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Kangaroo
Tour: 2001
Sean Fagan of RL1908.com
 The
first Kangaroo tour in seven years was almost abandoned following
the events of "September 11" 2001.
Initially the tour was cancelled by the ARL following safety fears.
After a public outcry in both Britain and Australia, the tour eventually
took place, but only the 3 Tests were played.
The
Australians left their preparation time in England so short (just
5 days) that they were able to name their team at a hot and sunny
field in southern Sydney. One can only imagine what the 1908 Kangaroos
would have made of it all!
In the First Test, the Kangaroos were surprised by the size and
power of their British opponents. The home side was built around
players who had been playing in the summer Super League competition,
and their fast play-the-balls caught the Aussies by surprise.
Combined
with much poor handling, the Brad Fittler led Kangaroo side were
convincingly beaten by 20-12.
Fittler, the only member of the ‘94 team returning to England, was
confronted with being the first Australian captain to lose the Ashes
in England since 1959/60.
His
team turned the power and skill on in the 2nd Test to over-run the
British by 40-12 with Andrew Johns leading the way. The locals pointed
to the liberal 10m interpretation of referee Harrigan as a major
factor in the turnaround between the Tests.
The 3rd Test provided a tough and even encounter similar to the
decider of 1994. Australia pulled away at the back end of the game
to claim the Ashes yet again.
Britain
though were far from being easy-beats and showed that the space
between these two great rugby league nations had significantly contracted.
Tour
Details:
2001
v Great Britain
GREAT
BRITAIN
1st Test - 11 Nov : lost 12-20 / McAlpine Stad., Huddersfield
(21,458)
2nd Test - 17 November : won 40-12 / Reebok Stadium, Bolton (22,152)
3rd Test - 24 November : won 28-8 / JJB Stadium, Wigan (25,011)
RECORD: P: 3
W: 2 L: 1 FOR: 80 AGST: 40
TEST SERIES: Won 2-1
AGGREGATE
ATTENDANCE: 68,921
SYDNEY
ROOSTERS (EASTS) 1
(Brad Fittler Capt.)
CANTERBURY
1 (Braith
Anasta )
ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA 4 (Trent Barrett, Nathan Blacklock, Mark Gasnier*,
Jason Ryles)
PARRAMATTA 3 (Jamie Lyon, Michael Vella, Daniel Wagon*)
PENRITH
0
CRONULLA
1 (Jason Stevens)
NTH
QUEENSLAND 0
CANBERRA
0
NORTHERN
EAGLES 0
BRISBANE
5 (Dane Carlaw, Petero Civoniceva, Darren Lockyer, Brad Meyers,
Lote Tuqiri)
NEWCASTLE
5 (Danny Buderus, Matthew Gidley, Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Adam
MacDougall)
NEW
ZEALAND 0
WESTS
TIGERS 0
MELBOURNE
1 (Robbie Kearns)
*
indicates toured with side, but did not play a match
Copyright
© 2006 - Sean Fagan. All rights reserved - the article above may
not be reproduced (in full or part) in any form without written
permission.
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