Sheens dubs his Kangaroos 'the Implacables'

Page 13 of a French newspaper holds the key to the identity of Australia's Four Nations-winning Kangaroos.

''Toujours Aussies implacables'' read the headline; and after researching the words, Australian coach Tim Sheens wants this side to be known as the Implacables.

Sheens told his players in the Elland Road dressing room immediately after the match about the word and its meaning, and how French sports bible L'Equipe had described the team as such after the Kangaroos disposed of the French.

The coach googled the word and found that it matched his squad; scribbling on the newspaper synonyms such as ''diehard, grim, iron, relentless, unyielding, rigid, stubborn and uncompromising''.

''When we were celebrating afterwards, I just said that's what we were called in France and I think that's the name we were going to adopt, and that'll be the name that sticks,'' Sheens said. ''I thought we needed some sort of identity as a squad.''

And so Sheens is hoping the 2009 squad, which defeated a gallant England 46-16 in the final, joins the famous 1982 squad, known as the Invincibles after going through 22 matches on tour undefeated, as well as the 1986 Unbeatables, in having a moniker forever linked to them.

''I think they enjoyed it,'' Sheens said of the players' reaction. ''It's the sort of word, implacable ... it's a bit off the wall. It sounds a bit off the wall. But that's us, because there's no doubt there's some off-the-wall guys here. But deep down, it does still infer on what this group has, and that's plenty of character.

''They're proud of it. We were under the pressure, we were favourites, we had to win otherwise it was unacceptable. The satisfaction of doing it and of course the relief is very important, because of the ghosts of the Invincibles, and the Unbeatables. Now, we'll be haunting the future, too. The Implacables will be there as well.

''It's not 22 games, or something like the sides from the '80s, but it was still an undefeated side, and something they'll look back at.''

The tour has been a historic one; skipper Darren Lockyer becoming the most-capped player as well as captain, and Petero Civoniceva the most-capped forward. For players such as Ben Hannant, on his first tour, it was akin to winning a premiership, as he achieved with Brisbane in 2006.

''It's just exciting just sitting back in the room and sitting next to Petero and Locky, and just thinking I've played in part of history - these guys have broken records, and they're my good mates,'' Hannant said. ''To be able to put your body on the line for your mates, it's a real rewarding achievement ... To be able to represent my country, alongside one of my best mates and a bloke I really look up to [in Civoniceva], it's definitely up there with winning a premiership and State of Origins. These things you never forget. This team can hopefully go forward and make a legacy for itself now.''

An implacable one.

- © Fairfax NZ News