Source : ABC NEWS
New Zealand has marched itself into the semifinals of the Rugby League World Cup with a 78-0 thrashing of Fiji, with two players being sent off from the fiery clash on the Gold Coast.
New Zealand was ruthless from the opening whistle, scoring 13 tries in a one-sided contest.
The Kiwis had scored eight tries in the first half and with the result beyond doubt, before the match was thrown into turmoil when each team had a player marched from the field after an ugly episode.
New Zealand winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who scored one of the Kiwis’ eight first-half tries, rushed out of the defensive line and hit Fiji’s Ronald Philitoga flush in the head with his shoulder.
That high-shot had the Fiji Bati players seeing red, with halfback Brandon Wakeham hitting Mulitalo with a punch to the head while he was still on the ground.
Referee Grant Atkins sent both players from the field, with each player certain to be on the charge sheet when it is released tomorrow.
Wakeham will play no further part in the World Cup with the Bati failing to make the semifinals, but Mulitalo’s hopes of playing in the semifinals appear to be in serious doubt.
One week after giving Australia a huge scare at Lang Park, the Fijian Bati were hoping to pull off a huge upset in Saturday’s de facto semifinal.
But the Kiwis were ruthless from the start, scoring four tries in the opening 12 minutes to end any hope of the Bati knocking them out of the competition like they did in 2017.
The Kiwis scored its first try in the second minute through Jahrome Hughes, then crossed again three minutes later when fullback Keano Kini used his speed to slice through the defensive line.
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Centre Casey McLean scored the Kiwis’ third in the ninth minute, then Bati captain Apisai Koroisau suffered a head knock which ruled him out of the remaining 70 minutes.
When Dane Gagai picked up a loose ball that was dropped by the Bati on their goal-line to score in the 12th minute, the score was 24-0 and the match was all but over.
The Kiwis would score another four tries to round out a spirit-breaking 48-0 first half.
The tension at the Gold Coast did not cool after the two send-offs, with several big shots and a pair of flare-ups between the two sides.
Kiwi lock Joseph Tapine was put on report for a high tackle, while Bati interchange player Jordan Miller was sent to the sin bin late for an alleged headbutt.
The Kiwis would score five more tries in the second half, with McLean ending the day with four.
Jamayne Isaako was perfect off the kicking tee, converting all 13 shots at goal.
The Kiwis will likely face either Tonga or Samoa in the semifinals, while England still has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the knock-out phase.
