Buderus credits Wallabies for win

By Pranav Soneji
BBC Sport at Elland Road

Buderus singled out Darren Lockyer as Australia's inspiration

Kangaroos hooker Danny Buderus revealed Australia's resounding victory over Great Britain in Leeds was inspired by their rugby union compatriots.

Australia's awesome 44-4 win at Elland Road followed the Wallabies' 21-19 victory against England at Twickenham earlier on Saturday.

"We watched the (union) game before we got on the bus and we were all over the moon for them," Buderus told BBC Sport.

"We met the union boys in Paris and had a ball - they've done Australia proud."

Report: GB 4-44 Australia Report: England 19-21 Australia

The return of captain Darren Lockyer gave the Australians a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the final.

The Brisbane Bronco, who missed the Kangeroos' 24-12 loss to Great Britain in Wigan with a rib injury, produced the performance of the Tri-Nations with an outstanding display at stand-off.

The pressure was on Great Britain because everyone was talking them up Australia hooker Danny Buderus

"We missed Locky for three to four weeks and to have him there directing traffic, scoring tries and kicking goals was fantastic," said Buderus. "He had a good night out.

"We always knew we could go up a level and it clicked for us in the first 40 minutes. That was a pretty devastating performance."

The defeat was Great Britain's worst on home soil since 1963, but Buderus believed the Lions' lacklustre performance was down to Australia's superior football.

"I don't think they played that badly, but I think we played really well," said Buderus.

"It was a very good team performance in the first 40 minutes, so much so the game was pretty much over at half-time.

"We had a really relaxed week - everyone thought the pressure was on us, but I thought the pressure was on Great Britain because everyone was talking them up."