Galpharm hosts hopeful England: Four Nations preview

Nov 7 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ENGLAND have the chance to atone for their World Cup flop when they meet New Zealand in the Gillette Four Nations at Huddersfield tonight (6.00).

It was the Kiwis who put England out of their misery with a 32-22 semi-final victory in Brisbane 12 months ago, ending their month-long torment in Australia.

All will be forgiven if Tony Smith’s men – the side again includes Giants prop Eorl Crabtree on the bench – can overturn that result and reach next Saturday’s final.

But defeat could signal the end for former Giants chief Smith, whose contract runs out at the end of the tournament.

A place in the Elland Road decider will be up for grabs at the Galpharm Stadium, as long as Australia avoid an unthinkable defeat by France beforehand in Paris.

“It’s good,” said England captain Jamie Peacock. “It’s what international football is all about, to be going into the last week of the normal competition with a place in the final on the line.”

England will be encouraged by their second-half display against Australia, in which they got on top of the Kangaroo forwards and scored three unanswered tries, but Smith knows the Kiwis will cause different kinds of problems.

They enjoyed the better of their opening 20-20 draw with Australia and flexed their muscles with a 62-12 triumph over France last week.

“They’re a different kettle of fish,” said Smith. “They play a different style to the Australians.

“They are a little bit more unpredictable, they’ve got a few players who take a bit more risk and there’s a bit more offload in their forwards.

“They’ve also got a couple of big backs and at times it’s hard to tell whether they’re backs or forwards with their size.

“It’s a challenge that we’re excited about but we need to be better than we were last week.”

In an attempt to find that improvement, Smith has once more rung the changes, demonstrating a ruthless streak with his selection decisions.