Australia winger Brett Morris says his run-in with advertising hoarding at Old Trafford on Saturday was a small price to pay for his side’s fourth try.
The 27-year-old pounced on a Jarryd Hayne kick in the 52nd minute and slid into the signage boards, which sit dangerously close to the short in-goal areas below the level of the pitch.
“The main priority was that I wanted to score the try,” said Morris.
“Obviously putting the body on the line you want to get the four points, but you know it was just a bit of a knock, just a bit of a bruise on the hip. You can’t change the ground.
“We spoke about the short in-goals and if there was a chance to score a try 30 centimetres from the dead-ball line we were going to put our body on the line.
“I don’t think it was the best [try] but it was probably memorable. It’s not every day you slam into a board at the end of the field, so it’s one I won’t be forgetting any time soon.”
The BBC’s pitchside reporter Tanya Arnold said the Kangaroos’ backroom staff were livid with the ‘unacceptable’ set-up, but it didn’t bother Morris, an avid Manchester United supporter, who said he was happy to be playing on the same field as his United heroes.
Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei also clattered into the fencing in a separate incident, but he also emerged without any apparent serious injury.
