2021 RLWC Round 2, Australia 84 Scotland 0 – Report

Lachlan Jeffery reviews Australia’s thrashing of Scotland in Coventry

SCOREBOARD

Australia 84
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr 4 (5, 31, 48, 78), Campbell Graham 3 (20, 58, 73), Jack Wighton 2 (10, 34), Angus Crichton (14), Nathan Cleary (27), James Tedesco (41), Ben Hunt (43), Matt Burton (65), Isaah Yeo (76)
Goals: Nathan Cleary 12 (11, 15, 22, 29, 33, 35, 42, 44, 49, 66, 74, 77)

Scotland 0

MATCH REPORT

Nathan Cleary has made the perfect start to his international rugby league career, scoring 28 points from a try and 12 goals in Australia’s 84-0 win over Scotland on a drizzly night at Coventry Building Society Arena.

Cleary’s 28 points was two short of Andrew Johns’ record for an Australian debutant, while fellow Panthers debutants Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo also played well.

It was nightmare start for the Bravehearts, conceding a goal line drop out from the kick-off and very nearly conceding a try to Nathan Cleary barely a minute later.

Another drop-out and error followed before Australia ultimately did score out wide through Josh Addo-Carr.

That started the procession, with Jack Wighton scoring shortly after, followed by Angus Crichton who pounced after Cameron Munster was held off the ball.

Campbell Graham, who was approached to represent Scotland in the tournament, marked his debut with a try in the 20^th minute, before Cleary did likewise seven minutes later.

It took Scotland 30 minutes to get any decent field position, but even that led to an Australian try as a turnover was quickly shifted to Addo-Carr to score his second.

Martin then sliced through the line to set Wighton up on the inside for his double, taking the Kangaroos to a 40-0 lead they took to half-time.

The break did nothing to stop Australia’s momentum, scoring in each of the first two sets of the second half, first through captain James Tedesco, then through Ben Hunt after a short kick-off was collected by Cleary.

When Addo-Carr completed his hat trick in the 48^th minute, it looked like 100 could be on the cards.

The points dried up temporarily off the back of some strong Scottish defence, until Kane Linnett was sin binned in the 58^th minute. It took only seconds for Australia to take advantage, breaking the longest scoring drought of the match through Graham.

Matt Burton became the third debutant of the night to score for the Kangaroos with 15 minutes to go, before Australia added three tries in the final seven minutes through Graham, Yeo and a fourth to Addo-Carr.

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