Australia and New Zealand face off in Rugby League World Cup

Life can’t get any better for Jack Bostock right now. Not only is he making his Test debut, he has just scored his second try of the night with another piece of individual brilliance. His ascension to being one of the game’s best outside backs now looks complete. 16-16 after 58 minutes

Tom Trbojevic won’t want to see a repeat of that anytime soon. What can only be described as a terrible error looked to have cost Australia a try was saved by the video ref finding that Isaiah Papali’i was in front of the kicker and then inside the 10m area when Tommy Turbo bumbled. Another lucky moment for Australia. New Zealand lead 16-10 after 57 minutes

Moments after scoring his first try for New Zealand, it looks like trouble for Kalyn Ponga. Isaiah Papali’i just diffused a high kick to earn his side a 20m restart. All that happened as Ponga was shaking off an arm injury that appeared to be sustained via a whack from the hard head of Cameron Munster. In good news for all, he looks to have shaken off the injury. New Zealand lead 16-10 after 54 minutes

It’s the least New Zealand deserve. They’ve started the second half strongly, and a classy offload from Isaiah Papali’i sends Kalyn Ponga over for a try on debut. Jamayne Isaako makes no mistake with the conversion. In some good news for Australia, Kotoni Staggs has just returned from the sin-bin. New Zealand lead 16-10 after 49 minutes

Moments after Australia coach Kevin Walters said halfback Mitchell Moses was ready for the second half, the calf injury that affected him in the first half looks to have ended his night. He has limped off within two minutes of the resumption of play, with Tom Dearden his replacement. Tommy is a different style of player to Moses. How will Australia react? 10-10 after 44 minutes

Australia: They should buy a Powerball ticket at half-time (Gamble responsibly). They’ve been clearly second best in the opening 40 minutes, but thanks to a pair of shock intercept tries, they’re using the break to count their lucky stars.

New Zealand: If they were ahead by 18 or so points, it’d be a fair indication of the first 40 minutes. Everything they have done has been better than Australia. If those two intercept tries had not taken place, the match would be just about done as a contest. But now, they need to do it all again if they are to win this match.

We’re back on level terms at Allianz Stadium, with Kotoni Staggs to also spend early stages of the second half in the sin-bin. There can be no complaints about the decision to put Staggs in the bin. His professional foul was textbook stuff. Isaako kicked another penalty goal from the subsequent penalty. 10-10 after 40 minutes

Kalyn Ponga looked destined to score. He thought he had the best of Australia fullback Reece Walsh. Walsh, who was a surprise selection ahead of James Tedesco in the No.1 jersey for this match, had other ideas and produced a stunning try-saving tackle. Now, we’re not saying Tedesco couldn’t have done the same thing, but that was wonderful stuff from the Broncos star. Australia lead 10-8 after 37 minutes

First, it was Jack Bostock with a long-range intercept try; now it is his fellow winger Tom Trbojevic with a similar effort on the other side of the field. Uncanny stuff, there. On both occasions, Australia looked set to concede a try, only to then score at the other end. That’s a 24-point turnaround, and somehow Australia are in the lead. Australia lead 10-8 after 33 minutes