England recorded a comfortable 18-point win over Lebanon to secure their first victory of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Final score
England 28
Lebanon 10
After a loss to open their Rugby League World Cup campaign, England are in a must-win situation when they take on a determined Lebanon in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEDT).
The English weren’t expected to win last week, but they will still be disappointed with their second-half effort, as they fell to tournament favourites Australia by 14 points.
England came strongly out of the gates against the Kangaroos but struggled to maintain the rage, spending much of the first half in defence before being unable to convert countless opportunities in the second.
The halves combination of Gareth Widdop and Luke Gale struggled to combine with Jonny Lomax, and if England are going to succeed in this tournament, they must make a statement in this match.
Wayne Bennett has decided he won’t be taking Lebanon lightly, only making a forced change, with Sam Burgess out through injury. He is replaced by Alex Walmsley, who was named for the first game but had to pull out through illness.
Lebanon beat France in a virtual elimination game last week.
The Cedars have plenty of talent in their side, led by the halves combination of Robbie Farah and Mitchell Moses, along with hooker Michael Lichaa.
While the spine led the way, with some Moses magic securing Lebanon their first ever World Cup victory, there were other impressive elements. Winger Travis Robinson scored a pair of tries and Tim Mannah played a leading role up front.
Across the park, they are outclassed by England, especially up front. The Pommy pack, even without Burgess, is one of the best at the Cup with James Graham, Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead leading the way.
Lebanon will also be without fullback Anthony Layoun, who played strongly last week, and will be replaced by Daniel Sleiman.
Prediction
Lebanon put in a huge effort to get over the French last week and it’s hard to see them replicating it to defeat a side like England, who must make a statement.
England by 12.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup from 8pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Maestro
Guest
Headline news - England play RL international in Sydney !! How many in the last 25 years...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Unfortunately I didn't get to see the press conference. I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that teams 'should' be putting their opposition to the sword. And yet...
Renegade
Roar Guru
SA, I feel like they went backwards tonight and watching Wayne’s press conference, he is filthy with their performance tonight. They need to be clinical and professional and putting teams to the sword if they want to win this competition.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yeah, I'm starting to wonder now. I thought there were a lot of good signs from England in their match against Australia. I expected a real professional effort today against Lebanon and thought that they would go on with it in the second half. I know that Lebanon competed well and were tenacious but really, England ought to have scored another 3 tries in that second half. Not quite sure what the issue is.
Dan
Guest
Absolutely true
Greg Ambrose
Guest
When Lebanon scored their second try I was amused after it went to video ref and the commentators said he doesn't look very confident. It's only trivia but I'm watching the bloke give one nod of the head as he say's something like " I got it down" to a teammate Funny how we read the same thing in the opposite fashion!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It had its moments. A different kind of intensity out there. England too classy for Lebanon but Lebanon simply wouldn't let them truly prove it.
Jarryd
Guest
Not sure why they don't have neutral refs for some of these minor games. I'm not saying anything outrageous like the ref cost them (English were clearly better) but surely eliminating any bias from the game is a good thing. Peranara was reffing nz today...surely you just switch him and the english ref???
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup as England beat Lebanon in Sydney. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We will be back with three more games tomorrow. From 5pm (AEDT), it's Stuart Thomas to take you through Papua New Guinea and Ireland, as well as Connor Bennett to cover Italy vs the USA. I'll be back from 7:30pm for Fiji and Wales. Right now though, I'm off to cover the A-League as Perth Glory take on Adelaide United. Bye for now.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I think poor human is a bit harsh but I do think that he was a bit antsy this match. Trying to niggle the England team out of a victory? If so, a bit silly me thinks.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME FIELD GOAL ENGLAND, GARETH WIDDOP A chip from Moses off the scrum, but he can't regather and England will have one final chance to attack. The clock winds down as Williams brings it forward, before they send it back to Widdop who sends over the drop goal with the siren going in the background. Not bad for a bit of practice ahead of the big matches to come. England beat Lebanon by 19 points, but it was far from dominant. They must improve before we get to the elimination games if they want to compete with the likes of Australia, New Zealand even Tonga. England take on France next week. Brave effort from the Cedars tonight. Their fans will be proud of them and holding England to 29 points is a superb effort. They face a mammoth task against Australia next Saturday. England 29 Lebanon 10
Jarryd
Guest
You'd put the Lebanon games in western sydney surely? Fair enough Aus v Lebanon plays at a big ground but the rest should be in the west surely.
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - England are in! No! Forward pass. They had the overlap there from Williams to Watkins and then the pass to McGillvary is called forward. Otherwise, he was over in the corner. England 28 Lebanon 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
England don't really look like a side who can win this tournament for mine SA.
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Lebanon have fought bravely, but that's another bit of luck against Moses. He is ruled to have knocked on, but there was definitely a hand on the ball there. England 28 Lebanon 10
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Good try by Wehbe. Lebanon have been outclassed but not by enough for England to run away with the match. Been a bit disappointed with England this match actually.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by MITCHELL MOSES England 28 Lebanon 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - TRY LEBANON, JASON WEHBE Lebanon bring it left off the scrum for Wehbe, before Lichaa goes to Farah and now it's out the back for Moses and then Doueihi is tackled on the line. Lichaa back to Farah on the right before Twal is tacled. Kick early in the count and Lebanon will hang onto it before Mamery is tackled settling through the middle. Last play and it's Farah to Moses who looks to run, finding Maarbani and he is over! Going upstairs. Plenty of defensive numbers there, but we are going to check to see if he got it down. The live call of no try is going to be overruled! Try for Lebanon. England 28 Lebanon 10
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Lebanon cut through the middle off the scrum through Twal, before Farah goes right to Moses, then it's on for Maarbani who is tackled over the sideline. Great sliding defence from England. It's been knocked on by Luke Gale though apparently. Maarbani did a great job to pass that back in, so it'll be a Lebanon scrum again England 28 Lebanon 6