The Wheelaroos’ World Cup campaign may be over but Australia has improved its world ranking from fourth to third despite a comprehensive 15 tries to seven loss to France in the semi-finals.
The Australians were out-foxed early going into halftime down 54-10, but then came out and matched the French team’s five tries in a much-improved second half in the 84-40 defeat.
France is defending World Cup champions from 2017 and lived up to their No.1 ranking.
“Definitely their speed and their quick play-the-balls. They just had us two-on-ones a lot early,” said NSW Blues forward Diab Karim, who scored a try in each of Australia’s four matches.
In fact five of the seven Wheelaroos’ tries went to NSW players: Karim, Craig Cannane, Liam Luff and two to Australian captain, Brad Grove, from the Wests Tigers.
Karim said words from Australian coach Brett Clark at the break helped.
“Brett just wanted us to play our natural game – nothing too fancy but just bring our natural abilities to the plays,” he said.
“We knew if we could do that we’d come out strong and I think that showed in the second half.
“For a lot of us there were a lot of nerves being our first time in the semi-finals of a World Cup, so it took a little while to settle.”
France now meets England in the World Cup Final, and unlike other international tournaments there is no bronze medal-style play-off between Australia and Wales as the two losing semi-finalists.
The Australian team will now travel home for a rest before returning to their club pre-season – Karim to the Parramatta Eels in the NSW Wheelchair Rugby League (NSWWRL) competition.
But first he wants to make up some time with his family.
“I just wanted to thank from the bottom of my heart,” Karim said.
“My wife Rachel, my mum Susan, my kids have let me live my dream. I’ve come all the way over here and had to leave them behind.
“I have six kids so it’s a big thing for my wife on her own – so a big shout-out to her.
“She’s my number one supporter and if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here.”
But Karim takes great pride in what the Wheelaroos achieved with wins over Ireland and Spain to get to the semi-finals.
“Personally I was very happy to see the bond that our Wheelaroos team has become. We’re like a family and it puts us in a good place for future internationals,” Karim said of the six Blues and six Maroons that made up the Australian team.
“Playing with the Townsville boys and the Queensland boys was great and everyone lifted. But the state rivalry is going to go up again in next year’s Origin.
“Being in the Australian team we’re all brothers, but pulling on the Blues jersey again and that changes.”
The NSW Blues lost both State of Origin matches in 2022 – in January (postponed 2021) and July.
