- Kangaroos run in 15 tries at the Coventry Building Society Arena
- Josh Edo-Carr took four, debutant Campbell Graham three
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| Australia defeated Scotland in the 84–0 Rugby League World Cup S Education Online |
One of Coventry's best-known historical figures is Lady Godiva, who, as legend tells, famously rode through the English town naked on horseback in the 11th century to protest high taxes. On Friday night, the Kangaroos stormed the city in full gear and grabbed their attention by beating Scotland 84-0 in their second Rugby League World Cup match.
This was never really in doubt, given the gulf between the defending World Cup holders and the smaller Bravehearts in the West Midlands, who rely largely on lower-league players of English and Antipodean heritage. The two nations have only played once before, back in 2016 at the Four Nations in Hull, and that fixture ended in an equally one-sided 54–12 win.
But this time the loss was much more serious, with Australia making seven more attempts in the first half and eight more in the second. Nathan Cleary, with one try and 12 goals to his name, finished with a personal total of 28 points, while Josh Edou-Carr claimed four tries and Campbell Graham scored a hat-trick.
Coach Mal Meninga briefed the changes before the game, handing out debuts to Matt Burton, Graham, Clary, Liam Martin, Isah Yeo and Lindsay Collins. Considering the Kangaroos' backup halfback is clear at this point, it's a force in the depths that Meninga's counterpart Nathan Graham could only have dreamed of.
Before the match kicked off a minute’s silence was held for Redcliffe player Liam Hampson, who had been found dead in Barcelona nightclub earlier this week. Hampson was travelling with many NRL players in Spain and is a friend of Kangaroos prop, Patrick Cadigan.
Scotland's poor start at the gloomy Coventry Building Society Arena, who accidentally touched the ball from the kick-off, set the tone. This gave Australia a set on the Scots' try-line, and a through kick made a try almost 70 seconds later, but Alex Walker managed to land the ball before Clee got his hands on it.
It took five minutes for the Kangaroos to open the scoring, as Klee pulled a ball wide out to Ado-Carr and scored. The halfback could not add extra from the sideline, but his team led 4–0.
It went 8-0 six minutes later, when Jack Whitten pulled back some soft defence to hit a touchdown, the Penrith playmaker made no mistake this time as the scoreboard began to go into overdrive.
In the 15th minute, Lachlan Walmsley dropped the Cleary Bomb and Angus Crichton made a third attempt. It was a minute away as Klee made it 16-0. The Panthers star's clinical kicking game was hitting the Scots, with Matty Russell hitting one in slippery conditions and forcing a drop-out. Then it was Graham, who would have been playing for Scotland in this World Cup through his Glaswegian father if not for a late call-up from Meninga, who stayed for Australia's fourth try.
Bravehearts began falling from more and more tackles, and it was soon Klee who caught a soft effort between the sticks before converting his own four-pointer. Four minutes later, Addo-Carr displayed his trademark pace to take his second, and then Wighton scored his double thanks to a pass from Harry Grant.
It was 40-0 at half-time and the break came as a sigh of relief for Scotland. But the batting continued into the second half, taking only 55 seconds to pass James Tedesco.