Friday, October 30, 2009

England seek revenge over Aussies

FOUR NATIONS: ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA
Venue: DW Stadium, Wigan Date: Saturday, 31 October Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One and BBC Sport website from 1410 GMT; Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and BBC Sport website

England captain Jamie Peacock and his Australia counterpart Darren Lockyer

England have the chance to gain a measure of revenge for their 52-4 humiliation at the World Cup when they take on Australia in the Four Nations.

Tony Smith's new-look side are seeking to hand the Kangaroos a first defeat on British soil since 2004.

"I'd by lying if I said that the World Cup hasn't been at the back of some of the players' minds this week," said England captain Jamie Peacock.

"The result still hurts, but it's about discovering how much we've learned."

England go into the match as underdogs, despite enjoying home advantage at the DW Stadium in Wigan - with memories of their World Cup thrashing in Melbourne nearly 12 months ago still fresh.

But coach Smith hopes a crop of youngsters untainted by previous painful memories of playing the Kangaroos, blended with some experienced heads, will turn the tables on their fancied opponents.

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Sam Burgess is the "baby" of an experienced pack hoping to lay a platform for the likes of 20-year-olds Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond, 19-year-old Tom Briscoe and 21-year-old Ryan Hall to shine.

"Those boys have had a great year in Super League," said Burgess.

"They've impressed enough to get in the England squad so I don't see why they can't stand up.

"I'm confident in every player in our team. I'm sure we can go out there and have a good crack of it and hopefully come out with a win."

Shaun Briscoe, who has inherited the full-back role from Paul Wellens, is a relative veteran at 26 and aware of the size of the task facing him and his fellow backs.

"It's a big challenge for myself and a big challenge for the team but we're confident we can do a job and we're looking forward to it," he said.

The Poms aren't really a focus at the moment - it's more about us getting our game right

Billy Slater

Australia full-back Billy Slater says the Kangaroos are determined to bounce back at England's expense after failing to impress in their Four Nations opener against New Zealand.

The tournament favourites needed a last-minute converted try to earn themselves a face-saving 20-20 draw and know defeat at Wigan would virtually end their interest at the halfway stage.

"I don't think there are too many Australian players that will have been happy with their game last weekend but it's a chance to turn it around," said Slater.

"It's a must-win game for us.

"We've always got pressure on us - we put pressure on ourselves to play up to our standards. We need to get things right with the football and get our defence right without it.

"We certainly didn't gel as well as we have in the past and that's something we've worked on this week.

"We didn't get that free-flowing game that we wanted but there are no excuses. We have experienced enough players and we get another crack on Saturday."

Slater said the 52-4 World Cup rout of England would have little bearing on Saturday's match.

"That was a year ago," he said. "If anything, it's going to motivate them a bit.

"To be honest I don't know a lot about the whole side. We don't watch too much Super League over in Australia in the same way you probably don't get too much of the NRL over here.

"We don't know too much about the young fellas but I'm sure they're going to bring enthusiasm to the side.

"But the Poms aren't really a focus at the moment. It's more about us getting our game right."

England: S Briscoe; T Briscoe, Smith, Shenton, Hall; McGuire, Tomkins; Morley, Roby, Graham, Ellis, Peacock (capt), Sinfield.
Replacements: Burgess, Crabtree, Eastmond, Westwood.

Australia: Slater; B Morris, Inglis, Hodges, Hayne; Lockyer (capt), Thurston; Civoniceva, Smith, Hannant, Watmough, Gallen, Hindmarsh.
Replacements (from): Farah, White, Lewis, Shillington, Waterhouse, Gidley.

ะพ 3:31 AM

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