Pryce right for Kangaroos

Pryce: Looking for improvements this weekend

There are a lot of English fans here and this is what you career is all about - playing in this type of game

Leon Pryce
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Australia v England

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Leon Pryce admits England cannot afford to underachieve again if they are to get the better of Australia.

A 32-22 victory over Papua New Guinea in Townsville last weekend was an unspectacular start to the World Cup for Tony Smith's side.

The performance was hardly the ideal preparation ahead of facing the Kangaroos, who in contrast opened their campaign with an impressive 30-6 success over New Zealand.

However, stand-off Pryce is confident that the lessons have been learnt from the Kumuls contest and that England will be much improved on Sunday.

Underachieved

"As a team we underachieved, our performance wasn't the best," he told Sky Sports.

"We know that maybe against an Australian team then we would have had 20 points on ourselves. We've got to improve and we know that, though I'm sure that we will do.

"Our attitude was right but our defence wasn't the best and neither was our fluency in attack. There are plenty of areas to work on.

"We know that it was nowhere near the standards we have set before in either an England or Great Britain team."

Australia go into the clash as firm favourites having emphatically seen off the Kiwis and while also having the added advantage of playing on home soil.

Take into account that they are also the reigning champions and it is clear that England face a daunting task in the Telstra Stadium in Melbourne.

Despite the odds being stacked against Saints star Pryce insists that the players are determined to rise to the challenge and reward those fans who have made the long trip Down Under to cheer them on.

Rivalry

"They (the Australians) are the best and they are that for a reason," he admitted.

"They are the defending world champions and playing on home soil so it's a tough task ahead, but one we are looking forward to.

"We're all looking forward to it. There are a lot of English fans here and this is what you career is all about - playing in this type of game.

"All the talk is about England v Australia. Whether it's a World Cup or a Tri-Nations, the rivalry is always there between the two nations."