By Steve Kaless
October 22nd 2009 @ 12:51am
Related coverage
Get set for a battle royale at the Four Nations
The Kiwi team line up after losing the New Zealand Kiwis v Australian Kangaroos Centenary test at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday Oct. 14 2007. Australia won the game 58-0. AAP Image/Hagen Hopkins/PHOTOSPORT
The rugby league Four Nations begins on Friday, with one side out to show that their effort in the World Cup was no fluke and the other three all looking to erase varying levels of embarrassment.
If we look back over the press clippings from before last year’s World Cup, you’ll find that New Zealand’s worst ever team knocked over Australia’s best ever. Well, that is if you believe any tournament previews (ahem).
The three underdogs will be a buoyed by the fact that the games will only be controlled by one referee (remember those days? I think you can find some grainy archive footage somewhere). This should slow the ruck speed down, which in their eyes, will hopefully increase the time it takes to get the ball to Messrs Inglis, Slater and Hayne.
So let’s have a look at the four sides.
AUSTRALIA
Any way you slice it or dice it, the Australian backline looks red hot. How do you prepare a kicking game against the likes of Billy Slater AND Jarryd Hayne.
Maybe it’s just when its compared to their current backline, but the Australian forward pack seems to have lost some of its lustre to some of the engine rooms of years gone by. And it’s certainly the area their opponents will be targeting.
However, when you are targeting an area which is guided by Cameron Smith, you get a sense for the challenge facing the English, New Zealanders and French.
So the Australians are favourites. Hardly breaking news, but it will be interesting to see how they go about their business.
NEW ZEALAND
The Kiwis’ victory at Suncorp last year is now sitting comfortably in rugby league folklore and the relevant question is: they can’t do it again, can they?
It will certainly be almighty task for a team missing plenty of star power, from the likes of the absent Roy Asotasi, Simon Mannering, Taniela Tuiaki and Manu Vatuvei, and facing an Australian side which has also been pretty efficient at exacting revenge and an English team still hurting from their World Cup disaster.
The Kiwis will need Benji firing on all cylinders and the likes of Adam Blair and Bryson Goodwin replicating their NRL form over the next month.
A worrying sign for the Kiwis was the hard work they made of getting over Tonga in their warm up match in Rotorua.
Should they make the final, the Kiwis will have the belief that over 80 minutes they can upset the Australians.
ENGLAND
The English were an unmitigated disaster and should have been beaten by PNG if not for a fairly questionable forward pass call from referee Shayne Hayne (Kevin to his Mum).
The only smile they brought to anyone’s face was reading about the efforts of Keith Senior in tackling the world of internet dating (it was certainly more successful than any of his defensive efforts on field).
England coach Tony Smith has done what he had to do and made wholesale changes. It was gutsy to drop the likes of Rob Burrow and Leon Pryce, but he had a blank cheque after the collective efforts Down Under.
On paper, the English side looks half a shout (don’t they always).
Their pack is very solid, and with the likes of Jamie Peacock, Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis and Adrian Morley, they should really be the equal of anything the other three teams can throw at them.
The English stocks of talented halves is also impressive, with Wigan’s Sam Tomkins, St Helens Kyle Eastmond and Warrington’s Richie Myler all looking like the real deal.
It’s likely Tomkins will get the first chance to partner McGuire.
It’s the outside backs that are the real concern for the hosts.
It says something that 12 months after he was the poster boy for everything that is wrong with English rugby league, Keith Senior would probably have made most people’s lineup … at 34.
Tony Smith, however, knocked back his offer to reverse his retirement and will instead have a very young three quarter line on display.
Shaun Briscoe, Ryan Hall and Chris Bridge all produced great seasons at club level, but there will be serious question marks over how they will respond to questions that will be asked of them on the international stage.
Still, there is only one way to find out.
The English will have the added advantage of home ground advantage and the winds are already giving the visitors the sort of icy reception they thought would be delayed until kick off.
Anything less than an appearance will be seen as a failure for the English. Having said that, many of their fans may accept more three performances with more passion and pride than they saw last year.
FRANCE
The French will be over the moon if they can stay competitive in all three of their matches.
After the said disaster last year, they punted Jon Monie (one odd appointment) for Bobby Goulding (an even stranger call).
Whether or not Goulding believes, like George Bush, the French have no word for de ja vu is slightly irrelevant. But whether Goulding can bring “the pride back to the jumper” (that is what he claimed was his aim) is another thing.
When the French turned up to the World Cup, many thought they’d put in a solid showing on the back of their experience in the Super League. They are going in with a similar set up again, with the vast majority of their squad coming from the Catalans.
Bizarrely, the French went to great lengths to have three French based Australians – Adam Mogg, Casey McGuire and Clint Greenshields – all eligible for the side (on the grounds of residency). They succeeded, only to have Mogg and McGuire pull out.
You’d be forgiven for thinking ‘why bother’? Which is, hopefully, what they won’t be saying about the French side over the next three weeks.
THE DRAW
Game 1 – October 23, England v France, Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Game 2 – October 24, New Zealand v Australia, Twickenham Stoop, London
Game 3 – October 31, England v Australia, DW Stadium, Wigan
Game 4 – October 31, France v New Zealand, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
Game 5 – November 7, France v Australia, Charlety Stadium, Paris
Game 6 – November 7, England v New Zealand, Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
The Final – November 14, 1st v 2nd, Elland Road, Leeds
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Viscount Crouchback said | October 22nd 2009 @ 3:47am | Report comment
What’s the story with the rules this time? I remember that the World Cup used NRL-style rules in which decoy runners were permitted to kind of run into the defenders, which seemed to completely baffle the English, who played by different rules at home.
But the real question for England is whether the Leeds and St Helens players have sorted out their differences.
Firestarter Bob said | October 22nd 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
They were just different tactics played within the game’s rules.
Steve Kaless said | October 22nd 2009 @ 6:11am | Report comment
Well they haven’t even played the first game and I’m getting it wrong. Richard Myler to play halfback for England. Smith certainly must see a lot in him, will we?
Knives Out said | October 22nd 2009 @ 6:18am | Report comment
He played well against Wales… which doesn’t say a great deal, but he is highly thought of, hence the drawn out transfer saga. It’s certainly a brave move to ignore Burrows and Eastmond. Whilst it’s nice to see some new faces in the England team I have deep concerns over Shenton and Briscoe (fullback not wing). A midfield combination of Shenton and Smith is hardly dynamism exemplified, and Briscoe is another Wellens. Where is the impact? Unfortunately it seems that England will have to rely far too much on the pack and impact players like Eastmond, Roby and Crabtree (perhaps). At least the wingers aren’t Calderwood and Gardner. Interestingly, the English bookmakers have England ahead of NZ.
England team to play France: S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), L Smith (Leeds), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); D McGuire (Leeds), R Myler (Salford); A Morley (Warrington), S Moore (Huddersfield), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford), K Sinfield (Leeds).
Subs: K Eastmond (St Helens), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (St Helens), B Westwood (Warrington).
The Answer said | October 22nd 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Tomkins was far better against Wales, he got a hat trick after all, while Myler looked off the pace after not playing since June. Myler threw one good ball, but a few shockers.
Agree about Briscoe being another Wellens, can’t think who else to play though.
Thought Will Sharp of Quins might be worth a punt.
Knives Out said | October 23rd 2009 @ 12:35am | Report comment
Really? I only saw the highlights. I’ll keep that in mind.
Lee Smith at full back?
M1tch said | October 25th 2009 @ 7:13pm | Report comment
We did against France, its really exciting time for the game Steve.
Tomkins, Eastmond and Myler..I dont rate McGurie though and I thought he was lucky to get picked, he has failed before for the Poms.
The game next week will be massive in Wigan, I tend to think with their forward pack, and if young Briscoe v Hayne they might cause the aussies some headaches
Luke W said | October 22nd 2009 @ 7:27am | Report comment
France is the fourth team!?! I thought it was Fiji, which was the cause of all the hubbub surrounding Jarryd Hayne playing for Australia after playing for Fiji at the World Cup!
The Answer said | October 22nd 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Fiji are playing the Pacific Nations Cup, the winner of which will play in the southern hemisphere four nations next year.
Luke W said | October 22nd 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Which teams will make up the Southern Hemisphere Four Nations? The Pacific Nations Cup winner, Australia, New Zealand and…
I’d like to see an Australia A brought into it, much like cricket did a few years ago when Australia was far too dominant for our local rivals. It gives them a slightly easier challenge, and imagine the hype for an Australia vs. Australia A clash. I’d think that there would be a lot of controversy over the selections for the teams alone.
The Answer said | October 23rd 2009 @ 5:04am | Report comment
England will be in southern hemisphere four nations as well.
I;d imagine a Pacific Nations Cup will be run at the same time again.
The Link said | October 22nd 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Steve – good preview. The Kiwi’s will do what they have to in order to get into the final and make winning the tournament about the final 80 mins against Australia. Worked for them in RLWC 08. How the Poms perform seems to be a lottery as it has for the last 10 years.
RL needs a strong 4th nation. Whether that’s France or a Pacific Nation will be decided in the next couple of years. A second Rugby a Treize French team in Super League won’t hurt the cause of the Frogs come the international tournaments.
Steve Kaless said | October 23rd 2009 @ 5:21am | Report comment
Surely the most pleasing thing going into this tournament for any rugby league fan is that it is finally part of a larger strategic plan. These tournaments in the past have been treated as too much of an afterthought.
Maybe finally we are getting somewhere.
Rin said | October 22nd 2009 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Lets say it like it is, its more like the one and a half nations,
Aussie – will clearly flatten everyone – 1 Nation
Kiwi’s – fluke last year at the RLWC, might be slightly competitive this year, but doubt it – 1/2 Nation
England – useless, full of old poms no new talent in the ranks – 0
France – even less than competitive – 0
cant wait for NRL next year than watch this foregone conclusion of a tournament.
Knives Out said | October 23rd 2009 @ 12:35am | Report comment
Full of old poms.. like whom?
Michael B said | October 22nd 2009 @ 11:59am | Report comment
As i’ve said in the past. Kiwis will get better throughout the tournament.
Don’t be surprised if they get toweled by the Aussies this weekend. Then I reckon the Kiwi’s will still make the final and give the Kangaroos a run for their money.
Westy said | October 22nd 2009 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
I think the Cook Islanders beat Samoa 24 to 22 in the Pacific nations Cup. I understand this was quite a boilover as Samoa were represented by a fair collection of NRL and NSW Cup players. the Cook Islanders were mainly some NRL under 20’s and locals.
I think the Four Nations Pacific Cup is good for the region. Although Papua New Guinea should win to give them the right to play England /NZ and Australia , Samoa /Fiji / Tonga and Cook Islands are capable of an asset.
I know the large amount of money raised by NZ rugby for the Samoan appeal. I do however congradulate the NZRL $31000 for the appeal. They are not in the same league as NZRU /ARU or the NRL.
Mick from Giralang said | October 22nd 2009 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
Steve: Is Richard Myler any relation to the former Great Britain captain Frank Myler?
Steve Kaless said | October 23rd 2009 @ 5:18am | Report comment
Good queston Mick, I’m not sure off the top of my head. I’ll ask around this weekend and let you know.
I’ll really look like I’ve done my homework!
Brumbie fan said | October 22nd 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Rin I couldn’t agree more 4 nations my butt!!! What a sham! I may be a union fan at heart, this tournament is a hoot. Let me guess Australia will clean up the entire field, why is France in it….?
Dogs Of War said | October 22nd 2009 @ 8:14pm | Report comment
It’s called growing the game. Bit like Melbourne being introduced into the Super 14…
MyGeneration said | October 22nd 2009 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
Or half the teams in the RWC? Bangladesh in the cricket? Should we revisit the history of French RL? Really shouldn’t feed the troll, Dogs. Whoops, now I have too…
Hermin said | October 22nd 2009 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
I’m in the same boat as you Brumbie fan however word of caution, isn’t that the same kind of talk that came back to bite Australia in the ass at RLWC 08.
My pick is Aus – England Final
France well anyones guess where they’ll end up ……………………..
The Link said | October 23rd 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Hardly a sham, these nations have been playing each other for over 60 years.
If you’re a Rugby fan in Australia you’ve got bigger fish to fry sorting out your own patch at the moment.
Alan Nicolea said | October 22nd 2009 @ 5:45pm | Report comment
Steve
NZ have named their starting line-up and their is no room for Krisnan Inu. They have decided to go with Junior Sau in the centres. Its a big call considering Inu was playing terrific football during the last 12 rounds of the competition this year. It may come back to haunt the side.
Michael B said | October 23rd 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Alan, its a disgrace. I feel Steven Kearney doesn’t rate Inu that much. He is so much better than Goodwin and Perrett. He would have been great on the wing. Oh well, lets hope he gets a fair go, because this guy is a classy player, something Kiwi’s are lacking in the backline.
Steve Kaless said | October 24th 2009 @ 3:10am | Report comment
I agree Alan, a strange call. However, Kearney must be thinking it is going to be blood and thunder at the Stoop and figures that Sau might offer some extra grunt.
macavity said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Sau > Inu
I would have Inu in for Goodwin (has he ever run further than 10m for a try?) but Sau is a fantastic centre – he would make an interesting NFL running back, he makes so much ground after the first contact and often shrugs off a few on his way.
Inu is more of a classic outside back, but Sau genuinely damages people and thoroughly deserves his position.
Paley said | October 22nd 2009 @ 6:40pm | Report comment
I am looking forward to it. Hopefully England can put up a good show – I am with Jamie Peacock and hoping for bad weather.
westy said | October 22nd 2009 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
Brumbie fan we have at least nine players in the current wallabies squad born overseas with a foreign coach. I have no problem with this as we are a migrant nation. However it does remind us to take care in throwing stones. I applaud rugby league on again trying to forge some international focus. It has left this far too long. It is along long way behind rugby union but it is genuine attempt at rebuilding more genuine internationals building on its small but profitable World Cup.
The reason I take this view is that one local Cook islander lad I know was very proud to be selected for the Cook islands in rugby league’s pacific Cup played in the islands. . He sent me an email that they beat Samoa . I am not going to tell him he is a joke.
I have to remind you that our clear superiority in the international aspects of rugby union is no excuse to attack what i consider to be genuine effort to try and improve engagement internationally. Australian rugby union usually reverts to this attack because we fear we have nothing else when we have much more.
I think it is a little beneath us actually.
Jeff Baxter said | October 23rd 2009 @ 2:26am | Report comment
Nice post westy. This site seems to veer between insightful, detailed and worthwhile contributions to the kinda of stuff you would find on a videogame fanboi site, ’sony sux’ etc.
We’ve added France for the same reason the six nations added italy and the tri-nations are adding argentina. Enough said.
The rugby league tri-nations have been a modest success and the modest approach in creating a four nations is working best. We will make a profit on this and we will create two modest qualification comps in the pacific and european cups, giving a real meaningful boost to the secondary levels. Hopefully we will expand to a five nations soon enough, with both qualifying comps providing a team every year rather then alternately. All very modest and realistic for league fans. We don’t have to justify that to anyone. Instead we might just enjoy the sport – shocking idea i know.
The funny thing about england is despite the whole game and the press playing down our chances as soon as we see a glimmer of hope we will start expecting something. We are miserable gits mostly but there always seems to be an underlying and unquenchable optimism underlying it all.
Tom Alexander. said | October 23rd 2009 @ 6:21pm | Report comment
The Cook islands on Saturday night were determined to win at all costs. The Samoans in those opening minutes were genuinely rattled by the intensity and agression shown by the Cook Islanders. After letting in those opening 2 tries, the Samoans were always playing catch up football. In that 2nd half they had the Cook Islanders on the ropes a few times but just couldn’t deliver the knockout punch. Tony De La Heras was pretty lenient allowing a lot of holding down in the tackles which effectively slowed the play the ball down. The Cronulla player Terence Seu Seu had a pretty solid game at halfback, unfortunately, he was taken out by a late shot that fair dinkum almost cut him in half. Some of the hits in this game were massive. Kyle LeuLuai and Jack Afamasanga were busy all night with some big defence and were able to make some good busts up the middle of the park. Samoa just couldn’t take full advantage by finishing them off. Leaving Tony Puletua and Francis Meli in the stands probably went against Samoa in the end. Some of the last tackle options by the lesser experienced players were pretty poor. Rugby League needs this tournament to be a permenant fixture in order for the International game to improve.
Jeff Baxter said | October 23rd 2009 @ 9:04pm | Report comment
And to think some rugby league ‘fans’ dont want to see these match ups and these tournaments! These guys are fighting for a place in the four nations and will be playing there hearts out, risking life and limb for their mates and country while sneering ‘fans’ of the sport are posting what a waste of time it all is. Always astonishes me. Any highlights anywhere? I hear that the pacific tournament will be broadcast live on the internet for the international audience. Can’t wait.
Mick from Giralang said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:05am | Report comment
Jeff I think you’ll find most of the contempt directed at rugby league’s international program is driven by ignorance or envy from supporters of other codes. Anyone with a genuine interest in the game fully supports these tournaments, even ( or should I say especially) the qualification competitions where you see the game played from the heart. It’s a breath of fresh air in an increasingly commercialised and cynical sporting landscape.
michaelunt said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:30am | Report comment
The AFL would kill for a tournament like this. It can spend all the money it likes but with Rugby League at last expanding its International agenda, it will have a greater capacity to grow the game and the player base to improve the profile and sponsorship of the game.
There is a long way to go but we are stepping in the right direction.
Jeff Baxter said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Mick i was that was true but it strikes me that there are plenty of people within the game ready to decry any innovation and risk taken to expand the game, especially at the international level.
wannabprop said | October 24th 2009 @ 2:16am | Report comment
Wanted to say this for a long time… Thank god both Rugby League and Rugby Union have Pacific Island nations to draw on for player talent – no mothers telling them they can’t play – where would both codes be without them?
Mick from Giralang said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:07am | Report comment
Good point. In fact the NRL is so determined to further enmesh the islander community in our great game that it’s recently appointed a development officer in western Sydney with the sole job of getting more kids of islander heritage to play the game. They are an ornament to the code.
Knives Out said | October 24th 2009 @ 5:44am | Report comment
HT: England 4-12 France
Horrible first half from England. Their kicking game is non-existant and their general tactics are poor – far too many intricate dummy runs and dummy runners instead of allowing the England pack to grind out the middle of the field. France look good value for their lead.
Knives Out said | October 24th 2009 @ 6:47am | Report comment
FT: England 34-12 France
England win the second half 30-0. France tired, and the English victory was inevitable. England improved but not massively. In many ways the game was a typical first hit out with lots of errors and sets not completed.
Mick from Giralang said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
I hope that’s the one shocker England needed to get out its system…
The Answer said | October 24th 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
That may have been the result both sides wanted.
England had a tougher hit out than expected and will hoepfully now wake up. France would have got a lot of confidence from their first half but too much ill discipline cost them dearly.
Working Class Rugger said | October 24th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
After watching this morning’s match. I’m backing the inevitable Australia vs New Zealand final. Neither England nor France have the ability to really challenge either one of them. Bloody average.
westy said | October 24th 2009 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
I know a young bloke playing for the Cook Islands and after beating samoa 22 to 20 they have beaten Fiji 24 to 22 in rugby league’s Pacific Cup. Good luck to them they play the final against the winner of papua new guinea and Tonga.
Knives Out said | October 25th 2009 @ 6:47am | Report comment
A good game. I never thought I’d see the day when an Australian rugby league fan cheers for a draw.
Dogs Of War said | October 25th 2009 @ 6:53am | Report comment
Enjoyed the game immensely. Worth getting up early for.
NZ really deserved the win, but the Kangaroos never say die.
Crosscoder said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:13am | Report comment
The Kangaroos V Kiwis was a smasher of a game.Seven tries in all,aaprt from the dumb penalties and the usual idiotic antics of Gallen,a thoroughly enjoyable spectacle.
Brumbie fan.Please get a life.France is in it ,because they actually play the game and are growing the game in that country.The game is getting back on its feet after bad administration and being nearly wiped out by your code’s officials, dalliance with a certain despised govt.