OF KANGAROOS AND KIWIS:
RECENT WORLD CUP, FOUR NATIONS AND TRI NATIONS FINALS BATTLES BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND:
World Cup final 2013, November 30, Old Trafford, Manchester
Australia 34 bt New Zealand 2
Australia produced one of the most-comprehensive international performances to blow the Kiwis away and reclaim their mantle as world champions. First-half tries to Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk put the Kangaroos ahead 16-2 at the break.
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With Johnathan Thurston starring, the Kangaroos went on with it, Slater scoring his second and Brett Morris bagging a double in the biggest winning margin in a final.
Four Nations final 2010, November 13, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
New Zealand 16 bt Australia 12
The Kiwis stunned the defending champions to fight back from six points down in the last 10 minutes and score a dramatic upset win. Australia opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Brent Tate, before Shaun Kenny-Dowall squared the ledger just before halftime for a score of 6-6.
Greg Bird put Billy Slater over on the hour mark as Australia regained the lead and looked set to avenge their 2008 World Cup final loss. But Benji Marshall then clicked into gear for the Kiwis. He kicked brilliantly for a Jason Nightingale try in the 71st minute then threw the final pass for Nathan Fien's match-winning try in the 79th minute.
World Cup final 2008, November 22, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
New Zealand 34 bt Australia 20
In one of the biggest upsets in history, the Kiwis bounced back from a 30-6 thumping by the Kangaroos earlier in the tournament to breathe new life into international rugby league.
Australia led 16-12 at the break, before the Kiwis regained the lead 18-16 through a Lance Hohaia try. A 60th-minute Billy Slater howler led to a Benji Marshall try before Australia hit back through Greg Inglis to trail 22-20.
Hohaia was awarded a 70th-minute penalty try after being illegally taken out by Joel Monaghan and an Adam Blair four-pointer in the 75th minute sealed the historic win for the Kiwis and their first world Cup triumph.
Tri Nations final 2006, November 25, Sydney Football Stadium
Australia 16 bt New Zealand 12 in golden point
In a typically tough international battle, the scores were locked at 12-12 at fulltime with five-eighth Darren Lockyer's starring efforts for Australia countered by those of Kiwi halfback Stacey Jones.
The first five-minute period of extra-time passed with both playmakers skewing field goal attempts. In the 87th minute, Johnathan Thurston dummied his way through the Kiwi defence and passed to man of the match Lockyer who was ankle-tapped on his way to the line but stumbled over between the posts for the match-winning try.
Tri Nations final 2005, November 26, Elland Rd, Leeds
New Zealand 24 bt Australia 0
An upset hammering of Australia ended the Kangaroos' 27-year dominance of international rugby league. Ruben Wiki earned man-of-the-match honours as New Zealand scored four tries to nil, with Manu Vatuvei crossing for a double. It was the first time the Kangaroos had failed to win a tournament since the 1978 tour of France.
A week after the loss, Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett stepped down from his post.
