England prepare to muscle up

Graham: always confident

They're a very physical bunch," said Graham. "I think it's fair to say they are more physical than Australia. If you look at their pack, it's full of big guys and there are some very strong outside backs who are going to take some carries as well.

James Graham
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England v New Zealand
Saturday 6pm, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1

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England prop James Graham is expecting the toughest of physical challenges when he lines up against world champions New Zealand on Saturday night.

Both sides boast fierce competitors up front and the St Helens forward knows the Kiwis will match fire with fire.

The reward for the winners at the Galpharm Stadium is a place in the final at Elland Road on November 14.

"They're a very physical bunch," said Graham. "I think it's fair to say they are more physical than Australia.

"If you look at their pack, it's full of big guys and there are some very strong outside backs who are going to take some carries as well.

"They showed against Australia and France that they're not taking this competition lightly and they want to build on the success of the past few years that they've had.

"They're the world champions, they won the Tri-Nations in 2005 and they've had two great performances in the competition so far so it's going to be a very tough ask for us."

England's forwards impressed in a second-half fightback against Australia last week and Graham is hoping the hosts can build on that against the Kiwis.

"We're always confident but we played some good rugby in the second half last Saturday and hopefully we can use that as a springboard for the rest of the competition," said Graham.

"When Eorl (Crabtree)and Sam (Burgess)came off the bench, it took the game to Australia. They are two great carriers of the ball and they changed the game.

"That proves it's a 17-man game. Coming off the bench, you still get to play long minutes."

Match-up

Wigan hooker Thomas Leuluai, the only Super League-based player in the New Zealand squad, agrees Saturday's match is likely to be decided by the forward battle and is particularly looking forward to the match-up between Burgess and Parramatta powerhouse Fuifui Moimoi.

Moimoi came off second best when they clashed in the 2007 Test series when he was unable to eat solids for three days after the match following a big collision with an 18-year-old Burgess.

"Fui definitely won't take a step backwards and neither will Sam," said Leuluai. "Sam's big and strong and he's playing well at the moment. It's going to be a good contest between those two.

"I'll try and stay out of it. I'll tell you what, if Fui gets knocked down, he'll definitely get back up."

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, who succeeded Gary Kemble in the wake of the Kiwis' 3-0 whitewash two years ago, is backing MoiMoi to come out on top this time.

"Fui is a completely different person to the one who came here two years ago," he said.

"Perhaps in 2007, he didn't really grasp what he had to do to be successful. His form throughout the season in the NRL this year shows his preparation and application are right up there now.

"There are going to be collisions. You've only got to look at the way Fui plays. It may be Sam, it may be Adrian (Morley), it may be Jamie (Peacock) but it is going to happen."

"Fui likes to run at bodies. I won't be saying anything to him about it."