England fightback

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Last updated: 1st November 2009  

England fightback

Thirty minutes into Saturday's Gillette Four Nations clash with Australia, all England fans' nightmares were coming true.

The Green and Golds were running in points almost at will, England looked incapable of breaching a swarming defence and a record defeat looked on the cards.

But somehow Tony Smith's men turned it around. They won the second half 16-0 and finished the game the stronger side.

So can England look forward to the rest of the tournament with optimism or did the Aussies ease off with the match as good as won?

Can we beat New Zealand next week and reach the final? And if we do, can we compete with the Kangaroos right from the first minute?

Share your thoughts on the Four Nations below...

Comments (18)

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Robert Ferguson says...

I disagree with those comments stating that McGuire was poor. He didn't do too bad in the 2nd half, but the fact is Australia were awesome. England aren't good enough and although we had a good 2nd half the Aussies have got the measure of us and we are still a million lightyears away from them. My team to face the Kiwis (and Australia in the final!) would be: Lee Smith Ade Gardner Kyle Eastmond Carl Ablett Ryan Hall Danny McGuire Sam Tomkins Sam Burgess Matt Diskin Jamie Peacock Jamie Jones Buchanan Gareth Ellis Kevin Sinfield (CAPTAIN NOT JP) Richie Myler Adrian Morley Eorl Crabtree Jon Wilkin/Gareth Carvell

Posted 17:37 3rd November 2009

Damian Duncan says...

come on people lets get behind the lads to nil australia for 50 min is pretty good yes they might av took the gas of but we showed we can mix it,sort the centres on iglis the aussie pack is very poor they caught us out wide tighten them areas and we will have a chance.burgess is a monster carbtree did better than i thought drop mgauire and sinfield,either myler,eastmood or tomkins for 6 and 7.

Posted 15:50 3rd November 2009

Adam Giblin says...

Danny McGuire should not put on an international jesrsey again. he was awful. Kyle Eastmond has to start against the kiwis as he is a class act. id have Chris Bridge in for Lee Smith and also Peter Fox in for Tom Briscoe.

Posted 10:43 3rd November 2009

Mick Goodwin says...

same old story england against aussies weve good players but not in same league as kangeroos they can up a gear when they want to we have heart but not the class sorry its aussies v nz in 4 nation final . i hope im wrong.

Posted 22:34 2nd November 2009

Sam Peel says...

Eastmond And Tomkins For 6+7, Plus Sinfield Is A Good Goalkicker And Trys His Best But Somehow We've Got To Have More Class At Loose Forward. Maguire, Smith And Shenton Must Step Up Notch.What Ever Tony Smith Said At Half - Time Needs To Be Said At The Beginning Of The New Zealand Game.

Posted 19:39 2nd November 2009

Leigh Senior says...

Tomkins, Briscoes and Shelton are not good enough. Mcguire should be playing with eastmond or burrows. Senior and wilkin should be in the squad. as a tony smith fan i am disappointed with the selection. our backs will lose us this trophy.

Posted 16:54 2nd November 2009

Keir Mackay says...

Tomkins and Eastwood must starts at 6&7 saturday. I dont think Sinfield had a bad game took the ball up well and had some joy with the inside ball especially for the Burgess try. Lee Smith didnt have a good game and the kiwis will be more than aware of that. Defensive line speed by the aussie was awesome we need to follow there lead on that.

Posted 16:34 2nd November 2009

Richard Walker says...

First half - oh dear !! why couldn't Smith change the right centre/wing after the third try in as many minutes instead of half time, it might have given us a fighting chance. We looked much better in the 2nd half, solid and played with some flair, you are not going to beat the Aussies playing one man rugby, Tomkins was the best player on the field second half by a mile, you could see what the Aussies thought about him as they tried to rough him up take him out a few times. i think we are a bit one dimensional at times, however when we opened up second half it showed what can be achieved - play without fear of losing.

Posted 13:54 2nd November 2009

David Lea says...

This must be the end fo Maguire's international career - he has proved over again that he can not do it at the highest level. It has to be Eastmond and Tomkins at the half-back positions against the Kiwis, at least they tried to do something with the ball and both of them are not scared of tackling. Surely Tony Smith heard the cheers from all over the ground when it was announced that Maguire had been replaced? As for the rest of our backs - well we are not nearly good enough. Why is Lee Smith in the team? apart from the fact he will be playing rugby union next month is he really the best we've got? If that is the case England are in big trouble. Would like to say well done to Crabtree, Burgess, Tomkins, Eastmond and Ellis for playing so well.

Posted 07:43 2nd November 2009

Neale Vaughan says...

The only reason that England scored any points is because Australia switched off at half time. They only need 40 mins to beat your mob. If what Australia did to England in the first half is not proof that the NRL is light years ahead of Super League then I will give it away. And expect the same from New Zealand.

Posted 01:39 2nd November 2009

Steve Crosby says...

lee smith and danny macguire were a total joke and tony smiths love affair with both will cost britain (sorry england) any chance next week tompkins and eastmond must be given a chance at 6 and 7 next week size is not an issue both are braver than mcguire anyway more minutes for crabtree and burgess is a must as well , think we only got back in it cause the aussies eased up but regardless of the result next week we should play our young players and let them develop together

Posted 17:12 1st November 2009

Chris Mason says...

Well First and Foremost you have to play Myler and Tomkins as the half backs although He Wont. Maguire isnt playing well enough! Eastmond should play all game even if its at centre with Smith on the wing. Does anyone else think that Peacock and Moz didnt play well enough yesterday? They Both looked really weak in comparision to Crabtree, Burgees and Ellis. I think Westwood played better than them two. Whatever Tony Smith is Telling them what to do in the first half doesnt work let these players just play like they have done in the second halfs. Also Shaun Briscoe that was the best game ive seen him play in a long time yesterday.

Posted 15:00 1st November 2009

Martin Halliwell says...

The first half showed how behind our so called "SUPER LEAGUE" really is! I'll give it two seasons before all the natural talent is coached out of Tomkins and Eastmond and they become catch and pass pivot men popping the ball up for a single man making a drive straight back into the pack with no supporting runner. The second half we took the Aussies by surprise played panic rugby and kept them out. If we don't beat NewZealand the RFL should sack all these people it employs as selectors, coaches, development officers all of whom have probably never played the in the driving rain at Waterhead with 11 men and employ real rugby league people who know the game and care about the game! The same can be said about the Super league clubs whose "if your face fits" scouting policies and sub standard coaches have finally ruined the game!

Posted 14:37 1st November 2009

Phil Russell says...

Its the same old story we try our best against good well focused sides and get beat. it happens all the time.no more excuses its an 80 minute game.i.ll be at elland rd but i wish it was ENGLAND i would be watching. I.M VERY SAD.

Posted 13:43 1st November 2009

Dave Bains says...

I hope Tony Smith has noticed that whenever Eastmond is on the field the side plays better and scores trys. The kicking game by McGuire and Sinfield seemed very poor at times. It must now be time to try the combination of Myler, Tomkins and Eastmond all on together for 80mins. Just surround them with bigger players when defending.

Posted 12:03 1st November 2009

Geoff Comish says...

after watching that yesterday, it's time to cut back on importing overseas players, our centres, halfbacks are not up to the mark, we're down on speed, skill and intensity, our first half performance was woeful and the big question is,,,,,is Tony Smith the man for the job ???

Posted 11:51 1st November 2009

Barry Jones says...

I have sufered so many false dawns as an England/GB fan that I refuse to get carried away by a decent 40 minutes - in a match we had already lost. What did come across is that the only way we can score points on the Aussies is to chance our arm a bit. We have to play high-risk rugby league and maybe pay the price when it doesn't come off. I would be very happy to see us beat the Kiwis and then at least give Australia a game for 80 minutes in the final. Not sure either is going to happen, though.

Posted 11:50 1st November 2009

Michael Campbell says...

Confident second half and something to be proud about.However,we were never at the races in the first half.The damage had already been done and the hill was too big to climb.We had no answer to the Aussie attacks down our right.Young Briscoe was like a rabbit caught in car headlights.He was far to slow.The only thing that can be said for him is that he is a young man asked to do a man's job.I'm sure that in years to come he will make the grade but this was a big ask.Our fortunes started to change with the introduction of Eastmond.Our options against the kiwis should be the linking of Tomkins and Eastmond. Magiure starved Tomkins of the ball in the first half.It was like watching two strangers.Crabtree and Burgess took it to the Aussies.My man of the match was Gareth Eliss.

Posted 11:37 1st November 2009
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