THE Australian Boomers had their first official practice match ahead of the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup, producing a dominant win over Venezuela at John Cain Arena on Monday night.

The match marked the first of three exhibition games for the Boomers prior to the commencement of the tournament in 10 days’ time. If the result is anything to go off, Australia looks primed to have a genuine crack at winning it all.

In a one-sided affair, the Boomers won all four quarters in emphatic fashion, storming home to a 97-41 win and although it was just a practice outing, it furthered claims that the team looks as strong as ever and could be a threat to the World Cup.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at three things we learned from the match, and their implications on the tournament itself.

1. The play should be starting in Josh Giddey’s hands

The Boomers boast some high quality talent on their roster in comparison to previous years, and one of the biggest additions was Joshua Giddey. After tearing it up at NBA level, Giddey slotted into Australia’s starting lineup on Monday night, and took control of the offence in a big way. He was the maestro of a fluent performance from the Boomers, setting up the play with his precise and well-weighted passes that often put his teammates in scoring position. The talented youngster also showed the ability to score the ball himself, including a driving spin move down the lane where he finished with a lay-up. Giddey finished the match with 14 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, and will be setting up Australia’s offence for years to come.

2. Duop Reath has just about sewn up a spot on the team

Following the unfortunate injury to Jock Landale, there was plenty of intrigue surrounding Australia’s big man stocks, and who would be slotting into the starting lineup if his injury continued to linger. The coaches gave the opportunity to in-form tall Duop Reath, a move that paid dividends on Monday night. Reath was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points on 10/12 shooting from the field, combining extremely well with the player we mentioned above in Giddey, as the duo picked apart Venezuela’s defence on the pick and roll. The chemistry with the guard was as clear as ever, and although the final roster is yet to be finalised, this performance would have gone a long way in ensuring Reath will be donning the green and gold in the coming weeks.

3. Don’t forget about the old guard

Although much of the talk has been surrounding the next generation of players that have joined the Boomers for the upcoming campaign, the experienced veterans will still have a key role to play in Australia’s quest for the 2023 World Cup. Joe Ingles had 12 points on 3/6 shooting from behind the arc coming off the bench, while Patty Mills showed he still has the speed and smarts to find the bottom of the net with some electric moves inside. While both are certainly in the twilight of their decorated careers at international level, they will still be important figures for the Boomers in this tournament, and showcased that the talent is absolutely still present.