Defending champions Australia have silenced any doubts about their readiness to defend their Rugby League World Cup crown, smashing Scotland 84-0 in pool play at Coventry.
Flying winger Josh Addo-Carr grabbed four tries, showing his sheer pace, while fellow winger Campebll Graham had a hat-trick on debut and centre Jack Wighton a double, as the Kangaroos piled on 15 tries, 12 of them converted by half Ivan Cleary, also making his international debut.
The Aussies never allowed their opponents into the match, with Addo-Carr opening the scoring five minutes in and the scoreboard keeping close pace with the clock from there on. They led 40-0 at the break and finished with their biggest World Cup win since 2000, when they beat Russia 110-4.
With no international play since 2019, when they were beaten by Tonga at Eden Park, Australia have slipped to fourth in world rankings and are drawn to meet No.1 New Zealand in the semi-finals. They showed some rust in their tournament opener against Fiji, conceding the opening try, before running away 42-8.
"It felt pretty surreal," said Graham of his debut. "I was a bit nervy this morning waking up.
"It sort of started to sink in once we got to the ground that I would be representing the green-and-gold. Mum and Dad made the trip out here, and this is my mum’s hometown, so it all came together pretty funny, but I couldn’t have thought of a better debut really.
"I have a lot of family here representing me and for me to represent them is a huge honour."
Scotland lost their opening match to Italy and are effectively out of contention, even before their final pool match against the Fijians. Australia face the Italians next Sunday (NZ time).
Australia 84 (Addo-Carr 4, Graham 3, Wighton 2, Crichton, Cleary, Tedesco, Hunt, Burton & Yeo tries; Cleary 12 conversions) Scotland 0
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