2001 Kangaroo tour

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 1933–34 not to include a Test match against France along with The Ashes series.

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.

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

{{s-start}}

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"

| Date

| Opponent

| Score

| Ground

| Referee

| Crowd

| Report

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| November 11

| {{Rl|GBR}}

| 20 – 12

| Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield

| R. Connolly (GB)

| 21,458

| [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1649957.stm bbc.co.uk]

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| November 17

| {{Rl|GBR}}

| 12 – 40

| Reebok Stadium, Bolton

| B. Harrigan (AUS)

| 22,152

| [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1661948.stm bbc.co.uk]

|-

|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"

| November 24

| {{Rl|GBR}}

| 8 – 28

| JJB Stadium, Wigan

| B. Harrigan (AUS)

| 25,011

| [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1674161.stm bbc.co.uk]

|-

{{s-end}}

{{Rugbyleaguebox |

bg = #eeeeee |

team1 = {{rl-rt|GBR}} |

team2 = {{rl|AUS}} |

score = 20 – 12 |

report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/ashes-series-2001/game-1/great-britain-vs-australia/summary.html 1st Test Report] |

points1 = Tries
Paul Sculthorpe (2)
Jamie Peacock
Goals
Andy Farrell (3)
Paul Sculthorpe (2) |

points2 = Tries
Adam MacDougall
Andrew Johns
Goals
Andrew Johns (2) |

date = 11 November 2001 |

stadium = Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield |

attendance = 21,758 |

referee = Robert Connolly {{flagicon|GBR}} |

manofmatch = Paul Sculthorpe {{leagueicon|Great Britain|16}}{{cite news|last=Gordos|first=Phil|title=Great Britain stun Aussies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1650522.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=11 November 2001}} |

}}

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.{{cite news|title=Clockwatch: GB 20-12 Australia|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1649957.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=11 November 2001}}

{{clear}}

{{Rugbyleaguebox |

bg = #eeeeee |

team1 = {{rl-rt|GBR}} |

team2 = {{rl|AUS}} |

score = 12 – 40 |

report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/ashes-series-2001/game-2/great-britain-vs-australia/summary.html 2nd Test Report] |

points1 = Tries
Leon Pryce
Paul Sculthorpe




Goals
Andy Farrell (2) |

points2 = Tries
Andrew Johns (2)
Braith Anasta
Brad Fittler
Ben Kennedy
Darren Lockyer
Adam MacDougall
Goals
Andrew Johns (6) |

date = 17 November 2001 |

stadium = Reebok Stadium, Bolton |

attendance = 22,152 |

referee = Bill Harrigan {{flagicon|AUS}} |

manofmatch = Andrew Johns {{leagueicon|Australia|16}}{{cite news|title=Johns warns against complacency|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1662313.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=17 November 2001}} |

}}

After trailing 40 nil at half time, Great Britain's two tries in the final ten minutes were too little too late.{{cite news|title=Clockwatch: GB 12-40 Australia|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1661948.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=17 November 2001}} 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.{{cite news|last=Chowdhury|first=Saj|title=Australia humiliate Lions|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1662297.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=17 November 2001}}

{{clear}}

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

{{Rugbyleaguebox |

bg = #eeeeee |

team1 = {{rl-rt|GBR}} |

team2 = {{rl|AUS}} |

score = 8 – 28 |

report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/ashes-series-2001/game-3/great-britain-vs-australia/summary.html 3rd Test Report] |

points1 = Tries
Paul Johnson



Goals
Andy Farrell (2) |

points2 = Tries
Trent Barrett (2)
Matthew Gidley
Darren Lockyer
Brad Meyers
Goals
Andrew Johns (3)
Brad Fittler |

date = 24 November 2001 |

stadium = JJB Stadium, Wigan |

attendance = 25,011 |

referee = Bill Harrigan {{flagicon|AUS}} |

manofmatch = Trent Barrett {{leagueicon|Australia|16}}{{cite news|last=Chowdhury|first=Saj|title=Kangaroos seal Ashes triumph|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1674721.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=24 November 2001}} |

}}

Great Britain scored the opening try of the match early in the first half, but by the break trailed 12-6 behind Australia.{{cite news|title=Clockwatch: GB 8-28 Australia|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1674161.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=24 November 2001}} During the first half of the game, Australia's coach Chris Anderson suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital.{{cite news|last=Chowdhury|first=Saj|title=Aussie coach suffers heart attack|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1674678.stm|accessdate=30 December 2013|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=25 November 2001}}

{{clear}}

Leading Try Scorer

• 3 by Andrew Johns

Leading Point Scorer

• 34 by Andrew Johns (3 tries, 11 goals)

Largest Attendance

• 25,011 - Third test vs Great Britain at JJB Stadium

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/Ashes_Series_2001.html 2001 Kangaroo Tour at rugbyleagueproject.org]
• [http://www.rl1908.com/Kangaroos/2001.htm 2001 Kangaroo Tour at rl1908.com]

{{2001 Kangaroo Tour squad}}

{{Rootour}}

{{Rugby League Ashes series}}

{{2001 in rugby league}}

Category:Australia national rugby league team tours

Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain

Kangaroo tour of Great Britain

Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain