For the sake of international league, England must do well
Roar Pro By dlang30, 17 Nov 2011 dlang30 is a Roar Pro
While I will always be a fiercely loyal to the Kangaroos and Australia in general, I can’t help but say that I hope this week’s Four Nations decider at Elland Road will be one that goes right down to the wire.
Darren Lockyer is captaining Australia in his last official Kangaroo and rugby league match, and even though I am a New South Welshman through and through I hope he gets to go out with a victory as the true legend he really is.
England, on the other hand, has it all to play for, looking for their first official silverware since they won the 1972 Rugby League World Cup. Adrian Morley will become their most capped player in this week’s final and in excess of 30,000 screaming fans will be cheering them on.
For the good of the game and reputation of international rugby league England have to be competitive in this upcoming match.
Since 1980, England or Great Britain has only managed 10 victories over the Kangaroos and on multiple occasions have been on the end of some almighty thumpings. The reward of Anglo-Australian rivalry in rugby league (The Ashes) have not left Australia’s shores since 1970.
Even when England has been close to victory, Australia has either brought the Queenslander never-say-die attitude and scored in the dying moments, or taken their game up a notch in the last few minutes to completely taken the match away from the British.
The 2009 Four Nations final at the same venue was one such example, when the Kangaroos took down a very courageous English side 46-16.
It’s easy to say sitting here that England should have the motivation and drive to be able to match it with the Aussies, however with a well-oiled machine like the Kangaroos trying to send their captain out with a victory it adds just that much more pressure for the England game to deliver.
I remember back in 2006 when Darren Lockyer had the greatest year of his career, leading his club, state and country to glory and contributing the winning score in every match, along with the Golden Boot Award. This is the player Australia will be desperate to send out with a win and even talking to my mates in the North of England, there is such a great deal of respect for him.
I also think that Australia will want to show they are not pressured by the big occasion, which is something the Kiwis have been able to do to them in three finals since their shock 24-0 loss in 2005.
If England is to go the distance with Australia in this final they have to look back at every past game where they’ve come up “just short”, as fans and the media keep calling it.
There has also been talk over the last decade that that where Australia have multiple X-Factor players in Slater, Inglis, Hayne, Thurston and Lockyer, England have just lacked that genuine player to have an impact on a game when they need it most.
However, this current England team has players such as Sam Tomkins, Ryan Hall or Sam Burgess (injured) who are capable. They are young and will make mistakes on the back of rash decisions but I believe they have taken massive strides from their awful showing at the 2008 World Cup.
We all know the men in white and red will come out with the usual roar of the crowd and the first 3 sets at least will be firmed with big hits and maybe even a punch up or two. But it’s the maturity that England show at the back end of the game if the scores are close (which I am more than certain they will be) that will get them over the finish line and restore some much needed pride to the English game.
Either way, we have two nations with very different agendas but one common goal, to bring international glory to their fans, jersey and country.
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November 17th 2011 @ 8:03am
Gary Roberts said | November 17th 2011 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Question – Was England that good?
By Gary Roberts RLCM in Huddersfield -That is probably not the question to ask, because it cannot be defined. New Zealand’s ability in playing international rugby league at Hull on Saturday night can be answered by saying that it was one of the worst efforts displayed by a New Zealand Kiwi team.
Many of the past great Kiwi players would have been in shock horror as they watched a team that showed no enthusiasm in this game.
Captain Benji Marshall showed once again he is a world class touch rugby league player, when England were ready to attack in NZ’s ‘red zone’, it was only a matter of moving the ball to the right, then come left with a wide spread finding the Kiwi captain thinking he was playing touch, England then found the space they were seeking on the outside.
New Zealand stuggled all night to gain ground, they played the majority of the game in their own half.
Why?
A dumb kicking game continually gave England the ball in favourable position to bring the ball back to the 50m on early plays. Why they continued with this practice for most of the night was hard to work out.
They continued with the two man tackle process, giving England faster PTB’s. England played the three man system, holding the ball runner up, whenever possible, giving them control of the ruck speed.
The Kiwis gave penalty after penalty to England, what were they thinking?
So probably the question at the top should be ‘Did New Zealand play bad?’ and the answer is yes, they were terrible.
Wales on Saturday night at Wrexham were well beaten, but they had a go and gave the crowd of 5233 a feel good feeling early in the first half when they led 8-nil at the 25th minute mark, but as to be expected the might of Australia took over and were easy winners.
Now to the Four Nations Final, England are confident, coach McNamara is confident, captain Peacock is confident that they can do it.
But they need another game plan, Australia will not give them the latitude that the Kiwis allowed them at Hull. If they play an Australian style of rugby league as they did against New Zealand they will not get the same results in their go forward as they did on Saturday night.
The Kiwis’ kicking on the 5th tackle was very poor and this was caused by the lack of gaining positive field position in England’s end for their kick, so it is hard to fathom why they continued in giving the ball to Tomkins or England’s wingers on or about the 20m.
They will not get an advantage like that against Australia.
Once that advantage is denied to them where are they going to go?
Australia will control the middle far better than the Kiwis did at Hull and England will not be able to get through there.
They will not have the luxury of constantly moving the ball wide from their own end. If they start spreading the ball in that section of the field they will be in trouble. This will be caused by their non ability to constantly go straight, they are trying to perfect it, but they play more ‘overs than unders’ in attack.
They will have a plan to isolated Darren Lockyer in their attack and he will be their target as was Benji Marshall on Saturday night. It is well known Lockyer can have defensive lapses, but it also well known that will have an expert defensive team around him.
England are as ready as they will ever be for this clash but Australia will play better than what has been witnessed so far in this Four Nations Tournament.
Remember this is Darren Lockyer’s last game and his team mates will not let him go out losing this game.
Click on the links below for RLCMTV at Four Nations’ Press Conferences
Click for Pre Four Nations Final Press Conference
Sheens, Lockyer, McNamara, Peacock
Click for Darren Lockyer and Jamie Peacock
Pre Four Nations Captains Press Conference
Click for Sheens and Smith
Aust 56 Wales 14
Click for Harris and Briers
Aust 56 Wales 14
Click for England 28 New Zealand 6
Press Conference with England’s McNamara and Peacock
Click for Tim Sheens & Darren Lockyer
Australia 36 England 18 at Wembley
Click for Kearney and Marshall
England 28 Kiwis 6 at Hull Stadium
Click for McNamara & Peacock
Australia 36 England 18 at Wembley
November 17th 2011 @ 8:56am
warren said | November 17th 2011 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Would have loved to see the games on TV but somehow channel 9 have worked out that one of the two highest rating sporting codes in Australia should not show the national team play their games live. Further that some of the millions of RL fans in this country may not want to watch the other two international sides play their games. Either way I am sure we will get a whole bunch of people shortly saying how international RL is a joke rather worrying about the issues with their own sport. Anyway good luck to England – they will need it as the Roo’s will run over them as per the usual script
November 17th 2011 @ 9:54am
Rodney McDonell said | November 17th 2011 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Warren, what are you talking about?
Channel 9 have been showing all the Austrlaian games live! The only games that Channel 9 aren’t showing are the games where Australia is not playing – for those games you’ll have to tune into Foxtel. However I haved watched the England v Australia, Australia v NZ and i will be watching the Australia v England final on Channel 9, this Sunday morning at 4:45am EST on Channel 9. You’ll be able to do so too if you live in either QLD, NSW or VIC. I dont know what the other states are doing.
November 17th 2011 @ 12:12pm
warren said | November 17th 2011 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Really – what time was the Wales v Australia game on Channel 9!!
November 17th 2011 @ 12:17pm
Fred said | November 17th 2011 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
It was late here because it was played in England you nong
November 17th 2011 @ 1:12pm
warren said | November 17th 2011 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
What are you talking about?? Either it was on Channel 9 or it wasn’t!!
My understanding is that it only appeared on delay on Foxtel. If not I will stand corrected and accept that you are the nong in this debate.
November 17th 2011 @ 1:16pm
Fred said | November 17th 2011 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
Haha sorry mate, I’m the nong I was thinking of Australia v England not Wales
November 17th 2011 @ 1:23pm
warren said | November 17th 2011 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Fred no worries. You are of good character by admiting an error. All the best
November 17th 2011 @ 12:49pm
mfree said | November 17th 2011 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
The wales vs aus game wasnt shown on 9 im sure of it, cause i tried to look for it to no avail.
Dlangs story is on the mark, eng have got heaps of confidence from the game against the kiwis but as nrl fans seeing these players on a regular basis, its obvious that the kiwis werent interested and didnt play nowhere near what they are capable of as a team so i think the english have as usual got too much confidence. Same goes with the wembley game, the roos didnt play at there best either with locky confirming my point at the post game interview. I had the same attitude about wanting eng to have good results but after all these interviews i hear with english squad is almost disrespectful to the aussie squad, the main one that comes to mind is the interview with rangi when he said “we are not fussed by lockyer” infuriated me especially coming from a blown up piece of turd like him, i am not the no1 fan of lockyer being a nsw fan, but my respect for him is huge and i no one can can deny what big things he has done for rl.
November 17th 2011 @ 12:58pm
mfree said | November 17th 2011 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
To me it sounds like boosting eng rl is dependent on them winning, which make some eng fans sound pretty shallow and lacks loyalty, i am a nsw fan and we havent won a origin game in six years which is really embarrassing but year after year i have supported the blues the same as i did in 2005. So if eng win and they get more of a boost in fans, it will only last untill the roos come back around and restore order. But i am only pointing out 1 aspect as to how eng rl will be boosted by a win, so people who love to come here and argue and say i am wrong like i said its only 1 aspect.
November 18th 2011 @ 11:30am
Crayfish said | November 18th 2011 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Congrats on not being one of the many NSW fans who shrugs and says they “don’t care anyway” come Origin time…Also, England/GB have been losing for 40 years, not 6…yet still this game has been a sellout for days now. I’d argue their loyalty is pretty impressive.
November 18th 2011 @ 8:29pm
Widdop Fan said | November 18th 2011 @ 8:29pm | Report comment
Crayfish I’d agree. As an Englishman arriving in 1970 its been a losing road for me for an awfully long time. Never missed a series and enjoyed the few victories England/GB have had. Certainly no lack of loyalty here. HOWEVER, even though I would love to see England win the prize a part of me would be sad to see a great of the game end on a losing note. I think Lockyer deserves to go out a winner so I’d be happy to see a close intense game and perhaps England win the next meeting when Lockyer is resting up in retirement.
November 19th 2011 @ 2:46pm
oikee said | November 19th 2011 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Maybe, you also can take away from the departure of a champion to the rise of a new champion. Handing over of the batton, and i think this young Tomkins is a brilliant player. Lets all wait and see what happens, it will be good, i know it will be good. Rugby league never fails to deliver, a new chapter, a new era.
November 18th 2011 @ 10:41pm
Massimo said | November 18th 2011 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
I really hope England win. The atmosphere will be awesome prior to kick off, there will be over 40,000 on hand but i’m fearful that the Kangaroos will run through us again. Still, every dog has its day, and no series or tournament win over australia since 1972 has to end one day, surely?!
November 19th 2011 @ 12:53am
trakl said | November 19th 2011 @ 12:53am | Report comment
Unfortunately only around 34000 tickets have been made available – but all have indeed gone and the atmosphere will indeed be awesome.
November 19th 2011 @ 12:24am
ItsCalledFootball said | November 19th 2011 @ 12:24am | Report comment
Love my rugby league, but as long as I’ve been following it, its only ever been between a few countries to win it and nothing’s really changed in decades, so even if the Poms do win it, won’t make the game any more international.
Its still only between a few countries who can win it, and unfortunately one of those sports where some people hope Australia, their own country, loses to “make it more interesting”.
Wouldn’t happen in many other international sports.
November 19th 2011 @ 7:03am
Crayfish said | November 19th 2011 @ 7:03am | Report comment
While I agree with more or less with what you’re saying, growing international rugby league is not just about getting more countries to play it at a high level, it’s also about building the game’s strength in those countries that are already strong. I am an Australian hoping for a quality contest and probably an English win, not because I think it will lead to other countries taking it up, but because I think the game in England desperately needs it. In terms of crowds etc. domestically, League and Union are of similar strength over there, but it is the profile of international rugby that nets union the big dollars. For League to break out of its traditional geographical lines (in England, but this is also equally true of Australia) it needs some sort of credible international exposure. Casual sports fans don’t much care if Wigan beat Warrington, but if England beat Australia they will notice. The next time they play on the BBC, more of these fans might watch. The more of them watch the more appealing the game becomes to sponsors – the more sponsors, the less Joel Tomkins’ and Kyle Eastmonds’ go waste their talents in union. The situation is also true to some extent in Australia – the Wallabies are a nationally recognised brand because when we play the All Blacks we are engaged in a competitive contest and strong rivalry. The more New Zealand and England bring the same qualities to League internationals, the more the Kangaroos will become a recognised brand themselves. Showpiece representative football is how to expand the game, not just overseas but also within your own country.
November 19th 2011 @ 2:42pm
Joe said | November 19th 2011 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
Crayfish i am a big league fan but have to disagree with you on one thing. I just spent 8 years living in the UK and domestically union is way bigger than league
November 21st 2011 @ 11:34am
Crayfish said | November 21st 2011 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Fair enough Joe, I guess I’ll have to take your word on that. I was under the impression crowds at that level are similar (but still favour union)? guess the point I was trying to make is the England RU side get good exposure and their international presence is big – so this attention then filters down to their comestic competition. If RL is to close the gap they need their national team firing…Despite the loss in the final there is some cause for optimism too on that front – they finally look an organised, professional, unified side. Add to that squad Sam Burgess, Gareth Hock and young players like Johnny Lomax and Kallum Watkins (both potentially world class) and they won’t be far away at all.
November 21st 2011 @ 1:47pm
Fred said | November 21st 2011 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
It depends where you are. If you are in London then yes, union is bigger. But that is not the case in the north.
November 20th 2011 @ 4:25am
mfree said | November 20th 2011 @ 4:25am | Report comment
Crayfish your right it is a big difference than losing for 40years but origin has or i should say had a rep for being a very close and competitive show down. I dont question the existing eng fans loyalty, i question the ones that only follow the team if they win, same goes to the nsw fans.