SYDNEY // Backrower Simon Mannering scored two tries as New Zealand trounced Papua New Guinea 48-6 today to all but book a place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Mannering scored twice in eight minutes to set up the convincing win, which effectively decided which teams progress from Pool A.
Australia, England and New Zealand will go into the semi-finals unless Papua New Guinea can cause an upset against the formidable Australians in their final group match.
Earlier, Akuila Uate scored three tries and Jarryd Hayne added two as Fiji beat France 42-6.
New Zealand ran in nine tries to one but played the entire second half without star playmaker Benji Marshall, who sat on the bench with what team management described as a "tight hamstring."
Marshall played a big role in the first 40 minutes and was involved in three of their four first-half tries as the Kiwis took a grip on the match, played on the Gold Coast in Queensland state.
New Zealand made a shaky start to the second half without Marshall, and Papua New Guinea came back with a try to teenage winger David Moore.
But quick tries to hooker Issac Luke and David Fa'alogo ensured the Kumuls' comeback was short-lived.
New Zealand have won their previous 10 matches against Papua New Guinea since the Pacific Island country's lone win, 24-22 in Port Moresby, in 1986.
The earlier result put Fiji on top of Pool B, and means they only need to win their second match against modest Scotland in order to advance to a play-off against the winners of Pool C.
France, who won their opening match against Scotland, need the Scots to produce a major upset. The match at Wollongong, south of Sydney, was dominated by Fiji from the outset.
Captain Wes Naiqama converted all seven tries for the winners. One of Newcastle Knights winger Uate's tries was a 90-metre individual effort.
Fullback Hayne was strong at the back for Fiji, proving a handful for the French defence and scoring the first Fiji try in the sixth minute.
"Everyone knows what Aku is capable of and he has been waiting for this chance, for this opportunity to showcase what he has got," Naiqama said.
France lost hooker James Wynne early with a dislocated elbow, but coach John Monie made no excuses for his well-beaten side.
"I was disappointed," Monie said. "We should have played better football than that - they had too much enthusiasm." Unbeaten hosts Australia and England meet in Sydney tomorrow.
Scorers: New Zealand 48 (Simon Mannering 2, Sam Perrett 2, Jerome Ropati, Issac Luke, David Fa'alogo, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood tries; Krisnan Inu 6 goals), Papua New Guinea 6 (David Moore try; John Wilshere goal). Fiji 42 (Akuila Uate 3 Jarryd Hayne 2, Iowane Divavesi, Semisi Tora tries; Wes Naiqama 7 goals), France 6 (John Wilson try; Thomas Bosc goal).
*AP
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MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
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FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
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The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Jawan
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Company%20profile
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