Arabic version: بونغا ووالش في صدارة نهائي كأس العالم
According to The Guardian, Australia and New Zealand will renew one of rugby league’s biggest rivalries in the men’s Rugby League World Cup final in Brisbane. The teams meet in the decider for the first time since 2013, after Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in the opening match of the tournament.
Australia, the defending champions, have since recorded wins over Fiji, the Cook Islands and Samoa, including a semi-final victory over Samoa. New Zealand’s pack outplayed and outmuscled the Kangaroos in the opening game, despite Australia’s narrow win, adding another contest within the contest before the final.
Australia prop Keaon Koloamatangi said his side had been labelled the competition’s weakest forward pack. “It’s easy for them to say they won the battle back then but we’ve changed since then,” he said. “I think a lot of people probably have disrespected us and overshadowed the fact that we did win that first game, and that’s OK.”
The full-backs Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga could be central to the outcome. Walsh has produced a series of standout displays for Australia, while Ponga returned 23 days after a broken forearm to help New Zealand beat Tonga last weekend. He was also named Golden Boot winner. “It’s always all love off the field and then when we get on the field, we aren’t friends,” Ponga said of his rivalry with Walsh.
New Zealand also face Australia in the women’s final, where the Kiwi Ferns meet the Jillaroos for the fifth consecutive World Cup decider. Australia are seeking a fourth straight final win, while New Zealand arrive after a 32-0 semi-final victory over Samoa. The finals offer the Kiwis a chance to end Australia’s hold on both tournaments before the World Cup moves to the US and Pacific in 2030.
