Live Australia vs Lebanon

Australia has defeated Lebanon in their final Rugby League WorldCup group stage match.

AUSTRALIA has given coach Mal Meninga plenty of selection headaches after a hot and cold win over Lebanon in their final Rugby League World Cup group stage game at Allianz Stadium.

The Kangaroos were restricted to a 10-point lead at half time and only blew the visitors away late to run away with a 34-0 victory. The impressive performances of Tom Trbojevic and Cameron Munster will give Meninga plenty to think about while star props Aaron Woods and David Klemmer could miss the quarter-final against Samoa in Darwin next week after they were reported for separate incidents.

10.05pm

Front-row crisis overshadows Kangaroos’ win

The Kangaroos are facing a front-row crisis at the Rugby League World Cup after David Klemmer and Aaron Woods were put on report during their 34-0 walkover of Lebanon.

Klemmer was penalised for knocking out Cedars second-rower Chris Saab midway through the first half on Saturday, with his shoulder making contact with Saab’s head.

Woods also faces a nervous wait after getting booked for a dangerous lifting tackle on Tim Mannah in the second half of their final pool game.

Their status for a likely final-eight clash against Samoa in Darwin won’t be the only concern for coach Mal Meninga, whose side needed another big second half to overcome their slow start.

Aaron Woods could be in big trouble after this tackle on Tim Mannah.



LIVE: https://t.co/75zMXDjuZb #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/zvWS5e9MBv — FOX SPORTS NRL (@FOXNRLLive) November 11, 2017

Cameron Munster recorded another double in just his second Test, while James Maloney, Boyd Cordner, Dane Gagai and Tom Trbojevic also got on the scoresheet.

After committing three turnovers inside the opening 25 minutes at Allianz Stadium, Maloney finished his first outing of the tournament with a try and two try assists.

Lebanon will face Tonga in their quarter-final should England beat France on Sunday.

However coach Brad Fittler may have problems of his own with Michael Lichaa (cramps) and Mitchell Moses (shoulder) joining Saab in failing to finish the match.

Spurred on by most of a raucous 21,127 crowd behind them, a determined Cedars outfit held the defending champions to a 10-0 lead at halftime. Munster began the scoring with an easy try in the eighth minute, but that failed to deter an energetic Lebanon defence that pressured Australia into eight first- half errors.

Arguably the biggest cheer of the night was when Abbas Miski denied doppelganger Josh Mansour a certain try with a one-on-one strip in the 21st minute. But it didn’t take long for Australia to double their advantage on Maloney’s try, set up by an offload from his future Penrith teammate Reagan Campbell- Gillard.

Back-to-back penalties put Lebanon on the back foot early in the second half, and Munster made them pay by slicing through for a soft try off the restart. Cordner finished off a Maloney grubber in the 55th minute, before Gagai and Trbojevic completed the rout with tries in the final five minutes. Skipper Cameron Smith also got his first major rest of the tournament after being substituted for utility Ben Hunt at halftime.

— AAP

9.50pm

Kangaroos put on two late tries in 34-point win

Dane Gagai was on the end of a precise Cooper Cronk kick to the wing which allowed the new Rabbitohs’ signing to fall over the try line untouched.

Gagai stayed on the touchline as his defender went closer in towards the middle of the pitch — and Cronk had the vision to spot the point-scoring opportunity.

Tom Trbojevic then sealed the win for the Kangaroos with another try in the 79th minute.

Valentine Holmes cut through the Lebanon defensive line in his own half and then found Trbojevic, who had sprinted over from the far side of the field to support his teammate.

The 34-0 scoreline flattered the Kangaroos with the visitors predominantly making things uncomfortable for Australia until the final minutes of the contest.

Australia 34 Lebanon 0 full time

9.45pm

Woods and Klemmer both reported

The Kangaroos’ two starting props are both facing suspensions for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after being cited for separate incidents against Lebanon.

David Klemmer was reported for a high shot on Lebanon cult hero Chris Saab before Aaron Woods was also reported for a lifting tackle on Lebanon’s Tim Mannah which resulted in the Eels star’s head being driven into the turf.

Aaron Woods could be in big trouble after this tackle on Tim Mannah.



LIVE: https://t.co/75zMXDjuZb #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/zvWS5e9MBv — FOX SPORTS NRL (@FOXNRLLive) November 11, 2017

9.30pm

‘You’d hate for it to get embarrassing’

The Kangaroos began putting Lebanon to the sword with two quick tries early in the second half.

After Cameron Munster scored his second try, Boyd Cordner won a foot race to pounce on a loose ball in the in-goal.

It gave the Kangaroos two tries in five minutes and extended their lead to 22 points.

Channel 7 commentator Brett Kimmorley said it would not be fair to Lebanon if the score blew out — after Lebanon had restricted the star-studded Kangaroos to just 10 points in the first half.

“You’d hate for it to get embarrassing,” he said.

9.20pm

Munster makes it a double-double

Cameron Munster grabbed his fourth try in just his second Test appearance for the Kangaroos when he split the Lebanese defence with a determined run up the middle.

The Storm star’s quick feet created something from nothing when he took the line on and punched a whole between two tired front-rowers before stepping around the fullback and strolling over the line.

Cameron Munster scores his second try tonight for the @Kangaroos. Game live on @Channel7, @7mate and the free 7Live app. #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/1br3QSZrvT — 7RLWC (@7RLWC) November 11, 2017

8.45pm

The Kangaroos extended their lead before half time

David Klemmer set-up the Kangaroos’ second try after an extended period where the contest hung in the balance.

Klemmer hit the line and off-loaded to James Maloney 10m out, allowing the playmaker to stroll over the try-line.

Cameron Smith’s conversion put Australia ahead by 10 points.

The Kangaroos couldn’t find any more points in the rest of the half as Lebanon repeatedly denied the home side with desperate try-line defence.

8.30pm

Offensive language picked up on mics

The Kangaroos’ Rugby League World Cup clash against Lebanon suddenly went adults only when the Channel 7 broadcast a players’ offensive language during a scrum.

The Channel 7 commentary team responded with awkward silence after the referee microphone picked up Lebanon star Michael Lichaa accidentally using offensive language against his own teammate when the Lebanon team accidentally had too many players trying to pack into a scrum.

Lichaa, the Bulldogs No. 9, appeared to be heard telling a Lebanon teammate: “You get the f*** in, not this c***”.

Lichaa appeared to be barking orders for fullback Anthony Layoun to replace forward Chris Saab in the scrum.

Saab was forced to spring back to his team’s defensive line before the scrum was packed.

It got a lot worse for Saab. Minutes later he was taken from the field with concussion after taking a high shot from David Klemmer. Saab was then ruled out for the rest of the game after being taken immediately to the dressing rooms for treatment.

David Klemmer has been placed on report for a high shot during the first half of Australia's @RLWC2017 clash with @LebanonRL. #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/ScQPDPPj8I — 7RLWC (@7RLWC) November 11, 2017

Lichaa’s moment did not go unnoticed by Rugby League World Cup fans.

You can watch the moment below.

WARNING OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE

What did he say 🤷🏾‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/hjJJCm7BZ1 — Jharal Yow Yeh (@Jharalyowyeh5) November 11, 2017

Ah, the eternal dangers of putting a live microphone near a scrum. #AUSvLEB #RLWC2017 — ross clelland (@rnclelland) November 11, 2017

I love it how when the language gets blue & it’s so obvious that the @7RLWC commentators go totally silent with embarrassment.#RLWC2017 — Ross Martin (@RossMartin1960) November 11, 2017

Don't think ref cam is a good idea when players are using profanity. #AUSvLEB #RLWC2017 — Richard S L (@richielew4120) November 11, 2017

Not great to use the “c” word on live tv Lebanon. @RLWC2017 — Brad Stone (@BradStone71) November 11, 2017

The mic on the ref is great until you actually hear what players are saying when they pack a scrum. #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/9YQMVuVX8m — Alison Zell (@alisonzell) November 11, 2017

Nothing like the F and C bomb being dropped on TV at 7-20pm QLD time. #AUSvLEB At least it is better than "Best on Ground" AFL reference. — Christina Brinkmann (@Brinkmann2015) November 11, 2017

8.15pm

Kangaroos strike

James Maloney gave a sweet pass to put Cameron Munster into a hole and over the stripe for the first try of the game.

Maloney took the Lebanese line on the Kangaroos’ left edge before giving a perfect pass to Munster, who found himself on the outside of his defender and split Lebanon’s two widest defenders with a simple dummy.

7.50pm

Cam Smith’s new record

Cameron Smith will become just the second player ever to captain the Kangaroos more than 30 times when he leads Australia out against Lebanon.

Only Darren Lockyer (38) has captained Australia in more Test Matches.

Smith is expected to only play 40 minutes against Lebanon with Ben Hunt expected to play at hooker in the second half.

The Kangaroos have also rested a number of stars, including Billy Slater for the clash, under coach Mal Meninga’s policy of trying to give every player in his squad game time before the knock-out stage of the tournament begins.

👏@CamSmith9 becomes only the second player to captain the @Kangaroos in 30 Tests tonight, behind Darren Lockyer with 38 Tests.#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/gJfHoKIza9 — NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2017

7.30pm

Kangaroos blindsided by Tonga shake-up

Australia’s smooth path to the final of the Rugby League World Cup final has hit a giant roadblock following Tonga’s shock upset of New Zealand on Saturday.

The Kangaroos are now on a collision course to face the Kiwis in a semi-final — if they can both win through in their quarter-finals.

The Kangaroos were widely expected to play either Tonga or Fiji in the semi-finals — but Tonga’s upset has changed everything.

England and Tonga are now expected to face off in the other semi-final in two weeks.

Billy Slater admitted the Kangaroos have a “tough” draw ahead of them following Tonga’s upset.

He told Channel 7 the result is a sign of things to come in rugby league.

“I think it’s great for rugby league and I think it’s a taste of what’s to come in years to come,” he said.

ROAD TO QUARTER-FINALS@RLSamoa's superior points difference secures their spot in the quarter-finals.#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/8oMzSqq8wZ — RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 11, 2017

"Wade Graham is a guy who has stepped up" - @billyslater impressed with @wadegraham17's four tries in Canberra last week. #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/WheMcUaHhf — 7RLWC (@7RLWC) November 11, 2017

7.15pm

Kangaroos pushing for starting spots

Kangaroos star Boyd Cordner admits Wade Graham’s historic four-try haul last week is another reminder of the need to consistently perform to keep his Australian starting spot.

After being rested against France, Cordner on Saturday will slot back into his favoured back-row spot when the Kangaroos meet Lebanon in their final Rugby League World Cup pool game.

And the Australian vice-captain admits the pressure is on to lift his game after Graham had equalled a Kangaroos record of four tries in one game in Cordner’s absence.

“If it’s not that, you don’t have to look for any more motivation than playing for your country. That’s the highest honour you can get as a football player,” Cordner said.

“To go out and play every time you get this jersey on, you want to do your best for not only yourself and your teammates, but the whole country as well.” Cordner has established himself as coach Mal Meninga’s first-choice fringe forward on the left edge, with Brisbane’s Matt Gillett on the right. However, Meninga insisted there were only a handful of certainties he had pencilled in for next week’s quarter-final in Darwin, likely to be against Samoa.

He is also looking for a new lock after a tournament-ending injury to Jake Trbojevic.

“We’ve opened it up to everyone. The certainties are Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater - I think at this stage. We’re still having to think about things,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll play against Samoa in the quarter-finals so we’ll pick a team that’s going to be very competitive against them.” Cordner said the back-row position was among the most talented in the NRL. “If you look throughout the whole NRL, it’s the most-contested position. There’s a lot of depth there and we’re lucky in this team that we’ve got a lot of great back-rowers,” he said.

“I was happy for (Graham). He’s one of my real good mates. For any player to get four tries in a game at the back-row position in the Australia jersey, it’s a massive feat.

“He’s been putting in performances like that all year. It was no surprise to me or to anyone in the Australian team that he went out and put four on.”

— AAP

7.15pm

No late changes

Australia squad: 1.Valentine Holmes 2. Dane Gagai 3. Tom Trbojevic 4. Cameron Munster 5. Josh Mansour 6. James Maloney 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Aaron Woods 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. David Klemmer 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Matt Gillett 13. Felise Kaufusi 14. Ben Hunt 15. Jordan McLean 16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 17. Wade Graham 18. Josh McGuire 19. Michael Morgan 20. Josh Dugan 21. Billy Slater

Lebanon squad: 1. Anthony Layoun 2. Travis Robinson 3. James Elias 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Abbas Miski 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Robbie Farah 8. Tim Mannah 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Alex Twal 11. Chris Saab 12. Ahmad Ellaz 13. Nick Kassis 14. Mitchell Mamary 15. Ray Moujalli 16. Jamie Clark 17. Andrew Kazzi 18. Jason Wehbe 19. Danny Barakat 20. Elias Sukkar 21. Daniel Abou-Sleiman