Australia, England wrap up group stage with wins
sydney — Australia set up a Rugby League World Cup quarter-final against the United States by trouncing Ireland 50-0 on Saturday, running in nine tries despite the tournament favorites giving many of their star players the night off.
The Kangaroos wrapped up their Group A campaign with a third straight win, passing the 100-point barrier in the process, to ruin the biggest match in the history of Irish rugby league and knock the hosts out of the cup.
Earlier, England grabbed six tries in 18 minutes bridging halftime to rally past Fiji 34-12 and seal second place in the group — and a last-eight match against France or Samoa.
It was a fitting victory for the English on a day former international Steve Prescott died at the age of 39 following a long battle against cancer.
Ireland’s defeat meant Fiji also advanced to the quarters.
The likes of Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston were rested by Australia, which still had far too much for an Ireland team that had already been crushed 42-0 by England.
The first of Jarryd Hayne’s two tries was scored in the second minute to begin the rout at Thomond Park, the home of rugby union team Munster. Cooper Cronk (two), Greg Bird, Brett Morris, Billy Slater, Daly Cherry-Evans and Andrew Fifita also went over.
England was given a tougher test and was 6-0 down approaching halftime thanks to Eloni Vunakece’s 32nd-minute try for Fiji. —