England v New Zealand - Match 3 Rugby League 2015

And suddenly a chance for Harris to run to the line and score. Hodgson

claims a try. Here comes a chance. Splendid effort!

He booted the ball in certain style and England have an early lead. It

is all square. It is a reach by Kenny-Dowell. The first try of the

afternoon. It will be a drop goal attempt and it has gone over. One

test match apiece. With one to go. Welcome to the DW Stadium in Wigan

on a cold, wet afternoon, for the decider in this test series between

England and New Zealand. Lizzie Jones singing at the moment are to

entertain the crowd. England winning the first game in Hull, New Zealand

winning the second game in the Olympic Stadium. Kick-off is at one

o'clock. Jamie Peacock is with me as both sides go for the Baskervilles

shield. And they talk a lot about momentum, maybe without knowing what

it is, but do New Zealand have it, if it exists? They come out of the

second test with confidence. In the changing room, they have been really

celebrating. An air of relief, because they underperformed in the

first test. This is anyone's game. It is good that you're not singing

this afternoon with that thought. There were positives for England

last week, particularly defensively, but not all sensibly. Defensively,

they work outstanding. The commitment was outstanding. -- but

not offensively. In attack, they need to improve significantly if

they are going to win today but I believe they will go on to win

today. What makes you think that they will be better in attack this

week? I think the introduction of Matt Smith into the halves. He is an

excellent organiser and players like to prove a point. All week, it will

have been spoken about, we need to improve our offensive game. People

from inside and outside the camp, let's get that right. And I believe

that they will get it right. It was not a great game last week. Where do

New Zealand need to improve? I think the ball is in England's court. New

Zealand knew that they would be very physical with them and that is what

they have to do, they have the muscle up and make sure they stop

England going forward. I think it is a dangerous game and Steve

McNamara, Matt Smith, and Jermaine McGillvary, they are on the edge.

You can tell exactly where they are going to go. Tactically, I think we

will see a change from England. They will move the ball around but last

week, they only had one man in the middle of the field. As Roby says,

Jermaine McGillvary is in the side. We have been on the red button for

the last half-hour and when we were on the red button, you were saying

he is in your top two most difficult opponents to tackle. He is

unbelievably strong. You will get yourself sets to put in a big hit

and he ends up sending you backwards. He is very powerful and

enthusiastic and I believe he will bring a real impetus to England's

fields. When New Zealand kick, England will bring it back stronger.

The teams are making their way out of the tunnel. England winning that

first game. New Zealand heading back last Saturday in London. The series

is at 1-1. It is a cold, wet afternoon. The rain is falling and

they are expected -- it is expected to get heavier. Very shortly, the

anthems for both sides and then we will join our commentary team. But

first of all, here at the DW Stadium in Wigan, there will be a minutes

silence once both teams have lined up and of course that silence will

be to remember those killed, injured and affected by last night's

appalling events in Paris. We are here to be entertained, but rugby

league, it somehow doesn't matter after what we saw yesterday. After

the dreadful events in Paris, please stand to observe a moment's silence.

Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the national anthem of

New Zealand. # E Ihow? Atua

# O ng? iwi m?tou r? # ?ta whakarangona

# Me aroha noa # Kia hua ko te pai

# Kia tau t? atawhai # Manaakitia mai

# Aotearoa # God save our gracious Queen.

# Long live our noble Queen. # God save the Queen.

# Send her victorious. # Happy and glorious.

# Long to reign over us. # God save the Queen.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. A fantastic reception not just for

the anthem but for Lizzie Smith herself. The wife of the Welsh

international who died tragically earlier this year. You might

remember she did a fantastic emotional rendition of abide with me

at the Challenge Cup final. And this week, as with last week, our

thoughts here in the commentary box and all around the stadium very much

with our good friend Gary Carter, who continues to battle hard,

fighting for his light at the moment. England players warming up

in shirts that said, keep battling, Gaz, and if you can hear us tonight,

we are all with you. And now we will settle into the hacker led by the

co-captain is, including Isaac Luke. -- Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. A little nod on the head from James Graham as if

to say, they have had the moment, now let's have ours. Land of Hope

and Glory rings around the stadium. So much emotion in the stadium today

for so many different reasons. Here is the England side with Jermaine

McGillvary making his debut on the wing, replacing Joe Burgess. He has

been fantastic for Huddersfield this year. And Matty Smith comes in, in

place of George Williams. And it is exactly the same 17 for New Zealand

today, as it was last week, the same 13 that start and the same four on

the bench. Nikorima impressing enough to keep his place. He is a

lively influence in the middle of the park. And the referee took

charge of the first test. Important for England because England won that

test. He is back in the middle. Jermaine McGillvary nervously

waiting along as Zak Hardaker waits to get us underway. 18 minutes to

decide the destination of the Baskervilles shield. Possible

mistakes right from the start for New Zealand. What a start for

England. They force the drop out underneath the sticks. Advantage to

the team in white. You could not ask for a better kick from Zak Hardaker.

Spiralling into the cloud. And we have great chase from the wall of

white. The New Zealand forced to repeat it. What a start for England.

A great start fantastic, and adjust what they would have wanted. Take

the intensity out of the start. Now it is time to play football. We are

looking for Klizan is from England this week. They have shown plenty of

heart and hustle. But the experience from last week is that they need to

score tries. New Zealand are looking for something similar to what they

produced last week. 9-to the scoreline a week ago. They were the

better team. But England in great position here. Graham, looking to

rip them over. Still lots of tackles to go. Matty Smith, and here comes

Farrell. A Wigan player on home turf. Held up just short. Another

Wigan combination coming in. And another thumping shoulder coming in

from New Zealand. Six tackles. It is not the best. He is lucky.

Kenny-Dowell is just behind him. Already we have seen their intention

to move the ball from side to side and had they gone out early in the

first set of six, they might have got over the line but encouraging

signs from the England team. So early in the game, to have the

defenders on the home line, it gives you confidence. Steve McNamara and

his coaching team on the gantry alongside us. McGillvary gets the

catch. Look at that for a return straightaway. That is a tackle. And

a penalty. John, you watch a lot of Super League, Jermaine McGillvary

gets four penalties given his way, more than any other player in Super

League and that is because he is difficult to tackle. Yes. Secondly,

when you have made the tackle, he challenges you because it is so

urgent, and he is working so hard to get the ball back into play, and a

nod to the coach for selecting him. You would not say he was confident

player, McGillvary, but the fact he has got that good start will fill

him with confidence for the game out. It has been all England so far.

We have an atmosphere here. The DW Stadium is full of noise and another

penalty for England. The first big decision of the day. I would tap

this. It is a definite two points. Let's keep them under the cosh,

because they are in this opening five minutes. They are not listening

to you, John. But I am excited. Let's be expansive. It may

valuable, we won't know until the game pans out but I would have been

tempted to play on a bit. It was an early penalty last week that gave

England the lead after seven minutes. Today, it should be 2-0

after four minutes. It gives you an indication of the mindset. If they

had said to New Zealand, we're here to win this game, I think

straightaway the confidence comes through the veins of the red and

whites. With it, settling himself, one of the handful of players Donna

and as expected, he finds the target. -- Gareth Widdop. An

interesting point, the Australian referee was criticised last week for

the amount of penalties he was giving. I also believe that he is

imposing his authority on this game as well. He has said he does not

want slow rucks, he once the game to be quick, and I admire him for that

because I want him to take that game that way also. Hill with the return.

Sending a forward with a great deal of muscular action. Again, the

impact that the bench can have for England today with Roby, and Cooper

to appear. All that extra experience that the Kiwis added to the bench

last week, maintained in the form of Alex Glenn and Brown adjoining the

numbers. They are certainly looking for the edges. Getting to the edge

of New Zealand. And that is allowing a good kick to come from Hodgson.

England look sharp, like they mean business. The carrying is good. A

long ball. Quite Ted -- Whitehead gets a cracking kick from the

sideline. It is the last game of the 2015 season, and what a way to go

out if England could secure victory. I know a draw is rear but we could

have had one last week. That would be enough for England today. -- a

draw is rare. If it had finished 8-8, that would have been the series

last week. We do this all the time. It wasn't.

So New Zealand, ... And as they have been for the opening six minutes,

finding themselves deep inside their own half, the Kiwis. Trying to make

things move. Isaac Liu the next again. -- connects. England have it

back. That is the danger of the flawed game. If you don't get it

right, you are under pressure in your own half. Hodge and stands and

waits. -- Hodgson. Splitting it away to Matty Smith on the left-hand

side. Bateman is there. A second row, playing in the centres.

One more tackles ago. -- one more tackle to go. Where is it going?

From the boot? Matty Smith, Hardaker. Of aiding the first

attempted tackle. Not the worst place to end up. -- evading the

first attempted tackle. I thought New Zealand handed it well. They

were good defensively. It is all about balance. The distraction for

England, we need to kick the ball well and we need to be patient

enough to finish with a kick to the corner. Have a look at them. That is

the first penalty they have been given today. And repeat set the

kick-off. They have had an off-load error, so they really have been

under the cosh in the first eight minutes. They will just be happy to

get inside the England half. Sam Moa, just inside the England

half. His 41st test in charge of New Zealand. What a job he has done over

the years. Kenny-Dowell trying to make it through. A man of iron in

defence of New Zealand this series. Isaac Liu takes the dummy. And he

goes over the top. Nightingale for the corner. McGillvary got back a

long way to recover that but they are keeping it alive here. Keeping

it alive through Hiku. He will be taken down just short. And Isaac

Liu, who started this, waiting to get things going again. The England

players scrambling all over. The last tackle in this set, no, it's

not, because it is a penalty for New Zealand. Both teams have come out

with a different mentality. We saw a break from Isaac Liu and the

expansion from the team in black. England have to defend line-out.

That is a good marker that they have put down. Also, the referee putting

a marker down. He is going to have slow rucks today. He is going to

mention that he once a quick game. Isaac Liu comes back. And England

are ready as they were so often last week. Isaac Liu start again. A

developing number to the left. Nightingale, what a pass. But he was

out of play before he flicked it back. And England survivor. New

Zealand frustrated. Both teams looking threatening. To all intents

and purposes, we thought they were in shape. Nightingale is in. He

clearly touched the sideline, but England were struggling. It might be

a question, four teams showing expansion, who executes the

opportunity? You have spoken about this as a game of inches,

international rugby league. If that pass was executed better, they would

have had half a chance. But McGillvary, you have to admire his

efforts in covering back. Watkins, trying to bring that out.

We have not seen the best of them, but boy, he can sparkle. It is

already a better game than last week! Belatedly, well done on the

European title! Thank you. It was a good experience. All the players

were speaking Welsh! It has been taken by Tuivasa-Sheck. We have not

seen the best of people like him. I think we are hoping that we could

see more of Tuivasa-Sheck and the other two.

They have reached tackle five. Not a good kick. Poor kick. Let England

off the hook. Again, McGillvary challenging. Tuivasa-Sheck, getting

up and shaking his head! Welcome to the world of McGillvary. The range

is coming down! Hill is already in deep at New Zealand territory. Smith

treatening... Quick ball up. Widdop chases, hammered! Nailed him! Give

himself the opportunity, that is what England need to do, kick with

purpose. The ability to not let New Zealand meet any meterage. I think,

shady at the moment! Looks ok! Hodgson going high-ish. Very tight,

New Zealand, making it easy to get in the tackle. Back then comes

again. Not leaving any questions. At some stage, they will stop kicking

to him! This boy can carry! Can and has! Kahu, got the new two year

deal. Here they come! The past was perhaps not as slick as it could

have been. Nailed them for numbers! O'Loughlin, should have taken that,

no doubt about that. Watkins... You must reel those in. Those neat

executing. -- need. Luke, going to the New Zealand

Warriors. Made that decision a while back. Harris. Finds Smith. Cannot

get the ball free. Blair offers it back. Tuivasa-Sheck threatening.

Didn't know whether to stick or twist! Good kick! Convoys. --

composed. Dabbed it over! Definitely difficult to reel in. Had to play

his part, immensely well. New Zealand defence up quickly. Stay

following English ambitions. That got to the edge of the defence. My

word! Shoulder in! Smith had a look at him! But Isaac is hurt!

Dislocated his thumb, or wrist? Dead arm that one. Tough hombre, Luke!

A go for the line! Ball came forward? Referee is going to go to

the video referee! Knocked on. We'll hear from the video ref. Checking

for a knock on. OK... Here we go. Definitely touched. Picked up by

Nightingale. Knock on against Hiku. Confirm the decision. That was the

reasoning, and the decision. But that was close! It was. They have

got on the outside, no doubt looking at that once again, a threat but

compliments to the England defence, scrambling across.

No lack of firepower! England have lost the ball... Perhaps, better

advised to clean and percentages. -- play the. England drums banging. But

New Zealand are asking the questions. Good tackle. Press from

inside. Good shoulder hit. Englund's defence, hanging on. Engel

and congratulating themselves as though they scored a try!

Scrambling, England, Nikorima went in. It was a tremendous tackle. Both

of the defences, on top, different to last week but it is exciting.

That was the off-load. Nikorima, probing! Good pass. But what I good

tackle, to force the error. -- a good. They have made a change,

England, they have brought on Roby and Cooper.

Fresh impetus! Penalty to boot! That proved to be a terrific set! Got

away with one earlier, penalty England. I think both of the teams

have been fantastic, moving the ball, challenging defences, we spoke

about England doing that and they have done that to good effect, look

out for the big men passing to other big men, getting opportunities. Four

tackles in the bag... Watkins... Closed down by Kahu. Held! England

have lost some ground. Still got loads of tackles. Hall dummies!

Blair has a touch! Another set of six! It is going to be a penalty for

England. All getting involved. Steady on, fellows! Only a game!

Penalty for England. What do you do? Tap it. Keep the pressure on. You

can see chinks" of the defences. No doubt whatsoever about the penalty,

Matulino, another challenge after he had blown. That is what the

exception was about. It is good that they take exception. Some

confrontation, some passion, I think they will play on. Roby takes the

tap. First drive. Dummy run. Smith now! Great tackle! Another set of

six! Widdop, searching, stalking! England start again. Cooper! Back

into it. Could not get the ball away. Engel and pressing. -- England

pressing. Back inside! Given away! New Zealand's turn to survive after

some desperate defending. That was some good points for Watkins,

realising he has beaten the man. Get the ball to Watkins even more! You

cannot take your eyes off the game! Kiwis out to the halfway line!

Decent from themselves! Hall's turn to get back. What sort of an impact?

Pretty good. The former England captain, with us today, good time to

bring in Jamie Peacock. What have you made of this? It has been

fantastic to see the Passion, do or die, blood and thunder. You can tell

the crowd is excited. Louder than the last two! Best game, best

atmosphere! Cooper with a step. Burgess has had a terrific series.

Up to the line. Burgess... Lateish from Blair. It's all on! Whitehead

scores! Whitehead with the try! England get the rewards! Some times

you have got to be patient, built pressure, call from the last tackle

play, and that is exactly what England have done. It was well

finished. New Zealand, playing the ball, but on hand, Whitehead. He has

done this for Catalan Dragons, over the whitewash, four points! That is

just the rewards for the pressure England have been putting on. Talk

about Matty Smith. It is an indication about what he brings to

the team, slick, brings shape. We have wanted some quality, building

pressure, making sure that the Kiwis have to work hard. The good luck he

deserved. Widdop, here he goes... Over and between! John? We spoke of

out Smith, before the game, the importance of building pressure,

watch out for more of this. It is a proper game of rugby league! It has

been exciting, from the kick off. But New Zealand, playing the part,

playing more expansively as well. Despite the conditions it has been

high quality. Entertaining, both of the teams giving their all.

Taupau on the field as well. Leaving the West Tigers. Troubled West

Tigers. Burgess! Head snapping back! Smith with another kick. Greasy

ball. Good kick. Only one place that you can go. Meeting the decision

easier. You can see, England dominating that. Letting New Zealand

off with the penalty. The two people that have, on, influential. -- come

on. Tomkins, still part of the squad,

not playing with injury. But this is a good move. Hardaker across! Soon

there. New Zealand enterprise not getting the reward, but the England

defence stars. Any of day of the week, but sensing the danger, did

not do anything except making the tackle at the end. Tremendous

defensive full-back. That is a great defensive effort from Hardaker. Man

of steel! 430 tackles last week, England made?

A lot to talk about, if this is anything to go by. It has been

tremendous. Wall of white! Great chasing. It was

completely different. Forcing New Zealand to work hard. What a good

chase. Especially from the middle unit, closing down that avenue for

Tuivasa-Sheck. Engel and -- England knock on. I think that is the

correct call. Roby. Trying to feel the ball like a wicket keeper! You

can see the mindset. Trying to keep the ball alive. England aware of

that situation. The intensity of this kind, must be something opening

up in the last ten minutes. New Zealand have had some big

wingers over the years! But England have got them today. All over him!

Like a rash! Good harrying defence. Forcing the pressure. Forcing the

knock-back. Ferres has had a tremendous

try-scoring return. Burgess... Another set draws towards the

conclusion. Intelligent kick. Making them do some extra work. You can see

the influence that Smith has had, kick game far superior to last week.

The last two tests! Kicked well near the line, sideline. Massive

improvement. New Zealand, after five tackles. Keeps us going. But it

comes. This is good from New Zealand. Nightingale has had to go

over the top, spectacular. The referee wants to see it again! We

wouldn't mind! He thinks it's a try! What does the video ref think? Nice

and slow. Leaves the ground. Slow... Still on it. Freeze it. All infield.

Confirm try. It is not unfamiliar. Nightingale finishing in spectacular

fashion. Confirmation. Wonderful try from Nightingale. What a try!

Running it. Going to Nikorima, five on three. Hardaker trying his best,

but fantastic finish from Nightingale. The conditions, it is

really raining, the ball over was sensational than just looked at that

scale. -- skill. Fantastic try. When Nightingale got that ball, looked as

though he was going to canter the corner! Hardaker made it difficult!

You would expect that. Supporters have seen that all season. Curled

that in. Over it goes. Tight and tense again! Test match. What a

fantastic finish. You can see the commitment from Hardaker, but

grounded it well, great wing play from Nightingale. Not a bad restart!

Again, Hardaker has kicked off for Leeds all season. Difficult to

claim! Going to left again. Dragged down. They still have tackles to go.

Good set. Claiming the kick off. They won't be happy with that. And

happy with how they have finished this half, New Zealand, getting back

into the game. Given it away! New Zealand, with the chance to attack.

Just over two minutes of the first half remaining.

Luke going left. Taken in by Matulino. A lovely little flick back

to Luke. A couple of tackles to go. England

almost on their own line again. That almost disappeared between his

hands! It's going backwards here. Backwards by a distance. That will

make the last play very interesting indeed. Hardaker read the kick.

Tuivasa-Sheck was challenging, but Hardaker came away with it. England

need to look after the ball. That's made it better. Interference with

the play-the-ball by Nightingale. Piggybacks England up the field. A

proper contest between both full-backs. Tuivasa-Sheck and

Hardaker and Hardaker came up trumps. Another push by Nightingale

which results in the penalty. Potentially the last set here of

this half for England. They will be asking questions right to the end

the way this is shaping up. Plenty of tackles left. Four tackles to go,

30 seconds of the half remaining. Matty Smith running into the solid

figure of Tohu Harris. Three tackles to go. Picked up by Kallum Watkins.

Watkins throws is inside to Ferris, a difficult pass and now the Kiwis

can bring it back on the counter in the shape of Nightingale. Just

enough time to get up and play-the-ball. Last play. It's gone

through the hands! In the end, Proctor will drop on it to bring an

exhilarating first half to its conclusion. Oh League 2 point Zenit,

8-6. -- only two points in it, 8-6. Harris has pulled New Zealand right

back into the contest. It's a terrific game. So much better than

we've seen in the opening two Tests and Tom Burgess is with us now. Such

a tight match, what will be the key in the second half? Control the ruck

a bit more. Get a hand on the off-loads. They've been a bit too

quick on us. But we got one try. Adam, how key for you to get that

try at the end of the first half? Very important. We were on our line

for the large part of the first half, but very happy to get the

drive. How difficult are the conditions? Very difficult, but

that's football, we have to play some football now.

England just on top, with possession and territory. Made more tackles as

well. Completed 96% of their tackles. As you would expect, New

Zealand ahead on the off-loads. There are changes to the personnel,

but this is, in essence, the same teams and the same sport we watched

last week. You wouldn't think so! This is a cracking game of rugby

league. It's got everything, good kicking, good off-loads, good

decisions. Look at the conditions. What a pleasure. They have both come

out this week and decided, you know what, we are going to play the game

expansively. They are doing brilliantly in these conditions.

Both teams are prepared to attack and they are not bothered about the

weather or having to defend. That's what makes for an exciting game.

Whoever wins will win the series. The conditions will make it even

more thrilling for ask of the Spectator. Tom Burgess was panting

as he came off. As the tiredness kicks in, that will also add to the

excitement. It will make a difference. I have to give the

ticking the box to Steve McNamara, the changes have been phenomenal.

McGillvary has been putting them on the front foot and has looked

dangerous. Particularly Matty Smith. It looks like a different

team. The players are allowed to play anywhere they want because of

what Matty Smith has brought to the team, and he's getting pretty well

as well. England are playing in layers. They have options in front.

They can hit the back. More often than not they are going to the

player at the back. Steve McNamara talking to his half-backs. They've

delivered this half, they've been exceptional. Next of those is John

Bateman, he's been outstanding and looked dangerous every time he's

carried the ball down the left. We'll come on to England in a

minute, but let's take a look at the New Zealand try. We all stood up and

went wow when Nightingale went over. This was at the back end of the

half. Nikorima on the other side of the field, but this is the

furnishing factor. -- finishing. He leaves the ground. He doesn't worry

about taking out the corner flag and that's what gets the try. Jermaine

McGillvary has slipped out of the line expecting the kick from New

Zealand, which gives them the opportunity of 31. That's a

world-class finish. You see that numerous times in Super League,

bundling the winger into touch. You just have too applaud that, a

world-class effort. Interestingly, all of the crowd here uploaded that

effort. It went to the video ref and the whole of the stadium was

applauding. He put his body on the line. All that energy comes down on

his head. Let's take a look at the England try, which highlights the

importance of Matty Smith's kicking game. He's been brought in for his

kicking game. He is known for this in Super League. Brilliantly

followed up by a guy who scores a lot of tries like this, Elliott

Whitehead. Look at the layers England are playing with. Watkins

out the back, Cafu has to stay defending and that's where the space

opens up for Whitehead. -- Kahu. Whitehead gets in between them.

Coaches teach their defenders to run obstruction. They can't because he's

having to watch the other player. Well-deserved try, England have been

building pressure curate -- consistently and have attacked with

cohesion. Tak Nikki, Steve McNamara has got it bang on. A word of

warning, I think New Zealand have come with a different mentality as

well. I think they are playing a bit more expansively than I thought they

would and they are taking risks all over the field. Interestingly, New

Zealand were just denied scoring a couple of tries down England's

right. They are in marking that defensive side as a side to attack.

Act two England! -- back to England! You highlighted last week they were

creating space. This week? We can see how condensed the New Zealand

line is. We wanted to get flat ball across to get into that space, but

they were direct through. This is where New Zealand are weak. You can

see the space out wide, but they don't go there again. This is from

last week. When we start to look at this week, watch this. Almost the

same. We expect Chris Hill to carry the ball. Then we have a wide pass

to O'Loughlin, another white pastor Liam Farrell and we are into that

space. It's easy to run. England have Chris Hill, is he going to come

back? No, he wants to get into this space and move the Kiwis about. This

is why England have performed much, much better. The coaching staff have

laid out a game plan and England are executing it at the moment. It gives

them the ability to expose what JP has just highlighted. Robbie is

talking about layers of play that enables us to get a 3 on one or

three on two. What's this thing? There was nothing wrong with their

defence last week, as you highlighted the number of tackles,

about 430. This week? Committed again. They've been outstanding. I

think New Zealand have seen something on the right, but England

have numerous try savers. You need more white shirt and black and white

and they've done that consistently throughout this first half. This

could be a try. There are more English numbers on the inside. These

guys want to win this Test match and this series. You can see the

commitment. Why are they targeting England's right? It's got to be more

than there being a debutant on the right wing. One of the things is the

New Zealand half-backs. They will have been working on the

combinations throughout the course of these four games in England.

That's one of the strengths they will play two. Positioned on the

left, they will have those rhythms and combinations already set up and

it's probably where they feel more comfortable. I think it's somewhere

England need to be better in the second half. We need to stop them

getting the line breaks. We need to pinpoint Matty Smith. That's where

they can create breaks. They could have been targeting George Williams

from the last two Tests. McNamara has changed the personnel as well.

That could upset them so they have to stick with what they know. You've

seen Hiku and Nikorima doubled up. They have a prowess as runners, but

their handling skills in small spaces, England's defence has

stopped them on a number of occasions. Let's take a look at the

opportunities England have created in the first half. I think England

had one opportunity, last week James Graham to score from the kick. This

week we are creating numerous opportunities. We've missed some of

them, but it's good to see the tactics changed. Pushing the ball

and getting the ball to Watkins in space. The more they keep doing

this, the greater the pressure will be this will lead to points

eventually. England did that in the opening set. They have a great

kick-off and they got down there in numbers and forced New Zealand to

drop the ball out. It stopped them moving the ball and that's kept New

Zealand guessing. New Zealand could be in for a long afternoon. The

kicking game has been better. They've had the facility to run the

ball on the last play and still had either Widdall or Smith in position

to kicks a ball through. It creates -- it allows the winger is to create

more space. The chase has been good as well. They've been outstanding in

this half and deserve to be further ahead, but that's the conditions and

we've had to see a world-class effort from New Zealand to get

themselves back in the game. Similar to the tryout the Olympic Park. That

tells you how good the English defence has been. Second half on the

way. This the final game we will bring you in 2015, but we'll be back

next year. Plenty of sport coming your way

before we get to 2016. Let's go down to the touchline. They

might be taking part next week. Jon Wilkin is with a very special guest.

I'm sat somewhere I'm more used to being than this man, Sam Tomkins.

I'm on the England bench. What is your take on this series and this

Test match today. Today we've improved on last week. The first

week we were really good. Last week our attack was a bit sloppy at

times. But it's a lot better today. The conditions, I don't know how

greasy Ilic 's on TV, but it really is. Whichever team kicks best in the

second half will have a big bearing on who wins. Matty Smith has been".

You are resting, talk us through your injury, how long will you be

out? Probably back around next March. It was an injury I did in

March of this year, really. I ruptured ligament which probably

didn't get dealt with as well as it could have done at the time so I

needed an operation. I had that a week ago. A week into recovery and

it's doing my head in already! Itchy feet already. You've been in the

NRL, the best competitions in the world, we're delighted you're back

in the UK, how are you settling in? How's life back here? It's good, I'm

really enjoying it, I've been away two years and nothing has changed,

which is a good thing. I start pre-season on Monday so I'm looking

forward to a big second half of the year next year. What are you

expecting from the second-half? I think we'll win it by a try. Kicking

will be massive, but we have Matty Smith Altair, Gary, Roby and Josh,

we will kick them to death in the second half. All the best. Are you

not going to do YMCA? No! I've done it before. It's my own private dance

for you. Let's move on. Remarkable facial hair down there and Sam's

beard is pretty special! He's got a job on his hands getting back into

this England team on the performance of Hardaker, but that's not a bad

thing. It's fantastic for England. As a coach you would rather have

those selections than not knowing who to play. Two or three players

for every position, it's where New Zealand and Australia are at the

moment. Quality in depth and we are starting to get that with England.

We spoke about that at the top of the show. Sam Burgess coming back.

Sam Tomkins not players. Others who are injured. It adds quality to the

squad. Brian is talking about two or three players for every position,

but you could have a lot of players who could play into three different

positions. The likes of Bateman, a second row. It's become one of the

skills of rugby league players in the modern game. Their skills are

transferable. What Steve McNamara has to do is make sure he gets the

right combinations for the formations and the upcoming 2017

World Cup. More of the same in the second-half? The kick chase is

important, but England still have to play with the ball. They need to do

something with the ball if they are to win. I have every faith they can

do it. More of the same, please. Let's go back to the commentators.

40 minutes to settle this. The first-ever New Zealand tour to these

shores was in 1907. It started something special. We will see the

latest chapter finally closing here today in the next 40 minutes. Will

it be retaining the Baskerville shield? The first on England or

Great Britain played in a series it was 2007, which Great Britain won.

Will New Zealand be taking it back down under? We shall see. I think

it's England is to win. You just feel that in the first half, they

were better than the 8-6 on the scoreboard and if they maintain that

level of performance, I'm confident they'll come away with the spoils.

He's eating chocolate! That's why his contribution on that occasion

was kept to a minimum. Roby out of dummy half. Matty Smith with the

kick. A cross goes Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who makes absolutely

certain on the pick-up, and why not on a day like today? Look at the

chase. That's been a consistent factor in the England performance in

this game. Kick well, chase well, and you have a heck of a chance in

these conditions if you do that. Nightingale, the scorer of that

spectacular tried towards the latter stages of the first half. Steve

McNamara up on the gantry looking down. If you catch sight of the

number 22 in the New Zealand ranks, it's deemed far rate, he swapped his

number four jersey. I think Hiku would be of the two.

That may well be a little tweak that Curtis suggested to the New Zealand

side. Instead of giving McGillvary the ball with 15 to 20 metres in

space, put it out of bounds and then you have a set restart. Two good

opening sets for both teams for top England will have been happy after

the great kick from Matty Smith and the chase. And Hiku replies. Great

kick from them as well. Great half-time entertainment here. You

got great half-time entertainment, the viewer, with Mark and everybody

else, but great stuff from the crowd. Singing and all kinds of

stuff. Like Last Night Of The Proms! Last day of the ponds! A ball that

has been stolen away from Tom Burgess. It's going to be a penalty

for England and a chance to clear their lines. It's a good penalty for

England because they were having to work their way out. You'd have to

agree that Taupau did play at the ball and that makes it a fair old

penalty concession for New Zealand. Seven conceded by New Zealand, just

three by England. That suggests another area they could improve

upon. Cooper slow to his feet. Might have

hurt himself a little. O'Loughlin is taking on the challenge. Sean

O'Loughlin on his home pitch, Wigan skipper and England skipper. Tom

Burgess again. England creeping closer. Carried by Cooper again.

Roby delivers... Braaheid Matty Smith, but taken on by Brett Ferres.

-- behind Matty Smith. One tackle to go. Hardaker at dummy half. Matty

Smith, another little slight kick, but fielded well this time by Issac

Luke and New Zealand can start. I wonder what the philosophy of both

sides is in the second-half. Let's say from Tanya Arnold. Steve

McNamara said we are losing too much of the ball, it's vital to keep hold

of the ball. He's seen too much defence and he wants more in attack

from the England side. He said we need to make smart decisions in

smart areas of the field and complete our sets. As the New

Zealand, Steve Kenney telling his side is Fido to keep structure in

attack, make sure of the tackles, especially on the kick chase. And

don't have any regrets over the next 40 minutes, go for it.

Bateman is a cross to help close things down. Dangerous for a moment.

Proctor puts it back, Issac Luke on the sixth tackle, desperate to get

the kick away. Not the best kick in the circumstances. Another flooding

effort forward from MacGillivray. I'm not... Another five metres with

that late drive and it's very important to get the England team on

the front foot, as indicated by Ryan Hall once again getting his nose

through. England nearly ten metres inside New Zealand's half.

A couple of tackles have come. Roby has pointed to the touchline, but

obviously to give the New Zealanders the wrong impression because he's

gone the other way. Hall pushes Tuivasa-Sheck out of the way and

can't get hold of the ball. Took a big risk, Tuivasa-Sheck! Ryan Hall

on another given day will pick that up and put it over the line. He let

it go expecting it to go out. I think Hall took it over the line in

the end. It was a heck of a risk. I'm sure the New Zealand fans will

be screaming to the get rid of the ball. It almost worked against him,

but he got away with it. If Hall picks that up, he scores!

Hiku tries to battle his way through. He's a threat when he

carries the ball. He's not only a structural half black, he will also

carry the ball happily. Chopped down from behind by Widdop. Really

important tackle. Here comes the last. It's going right. A step back

by where macro -- Whare. Something of nothing kind of kick because

England can pick it up. Great inside ball from Nikorima. First time we've

seen him make a clean break in the last couple of games. Lovely pass,

right at the line and saw the support on the inside. A duck and

dive by Hardaker. I've got a feeling this game will go

down to the last five or ten minutes with a break or a missed tackle or a

slip or something. Nightingale pouches safely. Smith up there to

lead England's defensive effort. Here comes Hiku again, offering a

little skip and gallop. Tuivasa-Sheck, as we mentioned last

week, breaking all kinds of records in the NRL this year from the number

of yards covered for the Sydney Roosters. Took a year off last year

to learn the full-back trade and he's learnt it really well.

A couple of tackles to go for New Zealand. Bateman not sure whether to

stand his ground or move out wide. Ryan Hall did really well. I was

about to say the same, he did really well. A kick through by Brown. It's

cagey at the moment, really cagey. That was one of my concerns about

England. I fear they have gone back to one out instead of getting to

edges. You have to look after the ball, but stick with what's working

for you. I was looking for some of the reasons for that. I think the

weather has got worse, the rain is heavier. Here we go, some expansion

from Bateman to get Paul away. -- Hall.

That was great from O'Loughlin. He saw it and he played what he saw and

all credit to him. At the end of all this, England find themselves 40

metres out on their sixth tackle and Matty Smith punting the ball

downfield and swallowed by Tuivasa-Sheck. Here he comes. He is

in beating the England line on this occasion. -- isn't. Red button

coverage afterwards. If you can join us live after the programme, -- if

you can't... It will be on the eye player. You can catch up with it

later. Later on this evening it will be on the I player.

Lewis Brown, water utility purpose he has. Five gone, last tackle

coming up in the set for New Zealand again.

Hardaker should have it covered and he's not willing to take any risks

whatsoever and puts it out of play for a drop under the sticks. Its

advantage Kiwis in the second half. They are finding the field

position, finding the kicks to stay in that part of the field and they

are finding the field position, finding the kicks to stay in that

part of the field well. England taking as much time as they

possibly can hear. Getting oxygen back in the lungs for another wave

of black shirted attack that's coming their way. Led by Moa in the

first instance. This is Lewis Brown. He's often manliness season, Lewis

Brown, having cut his ties with Penrith. Hiku taking the line on,

but left the ball behind him and knocking it on in the process.

England, with another sterling defensive ever, will get the scrum.

Worked very hard again from the inside and forced the error. We

needed that to tell you the truth. As an England fan. They really were

turning the screw, they were building pressure. It's a big, big

tackle. England now really do need to clear their own 40, get a good

kick in and buy some territory. Weather set in now. Rain pouring.

Saturday afternoon, Wigan, November! Lot of work to do. New Zealand,

trying to keep England penned where they are. Graham, clean shirted.

Farrell... The crowd have lost their intensity. Cagey early stages of the

second half. Kicks it away. Cracking kick! Belting kick! Revving his side

up! The crowd responding. Repeating their efforts. This is Proctor.

Spent his whole career with Melbourne Storm. Just inside England

territory. Went into a big man! Wall meeting wall! Good collision.

Starting to speed the game up. Here it comes. The great escape playing

at the drums! And that ball escaped from Watkins! Game of chicken at the

moment. It is about who is going to flinch first. Kiwis are going to be

used to this, not totally new for England, but the arm wrestle, the

kicking game... Errors and penalties could make the difference. I think

towards the last 15 minutes we could see more of the teams breaching it

open. The pattern has been engaging with New Zealand, over the last few

weeks, Luke on the touchline, taking a rest. He'll be back. Risk

involved! Picked up by Hardaker. That was good defence again from

England. Taking this piece from inside. Difficult to catch the ball,

teaming with rain. You could be more inclined to go away from the line,

try to play shorter. We have got the stoppage. John? I think both of the

teams have been reluctant to move the ball, it has been to England's

detriment, I believe the key is to continue moving the ball. Despite

the conditions, the rain now coming down heavily, England have to move

the New Zealand pack around. You're getting wet? That is what you are

telling us. Indeed... A couple of tries so far. Whitehead's first

international try. And then, this spectacular effort from Nightingale,

he has been doing that for some years. Shake of the head there. Not

looking too healthy? Fumbled the ball. Full on the shoulder, ribs.

Because it is an injury, New Zealand making the change. Blair back on.

England coming down the right-hand side. The good deal of physicality.

They need to just perhaps play two passes, get outside the first three.

Graham has got the capabilities, but not this time. Two tackles to go.

That is a good kick. Fumbles! Up they go! Stopping him, 12 metres

out. Put it in the corner, telling Tuivasa-Sheck to bring it out, if

you're getting a try, 90 metre set! Harris, famously missing out on the

-- World Cup. Kicked downfield. Solid platform. Flicked his ankles.

He has had a good game, Hiku. It has developed, into the proverbial arm

wrestle. Who's going to break first? Shaped as though he might pass...

Sixth tackle. Hits a leg! Wasn't played up. New Zealand get cheap

turnover. Much better position than they could have imagined. Going for

the corner again. On the foot. This is a possibility. New Zealand will

meet their way up the field. -- make. New Zealand, in an attacking

position, that presence could be felt, Blair solidly in. Reaching

that conclusion. Tuivasa-Sheck has lost it forward. England get the

handover. This is tense. That was some expansion from New Zealand,

dropping the ball, it was not forward, the crowd trying to lift

England. Get some movement, get some shape. Let's win the game, England!

England, beginning to move to the right-hand side, Whitehead taking

the step. Hardaker did really well, a leading England to get some yards.

-- allowing. Oh! There's a kick! Widdop didn't like that! I thought

it was legitimate. New Zealand, will get the ball back. I think the ref

has got it right. Taking exception to that. Little efforts like that,

so important. That gives New Zealand the attacking option. Moa goes over.

New Zealand have got five to go. Gradually, building the pressure.

Wrapping things up. England's defenders swaying across!

Good defences last week, the same this week but with better, more

difficult decisions to make. Blair away to Bromwich. Reached the final

of another set... McGillvary has taken up superbly. Great catch! In

these conditions, with that pressure, arms outstretched and that

was fantastic. Ditto. Passed every test, every examination. A star for

Huddersfield. And England, finding themselves with another penalty.

High on Whitehead. Penalty on the halfway line. That 20 minutes could

have won England the game, that tackle, getting field position. New

Zealand may have missed the chance. Smith finds touch. England tap

restart. I said I would not have taken that penalty, in the first

three minutes! But it is looking important at the moment. Hodgson

back on the field. Bateman... Collared. Literally! Less than ten!

Whitehead! Scores! Elliot Whitehead! Two international tries! The same

game! What an effort about was. England have daylight! New Zealand

dominating territory, position, but England got the chance, on the back

of that Whitehead penalty, shape is exceptional, the execution despite

the weather is also exceptional, comes inside, uses the strength to

go off the left foot, on the outside, what a great try! Worthy of

winning the series! The first two games of the series... Whitehead had

not been the most obvious. Massive in the scheme of things! Kahu tried

to stop him! But we have seen him do that for the Catalans, the shape was

good, coming back to the right, Smith was the architect, and he got

over the line! Going to Canberra Raiders. I am sure people will be

watching, down under. Watch out for them next year. Another player who

plies his trade in the NRL... Big kick! Puts it over! Two score lead!

We spoke about England having to move the ball, the integral part of

the plea, this man, expect to see him passing the ball as much as he

can but in these conditions play" Clay is a huge influence. He has

been a huge influence. That extra two points, I think both of you wise

old coaches... Less of the old... Said roll it on! Often, players can

feel this out, they wanted to get on the scoreboard and they have justify

that, traded to England, they have shown both sides of the ability to

do. In attack and in defence. I have often said, at this level, it is

about execution, if you get the opportunity. It has been all New

Zealand, territorially, and the first time they got in the half,

nailed the play and the score! What do New Zealand have? What character

can they prove? Been in this situation collectively and as

individuals on many occasions. It is difficult when England are in,

defensively. -- in the zone. In conditions like this, it can be

difficult, it is going to be difficult for New Zealand to get two

tries. Believe me! You try stopping him. What did you make of that? It

was great, the build-up, the boys exactly where they needed to be.

Good finish. What do they need to do to see this out? Do not have the

Kiwis any piggy backs. It is a good team they are playing against, it is

about discipline. Last play... Widdop picks and up

clears! Still going. Magnificent. Dropped out of the defensive line,

read that, repaid with interest! Poor kick from New Zealand. Ran it

down. Harris in the end. Widdop in the right place. The tension

building. Cooper again. Five tackles gone. England inside the New Zealand

half. Line well organised. Harris pulling his socks up. I think that

is just a disguise of his fatigue. That try has certainly doesn't end

when some energy. You can see that. -- given England some energy. Blair,

here he comes... No. This is danger, but Bateman with the tackle. Smith

has it covered. Forward pass? We now accept the referee's ruling! Out of

the hands of Watkins! Knock on. Defensive effort. I think we got

away with that one. Went forward, I believe, off Smith! I think some of

the New Zealand coaches felt similar! Aggressive contact forcing

the error. They need to score in this set. Just to try to put some

seeds of doubt in England's mind. 11 minutes remaining. We mentioned

this, when England were leading, the national predicament is for the

tightening of the stomach knots to begin! They know how many times a

England have been beaten at the death! Can they see it through?

Clinch the series? This is when they have got to be at the best,

defensively. Lost it! Watkins grabs hold! England have it back. That is

the series for me. Outstanding defence from England. Bidding

pressure on the New Zealand shift of the ball. McGillvary forcing the

error. Look after it! I mentioned the execution. England have had one

opportunity and executed. New Zealand have had some, and have not

executed. I agree, finish the game! Loose. But they have the penalty.

How about a moment that could be. -- how big. England setting up camp. I

think Kidwell's reaction summed up. Out of play. Score for England here

and surely that's the series! Graham carries it with all the

determination that he always has. Cooper, takes an immense effort!

O'Loughlin has got the series to win ahead of him, and he has! Or has he?

Ref thinks he's touched it down! We need to be sure. Over to the video

referee... Nice and slow. Up. Still up. Appears to be down. Anything

else? I do not think this is going to help. Ball there. It appeals to

the Dome. I would want to say something else. -- appears to be

down. Ok. Looks like it would have touched. Do you have anything from a

different angle? No other angles. I am going to come from the decision.

Try. Captain of Wigan, England, captain fantastic! Diaz just won the

Test series! England's first in eight years! The shield is staying

here! Absolutely brilliant from O'Loughlin, creating the spaces to

threaten, he saw the hole and went for it! Taking Tuivasa-Sheck over

the line with him! Well done O'Loughlin! Widdop, four out of

four! O'Loughlin, try scorer to win it! The New Zealand team adjusted

that, he went after Tuivasa-Sheck, took him over, and that is the win

for England at long last! How long has it been since England rugby

league fans saw him looking, smiling! I do not think that is a

smile! He will be disappointed with that but New Zealand will not get

three tries in the remaining tries! How long since England fans can

enjoy the last seven minutes of a Test series? Knowing that in all

probability they are going to win? But New Zealand have not given up

yet. Another try... Suddenly questions could be asked again.

Penalty. They are going to take the tap. Bromwich... Luke at dummy half.

England, three score lead. But for the sake of the mental health, not

wanting to give anything away. What a pass! Nightingale scored

spectacularly, now set up spectacularly. New Zealand keeping

these breathtaking moments going until the end. Video ref again...

Just from Nightingale. OK. Feet. Down. Still in. Still in. Still in.

Ball's gone. Catches it clean. Live decision of try. We need something,

possibly from the other side. We really need something from the other

side, to be able to say that ball. -- see. I am going to confirm the

decision. We will stay with the decision. Try. You remember the

Wembley semifinal, Tuivasa-Sheck produced that miracle pass, this

time Nightingale! Just when you thought it was safe, the combat and

do this, it is because of Nightingale, Tuivasa-Sheck had to

get to that, I still think this is going to be England's series. Surely

not? That was world-class player again. This is the goalkick from

Luke. But I think inconsequential, they still have to score two tries

regardless. Just over five minutes left to play and the task for New

Zealand is to score two tries and convert both to win the series. If

it's a draw, it's England's series. If England win, of course that goes

without saying its England's series. It's still England very much

in the driving seat. But New Zealand have got a hint of a recovery. A

sniff in the nostrils. Issac Luke at dummy half again.

Blair moves it left and Harris is going no further.

New Zealand finding their progress limited at the moment.

The ball has gone to ground, who gets it? It's knocked on, England's

head and feet. England get the ball at the scrum in all probability. I

think that's an important play in the fullness of time. The New

Zealand players know this as well. England forcing the error again.

Difficult to see the knock-on, but we'll take the referee's decision!

I'm sure England will play a rather conservative set. Perhaps it will go

over the sideline and then they will watch the scrum. That would do it

for me! Kick to the sideline, take a minute off the clock. Take a scrum

with form it -- four minutes off the clock.

Zak Hardaker wants a word with his opposite number.

Cooper ran five, crawled another five! Here come England again. Never

mind conservative. They can win it with another try to make absolutely

certain. Sixth tackle coming up. New Zealand have to start again. Man of

the match? I think there's been many many contenders on both sides.

Elliott Whitehead has come up with two tries, McGilvray has made a

great impression, done everything asked of him, but it has to go to

the England scrum-half, Matty Smith, who's been absolutely sensational

today. Controlled the game, his kicking has been excellent, his use

of the ball has been outstanding, he's the man of the match. Matty

Smith. Player of the series, I think, it has to be Captain

fantastic. He's at Wigan, he's won England the series with a try on his

home side, he is captain of Wigan, captain of England, Sean O'Loughlin.

Sean O'Loughlin gets the George Smith medal, but New Zealand are

still in the mood to rescue this seemingly lost cause. Tuivasa-Sheck

galloping yards downfield. There's a huge gap. McGilvray comes herring

across to try and stop them in their tracks, but Jordan Kahu has scored a

try and there are still two minutes to play! 20 - 14. New Zealand have

dragged themselves back. That was a great piece of vision, a magnificent

kick from Kahu -- for car routers go. I couldn't see where New Zealand

would get three tries. He looks and sees the space because MacGillivray

is sweeping round to cover. It's a heck of a pick-up. The conditions

helped him with the slide, Kahu. This is absolutely massive. Issac

Luke has to kick the goal to give New Zealand the Giants. It's hit the

post! It still means New Zealand have to score twice to win this

series -- series. They can score a try and kick the goal and draw the

game, but that would be England's series so New Zealand still have to

score twice now. What a great finish it's been. I think this has been a

great Test match. Magnificent vision. Saw the space, executed the

skill perfectly and that's bravery, skill and a great finish from Kahu.

My word! I didn't envisage this, I thought England looked really

comfortable, but New Zealand have shown great spirit and resolve to

fight back and England have just over a minute to hang on. They want

to do it in style, they want to do it with a win, England. They don't

want to claw their way to the Baskerville Shield on the back of

the draw, they want to do it with a 2-1 series win. 54 seconds to go.

New Zealand keep it alive. Issac Luke looking right. Ferres just try

mink -- timing the ball to the ground before the referee shouted.

Now New Zealand come left. Harris keeping it alive.

Nervous English voices praying for the hooter. What a finish. 12

seconds to go. Left again. It's in the hands of Tuivasa-Sheck.

HOOTER. The hooter sounds! The ball is out

of play! Elliott Whitehouse's two tries set the platform and he spins

it out of play to bring the curtain down on an England Test series win

for the first time since 2007. Steve McNamara's England are lifting

silverware this afternoon. They have beaten New Zealand 20-14. And by 2-1

in the series. What a magnificent Test match. The other two might have

had their limitations, this one hasn't. It's been a great, great

Test match with a great result for the England side. They worked really

hard, they attacked well, but their defence has been sensational

throughout the series. Well done, England, fully deserved and fully

deserved to that guy and his coaching staff. Wow! The weight of

the world lifted off the shoulders. I think we are going to go down and

hear from some of those England heroes in just a second. Man of the

match was Matty Smith. Man of the series, Sean O'Loughlin. There you

can see him celebrating with his team-mates. What a difference Smith

made today. He is now talking. There is your champagne, well earned. You

can see by the state of your face how hard that was. Yeah. Especially

when you've not played for a month. Yeah, tough game. Credit to the

Kiwis, they went until the last minute. What a result for England

and the country. The last time we won was eight years ago. To get one

over on them is fantastic. You were part of the four Nations squad that

came so close, how determined was this got to get over the line? We've

been building for a couple of years. We've come close in the World Cup

and obviously the four Nations last year, but to finally get over the

line and win a series 2-1, this is why you play the game. Play for your

country and win big games. You had to bide your time, but how special

view to put a man of the match performance on your home ground? It

doesn't get much better than me. To win the final game. A bunch of

blokes that it's been absolute pleasure being in the camp in the

last few weeks. We'll celebrate a night. Go and get patched up,

congratulations. Let's bring in Sean O'Loughlin. Many congratulations,

you're one of just three players who knows what it's like to pick up

silverware with England. How special to do it again? Unbelievable. It's

been awhile since we got our hands on something. It's been a special

few weeks. A great start this week and last week, but the response

today was fantastic. You been announced as man of the series. The

winning try in the first game and here. Talk us through the try here.

It's nice to get a try any time, but for England it's great. What can

this do for England going forward? Its massive for us. We've been close

a few years on the run, since the World Cup we've been pushing

Australia and New Zealand very close. Just came up short. But this

year we've managed to get a trophy and it's great. This group of

players will be together for a long time so hopefully is the start of

good things. How were the nerves in the last congratulations. Let's

bring in Adam Blair. So very, very close. What was the difference? Our

discipline. We let ourselves down with our discipline. Credit to our

boys, the first half we won the back foot for most of it and we played a

bit of footy late in the half, but not enough in the end. Credit to the

English boys, outstanding series and they played good footie tonight. You

came here with a lot of big-name players missing. What does this

series say about the depth of the squad for New Zealand? It's great

for us. Most of the boys left behind were injured. Credit to the staff

and New Zealand Rugby league who have done a great job in developing

young kids and we have some great depth in New Zealand rugby league

and it was a great performance. How do you assess the three matches? It

was a tough series for us. Overall, we held our own. Credit to our boys,

we dug deep throughout the series. We worked hard for each other. It

went down to the wire tonight and credited to the English boys, they

stuck it to us and we just came up short. Congratulations on the three

games. Thanks for having us. Let's bring in Steve McNamara. How were

your nerves in the final minute? We made it difficult for ourselves at

the end. We did really well to wrestle control back from New

Zealand and had a healthy lead, but we put ourselves under pressure. How

important to win this game and the series? It's always important in

international sport. Everybody loves to see the country doing well. These

boys have worked tirelessly for the last couple of years, they've been

exemplary and today they get their rewards. So often you found

yourselves getting so close but failed, how important to get over

the line and show you can do this? It's important. We've always had the

belief but have fallen short in the last couple of years. We've had some

adversity this years, some players have been unavailable, it's a very

young team in terms of experience. They've dug in and fought

tremendously hard in three games and I'm really proud. What about your

future? Will we see you continue as England coach? That's not now. I've

said that all along. I'll sit down and speak to the RFL, just really

pleased to win the series and celebrate with the lads. Given the

work you've done, you'd love to take this on, wouldn't you, and build

towards the World Cup? It's a huge honour to represent your country.

It's a great job. There's a lot of things to think about. It's not an

issue for right now. Enjoy the celebrations and congratulations.

Let's bring in your set number, Stephen Kearney. So very, very

close, what was the difference today? I don't think we brought our

best game of footy to the stadium today. We made a few errors at

crucial times. We really dug in and tried to come back in the back end

of the game, as you could see. I thought England were too good today.

It's been a wonderful tournament. They are deserved winners. Your

squad is young and inexperienced, how have they developed over these

three matches. I've been very pleased with the progression of the

group, but that's not to say we aren't disappointed. We have an

expectation when we put on the Kiwi jumper and we didn't quite fulfil

that today. As you've mentioned, they are a young side. I'm sure

they'll learn from the experience and be better next time. Come back

bigger and stronger next year? That's the plan. Thanks for your

time. I'm here with Elliott Whitehead.

Fantastic series. Talk us through the motions. A test is a ruse win

against New Zealand. It's my first bit of silverware. To get silverware

before Australia is a proud achievement. You've brought

something different to the England attack, change of lines, scoring

tries, creating opportunities. It's a big quality you've got. It's a big

part of my game, but I couldn't do it without these boys. They've put

in a massive effort in three matches and we should be proud of them.

Hopefully we can continue that form. Out to Australia following this.

What a fantastic piece of silverware to win before that. It's a proud

achievement for me and my first piece of silverware as a

professional. Hopefully I'll win more in the future, but I will enjoy

this. Fantastic series, congratulations. They are just

setting up the podium. The podium is set up on the turf. At the moment

Sean O'Loughlin is being presented with his man of the series medal.

Deserved, Jamie? He's been absolutely outstanding. As captain

of England you need to be one of the better players and he's brought

everything he brings to the Wigan side to the England side. Dave Woods

will take you through the presentation ceremony.

The England players, that's what they've been playing for the last

few weeks. The Baskerville Shield. He organised the original New

Zealand tour over here back in 1907, a tournament including Danny

messenger. They called them the all goals because they were getting a

little bit of pocket money for playing the game they loved. It all

started from there. Rugby league developed in Australia and New

Zealand as a result of that tour. Such a crucial moment in the history

of the game. Here we are, 108 years down the line, and we are still

enjoying that tradition of the clash of these two nations. Sean

O'Loughlin has collected his George Smid medal, he was a star, another

integral member. The George Smid medal will hang proudly around the

neck of Sean O'Loughlin as man of the series and shortly you'll be

lifting the trophy as well. He's wearing black, the shirt of Jesse

Bromwich, having swapped shirts. He's taking it off now. You can't go

up in a New Zealand shirt as captain of England! He's changing his shirt

by the side of the podium. Now he's in a nice, gleaming, white England

shirt again. With his proud number 13. The medal is tucked into the

shorts. He can look at that later. This is a much more important piece

of silverware. It's been eight long years since England or Great Britain

is a won series. Sean O'Loughlin was a man in that series eight years ago

and he's a man at the heart of this one as well. It's been a fabulous

team effort by this England team. Beating the Kiwis at home -- in

Hull, losing in London and winning hearts and minds and a series in

Wigan this afternoon. The silverware shared amongst all those winning

players. The flares going off in the background. A good percentage of

this sell-out crowd has stayed to watch this because it doesn't happen

very often, this kind of English rugby league celebration so why

wouldn't you stay and watch? Never mind the traffic jams. It's

England's Test series of the Baskerville Shield is staying right

here. Well done to Steve McNamara and his England squad. They have

finally got over the finish line in first place.

Dave, thank you. Goodness me, the England sponsors would have been

having kittens if Sean O'Loughlin had picked up that trophy without an

England shirt on! There would have been enquiries and everything. As

well as the England win, how important was it that they held on

in the circumstances at the end? Brilliant. We've seen a different

script over the last five years. It's out of the window, they are

over the line, everything is good, we've won a great series. A dour

game last week, but no less intense than today and it's absolutely

fabulous. Look at the last two years. The semifinal of the World

Cup, beaten in the last minute. Four Nations, just beaten. Now they've

kicked on and once in silverware. A big day find a big day for industry

Billy Gunn they held on. That's important. Growing the confidence in

the squad, some nice combinations came together. Stephen Rock the dice

with a couple of players and to a person... You can see Jermaine

McGillvary. He was outstanding, Smith was outstanding. Fantastic

performance for England. We'll do plenty of analysis on the red button

so hit the red button in a couple of minutes when we go off air. You can

get your tweets in now. Before kick-off, Jermaine McGilvray tweeted

what a journey, no matter what happens today I will enjoy it. You

could see that. There were no signs of nerves. Yeah. A theme with

England players, when you make a debut, diving there and get in with

their and deliver a performance straightaway. Don't be overawed by

the circumstances and he took to it. He looked like a seasoned

international who had played ten or 15 times at this level. I agree.

Play your game, play your club game, that's why you're in there.

O'Loughlin, Matty Smith, Hardaker, although... They look like the

players we see every week, it was great. Steve McNamara, credit to

him. Tactically changed it. We were a far bigger team two Biggles

absolutely right. There they are, captain and coach with the trophy.

England have won the series. Go to the red button to join us. You can

get in touch via Twitter. Thank you to you free. That is it, the end of

the 2015 season. We will see you next year. This season has been

emotional in lots of ways for rugby league. Thank you for being with us.

Goodbye. Rugby league celebrates its 120th

birthday this year. This is what we want! This is a game

we want! Stay out of it now. He has just scored a ?1 million try!

Leeds win the treble! The skipper has won it for England!

It's a reach by Kenny-Dowall. Captain fantastic has just won a

Test MUSIC: Everybody's Talkin'

by Harry Nilsson