2016 Four Nations - Round 2

2016 Four Nations - Round 2

You could sense the disappointment all around the country after last weekend’s defeat to New Zealand.  The reaction amongst the press was quite clear that Wayne Bennett’s side were just not good enough to get over the line for that elusive try that would have won the game.

Garry Schofield was particularly scathing in League Express this week, and rightly so, as England should have had that game wrapped up and in the bag before Shaun Johnson scored his interception try to effectively end the match as a contest.

The lads have a full week to dust themselves off now and prepare for Saturday’s double-header at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena and get a good result against Scotland.  Personally only a 30-40 point victory would make me happy.

In the second game of the evening New Zealand will try their hand at upsetting competition favourites Australia and whoever wins that game will all but book their place in the Final at Anfield.

I didn’t watch Australia’s win over Scotland last week but I read that it was convincing enough to confirm they would have too much for New Zealand in my eyes.  I think the best outcome for England would be to beat Scotland by at least 40 points and New Zealand to sneak a win over the Aussies.  That would make the game between Australia and England next weekend effectively a winner-takes-all semi final to then meet the Kiwis at Anfield.

ENGLAND vs SOTLAND

(Saturday, 5 November, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, 5:30pm)

England

Only a magnificent display against Scotland in Coventry on Saturday would dispel any disappointment from last weekend’s narrow defeat and go some way towards bringing a bit of hope back into the squad ahead of next weekend’s crunch game with Australia in London.

In all fairness, Wayne Bennett’s side didn’t play badly against New Zealand.  They defended well considering they had to face countless repeat sets thanks to Shaun Johnson’s neat kicks and but couldn’t add the points at the other end of the field when needed.

I thought James Graham was slightly unlucky to have not been awarded his try by the video ref which would have made the score 10-0 to England following a successful kick, and I was impressed with the performances of the wingers and Gareth Widdop.

So it surprises me that Bennett has made Widdop one of the two changes to his 19-man squad to face the Scots as he was undoubtedly one of England’s best players against the Kiwis.  He will also rest James Graham so he can recover from a minor knee injury and Mark Percival and Scott Taylor will come in whilst Stefan Ratchford misses out again.

There’s not much more Bennet can do with his squad in order for them to be ready to face Scotland but it is hugely important they learn how to me more clinical and ruthless in the final 20 meters or so in order to get much needed points on the board.

Scotland

Steve McCormack will have been happy with his side’s performance against Australia last weekend and will have taken a lot of positives out of the game despite losing by 42 points.

Scotland will be a threat this weekend and England know they will have to be on their game to get a decent result against the Four Nations debutants.  They had ambitions before the tournament began to be the first ‘fourth nation’ to win at least one game in the competition and, even though they didn’t say it, this will have been the game that they targeted to achieve that feat.

The Scots know it would be a major embarrassment to their English counterparts if they do beat them on Saturday and McCormack has decided to make just three changes to his side to do so.

Interestingly, Ryan Brierley will make way for Batley’s David Phillips in the 19-man squad alongside Brett and Callum Phillips.  I’m surprised as Brierley played well in the backs with his team mate Danny Brough and thought the connection between the two would have been key against England.  But McCormack will now opt for either Danny Addy or Lachlan Coote to partner the Scottish captain in the backs.

I still think it will be difficult as England’s team of Super League and NRL full timers should be too strong for Scotland’s mix of full and part-time players.

MY PREDICTION – England to win by 20+ points

NEW ZEALAND vs AUSTRALIA

(Saturday, 5 November, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, 8pm)

New Zealand

The odds were stacked highly against them last weekend when they faced the hosts at a packed out John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield but, full credit to David Kidwell and his men, they overcame those odds to upset the English rugby league public and win the tie.

This was New Zealand’s first tournament win over England on these shores in a long time (yes, they won a match here last year, but that was part of a three-match series) and the confidence they will have gained from that victory will make them a very dangerous side for Australia this time around.

Kidwell has been forced into a couple of changes to his side for this clash as both Jason Nightingale and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves are injured so up steps Gerard Beale and Greg Eastwood.  If those players hadn’t picked up injuries it would be interesting to know if he would have made any changes at all.

Shaun Johnson was outstanding, again, against England and he will be pivotal this week as well against the Aussies, as will Adam Blair who also had a great game last weekend.

Can I see a New Zealand win at all in this game?  Yes, but only if those two are on top form and they defend as well as they did against England.

Australia

A 56-12 victory in their opening match of the tournament was the perfect start for Mal Meninga’s side and they continued on their good work from their second half performance in their pre-tournament win against New Zealand three weeks ago.

They achieved this victory without either Jonathan Thurston or Greg Inglis who were both rested so I feel sorry for New Zealand on Saturday as I think Australia will be far too strong with those two in the side.

Meninga has named all seven of the players who missed out on the final 17 against Scotland in his 19-man squad for this tie which means the likes of Tyson Frizell, Josh Duggan, Jake Trbojevic and, ominously, Cooper Cronk have been rested ahead of the game with England in a week’s time.

It was nice to read that the Aussie’s invited the Scottish lads into their dressing room after the game for a post match beer and I think they’ll need to do the same for both New Zealand and England in the next couple of weeks before cracking open the Champaign which is currently on ice in their dressing room at Anfield!

MY PREDICTON – Australia to win by 10+ points