Highlights Rugby League: Four Nations

In two years' time the focus will be on this, the World Cup. There's

been a lot of talk about 2013 but that's for the future. This is

Welcome to the KC Stadium in Hull for England against New Zealand.

The winners will take on Australia who have booked their place in the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

So this is how the table looks after two rounds. Australia have

won both have their games and are top. England and New Zealand had a

victory apiece and at the same points difference but it is a draw,

New Zealand go through because they have a superior points percentage.

With me is Brian Noble. How do you assess hope these teams have gone

so far in this competition? England have improved throughout the

performances albeit we didn't win last week. They were very good in

certain parts of the game and for New Zealand, they have been a

little bit flat by their own standards. New Zealand can turn

that kind of equation around. England are hoping they don't but I

think we are in foreign fantastic evening. How much confidence can

England take on that defeat to Australia? A lot. They played some

good football. We saw the best of our outside backs which we will

need to see tonight. That's where we will have an advantage.

Adversity, losing three key players. We produced a performance most

people said on the day, they would have come on top. The team news is

that Gareth Ellis misses out. Jamie Peacock and James Graham start.

Jamie Peacock is strapped up. Carvell comes in on the bench. How

big a mess is Gareth Ellis? I think He plays in the end are well with

the Tigers. He plays very well every week and was playing well for

us especially off Roby, the hooker, who will meet in tonight. The

replacements are good enough and England are good enough to win this

clash. New Zealand are still a pretty good team, aren't they?

where there people they have got out, I thought it was good news.

They still have got some big blokes in there when you look at her team.

They are a huge team. If we can move them around, and find a bit of

speed, I think it will tell towards the back end of the half. England

or New Zealand for you? England. Confidence is high in the England

camp after last week's Wembley outing against Australia and the

Hull crowd tonight will be the 18th man they need. A fabulous

weekend of Remembrance Sunday, silence to remember those who have

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

the Kiwis are preparing for the wasn't there? Sometimes you wonder

whether there is a motion left done it before the game. We shall see.

Hull it is alive with noise. A massive roar, as Kevin Sinfield

puts boots to ball. All kinds of questions as to who was fit and he

wasn't. But it comes to this, the question now, who will play

Australia in the four-nations final in seven days? The winners tonight

will have that on of. How do you see this one going? One thing for

certain, there are no second chances. It's all nothing. I think

it has added to the excitement, added to the build up, and that's a

great catch their from Tomkins returning the first New Zealand

kick. Marshall going early, trying to find England's response off

balance, but it wasn't, and England now have a chance to return. Big

moments for so many here this evening. Yeaman and Briscoe, two

spell here. England begin to move wide and then back down the middle

through John Wilkin. Roby at dummy half. Taken superbly well by Beale

on the left-hand side and New Zealand rested a moment. It's

perhaps, at the moment, not the cauldron the England camp would

have been hoping for here. It's almost mooted at that moment, but

no doubt once the game comes into life, they will find their full

voice. It's par for the course of the moment, with both teams playing

a conservatively, feeling each other out, making sure they get to

the kick. Just short of the halfway line, here comes Marshall, the

second time tonight he kicks. A suddenly New Zealand had a chance.

The touch down by Foran. Tomkins letting the ball bounce. The

referee wants a second look. question is, is there anyone within

10 metres of the receiver when Tomkins shoot the ball? Were they

offside, in front of the kicker, when it boot struck ball. The the

video referee tonight is Ian Smith. To be third to Tomkins, it was

provided by Westwood. -- to be fair. I think there's nothing wrong with

that, Dave of. We will soon see. Ian Smith, the video referee has

made up his mind. It is no try, penalty for England. Foran cannot

believe it. Tomkins knows he and his team-mates have been let off.

The referee said somebody was offside, but in 10 metres of the

ball. It must have been some body in the background. It certainly

wasn't Foran, because he came from behind a pick-up. It could be a let

off for England, and that might be the slice of luck that is required.

Having been given that huge let-off, England find themselves within 40

metres of that music and line. would have been a huge blow had a

New Zealand been given a try. As it is, it is all square. England's

stolen. Stolen. Blair, penalty for England. It's all going England's

way. They're certainly more than one man in the tackle on the ball

came three. One or two shenanigans there. -- came free. Chase and

Marshall are getting involved. Benji is making a point. Briscoe

helping is made out. England have the penalty. Here comes Graham with

the initials surf, taken by Matulino. A great opportunity for

England would this field position. Are a good position. Here comes

Peacock. He has set a platform here. Opportunities right and left. Back

now to Chase. He just has it that way, Hall. Leuluai has sauntered up

Zealand are still very much inside their own territory. Foran putting

it deeper. Tomkins knew where it was going. It is taken higher and

you get a penalty as well. He is very, very allusive, Tomkins.

Jeremy Smith certainly let him know he had been tackled there. I think

that's what the reaction of the England players was. After the high

tackle from Matulino. So that has back. Here is a man who has a good

return on him, Kevin Locke of the New Zealand warriors. Sinfield's

kick was a clever one. He forced the fullback to retrieve the ball

and when a New Zealand put their distance kicks in, they have not

been as effective as England's. Nightingale. New Zealand are

planning to plough a furrow again here. To get themselves back

towards the halfway line. Manu. Here comes Jeremy Smith. Four

tackles gone. New Zealand just Marshall gets the kick away.

Superbly taken. Wonderful catch by a Hall. They won't catch them with

those high kicks, believe you me. He's more than capable of hanging

on to those all evening but it's a blow to lose Zealand. We can see

Locke in the background. That was Hall superbly dealing with a high

kick and a subsequent pressure from it. Kevin Locke's tonight may or

may not be over but he does not look too clever at the moment. And

England lead the charge. James himself. Look at the position

England have found themselves in. 20 yards away. Chase with a short

pass. Wilkin flicks it. On again by Peacock. Sinfield jobs it on the

inside. Macabre centre to his feet, plays it well. Peacock is

Commission knock a surge and an effort but held up. Two yards away.

Chase puts it high. Here they come. Knocked backwards. Briscoe takes it.

Touched by a Kiwi hand and Briscoe runs it back into prime position.

great opportunity for England. The pressure must be telling on the

gone. Ben Westwood is over, but I don't think he has touched it down.

He has held a taut, always on his back. They go back 10 yards and

start again. He held Ben Westwood out, and England need to remain

composed and make sure they keep the pressure on this New Zealand

That close! Quickly into position by Briscoe, flicked back off the

bounce by Kevin Sinfield. Taken in the full-back position, and New

but how many times have we said it - New Zealand still very deep

inside their own half with only a few tackles to go. That was a good

tackle from Ben Westwood. It was good shoulder contact, put the Kiwi

on his back. It was a kind bounce half, nobody in support at the

moment, but he will beat them on again. England looking good here,

still keeping the line. Gareth Carvell drives it forward. What a

here, but they need points on the He might have been tackled but

there was plenty more chasing. The referee, I think, has given a drop

underneath the sticks here. There might be a cause for a penalty here.

There could be. What a beautiful kicking turn from Sam Tomkins. That

is basically because he was a large old of the kick on the five. It is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

will be a concern that England have inside their opponents''s 1/2, six

sets inside New Zealand's half, but this set will be inside England's

half, because New Zealand have a penalty. That is the first penalty

for New Zealand, and it is because of offside. It is difficult to see

where the referee got that. minutes played, and a chance here

from Melbourne, or at least that is tackles still for England to

survive. Well read and well tackled, a superb piece of centre play Byker

awkward for New Zealand, a penalty for England because Jack Reed was

so obviously obstructed. You can hold your line and go towards the

ball, you can't run across one of the chasers. That is exactly what

close, from which they will build, or at least hope to. Sinfield

pushes them away. The second time in the game and England player has

been held up over the line. It is desperate defence from the New

Zealand side, it really is, it is like hanging over a cliff by your

fingertips. At some stage they will momentarily off-balance. Ben

Westwood pounds it forward once again. They can see the line.

England have seen the line over so England's quick hands unlock the

Kiwi defence. It just have to come. There is the first time they were

held up over the line, there is the second time with Kevin Sinfield,

but ultimately the New Zealand side cracked. It is shift from right to

left, and it was quick hands from Kirke Yeaman. Good work from the

English side, moving the ball from right to left. Enough room for Tom

Briscoe to score, and that is the result of concerted pressure. In

the 25 minutes building up to it, pressure on pressure. Kevin

Sinfield looking to add to the score. Fairly tight to the

touchline. The angle is good. Both flags are raised, and England lead

been having. What a series they have all been having, these England

players. England are growing into this competition. They played well

last week, and they played equally first test for Kevin Locke since

his return, and he has failed at the very first moment. A very

clumsy error. A schoolboy error, that one. At this stage of

rockabilly, he should not be making an error like that one. Jack Reed,

urging himself. He has looked very good, this last couple of Games.

The team is getting better and down? Video required here. Can we

see from this? It is pretty good work from Simon Mannering, it

really is. Look how he has tackled the ball. He has not worried about

the player. He has tried to make sure he can't ground the ball, a

here. It is a good defensive kick from Sinfield again. My word, that

is some relief for New Zealand. They have been under the cosh and

it is only the second penalty they have received, England have

England side that they were offside, possession three minutes inside the

England half. Start the clock again because they are just inside

by him. Two tackles to come, England back on their heels, New

Zealand with a bit of momentum. James Graham kept hold of it, did

he? Knocked off. He says "know, I didn't". So New Zealand have six

tackles to have a go at this the moment, concentration fully

required. Isaac Luke loves that of play. The 1000 Yard stare tells

its own story. 16 seconds left to play in this opening half. Graham

has taken a heavy hit again, but gets sluggishly to his feet. He has

hurt his knee, he might have hyperextended. Chase has got up and

had a push. When you look at that again, you have got to question,

did he just twist the joint? I am like that intending to twist his

leg. On report, don't do it again. Kevin Sinfield to give England the

lead at the end of the half they have absolutely dominated. England

deserve 8-0. Do they have read? Yes they do. A real boost for them as

far half time whistle sounds. It's after that opening half. They

nearly came to a sucker punch in the first two minutes but it was

wiped out by the video referee so they will know it is concentration

which is needed in this second half. England are favourites from this

point in. Yes, I think they will reap the rewards from this first

half. The energy battle will certainly go to the guys in red and

effort so far as has this man, Adrian Morley. Kevin Sinfield has a

look. He is behind the 40 yard line when he leads this kick go. Great

chase by England. Marvellous chase led by a Chase. He has really

restricted Kevin Locke and England start of this half as they have

played for the majority of that first 40 minutes. Still a good 20

yards short of the halfway line, so line. Luke again at trying to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

ball. The penalty has been confounded by a words with the

referee. Two tackles in a row, mate. They are not helping themselves

there, New Zealand, are they? the discipline has not been the

best. Penalty number seven to England, and that makes his job a

whole lot easier. It carries them inside the New Zealand half. Yeaman.

Bursting through with a surprise play. Here comes Graham. He has got

a great step for a big man, hasn't delicately. Wilkin tries to duck

between two. A bit of a mess here. Roby, oh my word! How close was

that? A few stray limbs are blocking his way to the try-line.

Now it is clear. Graham, close. New Zealand literally hanging on here.

Roby stands and waits. Sinfield puts the kick to the corner. Who is

going to go for this? Reed. Hall! Inevitably they will have to go to

the video replay. We saw at Wembley how adept he is at this situation.

Has he got it down before going out of play? There is the kick from

Kevin Sinfield. Roby chases offside. Really excellent worker there with

the grip on the ball. He has done it again! He is a marvellous,

marvellous winner, Hall. How he scores those tries, I will never

know. Hall is having a series of his life. What a marvellous start

offload and a pretty good pass from, I believe, it is Westwood, he does

a really good job and gives Hall a bit of space. A one-handed finish.

The skill involved in that was phenomenal. What a marvellous

finish once again. The third wonderful finish in at two games.

New Zealand and Australia, outstanding. Kevin Sinfield put

this over and England are three scores ahead. How about that? He

might missed a few at Wembley but he is doing well in Hull. 14-0.

Once again, four tackles, and New Zealand a long way away from where

they want to be. He is Isaac Luke. Shrugging away the advances of that

by Westwood and it has not come off. Rail pressure on this England line-

up. Nightingale with a very good surge in the first instance. Out it

goes to Manu. Comes back on the inside, still going. Manu is going

to be dragged down. He's doing his best to get over the line. Just

short. Three tackles gone. He tries to pass. Another six. This is a but

the pressure now afford English, who have got plenty of energy,

having dominated possession, but they will be tested with their goal

line defence. Look at how many numbers they have got here. Locke.

Brown, over he goes for the England that's only the first tackle. Here

is Foran, taken in by Matulino this time. England's defence moving

quickly to get back on the line. Marshall put it behind. A little

off-balance there, Locke, a second big injury. It comes up with

Briscoe in possession. He did a great job there, Briscoe, the

winger man. He followed him and managed to secure all the ball one-

on-one. Briscoe follows and takes well. Good hands by England. Good

play by Heighington, still keeping it alive. Peacock. Very

enterprising but also very controlled. You have got to admire

that aspect of England's play. knock-on, was it? No, the referee

said play on. I should have kept my mouth shut there. She is Brown.

Still four interchanges left for England in the 22 minutes that

remain in this game. New Zealand pushing close here. Here is Leuluai.

It only takes one score for New Zealand to reignite their self-

belief. It's definitely important from England's point of view they

keep them out. Marshall were the kick. Nobody chasing it. Briscoe,

safety-first. Almost achieving the been the best. A nice little kick

play from Gareth Carvell. Smashing it downfield. New Zealand will come

back at them led by Russell Packer. Would the help of a Peacock, puts

him down. But is the last time we will see him in this game. The 10th

Interchange, Dave, and there is a quarter of the game left, so that

will put further stress on the New Zealanders. An opportunity for

Beale. England having to keep their concentration here. Back it goes

towards Ben G Marshall. Kick and Leuluai. Good tackling by Carvell.

Great defending by Gareth Carvell. Taken by Marshall. They are chasing

in numbers. best period New Zealand have had.

Pressure building up on the back of Marshall's kicking game there.

Another set for new Zealander to attack this line, and he almost

found touch their Kevin Sinfield. Nightingale brings it back. These

are important moments in this Test match. The referee congratulates

Packer for his pass. I'm not sure he supposed to do that! England

hanging on here. Carvell in there as well. This is Leuluai. He looks

to his right hand side. Roby positions. They held him down. But

two tackles to come. Here is Foran, who whisks it away, looking to

isolate them, and it is a diver by Nightingale. Was the in touch when

recalled that ball? In the tightest spaces, this guy. He receives the

ball, he is in the field. Hall? It looks that way. A marvellous try.

The video evidence suggests it's in New Zealand's favour and Ian Smith

confirms that by giving the Kiwis their first try with just under 1

hour gone. An important kick From Marshal. They need to chip away at

England's lead as much as they can and he has responded with a super

effort from the touchline there. The first conversion attempt of the

night, and is absolutely nailed it. Lovely work there. England are

putting pressure on New Zealand. Super pass but it is his acrobatic

England with a chance to attack. Sinfield on now. Caught in

possession. Here comes the Six England's defence when said. Have

they? Yes, they have, eventually. Great response. A marvellous

response from England. The coach will be delighted with that. Lovely

kick behind Nightingale on the for New Zealand. Well done, England.

New Zealand are taking their time. That is in England's favour because

the clock is on England side. Marshall with the drop. Tomkins

would be cut. Peacock, to lead by example with the very first to

side, England. That was the way they were going on that occasion.

Here is Roby. On the sidelines. Watching for the moment.

Heighington, close. Here is Chase. Tomkins nearly has his head taken

off. The referee says play on it. Penalty. It was a high tackle. But

Tomkins shrugged it off and allowed him to see if there was any

advantage. It was a penalty. Good happy that England are going for

two. He wanted them to carry on and go for the try-line. So Kevin

Sinfield, having elected to go for goal, really does need to nail this.

A terrific kick, why should we ever doubt? England are leading 16-6,

not a definitive moment by any England offside. This really is

comes up. Luis going nowhere. Briscoe has stolen it! Briscoe to

win it for England, if he can. The whole crowd are urging him on.

Manner rain makes the tackle, but Briscoe did superbly well. England

looking for the gaps. Kevin Sinfield back on the inside.

Wrapped up by the Kiwis, but how important was that Paul? What great

work from Simon Mannering to keep New Zealand in this game. Graham!

James Graham is in, he is over! There will be a video referee to

decide this, but he is convinced he has scored the match-winning try.

Did he ground the ball or not? That, for me, is a try. His momentum has

allowed him to slide over. He is in control of the ball. I believe the

downward pressure it is just there. We can't see the ball, but that

will certainly be the benefit of the doubt, and it will be a try for

Graham. He will get the biggest cheer of the night. England, now

surely, into the final. Kevin Sinfield with the conversion, over

it goes, easy as you like. Surely no doubts now. Here raised at the

try. He remained composed, kept knocking on the door of the

opposition. There is that the space, a great try for the big prop

displays bide Benji Marshall over the years, not least the Four

Nations final last year, but it has not barked for him tonight. There

is no doubt, I think the scoreline reflects the two performances.

England have been very, very good the field, it is the first we have

seen of him tonight. It is. It is a luxury if you can hold a player of

his ability on the sideline. England against Australia at

Wellens Road next week to decide the Four nations' Championship.

England will go there with a mood of real celebration and real

confidence, having completely dismantled the Kiwis tonight.

is a lovely sleight-of-hand from a big prop forward, James Graham. He

sucks the defender in, releases Jones-Buchanan. This lovely little

pass, Jones-Buchanan goes through, Tomkins trailing up the middle.

Just reward for an exceptional sugar on top of the cake, that was

iced long since. Let's not forget, it was the world champions beaten

tonight by this English side. 23,500 here tonight, terrific

support at the KC Stadium. I'm sure Elland Road will be a terrific

cellar next week, in anticipation of what will be a terrific

encounter. Maybe, just maybe it is England's time, after all these

decades of having never beaten Australia. Maybe next Saturday is

that try. That would have been the icing on the icing. The hooter has

sounded. Try not allowed. So one last play, but England are in the

final. Enjoy, you have earned it. The tackling is complete, the

referee will blow his whistle to signal the end of the game. It is

England against Australia seven days hence. England have performed

superbly well here tonight. The world champions, they have been

beaten. Will this be England's time? They have won tonight, 28-6.

Congratulations, how pleased with that performance? Really pleased.

We had a lot of control, and the talk all week was to have a plan

and stick to that, with or without the ball. As it has turned out,

that has been the case. We are getting better week on week, we

restricted them really well. thought England played very, very

well, but we certainly didn't help matters. I thought our discipline

at times, with the amount of penalties we gave away,

particularly when England were coming out of the back field, we

just allowed them to devolve too easily and built that pressure on

us. That was a really disappointing aspect of our performance. Full

credit to them, they came out firing. With the support they had

in the crowd, it was a pretty good atmosphere. Disappointed, but

that's the game. Tell us how you scored those tries! That is my job,

I just put the ball down. Yes, I spoke to you last week about

getting another shot at Australia and we had to win this game to do

that. We have done that, and quite convincingly. All the players are

talking about getting a crack at Australia, what can you do to beat

them? Not focused too much, too early. We spoke in the dressing

room, the players are putting in a really pleasing effort and I think

they need to relax in the right manner with their families. We know

there is a big job in hand next Saturday, but we don't need to

start doing that right now. We are all aware of it, we will deal with

it when the time is right. That is about the balance, we have got to

play next Saturday, not on Monday or Tuesday. Now you have the final

to look forward to. It doesn't get We know that the final will be

between England and Australia. What did you make of that? I thought

England were terrific. Toss when they have to be tough, because they

were under pressure in the second half. In the end, the scoreline

justified what we saw. What improvements did you see from last

week? I thought they were more composed under pressure, the

defence improved massively from last week, the kicking game was

great. Whilst we have got somewhere to go to beat the Aussies next week,

the Australians will be scratching their heads. It was pretty brutal

at times. They were not missing each other, but it is called a Test

match and that is because they test every facet of the game. Tomkins

put in another World Class Performance, didn't he? He knows he

has part of his game to work on, so he will get better. He has the X

Factor. He outshone the stars of the New Zealand time tonight.

Another brilliant game from Ryan Hall. Yes, we look at him week on

week and wonder how he got it down. How would -- I would also like to

take my hat off to some of the forwards tonight. You can see them

improving week on week. Yes, and the blowtorch will be on the next

week. We have not quite got there in the final yet, we have got to

get there. We do indeed. We have another game this week - Wales

England versus Australia for the title. We will have highlight on

Sunday on BBC Two at 5 o'clock. Sunday on BBC Two at 5 o'clock.

Brian, can they do it? Absolutely. The belief will be there. They