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New Zealand winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has thrown a spanner in the works with a huge performance against Jamaica.
Fiji sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition while Dominic Young continued his stellar form.
Read below for the big talking points from Sunday’s World Cup games!
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New Zealand v Jamaica: Match Highlights | 02:55
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New Zealand winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has given coach Michael Maguire a huge outside backs headache with a ridiculous performance against Jamaica.
Despite leaving the field in the 62nd minute due to cramp, the 27-year-old made his mark, scoring four tries and recording 249 running metres to go with 10 tackle breaks and six line breaks.
The Warriors flyer also assisted two tries, charging down the wing before kicking the ball infield for hooker Jeremy Marshall-King to score on both occasions.
“Appreciate the skill from Watene-Zelezniak on the wing, the modern day winger these days you have to be able to do everything,” commentator Jordan Turner said.
“Gone are the days when you just have to be fast and run down the wing, but we see some unbelievable skill from him to be able to kick the ball and find his teammates inside.
“He has also been able to score and finish himself and now he is kicking goals.”
It only took 18 minutes for Watene-Zelezniak to notch up a hattrick and Fox League’s Andrew Voss likened his performance to Kangaroos flyer Josh Addo-Carr.
“He is doing a Josh Addo-Carr, let’s trot baby, he has a hattrick in 18-and-a-half minutes,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said.
Australia v Scotland: Match Highlights | 02:53
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“You could put his hand down the S-bend of a toilet and find a gold watch right now, he is on fire.”
In New Zealand’s first clash, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jordan Rapana played on the wing as the Kiwis came away with a scrappy 34-12 win over Lebanon.
Watene-Zelezniak and Sebastian Kris took over the wing roles against Jamaica, leaving their best performances out on the field.
Mulitalo and Rapana were set to be New Zealand’s first choice wingers ahead of the World Cup, however the pair only recorded a single try between them in the first game.
Mulitalo also ran for 137 metres, and Rapana 108 compared to Watene-Zelezniak’s impressive 249 metres.
The Kiwis have locked in a quarterfinals appearance and Maguire now has a big decision to make after New Zealand play their final group stage game against Ireland.
YOUNG CONTINUES TO SHINE
England flyer Dom Young has delivered another strong performance, scoring two tries including a 95-metre intercept effort as the hosts came away with a 42-18 victory.
The 21-year-old winger now has four tries for the tournament as England look set to top their group and progress into the qualifying finals.
Young ran for a staggering 247 metres on Sunday morning to go with two tackle breaks and his intercept try stunned commentators.
France’s Eloi Pelissier lofted an audacious pass across the face on the England defensive line and Young pounced.
“Dom Young, absolutely brilliant, they love him, aesthetically perfect,” the commentator said.
“Unbelievable, you just knew, you knew he was going to take it and have the speed, but it was beautiful to watch him,” another commentator added.
England v France – Full Match Highlights | 02:48
“When you see athletes like this it is just an absolutely joy to watch… he has light up this World Cup.”
Young made his Test debut in England’s World Cup opener but has emerged as one of coach Shaun Wane’s best players.
“Young continues to be the starlet that amazes us with his try-scoring exploits,” the commentator said.
“He has had an exceptional start to this World Cup and his England career, just a powerful and explosive ball carrier.
“But he has scored some telling tries also.”
England face Greece in their next Group A clash to remain undefeated while France will face Samoa in a encounter that will likely decide who progresses past the group stage.
FIJI’S OMINOUS STATEMENT
Fiji made a big statement to the top rugby league nations with an impressive 60-4 win over Italy in their second group stage clash.
NRL stars Viliame Kikau and Maika Sivo both recorded two tries, while NSW Cup hooker Penioni Tagituimua earned man of the match honours.
Apisai Koroisau shifted to five-eighth and was impressive while Tagituimua dominated from dummy-half, recording seven tackle breaks, 118 running metres and a line break.
As a team, Fiji dominated proceedings with eight more linebreaks than Italy, 18 more offloads and over 900 more running metres.
Joe Dakuitoga’s side also doubled their rivals post contact metres and it was clear that Fiji were on a rampage.
Fiji v Italy – Full Match Highlights | 02:57
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“It was very clear and evident one side was just dictating with the ball and that was of course the Fiji side there and it was just so simple for them,” the commentators said post-match.
“Again they just introduced the power game and just blew Italy away, at times it was men against boys wasn’t it.
“That was the theme of the afternoon, it was all too quick.”
Fiji were bested by the reigning champions, Australia, in their first game at the World Cup, going down 42-8.
After bouncing back against Italy, they will face Scotland hoping to secure a quarterfinals appearance.
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