Cringe-worthy national anthem sullies Denver rugby league experiment
The rugby league Denver Test match experiment between England and New Zealand got off to an inauspicious start, with the pre-match singer strangling her way through both national anthems.
Crystal Collins struggled with her timing during England's God Save the Queen — but far worse was to follow during her rendition of God Defend New Zealand.
The singer haplessly struggled through the performance — particularly the opening Maori-language verses — although it didn't get much better when she switched to the English section.
Social media was understandably scathing in response to Collins' unusual take.
External Link: Mike White tweet: Oh dear! The performance of that NZ national anthem was painful. ENGvNZ DenverTest RugbyLeagueChallenge External Link: John Dean tweet: Omg the NZ anthem has been absolutely butchered. DenverTest External Link: Tulsen Tollett tweet: That ranks as one of the worst national anthem renditions Ive ever heard! ENGvNZ RugbyLeague External Link: Sir Battle Pug tweet: The NZ national anthem DenverTest
The Kiwi team seemed bewildered at first, exchanging bemused looks before manfully singing on.
On the field, the game was considered a success as Wayne Bennett's England surged back from 12-0 down to comfortably beat the youthful New Zealand side 36-18.
Thousands were still outside — either lining up at the gates or engaging in the US pastime of tailgating — when the Warriors' Issac Luke led a blood-curdling haka.
Eventually a crowd of 19,320 rolled in to see Wests Tigers debutant Esan Marsters — one of seven fresh faces in the New Zealand squad — bedazzle the English left-side defence to score the opening try.
External Link: NRL tweet: Esan Marsters on debut gets the first try of the DenverTest!
New Kiwis coach Michael Maguire looked set for a winning debut after half an hour as his side raced into a 12-0 lead
But a late challenge on England five-eighth Jonny Lomax by Martin Taupau proved a turning point, with England winger Ryan Hall kicking off the comeback with an athletic winger's try seven minutes short of halftime.
Jake Connor's pass put lock Elliott Whitehead over in the 38th minute, leaving England behind by just two at the break.
With both sides tiring in the dry heat and high altitude, Bennett's England side put its foot on the gas in the second half.
Canberra's Whitehead, Connor and fellow replacement Tommy Makinson all scored before a breakaway second try for Penrith's Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Centre John Bateman then iced the English win in the dying seconds with prop James Graham missing a conversion attempt on the occasion of his 40th Test.
Maguire will now try to tempt a number of absent stars, led by Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, back into the fold in time for the tour of England and France in October and November.
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