Kearney - Expect a tough one

Kiwi believes England are building nicely

By Lizzie Rose   Last updated: 2nd November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kearney - Expect a tough one

Kearney: Expecting tough challenge

The English side have got better as they've gone along, so I'm expecting a real tough contest.

Stephen Kearney
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New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney believes England will be feeling confident ahead of Saturday's decisive Four Nations clash.

The tie in Huddersfield is likely to decide which team will face Australia in the Elland Road decider, with the Kangaroos expected to beat France in Paris for the other spot.

Despite suffering a 26-16 defeat, England impressed Kearney with a second half fight-back against Australia in their last Four Nations match and the Kiwis coach believes they are quickly improving as a side.

"I've always been under the impression, even before we came here, that this game was going to be the determining game in terms of who goes further into the competition - and it's basically gone along with how I thought it would," said Kearney.

Tough contest

"The English side have got better as they've gone along, so I'm expecting a real tough contest."

Kearney has started to look through the tape of England's defeat in Wigan, and the coach admits Tony Smith's side have a number of players that could prove to be a threat.

"They made a few changes to their side for the second half, and it looks like it made a difference," he said.

"Whether or not Australia put the cue in the rack, you've still got to turn up to do your job - and they did well to score that many points against an Australian team.

"Young Sam Burgess played well - so did young Sam Tomkins - and I think (Eorl) Crabtree really made a difference.

Building nicely

"They'll get a lot of confidence out of that performance. On the back of their second-half performance against France, it's building nicely for them."

Kearney is likely to be without centre Steve Matai with an eye injury but the coach is confident that second rower Bronson Harrison and prop Jeff Lima, who both missed the French game with calf injuries, will be available.

Parramatta utility back Kris Inu could replace Matai in the centre spot, but Kearney is also considering switching the St Helens-bound Iosia Soliola from the back row.

The Twenty-three-year-old has been signed by Saints to fill their centre vacancy but is content to play wherever he is needed by both club and country.