Consider it the ultimate blackout.
asserted
it → consider → ?
In a show of cross-code solidarity, the All Blacks were on hand to lend their support to the Kiwis as the New Zealand footballing teams prepared for their respective clashes with Australia.
asserted
teams → lend → Australia
More than half a dozen All Blacks – including Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea and Cam Roigard – were on hand during the Kiwis’ captain’s run on Wednesday ahead of their tournament-opening Rugby League World Cup clash against the Kangaroos.
asserted
Blacks → include → Kangaroos
The rugby boys watched on from the sidelines at Allianz Stadium, before passing on some words of encouragement to their 13-aside counterparts.
asserted
boys → watch → counterparts
The trans-Tasman rivalry is on in earnest in Sydney in the coming days, with the All Blacks clashing with the Wallabies on Saturday after securing the Bledisloe Cup with a 50-19 rout at Eden Park last weekend.
asserted
Blacks → come → Park
And the All Blacks were only too happy to provide inspiration as their rugby league counterparts prepared to take on the tournament favourites.
asserted
counterparts → provide → favourites
“Really good, really cool,” Kiwis coach Stacey Jones said of the support of the All Blacks.
asserted
Jones → say → Blacks
“I know that our boys were watching their game on the weekend, and a lot of their players enjoy watching rugby league.
asserted
lot → know → league
So it’s great that there’s a connection.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
There once was a time when the rival codes wouldn’t be seen together.
asserted
codes → see → ?
And despite the Warriors making inroads in All Blacks-mad New Zealand, union is still the preeminent code for the nation.
asserted
union → make → nation
However, the chance to conspire against arch rivals Australia was too good to refuse.
asserted
chance → conspire → Australia
“Very special,” Jones said.
asserted
Jones → say → ?
“Cross-code now is a lot closer than what it used to be.
asserted
it → use → what
Obviously, [we are] getting ideas from what they do, and if they get some stuff from us, then brilliant.
asserted
they → get → us
But yeah, it’s just got to benefit both codes …
asserted
it → get → codes
“It’d be pretty special [for both New Zealand teams to win], particularly while some of these All Black boys are down to support us, and we’ll obviously be supporting them.
asserted
we → win → them
Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris, who was involved in a jersey presentation with his All Blacks counterparts, said their presence was a timely boost.
asserted
presence → involve → counterparts
“It’s pretty cool, hey?” Fisher-Harris said.
asserted
Harris → ’ → ?
“Obviously, the ABs and some of the boys, obviously the other code, but it’s just all love and supporting each other.
asserted
it → ’ → other
I think there’s a couple of them coming tomorrow to watch the game, and hopefully we can go watch their game on Saturday, too, so it’s pretty special.”
asserted
it → think → Saturday
Asked if they had been inspired by the All Blacks’ win over the Wallabies last weekend, the Warriors prop said: “Not just that test, but just in general – how dominant and how they go about their business and represent New Zealand.
asserted
they → ask → Zealand
[There] are lot of things that they do that we look up to, so, yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
asserted
it → do → that
Much of the build-up to the World Cup opener has focused on the strength of the New Zealand pack.
asserted
Much → focus → pack
In Naufahu Whyte, Moses Leota, Joseph Tapine and Fisher-Harris, Jones has at his disposal a pack that – at least on paper – is one of the strongest assembled.
asserted
that → have → strongest
“We have the potential to be the best,” Fisher-Harris said when asked if the pack is the best he has played with.
asserted
he → have → potential
The Australians go into this campaign without Payne Haas and Lindsay Collins, but coach Kevin Walters said his pack shouldn’t be underestimated.
asserted
pack → go → Haas
“It’s a strong New Zealand side, certainly, but I feel like the guys that we have picked in the Australian squad, they’re not mugs,” Walters said.
asserted
Walters → ’ → squad
“We’ve got Origin players, Test players, premiership winners, so that side of it – that’s what the World Cup is all about – seeing the best players on the world stage.
asserted
Cup → get → stage
Fortunately, from Australia’s point of view, we provide a lot of those players.”
asserted
we → provide → players
Walters opted for Reece Walsh at fullback and Mitchell Moses at halfback for the opening game, but said James Tedesco and Sam Walker will get their chance in game two.
asserted
Tedesco → opt → game
“Everyone will play next week who’s not playing this week,” Walters said.
asserted
Walters → play → ?
“I feel that’s my objective as the coach is to give everyone an opportunity.
asserted
’s → feel → opportunity
“I could happily play all of them tomorrow, but we’ve only got 19 positions in the side for tomorrow’s game, but that will change next week.”
uncertain
that → play → game
The Aporia
