2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage

Rugby league tournament stage 2008 Rugby League World Cup October 2021 The 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage took place after the group stage of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and culminated in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final. Bracket 180 50 Y Quarter-final Semi-finals Final B1 Fiji 30 C1 Ireland 4prov 14 A2 New Zealand 32 A3 England 22 A1 Australia 52 Fiji 0 New Zealand 34 Australia 20 Matches 7th-place play-off: Scotland vs Tonga This was the lowest-attended match of the tournament, however it was filled to capacity for a ground that had never seen top-level rugby league before. 8 November 2008 16:00 AEST (UTC+10:00) Scotland 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage#7th-place playoff: Scotland vs Tonga 0–48 Report Tonga Vuna (2)MateoPaeaUaiseleWilliamsTalanoaJennings Williams (7)Paea Browne Park, Rockhampton 5,930 Shane Hayne (Australia) _whitesleevelinesandsides _whiteflair _whitehorizontal_middle 191970 191970 191970 191970 191970 Scotland _Tonga2008RLWC _2 white stripes FFFFFF FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 Tonga FB 1Michael RobertsonRW 2Wade LiddellRC 3Mick NanynLC 4Kevin HendersonLW 5Gavin CowanSO 6Dave McConnellSH 7John DuffyPR 8Oliver WilkesHK 9Ben Fisher (c)PR 10Scott LoganSR 11Iain MorrisonSR 12Duncan MacGillivrayLF 13Ian HendersonSubstitutions:IC 14Andrew HendersonIC 15Paddy CouparIC 16Chris ArmitIC 17Jack HowiesonCoach:ENG Steve McCormack FB 1Fetuli TalanoaRW 2Cooper VunaRC 3Michael JenningsLC 4Toshio LaiseniLW 5Etu UaiseleFE 6Feleti MateoHB 7Eddie PaeaPR 8Antonio KaufusiHK 9Tevita Leo-LatuPR 11Lopini Paea (c)SR 12Richard Fa'aosoSR 13Andrew EmelioLK 20 Tony WilliamsSubstitutions:IC 10Mickey PaeaIC 15Sam MoaIC 16Kim UasiIC 19Willie ManuCoach:AUS Jim Dymock 9th-place play-off: France vs Samoa 9 November 2008 17:25 ADST (UTC+11:00) FRA 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage#9th-place playoff: France vs Samoa 10–42 Report SAM GuissetPlanas Bosc Te'o (2)UtaiMeliCarmontTaulapapaRobertsT. Puletua Roberts (3)Paulo (2) Penrith Stadium, Sydney 8,028 Thierry Alibert (France) _frarl08 _frarl08 _frarl08 FF0000 FFFFFF FF0000 FFFFFF FF0000 France _whiteborder _Samoa2008RLWC _whiteborder _2 white stripes 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF Samoa FB 1Jared TaylorRW 2Sébastien PlanasRC 3Teddy SadaouiLC 4Sébastien RaguinLW 5Dimitri PeloSO 6John WilsonSH 7Thomas BoscPR 8Jérôme Guisset (c)HK 9Christophe MolyPR 10Adel FellousSR 11Jamal FakirSR 12Éric AnselmeLF 13Grégory MounisSubstitutions:IC 14Olivier ElimaIC 15Laurent CarrascoIC 16Mathieu GriffiIC 17Jean-Philippe BaileCoach:AUS John Monie FB 1Tangi RopatiRW 2Matt UtaiRC 3Francis MeliLC 4George CarmontLW 5Misi TaulapapaFE 6Ben RobertsHB 7Alby TalipeauPR 8Kylie LeuluaiHK 9Terrence Seu SeuPR 10Frank PuletuaSR 11Ben Te'oSR 12Tony Puletua (c)LK 13Harrison HansenSubstitutions:IC 14Wayne McDadeIC 15Ali LauitiitiIC 16Joseph PauloIC 17Smith SamauCoach:NZL John Ackland Quarter-final: Fiji vs Ireland Fiji and Ireland, who had finished at the top of their respective groups, faced off at Queensland's Gold Coast. At stake was the chance to play Australia in the semi-final. Fiji had lost prop Iowane Divavesi to a two-match ban for tripping just hours before the match.Fiji through to World Cup semi-final tvnz.co.nz Television New Zealand 11 November 2008 http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2299828 19 September 2009 thumb|right|175px|Man-of-the-match, Aaron Groom with Ashton Sims in the background.Amhrán na bhFiann was performed as the Ireland team's national anthem before the match. Fiji opened the scoring early with their captain Wes Naiqama from the half way line finding space down the right side of the field and scoring on the 2-minute mark.Fiji 30-14 Ireland BBC Sport BBC 10 November 2008 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7712682.stm 19 September 2009 He then converted his own try so the score was 6–0. About 5 minutes later Ireland responded with their own 50-metre runaway try down the right side thanks to winger Damien Blanch. Pat Richards kicked the extras so the scores were level at 6–6. In the 25th minute Fiji were penalised just over 40 metres out from their own line and the Irish decided to take the shot at goal. Richards' attempt went wide so the score remained unchanged. Fiji scored again about five minutes later when from close-range, Akuila Uate ran from dummy half on his wing infield to find a gap in the defence and score near the uprights. Naiqama's conversion was successful so Fiji led 12 - 6. It was Ireland's turn to score again and they did so in the 46th minute when from within Fiji's 10-metre line, captain Scott Grix decided to run from first receiver, charging through a gap and getting the ball down. Richards' kick to level the scores hit the upright and missed, so Fiji remained two points ahead at 12 - 10 and this was the score until half-time. About a minute into the second half Fiji were up at their opponents' try-line when hooker James Storer ran from dummy half and crashed over but was held up by the defence. After repeated raids on the Irish try-line and despite some enormous drop-outs from Pat Richards, Fiji kept on coming and scored just on 55 minutes, when from close range Jason Bukuya found a gap in the defence and reached out to plant the ball down. Naiqama's conversion was successful so Fiji led 18 - 10. A few minutes later Fiji were again down close to Ireland's try-line when they got a penalty for a ruck infringement. Naiqama decided to take the shot at goal and didn't miss, so the score was 20 - 10 in favour of Fiji with seventeen minutes left on the clock. Ireland continued to be under siege and 10 metres out from their line, Fiji's halfback Aaron Groom stabbed a kick in behind the defence for Jarryd Hayne to chase and put down after clipping one of the uprights in his haste in the 66th minute.Jackson Glenn Bula boys bulldoze Ireland, now for more men in green leaguehq.com.au Fairfax Digital 2008-11-11 http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/bula-boys-bulldoze-ireland/2008/11/10/1226165484379.html 2009-09-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20090919134314/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/bula-boys-bulldoze-ireland/2008/11/10/1226165484379.html September 19, 2009 dead The video referee awarded the try and Naiqama kicked the simple conversion so Fiji had a comfortable lead at 26 - 10. Ten minutes later Fiji scored again after continuing to attack Ireland's line, this time Uate crossing out wide on the right wing. Naiqama's kick from the sideline hit the upright and missed, so with just over 5 minutes of the game remaining, the score was 30 - 10. Ireland got one more chance to attack Fiji's line in the closing minutes and it was Blanch who scored for them again, benefiting from a good offload from Lee Doran close to the try-line.Laybourn Ian Ireland 14 Fiji 30 sportinglife.com 365 Media Group 10 November 2008 http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/08/11/10/RUGBYL_Ireland.html 19 September 2009 Richards missed the conversion attempt so the final score was Fiji 30, Ireland 14. The Bati would play Australia next, with the winner of that match going to the World Cup final, while the Irish exited the tournament with A$75,000 prize money.Wilson Andy Ireland's World Cup adventure comes to an end against Fiji guardian.co.uk Guardian News and Media 10 November 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/nov/10/irelandrugbyleagueteam-fijirugbyleagueteam 19 September 2009 London 10 November 2008 18:55 AEST (UTC+10:00) FIJ 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage#Qualifying final: Fiji vs Ireland 30–14 Report Ireland 4prov Uate (2) Bukuya Hayne Naiqama Wes Naiqama (5/6) Blanch (2) Grix Richards (1/4) Robina Stadium, Gold Coast 8,224 Ashley Klein (England) Aaron Groom (Fiji) _blackredshoulders _Fiji2008RLWC _blackredshoulders _hoops_black_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Fiji _Ireland2008RLWC 023E00 023E00 023E00 FFFFFF 023E00 Ireland FB 1Jarryd HayneLW 2Semi TadulalaRC 3Wes Naiqama (c)LC 4Daryl MillardRW 5Akuila UateFE 6Alipate NoileaHB 7Aaron GroomPR 12Osea SadrauHK 9Waisale SukanaveitaPR 10Ilisoni VonomateiratuSR 11Ashton SimsSR 18Sevanaia KoroiLK 13Jayson BukuyaSubstitutions:IC 14James StorerIC 15Nick Bradley-QalilawaIC 17Semisi ToraIC 23Kaliova NauqeCoach:FIJ Joe Dakuitoga FB 1Michael PlattRW 2Damien BlanchRC 3Sean GleesonLC 4Stuart LittlerLW 5Pat RichardsSO 6Scott Grix (c)SH 7Liam FinnPR 8Eamon O'CarrollHK 9Bob BeswickPR 10Gareth HaggertySR 11Ben HarrisonSR 12Lee DoranLF 13Simon FinniganSubstitutions:IC 14Michael McIlorumIC 15Karl FitzpatrickIC 16Ged CorcoranIC 17Ryan TandyCoach:ENG Andy Kelly Semi-finals Semi-final 1: New Zealand vs England In a re-play of both sides' last match, New Zealand once again faced England, this time for the right to play in the World Cup final. English coach Tony Smith left it to within an hour of kick-off before naming his team for the match. Kevin Sinfield was dropped from his position on the bench. Ben Westwood was promoted from the bench to the run-on side. For New Zealand Jason Nightingale was replaced by Sam Perrett. Sika Manu's faster than expected recovery from an eye socket injury saw his return with David Kidwell dropped in his place. No British side had won a test match in Brisbane since Wales had defeated England at Lang Park during the 1975 World Cup. New Zealand had lost their last 8 international matches in the city. thumb|right|200px|The Kiwis performing their Haka before the match.This time when the Kiwis performed their haka, the England side stood in a line ten metres away and faced them. In the ninth minute New Zealand were on the attack courtesy of a mistake from England and got the first try of the match, passing to Sam Perrett on the right wing who crossed out wide,Davis Greg Nathan Fien helps New Zealand into World Cup final http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/queenslander-helps-kiwi-cause/story-e6frep66-1111118048528 6 April 2012 The Courier-Mail 15 November 2008 then improved his kicker's position before putting the ball down. Jeremy Smith's conversion was successful so England trailed 6–nil. England, also benefitting from some New Zealand mistakes, were attacking the Kiwis' line and threw the ball out wide to the right wing as well and Ade Gardner dived over in the corner just before the fifteen-minute mark. The video referee showed that Gardner's toe touched the sideline before he grounded the ball so the try was not given. Four minutes later the Kiwis were back down at England's end when Lance Hohaia got over for a close-range try. Smith's kick went wide so the score was 10–nil in favour of New Zealand with a quarter of the match gone. Rob Purdham's restart kick went over the sideline on the full so New Zealand got the ball back and in the following set of six they scored again through Jerome Ropati. Smith's kick was good this time, so the Kiwis had 16 unanswered points. Then in the twenty-ninth minute England had an opportunity in attack down at New Zealand's end and kept the ball alive, the ball going to captain Jamie Peacock who forced his way over from close range. Purdham missed the conversion attempt so the score remained 16–4 in favour of the Kiwis. A New Zealand knock-on less than two minutes from half time saw the English get a scrum a few metres into the opposition's half. In a bold set move from the scrum base, England's loose forward Purdham broke away with the ball and immediately kicked it ahead for Danny Maguire racing through to regather and dive over by the goal posts. The video referee ruled that the chaser was only just in line with the kicker so the try was awarded. Rob Burrow was given the conversion attempt and kicked it, so England were back within a converted try at 16–10 at the half-time break.New Zealand 32-22 England http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-league/2008/1115/241028-newzealand_england/ 6 April 2012 RTÉ 15 Nov 2008 After a few minutes of the second half, England second-rower Gareth Ellis was forced from the field with a rib injury. Both sides had attacking opportunities during the first 16 minutes of the half, but it was New Zealand's Bronson Harrison who scored first after receiving a good short ball from halfback Nathan Fien on England's twenty metre line which saw him cut through the defence, step past the fullback and score by the uprights. Smith's conversion meant the score was New Zealand 22, England 10 with twenty-two minutes of the match remaining. After a bomb from England which Hohaia failed to take securely, England were on the attack again. They moved the ball out through the hands to the right, and centre Martin Gleeseon dragged himself through the defence to reach out and score in the sixty-first minute. Burrow kicked the sideline conversion so England were back within a converted try of New Zealand at 22–16. The Kiwis then got repeat sets down near England's line and were the next to score: Fien kicked the ball over towards the goal posts and as it came down in-goal two English defenders failed to secure it and Jerome Ropati was there to fall onto it. Benji Marshall was given the conversion this time and kicked it successfully so the score was 28–16 with ten minutes to go. Three minutes later England gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Maguire found space between New Zealand's defence and ran through it from fifteen metres out to score by the posts.New Zealand 32-22 England https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/7727059.stm 6 April 2012 BBC News 15 November 2008 Burrow's conversion meant that England were back within six points with six minutes of the game left to go. However the English were let down by further handling errors and New Zealand were the last to score after England again failed to defend against a bomb out to the left, Marshall putting it down in the corner at the 78th minute, placing the game beyond doubt. Smith missed the sideline conversion so the final score was 32–22. England then went home with A$130,000 prize money and New Zealand had booked a place in the final the following week. 15 November 2008 18:55 AEST (UTC+10:00) NZL 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage#Semi-final 1: New Zealand vs England 32–22 Report ENG Ropati (2)PerrettHohaiaHarrisonMarshall Smith (3) Marshall McGuire (2) Peacock Gleeson Burrow (3) Lang Park, Brisbane 26,659 Shane Hayne (Australia) Benji Marshall (New Zealand) _whiteborder _kiwis2008 _whiteborder _collarwhite _white_hoops 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 New Zealand _redborder _England2008RLWC _redborder _red_outerbands FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF England FB 1Lance HohaiaRW 2Sam PerrettRC 3Simon ManneringLC 4Jerome RopatiLW 5Manu VatuveiFE 6Benji MarshallHB 7Nathan FienPR 8Nathan Cayless (c)HK 9Thomas LeuluaiPR 10Adam BlairSR 17Bronson HarrisonSR 12David Fa'alogoLK 13Jeremy SmithSubstitutions:IC 11Sika ManuIC 14Isaac LukeIC 15Greg EastwoodIC 16Sam RapiraCoach:NZL Stephen Kearney FB 1Paul WellensRW 2Ade GardnerRC 3Martin GleesonLC 4Keith SeniorLW 5Mark CalderwoodSO 6Danny McGuireSH 7Rob BurrowPR 8James GrahamHK 9James RobyPR 10Jamie Peacock (c)SR 11Ben WestwoodSR 12Gareth EllisLF 13Rob PurdhamSubstitutions:IC 14Leon PryceIC 15Adrian MorleyIC 16Mickey HighamIC 17Jon WilkinCoach:AUS Tony Smith Semi-final 2: Australia vs Fiji 19:55 ADST (UTC+11:00) 16 November 2008 AUS 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage#Semi-final 2: Australia vs Fiji 52–0 Report FIJ Gallen 2' Tate (2) 5', 16' Slater (3) 9', 38', 49' Thurston (3) 62', 66', 72' Inglis 77' Thurston (6/10) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 15,855 Ashley Klein (England) Billy Slater (Australia) _kangaroos _kangaroos1 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia _blackredshoulders _Fiji2008RLWC _blackredshoulders _hoops_black_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Fiji FB 1Billy SlaterRW 2Joel MonaghanRC 3Greg InglisLC 4Israel FolauLW 5Brent TateFE 6Darren Lockyer (c)HB 7Johnathan ThurstonPR 8Steve PriceHK 9Cameron SmithPR 10Petero CivonicevaSR 11Anthony LaffranchiSR 12Glenn StewartLF 13Paul GallenSubstitutions:IC 14Karmichael HuntIC 15Brent KiteIC 16Anthony TupouIC 17Craig FitzgibbonCoach:AUS Ricky Stuart FB 1Jarryd HayneLW 2Semi TadulalaRC 3Wes Naiqama (c)LC 4Daryl MillardRW 5Akuila UateFE 6Alipate NoileaHB 7Aaron GroomPR 8Osea SadrauHK 9Waisale SukanaveitaPR 10Ilisoni VonomateiratuSR 11Ashton SimsSR 12Sevanaia KoroiLK 13Jayson BukuyaSubstitutions:IC 14James StorerIC 15Nick Bradley-QalilawaIC 17Semisi ToraIC 19Jone WeseleCoach:FIJ Joe Dakuitoga Final: Australia vs New Zealand 2008 Rugby League World Cup final Final References Knockout stage