Steve Menzies: Bring back Kangaroo tours

[butt monkey]

Catalan Dragons back-rower Steve Menzies would like to see the game’s governing bodies in Britain and Australia work together to revive old style international tours.

Menzies, 37, made his Australia debut on the Kangaroos’ 1994 tour of Great Britain, when the visitors played against a host of clubs before winning the test series against GB 2-1.

“Those tours were so special, and I’d love to see a return to that format,” said Menzies, according to League Express.

“Once every four years there was always a big ten-week tour that had a bit of an aura about it, and to be involved was an absolutely incredible experience.

“Obviously playing for Australia is a very big deal for players, and the Four Nations and World Cups are great, but these tours every four years had a really unique feel abut them.

“They were big events, because they didn’t happen so often. Something like that in the modern day would be excellent.”

Even a player of Menzies’ renowned endurance and fitness though accepts that modern day schedules make such a move difficult.

So would I. I used to LOVE those Australian, Kiwi and PNG Tours.

http://www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/0 ... roo-tours/

[josie andrews]

I also loved these tours over here, especially the Kiwis, many fond memories

[butt monkey]

I also loved these tours over here, especially the Kiwis, many fond memories

Spotting potential stars was always fun amongst watching the incumbent internationals

[eccywarrior]

100% agreed with steve menzies. like i mentioned in past it seems we are going backwards international means.

[Panchitta Marra]

Why did they ever stop.

Kangaroo Tour: 1982

The 1982 Kangaroos achieved what none of their predecessors had been able to do - they came home from the tour unbeaten.

They came to be known as "The Invincibles".

The 28 players were captained by Max Krilich, with Wally Lewis his deputy and Frank Stanton returning for another Ashes campaign as coach. Before flying to England, half the squad went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half travelled to Papua New Guinea for a match against the Kumuls.

Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Test halves Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis were not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Sterling and Kenny took the field against Hull KR and set about locking up their positions for the First Test.

While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as Grothe, Pearce, Meninga, Kenny and Sterling, the Brits chose five players who were 30 plus.

Still the homeside did well in the first half and were down by 10-4 at the break. In the 2nd half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills - pace, guile, teamwork and fitness - and blazed six stunning tries to leave the British game stunned (Australia 40 - Britain 4).

Despite ten changes to the Lions' side the 2nd Test was hardly an improvement as the Kangaroos won by 27-6. A measure of the Kangaroos' ability was the fact that they played with only 12 men for over half the match after Boyd was sent off.

With the Ashes decided, the 3rd Test turned out to be a contest - well until the final ten minutes. At that point the Aussies were holding-off Britain by 14-8 and an intense finish loomed. It seemed Britain had not been so far behind Australia's standard after all.

However, Lee Crooks was sent off for fighting and the Kangaroos ripped the home side apart with 4 tries to win by 32-8.

The tourists found the French Tests more of a challenge than the British, but in the end the Kangaroos prevailed and finished their tour unbeaten.

[Wes]

How hard was Boyd!

[Panchitta Marra]

How hard was Boyd!

As on a previous thread "Enforcers", and they dont come much tougher and harder than Boyd.
A bit of a lunatic and a liability on the pitch, but he dished it out big style.