England can beat holders New Zealand in tomorrow’s Wembley World Cup semi-final showdown – if they get the Kiwis into an arm wrestle.
That’s the view of Giants’ Super League Coach of the Year Paul Anderson as underdogs England bid to book a place in next Saturday’s Old Trafford final.
While New Zealand have swept all before them so far, the host nation have struggled to impress.
But Anderson, who is full of praise for the way Giants duo Leroy Cudjoe and Brett Ferres have performed, knows England do have the ability to get the job done.
“It will be a tough ask,” said Anderson. “But England are still more than capable of winning if they play to their strengths.
“What’s key for them is to make sure they get New Zealand into an arm wrestle, which is something sides have largely failed to do.
“They haven’t been placed under that much pressure, apart from in the second half against Samoa when they scored 20 points against them.
“That proved New Zealand can be vulnerable when an opponent is able to match them, which England need to do.
“So far, England have been good in patches and have shown how good they can be if they put their opposition under pressure.
“But they’ve not done that consistently.
“If they manage to do that then they will cause New Zealand problems.
“England do have the capability, they just need to put an 80-minute performance together. If they do that then there’s no doubt they could win.”
