New Zealand drew the Test series with England level, recording a 9-2 victory at London’s Olympic Stadium. So what did we learn from the match?
1. Luke Gale must replace George Williams at halfback
The English halves lacked creativity on Saturday, and since Gareth Widdop will not get dropped, Williams must go.
He had a good debut in the first Test at Hull, but struggled on Saturday, so England coach Steve McNamara should take a leaf out of his counterpart Stephen Kearney’s book and change his 7. I don’t understand why McNamara has picked two halfbacks in his squad and ignored both of them in the first two Tests.
England need to bring their outside backs into the game more and create something different in attack – on Saturday they were too easy for Kiwi defence to read. Gale could be the difference.
2. England also need to give more game time to Josh Hodgson
England have looked better in both matches with Hodgson at dummy half – he is better with the ball in his hands, and creates more opportunities than James Roby.
The St Helens hooker is an outstanding player and a tackling machine, but Hodgson is the more creative player – he carved out England’s only try-scoring opportunity on Saturday with a little kick through near the line that should have seen James Graham score. He also scored England’s first try of the series in Hull and constantly put players in holes with clever, sharp passes out of dummy half.
3. The Olympic Stadium should be used for the 2016 Four Nations opener
A double header should be staged between Australia and New Zealand with England playing Scotland. Wembley is too big, with a 90,000 capacity, and if we want to pay regular visits to London the Olympic Stadium – with its 54,000-person capacity – is the perfect size.
My concern about taking big games to Wembley Stadium, apart from the Challenge Cup Final of course, is borne out by the fact that we could not sell out the Olympic Stadium for the second Test. A crowd in excess of 44,000 is respectable, but when a run-of-the-mill Rugby World Cup Group game between Ireland and minnows Romania was played in front of a crowd more than twice that size at Wembley Stadium a few weeks ago, you have to ask some serious questions about why we could not sell out the Olympic Stadium for a match involving England and the no. 1 rugby league team in the world.
Are the RFL marketing the games well enough? Tickets were available from £20, which is a reasonable price. Or do northern rugby league fans not want their international games played in the south?
4. England need to stop the Kiwis offloading the ball
The only time the Kiwis looked dangerous on Saturday was when they offloaded the ball out of the tackle. Issac Luke, Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and one or two others were constantly looking for the offload and managed to succeed, despite the best attention of the English defence.
One such offload out of the tackle by debutante halfback Kodi Nikarima led to Shaun Kenny-Dowall’s try – the only one of the game.
5. Something needs to be done to fire up the crowds
The atmosphere for the first half of the first Test at the KC Stadium in Hull was poor before the second half improved due to England’s improved performance. Likewise, the atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium was subdued and tense – just like the England performance.
England need to come out with all guns blazing on Saturday at the DW Stadium in Wigan to ensure the crowd have something to cheer about early on. The atmosphere must be intimidating and loud enough to affect the Kiwis’ performance.
6. New Zealand at full strength would have already won this series
With the number of first-choice players the Kiwis are missing, it is worrying we have not tied this series up 2-0. First-choice halves Shaun Johnson – the current Golden Boot holder – and Kieran Foran, world class-winger Manu Vatuvei, captain Simon Mannering, prop forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, experienced utility Thomas Leuluai, North Queensland premiership winner Jason Taumalolo and the up-and-coming Dallin Watene-Zelezniak all would have been expected to be part of the Kiwis’ best 17.
Losing both world-class halves is bad enough, but they also left Benji Marshall at home as coach Kearney did not want to select him.
How do you think this series would be balanced now if all of the above players had been included?
7. Thomas Burgess has been a revelation in this series
Always in the shadow of older brother Sam and twin George, Thomas has really stood up in this series. He has been England’s biggest attacking threat, while also defending strongly.
A triple Burgess-brother threat in the 2016 Four Nations tournament is something to look forward to.
8. Ben Thaler must referee the third and deciding Test
Aussie referee Gerard Sutton didn’t help the game flow at the weekend, there were too many unwarranted penalties for minor infringements at the play the ball, where all that was needed was a quick word from the referee to say, “Get on with it.” Thaler let the first Test flow and it was a better spectacle as a result.
A panel will this week decide if it is Thaler or Sutton who referees the final Test. With it being the decider, I can only assume that they will go with the neutral Sutton, but that decision will detract from the spectacle.
9. The series will be decided at the DW Stadium in Wigan on Saturday
A sell-out crowd of over 25,000 will be in attendance to witness the series decider. It should be an exciting game but both teams need a more attacking style of play, rather than concentrating on slowing the play the ball down and stifling the game.
This match needs to entertain and be thrilling, to showcase to the millions watching on BBC TV what a great game this is and how good international rugby league can be.
Follow Andy on Twitter @sharpster69
Niall
Guest
You have a point, Sleiman. I just feel there have been so many questionable selections from McNamara over the years that haven't worked out. Its great to be in the contest for the full 80 but a loss is a loss. I'd agree there have been times under McNamara where England have played good attacking football, but surely there would be patches of excitement in a five year period. On Kearney, I wouldn't say his sides have dominated Australia on numerous occasions. I can remember two games where they were dominant. The midseason test this year and the opening game of the 2014 Four Nations, both games at Suncorp Stadium. For the last few years New Zealand have had the best forwards to choose from out of the big three. They should have been more dominant on the scoreboard in my opinion.
Niall
Guest
Obviously you have a point. NZ's attacking shape under Kearney has always seemed to be "Give it to Benji/Shaun" and at times they have pulled rabbits out of hats, on other occasions they have been absolutely flogged despite having superior forward talent to Australia for the last 4 or 5 years.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I wonder. Kearney's side have dominated Australia on numerous occasions though I suppose one player's individual brilliance could be the reason for that. McNamara has turned the English mentality around. His teams compete for the full 80 minutes now. They have played some great attacking football, especially during the recent World Cup and Four Nations. His win rate against the Big Two is not great but when you are ranked a distant third behind them, that kind of result shouldn't be surprising. As I said, he's got England properly competing the entire match.
Frontrow
Guest
Tell me a side ranked no1 in the world in any sport that does rely on players with individual brilliance at their disposal? The Kangaroos have for years relied on players like Billy Slater - Alfie Langer - Thurston - Andrew Johns - Mal Maninga - Lauirie Daley -Darren Lockyer - Brad Fittler etc so what is new ? As a rule - The best teams in the world almost always have some of the best individual players at their disposal
Cedric
Guest
well does Thaler let the game flow, I thought he let the wrestle go on and on and I didn't like the penalty count. But in saying that I don't think he was bias. Might be different in front of a screaming Wigan crowd! They said the change in ref was done by consulting NZ and an impartial Frenchman, YEAH RIGHT! To say the video refs made a blunder last test so now the neutral ref has to become the video ref, is just so.......well it appears they think they are telling a dumb audience an untruth that will just disappear. I've always had a few problems with Kearney and Benji being left out is a biggy! We saw Lolohea at the end of the season playing full games for the Warriors, it's obvious the boy has talent, but is not even controlling a game at NRL level, let alone International. I don't think Nikorima has played a full game of NRL and is certainly not a controlling player at the Broncos'. It's not as if Johnson or Foran are never going to play footy again.
Tripehound
Guest
I've mentioned this on another post, after the first test, when someone was questioning the possibility of bias from the appointed official. If there are doubts over a referee's impartiality then he/she shouldn't be in charge of a game at any level. They are professional people doing their job and personally I rate Thaler as the top referee in Super League. Having seen the first two tests I would rather have him in charge of the deciding match due to the fact that he will allow a game to flow rather than being overly pedantic with reference to the ruck area. Refereeing style will always come into the equation with people officiating in different competitions, but as long as international rules are observed I don't see any issue here.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
A 9-2 penalty count surely doesn't mean a biased referee does it Scott? I thought Sutton stopped the flow of the game last weekend with his constant penalties for next to nothing 'infringements' at the play the ball - at least Thaler let the game flow.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Rene Did you miss the 9-2 pen count in game 1?
Renegade
Roar Guru
I said it the other day Scott.... it was a much more fluent and better game with Thaler in charge. Sutton just didn't take control last week. The Kiwis won't use it as an excuse - I don't think they are childish enough to suggest that the referee is the reason they would win or lose a game.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Pommie Ben Thaler has been appointed referee for the decisive third game between England and New Zealand in Wigan on Saturday,. They are kidding! NZ now have an automatic excuse. Surely a neutral ref was the order of the day.
Johnno
Guest
The crowds have been quiet, as I believe a 3-Test series poms vs kiwis, is a bit to long. These guys work better in my view in the 4-nations, playing each other just once in a round-robin format, and if they meet in the final so be it.
Sylvester
Guest
In saying that Renegade, Kearney should have picked Marshall. That's a major error they may still cost them the series. If he was pragmatic enough to change the game plan based on injuries, why stop there? No harm in his "select for the future" policy but Hiku is clearly a stop gap with no future in the halves, so what is the point in playing him there? I'd rather they gamble fully on Lolohea and Nikorima, if Marshall is totally in the outer.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Sylvester you are 100% right. It's been quite obvious that on this occasion Kearney has gone in with that game plan but it's the only way to ascertain victory without the halves and that is to bash and wrestle their way to a win with their forwards. I actually think that makes him a good coach rather than a poor one.... he is going in with the right game plan to get his team over the line.
Sylvester
Guest
Kearney said before the series the Kiwis would look to bash through the forwards, given the absence of any semblance of a halves pairing. It hasn't made for pretty watching but is a pragmatic approach.
Niall
Guest
Unless we are in the camp I guess we will never know what the intent is. To be fair, the international teams probably don't have enough time together to implement a strategy. Both certainly failed as club coaches. I'm just hoping we get a good game this weekend.
Renegade
Roar Guru
They may very well be poor coaches but what I meant is that I don't think they are responsible for the dour play we've witnessed as both sides have played very entertaining and open footy during their coaching tenure as well.
Niall
Guest
I stand by my comment mate. New Zealand have been reliant on individual brilliance during Kearney's tenure. McNamara got the England job on the back of a ridiculous losing streak at Bradford. He has made some ridiculous decisions as England coach and only has one win against NZ and Australia in five years in charge. Both are guilty of discarding players for personal reasons and standing by underachievers.
Niall
Guest
Hardaker reminds me of Dugan. Big, strong and quick but don't pass the ball. I remember so many times this year when Dugan didn't pass to unmarked players inside the opposition 20.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Niall, I'd challenge your final point.... it seems to be something that has only occurred this test series. England's style of play during the World Cup and in particular last year's four nations was open and attacking rugby league which was brilliant to watch. NZ have defeated Australia with the similar enterprising play but both sides have just shut up shop this series.... not sure if you can solely lay the blame on the coaches.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I agree and I mentioned as such to Andy on another thread.... Roby is a World Class player. I wish he ventured to the NRL.