The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six-match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France, Wales and England, and to date has been the last Kangaroo Tour. The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain for the Ashes. Coached by Chris Anderson and captained by Darren Lockyer, Australia continued its dominance, winning all of the three tests against Great Britain and retaining The Ashes that they have held since 1973 but the 3-0 scoreline didn't show how close the series really was as Australia had to come from behind to win every test, and won each match by a margin of no more than one converted try.
The Australian team was again coached by Chris Anderson who was making his 4th Kangaroo tour. As Gorden Tallis had retired from representative football a month before, the team was captained by the newly appointed Darren Lockyer.[1]
Great Britain kicked off and Australian front rower Robbie Kearns, taking the very first hit-up of the match was struck high by his opposite number Adrian Morley, who was promptly sent off,[7] leaving his team to play the entire match with only twelve men.[8] It was a record for the fastest ever sending off in rugby league history. In the eleventh minute Australia had reached the opposition's end of the field and after playing the ball right in front of the try line, Gower and Lockyer strung long passes together to get it out to the right wing where Phil Bailey dived over in the corner. The video referee David Campbell ruled that Bailey had grounded the ball before his feet were pulled into touch and he was awarded his first international try. With first choice goal-kicker Fitzgibbon taken from the field suffering concussion in the lead-up to the try, the conversion attempt was made by Gower who missed, so the Kangaroos led 0-4. Great Britain later got the ball down to Australia's end and equalised with a similar try, with international debutant Carney diving over in the right-hand corner just before the eighteen-minute mark. Sean Long's conversion attempt was also missed so the scores were level at 4-4.[9] In the thirty-first minute, the Australians had almost reached Great Britain's try line where on the fifth tackle Lockyer at first receiver put a short kick in behind the defense for Waterhouse to grab onto and fall over the line. The video referee was called upon to check for off-side but the try was awarded. Gower's second conversion attempt was also missed so Australia led 4-8 and this remained the score until half-time.[10]
Nearly five minutes into the second half a brawl erupted between Brian Carney and Michael Crocker and in the aftermath Crocker was sent to the sin bin. A few minutes later, following a handling error by Lockyer close to the centre of his own try-line, Great Britain were awarded a scrum feed. From the scrum win the ball was moved out to left centre Keith Senior who dived over in the fiftieth minute to equalise the scores again. Long kicked the conversion successfully so the home side lead 10-8. This lead was extended with a penalty kick by Long making it 12-8.[11] Australia later made their way down to Great Britain's end of the field and on the last tackle Brett Kimmorley from dummy-half ran up to the defensive line then threw a long cut out pass left to his halves partner Craig Gower to run through a gap and dive over the try-line untouched, equalising the score once again. With Fitzgibbon back on the field the conversion was successful so Australia were leading 12-14 with thirty minutes remaining. From the ensuing kick-off Gower knocked on and from the resulting possession right in front of Australia's try-line, Great Britain, after keeping the ball alive got it out to right winger Carney who dove over in the corner again.[12] The video referee checked that the ball was put down properly before Carney's legs were pulled into touch and he was awarded the try, re-gaining the lead for Great Britain. Paul Deacon with his first conversion attempt for Great Britain kicked the goal from the sideline successfully, so the home side were leading 18-14 with less than ten minutes of the match remaining. Then in the seventy-fifth minute the Kangaroos were a few metres into Great Britain's half of the field and on the last tackle. They swung the ball out to the left where Craig Wing made a break and passed it back inside for Darren Lockyer coming up in support to run the remaining fifteen metres and score untouched under the posts. Fitzgibbon's conversion was successful so Australia were leading 18-20. When taking a goal-line drop out, Andy Farrell kicked it out on the full resulting in a penalty to Australia right in front of the uprights. Fitzgibbon kicked the goal in the final minute so the full-time score was 18-22.[13]
^Birchalll, Steven (4 November 2003). . leagueunlimited.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^"Ashes series 2003 - Game 1". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^news.bbc.co.uk (8 November 2003). "The Ashes - first Test photos". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^Marsh, John (3 September 2009). "Lockyer luke-warm [sic] on 'Ashes'". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
^de la Rivière, Richard. . Thirteen. richarddelariviere.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
^"Australia win thriller". BBC Sport. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^"Australia sink brave Lions". BBC News. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^news.bbc.co.uk (9 November 2003). "Australia beat GB". CBBC Newsround. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^"Kangaroos escape with last-gasp win". The Age. 9 November 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
^AAP (11 November 2003). "Fury after Morley dodges ban". The Age. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
External links
2003 Kangaroo Tour at rugbyleagueproject.org
2003 Kangaroo Tour at rl1908.com
August 22, 2023
2003, kangaroo, tour, great, britain, france, 2003, kangaroo, tour, match, tour, australia, national, rugby, league, team, france, wales, england, date, been, last, kangaroo, tour, last, three, matches, were, tests, against, great, britain, ashes, coached, chr. The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France Wales and England and to date has been the last Kangaroo Tour The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain for the Ashes Coached by Chris Anderson and captained by Darren Lockyer Australia continued its dominance winning all of the three tests against Great Britain and retaining The Ashes that they have held since 1973 but the 3 0 scoreline didn t show how close the series really was as Australia had to come from behind to win every test and won each match by a margin of no more than one converted try Contents 1 Touring squad 2 Pre Ashes matches 3 Ashes series 3 1 1st Test 3 2 2nd Test 3 3 3rd Test 4 Statistics 5 References 6 External linksTouring squad EditThe Australian team was again coached by Chris Anderson who was making his 4th Kangaroo tour As Gorden Tallis had retired from representative football a month before the team was captained by the newly appointed Darren Lockyer 1 Player Club Games Tries Goals F Goals PointsPhil Bailey Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 1 1 0 0 4Danny Buderus Newcastle Knights 3 0 0 0 0Petero Civoniceva Brisbane Broncos 3 0 0 0 0Joel Clinton Penrith Panthers 0 0 0 0 0Michael Crocker Sydney Roosters 3 0 0 0 0Michael De Vere Brisbane Broncos 2 1 0 0 0Craig Fitzgibbon Sydney Roosters 3 1 11 0 26Ryan Girdler Penrith Panthers 0 0 0 0 0Craig Gower Penrith Panthers 2 1 0 0 4Shannon Hegarty Sydney Roosters 1 0 0 0 0Robbie Kearns Melbourne Storm 3 0 0 0 0Brett Kimmorley Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 3 1 0 1 5Luke Lewis Penrith Panthers 0 0 0 0 0Darren Lockyer c Brisbane Broncos 3 2 0 0 8Willie Mason Bulldogs 3 0 0 0 0Anthony Minichiello Sydney Roosters 3 0 0 0 0Luke Ricketson Sydney Roosters 3 2 0 0 8Steve Simpson Newcastle Knights 3 0 0 0 0Matt Sing North Queensland Cowboys 2 0 0 0 0Darren Smith St Helens 1 0 0 0 0Richard Villasanti New Zealand Warriors 0 0 0 0 0Trent Waterhouse Penrith Panthers 3 1 0 0 4Shane Webcke Brisbane Broncos 3 0 0 0 0Craig Wing Sydney Roosters 3 0 0 0 0Darren Smith was added to the team while the tour was in EnglandPre Ashes matches EditSaturday 25 OctoberFrance XIII 10 34 AustraliaTries Julien Rinaldi Goals Julien Rinaldi 3 2 Tries Michael Crocker 2 Matt Sing 2 Anthony Minichiello Trent Waterhouse Goals Michael De Vere 5 Stade d Albert Domec CarcassonneAttendance 7 813Referee Richard Frileux France XIII Julien Gerin Dimitri Pilo Sylvain Houles Teddy Sadaoui Frederic Zitter Frederic Banquet Julien Rinaldi Olivier Pramil Cederic Gay Jerome Guisset c Daniel Dumas Jamal Fakir John Vaigata Res Artie Shead Pierre Sabatie Abderazak El Khalouki Marc Faumuina Coach Gilles DumasAustralia Anthony Minichiello Luke Lewis Shannon Hegarty Michael De Vere Matt Sing Craig Wing Craig Gower Petero Civoniceva Michael Crocker Robbie Kearns c Willie Mason Trent Waterhouse Phil Bailey Res Joel Clinton Shane Webcke Richard Villasanti Brett Kimmorley Tuesday 28 OctoberEngland A 22 26 AustraliaTries Martin Aspinwall Ade Gardner Martin Gleeson Andy Lynch Goals Chris Thorman 3 3 Tries Danny Buderus Michael Crocker Robbie Kearns Matt Sing Goals Craig Fitzgibbon 5 Griffin Park LondonAttendance 6 817Referee Glen Black England A Shaun Briscoe Mark Calderwood Martin Gleeson Martin Aspinwall Ade Gardner Chris Thorman Rob Burrow Andy Lynch Matt Diskin Rob Parker Danny Tickle Lee Radford Sean O Loughlin c Res Danny McGuire Mick Higham Danny Sculthorpe Gareth Hock Coach John KearAustralia Darren Lockyer c Matt Sing Shannon Hegarty Michael De Vere Luke Lewis Craig Gower Brett Kimmorley Joel Clinton Danny Buderus Petero Civoniceva Craig Fitzgibbon Steve Simpson Luke Ricketson Res Michael Crocker Trent Waterhouse Willie Mason Robbie Kearns Australia played a non test international against Wales in Bridgend The Kangaroos won 76 4 crossing for 11 tries Sunday 2 NovemberWales 4 76 AustraliaTries Kris Tassell Goals 4 Tries Danny Buderus 2 Brett Kimmorley 2 Anthony Minichiello 2 Phil Bailey Ryan Girdler Craig Gower Shannon Hegarty Darren Lockyer Steve Simpson Craig Wing Goals Craig Fitzgibbon 11 11 Craig Gower 1 2 Brewery Field BridgendAttendance 3 112Referee Karl Kirkpatrick Player of the Match Brett Kimmorley Wales Position AustraliaPaul Atcheson c FB Darren Lockyer c Hefin O Hare WG Anthony MinichielloKris Tassell CE Ryan GirdlerAdam Hughes CE Phil BaileyDamian Gibson WG Shannon HegartyAled James SO Craig GowerMark Lennon SH Brett KimmorleyRob Roberts PR Shane WebckeIan Watson HK Danny BuderusAnthony Farrell PR Petero CivonicevaJon Aston SR Steve SimpsonChris Morley SR Craig FitzgibbonKevin Ellis LF Luke RicketsonAllan Bateman Res Richard VillasantiDavid Mills Res Willie MasonGareth Price Res Trent WaterhouseJordan James Res Craig WingNeil Kelly Coach Chris AndersonAshes series EditAustralia were to contest Great Britain for the Ashes for the last time in 2003 in what was styled the Think Road Safety Test series The Australian Rugby League and Rugby Football League agreed beforehand that the best of three series would be officiated by British referees Steve Ganson and Russell Smith for the 1st and 3rd tests and by Australian referee Tim Mander for the 2nd test 5 The series was broadcast on television by Sky Sports with commentary by Eddie Hemmings Mike Stephenson Shaun McRae Bill Arthur and Chris Warren Australian McRae had actually toured with the 1990 Kangaroos as a team trainer 1st Test Edit 18 30 GMTSaturday 8 NovemberGreat Britain 18 22 AustraliaTries Brian Carney 2 Keith Senior Goals Sean Long 2 4 Paul Deacon 1 1 1 Tries Phil Bailey Craig Gower Darren Lockyer Trent Waterhouse Goals Craig Fitzgibbon 3 3 Craig Gower 0 2 JJB Stadium WiganAttendance 24 614 6 Referee Steve Ganson Player of the Match Craig Wing Great Britain Posit AustraliaKris Radlinski FB Darren Lockyer c Brian Carney WG Anthony MinichielloGary Connolly CE Craig WingKeith Senior CE Phil BaileyRichard Horne WG Shannon HegartyPaul Sculthorpe SO Craig GowerSean Long SH Brett KimmorleyStuart Fielden PR Shane WebckeTerry Newton HK Danny BuderusAdrian Morley PR Robbie KearnsJamie Peacock SR Steve SimpsonAndy Farrell c SR Craig FitzgibbonMike Forshaw LF Luke RicketsonPaul Anderson Int Petero CivonicevaBarrie McDermott Int Willie MasonPaul Deacon Int Trent WaterhouseLee Gilmour Int Michael CrockerDavid Waite Coach Chris AndersonGreat Britain kicked off and Australian front rower Robbie Kearns taking the very first hit up of the match was struck high by his opposite number Adrian Morley who was promptly sent off 7 leaving his team to play the entire match with only twelve men 8 It was a record for the fastest ever sending off in rugby league history In the eleventh minute Australia had reached the opposition s end of the field and after playing the ball right in front of the try line Gower and Lockyer strung long passes together to get it out to the right wing where Phil Bailey dived over in the corner The video referee David Campbell ruled that Bailey had grounded the ball before his feet were pulled into touch and he was awarded his first international try With first choice goal kicker Fitzgibbon taken from the field suffering concussion in the lead up to the try the conversion attempt was made by Gower who missed so the Kangaroos led 0 4 Great Britain later got the ball down to Australia s end and equalised with a similar try with international debutant Carney diving over in the right hand corner just before the eighteen minute mark Sean Long s conversion attempt was also missed so the scores were level at 4 4 9 In the thirty first minute the Australians had almost reached Great Britain s try line where on the fifth tackle Lockyer at first receiver put a short kick in behind the defense for Waterhouse to grab onto and fall over the line The video referee was called upon to check for off side but the try was awarded Gower s second conversion attempt was also missed so Australia led 4 8 and this remained the score until half time 10 Nearly five minutes into the second half a brawl erupted between Brian Carney and Michael Crocker and in the aftermath Crocker was sent to the sin bin A few minutes later following a handling error by Lockyer close to the centre of his own try line Great Britain were awarded a scrum feed From the scrum win the ball was moved out to left centre Keith Senior who dived over in the fiftieth minute to equalise the scores again Long kicked the conversion successfully so the home side lead 10 8 This lead was extended with a penalty kick by Long making it 12 8 11 Australia later made their way down to Great Britain s end of the field and on the last tackle Brett Kimmorley from dummy half ran up to the defensive line then threw a long cut out pass left to his halves partner Craig Gower to run through a gap and dive over the try line untouched equalising the score once again With Fitzgibbon back on the field the conversion was successful so Australia were leading 12 14 with thirty minutes remaining From the ensuing kick off Gower knocked on and from the resulting possession right in front of Australia s try line Great Britain after keeping the ball alive got it out to right winger Carney who dove over in the corner again 12 The video referee checked that the ball was put down properly before Carney s legs were pulled into touch and he was awarded the try re gaining the lead for Great Britain Paul Deacon with his first conversion attempt for Great Britain kicked the goal from the sideline successfully so the home side were leading 18 14 with less than ten minutes of the match remaining Then in the seventy fifth minute the Kangaroos were a few metres into Great Britain s half of the field and on the last tackle They swung the ball out to the left where Craig Wing made a break and passed it back inside for Darren Lockyer coming up in support to run the remaining fifteen metres and score untouched under the posts Fitzgibbon s conversion was successful so Australia were leading 18 20 When taking a goal line drop out Andy Farrell kicked it out on the full resulting in a penalty to Australia right in front of the uprights Fitzgibbon kicked the goal in the final minute so the full time score was 18 22 13 2nd Test Edit 15 November 2003Great Britain 20 23 AustraliaTries Gary Connolly Terry Newton Kris Radlinski Goals Paul Deacon 4 4 2 Tries Darren Lockyer Brett Kimmorley Craig Fitzgibbon Goals Craig Fitzgibbon 5 6 Field Goals Brett KimmorleyKingston Communications Stadium HullAttendance 22 152Referee Tim Mander Player of the Match Brett Kimmorley Great Britain Posit AustraliaKris Radlinski FB Darren Lockyer c Brian Carney WG Anthony MinichielloGary Connolly CE Craig WingKeith Senior CE Michael De VereRichard Horne WG Matt SingPaul Sculthorpe SO Craig GowerPaul Deacon SH Brett KimmorleyStuart Fielden PR Shane WebckeTerry Newton HK Danny BuderusBarrie McDermott PR Robbie KearnsJamie Peacock SR Steve SimpsonAdrian Morley SR Craig FitzgibbonAndy Farrell c LF Luke RicketsonKevin Sinfield Int Petero CivonicevaMike Forshaw Int Willie MasonPaul Anderson Int Trent WaterhouseInt Michael CrockerDavid Waite Coach Chris AndersonFor his high tackle in the 1st Test Great Britain front rower Adrian Morley avoided suspension only incurring a fine of 2 000 from a three man international judiciary panel consisting of Queensland Rugby League chairman John McDonald Rugby Football League representative Deryck Fox and chairman Judge Peter Charlesworth 14 3rd Test Edit 22 November 2003Great Britain 12 18 AustraliaTries Kris Radlinski Paul Sculthorpe Goals Paul Deacon 1 2 Sean Long 1 1 3 Tries Luke Ricketson 2 Michael De Vere Goals Craig Fitzgibbon 3 3 McAlpine Stadium HuddersfieldAttendance 24 126Referee Russell Smith Player of the Match Adrian Morley Great Britain Posit AustraliaKris Radlinski FB Darren Lockyer c Brian Carney WG Anthony MinichielloMartin Gleeson CE Craig WingLee Gilmour CE Michael De VereRichard Horne WG Matt SingPaul Sculthorpe SO Michael CrockerPaul Deacon SH Brett KimmorleyStuart Fielden PR Shane WebckeTerry Newton HK Danny BuderusAdrian Morley PR Robbie KearnsJamie Peacock SR Steve SimpsonAndy Farrell c SR Craig FitzgibbonMike Forshaw LF Luke RicketsonSean Long Int Petero CivonicevaBarrie McDermott Int Willie MasonKevin Sinfield Int Trent WaterhouseGareth Ellis Int Darren SmithDavid Waite Coach Chris AndersonStatistics EditLeading Try Scorer 3 by Darren Lockyer Michael Crocker Anthony Minichiello Matt Sing and Brett KimmorleyLeading Point Scorer 58 by Craig Fitzgibbon 1 try 27 goals Largest Attendance 24 614 First test vs Great Britain at JJB StadiumLargest non test Attendance 7 813 vs France XIII at Stade d Albert DomecReferences Edit Tallis quits rep football 2003 09 30 abc net au permanent dead link France XIII vs Australia England A vs Australia Archived from the original on 2016 10 06 Retrieved 2016 02 01 Wales vs Australia Birchalll Steven 4 November 2003 Referees for Think Ashes Test Series leagueunlimited com Archived from the original on 20 May 2014 Retrieved 7 September 2013 Ashes series 2003 Game 1 rugbyleagueproject org Shawn Dollin Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates Retrieved 7 September 2013 news bbc co uk 8 November 2003 The Ashes first Test photos BBC News Retrieved 7 September 2013 Marsh John 3 September 2009 Lockyer luke warm sic on Ashes The Courier Mail Brisbane Australia Retrieved 31 October 2019 de la Riviere Richard 12th Second Red Card costs GB Thirteen richarddelariviere co uk Archived from the original on 8 January 2014 Retrieved 8 January 2014 Australia win thriller BBC Sport 8 November 2003 Retrieved 7 September 2013 Australia sink brave Lions BBC News 8 November 2003 Retrieved 7 September 2013 news bbc co uk 9 November 2003 Australia beat GB CBBC Newsround Retrieved 7 September 2013 Kangaroos escape with last gasp win The Age 9 November 2003 Retrieved 7 September 2013 AAP 11 November 2003 Fury after Morley dodges ban The Age Retrieved 7 September 2013 External links Edit2003 Kangaroo Tour at rugbyleagueproject org 2003 Kangaroo Tour at rl1908 com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France amp oldid 1160789153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
