Australia's national rugby league team, the Kangaroos, has reached the World Cup semi-finals after winning all three of its group matches. The host nation is aiming to win the tournament for the fourth time in a row. However, despite entering the knockout stage as the favorites, Australia has struggled with handling mistakes and disconnected play, raising serious questions before its match against Samoa on Sunday in Sydney.
The Kangaroos have looked vulnerable throughout the tournament. In their opening match against New Zealand, Australia narrowly escaped defeat thanks to two intercepted passes. In their following pool games against Fiji and the Cook Islands, the Australians fell behind early before recovering to win. Their forwards have also found it difficult to gain territory against physical defenses, averaging fewer meters per set than New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Samoa enters the semi-final full of confidence and energy. Samoa recently played an intense 80-minute match against Tonga in front of a passionate crowd. Even though both squads had already qualified for the semi-finals, they competed at full strength until the final seconds. Samoa's lineup features high-level stars such as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Brian To'o, and Stephen Crichton, who have the speed and power to test Australia's defense.
Australia must also deal with off-field distractions, as several players, including halfback Sam Walker, are negotiating new club contracts during the tournament. Coach Kevin Walters faces pressure to fix his team's errors and improve their coordination. When the Kangaroos run out at Allianz Stadium, they will need a much more disciplined performance to overcome a determined Samoan squad.