• Kangaroos Reclaim Top Spot in Rankings with All Blacks Defeat

    The most recent rumbling in New Zealand had nothing to do with subterranean shifts of tectonic plates, rather, it was the aftershock of not simply a Four Nations defeat of the All Blacks by the Kangaroos, but one that would have to described as total humiliation, worse perhaps than the Chicago debacle that saw the Irish rugby squad break through against the All Blacks for the first time in the history of international play.

    The ‘Roos re-ascended to the top of the world rankings by dealing a 34 – 8 defeat in the Four Nations final.

    It marked the fourth time this year that the Aussies humbled the kiwis and delivered to ‘Roos Coach Mal Meninga the right to boast of an unblemished record in his first year as coach.

    Kiwi Coach Steve Hansen tipped the outcome earlier in the week when his comments about the likely outcome, delivered perhaps to motivate his squad, did not produce the desired outcome.

    The draw against Scotland was the sort of writing on the wall that the proud All Blacks apparently failed to heed, the result being that the ‘Roos reclaimed the Four Nations trophy they surrendered in 2014.

    The most recent outcome was in many ways similar to a 34 – 2 demolition by the Aussies over the Kiwis in 2013 World Cup play.