. The South Americans arrived yesterday and are keen to put their squad work into practice.  

“There is a diverse mix of sporting backgrounds among the group including jiu-jitsu and judo champions, previous Olympians, basketball players, dancers and football players who have made the switch to the 13-a-side game,“ noted Brazil team manager, Robert Burgin. “As Brazil and France won't meet in the group stages of the World Cup, we are viewing it as a historic fixture to launch our campaign from.”READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Williams to lead England Men against Greece at Bramall Lane





England Head Coach Shaun Wane has confirmed George Williams as captain for Saturday’s historic Rugby League World Cup fixture against Greece at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
Williams, who captained England for the first time in their World Cup warm-up victory over Fiji earlier this month, takes over from Sam Tomkins, who is one of a number of players rested after appearing in the victories over Samoa and France which have already secured England’s quarter final place.
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Williams to lead England Men against Greece at Bramall Lane





England Head Coach Shaun Wane has confirmed George Williams as captain for Saturday’s historic Rugby League World Cup fixture against Greece at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
Williams, who captained England for the first time in their World Cup warm-up victory over Fiji earlier this month, takes over from Sam Tomkins, who is one of a number of players rested after appearing in the victories over Samoa and France which have already secured England’s quarter final place.
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New Zealand Into The Quarter Finals As Ireland Head for the Exit

With two wins already under their belt it would take something extraordinary for the world number one side New Zealand not to make it to the knock-out stages of the World Cup. That something extraordinary would start tonight with a twenty-nine point or more win for Ireland over the Kiwi´s and then end tomorrow with a massive win for Lebanon over Jamaica.

With Lebanon highly fancied to do the business tomorrow, Ireland knew that a loss tonight would signal their exit from the competition because of their round two defeat to the Cedars after disappointing their fans in the nature of the loss.

New Zealand were massive favourites with the bookies for a runaway win in the first ever encounter between the two sides, Ireland being given a forty-six point start on the coupon. The Wolfhounds really had nothing to lose.

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New Zealand Into The Quarter Finals As Ireland Head for the Exit

With two wins already under their belt it would take something extraordinary for the world number one side New Zealand not to make it to the knock-out stages of the World Cup. That something extraordinary would start tonight with a twenty-nine point or more win for Ireland over the Kiwi´s and then end tomorrow with a massive win for Lebanon over Jamaica.

With Lebanon highly fancied to do the business tomorrow, Ireland knew that a loss tonight would signal their exit from the competition because of their round two defeat to the Cedars after disappointing their fans in the nature of the loss.

New Zealand were massive favourites with the bookies for a runaway win in the first ever encounter between the two sides, Ireland being given a forty-six point start on the coupon. The Wolfhounds really had nothing to lose.

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England Slay the Greeks

With England already qualified for the knockout stages, and likely to finish at the top of the group, there was just the matter of despatching Greece in the remaining group stage game and sending them home pointless.

England coach, Shaun Wane, could be forgiven for resting some of his players for next weeks endeavours, but that´s not the way he rolls, and he named a string outfit capable of doing some real damage on the Greeks.

For the second time in this World Cup a female referee had been appointed to the game, Belinda Sharpe from Queensland.

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England Slay the Greeks

With England already qualified for the knockout stages, and likely to finish at the top of the group, there was just the matter of despatching Greece in the remaining group stage game and sending them home pointless.

England coach, Shaun Wane, could be forgiven for resting some of his players for next weeks endeavours, but that´s not the way he rolls, and he named a string outfit capable of doing some real damage on the Greeks.

For the second time in this World Cup a female referee had been appointed to the game, Belinda Sharpe from Queensland.

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Fiji Battle Through Against Scotland





Fiji took to the field in tonight’s penultimate World Cup Group B match knowing that their expected victory would see them join Australia in next weekend’s quarter finals - barring the shock of the tournament if Italy pulled off an unbelievable victory over Australia later tonight.
Scotland had lost both their opening games, conceding more than a hundred points, including 80 by Australia last weekend. They weren’t realistically expected to do anything else tonight.
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Fiji Battle Through Against Scotland





Fiji took to the field in tonight’s penultimate World Cup Group B match knowing that their expected victory would see them join Australia in next weekend’s quarter finals - barring the shock of the tournament if Italy pulled off an unbelievable victory over Australia later tonight.
Scotland had lost both their opening games, conceding more than a hundred points, including 80 by Australia last weekend. They weren’t realistically expected to do anything else tonight.
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Australia March On





There was little doubt about the result of this game, between the champions, who have dominated the World Cup throughout its history, and the minnows of Italy.
Both teams got through their opening sets cleanly, but Australia made far more territory in their first six tackles than the Italians did, which was no surprise. 
What was a surprise though, was Jeremiah Nanai making the first mistake of the the game, knocking on at the play-the-ball in the Kangaroos second set.
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Australia March On





There was little doubt about the result of this game, between the champions, who have dominated the World Cup throughout its history, and the minnows of Italy.
Both teams got through their opening sets cleanly, but Australia made far more territory in their first six tackles than the Italians did, which was no surprise. 
What was a surprise though, was Jeremiah Nanai making the first mistake of the the game, knocking on at the play-the-ball in the Kangaroos second set.
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Lebanon Sprint Into the Quarter Finals Against Brave Jamaica

The Cedars and the Reggae Warriors went into the first clash of the third Sunday of the 2021 World Cup with it all to play for as any of the three remaining sides in Group C could join New Zealand in the quarter finals and set up a game against Australia next Friday evening.

A win of any description for the favourites Lebanon would see them progress, but should Jamaica win by seven or more points then it would be Ireland who move forwards to next weekend. An almost unthinkable and unobtainable win of ninety-nine points or more for Jamaica and it would be they who jump from the bottom of the group, over Ireland, into second place.

The bookies gave the Jamaicans no chance as they handicapped Lebanon by forty-two points on the coupon, they were confident that it would be Lebanon who would be Australia´s opponents.

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Lebanon Sprint Into the Quarter Finals Against Brave Jamaica

The Cedars and the Reggae Warriors went into the first clash of the third Sunday of the 2021 World Cup with it all to play for as any of the three remaining sides in Group C could join New Zealand in the quarter finals and set up a game against Australia next Friday evening.

A win of any description for the favourites Lebanon would see them progress, but should Jamaica win by seven or more points then it would be Ireland who move forwards to next weekend. An almost unthinkable and unobtainable win of ninety-nine points or more for Jamaica and it would be they who jump from the bottom of the group, over Ireland, into second place.

The bookies gave the Jamaicans no chance as they handicapped Lebanon by forty-two points on the coupon, they were confident that it would be Lebanon who would be Australia´s opponents.

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Tonga Finish Top of Group





The last round of Group D kicked off at Middlesbrough everyone having a mathematical chance of making the World Cup quarter-finals.
Tonga went into today’s game undefeated and looking to top the group on six points and meet France or Samoa in the quarters.. The Cook Islands, with one win behind them needed to win - and rely on the result of Wales’s match against Papua New Guinea tomorrow night - to qualify.
Tonga welcomed captain Jason Taumalolo into the side for his debut, having missed the opening two matches.
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Tonga Finish Top of Group





The last round of Group D kicked off at Middlesbrough everyone having a mathematical chance of making the World Cup quarter-finals.
Tonga went into today’s game undefeated and looking to top the group on six points and meet France or Samoa in the quarters.. The Cook Islands, with one win behind them needed to win - and rely on the result of Wales’s match against Papua New Guinea tomorrow night - to qualify.
Tonga welcomed captain Jason Taumalolo into the side for his debut, having missed the opening two matches.
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Samoa Demolish France To Set Up Quarter Final With Tonga

The final game in group A was a ´do or die´ game for the runners up spot and a chance to play Tonga in the quarter finals as Samoa took on France at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium in Warrington with Samoa the firm favourites to take the spoils.

The bookies had given France a twenty-four point start on the coupon, but Laurent Frayssinous came into the match hoping that his side, packed with Super League stars would be able to spring a shock on Toa Samoa and Matt Parish´s group of NRL players.

Many neutrals were hoping the bookies would be right to set up a mouth-watering quarter final between Samoa and Tonga.

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Samoa Demolish France To Set Up Quarter Final With Tonga

The final game in group A was a ´do or die´ game for the runners up spot and a chance to play Tonga in the quarter finals as Samoa took on France at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium in Warrington with Samoa the firm favourites to take the spoils.

The bookies had given France a twenty-four point start on the coupon, but Laurent Frayssinous came into the match hoping that his side, packed with Super League stars would be able to spring a shock on Toa Samoa and Matt Parish´s group of NRL players.

Many neutrals were hoping the bookies would be right to set up a mouth-watering quarter final between Samoa and Tonga.

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