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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2720645, member: 1899"] AUSTRALIA 25; NEW ZEALAND 12 at Eden Park The Kiwis were shellshocked victims of the huge media build-up to their first appearance in a World Cup final. With the biggest New Zealand Rugby League crowd of all time watching, waiting and expecting, the pressure proved too great for the Kiwis. They were beaten 25-12 after a first half deluge by the Australians. After nine minutes the Aussies led 10-0 and the story just got worse for the local heroes. The New Zealanders conceded five early penalties and Michael O’Connor converted two of them into points. From another, halfback Allan Langer scored off a brilliantly executed set move and Australia was on its way. The crowd was silenced by the combination and sparkle of the Aussies and shockdd by their own team’s dismal display. Australia led 15-0 when Wally Lewis was forced off with a broken arm and 21-0 only minutes later. Two minutes after halftime any possibility of a New Zealand revival was extinguished with Australia’s fourth try. The Kiwis saved face with two late tries but Australia could afford to relax then. The World Cup was theirs. Man of the match, for the second time in three internationals was Broncos’ dashing halfback Langer. He scored two tries, could have scored a third and caused the Kiwi defence constant headaches with his enthusiasm and his powers of evasion. Second-rowers Gavin Miller and Paul Sironen were only just shaded by Langer in man of the match calculations. Wayne Pearce was relentless in defence and on-hand whenever Australia made a break. The Kiwis were flustered from the earliest minutes of the match. Halfbacks Gary Freeman and Clayton Friend conceded far too many penalties and were over-zealous play and Australia took full advantage. AUSTRALIA 25 (Langer 2, Miller, Shearer tries; O’Connor 4 goals, Elias field goal) defeated NEW ZEALAND 12 (T. Iro, K. Iro tries; Brown 2 goals) Australia Garry Jack, Dale Shearer, Andrew Farrar, Mark McGaw, Michael O’Connor Wally Lewis ©, Allan Langer Steve Roach, Ben Elias, Paul Dunn, Gavin Miller, Paul Sironen, Wayne Pearce Reserves: Terry Lamb, David Gillespie New Zealand Gary Mercer, Tony Iron, Kevin Iro, Dean Bell, Mark Elia Gary Freeman, Clayton Friend Adrian Shelford, Wayne Wallace, Peter Brown, Kurt Sorensen, Mark Graham, Mark Horo Reserves: Shane Cooper, Sam Stewart [/QUOTE]

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