The 2001 Kangaroo Tour was the Australia national rugby league team's nineteenth Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. The truncated tour featured only the three Ashes series Test matches against Great Britain. The 2001 tour was almost abandoned due to military action in the wake of the September 11 attacks.[1] Australia continued its dominance, winning two of the three tests against Great Britain and retaining The Ashes that they have held since 1973.

Background

The 2001 Kangaroo tour was initially cancelled by the Australian Rugby League (ARL) but after strong public opinion in both Great Britain and Australia, it went ahead. However, the only games played were the three tests, marking the first Kangaroo Tour to not play against any British club or provincial teams. The 2001 tour was also the first since 1952-53 not to include a test series against France following The Ashes series.

Touring Squad

The team was coached by Chris Anderson who was making his third Kangaroo Tour, and first as coach, after playing in the 1978 and 1982 tours, the second in 1982 as a member of the famed "Invincibles". Team captain was Brad Fittler, the youngest ever Kangaroo tourist in 1990 at the age of 18, was making his third and last Kangaroo Tour after being part of the successful 1990 and 1994 touring teams. Fittler was also the only member of the squad that had previously taken part in a Kangaroo tour.

Ashes series

1st Test

11 November 2001
Great Britain  20 – 12  Australia
Tries
Paul Sculthorpe (2)
Jamie Peacock
Goals
Andy Farrell (3)
Paul Sculthorpe (2)
[2]
Tries
Adam MacDougall
Andrew Johns
Goals
Andrew Johns (2)
McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 21,758
Referee: Robert Connolly United Kingdom
Player of the Match: Paul Sculthorpe [3]
Great Britain Position Australia
Kris RadlinskiFBDarren Lockyer
Leon PryceWGLote Tuqiri
Gary ConnollyCEMatthew Gidley
Paul JohnsonCEJamie Lyon
Keith SeniorWGAdam MacDougall
Paul SculthorpeSOTrent Barrett
Mike ForshawSHAndrew Johns
Terry O'ConnorPRJason Stevens
Kevin SinfieldHKDanny Buderus
Barrie McDermottPRRobbie Kearns
Chris JoyntSRDane Carlaw
Jamie PeacockSRBen Kennedy
Andy Farrell (c)LFBrad Fittler (c)
Paul WellensInt.Braith Anasta
Richard HorneInt.Michael Vella
Paul AndersonInt.Petero Civoniceva
Stuart FieldenInt.Jason Ryles
David WaiteCoachChris Anderson

Great Britain led 12 nil at half time but after the break Australia came back strongly. The home side were able to get the upset in the end.[4]

2nd Test

17 November 2001
Great Britain  12 – 40  Australia
Tries
Leon Pryce
Paul Sculthorpe




Goals
Andy Farrell (2)
[5]
Tries
Andrew Johns (2)
Braith Anasta
Brad Fittler
Ben Kennedy
Darren Lockyer
Adam MacDougall
Goals
Andrew Johns (6)
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Attendance: 22,152
Referee: Bill Harrigan Australia
Player of the Match: Andrew Johns [6]
Great Britain Position Australia
Kris RadlinskiFBDarren Lockyer
Leon PryceWGLote Tuqiri
Gary ConnollyCEMatthew Gidley
Keith SeniorCEJamie Lyon
Paul JohnsonWGAdam MacDougall
Paul SculthorpeSOTrent Barrett
Kevin SinfieldSHAndrew Johns
Terry O'ConnorPRJason Stevens
Mike ForshawHKDanny Buderus
Barrie McDermottPRRobbie Kearns
Chris JoyntSRDane Carlaw
Jamie PeacockSRBen Kennedy
Andy Farrell (c)LFBrad Fittler (c)
Paul WellensInt.Braith Anasta
Richard HorneInt.Michael Vella
Paul AndersonInt.Petero Civoniceva
Stuart FieldenInt.Brad Meyers
David WaiteCoachChris Anderson

After trailing 40 nil at half time, Great Britain's two tries in the final ten minutes were too little too late.[7] The main contributors of Australia's victory were scrum half back Andrew Johns, who scored two tries and kicked all but one of the six conversions, and fullback Darren Lockyer.[8]

3rd Test

For the first time since the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, the Lions and Kangaroos had met in Wigan.

24 November 2001
Great Britain  8 – 28  Australia
Tries
Paul Johnson



Goals
Andy Farrell (2)
[9]
Tries
Trent Barrett (2)
Matthew Gidley
Darren Lockyer
Brad Meyers
Goals
Andrew Johns (3)
Brad Fittler
JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 25,011
Referee: Bill Harrigan Australia
Player of the Match: Trent Barrett [10]
Great Britain Position Australia
Paul WellensFBDarren Lockyer
Leon PryceWGNathan Blacklock
Gary ConnollyCEMatthew Gidley
Keith SeniorCEJamie Lyon
Paul JohnsonWGAdam MacDougall
Paul SculthorpeSOTrent Barrett
Paul DeaconSHAndrew Johns
Stuart FieldenPRJason Stevens
Mike ForshawHKDanny Buderus
Barrie McDermottPRRobbie Kearns
Chris JoyntSRDane Carlaw
Terry O'ConnorSRBen Kennedy
Andy Farrell (c)LFBrad Fittler (c)
Kevin SinfieldInt.Braith Anasta
David HodgsonInt.Brad Meyers
Paul AndersonInt.Petero Civoniceva
Jamie PeacockInt.Jason Ryles
David WaiteCoachChris Anderson

Great Britain scored the opening try of the match early in the first half, but by the break trailed 12-6 behind Australia.[11] During the first half of the game, Australia's coach Chris Anderson suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital.[12]

Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

Largest Attendance

References

  1. "Ashes tour back on". BBC News. 16 October 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  2. 1st Test Report
  3. Gordos, Phil (11 November 2001). "Great Britain stun Aussies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  4. "Clockwatch: GB 20-12 Australia". BBC News. 11 November 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  5. 2nd Test Report
  6. "Johns warns against complacency". BBC News. 17 November 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  7. "Clockwatch: GB 12-40 Australia". BBC News. 17 November 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  8. Chowdhury, Saj (17 November 2001). "Australia humiliate Lions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  9. 3rd Test Report
  10. Chowdhury, Saj (24 November 2001). "Kangaroos seal Ashes triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  11. "Clockwatch: GB 8-28 Australia". BBC News. 24 November 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  12. Chowdhury, Saj (25 November 2001). "Aussie coach suffers heart attack". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
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