Rugby League World Cup knockout stages begins on Friday night (UK Time) with the big Quarter Final 1 Australia v Lebanon clash, which sees the reigning champions take on a Lebanon side who have been quite strong at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Our Australia v Lebanon Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards with thoughts and stats. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the results from the Group Stages and beyond – follow this link here.
Australia v Lebanon Match Summary
Australia have advanced to the semi final after a relatively comfortable 48-4 win over Lebanon.
Mal Meninga looked to have come to his senses with team selection, with the final 17 looking more like a favourite playing in a quarter final than the first side named. The controversial talking point original was Nathan Cleary being selected on the bench, but he started as he should, but wouldn’t have enjoyed his first kick of the match going out on the full. But he was to improve.
Australia got on the board early when Josh Addo-Carr continued his try scoring form in the corner in the fifth minute.The try was set up by a long Nathan Cleary pass and some good work from Latrell Mitchell. The Kangaroos were a bit lucky to still have the ball though, as what looked an obvious knock on a few plays earlier was waved away by the referee.
Lebanon held their own following that first try, without causing the Kangaroos too much trouble. But there was a good cover tackle on Latrell Mitchell close to the line when a try was looming.
But for all Lebanon’s good they are light on game breaking superstars, and two of Australia’s combined for the second try in the 15th minute. James Tedesco made the line break from dummy half in the centre of the field 50 metres out and supporting on the inside was Josh Addo-Carr for a try on the other side of the field. Cleary converted this time for a 10-0 lead.
Minutes later and Josh Addo-Carr had his third try of the match. Lebanon fullback Jacob Kiraz had just made a very good take of a bomb under pressure, but ever the thief Cameron Munster stole the ball one-on-one and again Josh Addo-Carr was on hand in support to run a handful of metres to score. Cleary missed his second kick from the left and the score remained 14-0.
Not long after and Australia had scored in the same corner, but this time it was Latrell Mitchell who got the try. It was a sweeping movement from the other side of the field with Cameron Munster throwing the final pass but Latrell Mitchell having plenty of Lebanon defence to get through on an angled 20 metre run. The play was set up by a Isaah Yeo line break up the middle. Cleary missed again from the left and the Aussies led 18-0.
After Lebanon had their best attacking set of the match to that point, Australia turned around and scored their fifth try of the game. The try was set up by an Angus Crichton break from a Nathan Cleary pass on the halfway line, and the recently arrived Cameron Murray was in support off a fine offload from Crichton. Cleary enjoyed the easier kick and made the score 24-0.
Lebanon sent the kick off over the sideline and the Kangaroos made them pay with a try from the next set. Cameron Murray helped himself to a quickfire double in a simple move as he ran off a Harry Grant pass in the shadows of the posts, and with Cleary’s conversion the scoreline was now 30-0.
That was the half time score as both teams had good attacking chances but failed to convert.
HALF TIME – AUSTRALIA 30 LEBANON 0
With Australia looking so comfortable at half time, James Tedesco was given a rest for the second half with Daly Cherry-Evans coming on and Cameron Munster moving to fullback.
It didn’t take long for Australia to extend their lead and it was a fourth try for Josh Addo-Carr. Some sloppy Lebanon attacking play on their own 10 metres was swooped upon by Australia and Addo-Carr scooted off for the corner untouched.
Lebanon scored their first try of the match to the delight of the Huddersfield crowd in the 51st minute when Josh Mansour chased a Mitchell Moses grubber close to the line the best to score. It was after Lebanon’s best attacking wave of the match. Moses missed the conversion but Lebanon were at least on the score board now 36-4.
Sadly another Lebanon attacking wave was halted with a knock on call against them that was clearly knocked back. With no challenges remaining Lebanon had to suffer, and Adam Doueihi had to bite his tongue after his adventures earlier in the World Cup.
Of course then Australia went and scored with their next set. The break was made by Harry Grant up the middle, who gave the ball to Cameron Munster in support and he kicked for the vacant corner and Josh Addo-Carr was quick enough to get the ball and score his fifth try of the game. Nathan Cleary converted for a 42-4 lead.
Australia extended their lead with just over ten minutes remaining with a try that started and ended with Liam Martin. Martin crashed over from close range , but he had set up the attacking raid with a clever steal when Lebanon were pressuring the Australian line. Cleary converted for an 48-4 lead that flattered them slightly based on the second half.
The last ten minutes saw no tries and nothing special, as the Australians continued to make errors in a quite sloppy second half.
You could say at the end of the day Australia got the job they needed to do, but you could also say that the Kangaroos were arguably not the better team in the second half as Lebanon gained in confidence with more ball, gifted by Australian errors. Australia will need to find a little more if they are to beat who we presume will be New Zealand in the semi final.
Australia v Lebanon Final Score
AUSTRALIA 48
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr 5′ Josh Addo-Carr 15′ Josh Addo-Carr 18′ Latrell Mitchell 23′ Cameron Murray 29′ Cameron Murray 33′ Josh Addo-Carr 44′ Josh Addo-Carr 58′ Liam Martin 68′
Goals: Nathan Cleary 6/9
LEBANON 4
Tries: Josh Mansour 51′
Goals: Mitchell Moses 0/1
Player of the Match
3 Pts Josh Addo-Carr
2 Pts Isaah Yeo
1 Pt Cameron Munster
Points of Interest
- Adam Doueihi may not have made our Player of the Match top three, but he was lively and always a little dangerous for Lebanon. The Wests Tigers seem determined to give him the proper crack at five eighth for them in the NRL and after seeing his form at this World Cup they should.
- Despite winning the halfback battle, Nathan Cleary wasn’t sensational but he did enough to remain the starting halfback for the rest of the tournament, with those connections with fellow Penrith and NSW players important.
- Thankfully, there was a random Souths guy in the crowd, just to know that it was a genuine rugby league contest.
- Errors were a bit of a worry for Australia heading into the semi final, making more than Lebanon. Some of this is to be expected as combinations weld together, but if they offer the stronger teams as much ball they may be punished more.
- Lebanon did kick it up a notch when Khaled Rajab joined the game. In our opinion Lebanon made an error by not starting him.
Australia v Lebanon Match Stats
Australia v Lebanon Teams
AUSTRALIA
1 James Tedesco
9 Josh Addo-Carr
10 Jack Wighton
8 Latrell Mitchell
4 Valentine Holmes
7 Cameron Munster
14 Nathan Cleary
5 Jake Trbojevic
20 Harry Grant
18 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
17 Angus Crichton
21 Liam Martin
24 Isaah Yeo
2 Daly Cherry-Evans
11 Cameron Murray
13 Patrick Carrigan
15 Lindsay Collins
LEBANON
1 Jacob Kiraz
2 Josh Mansour
4 Brad Morkos
16 Reece Robinson
5 Abbas Miski
6 Adam Doueihi
7 Mitchell Moses
13 James Roumanos
14 Anthony Layoun
19 Khalil Rahme
11 Elie El-Zakham
12 Charbel Tasipale
15 Andrew Kazzi
9 Michael Tannous
17 Jalal Bazzaz
18 Khaled Rajab
20 Jaxson Rahme
Australia v Lebanon Preview
This is a game we are genuinely looking forward to, not just because it is Australia playing, it is just a great way to start the knockout stage.
After a final weekend of mostly lop sided thrashings in the Rugby League World Cup, you may look at this fixture opening up the knockout stages and scoff at another one coming, but we don’t think this will be the case.
Australia have been reasonably clinical as you’d expect with their level of NRL stars, but heading into the first match some key position decisions are yet to be made. Especially the starting halfback battle between Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans.
Looking at the team list, we find it strange to see both Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary in the 17. And to have done that you have left Ben Hunt out of the side. With Harry Grant having treatment to an injury during a midweek training session, you worry what happens if he is hurt. They you;re going to waste Nathan Cleary to play hooker? The time was right now for the changing of the guard, and Australia have chickened out. And for Ben Hunt to make way leaves Australia unbalanced.
So combinations are still not settled which may open a door for Lebanon.
But the Kangaroos still have key players settled, like James Tedesco, who has been as good and reliable as ever at the back. Cameron Munster too is settled, and comes off a rest after missing the last game.
Another thing that did stand out in the third game was the involvement of Isaah Yeo, who looks like he’s been playing for Australia forever, not just one tournament. Combined Yeo with Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton and you have a quality, in-form trio. Only thing is starting Yeo as a second rower instead of lock, talking about combination earlier.
Lebanon have been the best tier two side not from the Pacific at this World Cup. They did well against New Zealand in their first game, and won the other two games comfortably, easily earning their passage into the final eight teams. Mitchell Moses has been one the driving forces for Lebanon and they were so comfortable last start that Moses was benched at half time.
For all our talking up of Lebanon, Australia will be too strong still, and maybe we’re just clutching at straws for a competitive game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nathan Cleary or Daly Cherry-Evans are the players to watch for the main reason – is the battle for halfback still going, and will Australia need to make the final to finish that discussion. We can’t believe Mal Meninga has picked both but at least that means double the fun in our first Players to Watch.
Josh Addo-Carr has had a game off and will be ready to show that speed and again, and will test the edge defence of Lebanon.
Adam Doueihi has been one of the better players in the World Cup, which may sound like a large overstatement but he was fantastic against New Zealand and Lebanon competitive before he was sent off, and he was the star in Lebanon’s trouncing of Jamaica in their last game. He sat out Lebanon’s second game, and it certainly did him no harm. He actually played at fullback v Jamaica and ended up the game with one try, five try assists, three line breaks, two line break assists, kicked four goals, ran for 200 metres and eight tackle busts. Sure it was only Jamaica but what bunch of stats.
While we’re at it, Doueihi’s fill in at five eighth Khaled Rajab was also great with and we can’t believe a place wasn’t found for him in the top 17.
As a side note, we can imagine a game-long running battle between Adam Doueihi and Latrell Mitchell which would be plenty entertaining.
PREDICTION
Australia 38 Lebanon 16
Australia v Lebanon RLWC2021 Stats So Far
