Final: Australia v England

0:00:42 > 0:00:50# Starry, starry night... It was 45 years ago. But the

0:00:50 > 0:00:55memories don't leave you. COMMENTATOR: Nash to kick off the

0:00:55 > 0:01:00final of this World Cup. It was the best of times, and the

0:01:00 > 0:01:08worst of times. But only one thing mattered.Tonight we are going to

0:01:08 > 0:01:11start with a rugby try that will surely go down amongst the greatest

0:01:11 > 0:01:21of the decade.To this day, I can still see him racing down the wing.

0:01:23 > 0:01:30COMMENTATOR: What a tremendous try. Those of us still alive still talk

0:01:30 > 0:01:39about it to this day. We had done it, and we were the world champions.

0:01:39 > 0:01:44# No, I can't forget this feeling...

0:01:45 > 0:01:52It's been far too long. Let's beat the Aussies again.

0:01:52 > 0:01:58Lovely, thank you very much to Steve Nash for doing that for us. It has

0:01:58 > 0:02:08been 45 years since a team brought the one -- Rugby League World Cup

0:02:08 > 0:02:11trophy home. Let's hope that they can do it today, Australia unbeaten

0:02:11 > 0:02:19in the tournament, they have scored the most tries. Can Wayne Bennett's

0:02:19 > 0:02:24men beat them today and upset the odds? Joining me in the studio for

0:02:24 > 0:02:27this one, former Junior Kangaroos coach and current St Helens coach,

0:02:27 > 0:02:30Justin Holbrook. Wigan and England Sam Tomkins, firmly in the middle

0:02:30 > 0:02:38and neutral, are you? It is Robbie Hunter Paul, they are obviously

0:02:38 > 0:02:41ready, the three of them. If you want to get in touch of us

0:02:41 > 0:02:51throughout the court -- the course of the morning, let us know your

0:02:51 > 0:02:56hopes and fears. The England team hoping to emulate the Great Britain

0:02:56 > 0:03:01side of 1972, and it is who isn't there rather than who is. Sean

0:03:01 > 0:03:03O'Loughlin, the captain is out having failed a fitness test

0:03:03 > 0:03:07yesterday. He is replaced by Ben Currie in the starting 13, Jonny

0:03:07 > 0:03:12Lomax comes onto the bench and Sam Burgess where's the armband. There

0:03:12 > 0:03:19is no Josh Hodgson either after he tore his ACL in last week's

0:03:19 > 0:03:26semifinal. It is obvious to say, but Sean O'Loughlin is huge loss.Yes,

0:03:26 > 0:03:28disappointed for him personally not to be able to captain the side

0:03:28 > 0:03:33today, but for the team. There are things that he does that not many

0:03:33 > 0:03:39other players in any team can do, and he makes players around him play

0:03:39 > 0:03:45better every single week, so he is a huge loss to us, but Sam Burgess

0:03:45 > 0:03:48isn't a bad replacement, either, is he?The England camp said it was

0:03:48 > 0:03:52very much his decision whether he was fit or not. Which says something

0:03:52 > 0:03:57of a man, because in the back of everybody's mind, I have got to play

0:03:57 > 0:04:02in a World Cup final, but it says a lot about him.If there was any

0:04:02 > 0:04:08chance he could, I'm sure he would have done. I have seen Lockers play

0:04:08 > 0:04:11with injuries that you wouldn't think he could get out of bed with,

0:04:11 > 0:04:14and he has played some games and not just got through the butt been

0:04:14 > 0:04:24influential, so it must be a bad injury.Sam Burgess is an impressive

0:04:24 > 0:04:28replacement, but the combination of his size and stature, he is

0:04:28 > 0:04:33difficult to replicate in one-man? Absolutely, it makes it a lot harder

0:04:33 > 0:04:39for England to win today. I think as Sam said, O'Loughlin is just a great

0:04:39 > 0:04:43player, and he will be really missed today. He missed eight or nine games

0:04:43 > 0:04:47for Wigan this season, and they lost the ball for a reason, because he is

0:04:47 > 0:04:53just such a great natural rugby league player. Sam Burgess obviously

0:04:53 > 0:04:56a great player, but you love them both to be out there, but it is not

0:04:56 > 0:05:04to be.Lots of people have been saying during the course of the

0:05:04 > 0:05:08game, Roby has to start, but what you want is the options and the

0:05:08 > 0:05:14strength on the bench, isn't it?You do want that depth of diversity,

0:05:14 > 0:05:18they are very different players. Hodgson plays off the cover little

0:05:18 > 0:05:24bit more, Roby we all agree the team runs smoother when James Roby is on.

0:05:24 > 0:05:28He knows when to pass the ball off the ground, knows when to draw the

0:05:28 > 0:05:32markers, knows when to steal yards, as well, he is very smart and knows

0:05:32 > 0:05:36how to direct the team around. That comes with the experience that James

0:05:36 > 0:05:41Roby has. But equally, Sam is going to need to step up today. He is

0:05:41 > 0:05:48going to have to take his game to that level but he was before 2014,

0:05:48 > 0:05:52maybe 2013. Exactly what he did to the New Zealand team in that

0:05:52 > 0:05:56semifinal in 2013, although they didn't come away with the win, but

0:05:56 > 0:05:59the performance they put in that day was inspirational. He is a blunt

0:05:59 > 0:06:03force instrument, he has got to play strong and powerful, and he has just

0:06:03 > 0:06:06got to give that Australian forward pack one hell of a day at the

0:06:06 > 0:06:16office.We want to be positive as well here, not just go, oh, no

0:06:16 > 0:06:19O'Loughlin, no Hodgson, how terrible. You look at these England

0:06:19 > 0:06:22players, and there are some seriously, seriously good rugby

0:06:22 > 0:06:27league players there, so we should have some confidence.Definitely,

0:06:27 > 0:06:30and the loss of Hodgson gives us another dimension with Jonny Lomax

0:06:30 > 0:06:35coming on the bench, I wasn't sure if it would be Jonny or George

0:06:35 > 0:06:42Williams, both players can create from not a lot, and he can play 80

0:06:42 > 0:06:45minutes, and we have some on the bench who can bring something new at

0:06:45 > 0:06:47any time. So I don't think the Hodgson loss, although it would be

0:06:47 > 0:06:51great to see him out there, I think it gives us something else,

0:06:51 > 0:06:56something we might need in the latter stages today.I definitely

0:06:56 > 0:07:00agree with that. England's defence has been so good throughout this

0:07:00 > 0:07:05World Cup, but so has Australia's, so England do need a bit of X Factor

0:07:05 > 0:07:12on the bench, so either Jonny or George can introduce something to

0:07:12 > 0:07:17the game.And one extra layer, Australia haven't been tested in

0:07:17 > 0:07:23this tournament, they have won every game by 30 points plus, and in the

0:07:23 > 0:07:27it has been smooth sailing for them, but they will come up against a team

0:07:27 > 0:07:31that are highly motivated and have the tools to combat them and meet

0:07:31 > 0:07:38them on an equal plateau.Let's just show you how both teams got to the

0:07:38 > 0:07:41final. England lost that opening game to Australia, but then they got

0:07:41 > 0:07:45past Lebanon and France in the group stages, convincing win against Papua

0:07:45 > 0:07:53New Guinea 36-6, and then we had last week's epic semifinal against

0:07:53 > 0:07:59Tonga in Auckland, which England just squeaked through at the very,

0:07:59 > 0:08:06very end, 20-18. Australia have been convincing as well, as Robbie says.

0:08:06 > 0:08:13Australia didn't concede a point in that group, and in the quarterfinal

0:08:13 > 0:08:20against Samoa, winning 46-0, and then easing past Fiji in the

0:08:20 > 0:08:27semifinals 54-6. Let's go over to Brisbane to hear the thoughts of our

0:08:27 > 0:08:31commentary team out there. Ian Millward, Brian Noble and our rugby

0:08:31 > 0:08:37correspondent Dave Woods. There is a fantastic atmosphere

0:08:37 > 0:08:40building inside the stadium, about 5000 England fans will make

0:08:40 > 0:08:50themselves seen and heard because the flags are already all around.

0:08:50 > 0:08:54Ian, is this the best chance England have had in a major game against

0:08:54 > 0:08:59Australia in your memory?Without hesitation, I would say yes. They

0:08:59 > 0:09:03have a great mixture of home-grown players playing in Super League, and

0:09:03 > 0:09:07most importantly they have got size on the bench and in their forwards.

0:09:07 > 0:09:10I think the most important thing I have been impressed with

0:09:10 > 0:09:14defensively, they have been able to defend the line, defenders team

0:09:14 > 0:09:17throughout the tournament, and they will defend against the favourites

0:09:17 > 0:09:20tonight.We have been to a couple of training sessions this week, what

0:09:20 > 0:09:28have you made what you have seen at the camp this week?Really positive.

0:09:28 > 0:09:34Sean O'Loughlin is a big loss, but Sam Burgess will be a bonus in many

0:09:34 > 0:09:40respects. A bit more flare off the bench, that is the right expression,

0:09:40 > 0:09:43and I think England are ready. Ian has mentioned the fact that they

0:09:43 > 0:09:50were defending Australian players. Trying to spring him in and around

0:09:50 > 0:09:55the ruck, England need to be aware of that. England have defended well

0:09:55 > 0:09:58in this tournament. I agree with what has been said in the studio,

0:09:58 > 0:10:07they will have to score some points, injured, -- England, tonight. If

0:10:07 > 0:10:09they get for opportunities, they need to score at least three of

0:10:09 > 0:10:15them.It is a very relaxed camp, you have detected that?I have spoken to

0:10:15 > 0:10:18a couple of players, and they have said, the coach has been smart here.

0:10:18 > 0:10:24He hasn't put pressure and said, we must do this. He is talking about

0:10:24 > 0:10:27this is the first final for a long time, we have achieved the goal to

0:10:27 > 0:10:31get there and show our talent. He is trying to relax and Paletta, which

0:10:31 > 0:10:42is important, because if Australia have the Golden Boot 2017 Player of

0:10:42 > 0:10:47the Year in Cameron Smith, here's the best player, so England need to

0:10:47 > 0:10:57be and start well, they have to build confidence with their defence.

0:10:57 > 0:11:01We are standing very close to the touchline where Billy Slater through

0:11:01 > 0:11:05that ball away that gave New Zealand a World Cup win in this stadium in

0:11:05 > 0:11:082008, so even the best can throw it away. England hopefully will be the

0:11:08 > 0:11:13best tonight. Thank you very much. It only takes

0:11:13 > 0:11:18something like that, and the World Cup could be heading to England.

0:11:18 > 0:11:21Brian knows the England captain Sam Burgess very well, of course. He

0:11:21 > 0:11:25signed him as a 16-year-old from Bradford Bulls, and gave him his

0:11:25 > 0:11:28first-team debut, and this week he sat down with the England captain

0:11:28 > 0:11:31over a copy.

0:11:37 > 0:11:43COMMENTATOR: Picked up by Anderson from dummy half, and Sam Burgess.

0:11:43 > 0:11:48I remember a young exciting man in 2006, a great privilege to sign.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51What were your ambitions when you started your professional career at

0:11:51 > 0:11:56Bradford?It is quite a while ago, 11 or 12 years ago now. I think my

0:11:56 > 0:12:01ambition at the time was just getting your first team, really.

0:12:01 > 0:12:10From there, ambitions grew. COMMENTATOR: Burgess is through!

0:12:10 > 0:12:16What an absolutely fabulous England try that was.

0:12:16 > 0:12:20A lot of things made me want to go and play in Australia. I enjoyed my

0:12:20 > 0:12:28time over here. I decided that I wanted to test myself, I was only 19

0:12:28 > 0:12:33of the time. Russell was fantastic for me, he gave me push back, and

0:12:33 > 0:12:38after training each day we would ride around the city for hours, 20

0:12:38 > 0:12:42or 30 kilometres a day, so I could learn my way around the city, which

0:12:42 > 0:12:47was cool, at the time.You are at the top of the tree, and you have a

0:12:47 > 0:12:51sabbatical, you go and join the boys at England, which is well

0:12:51 > 0:12:56documented, but was it a great learning experience, what was it

0:12:56 > 0:13:00like?I went in and gave it everything. I met some fantastic

0:13:00 > 0:13:06people, learned a hell of a lot about rugby union and managed to

0:13:06 > 0:13:09represent England again, which I still remain extremely proud of for

0:13:09 > 0:13:13my contribution to our country. I did enjoy it, but towards the end of

0:13:13 > 0:13:18it, there were a lot of outside influences that had an impact, and

0:13:18 > 0:13:22for me, I just wanted to get back to where I believe I belong, and that

0:13:22 > 0:13:29is rugby league.What do the Australians truly think about the

0:13:29 > 0:13:33Super League ending list players? Do you get a sense of that?The

0:13:33 > 0:13:36Australia's growing their respect for the English game. The Super

0:13:36 > 0:13:39League is constantly on in our changing rooms. We are constantly

0:13:39 > 0:13:43watching the games during the season. The boys love watching Super

0:13:43 > 0:13:47League. But in terms of, do they respected to the level of the NRL?

0:13:47 > 0:13:54Probably not. They joke about my caps for Bradford not counting as

0:13:54 > 0:13:58first grade caps. But that is a bit of a joke with those guys. We are

0:13:58 > 0:14:02here in the final with the Australian team, and we have got a

0:14:02 > 0:14:06chance to try to put that right. Deep down, does it fuel the fire

0:14:06 > 0:14:10little bit? Can you imagine what an England win would do for the game?

0:14:10 > 0:14:15We are all extremely aware of the magnitude of the result. If it goes

0:14:15 > 0:14:18our way, what it means to the game and England, and it will probably

0:14:18 > 0:14:23give us the respect we deserve. I have worked with this team now for

0:14:23 > 0:14:28the past 18 months, and the talent that we've got is phenomenal. The

0:14:28 > 0:14:33team camaraderie, that is the one thing I do miss most from England is

0:14:33 > 0:14:39the people. That is not saying anything bad about Australians, but

0:14:39 > 0:14:43there is something, certain characteristics you get from the

0:14:43 > 0:14:47folk from North England. So we have had a great time, but certainly we

0:14:47 > 0:14:49understand what opportunity we have in front of us, and how great that

0:14:49 > 0:14:55could beef our game.May be some of that from his Australian team-mates

0:14:55 > 0:15:00is tongue in cheek, maybe some of it isn't. Do you find something

0:15:00 > 0:15:03similar, they don't mind watching Super League but they don't respect

0:15:03 > 0:15:07it?Very similar. People over there think Super League is a tough

0:15:07 > 0:15:12competition, but they think it is a long way off what they experience in

0:15:12 > 0:15:17the NRL, but I don't think the gap is as big as a lot of them think.

0:15:17 > 0:15:20You'd use that as motivation, wouldn't you, in that England

0:15:20 > 0:15:25dressing room?You definitely would. I'm from the Australian side, and we

0:15:25 > 0:15:29love the Super League over there, so I'm not sure, we don't really talk

0:15:29 > 0:15:36about the disrespecting the game. We are lucky that another country is

0:15:36 > 0:15:39high on the rugby league scale. As Sam Burgess said in the coverage

0:15:39 > 0:15:43there, we watch as much Super League as we can.But there has been

0:15:43 > 0:15:47feeling during this tournament a little that Australia within the

0:15:47 > 0:15:50country are just going to coast all the way and win the final, and

0:15:50 > 0:15:54actually this World Cup is behind NRL, State of Origin, because they

0:15:54 > 0:15:59are more competitive for these Australian players?Can I just point

0:15:59 > 0:16:03out that a similar thing happened back in 2008, which Dave Woods

0:16:03 > 0:16:13mentioned.I can't believe he mention that!I did text him to make

0:16:13 > 0:16:18sure he got it in!Do you think they took advantage of complacency?Yes,

0:16:18 > 0:16:21they went into it with nothing to lose. England is going into this

0:16:21 > 0:16:25game with nothing to lose. The media throughout the entirety of the

0:16:25 > 0:16:28tournament has been saying, this is a one horse race, and they have done

0:16:28 > 0:16:33it again. It is all dependent upon their culture that they have created

0:16:33 > 0:16:36within the camp of the players themselves, and I think there is a

0:16:36 > 0:16:39responsibility on the team and the squad to really step up, because if

0:16:39 > 0:16:44they can play against this squad, they could lose.The one thing

0:16:44 > 0:16:53England have been consistent on, the defence has been good.That is one

0:16:53 > 0:16:56thing they will need to do today, they will have to be strong in

0:16:56 > 0:17:01defence.This is the opening game against Australia.The scrambled

0:17:01 > 0:17:07offence has been good throughout the game, and the main thing they need

0:17:07 > 0:17:12to do is to stop that man passing the ball, Cameron Smith. They were

0:17:12 > 0:17:15scrambling of covering up holes, but you want to stop the root cause,

0:17:15 > 0:17:19which is the big forwards getting on their noses, playing the ball

0:17:19 > 0:17:23quickly. That gives the half-back time on the ball. Billy Slater time

0:17:23 > 0:17:27to get into position, and Cameron Smith to make the decision whether

0:17:27 > 0:17:34he jumps or passes or kicks it into space.I agree, and I think England

0:17:34 > 0:17:37have to try and slow the game down. It worked well against Tonga last

0:17:37 > 0:17:42week playing a fast-paced game, but when they play in the first game of

0:17:42 > 0:17:47this World Cup, Australia will win that battle, the Australians back

0:17:47 > 0:17:50three all ran 300 metres each, and that brings Cameron Smith into his

0:17:50 > 0:17:57absolute best. Any time they can get sunset starts and try to nullify

0:17:57 > 0:18:02Cameron Smith's involvement is the way to win today.

0:18:05 > 0:18:08We have to take some confidence from the scramble that we saw at the

0:18:08 > 0:18:11start of the clip. It is inevitable that Australia will break the line

0:18:11 > 0:18:20at some point, but seeing James Graham picking up, and Jermaine

0:18:20 > 0:18:24McGillvary getting that loose ball, if you don't get that extra 1%, the

0:18:24 > 0:18:29Aussies will score another three or four tries, so we can take a lot of

0:18:29 > 0:18:32positives from that scramble.Thank you very much. The last time England

0:18:32 > 0:18:37reached a World Cup final was on home soil in 1995, when, of course,

0:18:37 > 0:18:40they were beaten by Australia.

0:18:56 > 0:19:00COMMENTATOR: And they have got the touchdown.

0:19:12 > 0:19:19Australia, winners of the World Cup 1995. Well, the captain of England

0:19:19 > 0:19:23that day all those years ago, 22 years, was Denis Betts, and he is

0:19:23 > 0:19:27with us on the touchline. What are your memories of 1995?At this

0:19:27 > 0:19:33moment, a little bit of a blur. It was a fantastic World Cup, we did a

0:19:33 > 0:19:37great job, got to the final and we felt that we had the best

0:19:37 > 0:19:42opportunity that we had in a long, long time. We just didn't perform.

0:19:42 > 0:19:45We let ourselves down with a performance that day. It was a

0:19:45 > 0:19:47pretty tight game in the end, but I think we could have played a lot

0:19:47 > 0:19:52better.You become in the first game at Wembley in that tournament.Yes,

0:19:52 > 0:19:57we had a great tournament, we had come on the back of two really good

0:19:57 > 0:20:02years, we had a good win in 93 against the Kiwis, when they were

0:20:02 > 0:20:06touring, and we set ourselves up for a really good tournament, we beat

0:20:06 > 0:20:09Wales quite convincingly at Old Trafford in the semifinal, and then

0:20:09 > 0:20:13I felt that we just underperformed come the final day.What about

0:20:13 > 0:20:18today, then? What lessons have been learned from 22 years ago, or are

0:20:18 > 0:20:22they in relevant?For a number of years, talking to players involved

0:20:22 > 0:20:26in international rugby, the last ten or 15 years, we have had a side that

0:20:26 > 0:20:32can compete on the day, but always Australia had to be under par or not

0:20:32 > 0:20:36really on the beat. But I think today, if we play our best, we win,

0:20:36 > 0:20:41it doesn't matter what Australia do. That is a massive mindset shift.

0:20:41 > 0:20:45What Wayne has done with this group is given a lot of belief and

0:20:45 > 0:20:47confidence in their own ability.And it seems from the outside looking

0:20:47 > 0:20:52in, it looks like a really relaxed camp this week?It has been relaxed

0:20:52 > 0:20:58and focus, but with purpose to the tournament. We want to be here. This

0:20:58 > 0:21:02is where it mattered. It is not about the first win against

0:21:02 > 0:21:06Australia, that wasn't going to win us a World Cup, we knew we had to

0:21:06 > 0:21:09progress and come up with a plan, and we worked really hard on that

0:21:09 > 0:21:13plan throughout the tournament. And we are in the final, we just have to

0:21:13 > 0:21:17get the big one.Good luck today, and hopefully 22 years on, the

0:21:17 > 0:21:23script is rewritten.I hope so. A little earlier on in the stadium

0:21:23 > 0:21:27in Brisbane was the women's World Cup final, and that was won by

0:21:27 > 0:21:36Australia, beating New Zealand 23-16. As far as the men's

0:21:36 > 0:21:41tournament is concerned, there have been 14 World Cups in total.

0:21:41 > 0:21:46Australia have reached 13 finals and won ten of them. Dave Woods has been

0:21:46 > 0:21:55inside their camp this week. COMMENTATOR: Australia are through

0:21:55 > 0:22:01to the Rugby League World Cup final. Is it weird to face Wayne Bennett in

0:22:01 > 0:22:05the final?Not at all, we have faced England a few times with him as

0:22:05 > 0:22:11coach. It is probably a bit different to Aussie coaching, but he

0:22:11 > 0:22:17is going to do a job, a good coach won't give you many errors, they

0:22:17 > 0:22:21will kick long, back to the defence, and that is what Ryan does well, he

0:22:21 > 0:22:25does it with the Broncos, you have seen him do it since he has been

0:22:25 > 0:22:29there, so they won't give us much, but we have to work hard, sort of

0:22:29 > 0:22:32like the first time we played against England in the first game

0:22:32 > 0:22:36this year. People said it wasn't much of a game, but it was fast,

0:22:36 > 0:22:40free-flowing and pretty physical in the middle.You said England weren't

0:22:40 > 0:22:45playing well enough to win the World Cup. Is that an honest assessment,

0:22:45 > 0:22:50or mind games on his part?Mind games, anyone on their day can pull

0:22:50 > 0:22:54off a win, if it is an upset or not or whatever the situation is, you

0:22:54 > 0:23:01know? For them, they will repair well, they know what they are doing

0:23:01 > 0:23:05and they will be ready to get that win.How do you categorise your

0:23:05 > 0:23:09performance against James Graham, was it personal this week?Not at

0:23:09 > 0:23:14all, a lot of B but said it would be. I love playing against James. He

0:23:14 > 0:23:17is a front row that plays a half-back, he has a lot of skill but

0:23:17 > 0:23:24at the same time he is very tough. You want to test yourself against

0:23:24 > 0:23:28the best, it is not just James, you have Sam Burgess as well, so it is

0:23:28 > 0:23:32an interesting matchup this week, and we will fight for this.

0:23:32 > 0:23:36Let's look at Cameron Smith. I think Robbie, you in the build-up earlier

0:23:36 > 0:23:44said he can suffocate you.I think he said that.I am getting you

0:23:44 > 0:23:50confused!He is absolutely an amazing player. I turned doubt he

0:23:50 > 0:23:55has taken them out, and is the number one player in the world at

0:23:55 > 0:23:59this time. Just smart, he is just the heart and soul of everything

0:23:59 > 0:24:04Australia does, and he capitalises on opportunities better than any

0:24:04 > 0:24:09other player. He is just a very intelligent player, like James Roby,

0:24:09 > 0:24:13experienced, knows when to pass it at the right times, when to run,

0:24:13 > 0:24:16went to steal ground. Look at him, the eyes are constantly working all

0:24:16 > 0:24:21the time. He knows exactly what is going on, he knows the players

0:24:21 > 0:24:25around him, those three players, talking about Cronk and Billy

0:24:25 > 0:24:30Slater, those three players work so seamlessly together. You know what

0:24:30 > 0:24:33they are going to do, you know what Cameron Smith has got to do, you

0:24:33 > 0:24:38just have to try and stop it, and the only way I think you can stop it

0:24:38 > 0:24:44is doing exactly what...What a kick that is.Into space, to have that

0:24:44 > 0:24:47awareness to know that there will be space. But just what Justin was

0:24:47 > 0:24:52saying, you have to take the game to zero. You have got to take the sting

0:24:52 > 0:24:56out of Australia, take the momentum out of them, make it gritty and

0:24:56 > 0:24:59grubby, keep the ball out, keep them off their stride, and then when you

0:24:59 > 0:25:05have got the ball, turn the speed up and start to run the forwards tired,

0:25:05 > 0:25:09because if those forwards get quick play-the-balls, they will have a

0:25:09 > 0:25:13field day.What amazes me about Cameron Smith is how he never loses

0:25:13 > 0:25:17any energy. He will walk out tonight, he has done it in all his

0:25:17 > 0:25:22games, he looked like he could fall asleep. He never looks tight before

0:25:22 > 0:25:27a game, he is so calm. His nickname is the accountant, he doesn't look

0:25:27 > 0:25:30like red B player, and he is the best player in the world. He just

0:25:30 > 0:25:35reads the game better than anyone, defends in the middle of the field,

0:25:35 > 0:25:40and just controls the whole game. He has been known to control the

0:25:40 > 0:25:44referees in the NRL, as well. He is a huge figure in the game at a

0:25:44 > 0:25:47phenomenal player.He has won player of the tournament already in this

0:25:47 > 0:25:51World Cup. When you are playing against him, Robbie mentioned if you

0:25:51 > 0:25:56look at his body language, where he is pointing, his eyes. Are you

0:25:56 > 0:26:00trying to second-guess him?When you preview the team, you will preview

0:26:00 > 0:26:03certain individuals, and Cameron Smith will be someone that you would

0:26:03 > 0:26:07take a close look at. There is a lot of things that you can't have an

0:26:07 > 0:26:11effect on, things like the kicks you see him putting in there from 40 or

0:26:11 > 0:26:1450 metres out, jumping out into the Lion threading it through to the

0:26:14 > 0:26:18goal, you can't stop those. You just have to defend it when he does do

0:26:18 > 0:26:22it. What you can effect is the speed of the rock, which we have

0:26:22 > 0:26:26mentioned. If the England pack can slow that Aussie side down, it does

0:26:26 > 0:26:30nullify a lot of what he can do with ball in hand. If the Aussies are

0:26:30 > 0:26:33getting win after win and Cameron Smith can pick the ball up and run

0:26:33 > 0:26:37and put passes whenever he wants, he is tough to handle, but if we can

0:26:37 > 0:26:40stop him before he gets going, that is great. But there are certain

0:26:40 > 0:26:43things that you can't defend against someone as good as that.We are not

0:26:43 > 0:26:52logged until kick-off in Brisbane. Let's hear from both head coaches.

0:26:52 > 0:26:57No O'Loughlin, no Hodgson, how has the preparation being?It has been

0:26:57 > 0:27:02good. We have assumed that Josh and Sean wouldn't make it, so we had

0:27:02 > 0:27:09that pretty well covered. Ben Currie is a really good player, and James

0:27:09 > 0:27:14Roby, top poker, so we have been fortunate that we have quality

0:27:14 > 0:27:17players to take their place.You have named Sam as captain, you are

0:27:17 > 0:27:21looking for him to be the leader? Here's one anyway, he doesn't have

0:27:21 > 0:27:26to have captain before his name.And you want some quick play-the-balls

0:27:26 > 0:27:29were James Roby a dummy half?I want some decent play-the-balls for the

0:27:29 > 0:27:34fans. They are the ones who pay the money.What Australia do really

0:27:34 > 0:27:39well? What you have to be careful of?They are consistent, they will

0:27:39 > 0:27:44battle hard, they know how to bring the game out, they know how to apply

0:27:44 > 0:27:47pressure, so things that we are getting better at.Good luck

0:27:47 > 0:27:54tonight.Thanks.And easier week for you, unchanged line-up. How is

0:27:54 > 0:27:58preparation?It has been pretty smooth, we have had the team the

0:27:58 > 0:28:06last few weeks, so we are happy with the group, commitment is good, fresh

0:28:06 > 0:28:11and healthy and ready to go. What has been the main focus this week?

0:28:11 > 0:28:15Just making sure that we improve, we know England are great side and they

0:28:15 > 0:28:19will push hard, trying up through the middle, so a bit of focus around

0:28:19 > 0:28:23the middle, making sure they don't make too many metres on that back

0:28:23 > 0:28:27five, they are big threat and we will work hard on all aspects of our

0:28:27 > 0:28:31defence this week.Do you feel that the expectation puts pressure on

0:28:31 > 0:28:36Australia to win on home soil?We expect that, we embrace it and we

0:28:36 > 0:28:40have talked about it often, so the elephant is out of the room. We know

0:28:40 > 0:28:43everyone is accepting us to win, and we want to play that way.Good luck

0:28:43 > 0:28:48tonight.Thank you. We talk about pressure a lot in

0:28:48 > 0:28:51sport, but he is under pressure, isn't he? Given Australia's record

0:28:51 > 0:28:55in World Cups in his home country with Wayne Bennett in the opposition

0:28:55 > 0:29:01technical area?Absolutely, but I love the way he answered it.

0:29:01 > 0:29:06Australia expect to win, he gets that, and so do the players. The

0:29:06 > 0:29:09only time you ever really put yourself under pressure is if you

0:29:09 > 0:29:13are fearing the results, and he is clearly confident, and it helps

0:29:13 > 0:29:18having the Smith and Cronk and Slater, the three players who

0:29:18 > 0:29:22control the side, they play the big games, they expect to win every

0:29:22 > 0:29:25week, they turn out for storm and they do it more often than not, so

0:29:25 > 0:29:29they are Specht it to win and they have taken that on the shoulders

0:29:29 > 0:29:33find.That's the Australian dressing room. In the England dressing room,

0:29:33 > 0:29:38who will be the talk is now before they go out?Sam Burgess will be

0:29:38 > 0:29:43speaking a lot, James Graham will be saying his part as well. The lads

0:29:43 > 0:29:47will be fully prepared now. The preparation is all done. These are

0:29:47 > 0:29:51the last few bits. It goes in one ear and out the other, ever be the

0:29:51 > 0:29:56job they want to get out onto the field.We are waiting for the teams

0:29:56 > 0:30:02to come out in Brisbane. They are just moving into the tunnel, you can

0:30:02 > 0:30:06see the Rugby World Cup trophy about to be carried out, and Australia

0:30:06 > 0:30:11just coming out of the dressing room. How do you see the first half

0:30:11 > 0:30:17going?I am hoping England meets fire with fire. The first half of

0:30:17 > 0:30:20the opening game, England waited for Australia to bring it to them, and I

0:30:20 > 0:30:23think in the opening 40 minutes, England definitely have to take

0:30:23 > 0:30:28their power game that they were talking about. I think they have to

0:30:28 > 0:30:31take that power game right into the teeth of the Australian defence and

0:30:31 > 0:30:35start a tire them out. They did that in the second 40 minutes, they

0:30:35 > 0:30:48really dominated. But they need to do that from the opening seconds.

0:30:48 > 0:30:53Over the last six weeks we have seen our game played with pride, passion

0:30:53 > 0:30:56and conviction. We have respected cultural traditions, inspired each

0:30:56 > 0:31:01other to be proud of who we are and where we come from and have played

0:31:01 > 0:31:05the game in great spirit. On behalf of the players, I would like to

0:31:05 > 0:31:09thank you, the people, for making this tournament what it is. Here are

0:31:09 > 0:31:13your teams for the final - England and Australia. May the best team

0:31:13 > 0:31:21win. STUDIO: Disappointing he did not

0:31:21 > 0:31:25give Kevin a chance to say a few words as well! The teams are ready

0:31:25 > 0:31:31to come out of the tunnel. This is the Rugby League World Cup Final

0:31:31 > 0:31:382017, and our commentary team are Brian Noble, Ian Millward and the

0:31:38 > 0:31:40BBC's rugby league correspondent Dave Woods.

0:31:40 > 0:31:47DAVE WOODS: Well, they're getting quite a reception. It's a journey

0:31:47 > 0:31:53that began for Wayne Bennett's England side over 12 months ago. For

0:31:53 > 0:31:57British rugby league fans it goes back a long further than that - 45

0:31:57 > 0:32:02years since Great Britain won this trophy. As England, they have never

0:32:02 > 0:32:08won it. Is tonight the night it will change? Sam Burgess leading out his

0:32:08 > 0:32:11side.

0:32:17 > 0:32:24And the Australians looking reasonably relaxed as well. The

0:32:24 > 0:32:28stadium settles down for the two anthems.

0:32:32 > 0:32:37ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please be standing for the national

0:32:37 > 0:32:41anthems of England and Australia.

0:32:49 > 0:32:54# God save our gracious Queen

0:32:54 > 0:32:59# Long live our noble Queen

0:32:59 > 0:33:03# God save the Queen

0:33:03 > 0:33:07# Send her victorious

0:33:07 > 0:33:12# Happy and glorious

0:33:12 > 0:33:18# Long to reign over us

0:33:18 > 0:33:28# God save the Queen. #

0:33:39 > 0:33:45Early bellowed out that national anthem all through this tournament!

0:33:45 > 0:33:47.

0:33:55 > 0:33:58# Australians all let us rejoice

0:33:58 > 0:34:02# For we are young and free

0:34:02 > 0:34:07# We've golden soil and wealth for toil

0:34:07 > 0:34:12# Our home is girt by sea

0:34:12 > 0:34:22# Our land abounds in Nature's gifts Of beauty rich and rare

0:34:23 > 0:34:30# In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia fair

0:34:30 > 0:34:35# In joyful strains then let us sing

0:34:35 > 0:34:43# Advance Australia fair

0:35:01 > 0:35:04Well, they do love their rugby league in these parts, and it is a

0:35:04 > 0:35:15rugby league city, is Brisbane. DAVE WOODS: Cooper Cronk, one of

0:35:15 > 0:35:20their three stellar names. Billy Slater, the full-back, and there is

0:35:20 > 0:35:29the other of that legendary triumph in, Cameron Smith. -- triumvirate.

0:35:29 > 0:35:33There are another one or two who might not be up to the pedigree of

0:35:33 > 0:35:36Kangaroos of yesteryear but there is no doubt that those three are

0:35:36 > 0:35:41amongst the best of all time. Mal Meninga, the coach, of course, who

0:35:41 > 0:35:48has reinstalled a pride in the Kangaroos jersey. Changes for

0:35:48 > 0:35:58England. Ben Currie comes into the starting XIII in the absence of Sean

0:35:58 > 0:36:04O'Loughlin. And Jonny Lomax comes in, the St Helens full-back, who

0:36:04 > 0:36:08hasn't played since the first game in this tournament, against

0:36:08 > 0:36:13Australia. And that is six weeks ago! He has been a star, hasn't he?

0:36:13 > 0:36:19He's captured the headlines here in Australia and rightly so, Jermaine

0:36:19 > 0:36:25McGillvary. He has been fantastic in the tournament so far. Can he cap it

0:36:25 > 0:36:31off with another appearance tonight? And Billy Slater, the full-back, his

0:36:31 > 0:36:34return to the international stage at this World Cup after a two-year

0:36:34 > 0:36:39absence with a shoulder injury. A lot of us were writing him off as an

0:36:39 > 0:36:42international player, but what they return he has made - and just as

0:36:42 > 0:36:51good as he ever was. The referee tonight is an Australian, Jerod

0:36:51 > 0:37:03Sutton. It is an Englishman in the video booth. James Graham will have

0:37:03 > 0:37:07a big part to play tonight, no doubt. There will be some physical

0:37:07 > 0:37:17stuff down the middle. And plenty of fancy stuff down the edges as well.

0:37:17 > 0:37:20And the countdown begins on the big screen, to get this World Cup under

0:37:20 > 0:37:33way. England hope for glory. Australia expects. It has been a

0:37:33 > 0:37:38wonderful World Cup, and it comes to what could be very epic conclusion

0:37:38 > 0:37:41here tonight, in what could be a really physical battle. It James

0:37:41 > 0:37:48Graham who leads the charge for England. Alongside me, Ian Millward,

0:37:48 > 0:37:56and first of all, Brian Noble. BRIAN NOBLE: Well, we're looking for

0:37:56 > 0:38:00an 80 minute performance from this England team. They've got to execute

0:38:00 > 0:38:04- I think they will tonight.Well, it looked as though James Graham

0:38:04 > 0:38:11took a bit of a hit in that first tackle. We'll wait and see what

0:38:11 > 0:38:15impact that might have had - but how many times in his career have we

0:38:15 > 0:38:19seen him looking out of it on the field, and then he pops up with a

0:38:19 > 0:38:27big moment?! Looking for the kick. He copped one there.The Australians

0:38:27 > 0:38:35are not going to go away. They're a fantastic team themselves.We've got

0:38:35 > 0:38:38to see how good England are defensively. James Graham roughing

0:38:38 > 0:38:48up Billy Slater there. IAN MILLWARD: I think we spoke about

0:38:48 > 0:38:52it in the preview - both teams will kick early, but you need to turn the

0:38:52 > 0:38:57forwards around. Smith is a master at it.

0:39:00 > 0:39:07So, Australia looking to move it left. Arruda Morgan, down that

0:39:07 > 0:39:11left-hand side. Cameron Smith, in at dummy half again. Cooper Cronk

0:39:11 > 0:39:17launches one on the sixth. That should be a simple catch for Gareth

0:39:17 > 0:39:26Widdop. And he takes the challenge. Yeah, kick with no pressure, really.

0:39:26 > 0:39:32And this man, player of the tournament in many people's eyes.

0:39:32 > 0:39:42Elliott Whitehead brought down just outside the 30. Picked up by Roby.

0:39:42 > 0:39:45Sam Burgess, different role for him in that number 13 shirt, so to

0:39:45 > 0:39:57speak. And England reach the last. Kick again from Gale. It's a

0:39:57 > 0:40:00careful, cautious opening to the game from both sides tonight, just

0:40:00 > 0:40:05searching each other out.One thing Wayne Bennett spoke about before the

0:40:05 > 0:40:11match, they've got to complete their first ten sets - and they've started

0:40:11 > 0:40:15in that rhythm very early, England. It might sound a little bit boring

0:40:15 > 0:40:18but it builds pressure and field position and it gets you in the

0:40:18 > 0:40:22groove of the game real quick. Australia are already up to their

0:40:22 > 0:40:31third tackle. Aaron Woods takes it in. He will be playing at the

0:40:31 > 0:40:34bulldogs next year, with James Graham having departed that club.

0:40:34 > 0:40:45Here's Ryan Hall.Something I've picked up earlier in relation to the

0:40:45 > 0:40:51kicking games, I think England are more intent on footing it really

0:40:51 > 0:40:56high so they can have an organised kick chase team, rather than looking

0:40:56 > 0:40:59for the space, because the back three of Australia have got it

0:40:59 > 0:41:06covered.He's so lethal, any space he gets he can beat people and he

0:41:06 > 0:41:08backs it up with speed. England are getting down the middle really well

0:41:08 > 0:41:17here. An early kick once again. Burgess looking for the corner.

0:41:17 > 0:41:22Again, the England chase is good. James Roby is up there to make the

0:41:22 > 0:41:36tackle. Australia starting from deep again. 14th time that the World Cup,

0:41:36 > 0:41:40well, in the 14 times it has been played, Australia have been

0:41:40 > 0:41:46champions ten of those times. They have dominated this code. England

0:41:46 > 0:41:50never having won it as England - three times as Great Britain. Now,

0:41:50 > 0:41:58it comes to Kronk. Inside for Matt Gillett. Plays at this ground for

0:41:58 > 0:42:05the Brisbane Broncos. Cooper Cronk again puts the chip in, but Gareth

0:42:05 > 0:42:16Widdop was waiting for it.

0:42:21 > 0:42:26The wingers have done a splendid job, and here comes the other one,

0:42:26 > 0:42:31McGilvray, making metres for fun in this tournament. Now, Sam Burgess

0:42:31 > 0:42:41again.

0:42:43 > 0:42:49They were playing together for St Helens under 11s all those years

0:42:49 > 0:42:57ago. Graham is holding his head again.There is the big high kick

0:42:57 > 0:43:01again that I've alluded to. The longer this goes on for England, the

0:43:01 > 0:43:13better in my mind.It builds confidence.

0:43:19 > 0:43:31Cameron Smith at dummy half.Gareth Widdop comes across quickly to catch

0:43:31 > 0:43:42it.That is a win for England definitely. Widdop was in great

0:43:42 > 0:43:47position on the Cameron Smith kick. It is not the prettiest rugby league

0:43:47 > 0:44:00but it is effective at the moment. Here's Roby again. This is Hill.

0:44:00 > 0:44:09Roby has a look around and goes right to Brown. Widdop almost ducks

0:44:09 > 0:44:14underneath the attentions of Michael Morgan. They're on the last... And

0:44:14 > 0:44:19there is the first mistake of the game! First mistake is England's.

0:44:19 > 0:44:25And it just lets Australia off the hook a little bit.I was just going

0:44:25 > 0:44:29to say to you, Brian, this has been a really good set by England. You've

0:44:29 > 0:44:33got to move the ball against Australia - you don't want to be

0:44:33 > 0:44:37pedestrian and make it easy for them. Then that last tackle - you've

0:44:37 > 0:44:41got to be clinical! BRIAN NOBLE: Absolutely, couldn't

0:44:41 > 0:44:45agree with you more. They had five great plays - get it into the

0:44:45 > 0:44:50corner. But to give them a free 40 metres is disappointing.

0:44:50 > 0:44:56IAN MILLWARD: That's where coach Bennett comes from, he talks about

0:44:56 > 0:45:01ten from ten completion and no errors. That's where England fall

0:45:01 > 0:45:08down at times in this tournament - you can't do that against Australia.

0:45:08 > 0:45:11And Australia are very good at taking advantage of that kind of

0:45:11 > 0:45:17thing. Cameron Smith swings it away to Cooper Cronk. Into the line comes

0:45:17 > 0:45:23Matt Gillett. Still a couple to go. Australia will finish this at least

0:45:23 > 0:45:27with an attacking kick. Michael Morgan puts it back on the inside

0:45:27 > 0:45:35for Dugan to have a look. Picked up by McGuire. So, Cameron Smith is

0:45:35 > 0:45:42here. And this is the last play. Cooper Cronk looking to slide it in,

0:45:42 > 0:45:47but Widdop is across. He might have had a penalty there.It should have

0:45:47 > 0:45:50been a penalty, the referee hasn't picked back up.England at least

0:45:50 > 0:45:57have possession. England will be pleased Australia did not manage to

0:45:57 > 0:46:04force a repeat set.He's used three danger kicks already, and I believe

0:46:04 > 0:46:12he's been the player of the tournament so far.He's also at your

0:46:12 > 0:46:22club!I hope he's not going to ask for more money! Heap did come

0:46:22 > 0:46:28through the juniors as a full-back. That is a great kick.If it holds up

0:46:28 > 0:46:34here... And it will hold up, about is fantastic! Great kick!That's the

0:46:34 > 0:46:38value of your kicking game. Look how long it will take the Australians to

0:46:38 > 0:46:46get back. He's LEATHERED that down the field!Builds confidence, Chris

0:46:46 > 0:46:53Hill was involved in that tackle, great work by the front row man.

0:46:57 > 0:47:04It's with Morgan. Just inside the England half. Its not a bad set from

0:47:04 > 0:47:08Australia so far in terms of metres made. Cameron Smith, with Billy

0:47:08 > 0:47:16Slater... Well, the referee DOES give that as a high tackle. It's a

0:47:16 > 0:47:22penalty for Australia. And they just get the chance to relieve a bit of

0:47:22 > 0:47:27tension here, both sets of players. There's nothing serious going on.

0:47:27 > 0:47:30Tell me what's the difference between that tackle and Widdop when

0:47:30 > 0:47:52he was trying to get it out of in-goal? None.It does warrant a

0:47:52 > 0:47:56penalty, but the point Iwan trying to make is, they could have other

0:47:56 > 0:48:03body at the other end also. I think you will find they will take this

0:48:03 > 0:48:08over to the right-hand side, and England will come back to this left.

0:48:08 > 0:48:13They got their first three tries down this left-hand side in the

0:48:13 > 0:48:19first game of the tournament.Yeah, we picked up on that earlier.I

0:48:19 > 0:48:22think Sam Burgess is just pointing out to the referee the error of his

0:48:22 > 0:48:36ways. So, Australia still have the penalty, but the referee noticing

0:48:36 > 0:48:41that they were the first to react there.What do you do here, Brian,

0:48:41 > 0:48:51kick for goal?Yeah.Cameron Smith is going for the corner. He has had

0:48:51 > 0:48:54many, many wonderful appearances here for Queensland in State of

0:48:54 > 0:48:57Origin and in an Australian shirt as well as double cars Kronk, another

0:48:57 > 0:49:07Queenslander. Ten metres out, Australia with the first chance of

0:49:07 > 0:49:16the game to put pressure on the English line. It's Smith again. Now,

0:49:16 > 0:49:20Kronk with the little step! England had it covered. England's defence

0:49:20 > 0:49:24has been fantastic in this tournament so far, but they are

0:49:24 > 0:49:28really being tested here. Morgan going left. Boyd Cordner doesn't

0:49:28 > 0:49:39offer much on that occasion. Two tackles to go. McGuire... Last

0:49:39 > 0:49:46play... Smith goes left... Kronk with the corkscrew kick. McGillvary

0:49:46 > 0:49:51has missed it! And England in the end are lucky to get away with it.

0:49:51 > 0:49:57Dropout underneath the sticks.I'm not sure what Watkins was trying to

0:49:57 > 0:50:02do, was he trying to catch it? I think he missed it and it hit him on

0:50:02 > 0:50:13the head! Could be wrong!It was in the field of play, he wasn't able to

0:50:13 > 0:50:25that it dead because he wasn't in in-goal. People like Kronk and

0:50:25 > 0:50:28Smith, this is what they're very good at - building pressure, plenty

0:50:28 > 0:50:40of possession.Repeat set, first of the game, goes to Australia. Usually

0:50:40 > 0:50:44spells danger. England having to be on their mettle. And it's another

0:50:44 > 0:51:04penalty. , with Jim Hamilton had it stolen, says referee -- Woods had it

0:51:04 > 0:51:07stolen, says referee Gerard Sutton. Josh McGuire puts it back to Cooper

0:51:07 > 0:51:12Cronk, who had trouble keeping hold of the Ballsbridge gave Burgess a

0:51:12 > 0:51:20real chance to size it up and knock it down. Driving it hard is Klemmer.

0:51:20 > 0:51:30England hanging on. Smith again. Back down the middle goes Matt

0:51:30 > 0:51:37Gillett! He's on his own! Desperate moments for England! It is out to

0:51:37 > 0:51:43Morgan! No space, gets the ball away! McGillvary got a hand to that

0:51:43 > 0:51:50I think. No touch from England, last play from Australia. Here comes

0:51:50 > 0:52:01Kronk. This time it's Hall under pressure. What has he given here?

0:52:01 > 0:52:04He's decided he caught it in the field of play and then went back in

0:52:04 > 0:52:09the in-goal area. Pointing to the big screen to say, have a look at

0:52:09 > 0:52:16that, referee!I think your find it is a correct decision - he was in

0:52:16 > 0:52:23the field of play, and he fell into the in-goal area. That's a fair

0:52:23 > 0:52:42call. Gee, a little bit of pressure here, isn't there?!That is a big

0:52:42 > 0:52:55kick from Widdop, isn't it?It is. Wow!Big Sam clattering Klemmer!

0:52:55 > 0:52:59He's a big fella but he's up on his feet pretending it doesn't hurt! Is

0:52:59 > 0:53:05England pack has been magnificent. Woods has got a third off-load of

0:53:05 > 0:53:11the game - England are going to have to watch that. Here's Cameron Smith

0:53:11 > 0:53:18running out. Billy Slater comes back towards the middle! Still three

0:53:18 > 0:53:25tackles to go for Australia. Smith, Kronk, trying to make space. Morgan

0:53:25 > 0:53:30with the short ball...! It's a big effort in defence, but Cordner has

0:53:30 > 0:53:37gone over! The pressure was building and building, and eventually,

0:53:37 > 0:53:43something had to give. And it's Cordner, who found the leak in that

0:53:43 > 0:53:51English line.Well, it's weight of pressure. It's Aaron Woods out to

0:53:51 > 0:54:01Cronk. Kevin Brown, they're fatigued, the England defenders.

0:54:01 > 0:54:06Brown needs to go high there. He picks him out one-to-one and just

0:54:06 > 0:54:12breaks the tackle.They were targeting the two small men. When

0:54:12 > 0:54:17you get one on one that close to the line, it's hard, especially after

0:54:17 > 0:54:20defending four sets in a row. This is what we spoke about before the

0:54:20 > 0:54:25game. If Australia get back-to-back tries, they're the masters of

0:54:25 > 0:54:29controlling the game, led by Smith at dummy half. He's set the tempo of

0:54:29 > 0:54:34the game. So, as much as they defended well at the start, England,

0:54:34 > 0:54:40this next ten minutes, it's vital they get back into that with an.The

0:54:40 > 0:54:49New South Wales captain, Cordner, it's not often he comes to this

0:54:49 > 0:54:52ground and finds himself cheered by the locals. Cameron Smith is more

0:54:52 > 0:55:05than used to that! 75% kicking accuracy. What have you two spotted?

0:55:05 > 0:55:10Just looking at the possession that Australia have had. That's hard

0:55:10 > 0:55:15against a quality team

0:55:15 > 0:55:15Australia have had. That's hard against a quality team, a couple of

0:55:15 > 0:55:22penalties to Australia as well. It just builds up. England need to get

0:55:22 > 0:55:28themselves back into their rhythm. Smith, Golden Boot win earlier this

0:55:28 > 0:55:34week, as the International Player Of The Year yet again.Look here,

0:55:34 > 0:55:41Smith, long ball again, and the structure... People are in position

0:55:41 > 0:55:47to offer themselves. They are very clinical, Australia, they're a

0:55:47 > 0:55:56well-oiled machine.Here comes Woods, who's not off-loading out of

0:55:56 > 0:56:07that one! A big hit from Sam. Aaron Woods just snags the shirt of Sam

0:56:07 > 0:56:11Burgess, and he gets a penalty. They're getting the cause,

0:56:11 > 0:56:15Australia, from the Australian referee.I've got to say, you can

0:56:15 > 0:56:20control the situation. It's a kick-off, you don't let them get out

0:56:20 > 0:56:24of your half. If you're involved with that, you've got to get out.

0:56:24 > 0:56:33Referee says release, so it's always going to go against you. It's this

0:56:33 > 0:56:37vital time we talk about, Brian, Australia love going back-to-back

0:56:37 > 0:56:42tries thickly.It's that element of discipline we spoke about as well.

0:56:42 > 0:56:50You've got to be squeaky-clean. You've got to smash Woods there and

0:56:50 > 0:56:59get off him. DAVE WOODS: Kronk has Billy Slater

0:56:59 > 0:57:05coming into the line. McLean, the comeback kid from that shoulder

0:57:05 > 0:57:12injury previews ago. David Klemmer, who's going face-to-face with his

0:57:12 > 0:57:19old Bulldogs team-mate James Graham. Billy Slater puts a little kick

0:57:19 > 0:57:25in... It's picked up by Ryan Hall, and England will be relieved, as

0:57:25 > 0:57:31they come away with ball in hand.

0:57:34 > 0:57:41Watkins, the centre, getting himself involved early here.He has to well

0:57:41 > 0:57:49for England this last couple of games, Kallum Watkins.Quick

0:57:49 > 0:57:52play-the-ball from the winger, that's good, because it gives the

0:57:52 > 0:58:01little pocket for Hill to run into. Here comes the last. Gale spins it

0:58:01 > 0:58:09high. Well taken by Gagai. BRIAN NOBLE: Great recovery set from

0:58:09 > 0:58:15England, they've got 100 metres there, pretty much.

0:58:15 > 0:58:21IAN MILLWARD: It's an outstanding set, and there's probably a moral in

0:58:21 > 0:58:26that story - get outside backs involved more.And England have made

0:58:26 > 0:58:31a mistake here.And this will be England! Is best starting position

0:58:31 > 0:58:35to a set so far. Listen to the English voices in the crowd.There

0:58:35 > 0:58:39are plenty of them, there must be, I don't know, how many thousands in

0:58:39 > 0:58:52here from England? TMO: Is there a knock-on? Stripped

0:58:52 > 0:59:00backwards...He ruled that it was a strip and he's making sure that he

0:59:00 > 0:59:04stripped the ball backwards and not forwards which is OK. They've been

0:59:04 > 0:59:08pretty good from scrums in this tournament and building up into some

0:59:08 > 0:59:17points, England.Watkins trying to squeeze his way through. England

0:59:17 > 0:59:26trailing but a chance now. Five metres away. Penalty for England.

0:59:26 > 0:59:32Repeat set for England. Or do they kick for goal?Keep playing here,

0:59:32 > 0:59:41keep playing. Field position... Getting very close! James Roby spins

0:59:41 > 0:59:52it left. Brown! Bateman! Crunched by those recovering Australian

0:59:52 > 0:59:56defenders. They took a gamble - it didn't work.It was too tight. I

0:59:56 > 1:00:03thought they were trying to create too much space in not enough space,

1:00:03 > 1:00:07if that makes sense. They just gave their ballplayers no chance, really.

1:00:07 > 1:00:11It gave the inside defenders a chance to push off while the ball

1:00:11 > 1:00:17was in the air also. You're right, it was a very narrow channel to work

1:00:17 > 1:00:22in and it gave Australia the chance to push off really early. When

1:00:22 > 1:00:25England get the ball, they look really comfortable, which is a

1:00:25 > 1:00:33really good sign. They're doing really well coming down the middle.

1:00:33 > 1:00:37I would like to see them get some opportunities down here. But

1:00:37 > 1:00:41Australia are the best in the world defence - you've got to be good to

1:00:41 > 1:00:51crack it.

1:00:51 > 1:00:58Australia looking to power their way out of this spell. They go forward

1:00:58 > 1:01:08with the two back -- big men having been replaced. Cameron Smith looks

1:01:08 > 1:01:17to his left. Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Smith with a

1:01:17 > 1:01:27little chip, and it was a kind bounce for McGillvary. The referee

1:01:27 > 1:01:32has shouted hold, so he can go forward a yard or two.There were a

1:01:32 > 1:01:39couple of penalty cases there, for me. I think he needs to look at what

1:01:39 > 1:01:45is going on here.I love your passion, Ryan!

1:01:45 > 1:01:54WHISTLE There, you see!You talked him into

1:01:54 > 1:01:59it! Gillett, the man simply hanging on

1:01:59 > 1:02:08to long there, the referee decides. So, 18 minutes of the first half

1:02:08 > 1:02:16remaining, 6-0, Australia lead. We have asked you to get up at five

1:02:16 > 1:02:19o'clock for the last two Saturdays, you will be feeling much more

1:02:19 > 1:02:23constable this week. McGillvary coming back on the inside, but he

1:02:23 > 1:02:28has lost the ball. At least he has managed to wrap up the tackle on

1:02:28 > 1:02:36Cameron Smith, and he plays it, and they fall on it. The referee says,

1:02:36 > 1:02:41penalty Australia.Spot-on, he had to catch and pass, McGillvary has

1:02:41 > 1:02:45been a powerhouse the whole tournament. He had to stop in this

1:02:45 > 1:02:49right-hand corner. Watkins has silky skills, if he just transfers the

1:02:49 > 1:02:58ball across his body, he has the penalty. He said he wasn't at the

1:02:58 > 1:03:04start there.He just needed to catch and pass, and McGillvary was aware.

1:03:04 > 1:03:09I love it when he is at the back, he makes the right decision, and his

1:03:09 > 1:03:21timing and composure with the ball in his hands is fantastic.Jordan

1:03:21 > 1:03:25McLean, Australia advancing towards the halfway line and beyond.

1:03:31 > 1:03:35Morgan back on the inside, Dugan comes looking for anything he might

1:03:35 > 1:03:44find. One-handed pick-up, now it is on by Josh McGuire. It is robust at

1:03:44 > 1:03:52the moment from both sides. Cronk on the six, high towards McGillvary.

1:03:52 > 1:03:58Cronk has gone down, McGillvary takes it clean. England will start

1:03:58 > 1:04:03from there. They are still having a little bit of ago, Cooper Cronk and

1:04:03 > 1:04:06Sam Burgess, and Cooper Cronk has just pushed Burgess in the back like

1:04:06 > 1:04:12you would see in infants' playground.It's like you see in the

1:04:12 > 1:04:18under 11 is, I will get my brother new!I thought it was Danny DeVito

1:04:18 > 1:04:28and Arnold Schwarzenegger then! England inside their own half, so

1:04:28 > 1:04:34Gale needs something big. It is allowed to bounce here, which gives

1:04:34 > 1:04:38England more of an advantage than it might have been. It is picked up by

1:04:38 > 1:04:42Valentine Holmes, and England's line is up there to make sure that

1:04:42 > 1:04:49Australia start only 15 from their own line.That was a lazy option by

1:04:49 > 1:04:58Holmes, a great result for England. Morgan needs to show that he has got

1:04:58 > 1:05:03petrol in the tank with that latest carry. And Cronk is flattened again,

1:05:03 > 1:05:07by Luke Gale this time, fairer and square, he can't push anyone in the

1:05:07 > 1:05:13back about that, there was nothing.

1:05:17 > 1:05:22Sixth tackle, Cooper Cronk slides it downfield.England are growing into

1:05:22 > 1:05:28this game. A little bit more execution at the other end of the

1:05:28 > 1:05:32field needed. It is all about opportunity.That is a sign of

1:05:32 > 1:05:35recognition of England's defence and how hard they hit that set of six,

1:05:35 > 1:05:39when Cronk wants to run the ball into touch, he sees the forward

1:05:39 > 1:05:42struggling coming out of their yardage and he decides he is going

1:05:42 > 1:05:47to kick it down to that. We need a break, because they are coming after

1:05:47 > 1:05:52us here at the moment. Denying them going for that second try, which for

1:05:52 > 1:05:56Australia is the killer punch, so doing well defensively, and you can

1:05:56 > 1:06:01talk about defence, but there is a willingness to hurt, they want to

1:06:01 > 1:06:08hit.And I think they are making metres up the middle. Is he the best

1:06:08 > 1:06:13front row on the field in the opening stint?

1:06:19 > 1:06:35They are not a bad pair of front row ofs, the two

1:06:38 > 1:06:42wingers.

1:06:43 > 1:06:51Walmsley comes galloping on-again, relatively fresh from the bench.

1:06:51 > 1:06:55This won't help Luke Gale, trying to pick his spot with a high kick

1:06:55 > 1:07:00downfield. Valentine Holmes is underneath it, catches it well

1:07:00 > 1:07:05enough, and Holmes looking to break it, but it is Roby who makes the

1:07:05 > 1:07:09tackle, and again, less than 20 from their own line. Quick pick-up by

1:07:09 > 1:07:12Billy Slater who ducks and darts, but there is more support from

1:07:12 > 1:07:26Walmsley. Gagai pushing hard, decent from the winger. This is McClain. No

1:07:26 > 1:07:35flowed from him. They have got some numbers here, but Dugan doesn't

1:07:35 > 1:07:42promote the ball any further than that. Loses a boot in the process,

1:07:42 > 1:07:48this is the last tackle, it is coming in a high, and Hall has taken

1:07:48 > 1:07:57it superbly well, with Chambers all over him.Great catch, Ryan Hall.

1:08:05 > 1:08:13Jordan McLean trying to get in Burgess's face. Brownback on the

1:08:13 > 1:08:16inside again for Whitehead.

1:08:21 > 1:08:25Widdop's quick hands, and Bateman, there might have been a couple of

1:08:25 > 1:08:39thoughts in his hands there, it was the latter that struck.

1:08:44 > 1:08:47Even the winger's footwork can't get him past the prop forward.There are

1:08:47 > 1:08:54a few Australians walking back here, this is beginning to take its toll

1:08:54 > 1:08:59on England. This is a time when concentration is massive. All the

1:08:59 > 1:09:04little principles of play have got to come into play, and they need to

1:09:04 > 1:09:12keep defending this first 30 minutes. Three gone already.

1:09:12 > 1:09:18Campbell-Gillard is crunched to the ground. Smith to Cronk, there was an

1:09:18 > 1:09:22inside runner, but Cronk took it on himself, and they find themselves on

1:09:22 > 1:09:29the last, it will be the boot of Morgan this time to put it high.

1:09:29 > 1:09:38McGillvary's put his name on it. Catching was the most important job.

1:09:38 > 1:09:48Watkins. Good carry.To Roby, it is a stifling heat out there, by the

1:09:48 > 1:09:53way. It is a really close night, temperatures up to about 30 degrees,

1:09:53 > 1:09:58but humidity very, very high here in Queensland. Chance of rain a little

1:09:58 > 1:10:05later. This is Roby. Now it is Widdop, and here comes Watkins, a

1:10:05 > 1:10:19little skip from him, takes the ball again, straight crash, bang, into

1:10:19 > 1:10:26Josh Dugan. Caught by Gagai, and Australia start 30 yards out this

1:10:26 > 1:10:36time.The wingers England are outstanding. They keep kicking to

1:10:36 > 1:10:39them, but Slater has been holding up the middle well. Do the reverse kick

1:10:39 > 1:10:46which they love to do with Cronk and Slater. Now he reverse kicks,

1:10:46 > 1:10:50England have to be on their guard, Cooper, Cronk and Slater are very

1:10:50 > 1:10:54good at that at this time of the game.Campbell Gillard, there is a

1:10:54 > 1:11:00real fatigue to the body language of Australia at the moment. This is

1:11:00 > 1:11:04Michael Morgan, it is the last play again for Australia, still 30 metres

1:11:04 > 1:11:09out, and Smith is across quickly. Along the ground this time, but

1:11:09 > 1:11:13Widdop again as a cross to take it. His positioning has been superb this

1:11:13 > 1:11:22tournament. He has been there for all the kicks, and he read that from

1:11:22 > 1:11:29Cameron Smith. This is Graham Buck on the field, blood still streaming

1:11:29 > 1:11:38from that left eye. He won't mind those scars of war. Frizell takes it

1:11:38 > 1:11:45on another stride or two. The flowed, it is between a couple of

1:11:45 > 1:11:49legs, Gale picks it up and they might make something here, Bateman

1:11:49 > 1:11:53with a step back on the inside, he flicks away to Ryan Hall, and Hall

1:11:53 > 1:11:57is now dancing towards the middle.

1:12:02 > 1:12:09I think he was just outside the 40 when he let that slide. It has put

1:12:09 > 1:12:14the right back on the back. He has got this on the string tonight, Luke

1:12:14 > 1:12:20Gale. All of his kicks have been chased, and I think he sensed a

1:12:20 > 1:12:23little fatigue on both sides of the fence, and he thought, we need the

1:12:23 > 1:12:30sideline here.Certainly the last two kicks, they have been under

1:12:30 > 1:12:36pressure, got the run on it, really smart. That is the question I had

1:12:36 > 1:12:41for this final, whether he could step up. He has really stood up here

1:12:41 > 1:12:45at the moment, seven and a half minutes on the clock, and they have

1:12:45 > 1:12:49weather this storm by Australia, but they have to come back with

1:12:49 > 1:12:52something before half-time, with some possession down this end of the

1:12:52 > 1:12:55part, because it is all down England's end of the park at the

1:12:55 > 1:13:00moment.These are incredibly conditioned athletes, incredibly fit

1:13:00 > 1:13:05human beings, so to be displaying the levels of fatigue that both

1:13:05 > 1:13:09sides are displaying tells you how tough this Test match has been for

1:13:09 > 1:13:12the opening 30 minutes.Roby will run a lot from dummy half, and that

1:13:12 > 1:13:15is when you know that Australia are starting to open up around the

1:13:15 > 1:13:21middle.They are winning the battle here, England at the moment. Three

1:13:21 > 1:13:30tackles gone, Australia restricted to 30 yards. Now McLean, it is

1:13:30 > 1:13:36patient Rugby you are watching here. There is an air of desperation, but

1:13:36 > 1:13:43it has not quite gone beyond the 20. Ryan Hall would have had his heart

1:13:43 > 1:13:52in his mouth, and he would have been so relieved.You look at both of

1:13:52 > 1:13:57these teams, whether it is Gale or Cronk, it is all strategic, whether

1:13:57 > 1:14:02they want to start this set, change the tempo of the game. He nearly had

1:14:02 > 1:14:09Gareth then, adidas Meli had Ryan Hall.He was about five yards away

1:14:09 > 1:14:16from making a big kick, a tap for Australia and England would have

1:14:16 > 1:14:20been on the ropes, and that is what he is good at.He wants to change

1:14:20 > 1:14:26that fight with that kick. So does this bloke.This is great from

1:14:26 > 1:14:30McGillvary, great Kerry again. Doesn't he beat the first person

1:14:30 > 1:14:49easily?Up to his feet, Graham back on the inside to Walmsley. Making

1:14:49 > 1:14:55decent progress here, Gale up to the line. Looking for the step back on

1:14:55 > 1:15:06the inside, Gillett makes the tackle. Clever Walmsley bulldozing

1:15:06 > 1:15:10forward and picking up position, 20 metres out, and a penalty for

1:15:10 > 1:15:15England for holding down. Big moment. They were onto the last

1:15:15 > 1:15:20play, they now have six more. Do they go for goal? They are taking

1:15:20 > 1:15:26the tap. They sense that Australia are just running out of juice here

1:15:26 > 1:15:33at the moment. Roby runs away left to Gale who puts the pass back,

1:15:33 > 1:15:37Bateman has to recover the position. He has lost the ball, what an

1:15:37 > 1:15:41opportunity lost for England again. Just a little rush of blood when

1:15:41 > 1:15:47they needed calmness, and they have handed Australia a lifeline.That is

1:15:47 > 1:15:50three that have come down this end of the park, and they have lost the

1:15:50 > 1:15:53ball in sets of six when they have been able to challenge that

1:15:53 > 1:16:02goal-line. They have been able to put the ball in the goal.We spoke

1:16:02 > 1:16:06about that at the top of the show, they were alluding to the fact that

1:16:06 > 1:16:10they create the positions, but what you can't do is throw away the

1:16:10 > 1:16:14chance. We haven't executed one yet. Very rare Australia would give away

1:16:14 > 1:16:20a penalty on the last tackle. You have to say, if we don't score, we

1:16:20 > 1:16:26will build the pressure.There is a fair bit of rain coming down at the

1:16:26 > 1:16:30moment.I don't think we could pick up the rain from this position

1:16:30 > 1:16:37before that, but we saw it on that shot of Bateman. Australia leading

1:16:37 > 1:16:416-0, three and a half minutes to go before half-time, and these are

1:16:41 > 1:16:45dangerous moments for England. Always.Just before the break,

1:16:45 > 1:16:50Australia can pick up the tempo. They have found the halfway line

1:16:50 > 1:16:55very nearly an tackle three. Here is McLean.

1:17:03 > 1:17:11Billy Slater looking at what is around. Seamus is around, but

1:17:11 > 1:17:19England have his number. The challenge is coming in, it was a

1:17:19 > 1:17:23knock-on by Josh Dugan, it is a zero tackle as England claim it, the

1:17:23 > 1:17:30referee will say no advantage, and hand over on the ten metre line.

1:17:30 > 1:17:35This is a close game, who can catch it, who can't catch it, McGillvary

1:17:35 > 1:17:40is up there, England clearing their lines, everything England are doing

1:17:40 > 1:17:43is fantastic, but they can't create the opportunity or keep hold of the

1:17:43 > 1:17:51ball for long periods.You have to treasure the border little bit more.

1:17:51 > 1:17:54You need to get some area at half-time. They won't listen to much

1:17:54 > 1:17:58at the moment because they are really emptying the tank, both

1:17:58 > 1:18:03teams, at the moment.Walmsley below the shoulder of Campbell Gillard. It

1:18:03 > 1:18:08is not the most expansive game of rugby by any stretch of the

1:18:08 > 1:18:16imagination, but look at what is at stake, that trophy. Neither side

1:18:16 > 1:18:26want to lose this. They are coming to the sixth. Gale again, shoots it

1:18:26 > 1:18:33high in the air. Slater coming his way, but they are a long way away,

1:18:33 > 1:18:40he can catch it safely. There are not many behind the ball.

1:18:46 > 1:18:49Gagai collect site of dummy half.

1:18:55 > 1:18:59Smith, the man who waits. Chambers pushing on towards the halfway line,

1:18:59 > 1:19:02no further.

1:19:05 > 1:19:10They are sweeping it along the line here to Morgan. Back on the inside

1:19:10 > 1:19:17again, and there is a gap there found by Cordner almost, and Cameron

1:19:17 > 1:19:21Smith is picking up and running it, and here is Chambers with the kick,

1:19:21 > 1:19:25it comes off an English leg, but then safely into the English arms of

1:19:25 > 1:19:33Ryan Hall.If you are an outside back for England, under a lot of

1:19:33 > 1:19:36pressure, but if you are a forward or another player, you are safe,

1:19:36 > 1:19:41because those back three are so safe.They are good.Soft hands by

1:19:41 > 1:19:46Graham, and an unintentional pass by Watkins, but Graham will take that,

1:19:46 > 1:19:52and then very, very late, the referee decided was a forward pass.

1:19:52 > 1:19:55Australia rushing to the scrum, because if they can pack it down,

1:19:55 > 1:20:02they can stop the clock. Widdop getting in the way of things.It is

1:20:02 > 1:20:08hard to see what happened there. Didn't it get propelled back through

1:20:08 > 1:20:15the force of the tackle?I think he has said he has lost control of the

1:20:15 > 1:20:20ball, and adjudicated the knock-on there.11 seconds of the first half

1:20:20 > 1:20:24remaining. Two plays maximum for Australia, leading 6-0. England

1:20:24 > 1:20:30desperate to hang that. There are going for a drop goal, it didn't

1:20:30 > 1:20:34come off, but it is picked up by Valentine Holmes, and he will take

1:20:34 > 1:20:40the tackle, and that will be the end of what has been an absolutely

1:20:40 > 1:20:44punishing and fascinating first half. It might have lacked flair at

1:20:44 > 1:20:48times, it might have lacked edge of the seat excitement, but as a Test

1:20:48 > 1:20:56match, that was it.It was, we just have to get England to execute a

1:20:56 > 1:20:58little bit better, but they are in the game and playing their socks

1:20:58 > 1:21:05off.Boyd Cordner is the only man to score a try so far in this game at

1:21:05 > 1:21:10the 14th minute, and he is down on the pitch now.

1:21:10 > 1:21:16Only two mistakes in the first 40 minutes, pretty clinical.We have to

1:21:16 > 1:21:20do that to be in with any chance of winning tonight, they are good teams

1:21:20 > 1:21:24we can't give good field position. And the pace of the game?It is what

1:21:24 > 1:21:29weeks but had of a final, so it should be a good second-half.Good

1:21:29 > 1:21:37luck. We also have Luke Gale, tell us about it.It is the battle of the

1:21:37 > 1:21:40field position, really, they put us under a bit of pressure, but it went

1:21:40 > 1:21:43down to the last ten minutes and field position, and pressure will

1:21:43 > 1:21:47win this game.Obviously the heat will play a part as well, it is

1:21:47 > 1:21:52pretty warm.It is, but it is the same for both sides. The team who

1:21:52 > 1:21:59holds position best will probably come out on top.Good luck falls

1:21:59 > 1:21:59holds position best will probably come out on top.Good luck falls.

1:21:59 > 1:22:05Cheers. STUDIO: Here are the statistics of

1:22:05 > 1:22:09that first half. Australia completing 22 of their 23, England

1:22:09 > 1:22:16completing 15 of 20. A few more errors made by England, and the

1:22:16 > 1:22:21penalties very balanced as well. It is fascinating, isn't it? As Dave

1:22:21 > 1:22:25Woods said, maybe not the creativity, but low scoring games

1:22:25 > 1:22:30can have you on the edge of your seat.I think England will be happy

1:22:30 > 1:22:35with 6-0 down at half-time, given the field position that Luke Gale

1:22:35 > 1:22:39touched on there. He has had to kick out of his own 40 a lot in that

1:22:39 > 1:22:44half, and Australia have plenty of ball on their try line, so if they

1:22:44 > 1:22:51have only broken down once, we are happy with that.Justin?I would

1:22:51 > 1:22:54agree. England have to be more patient with the ball. Luke Gale is

1:22:54 > 1:22:59kicking tremendously well, England had to improve their kicking game

1:22:59 > 1:23:03they have done that. I would love them to kick it down the other end

1:23:03 > 1:23:06of the field, we know they have panicked early tackles, but if they

1:23:06 > 1:23:10are going to break Australia's defence, it might be a little chip

1:23:10 > 1:23:15or something has got to come up to get a try out of this game. But it

1:23:15 > 1:23:18is a thrilling first half. I thought it would be low scoring, hopefully

1:23:18 > 1:23:23it will open up a bit more now that both teams are tired.Robbie?I

1:23:23 > 1:23:26think England are underperforming, and I think the statistics show

1:23:26 > 1:23:33that. They are probably about 20% off what Australia are performing at

1:23:33 > 1:23:36this point in time. England is matching them. Hopefully we will see

1:23:36 > 1:23:39in the second 40 minutes what we saw in the opening game of the

1:23:39 > 1:23:44tournament where England came out and they dominated, changed

1:23:44 > 1:23:49statistics around, and maybe being a little bit more patient, and they

1:23:49 > 1:23:52will get the opportunities.I suppose England's weakest moments

1:23:52 > 1:23:57came when Australia scored the try, 20 minutes of that first half. That

1:23:57 > 1:24:02in many ways invited the pressure onto themselves, penalty, repeat,

1:24:02 > 1:24:08penalty, repeat.Yes, two penalties, two repeats, the error from Kallum

1:24:08 > 1:24:12Watkins and then this catch from Ryan Hall, he does great to catch

1:24:12 > 1:24:15it, but given that much ball in possession in the England half, it

1:24:15 > 1:24:19is inevitable that at some point they are going to get somewhere

1:24:19 > 1:24:23close. They are obviously targeting Kevin Brown and Luke Gale on the

1:24:23 > 1:24:27other side, and they have been the two spots on the England side, and

1:24:27 > 1:24:33they have got what they have worked for there. With four sets, you would

1:24:33 > 1:24:39think that you have to do something remarkable to stop them scoring.On

1:24:39 > 1:24:43that first repeat, he should have caught the ball, he was in the field

1:24:43 > 1:24:49of play, and it just gave Australia that chance to really get the host.

1:24:49 > 1:24:57It was almost a carbon copy of the first test, the opening 20 minutes

1:24:57 > 1:25:00were all Australia, but England were able to turn the screw and get back

1:25:00 > 1:25:05into the game.But as Justin said, an Kallum Watkins, to break yourself

1:25:05 > 1:25:09out of that momentum, you need to do something for yourselves, don't you?

1:25:09 > 1:25:13Yes, and momentum is a massive thing in a game as tight as this. You have

1:25:13 > 1:25:20probably seen Kallum catch that bought 99 times out of a hundred, it

1:25:20 > 1:25:24is characteristic of him, so skilful, and that put us under a bit

1:25:24 > 1:25:29of pressure, and then at the other end of the field, we have had a few

1:25:29 > 1:25:34opportunities where the skill has not quite been there, and we have

1:25:34 > 1:25:39released the pressure valve of the Aussies. Before the game, we needed

1:25:39 > 1:25:44a nine out of ten performance to win it, but in the second half, we need

1:25:44 > 1:25:48ten out of ten. That was a bad option by Kevin Brown, they have us

1:25:48 > 1:25:52covered man for man, forcing the past. When we get down the other

1:25:52 > 1:25:54end, you don't get this opportunity many times against the Aussies,

1:25:54 > 1:25:58stripped them for numbers, you have the best win of the competition, and

1:25:58 > 1:26:04if Kallum can just execute that pass quicker, he would be one-on-one with

1:26:04 > 1:26:13Billy Slater, and I would rate him from there.That was a gimme, and

1:26:13 > 1:26:16this was another tell-tale sign of being not quite at the races with

1:26:16 > 1:26:20regards to having the patience to build pressure. Australia did it in

1:26:20 > 1:26:24the opening 15 minutes, they built pressure and made England defend for

1:26:24 > 1:26:2724 tackles, and we need to do the same thing to Australia, and the

1:26:27 > 1:26:33level of talent within the team to score tries.

1:26:37 > 1:26:41If England are down 20-0, and they produce something big, but they need

1:26:41 > 1:26:47to be patient, Australia know they have only conceded three tries this

1:26:47 > 1:26:52World Cup, but Josh Dugan is the one who gets caught out, he was caught

1:26:52 > 1:26:57out last week against Fiji and he was caught out there, so England

1:26:57 > 1:27:00tackle really well, they are right on Australia's left, so they have to

1:27:00 > 1:27:05keep going down there and being patient to do it.Can you coach

1:27:05 > 1:27:09patient is?You can talk about it. So if you are in the dressing room

1:27:09 > 1:27:12now at half-time, would that be your main thing to reiterate as an

1:27:12 > 1:27:21England player?Absolutely, and we all know how calm way nears! -- how

1:27:21 > 1:27:30calm Wayne Bennett is! They will be saying, give me a chance, I want to

1:27:30 > 1:27:34get out here, we are putting ourselves under pressure.For me, it

1:27:34 > 1:27:44comes down to the halves, Luke Gale and Kevin Brown. What they need to

1:27:44 > 1:27:50do is build some assertive pressure. Some of the rushed decisions come

1:27:50 > 1:27:53from the fact that we don't want to go set the set for 80 minutes with

1:27:53 > 1:27:57the Aussies, they will beat as at it, that is what they do every week

1:27:57 > 1:28:01in the NRL, teams like the Brisbane Broncos who are competing in the

1:28:01 > 1:28:06high 80s, and it is boring sometimes. We can't go set the set,

1:28:06 > 1:28:13but we also can't rush hour opportunities. We got to be

1:28:13 > 1:28:18clinical.So is it trying to hard? It is probably to do with the halves

1:28:18 > 1:28:21not getting a great amount of the ball in the opposition half, and

1:28:21 > 1:28:24when they are down there, thinking, let's try something, but you can't

1:28:24 > 1:28:28make it up. The one that went to the floor from Luke Gale, he was making

1:28:28 > 1:28:32up a pass, that was frustration of only being down there a few times,

1:28:32 > 1:28:36needing to make something happen. The World Cup final got off to eight

1:28:36 > 1:28:39bruising start the James Graham, although as Sam said, it is only a

1:28:39 > 1:28:48bit of blood, get on with it! There were four or five around him, but it

1:28:48 > 1:28:54is Aaron Woods who has replaced James Graham at Canterbury Bulldogs

1:28:54 > 1:29:00who put his hand around to it, you can see it from this angle. He hit

1:29:00 > 1:29:03his head there, and this is where the cut comes from. I think Woods

1:29:03 > 1:29:10has 23 goes at the left side of his face.The front row, it is

1:29:10 > 1:29:13prerogative to give each other a slap, but that is a tell-tale sign

1:29:13 > 1:29:19of how physical this game has been. 40 minutes of them giving it to one

1:29:19 > 1:29:22another, and it is great that you see that happening in the opening

1:29:22 > 1:29:27tackle of the game. Five on one tackle, James Graham doesn't get

1:29:27 > 1:29:32bested. Both him and Gillett come off second best, but they also

1:29:32 > 1:29:35setting the tone of the game, and the rest of the front row has all

1:29:35 > 1:29:38come in, and they are saying, wake-up.But the words Graham thing

1:29:38 > 1:29:43has been a good subplot in the build-up to this game.They are both

1:29:43 > 1:29:47confrontational and want to get to each other, and when I said it was

1:29:47 > 1:29:51only a bit of blood, just to be clear, I would have gone off with

1:29:51 > 1:29:53it! LAUGHTER

1:29:53 > 1:29:59I would have had the works, helicopter, everything! Vermijl

1:29:59 > 1:30:02would have been a major injury.The physicality has been brilliant, and

1:30:02 > 1:30:08Sam Burgess has given as good as he has got.Definitely and we saw that

1:30:08 > 1:30:15last week against Tonga, they are not lacking physicality, and the

1:30:15 > 1:30:21only thing he did poorly was the one-off kick-off, that huge hit on

1:30:21 > 1:30:32Woods, and then overstepping the mark with the play-the-ball.

1:30:32 > 1:30:37The Aussies have got some big enforcers. Sam gets up and whacked

1:30:37 > 1:30:44him - that sends a message that we're matching them in physicality.

1:30:44 > 1:30:54The Australians, they're thinking, oh, no, Sam is in that mood!At how

1:30:54 > 1:31:01much, as well, will this be a little bit of a shock to the Aussies? I

1:31:01 > 1:31:05mean listen, they're used to big hits in the NRL but they've had a

1:31:05 > 1:31:09fairly comfortable tournament, haven't they? This is as bruising as

1:31:09 > 1:31:13it has got for them?It definitely is, but one thing they've done well

1:31:13 > 1:31:17in this tournament is, they've been patient, bordering on it being

1:31:17 > 1:31:24boring. 6-0 up after 27 minutes against some teams. They're familiar

1:31:24 > 1:31:30with just being up by a little bit and then no-one panics, whereas

1:31:30 > 1:31:38England need that, let's give our last play a chance. England are

1:31:38 > 1:31:42lacking that, whereas Australia are like, you boys do your, who is asked

1:31:42 > 1:31:47three will control it.Yeah, it's almost robotic, and that's what's

1:31:47 > 1:31:52worrying from England's point of view, they're not going to change.

1:31:52 > 1:31:56England almost need to embrace that Englishness, that Super League style

1:31:56 > 1:32:00of rugby league, and when they got the opportunity, like we saw in the

1:32:00 > 1:32:05first half, two on one situation, we've got to nail it.Plenty more

1:32:05 > 1:32:10international rugby league on the way. Because it has been announced

1:32:10 > 1:32:15that England will... Mind you, you have to be very up on your planning

1:32:15 > 1:32:20here is in this is a year off! But it will come round soon enough!

1:32:20 > 1:32:25England taking on New Zealand in a three match Test series next winter.

1:32:25 > 1:32:33We will show all three of them live on the BBC. They'll be taking place

1:32:33 > 1:32:40at Hull, at Anfield and at Elland Road. We will also continue our

1:32:40 > 1:32:42award-winning live coverage of the Challenge Cup from the first round

1:32:42 > 1:32:51onwards next season. Check the rugby league pages on the BBC website for

1:32:51 > 1:32:53more details of that. And plenty more sport coming your way this

1:32:53 > 1:33:03afternoon. We've got the Uk Snooker Championships from York. You're just

1:33:03 > 1:33:06have time to watch one frame of that, I would have thought, before

1:33:06 > 1:33:13Wales against South Africa gets under way in rugby union! And if

1:33:13 > 1:33:17you've missed any of the game so far, we're going to show highlights

1:33:17 > 1:33:29at six o'clock on BBC Two. And we have some sad news to report this

1:33:29 > 1:33:38week, from rugby league, the news of the death of Leeds' all-time record

1:33:38 > 1:33:47try scorer, Mick Martyn, and our thoughts are with his family. Thank

1:33:47 > 1:33:56you very much for all the tweets that you are sending us. Stacy

1:33:56 > 1:33:59says... Luke Gale finally showing his quality tonight. His kicking

1:33:59 > 1:34:05game has been excellent, and it has, Sam, hasn't it?Yes. That's why he's

1:34:05 > 1:34:09in the England side, because is the best kicker in Super League. I think

1:34:09 > 1:34:15tonight he's been outstanding. He's had some kicks off some tough field

1:34:15 > 1:34:19positions, in his own 40 on the back foot - and he's nailed them. This

1:34:19 > 1:34:27one he's kicked it a lot longer than the Aussies expected.Yeah, he's hit

1:34:27 > 1:34:29ground quite a few times. I think probably the viewing audience

1:34:29 > 1:34:33doesn't quite appreciate what short of skill that is against Billy

1:34:33 > 1:34:39Slater. Billy Slater is MASTER in the world of rugby in positioning

1:34:39 > 1:34:42his wingers and himself to make sure that he catches the ball

1:34:42 > 1:34:47consistently on the full. What that means to your team is about 20 five

1:34:47 > 1:34:52and 30 metres back up the field. That's massive.And as I said

1:34:52 > 1:34:57earlier, I think now he's really confident with his kicking, so he'll

1:34:57 > 1:35:01be like, give me a chance down the other end. They've got to come up

1:35:01 > 1:35:05with a little last play trick shot down the other end, which he's more

1:35:05 > 1:35:10than capable of doing, to come up with a try.How much will fatigue

1:35:10 > 1:35:16come into it in the second half? That will have taken a lot out of

1:35:16 > 1:35:20England, you don't want the mental fatigue to lead to mistakes?It will

1:35:20 > 1:35:23take a lot out of both sides just the Aussies are under no illusion -

1:35:23 > 1:35:27this is going to be a battle, and that's exactly what they've got, so

1:35:27 > 1:35:32I think fatigue will be the same for both sides.Definitely. Hopefully

1:35:32 > 1:35:35England will be able to perform as they did in the opening game of the

1:35:35 > 1:35:40tournament, where they came out and dominated. If they dominate

1:35:40 > 1:35:43physically, then they will be able to control the fatigue factor. And

1:35:43 > 1:35:50hopefully have a little bit more in the tank.40 minutes away, we are,

1:35:50 > 1:35:57from knowing who will win the Rugby League World Cup of 2017. Back to

1:35:57 > 1:36:00Ian Millward, Brian Noble and Dave Woods.

1:36:00 > 1:36:10DAVE WOODS: 1954 they first played for this trophy. Great Britain 16-12

1:36:10 > 1:36:13France all those years ago. It is the only final that Australia

1:36:13 > 1:36:22haven't figured in, and in the 14 finals that we have had since, they

1:36:22 > 1:36:25have only failed to win on four occasions. And they're leading at

1:36:25 > 1:36:29the moment at half-time. Can England build on that first half

1:36:29 > 1:36:32performance? Is there an explosion of Australian points to come here?

1:36:32 > 1:36:39So many questions - and here comes the answer is, with 40 minutes to

1:36:39 > 1:36:44play, Australia get first touch of the ball in this second-half! And

1:36:44 > 1:36:49they get the first feeling of an Alex Walmsley shoulder as well! What

1:36:49 > 1:36:56do you reckon for this second-half, Brian Noble?I think England are to

1:36:56 > 1:36:59be a bit more patient in the attacking zone and they've got to be

1:36:59 > 1:37:06more patient. They've got to get them to the point where... In that

1:37:06 > 1:37:10first half the Aussies, they weren't struggling but they looked under

1:37:10 > 1:37:16pressure towards the back end of that first half.Tyson Frizell has

1:37:16 > 1:37:25taken Australia inside the England half. Hoisted high by Cronk. And

1:37:25 > 1:37:30Widdop has put it down! There is no hiding place for Gareth Widdop right

1:37:30 > 1:37:34at the start of this second-half! Barely a flicker of emotion from the

1:37:34 > 1:37:38England coach, but he knows, we all know, this is a big mistake for

1:37:38 > 1:37:41England to make. IAN MILLWARD: It's the easiest catch

1:37:41 > 1:37:46he's had in the whole tournament. How has it happened? Its

1:37:46 > 1:37:49concentration, it is a lot of factors, but is the most skilful

1:37:49 > 1:37:54player in our game of rugby league. It's like Lionel Messi missing goal

1:37:54 > 1:38:02wide-open - it does happen.It's what you do next that counts. 100%.

1:38:02 > 1:38:06I think both coaches would be happy at the moment, because they're both

1:38:06 > 1:38:10in the battle. This will test England's line defence - which has

1:38:10 > 1:38:13been outstanding in this tournament. So, here comes the first wave of

1:38:13 > 1:38:17green and gold in this second-half. Kevin Brown puts his body where it

1:38:17 > 1:38:21hurts and makes the tackle on Slater. But here they come again.

1:38:21 > 1:38:26Reading Campbell-Gillard... Smith from dummy half, looking left...

1:38:26 > 1:38:28Australia trying to dig a path through these England defenders.

1:38:28 > 1:38:33Graham comes crashing over the top, adding his wait to that defensive

1:38:33 > 1:38:37situation. Not the best of passes from Smith, slows things down a

1:38:37 > 1:38:47little bit. Taken on by sky. England holding on. Early tackles in this

1:38:47 > 1:38:52second-half, another big crash, bang, wallop effort again. But

1:38:52 > 1:38:56England's defenders are used to that. The little chip over the

1:38:56 > 1:39:04top... And Widdop, this time, that catch was about 58 times more

1:39:04 > 1:39:10difficult than the first, but...! That's what you do next! You make up

1:39:10 > 1:39:16for the earlier one!Yeah, better players don't dwell on mistakes,

1:39:16 > 1:39:19they move on straightaway and come up with good actions! And that's a

1:39:19 > 1:39:25great action!So, they're back to where they might have been had

1:39:25 > 1:39:31Widdop not dropped the ball initially. Bateman down the middle.

1:39:31 > 1:39:34He likes to be there, loves the physical confrontation. James Roby

1:39:34 > 1:39:41again. The kick from Gale is charged down. No, it's still the sixth

1:39:41 > 1:39:48tackle.He charged that down.Yeah, here advanced towards the ball! That

1:39:48 > 1:39:54is actually allowed out of play by Gagai. Is there a chance of the

1:39:54 > 1:39:56referee changing his mind here? I think the England players will get

1:39:56 > 1:40:07in his gear.Here's the catch from Widdop! What a catch!Gareth looked

1:40:07 > 1:40:10up at the referee, he knew it was the last tackle and he deliberately

1:40:10 > 1:40:19kicked it towards the sideline. Very smart. Kick it into touch.

1:40:19 > 1:40:23Composure, et seq, go again.Yeah, great call. I think Slater might

1:40:23 > 1:40:28have had a crack at that if he had have seen the open field. I think he

1:40:28 > 1:40:36was eager for a run there.It is more like chess than drafts, this

1:40:36 > 1:40:43game, isn't it?It is, Dave. Plotting two moves ahead. Australia

1:40:43 > 1:40:46with a slight advantage at the moment, but it is only slight. This

1:40:46 > 1:40:53is Slater. Watkins doesn't quite do there, but slowed things down just a

1:40:53 > 1:40:59little on Gagai. Slater stands and waits at dummy half again. Dugan has

1:40:59 > 1:41:10kept hold of it. Inside the English half. Smith again. Shuffled forward

1:41:10 > 1:41:20by McLean. Held, says the referee. Cronk with a step back on the

1:41:20 > 1:41:27inside! Almost loses his shorts, and does lose his feet! Two tackles away

1:41:27 > 1:41:34her, Australia. Slater again... Dugan... Great catch! From Jermaine

1:41:34 > 1:41:37McGillvary! Off he goes to watch the halfway line! Dancing inside! They

1:41:37 > 1:41:45swarm around him! But it was a heroic play by someone who's been an

1:41:45 > 1:41:49English hero in this World Cup! And from the brink of despair, England

1:41:49 > 1:41:55are launching themselves back at the Kangaroos again here.It wasn't

1:41:55 > 1:41:58despair, he actually read the play really, really well, and England did

1:41:58 > 1:42:03as well. Cronk had made the initial break, and then we find ourselves at

1:42:03 > 1:42:07the other end of the field. Credit England, McGillvary has picked one

1:42:07 > 1:42:13out of the sky is there!Tom Burgess to push on again. Still a couple of

1:42:13 > 1:42:24tackles to go. Bateman brings it on. Can't get the pass away. They're on

1:42:24 > 1:42:32the last...Why is that not a penalty?Gale kicks it, and Dugan

1:42:32 > 1:42:38has cleverly just put a foot in the in goal area. That is a seven tackle

1:42:38 > 1:42:43play, and Dugan is on his way again. He's still going... Great play from

1:42:43 > 1:42:47Josh Dugan in that last 30 seconds or so.That needed to be a better

1:42:47 > 1:42:53kick to apply the pressure. It looked a good set of six, but they

1:42:53 > 1:42:58needed to put some closure at the back end of the kicking down.Matt

1:42:58 > 1:43:09Gillett... He's ripped all the way through, heading towards the line!

1:43:09 > 1:43:16Big tackle. Inside it goes to McLean. Comes back from whence he

1:43:16 > 1:43:21came... Morgan has got a bit of space! This time he has the

1:43:21 > 1:43:28footwork! Michael Morgan is in for Australia's second! But the referee

1:43:28 > 1:43:34is going to ask for a second opinion here. He says try on the field.

1:43:34 > 1:43:40REFEREE: You need to walk away now. That was firm!Need to make sure

1:43:40 > 1:43:47that he was not disadvantaged by a player in front of the ball.

1:43:47 > 1:43:50TMO: Was looking for obstruction, making sure that there is no man in

1:43:50 > 1:44:05paid it. So, we have a try on field. So, we've got nobody ahead of the

1:44:05 > 1:44:16ball. Right, that's the view that we have to make - can we go back to

1:44:16 > 1:44:27that, please? If you would... So, it's on Smith. He runs behind Smith.

1:44:27 > 1:44:36I don't need to see any more. I've got my decision.

1:44:36 > 1:44:40MARC WOODS: Here we go. The Aussie crowd are not going to like this. No

1:44:40 > 1:44:45try. Obstruction. He ran behind Cameron Smith, it was as clear as

1:44:45 > 1:44:51day.Yeah, correct decision. The player has to get past the defensive

1:44:51 > 1:44:56line. He stayed in the defensive line. Even though he knew that he

1:44:56 > 1:45:00may not have got there, he used Smith to say, I'm not going to,

1:45:00 > 1:45:03because your between me and the defensive line. So, correct

1:45:03 > 1:45:12decision. Since we restarted, we've seen three clean breaks, Brian. So,

1:45:12 > 1:45:17we're starting to say the attritional war in the first half

1:45:17 > 1:45:20now developing into some breaks. It's just gone end-to-end all of a

1:45:20 > 1:45:28sudden.Oh! Boyd Cordner on Elliott Whitehead! And somebody needs to

1:45:28 > 1:45:35tell Elliott what day of the week it is I think! There's no disguising

1:45:35 > 1:45:49the discomfort here. Oh, there's a clash of heads as well.He's a tough

1:45:49 > 1:45:57Bradford kid, he'll get up.How did he keep hold of the ball?! He's OK.

1:45:57 > 1:46:02He plays on. And England play on. James Roby out of dummy half, Graham

1:46:02 > 1:46:07takes it on. Eight minutes already played in this second-half. Just

1:46:07 > 1:46:13that one score in it. Back comes Walmsley... The ball goes free! It's

1:46:13 > 1:46:19another big Aussie hit... Danger here are several England had it

1:46:19 > 1:46:25covered. Well done, Luke Gale.

1:46:34 > 1:46:39Matt Gillett, Wayne Bennett his coach, of course, here at Brisbane.

1:46:39 > 1:46:43Australia coming back on the inside. The English defence doing a job at

1:46:43 > 1:46:49the moment. Striding forward goes Jordan McLean. Aaron Woods is still

1:46:49 > 1:46:54down there on the touchline. I'm sure we will see him before long.

1:46:54 > 1:47:06Now, it comes left to Morgan. Roby and Graham working in unison. Dugan

1:47:06 > 1:47:11brings it back towards the middle again. Tom Burgess on tackle five.

1:47:11 > 1:47:16Cameron Smith down the blindside, there's the reverse kick. Gareth

1:47:16 > 1:47:22will have been used to playing alongside that Melbourne

1:47:22 > 1:47:25triumvirate, he knew that was coming, and he had it covered

1:47:25 > 1:47:30easily.Yeah, his positioning has been great tonight, Gareth. This

1:47:30 > 1:47:37game is breaking up, Ian. IAN MILLWARD: Yeah, spot on, Brian.

1:47:37 > 1:47:43You've got to control possession, which will build into pressure and

1:47:43 > 1:47:50build into points, I believe. England have reached the final play

1:47:50 > 1:48:04again. Whitehead had his shirt pulled. Trouble for Dugan, who does

1:48:04 > 1:48:12manage to drop on it.Signs of fatigue, when you don't get the pass

1:48:12 > 1:48:19to your kicker. Now, a penalty. One thing Wayne Bennett hates is

1:48:19 > 1:48:25penalties, and that's Sam's second of the game. When Australia got that

1:48:25 > 1:48:32seven tackle public took a lot out of England, defending that set of

1:48:32 > 1:48:37six and then the seven tackles. It took a bit out of them.It looks

1:48:37 > 1:48:41like it's going to be and individual that makes this game up. Both teams

1:48:41 > 1:48:50to be fair are losing a little bit of their structure.We've just seen

1:48:50 > 1:48:54Chris Hill coming onto the field

1:48:54 > 1:48:55of their structure.We've just seen Chris Hill coming onto the field, by

1:48:55 > 1:49:02the way. Cameron Smith, 30 metres out. Reagan Campbell-Gillard. 22

1:49:02 > 1:49:14metres out. Morgan froze the dummy. -- throws the dummy. Australia

1:49:14 > 1:49:24running out of tackles. Two to go. So, the final play in this set,

1:49:24 > 1:49:30swung back to Cameron Smith. Cooper Cronk's kick is measured towards the

1:49:30 > 1:49:34wing... It is taken well enough in the end several Ryan Hall was always

1:49:34 > 1:49:41going to be forced back into the in-goal again. England will have to

1:49:41 > 1:49:44drop out from underneath the sticks, and Australia will be hitting them

1:49:44 > 1:49:47again with another wave of pressure very soon.

1:49:47 > 1:49:51BRIAN NOBLE: We don't quite manufacture the kick which creates

1:49:51 > 1:49:55the pressure, and Australia are quite happy to do that.

1:49:55 > 1:49:58IAN MILLWARD: You learn from great players, and that's what a great

1:49:58 > 1:50:02player does, he knows how to create Russia in the key moments of the

1:50:02 > 1:50:07game. Spot on, Brian, they're the little differences. -- to create

1:50:07 > 1:50:11pressure.And the skill levels in reducing a perfect kick under the

1:50:11 > 1:50:18pressure that Cronk was under?As coaches we use the terminology, he

1:50:18 > 1:50:27can put it on a sixpence checker he can.Here's the return.

1:50:32 > 1:50:40The collisions are brutal.They have been likened to 40mph car crashes.

1:50:40 > 1:50:45Morgan almost got through... And he's played that ball out of the

1:50:45 > 1:50:52tackle! There is a bit of a brain explosion from Michael Morgan!Well,

1:50:52 > 1:50:55England need to take this, because they've been let off the hook there,

1:50:55 > 1:51:00so they've got to get down the other end of the field and try and stay

1:51:00 > 1:51:03there, because they won't keep getting so many opportunities. It's

1:51:03 > 1:51:08breaking open, this game, and one on ones are being missed on both sides

1:51:08 > 1:51:20because of this -- because of fatigue.They're making untold

1:51:20 > 1:51:31metres but also threatening the score.That was Whitehead again.

1:51:31 > 1:51:36Another big effort in defence from the she is and Campbell.. Now, Sam

1:51:36 > 1:51:50Burgess. -- from Cordner and Campbell-Gillard.

1:51:59 > 1:52:13They're getting closer. Here's Heighington. Tries to twist the body

1:52:13 > 1:52:18but can't get in a comfortable position to off-load. Gale runs it

1:52:18 > 1:52:24in...! Bateman with a quick pass away! Here's Widdop again! It comes

1:52:24 > 1:52:28off an Australian player! Where is this going?! Off-side is the call in

1:52:28 > 1:52:32the end - England get the penalty. Australia was in total confusion for

1:52:32 > 1:52:39the moment.Extremely unlucky not to score a try. And the skill level

1:52:39 > 1:52:48there, it was smart from Widdop, he said, let's get it in-goal, and then

1:52:48 > 1:52:51when it ricocheted, it could have gone to anyone.Great chance for

1:52:51 > 1:52:59England. Driven in by Hill. England, England, is the chant around the

1:52:59 > 1:53:06Suncorp Stadium, as they call it these days. Dragged to the ground.

1:53:06 > 1:53:14Here's James Roby. Burgess... Dummies to Heighington, puts in the

1:53:14 > 1:53:17shoulder. Looks around desperately for support. Almost gets there

1:53:17 > 1:53:29himself. Roby weights again. Now, Watkins. Extra gates himself from

1:53:29 > 1:53:39one tackle. Two more in green and gold wrap themselves around him.

1:53:39 > 1:53:42Gale with the kick through, but it was covered well enough, and

1:53:42 > 1:53:48Australia have it back. Oh, they've lost the ball there. What is the

1:53:48 > 1:53:52referee going to do? Penalty for offside.Brian, I feel when they get

1:53:52 > 1:53:55down this end of the park, they're going to have to come to their

1:53:55 > 1:54:01right-hand side. When it gets to Bateman, I feel like he lacks that

1:54:01 > 1:54:05ability to set up his winger. I think it this right-hand side,

1:54:05 > 1:54:10against Dugan and Morgan, more so than the other side, especially

1:54:10 > 1:54:15Watkins, who looks threatening. Absolutely right, they've been

1:54:15 > 1:54:24looking threatening down this side hole tournament.England get an

1:54:24 > 1:54:32extra nanosecond to try to get some air back in their lungs.

1:54:40 > 1:54:46Klemmer is back out there. The starting props in unison again for

1:54:46 > 1:54:52Australia. Smith, 35 metres out. Cooper Cronk up to the line, and

1:54:52 > 1:54:55inviting board, you know. To try and find an angle, but England had it

1:54:55 > 1:55:06covered again. And the sixth tackle play ends, and England get it back

1:55:06 > 1:55:09again.Have a look who was in that tackle - Chris Hill. He saw the

1:55:09 > 1:55:14threat and he said, I've got to help my team-mates. He is turning in one

1:55:14 > 1:55:19of his best performances for England tonight.Yeah, user saved his best

1:55:19 > 1:55:25for tonight, you're absolutely right there, Ian.

1:55:29 > 1:55:31Sam Burgess looking to put in one of those blockbusting runs down the

1:55:31 > 1:55:44middle. McGillvary... Heighington will fling him self at that

1:55:44 > 1:55:50Australian line.Major change in the game at the moment, Brown has come

1:55:50 > 1:55:54off, he's got Widdop up to number six, Wayne Bennett is trying to

1:55:54 > 1:56:00inject some attacking intent into the side at the moment.That could

1:56:00 > 1:56:04have been a great kick but in the end it was average because Australia

1:56:04 > 1:56:09have the restart on 20.Dave, that's the difference between the teams at

1:56:09 > 1:56:12the moment, the quality of the finish at that end of the field.

1:56:12 > 1:56:18Spot on. Seven tackles takes a lot out of you, and you know you're

1:56:18 > 1:56:23defending down in your half at the back end of the set.And that

1:56:23 > 1:56:29change, is it a response, you feel, to Brown's defence of involvement or

1:56:29 > 1:56:34does it give England an extra edge in attack but we both. He needs some

1:56:34 > 1:56:45fresh legs, something different to break up Australia.

1:56:49 > 1:56:58Smith again. Comes left. McGuire trying to steal an extra yard or

1:56:58 > 1:57:05two. Where is that going... Luckily for England, it is out on the

1:57:05 > 1:57:12bounce. It'll be a tap back on the 20, and Lomax with his fresh pair of

1:57:12 > 1:57:18legs is to your to get on with it. Well done, Jonny Lomax, quick 12

1:57:18 > 1:57:28metres.

1:57:30 > 1:57:41Ryan Hall, just inside Australian territory. Roby again, inside.

1:57:41 > 1:57:46Heighington gathers it safely around his midriff, and then challenges the

1:57:46 > 1:57:59Australians again. Two tackles to go in this set. Gale has to come right.

1:57:59 > 1:58:06They're on the last. It's a little dummy by Roby. He's dropped it,

1:58:06 > 1:58:15Lomax kicks it on... Lomax will be denied any form of glory. Handover,

1:58:15 > 1:58:21says the battery.You don't want that going dead and being seven

1:58:21 > 1:58:25tackles. It's only going to be six, because it's a handover from the

1:58:25 > 1:58:33knock-on.He knew it was last tackle.I would like to see England

1:58:33 > 1:58:37get some back-to-back sets and Roby coming into the game and running

1:58:37 > 1:58:44from dummy half. This has been one final!It has been epic in terms of

1:58:44 > 1:58:51the physical nature of what's gone into this. Knock-on by Gagai! By

1:58:51 > 1:58:57Holmes, rather, Valentine Holmes, as he took it in. Another great

1:58:57 > 1:59:00position for England to start from here.And sense something might

1:59:00 > 1:59:07happen. They've been looking dangerous. An uncharacteristic error

1:59:07 > 1:59:13from Valentine Holmes.The viewers have got to understand, our game is

1:59:13 > 1:59:16based on scoring tries, but tonight we're seeing defence and putting

1:59:16 > 1:59:21your body the line, has been the most dominant factor here tonight so

1:59:21 > 1:59:32far.Come on, England, just echoes around this stadium again. 5000

1:59:32 > 1:59:44Jewish -- 5000 English fans, and they would love to see history made

1:59:44 > 1:59:51here tonight. Out it goes to Lomax. Lomax putting on the step.

1:59:59 > 2:00:10John Bateman is tough.Heighington drawing the attention of Aaron Woods

2:00:10 > 2:00:16and Josh McGuire, but still having a little push right at the end of it.

2:00:16 > 2:00:24Roby, and Sam Burgess with the ball to Chris hill, two yards away from

2:00:24 > 2:00:30scoring his first ever international try. Sam Burgess, nothing on, so had

2:00:30 > 2:00:39to take that in. Here comes Widdop with the threat, they are smashing

2:00:39 > 2:00:47at him, but Dugan gets it back in the field of play. This is

2:00:47 > 2:00:55incredible, incredible stuff. It is a rock and a hard place thumping

2:00:55 > 2:01:02against each other.They are the little game changers. Changes the

2:01:02 > 2:01:07game, they haven't been able to fill the action tonight, England.Sixth

2:01:07 > 2:01:13tackle, Smith just clobbers it downfield. Looking for some relief.

2:01:13 > 2:01:24Our -- asking England's backs to do some of the hard work.

2:01:31 > 2:01:37Jonny Lomax, the freshest player on the park.You sense something is

2:01:37 > 2:01:42going to come in the next five minutes, the tension is building.

2:01:42 > 2:01:50What a game. Here is Chris hill, good carry. They are hanging around

2:01:50 > 2:01:54his ankles, and he is looking bushed at the moment.

2:01:59 > 2:02:03Have a look at Boyd Cordner, he looks like he is running on empty.

2:02:03 > 2:02:15Sixth tackle, by the way. Appiah, and underneath it is Gagai. Good

2:02:15 > 2:02:26England chase again. Clever and Woods are almost defending an

2:02:26 > 2:02:32England line.We talk about passing the ball inside, it has got to be

2:02:32 > 2:02:35quick, Burgess, Lomax, someone with speed you can utilise the space up

2:02:35 > 2:02:43the inside. Homes taking Australia ten metres inside the England half.

2:02:49 > 2:02:54You can see Boyd Cordner running on empty, only just gets off the field.

2:02:54 > 2:03:00What a game he has had. Lomax underneath this, and it is an

2:03:00 > 2:03:10England ball in the end.I was wrong, the referee got it right.I

2:03:10 > 2:03:14tell you who else is looking absolutely bushed, Billy Slater.

2:03:14 > 2:03:19Boyd Cordner looks like he has played three matches tonight.Last

2:03:19 > 2:03:24time they had a really easy game, Austria, 50 something points. Does

2:03:24 > 2:03:29that harm them for this match, or does England's tight match against

2:03:29 > 2:03:34Tonga harden them?From what we learned last week in that Tongan

2:03:34 > 2:03:40game, this is plenty enough time for a hat-trick of tries for England. He

2:03:40 > 2:03:46just got the tap tackle by Dugan, and lost his footing. England still

2:03:46 > 2:03:51have it, across the line they go to try to stretch Australia, Gale runs

2:03:51 > 2:03:56away, back inside for Heighington, here is Roby, hill picks it up and

2:03:56 > 2:04:02launches it out wide to Whitehead again, Whitehead with the kick, and

2:04:02 > 2:04:08it is still the sixth tackle. Widdop with the second, and the kick

2:04:08 > 2:04:14towards the corner, McGillvary is after it, Morgan has it, but that is

2:04:14 > 2:04:19a great passage of play from England.Love it!What about this

2:04:19 > 2:04:30ankle tap from Dugan? He was gone, but don't do it to us! Man of the

2:04:30 > 2:04:34tournament, Gareth Widdop, and the tackle from McGillvary, they

2:04:34 > 2:04:42deserved something from this. The Australians are on their haunches.

2:04:42 > 2:04:48The amount of plays England had on the inside on Watkins, desperation

2:04:48 > 2:04:55from Australia at the back end, is proving the difference here. 14 and

2:04:55 > 2:04:58a half minutes, and you wouldn't know who is going to win this game.

2:04:58 > 2:05:03The Australians behind the line are sucking up oxygen here like it's

2:05:03 > 2:05:09running out quickly. Trying to get themselves quickly. England, what a

2:05:09 > 2:05:20big set of six to come here. Burgess off the field for the time being,

2:05:20 > 2:05:23booing from the England fans because they are wasting time here to try to

2:05:23 > 2:05:26get it back in the tank.

2:05:29 > 2:05:3732 yards away. Graham stepping it forward again, there is a World Cup

2:05:37 > 2:05:43up for grabs here. And these are moments that could write the

2:05:43 > 2:05:51destiny. Widdop, to Watkins, Watkins to McGillvary, steps back on the

2:05:51 > 2:05:56inside, Australians are bouncing off his big left shoulder. But too many

2:05:56 > 2:05:59arrive to slow him down.

2:06:04 > 2:06:15Heighington sizes up to

2:06:16 > 2:06:28Klemmer, takes on him and Woods. So, the last play in the set, now it is

2:06:28 > 2:06:35Widdop, the bounce is beyond and behind McGillvary, and another

2:06:35 > 2:06:44England opportunity just slips by. PCs bodies of the ball here,

2:06:44 > 2:06:47absolutely gasping for air. Australia at the moment if I had a

2:06:47 > 2:06:51choice, they want to call time out. England are getting buoyed because

2:06:51 > 2:06:56they concede at 6-0, they are so close to scoring, they are the ones

2:06:56 > 2:07:09gaining confidence here at the back end of the game. 13 minutes to go.

2:07:09 > 2:07:16Australia with just that one try. It is getting towards the unbearable in

2:07:16 > 2:07:24terms of tension. Can England rewrite history here, or is

2:07:24 > 2:07:35Australia set fair? Cameron Smith. English voices filling the night air

2:07:35 > 2:07:42in Brisbane, Cooper Cronk goes right. The step by Chambers. They

2:07:42 > 2:07:47have covered some decent ground here, Australia, but only one player

2:07:47 > 2:07:55to go. Only one place to go. Cooper Cronk kicks it out of play, and

2:07:55 > 2:08:04again just slows the clock down, slows the tempo down.They are

2:08:04 > 2:08:08thinking, sideline rest, finish this game, if they can. England have to

2:08:08 > 2:08:11pick-up that glove from the floor, and say, we will keep playing the

2:08:11 > 2:08:18way we do with our structure, and we will find a score.The talk from the

2:08:18 > 2:08:22England camp all week has been about belief, and these are the moments

2:08:22 > 2:08:28where belief is going to be tested, and resolve. .

2:08:31 > 2:08:35They start from deep, they have had their chances, they have had their

2:08:35 > 2:08:41moments, so far those have been squandered. Whitehead shapes the

2:08:41 > 2:08:49pass, takes them on instead. Roby, an 80 minute character, but even he

2:08:49 > 2:08:56will be drained. What a great carried by a prop forward. It rolls

2:08:56 > 2:09:03away, Roby to Graham, Graham to Gale, Gale out to Currie. We know

2:09:03 > 2:09:07Currie has got pace, but he can't quite put a dagger through the

2:09:07 > 2:09:13hearts of the Australians there. They have only got one tackle left

2:09:13 > 2:09:22again. Roby left to Gale, who slides it in, chases it in himself, sends

2:09:22 > 2:09:26it to Slater, he has faced those situations down a million times in

2:09:26 > 2:09:32his career, Billy Slater, and he comes up trumps again.England

2:09:32 > 2:09:39definitely look for stronger here. Australia with the toughest of tough

2:09:39 > 2:09:42yards to do, from inside their own 20.

2:09:46 > 2:09:55England not wanting to give an inch here. Dugan put down. Bodies being

2:09:55 > 2:10:00urged into situations that mines are saying are unreachable, but every

2:10:00 > 2:10:07time someone comes up with a big effort. Lomax is going to watch this

2:10:07 > 2:10:13out of play. Could he made a play of that?Australia didn't want him to.

2:10:13 > 2:10:17I'm not sure if the England players didn't want it any more, too, but

2:10:17 > 2:10:22the difference between the two teams at the moment, Australia are playing

2:10:22 > 2:10:26at the moment, they have shut up shop, they just want to kick the

2:10:26 > 2:10:32ball into touch, they are holding a lead, and they have Smith and Cronk,

2:10:32 > 2:10:36the two best exponent of rugby league. England just need to turn a

2:10:36 > 2:10:40couple of these kicks into repeat sets, because they look the fresher

2:10:40 > 2:10:44and the more hard and the battle at The Burgess boys are are ready to

2:10:44 > 2:10:51return.Sam and Tom. It is worth telling you at this stage that

2:10:51 > 2:10:56golden point extra time is what would happen if England score a try

2:10:56 > 2:11:01and a goal and it stays at 6-6, that would take us into golden point

2:11:01 > 2:11:08extra time, so it is one score that England need at this stage. Bateman

2:11:08 > 2:11:16still carrying it hard. Chambers was shaken off, but Cronk was there.

2:11:16 > 2:11:25Roby to Tom Burgess. Now picked up by Roby again. Here is Graham, it is

2:11:25 > 2:11:33with Widdop, and the interception by Valentine Holmes. It was a handling

2:11:33 > 2:11:38error from being Australia's World Cup.There is your repeat sets

2:11:38 > 2:11:48rendered, though!Game on. Keep in mind they had them for numbers. I

2:11:48 > 2:11:53keep repeating this, right inside, Widdop stepped up, Kallum Watkins,

2:11:53 > 2:11:56that is the side I think they are going to nail them, if they are

2:11:56 > 2:12:06going to.I agree. Valentine Holmes has scored 11 tries in his last two

2:12:06 > 2:12:10games, and I think he would swap all 11 just have caught the ball on that

2:12:10 > 2:12:18occasion. So, Widdop feeds the scrum, England start a set 30 metres

2:12:18 > 2:12:21out, and here comes Tom Burgess again to drive it in, and he has

2:12:21 > 2:12:29lost the ball. He has lost the ball. You can complain all he likes, the

2:12:29 > 2:12:44referee is not going to change his mind. Was there a hand there?There

2:12:44 > 2:12:47was, but it is still his responsibility to control the ball.

2:12:47 > 2:12:52And that is the most emotion we have seen Wayne showing his coaching

2:12:52 > 2:12:56career, they have turned the ball over an early rocks, and they have

2:12:56 > 2:13:11had the opportunity to go for the throat. -- for the throw.

2:13:11 > 2:13:17Australia's feed, Australia's ball. Dugan with the first, England trying

2:13:17 > 2:13:22to shake this ball free if they can, try to create a mistake.

2:13:25 > 2:13:36Smith sending it downfield, here is McGuire. It needs a Cronk kicked to

2:13:36 > 2:13:43touch here. Frizell. That is tackle four. No, only the third. Still free

2:13:43 > 2:13:50to go. No, it was, it was a miss count from the statistics, so this

2:13:50 > 2:13:59is the fifth. Lomax underneath it, safety first, but Australia won't

2:13:59 > 2:14:05mind that, they have got England pinned five from their own line.

2:14:05 > 2:14:10That is where they want England. McGillvary and Hall and Watkins

2:14:10 > 2:14:16missing field positions.Is there a moment of rugby history still to be

2:14:16 > 2:14:23written? Or have we seen already how this World Cup final plays out?

2:14:23 > 2:14:28England are running out of time. Australia are running out of energy.

2:14:28 > 2:14:35It is a question of which hits zero first. Gale going for the kick

2:14:35 > 2:14:40downfield, it is not a 40-20. It is just a case of putting Australia

2:14:40 > 2:14:45down there and trying to force a mistake again. Gagai running back,

2:14:45 > 2:14:48Widdop is up there to make the tackle. Australian players out on

2:14:48 > 2:14:56their feet. Walking, limping back behind the play-the-ball. Six and a

2:14:56 > 2:14:59half minutes to go.

2:15:04 > 2:15:08It is a game that is played at walking pace, it is like a

2:15:08 > 2:15:12heavyweight boxing contest in the last round, they have both given

2:15:12 > 2:15:18everything and there is nothing left to give. Here comes Morgan. There

2:15:18 > 2:15:26goes Graham. That is tackle five. Smith goes left, Morgan kicks

2:15:26 > 2:15:31towards the touchline, Lomax is careful, gathers up on the bands,

2:15:31 > 2:15:36England need a break from somewhere, and the break was almost Lomax's

2:15:36 > 2:15:42ribs, but he is brave enough to get up and play it on. Now it is Hall.

2:15:46 > 2:15:53They are struggling to make yards. Ten made so far, another 18 needed

2:15:53 > 2:16:00in three tackles. Tom Burgess, swinging away, pushing on, lost the

2:16:00 > 2:16:06ball, but it is a penalty. This time it was stolen, and that was just

2:16:06 > 2:16:12what England needed.You have the crowd under pressure as well,

2:16:12 > 2:16:18because they are all booing the Aussie crowd. You would take that

2:16:18 > 2:16:22everyday of the week.In the NRL, he drops the ball too many times, and

2:16:22 > 2:16:26it has been one of the big bugbears of his coaches, he drops it too many

2:16:26 > 2:16:33times. It is on the favourable time there. Strap yourself in here.It is

2:16:33 > 2:16:39now or never for this England team. This next five minutes will not be

2:16:39 > 2:16:44comfortable, whoever you are supporting. Two balls on the field,

2:16:44 > 2:16:53they have to wait to kick one off. Roby inside to Widdop. Gale has had

2:16:53 > 2:16:55a very good game tonight.

2:17:00 > 2:17:04The ball comes out again, but it is gone, and the referee says forward

2:17:04 > 2:17:13in the tackle. A knock-on from Tom Burgess, a look of steely eyed fury

2:17:13 > 2:17:18and frustration from him, and Australia get valuable possession

2:17:18 > 2:17:25back again.It happens too many times in his career, but have a look

2:17:25 > 2:17:29at the technique in the tackle. He has gone through underneath the

2:17:29 > 2:17:32ball, and forced the error. The technique for young guy watching

2:17:32 > 2:17:35that there, and you just feel they are getting deflated because they

2:17:35 > 2:17:41are coming down here and losing the ball. To win the game, they need the

2:17:41 > 2:17:43ball, and unfortunately a couple of key players are giving up too

2:17:43 > 2:17:50easily.The error account, 11-4, that is way too high to win a game

2:17:50 > 2:17:54of this magnitude. England have been brilliant tonight, I'm not taking

2:17:54 > 2:17:59anything away from what they have done.No, but they are making it

2:17:59 > 2:18:02hard for themselves, Australia are there to be taken, they are just

2:18:02 > 2:18:08hanging in like a boxing event, they are rocking around the ring at the

2:18:08 > 2:18:13moment.Graham came flying out of the line, he couldn't quite knock

2:18:13 > 2:18:19McGuire away, but he left a big, bruising mark on his ribs. Cordner

2:18:19 > 2:18:23has recovered a bit of fuel, here's back on the field to help this

2:18:23 > 2:18:27Australian cause of the last. This is Frizell. Three and a half minutes

2:18:27 > 2:18:33to go, one score in it. Is that Boyd Cordner try in the 14th minute

2:18:33 > 2:18:40enough to win the World Cup again for Australia? Back it comes to

2:18:40 > 2:18:45Cronk. He tries to find touch, it rattles against an England leg, and

2:18:45 > 2:18:54Lomax picks it up. We are very, very nearly at the this is it stage here.

2:18:54 > 2:19:00Maybe one more set of England.They will get two more sets. They have

2:19:00 > 2:19:04got to get a penalty in this set. They need to come up with an

2:19:04 > 2:19:07attacking kick.Roby has seen a little bit of disruption in the

2:19:07 > 2:19:12defensive line, but it has recovered its poise quickly enough. Lomax goes

2:19:12 > 2:19:21out of dummy half. That is the fifth. Here we go, Gale puts it high

2:19:21 > 2:19:27in the air, it is kick and hope, but it is Slater underneath. Maybe huge

2:19:27 > 2:19:31error when the World Cup final was played here in 2008 which gave New

2:19:31 > 2:19:37Zealand the game, but no sign of that in his performance tonight.

2:19:37 > 2:19:43Gagai, dealt with by Ryan Hall. It is now a question of seconds rather

2:19:43 > 2:20:00than minutes. Knock-on! Hope lifts again. With two minutes to play. You

2:20:00 > 2:20:03look at those around, standing up, they can't bear to sit down because

2:20:03 > 2:20:10of the nerves and the tension. He realises his side have got one last

2:20:10 > 2:20:14chance.

2:20:14 > 2:20:29This is it. This is it. Two minutes to go, this will almost certainly be

2:20:29 > 2:20:34in good's last set if they don't score. Gale with the pass to Widdop,

2:20:34 > 2:20:43now it is Lomax, crunched. Roby picks up, Whitehead takes it on, Tom

2:20:43 > 2:20:48Burgess Jasper the keeping hold of the ball this time. Roby is here,

2:20:48 > 2:20:53less than 20 away, the kick is on, The Cherries was blocked, Australia

2:20:53 > 2:20:58have it, it was a gamble, but why do they go so early? Australia were

2:20:58 > 2:21:03right on the ball, they will slow it down. And England will hardly see

2:21:03 > 2:21:13this ball again here now. The clock has stopped, 90 seconds to go, and

2:21:13 > 2:21:16Burgess's reaction there was more out of the station for his own

2:21:16 > 2:21:20team's cause rather than anything Australia did.He has played really

2:21:20 > 2:21:24well today, but if you mark is kicking game against Cronk, he

2:21:24 > 2:21:28doesn't go with them today, they have been far superior, I just felt

2:21:28 > 2:21:38it was impatience. The clock is still there, and every set is 45

2:21:38 > 2:21:43seconds, so you have a chance for two anyway.England have never been

2:21:43 > 2:21:46closer to lifting the World Cup trophy that they have been here

2:21:46 > 2:21:49tonight, and in many ways, that makes it even more unbearable for

2:21:49 > 2:21:51England supporters.

2:21:54 > 2:22:00Almost the last minute. Australia will just drive it downfield, and

2:22:00 > 2:22:09then on the fifth of a will kick it. Welly it, as they say. So, 50

2:22:09 > 2:22:14seconds to go, and it is going to take some heroics here for England

2:22:14 > 2:22:25to rescue this situation. 40 seconds left. Here is Ryan Hall. Now it

2:22:25 > 2:22:31comes to Whitehead. Watkins to McGillvary, too many Australian

2:22:31 > 2:22:40players there for him to have any hope. 25 seconds out. Tom Burgess,

2:22:40 > 2:22:48over the halfway line. Roby, Graham, they will give it all to the last

2:22:48 > 2:22:52here, Hall is coming to the line, and back it goes to Currie, who

2:22:52 > 2:22:59throws it in. It is with Gale and Widdop, the countdown is on. The

2:22:59 > 2:23:04next time it goes out of play, it is all over, Watkins makes the play,

2:23:04 > 2:23:10inside for McGillvary, and it is covered. There were England players

2:23:10 > 2:23:16on the inside, but those England players sink to their knees. In

2:23:16 > 2:23:23utter desperation. It is a relief as much as celebration for Australia,

2:23:23 > 2:23:30because they have been pushed to the absolute limits by that England side

2:23:30 > 2:23:37tonight. But somehow, somehow, England couldn't quite find a way

2:23:37 > 2:23:44through. What a game, but it is Australia who are world champions

2:23:44 > 2:23:52again.We are exhausted, so imagine what the players feel like. A

2:23:52 > 2:23:56deserved winners, Australia, because they were more clinical, but that

2:23:56 > 2:24:01Kallum Watkins ankle trip when he had them done, he and numbers either

2:24:01 > 2:24:09side of them, and some how, someone got a pinky on to his little toe.

2:24:09 > 2:24:14And that is the difference at the highest level, a cruel test in

2:24:14 > 2:24:18relation to this team, because they have been brilliant and grown into

2:24:18 > 2:24:23the tournament. In many people's minds, that man there, it is a

2:24:23 > 2:24:30courageous defeat, it is easy for me to say that, but what a game.Like a

2:24:30 > 2:24:34boxing event, this went to a points decision. There was no knockout, it

2:24:34 > 2:24:43was a points decision to Australia. Well, the body language tells its

2:24:43 > 2:24:51own story, doesn't it? It's not that they lost, it's how close they came.

2:24:51 > 2:24:54Going through your mind at the moment if you are an England player

2:24:54 > 2:24:57all the opportunities we didn't grasp, but the Australians are

2:24:57 > 2:25:01looking at each other going, that is what you do as a team. You work your

2:25:01 > 2:25:05mates and you keep defending and you keep turning up, and England are in

2:25:05 > 2:25:08a great position to propel where they want to go forward with this

2:25:08 > 2:25:12group of men, because they have shown they are equal, they just need

2:25:12 > 2:25:18to take some opportunities which you spoke about before the game.

2:25:18 > 2:25:22Australia were very clinical.There is an absolute agony in defeat. I

2:25:22 > 2:25:26think they could have been beaten 48-0 tonight and they would not have

2:25:26 > 2:25:30felt as they feel at the moment. Sometimes it is the hope that kills

2:25:30 > 2:25:37you. And England had more than plenty of hope tonight. We are going

2:25:37 > 2:25:42to be hearing from one or two of those that have taken part in that

2:25:42 > 2:25:46incredibly tough game of rugby league here tonight. Let's go down

2:25:46 > 2:25:52to the pitch side, I think Brett might be speaking with Billy Slater.

2:25:52 > 2:25:56I'm not sure who he's got. But Cameron Smith as well I think he has

2:25:56 > 2:25:59got lined up as well.

2:26:03 > 2:26:06Cameron Smith, congratulations for winning the World Cup. Can you

2:26:06 > 2:26:13describe how this feels?It is amazing, mate. To finally get a

2:26:13 > 2:26:16World Cup victory on home soil, it has been quite a long time, and a

2:26:16 > 2:26:20lot of hard work has gone into it. This was one of the toughest

2:26:20 > 2:26:24football games I have played in my entire career, so really pleasing

2:26:24 > 2:26:31victory for the boys. It has been a fairly hard road to this one over

2:26:31 > 2:26:35the last two years, we want to put ourselves back to number one, we

2:26:35 > 2:26:39have back-to-back World Cup victories now, and very happy to

2:26:39 > 2:26:52have the Kangaroos as the best team in the world.Mal was talking about

2:26:52 > 2:26:56you today, you must all be very proud.We spoke very early in the

2:26:56 > 2:26:59campaign about defence, it wins big matches, but it wins tournaments, as

2:26:59 > 2:27:05well. We conceded 16 points over six games, that is remarkable effort,

2:27:05 > 2:27:09but especially tonight. I don't know how many tackles England had inside

2:27:09 > 2:27:14our 20 metres, but we just kept turning them around. Really happy

2:27:14 > 2:27:17for all the boys, a couple of the old fellows with another World Cup

2:27:17 > 2:27:23victory, and a couple of new faces as well. Their first World Cup and

2:27:23 > 2:27:26they have won.Were not sure if it will be the last time we will see

2:27:26 > 2:27:32the three of you back together. Is it a good celebration?We have had a

2:27:32 > 2:27:39remarkable year, the three of us, club, state and now country. We are

2:27:39 > 2:27:44very fortunate to play in some pretty talented sides has an great

2:27:44 > 2:27:47footballers, and we are very thankful that we have had the

2:27:47 > 2:27:50opportunity to have that career. If this is the last time we ever get to

2:27:50 > 2:27:55play together, it is a special memory to have a long-time.Very

2:27:55 > 2:27:58special, congratulations, thank your time.Thank you.We also have one of

2:27:58 > 2:28:02the other stars of the big three, Billy. Can you describe winning a

2:28:02 > 2:28:08World Cup?It is very rewarding, I come around every year and you have

2:28:08 > 2:28:12to be hitting your straps at the right time, so we have a great group

2:28:12 > 2:28:15of guys here, a very young squad with a few old heads, but a really

2:28:15 > 2:28:20young squad, and I think it is good signs for the future.Talking about

2:28:20 > 2:28:24the future, what is your future? Will we see you again?I really

2:28:24 > 2:28:28don't know. I think this will probably be my last green and gold

2:28:28 > 2:28:32jersey. I don't know what I will be doing next year, I will more than

2:28:32 > 2:28:35likely retire, and that women finishing at the end of the season

2:28:35 > 2:28:40and let someone take over for the last test next year, so I don't know

2:28:40 > 2:28:45100% just yet, but I will soak in this moment as if it is my last.You

2:28:45 > 2:28:49saw yourself in the Grand Final, now we get to see you celebrate playing

2:28:49 > 2:28:52for Australia, coming back. You had a lot of hard work, did you think

2:28:52 > 2:28:56this would happen again?I really didn't look this far ahead. It was

2:28:56 > 2:29:00really short-term and I just wanted to get my shoulder right for life

2:29:00 > 2:29:07after 40, and then it got to point where I could get back and play for

2:29:07 > 2:29:09the Storm, I always loved playing for Australia, and being on this

2:29:09 > 2:29:14tour at the end of the year was definitely something that I enjoyed.

2:29:14 > 2:29:18Here are the kids! I really didn't look at the big picture.We have

2:29:18 > 2:29:22loved having you back, we appreciated, thank you for your

2:29:22 > 2:29:30time.Thank you fewer time.Daddy! STUDIO: I wish he could have thrown

2:29:30 > 2:29:37one back into play as in 2008. As they said at the end of the

2:29:37 > 2:29:43commentary, it is the hope that kills you.If Australia had won

2:29:43 > 2:29:4530-0, it kind of feels like that would be easier to deal with,

2:29:45 > 2:29:49doesn't it? It does, because we were so close, and the believe everyone

2:29:49 > 2:29:53had before the game wasn't misplaced. They are bouncing the

2:29:53 > 2:29:57ball, a couple of decisions, if Josh Dugan had cut his figure now is

2:29:57 > 2:30:03before the game, we could have won that.

2:30:03 > 2:30:08James Graham, you were so close, so brave, but just couldn't get there?

2:30:08 > 2:30:13Exactly. It is a tough one to take, but I think both teams played really

2:30:13 > 2:30:22well. I know 6-0 probably doesn't advertise a great game, but what a

2:30:22 > 2:30:26spectacle in yes, unbelievable defensive effort and ability from

2:30:26 > 2:30:30both sides, you looked out on your feet - did you feel like you had a

2:30:30 > 2:30:39chance of getting that try?Yeah, there was a couple of times when the

2:30:39 > 2:30:43half break was on or what ever. Fair play to them for their scramble. We

2:30:43 > 2:30:47had to scramble pretty hard as well I think. There try came off the back