Australia smashes international rivals in rugby league and union

Australia has smashed its international rivals across both Rugby League and Rugby Union in a day of try-scoring glory.

In Rugby League, the Kangaroos proved their status as the best team in the world with a 20-14 win to claim the Pacific Cup*, while Rugby Union team the Wallabies defeated England 42-37 at Twickenham for the first time since 2015.

Women’s Rugby League team the Jillaroos were also victorious in their Pacific Cup final against New Zealand side the Kiwi Ferns, beating them 24-4 to claim the cup.

KANGAROOS JUMP TO VICTORY
CommBank Stadium in Sydney was a sea of red* on Sunday as Tongan supporters flooded the grandstands expecting to see their team thrash Australia in the Pacific Cup finals following an epic win over New Zealand the week before.

Tonga took an early lead but the Kangaroos soon took control to establish a 20-4 advantage. Despite amazing play from Tonga, Australia stayed in the lead and went on to win 20-14.

WALLABIES WALLOP ENGLAND
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sparked a stunning Wallabies win over England in one of the greatest ever games between the old foes*.

In his first professional Rugby match, Suaalii played exceptionally well at outside centre – setting up Australia’s first try of the game.

But the real heart-stopping moment came at the end of the game when Max Jorgensen scored an 84th minute try to silence the 82,000 fans gathered at Twickenham in the UK and seal the Wallabies’ 42-37 victory.

The win was Australia’s first against England at Twickenham since 2015 and has kept alive Australia’s hopes of achieving a Grand Slam* for the first time in 40 years.

JILLAROOS RECLAIM THE CUP
The Jillaroos have snatched the Pacific Cup back from New Zealand rivals the Kiwi Ferns after beating them 24-4 to make up for last year’s shock loss.

After they had their seven-year winning streak broken by New Zealand 12 months ago, the World Cup champions flexed their muscles at CommBank Stadium with a thumping win over their rivals.

Karyn Murphy Medal* winner Tarryn Aiken got the ball rolling when she skipped out of a tackle to set up Julia Robinson for the opening try, before champion centre Isabelle Kelly fended* out of a tackle and sped away to score.

And while the attack was brilliant, it was Australia’s defence that shone on Sunday, the Kiwi Ferns only managing to score one try.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• Pacific Cup: also known as the Rugby League Pacific Championships, the Pacific Cup is a rugby league tournament played between nations of the Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands
• sea of red: wearing red clothes in support of Tonga
• foes: enemies or rivals
• Grand Slam: when one team in the Six Nations championship beats all the others during one year’s competition
• Karyn Murphy Medal: awarded to the player of the match in the NRLW grand final, named after former Rugby League great Karyn Murphy
• fended: stopped herself from being tackled

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QUICK QUIZ
1. Which team did the Wallabies beat 42-37?
2. Which new player set up the Wallabies’ first try of the game?
3. Why was CommBank Stadium a “sea of red” on Sunday?
4. How many tries did the Kiwi Ferns score in their Pacific Cup loss to the Jillaroos?
5. What was the Jillaroos’ winning score?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Cartoon cup
Draw a cartoon or caricature of the three winning cup teams and how they all relate to each other.

Your cartoon should include the team names, whether they are male or female, which sport it was achieved in and the respective score. You include these details by including them in the cartoon somewhere (such as on the guernsey).

Make your drawing informative and visually appealing.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Visual Arts, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
What might some junior versions of these teams be named? Brainstorm with a friend.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Girls in sport
There are many sports in which we’re seeing an increase in female participants. What sports have you noticed, or maybe joined yourself, where you have seen an increase in the amount of girls now playing? How do you feel about this? Why do you feel this way? Do you think it’s a positive shift? Why/why not?

Use your VCOP to express how you feel towards girls taking up more sporting roles. Explain why you feel this way. Use your emotive language to express your point of view.