Civoniceva: Kangaroos need to bring their best against Kiwis

One of Australia’s toughest, most respected and highest-capped forwards, Petero Civoniceva still hurts whenever he is reminded of the time he walked off England’s famous Elland Road ground a shattered man.

It was almost 17 years ago to the day, but the giant Fijian-born Queenslander hasn’t forgotten the hollow, empty feeling he experienced after Australia were handed a 24-0 hiding by New Zealand in the 2005 Tri-Nations final.

It was one of the biggest upsets in rugby league history and brought an end to a proud record of 27 straight tournament series wins by the Kangaroos.

It also abruptly ended Wayne Bennett’s tenure as Australian coach, as he quit the job a week later.

On Saturday morning (AEDT) the Kangaroos will step out onto that same famous Elland Road ground against a New Zealand side that has been branded by many as the best ever assembled.

READ: Australia v New Zealand RLWC semi-final betting tips

We caught up with big Petero this week and asked him if he thought the Kiwis could pull off another ambush in Leeds, and to get his recollections of that embarrassing 24-0 loss all those years ago.

“It was probably not the greatest moment of our careers to be part of an Australian team beaten that way,” Civoniceva, who wore the green and gold 45 times between 2001 and 2011, told BettingSite.com.au.

“I think the mindset of many players was on getting back home, especially for those who had been involved in the Origins series and finals football. The attitude was a little off.

“New Zealand, on the other hand, was plotting an ambush and that’s exactly what transpired.

“Every time you pull on an Australian jumper you are vulnerable, you are the hunted, and everyone is out to beat you.”

It will be no different at Elland Road this weekend with Australia facing their biggest challenge of this Rugby League World Cup so far.

“Australia knows there could only be 80 minutes left for them and that they have to play at their ultimate to be in next week’s final against England and Samoa,” said Civoniceva.

“The Kiwis will want to rip our heads off. You talk about aggression and physicality, that’s where they will be coming from.

“They’ve always prided themselves on that physicality and intimidation and I am pretty sure that is where the game will be won.”

The contest will be a titanic battle of momentum in the forwards, while both teams have electrifying strike out wide — rival wingers Josh Addo-Carr (11) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (4) have scored a combined 15 tries so far in the tournament.

“It’s going to be a cracker game. New Zealand sides have a culture and a spirit and from the time they do the Haka, you can feel the energy within them,” said Civoniceva.

“They are a proud warrior nation and that is why they are so hard to beat on the battleground.”

Civoniceva rates the current Kiwi side very highly but says the 2005 New Zealand outfit sits right up there among the nation’s best ever.

“That side had Stacey Jones, the great Ruben Wiki, Roy Asotasi, Manu Vatuvei, David Kidwell, and was coached by Brian ‘Bluey’ McClennan,” he said.

“They had so many game breakers, tough me like Wiki leading the way and the brilliance and organisation of Stacey Jones, who was a genius.

“I think that side would give anyone a run.”

Australia will meet fire with fire having named a big pack featuring Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Pat Carrigan, and Jake Trbojevic against an intimidating pack that will be missing old foe Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is reportedly battling a hamstring issue.

The Kiwis, though, still have the likes of James Fisher-Harris, bash brothers Jessie and Ken Bromwich, Isaiah Papali’i, the in-form Joseph Tapine, and Waerea-Hargreaves’s replacement, Penrith premiership prop Moses Leota.

It’s a pretty formidable pack, and one which could push the Aussie forwards to the limit.

Halfback Nathan Cleary and Storm star Harry Grant, whether he starts or comes off the bench behind Ben Hunt, could be Australia’s game breakers along with Cameron Munster if the big Kiwi forwards fatigue late in each half.

Given his amazing form, it would not surprise to see Addo-Carr help himself to a try or two, while Latrell Mitchell could come up with some magical plays only he can pull off.

In the other semi-final, hosts England go to London’s Emirates Stadium for a replay of their round one clash with Samoa 28 days ago.

On that occasion, the Brits romped to a 60-6 win in response to claims that they lacked the talent required to compete for the title.

Samoa were caught off guard and half of their team was still coming down off celebrating Penrith’s second-straight premiership win.

England will have a massive supporter base in London and several of their players have stepped up in the World Cup — including young guns Dominic Young, Herbie Farnworth, and Jack Welsby, who are complementing the class and experience of Tom Burgess, Elliott Whitehead, Victor Radley, and John Bateman.

They are playing with incredible confidence and have been close to the best-performed nation in the tournament.

Still, any team with the firepower of Samoa — headed by Penrith premiership players Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, and Brian To’o — demands a lot of respect.

The powerhouse Pacific nation has improved with every win since the loss to England in the opening round, and revenge and a history-making World Cup final appearance will be enough motivation to drive them.

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