Last weekend saw the final conclusions to to the 4 Nations and Atlantic Cups. To form the favourite team won but not after some scares and being pushed all the way by their opposition. The Discovery Challenge Began this weekend as well with the France Juniors taking on the GB Community Lions.
The 4 Nations saw the English Three Lions take on the might of the Australian Kangaroos, dubbed by the French newspaper Le’ Equip “The Die Hards” Referring to the Kangaroos ability to be at the top of their game for 40 years now and how hard it is to beat them. In the first half England seemed to bring the form that they showed in the second half of their pool game. From the kick off England dominated with some good tries to Sam Burgess. Australia were lucky to get the benefit call from the video referee for Greg Inglis’ try and went into the break with a 14-10 lead. But the English fans were buoyed by what they saw and they smelt an upset and their first series win over Australia in over 30+ years.
However the Aussies had other ideas, they weren’t about to let up on their dominance on the international stage, and to make up for the World Cup loss took England to the cleaners. Though it was tough going early on, with a barging Sam Burgess going over to take first points of the half. But after the 60 minute mark it was all one way traffic from the Kangaroos with Billy ‘see ya later’ Slater bagging a hat-trick of tries to make up for the wayward one in the World Cup. Australia in the end ran away winner 46-16 in front of over 31,000 disheartened English fans.
But what the final did show is that England can compete with Australia and their invincibility is not what it used to be, with many of the the old stalwarts like Darren Lockyer looking to retire within the next year or two England’s 2013 World Cup chances look on the up.
Eight hours across the Atlantic Ocean and equally enthralling battle was staged on the shores of sunny Florida in the USA. Reggae rugby league came to town with Jamaica’s first ever full international against their more fancied opponents and neighbours, the USA Tomahawks.
The Match opened up with some big hits from both teams. The Jamaicans played with lots a flair what has been dubbed ‘Reggae Rugby League’ which saw them go into the break with a narrow 12-10 lead. However in the second half this flair was also the down fall of the Jamaicans providing three intercept tries to the Americans. The Tomahawks eventually took the lead and held on to win 37-22. The Jamaicans should be proud of what they managed to achieve.
With the end of the 4 Nations and Atlantic Nations does not mean that there is an end to the international rugby league calendar. The Australian Institute of Sport Rugby League team is touring France and the UK this month and December in a 4-Nation tournament called the Discovery Challenge.
Two matches have been played in this series, with the France juniors taking the opening match 22-14 against the GB Community Lions at St. Cyprian. On the 17 of November the French also took on the Australian Institute of Sport losing very narrowly to the Aussies 16-13.
The Next game is in Wigan when the GB Community Lions take on the Australians on the 26 of November. The table currently:
| Discovery Challenge 2009 | ||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PD | PT |
| France Juniors | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Australian IoS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Wales | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GB Community Lions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 0 |
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