Australia’s fullback Reece Walsh has praised rival No. 1 James Tedesco for helping him prepare for an outstanding comeback in the green and gold on Thursday night.
asserted
him → praise → night
Walsh also confirmed he was prepared to pay “top dollar” to visit any specialist who could help prevent him from vomiting in the middle of games, like he did again after scoring a breathtaking try to help seal Australia’s opening World Cup match with a 24-22 win over New Zealand.
uncertain
he → confirm → Zealand
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters took a punt on starting Walsh at fullback at Allianz Stadium ahead of Tedesco, who only a week earlier clinched the Clive Churchill Medal in the Roosters’ premiership win.
asserted
who → take → win
Walters confirmed after the win Tedesco would return against Fiji at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday, and he wanted to make sure he was rested after a busy NRL finals campaign.
asserted
he → confirm → campaign
Walsh was glad he could lean on Tedesco during the week.
uncertain
he → lean → week
“He was massive, and when he found out [I was starting], he congratulated me,” the Bronco said.
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Bronco → find → me
“The first thing he said to me was, ‘whatever you need to prepare for the week, or [whatever] I can help you with, I will’.
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I → say → you
“The way he handled it, for myself, being so young, to see an ultra competitor like that ... if I can take anything away from the way he handled it, he was massive for me.
asserted
he → handle → me
“Every session he was there giving me tips.
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he → give → tips
We bounced back and forth about what I can work on at training, and he was there answering questions.
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he → bounce → questions
“He kept grabbing me and asking, ‘do you need anything?’.
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you → keep → anything
“I can’t wait to see him get his opportunity.
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him → wait → opportunity
We all know Teddy, he will take it [his opportunity].
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he → know → it
“We’ll keep fighting putting our best foot forward for each other, for this team and this country.”
asserted
We → keep → team
Should Walsh and Tedesco stay fit, Walters has a selection headache at the back end of the Cup.
asserted
Walters → stay → Cup
Walsh denied Kalyn Ponga a try late in the first half with a terrific defensive read, then came up with a magical play in supporting winger Jack Bostock, then simultaneously evaded Ponga and Jahrome Hughes before running 60m to score.
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Walsh → deny → Ponga
If Ponga’s early try when he beat Walsh was a highlight, Walsh’s effort was better.
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effort → beat → Walsh
TV cameras then captured Walsh vomiting, which forced him to miss the goal attempt.
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which → capture → attempt
Walters joked afterwards how Walsh was a noted “chucker” most weeks in clubland.
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Walsh → joke → clubland
“I’ve been doing that since I was about 12 years old,” Walsh said.
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Walsh → do → that
“I don’t know what it is.
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it → know → ?
Every time I do a big run ...
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I → do → run
I took my mouthguard out mid-game because I knew if that was in my mouth, I was going to gag.
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I → take → mouth
And once I start doing that and pause, it’s game over.
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it → start → that
“I don’t know if it’s nerves, or the aerobic [fitness], or [something to do] with sports science.
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it → know → science
If anyone out there can help me, I’ll pay top dollar.”
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I → help → dollar
Walsh had not played in two months because of an ankle injury.
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Walsh → play → injury
Tedesco celebrated with Walsh in the sheds, as did a couple of departing Roosters, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Daly Cherry-Evans.
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couple → celebrate → Roosters
Half Mitchell Moses suffered a cork to the outside of his right lower leg and was awaiting scans on Friday.
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Moses → suffer → Friday
Walters confirmed Sam Walker and Tom Dearden would start against Fiji, with Munster to be rested.
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Munster → confirm → Fiji
Because the Broncos had little success this season, Walsh had hoped to be given a bench spot at Suncorp Stadium next weekend so he could bring some joy to the Brisbane faithful.
Meanwhile, New Zealand officials remained hopeful Ponga would be back during the tournament after breaking his left forearm, and playing on almost 20 minutes with the pain.
uncertain
Ponga → have → pain
The Kiwis host the Cook Islands next weekend in Christchurch, and lost no admirers with their performance against Australia, whose five tries came from two intercepts, two Bostock leaps, and Walsh’s tearaway brilliance.
asserted
tries → host → intercepts
The Aporia
