Final: Australia v England Rugby League World Cup

# Starry, starry night...

It was 45 years ago. But the

memories don't leave you.

COMMENTATOR: Nash to kick off the

final of this World Cup.

It was the best of times, and the

worst of times. But only one thing

mattered.

Tonight we are going to

start with a rugby try that will

surely go down amongst the greatest

of the decade.

To this day, I can

still see him racing down the wing.

COMMENTATOR: What a tremendous try.

Those of us still alive still talk

about it to this day. We had done

it, and we were the world champions.

# No, I can't forget this feeling...

It's been far too long. Let's beat

the Aussies again.

Lovely, thank you very much to Steve

Nash for doing that for us. It has

been 45 years since a team brought

the one -- Rugby League World Cup

trophy home. Let's hope that they

can do it today, Australia unbeaten

in the tournament, they have scored

the most tries. Can Wayne Bennett's

men beat them today and upset the

odds? Joining me in the studio for

this one, former Junior Kangaroos

coach and current St Helens coach,

Justin Holbrook. Wigan and England

Sam Tomkins, firmly in the middle

and neutral, are you? It is Robbie

Hunter Paul, they are obviously

ready, the three of them. If you

want to get in touch of us

throughout the court -- the course

of the morning, let us know your

hopes and fears. The England team

hoping to emulate the Great Britain

side of 1972, and it is who isn't

there rather than who is. Sean

O'Loughlin, the captain is out

having failed a fitness test

yesterday. He is replaced by Ben

Currie in the starting 13, Jonny

Lomax comes onto the bench and Sam

Burgess where's the armband. There

is no Josh Hodgson either after he

tore his ACL in last week's

semifinal. It is obvious to say, but

Sean O'Loughlin is huge loss.

Yes,

disappointed for him personally not

to be able to captain the side

today, but for the team. There are

things that he does that not many

other players in any team can do,

and he makes players around him play

better every single week, so he is a

huge loss to us, but Sam Burgess

isn't a bad replacement, either, is

he?

The England camp said it was

very much his decision whether he

was fit or not. Which says something

of a man, because in the back of

everybody's mind, I have got to play

in a World Cup final, but it says a

lot about him.

If there was any

chance he could, I'm sure he would

have done. I have seen Lockers play

with injuries that you wouldn't

think he could get out of bed with,

and he has played some games and not

just got through the butt been

influential, so it must be a bad

injury.

Sam Burgess is an impressive

replacement, but the combination of

his size and stature, he is

difficult to replicate in one-man?

Absolutely, it makes it a lot harder

for England to win today. I think as

Sam said, O'Loughlin is just a great

player, and he will be really missed

today. He missed eight or nine games

for Wigan this season, and they lost

the ball for a reason, because he is

just such a great natural rugby

league player. Sam Burgess obviously

a great player, but you love them

both to be out there, but it is not

to be.

Lots of people have been

saying during the course of the

game, Roby has to start, but what

you want is the options and the

strength on the bench, isn't it?

You

do want that depth of diversity,

they are very different players.

Hodgson plays off the cover little

bit more, Roby we all agree the team

runs smoother when James Roby is on.

He knows when to pass the ball off

the ground, knows when to draw the

markers, knows when to steal yards,

as well, he is very smart and knows

how to direct the team around. That

comes with the experience that James

Roby has. But equally, Sam is going

to need to step up today. He is

going to have to take his game to

that level but he was before 2014,

maybe 2013. Exactly what he did to

the New Zealand team in that

semifinal in 2013, although they

didn't come away with the win, but

the performance they put in that day

was inspirational. He is a blunt

force instrument, he has got to play

strong and powerful, and he has just

got to give that Australian forward

pack one hell of a day at the

office.

We want to be positive as

well here, not just go, oh, no

O'Loughlin, no Hodgson, how

terrible. You look at these England

players, and there are some

seriously, seriously good rugby

league players there, so we should

have some confidence.

Definitely,

and the loss of Hodgson gives us

another dimension with Jonny Lomax

coming on the bench, I wasn't sure

if it would be Jonny or George

Williams, both players can create

from not a lot, and he can play 80

minutes, and we have some on the

bench who can bring something new at

any time. So I don't think the

Hodgson loss, although it would be

great to see him out there, I think

it gives us something else,

something we might need in the

latter stages today.

I definitely

agree with that. England's defence

has been so good throughout this

World Cup, but so has Australia's,

so England do need a bit of X Factor

on the bench, so either Jonny or

George can introduce something to

the game.

And one extra layer,

Australia haven't been tested in

this tournament, they have won every

game by 30 points plus, and in the

it has been smooth sailing for them,

but they will come up against a team

that are highly motivated and have

the tools to combat them and meet

them on an equal plateau.

Let's just

show you how both teams got to the

final. England lost that opening

game to Australia, but then they got

past Lebanon and France in the group

stages, convincing win against Papua

New Guinea 36-6, and then we had

last week's epic semifinal against

Tonga in Auckland, which England

just squeaked through at the very,

very end, 20-18. Australia have been

convincing as well, as Robbie says.

Australia didn't concede a point in

that group, and in the quarterfinal

against Samoa, winning 46-0, and

then easing past Fiji in the

semifinals 54-6. Let's go over to

Brisbane to hear the thoughts of our

commentary team out there. Ian

Millward, Brian Noble and our rugby

correspondent Dave Woods.

There is a fantastic atmosphere

building inside the stadium, about

5000 England fans will make

themselves seen and heard because

the flags are already all around.

Ian, is this the best chance England

have had in a major game against

Australia in your memory?

Without

hesitation, I would say yes. They

have a great mixture of home-grown

players playing in Super League, and

most importantly they have got size

on the bench and in their forwards.

I think the most important thing I

have been impressed with

defensively, they have been able to

defend the line, defenders team

throughout the tournament, and they

will defend against the favourites

tonight.

We have been to a couple of

training sessions this week, what

have you made what you have seen at

the camp this week?

Really positive.

Sean O'Loughlin is a big loss, but

Sam Burgess will be a bonus in many

respects. A bit more flare off the

bench, that is the right expression,

and I think England are ready. Ian

has mentioned the fact that they

were defending Australian players.

Trying to spring him in and around

the ruck, England need to be aware

of that. England have defended well

in this tournament. I agree with

what has been said in the studio,

they will have to score some points,

injured, -- England, tonight. If

they get for opportunities, they

need to score at least three of

them.

It is a very relaxed camp, you

have detected that?

I have spoken to

a couple of players, and they have

said, the coach has been smart here.

He hasn't put pressure and said, we

must do this. He is talking about

this is the first final for a long

time, we have achieved the goal to

get there and show our talent. He is

trying to relax and Paletta, which

is important, because if Australia

have the Golden Boot 2017 Player of

the Year in Cameron Smith, here's

the best player, so England need to

be and start well, they have to

build confidence with their defence.

We are standing very close to the

touchline where Billy Slater through

that ball away that gave New Zealand

a World Cup win in this stadium in

2008, so even the best can throw it

away. England hopefully will be the

best tonight.

Thank you very much. It only takes

something like that, and the World

Cup could be heading to England.

Brian knows the England captain Sam

Burgess very well, of course. He

signed him as a 16-year-old from

Bradford Bulls, and gave him his

first-team debut, and this week he

sat down with the England captain

over a copy.

COMMENTATOR: Picked up by Anderson

from dummy half, and Sam Burgess.

I remember a young exciting man in

2006, a great privilege to sign.

What were your ambitions when you

started your professional career at

Bradford?

It is quite a while ago,

11 or 12 years ago now. I think my

ambition at the time was just

getting your first team, really.

From there, ambitions grew.

COMMENTATOR: Burgess is through!

What an absolutely fabulous England

try that was.

A lot of things made me want to go

and play in Australia. I enjoyed my

time over here. I decided that I

wanted to test myself, I was only 19

of the time. Russell was fantastic

for me, he gave me push back, and

after training each day we would

ride around the city for hours, 20

or 30 kilometres a day, so I could

learn my way around the city, which

was cool, at the time.

You are at

the top of the tree, and you have a

sabbatical, you go and join the boys

at England, which is well

documented, but was it a great

learning experience, what was it

like?

I went in and gave it

everything. I met some fantastic

people, learned a hell of a lot

about rugby union and managed to

represent England again, which I

still remain extremely proud of for

my contribution to our country. I

did enjoy it, but towards the end of

it, there were a lot of outside

influences that had an impact, and

for me, I just wanted to get back to

where I believe I belong, and that

is rugby league.

What do the

Australians truly think about the

Super League ending list players? Do

you get a sense of that?

The

Australia's growing their respect

for the English game. The Super

League is constantly on in our

changing rooms. We are constantly

watching the games during the

season. The boys love watching Super

League. But in terms of, do they

respected to the level of the NRL?

Probably not. They joke about my

caps for Bradford not counting as

first grade caps. But that is a bit

of a joke with those guys. We are

here in the final with the

Australian team, and we have got a

chance to try to put that right.

Deep down, does it fuel the fire

little bit? Can you imagine what an

England win would do for the game?

We are all extremely aware of the

magnitude of the result. If it goes

our way, what it means to the game

and England, and it will probably

give us the respect we deserve. I

have worked with this team now for

the past 18 months, and the talent

that we've got is phenomenal. The

team camaraderie, that is the one

thing I do miss most from England is

the people. That is not saying

anything bad about Australians, but

there is something, certain

characteristics you get from the

folk from North England. So we have

had a great time, but certainly we

understand what opportunity we have

in front of us, and how great that

could beef our game.

May be some of

that from his Australian team-mates

is tongue in cheek, maybe some of it

isn't. Do you find something

similar, they don't mind watching

Super League but they don't respect

it?

Very similar. People over there

think Super League is a tough

competition, but they think it is a

long way off what they experience in

the NRL, but I don't think the gap

is as big as a lot of them think.

You'd use that as motivation,

wouldn't you, in that England

dressing room?

You definitely would.

I'm from the Australian side, and we

love the Super League over there, so

I'm not sure, we don't really talk

about the disrespecting the game. We

are lucky that another country is

high on the rugby league scale. As

Sam Burgess said in the coverage

there, we watch as much Super League

as we can.

But there has been

feeling during this tournament a

little that Australia within the

country are just going to coast all

the way and win the final, and

actually this World Cup is behind

NRL, State of Origin, because they

are more competitive for these

Australian players?

Can I just point

out that a similar thing happened

back in 2008, which Dave Woods

mentioned.

I can't believe he

mention that!

I did text him to make

sure he got it in!

Do you think they

took advantage of complacency?

Yes,

they went into it with nothing to

lose. England is going into this

game with nothing to lose. The media

throughout the entirety of the

tournament has been saying, this is

a one horse race, and they have done

it again. It is all dependent upon

their culture that they have created

within the camp of the players

themselves, and I think there is a

responsibility on the team and the

squad to really step up, because if

they can play against this squad,

they could lose.

The one thing

England have been consistent on, the

defence has been good.

That is one

thing they will need to do today,

they will have to be strong in

defence.

This is the opening game

against Australia.

The scrambled

offence has been good throughout the

game, and the main thing they need

to do is to stop that man passing

the ball, Cameron Smith. They were

scrambling of covering up holes, but

you want to stop the root cause,

which is the big forwards getting on

their noses, playing the ball

quickly. That gives the half-back

time on the ball. Billy Slater time

to get into position, and Cameron

Smith to make the decision whether

he jumps or passes or kicks it into

space.

I agree, and I think England

have to try and slow the game down.

It worked well against Tonga last

week playing a fast-paced game, but

when they play in the first game of

this World Cup, Australia will win

that battle, the Australians back

three all ran 300 metres each, and

that brings Cameron Smith into his

absolute best. Any time they can get

sunset starts and try to nullify

Cameron Smith's involvement is the

way to win today.

We have to take some confidence from

the scramble that we saw at the

start of the clip. It is inevitable

that Australia will break the line

at some point, but seeing James

Graham picking up, and Jermaine

McGillvary getting that loose ball,

if you don't get that extra 1%, the

Aussies will score another three or

four tries, so we can take a lot of

positives from that scramble.

Thank

you very much. The last time England

reached a World Cup final was on

home soil in 1995, when, of course,

they were beaten by Australia.

COMMENTATOR: And they have got the

touchdown.

Australia, winners of the World Cup

1995. Well, the captain of England

that day all those years ago, 22

years, was Denis Betts, and he is

with us on the touchline. What are

your memories of 1995?

At this

moment, a little bit of a blur. It

was a fantastic World Cup, we did a

great job, got to the final and we

felt that we had the best

opportunity that we had in a long,

long time. We just didn't perform.

We let ourselves down with a

performance that day. It was a

pretty tight game in the end, but I

think we could have played a lot

better.

You become in the first game

at Wembley in that tournament.

Yes,

we had a great tournament, we had

come on the back of two really good

years, we had a good win in 93

against the Kiwis, when they were

touring, and we set ourselves up for

a really good tournament, we beat

Wales quite convincingly at Old

Trafford in the semifinal, and then

I felt that we just underperformed

come the final day.

What about

today, then? What lessons have been

learned from 22 years ago, or are

they in relevant?

For a number of

years, talking to players involved

in international rugby, the last ten

or 15 years, we have had a side that

can compete on the day, but always

Australia had to be under par or not

really on the beat. But I think

today, if we play our best, we win,

it doesn't matter what Australia do.

That is a massive mindset shift.

What Wayne has done with this group

is given a lot of belief and

confidence in their own ability.

And

it seems from the outside looking

in, it looks like a really relaxed

camp this week?

It has been relaxed

and focus, but with purpose to the

tournament. We want to be here. This

is where it mattered. It is not

about the first win against

Australia, that wasn't going to win

us a World Cup, we knew we had to

progress and come up with a plan,

and we worked really hard on that

plan throughout the tournament. And

we are in the final, we just have to

get the big one.

Good luck today,

and hopefully 22 years on, the

script is rewritten.

I hope so.

A little earlier on in the stadium

in Brisbane was the women's World

Cup final, and that was won by

Australia, beating New Zealand

23-16. As far as the men's

tournament is concerned, there have

been 14 World Cups in total.

Australia have reached 13 finals and

won ten of them. Dave Woods has been

inside their camp this week.

COMMENTATOR: Australia are through

to the Rugby League World Cup final.

Is it weird to face Wayne Bennett in

the final?

Not at all, we have faced

England a few times with him as

coach. It is probably a bit

different to Aussie coaching, but he

is going to do a job, a good coach

won't give you many errors, they

will kick long, back to the defence,

and that is what Ryan does well, he

does it with the Broncos, you have

seen him do it since he has been

there, so they won't give us much,

but we have to work hard, sort of

like the first time we played

against England in the first game

this year. People said it wasn't

much of a game, but it was fast,

free-flowing and pretty physical in

the middle.

You said England weren't

playing well enough to win the World

Cup. Is that an honest assessment,

or mind games on his part?

Mind

games, anyone on their day can pull

off a win, if it is an upset or not

or whatever the situation is, you

know? For them, they will repair

well, they know what they are doing

and they will be ready to get that

win.

How do you categorise your

performance against James Graham,

was it personal this week?

Not at

all, a lot of B but said it would

be. I love playing against James. He

is a front row that plays a

half-back, he has a lot of skill but

at the same time he is very tough.

You want to test yourself against

the best, it is not just James, you

have Sam Burgess as well, so it is

an interesting matchup this week,

and we will fight for this.

Let's look at Cameron Smith. I think

Robbie, you in the build-up earlier

said he can suffocate you.

I think

he said that.

I am getting you

confused!

He is absolutely an

amazing player. I turned doubt he

has taken them out, and is the

number one player in the world at

this time. Just smart, he is just

the heart and soul of everything

Australia does, and he capitalises

on opportunities better than any

other player. He is just a very

intelligent player, like James Roby,

experienced, knows when to pass it

at the right times, when to run,

went to steal ground. Look at him,

the eyes are constantly working all

the time. He knows exactly what is

going on, he knows the players

around him, those three players,

talking about Cronk and Billy

Slater, those three players work so

seamlessly together. You know what

they are going to do, you know what

Cameron Smith has got to do, you

just have to try and stop it, and

the only way I think you can stop it

is doing exactly what...

What a kick

that is.

Into space, to have that

awareness to know that there will be

space. But just what Justin was

saying, you have to take the game to

zero. You have got to take the sting

out of Australia, take the momentum

out of them, make it gritty and

grubby, keep the ball out, keep them

off their stride, and then when you

have got the ball, turn the speed up

and start to run the forwards tired,

because if those forwards get quick

play-the-balls, they will have a

field day.

What amazes me about

Cameron Smith is how he never loses

any energy. He will walk out

tonight, he has done it in all his

games, he looked like he could fall

asleep. He never looks tight before

a game, he is so calm. His nickname

is the accountant, he doesn't look

like red B player, and he is the

best player in the world. He just

reads the game better than anyone,

defends in the middle of the field,

and just controls the whole game. He

has been known to control the

referees in the NRL, as well. He is

a huge figure in the game at a

phenomenal player.

He has won player

of the tournament already in this

World Cup. When you are playing

against him, Robbie mentioned if you

look at his body language, where he

is pointing, his eyes. Are you

trying to second-guess him?

When you

preview the team, you will preview

certain individuals, and Cameron

Smith will be someone that you would

take a close look at. There is a lot

of things that you can't have an

effect on, things like the kicks you

see him putting in there from 40 or

50 metres out, jumping out into the

Lion threading it through to the

goal, you can't stop those. You just

have to defend it when he does do

it. What you can effect is the speed

of the rock, which we have

mentioned. If the England pack can

slow that Aussie side down, it does

nullify a lot of what he can do with

ball in hand. If the Aussies are

getting win after win and Cameron

Smith can pick the ball up and run

and put passes whenever he wants, he

is tough to handle, but if we can

stop him before he gets going, that

is great. But there are certain

things that you can't defend against

someone as good as that.

We are not

logged until kick-off in Brisbane.

Let's hear from both head coaches.

No O'Loughlin, no Hodgson, how has

the preparation being?

It has been

good. We have assumed that Josh and

Sean wouldn't make it, so we had

that pretty well covered. Ben Currie

is a really good player, and James

Roby, top poker, so we have been

fortunate that we have quality

players to take their place.

You

have named Sam as captain, you are

looking for him to be the leader?

Here's one anyway, he doesn't have

to have captain before his name.

And

you want some quick play-the-balls

were James Roby a dummy half?

I want

some decent play-the-balls for the

fans. They are the ones who pay the

money.

What Australia do really

well? What you have to be careful

of?

They are consistent, they will

battle hard, they know how to bring

the game out, they know how to apply

pressure, so things that we are

getting better at.

Good luck

tonight.

Thanks.

And easier week for

you, unchanged line-up. How is

preparation?

It has been pretty

smooth, we have had the team the

last few weeks, so we are happy with

the group, commitment is good, fresh

and healthy and ready to go. What

has been the main focus this week?

Just making sure that we improve, we

know England are great side and they

will push hard, trying up through

the middle, so a bit of focus around

the middle, making sure they don't

make too many metres on that back

five, they are big threat and we

will work hard on all aspects of our

defence this week.

Do you feel that

the expectation puts pressure on

Australia to win on home soil?

We

expect that, we embrace it and we

have talked about it often, so the

elephant is out of the room. We know

everyone is accepting us to win, and

we want to play that way.

Good luck

tonight.

Thank you.

We talk about pressure a lot in

sport, but he is under pressure,

isn't he? Given Australia's record

in World Cups in his home country

with Wayne Bennett in the opposition

technical area?

Absolutely, but I

love the way he answered it.

Australia expect to win, he gets

that, and so do the players. The

only time you ever really put

yourself under pressure is if you

are fearing the results, and he is

clearly confident, and it helps

having the Smith and Cronk and

Slater, the three players who

control the side, they play the big

games, they expect to win every

week, they turn out for storm and

they do it more often than not, so

they are Specht it to win and they

have taken that on the shoulders

find.

That's the Australian dressing

room. In the England dressing room,

who will be the talk is now before

they go out?

Sam Burgess will be

speaking a lot, James Graham will be

saying his part as well. The lads

will be fully prepared now. The

preparation is all done. These are

the last few bits. It goes in one

ear and out the other, ever be the

job they want to get out onto the

field.

We are waiting for the teams

to come out in Brisbane. They are

just moving into the tunnel, you can

see the Rugby World Cup trophy about

to be carried out, and Australia

just coming out of the dressing

room. How do you see the first half

going?

I am hoping England meets

fire with fire. The first half of

the opening game, England waited for

Australia to bring it to them, and I

think in the opening 40 minutes,

England definitely have to take

their power game that they were

talking about. I think they have to

take that power game right into the

teeth of the Australian defence and

start a tire them out. They did that

in the second 40 minutes, they

really dominated. But they need to

do that from the opening seconds.

Over the last six weeks we have seen

our game played with pride, passion

and conviction. We have respected

cultural traditions, inspired each

other to be proud of who we are and

where we come from and have played

the game in great spirit. On behalf

of the players, I would like to

thank you, the people, for making

this tournament what it is. Here are

your teams for the final - England

and Australia. May the best team

win.

STUDIO: Disappointing he did not

give Kevin a chance to say a few

words as well! The teams are ready

to come out of the tunnel. This is

the Rugby League World Cup Final

2017, and our commentary team are

Brian Noble, Ian Millward and the

BBC's rugby league correspondent

Dave Woods.

DAVE WOODS: Well, they're getting

quite a reception. It's a journey

that began for Wayne Bennett's

England side over 12 months ago. For

British rugby league fans it goes

back a long further than that - 45

years since Great Britain won this

trophy. As England, they have never

won it. Is tonight the night it will

change? Sam Burgess leading out his

side.

And the Australians looking

reasonably relaxed as well. The

stadium settles down for the two

anthems.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

please be standing for the national

anthems of England and Australia.

# God save our gracious Queen

# Long live our noble Queen

# God save the Queen

# Send her victorious

# Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us

# God save the Queen. #

Early bellowed out that national

anthem all through this tournament!

.

# Australians all let us rejoice

# For we are young and free

# We've golden soil and wealth for

toil

# Our home is girt by sea

# Our land abounds in Nature's gifts

Of beauty rich and rare

# In history's page, let every stage

Advance Australia fair

# In joyful strains then let us sing

# Advance Australia fair

Well, they do love their rugby

league in these parts, and it is a

rugby league city, is Brisbane.

DAVE WOODS: Cooper Cronk, one of

their three stellar names. Billy

Slater, the full-back, and there is

the other of that legendary triumph

in, Cameron Smith. -- triumvirate.

There are another one or two who

might not be up to the pedigree of

Kangaroos of yesteryear but there is

no doubt that those three are

amongst the best of all time. Mal

Meninga, the coach, of course, who

has reinstalled a pride in the

Kangaroos jersey. Changes for

England. Ben Currie comes into the

starting XIII in the absence of Sean

O'Loughlin. And Jonny Lomax comes

in, the St Helens full-back, who

hasn't played since the first game

in this tournament, against

Australia. And that is six weeks

ago! He has been a star, hasn't he?

He's captured the headlines here in

Australia and rightly so, Jermaine

McGillvary. He has been fantastic in

the tournament so far. Can he cap it

off with another appearance tonight?

And Billy Slater, the full-back, his

return to the international stage at

this World Cup after a two-year

absence with a shoulder injury. A

lot of us were writing him off as an

international player, but what they

return he has made - and just as

good as he ever was. The referee

tonight is an Australian, Jerod

Sutton. It is an Englishman in the

video booth. James Graham will have

a big part to play tonight, no

doubt. There will be some physical

stuff down the middle. And plenty of

fancy stuff down the edges as well.

And the countdown begins on the big

screen, to get this World Cup under

way. England hope for glory.

Australia expects. It has been a

wonderful World Cup, and it comes to

what could be very epic conclusion

here tonight, in what could be a

really physical battle. It James

Graham who leads the charge for

England. Alongside me, Ian Millward,

and first of all, Brian Noble.

BRIAN NOBLE: Well, we're looking for

an 80 minute performance from this

England team. They've got to execute

- I think they will tonight.

Well,

it looked as though James Graham

took a bit of a hit in that first

tackle. We'll wait and see what

impact that might have had - but how

many times in his career have we

seen him looking out of it on the

field, and then he pops up with a

big moment?! Looking for the kick.

He copped one there.

The Australians

are not going to go away. They're a

fantastic team themselves.

We've got

to see how good England are

defensively. James Graham roughing

up Billy Slater there.

IAN MILLWARD: I think we spoke about

it in the preview - both teams will

kick early, but you need to turn the

forwards around. Smith is a master

at it.

So, Australia looking to move it

left. Arruda Morgan, down that

left-hand side. Cameron Smith, in at

dummy half again. Cooper Cronk

launches one on the sixth. That

should be a simple catch for Gareth

Widdop. And he takes the challenge.

Yeah, kick with no pressure, really.

And this man, player of the

tournament in many people's eyes.

Elliott Whitehead brought down just

outside the 30. Picked up by Roby.

Sam Burgess, different role for him

in that number 13 shirt, so to

speak. And England reach the last.

Kick again from Gale. It's a

careful, cautious opening to the

game from both sides tonight, just

searching each other out.

One thing

Wayne Bennett spoke about before the

match, they've got to complete their

first ten sets - and they've started

in that rhythm very early, England.

It might sound a little bit boring

but it builds pressure and field

position and it gets you in the

groove of the game real quick.

Australia are already up to their

third tackle. Aaron Woods takes it

in. He will be playing at the

bulldogs next year, with James

Graham having departed that club.

Here's Ryan Hall.

Something I've

picked up earlier in relation to the

kicking games, I think England are

more intent on footing it really

high so they can have an organised

kick chase team, rather than looking

for the space, because the back

three of Australia have got it

covered.

He's so lethal, any space

he gets he can beat people and he

backs it up with speed. England are

getting down the middle really well

here. An early kick once again.

Burgess looking for the corner.

Again, the England chase is good.

James Roby is up there to make the

tackle. Australia starting from deep

again. 14th time that the World Cup,

well, in the 14 times it has been

played, Australia have been

champions ten of those times. They

have dominated this code. England

never having won it as England -

three times as Great Britain. Now,

it comes to Kronk. Inside for Matt

Gillett. Plays at this ground for

the Brisbane Broncos. Cooper Cronk

again puts the chip in, but Gareth

Widdop was waiting for it.

The wingers have done a splendid

job, and here comes the other one,

McGilvray, making metres for fun in

this tournament. Now, Sam Burgess

again.

They were playing together for St

Helens under 11s all those years

ago. Graham is holding his head

again.

There is the big high kick

again that I've alluded to. The

longer this goes on for England, the

better in my mind.

It builds

confidence.

Cameron Smith at dummy half.

Gareth

Widdop comes across quickly to catch

it.

That is a win for England

definitely. Widdop was in great

position on the Cameron Smith kick.

It is not the prettiest rugby league

but it is effective at the moment.

Here's Roby again. This is Hill.

Roby has a look around and goes

right to Brown. Widdop almost ducks

underneath the attentions of Michael

Morgan. They're on the last... And

there is the first mistake of the

game! First mistake is England's.

And it just lets Australia off the

hook a little bit.

I was just going

to say to you, Brian, this has been

a really good set by England. You've

got to move the ball against

Australia - you don't want to be

pedestrian and make it easy for

them. Then that last tackle - you've

got to be clinical!

BRIAN NOBLE: Absolutely, couldn't

agree with you more. They had five

great plays - get it into the

corner. But to give them a free 40

metres is disappointing.

IAN MILLWARD: That's where coach

Bennett comes from, he talks about

ten from ten completion and no

errors. That's where England fall

down at times in this tournament -

you can't do that against Australia.

And Australia are very good at

taking advantage of that kind of

thing. Cameron Smith swings it away

to Cooper Cronk. Into the line comes

Matt Gillett. Still a couple to go.

Australia will finish this at least

with an attacking kick. Michael

Morgan puts it back on the inside

for Dugan to have a look. Picked up

by McGuire. So, Cameron Smith is

here. And this is the last play.

Cooper Cronk looking to slide it in,

but Widdop is across. He might have

had a penalty there.

It should have

been a penalty, the referee hasn't

picked back up.

England at least

have possession. England will be

pleased Australia did not manage to

force a repeat set.

He's used three

danger kicks already, and I believe

he's been the player of the

tournament so far.

He's also at your

club!

I hope he's not going to ask

for more money! Heap did come

through the juniors as a full-back.

That is a great kick.

If it holds up

here... And it will hold up, about

is fantastic! Great kick!

That's the

value of your kicking game. Look how

long it will take the Australians to

get back. He's LEATHERED that down

the field!

Builds confidence, Chris

Hill was involved in that tackle,

great work by the front row man.

It's with Morgan. Just inside the

England half. Its not a bad set from

Australia so far in terms of metres

made. Cameron Smith, with Billy

Slater... Well, the referee DOES

give that as a high tackle. It's a

penalty for Australia. And they just

get the chance to relieve a bit of

tension here, both sets of players.

There's nothing serious going on.

Tell me what's the difference

between that tackle and Widdop when

he was trying to get it out of

in-goal? None.

It does warrant a

penalty, but the point Iwan trying

to make is, they could have other

body at the other end also. I think

you will find they will take this

over to the right-hand side, and

England will come back to this left.

They got their first three tries

down this left-hand side in the

first game of the tournament.

Yeah,

we picked up on that earlier.

I

think Sam Burgess is just pointing

out to the referee the error of his

ways. So, Australia still have the

penalty, but the referee noticing

that they were the first to react

there.

What do you do here, Brian,

kick for goal?

Yeah.

Cameron Smith

is going for the corner. He has had

many, many wonderful appearances

here for Queensland in State of

Origin and in an Australian shirt as

well as double cars Kronk, another

Queenslander. Ten metres out,

Australia with the first chance of

the game to put pressure on the

English line. It's Smith again. Now,

Kronk with the little step! England

had it covered. England's defence

has been fantastic in this

tournament so far, but they are

really being tested here. Morgan

going left. Boyd Cordner doesn't

offer much on that occasion. Two

tackles to go. McGuire... Last

play... Smith goes left... Kronk

with the corkscrew kick. McGillvary

has missed it! And England in the

end are lucky to get away with it.

Dropout underneath the sticks.

I'm

not sure what Watkins was trying to

do, was he trying to catch it? I

think he missed it and it hit him on

the head! Could be wrong!

It was in

the field of play, he wasn't able to

that it dead because he wasn't in

in-goal. People like Kronk and

Smith, this is what they're very

good at - building pressure, plenty

of possession.

Repeat set, first of

the game, goes to Australia. Usually

spells danger. England having to be

on their mettle. And it's another

penalty. , with Jim Hamilton had it

stolen, says referee -- Woods had it

stolen, says referee Gerard Sutton.

Josh McGuire puts it back to Cooper

Cronk, who had trouble keeping hold

of the Ballsbridge gave Burgess a

real chance to size it up and knock

it down. Driving it hard is Klemmer.

England hanging on. Smith again.

Back down the middle goes Matt

Gillett! He's on his own! Desperate

moments for England! It is out to

Morgan! No space, gets the ball

away! McGillvary got a hand to that

I think. No touch from England, last

play from Australia. Here comes

Kronk. This time it's Hall under

pressure. What has he given here?

He's decided he caught it in the

field of play and then went back in

the in-goal area. Pointing to the

big screen to say, have a look at

that, referee!

I think your find it

is a correct decision - he was in

the field of play, and he fell into

the in-goal area. That's a fair

call. Gee, a little bit of pressure

here, isn't there?!

That is a big

kick from Widdop, isn't it?

It is.

Wow!

Big Sam clattering Klemmer!

He's a big fella but he's up on his

feet pretending it doesn't hurt! Is

England pack has been magnificent.

Woods has got a third off-load of

the game - England are going to have

to watch that. Here's Cameron Smith

running out. Billy Slater comes back

towards the middle! Still three

tackles to go for Australia. Smith,

Kronk, trying to make space. Morgan

with the short ball...! It's a big

effort in defence, but Cordner has

gone over! The pressure was building

and building, and eventually,

something had to give. And it's

Cordner, who found the leak in that

English line.

Well, it's weight of

pressure. It's Aaron Woods out to

Cronk. Kevin Brown, they're

fatigued, the England defenders.

Brown needs to go high there. He

picks him out one-to-one and just

breaks the tackle.

They were

targeting the two small men. When

you get one on one that close to the

line, it's hard, especially after

defending four sets in a row. This

is what we spoke about before the

game. If Australia get back-to-back

tries, they're the masters of

controlling the game, led by Smith

at dummy half. He's set the tempo of

the game. So, as much as they

defended well at the start, England,

this next ten minutes, it's vital

they get back into that with an.

The

New South Wales captain, Cordner,

it's not often he comes to this

ground and finds himself cheered by

the locals. Cameron Smith is more

than used to that! 75% kicking

accuracy. What have you two spotted?

Just looking at the possession that

Australia have had. That's hard

against a quality team

Australia have had. That's hard

against a quality team, a couple of

penalties to Australia as well. It

just builds up. England need to get

themselves back into their rhythm.

Smith, Golden Boot win earlier this

week, as the International Player Of

The Year yet again.

Look here,

Smith, long ball again, and the

structure... People are in position

to offer themselves. They are very

clinical, Australia, they're a

well-oiled machine.

Here comes

Woods, who's not off-loading out of

that one! A big hit from Sam. Aaron

Woods just snags the shirt of Sam

Burgess, and he gets a penalty.

They're getting the cause,

Australia, from the Australian

referee.

I've got to say, you can

control the situation. It's a

kick-off, you don't let them get out

of your half. If you're involved

with that, you've got to get out.

Referee says release, so it's always

going to go against you. It's this

vital time we talk about, Brian,

Australia love going back-to-back

tries thickly.

It's that element of

discipline we spoke about as well.

You've got to be squeaky-clean.

You've got to smash Woods there and

get off him.

DAVE WOODS: Kronk has Billy Slater

coming into the line. McLean, the

comeback kid from that shoulder

injury previews ago. David Klemmer,

who's going face-to-face with his

old Bulldogs team-mate James Graham.

Billy Slater puts a little kick

in... It's picked up by Ryan Hall,

and England will be relieved, as

they come away with ball in hand.

Watkins, the centre, getting himself

involved early here.

He has to well

for England this last couple of

games, Kallum Watkins.

Quick

play-the-ball from the winger,

that's good, because it gives the

little pocket for Hill to run into.

Here comes the last. Gale spins it

high. Well taken by Gagai.

BRIAN NOBLE: Great recovery set from

England, they've got 100 metres

there, pretty much.

IAN MILLWARD: It's an outstanding

set, and there's probably a moral in

that story - get outside backs

involved more.

And England have made

a mistake here.

And this will be

England! Is best starting position

to a set so far. Listen to the

English voices in the crowd.

There

are plenty of them, there must be, I

don't know, how many thousands in

here from England?

TMO: Is there a knock-on? Stripped

backwards...

He ruled that it was a

strip and he's making sure that he

stripped the ball backwards and not

forwards which is OK. They've been

pretty good from scrums in this

tournament and building up into some

points, England.

Watkins trying to

squeeze his way through. England

trailing but a chance now. Five

metres away. Penalty for England.

Repeat set for England. Or do they

kick for goal?

Keep playing here,

keep playing. Field position...

Getting very close! James Roby spins

it left. Brown! Bateman! Crunched by

those recovering Australian

defenders. They took a gamble - it

didn't work.

It was too tight. I

thought they were trying to create

too much space in not enough space,

if that makes sense. They just gave

their ballplayers no chance, really.

It gave the inside defenders a

chance to push off while the ball

was in the air also. You're right,

it was a very narrow channel to work

in and it gave Australia the chance

to push off really early. When

England get the ball, they look

really comfortable, which is a

really good sign. They're doing

really well coming down the middle.

I would like to see them get some

opportunities down here. But

Australia are the best in the world

defence - you've got to be good to

crack it.

Australia looking to power their way

out of this spell. They go forward

with the two back -- big men having

been replaced. Cameron Smith looks

to his left. Reagan

Campbell-Gillard. Smith with a

little chip, and it was a kind

bounce for McGillvary. The referee

has shouted hold, so he can go

forward a yard or two.

There were a

couple of penalty cases there, for

me. I think he needs to look at what

is going on here.

I love your

passion, Ryan!

WHISTLE

There, you see!

You talked him into

it!

Gillett, the man simply hanging on

to long there, the referee decides.

So, 18 minutes of the first half

remaining, 6-0, Australia lead. We

have asked you to get up at five

o'clock for the last two Saturdays,

you will be feeling much more

constable this week. McGillvary

coming back on the inside, but he

has lost the ball. At least he has

managed to wrap up the tackle on

Cameron Smith, and he plays it, and

they fall on it. The referee says,

penalty Australia.

Spot-on, he had

to catch and pass, McGillvary has

been a powerhouse the whole

tournament. He had to stop in this

right-hand corner. Watkins has silky

skills, if he just transfers the

ball across his body, he has the

penalty. He said he wasn't at the

start there.

He just needed to catch

and pass, and McGillvary was aware.

I love it when he is at the back, he

makes the right decision, and his

timing and composure with the ball

in his hands is fantastic.

Jordan

McLean, Australia advancing towards

the halfway line and beyond.

Morgan back on the inside, Dugan

comes looking for anything he might

find. One-handed pick-up, now it is

on by Josh McGuire. It is robust at

the moment from both sides. Cronk on

the six, high towards McGillvary.

Cronk has gone down, McGillvary

takes it clean. England will start

from there. They are still having a

little bit of ago, Cooper Cronk and

Sam Burgess, and Cooper Cronk has

just pushed Burgess in the back like

you would see in infants'

playground.

It's like you see in the

under 11 is, I will get my brother

new!

I thought it was Danny DeVito

and Arnold Schwarzenegger then!

England inside their own half, so

Gale needs something big. It is

allowed to bounce here, which gives

England more of an advantage than it

might have been. It is picked up by

Valentine Holmes, and England's line

is up there to make sure that

Australia start only 15 from their

own line.

That was a lazy option by

Holmes, a great result for England.

Morgan needs to show that he has got

petrol in the tank with that latest

carry. And Cronk is flattened again,

by Luke Gale this time, fairer and

square, he can't push anyone in the

back about that, there was nothing.

Sixth tackle, Cooper Cronk slides it

downfield.

England are growing into

this game. A little bit more

execution at the other end of the

field needed. It is all about

opportunity.

That is a sign of

recognition of England's defence and

how hard they hit that set of six,

when Cronk wants to run the ball

into touch, he sees the forward

struggling coming out of their

yardage and he decides he is going

to kick it down to that. We need a

break, because they are coming after

us here at the moment. Denying them

going for that second try, which for

Australia is the killer punch, so

doing well defensively, and you can

talk about defence, but there is a

willingness to hurt, they want to

hit.

And I think they are making

metres up the middle. Is he the best

front row on the field in the

opening stint?

They are not a bad pair of front row

ofs, the two

wingers.

Walmsley comes galloping on-again,

relatively fresh from the bench.

This won't help Luke Gale, trying to

pick his spot with a high kick

downfield. Valentine Holmes is

underneath it, catches it well

enough, and Holmes looking to break

it, but it is Roby who makes the

tackle, and again, less than 20 from

their own line. Quick pick-up by

Billy Slater who ducks and darts,

but there is more support from

Walmsley. Gagai pushing hard, decent

from the winger. This is McClain. No

flowed from him. They have got some

numbers here, but Dugan doesn't

promote the ball any further than

that. Loses a boot in the process,

this is the last tackle, it is

coming in a high, and Hall has taken

it superbly well, with Chambers all

over him.

Great catch, Ryan Hall.

Jordan McLean trying to get in

Burgess's face. Brownback on the

inside again for Whitehead.

Widdop's quick hands, and Bateman,

there might have been a couple of

thoughts in his hands there, it was

the latter that struck.

Even the winger's footwork can't get

him past the prop forward.

There are

a few Australians walking back here,

this is beginning to take its toll

on England. This is a time when

concentration is massive. All the

little principles of play have got

to come into play, and they need to

keep defending this first 30

minutes. Three gone already.

Campbell-Gillard is crunched to the

ground. Smith to Cronk, there was an

inside runner, but Cronk took it on

himself, and they find themselves on

the last, it will be the boot of

Morgan this time to put it high.

McGillvary's put his name on it.

Catching was the most important job.

Watkins. Good carry.

To Roby, it is

a stifling heat out there, by the

way. It is a really close night,

temperatures up to about 30 degrees,

but humidity very, very high here in

Queensland. Chance of rain a little

later. This is Roby. Now it is

Widdop, and here comes Watkins, a

little skip from him, takes the ball

again, straight crash, bang, into

Josh Dugan. Caught by Gagai, and

Australia start 30 yards out this

time.

The wingers England are

outstanding. They keep kicking to

them, but Slater has been holding up

the middle well. Do the reverse kick

which they love to do with Cronk and

Slater. Now he reverse kicks,

England have to be on their guard,

Cooper, Cronk and Slater are very

good at that at this time of the

game.

Campbell Gillard, there is a

real fatigue to the body language of

Australia at the moment. This is

Michael Morgan, it is the last play

again for Australia, still 30 metres

out, and Smith is across quickly.

Along the ground this time, but

Widdop again as a cross to take it.

His positioning has been superb this

tournament. He has been there for

all the kicks, and he read that from

Cameron Smith. This is Graham Buck

on the field, blood still streaming

from that left eye. He won't mind

those scars of war. Frizell takes it

on another stride or two. The

flowed, it is between a couple of

legs, Gale picks it up and they

might make something here, Bateman

with a step back on the inside, he

flicks away to Ryan Hall, and Hall

is now dancing towards the middle.

I think he was just outside the 40

when he let that slide. It has put

the right back on the back. He has

got this on the string tonight, Luke

Gale. All of his kicks have been

chased, and I think he sensed a

little fatigue on both sides of the

fence, and he thought, we need the

sideline here.

Certainly the last

two kicks, they have been under

pressure, got the run on it, really

smart. That is the question I had

for this final, whether he could

step up. He has really stood up here

at the moment, seven and a half

minutes on the clock, and they have

weather this storm by Australia, but

they have to come back with

something before half-time, with

some possession down this end of the

part, because it is all down

England's end of the park at the

moment.

These are incredibly

conditioned athletes, incredibly fit

human beings, so to be displaying

the levels of fatigue that both

sides are displaying tells you how

tough this Test match has been for

the opening 30 minutes.

Roby will

run a lot from dummy half, and that

is when you know that Australia are

starting to open up around the

middle.

They are winning the battle

here, England at the moment. Three

tackles gone, Australia restricted

to 30 yards. Now McLean, it is

patient Rugby you are watching here.

There is an air of desperation, but

it has not quite gone beyond the 20.

Ryan Hall would have had his heart

in his mouth, and he would have been

so relieved.

You look at both of

these teams, whether it is Gale or

Cronk, it is all strategic, whether

they want to start this set, change

the tempo of the game. He nearly had

Gareth then, adidas Meli had Ryan

Hall.

He was about five yards away

from making a big kick, a tap for

Australia and England would have

been on the ropes, and that is what

he is good at.

He wants to change

that fight with that kick. So does

this bloke.

This is great from

McGillvary, great Kerry again.

Doesn't he beat the first person

easily?

Up to his feet, Graham back

on the inside to Walmsley. Making

decent progress here, Gale up to the

line. Looking for the step back on

the inside, Gillett makes the

tackle. Clever Walmsley bulldozing

forward and picking up position, 20

metres out, and a penalty for

England for holding down. Big

moment. They were onto the last

play, they now have six more. Do

they go for goal? They are taking

the tap. They sense that Australia

are just running out of juice here

at the moment. Roby runs away left

to Gale who puts the pass back,

Bateman has to recover the position.

He has lost the ball, what an

opportunity lost for England again.

Just a little rush of blood when

they needed calmness, and they have

handed Australia a lifeline.

That is

three that have come down this end

of the park, and they have lost the

ball in sets of six when they have

been able to challenge that

goal-line. They have been able to

put the ball in the goal.

We spoke

about that at the top of the show,

they were alluding to the fact that

they create the positions, but what

you can't do is throw away the

chance. We haven't executed one yet.

Very rare Australia would give away

a penalty on the last tackle. You

have to say, if we don't score, we

will build the pressure.

There is a

fair bit of rain coming down at the

moment.

I don't think we could pick

up the rain from this position

before that, but we saw it on that

shot of Bateman. Australia leading

6-0, three and a half minutes to go

before half-time, and these are

dangerous moments for England.

Always.

Just before the break,

Australia can pick up the tempo.

They have found the halfway line

very nearly an tackle three. Here is

McLean.

Billy Slater looking at what is

around. Seamus is around, but

England have his number. The

challenge is coming in, it was a

knock-on by Josh Dugan, it is a zero

tackle as England claim it, the

referee will say no advantage, and

hand over on the ten metre line.

This is a close game, who can catch

it, who can't catch it, McGillvary

is up there, England clearing their

lines, everything England are doing

is fantastic, but they can't create

the opportunity or keep hold of the

ball for long periods.

You have to

treasure the border little bit more.

You need to get some area at

half-time. They won't listen to much

at the moment because they are

really emptying the tank, both

teams, at the moment.

Walmsley below

the shoulder of Campbell Gillard. It

is not the most expansive game of

rugby by any stretch of the

imagination, but look at what is at

stake, that trophy. Neither side

want to lose this. They are coming

to the sixth. Gale again, shoots it

high in the air. Slater coming his

way, but they are a long way away,

he can catch it safely. There are

not many behind the ball.

Gagai collect site of dummy half.

Smith, the man who waits. Chambers

pushing on towards the halfway line,

no further.

They are sweeping it along the line

here to Morgan. Back on the inside

again, and there is a gap there

found by Cordner almost, and Cameron

Smith is picking up and running it,

and here is Chambers with the kick,

it comes off an English leg, but

then safely into the English arms of

Ryan Hall.

If you are an outside

back for England, under a lot of

pressure, but if you are a forward

or another player, you are safe,

because those back three are so

safe.

They are good.

Soft hands by

Graham, and an unintentional pass by

Watkins, but Graham will take that,

and then very, very late, the

referee decided was a forward pass.

Australia rushing to the scrum,

because if they can pack it down,

they can stop the clock. Widdop

getting in the way of things.

It is

hard to see what happened there.

Didn't it get propelled back through

the force of the tackle?

I think he

has said he has lost control of the

ball, and adjudicated the knock-on

there.

11 seconds of the first half

remaining. Two plays maximum for

Australia, leading 6-0. England

desperate to hang that. There are

going for a drop goal, it didn't

come off, but it is picked up by

Valentine Holmes, and he will take

the tackle, and that will be the end

of what has been an absolutely

punishing and fascinating first

half. It might have lacked flair at

times, it might have lacked edge of

the seat excitement, but as a Test

match, that was it.

It was, we just

have to get England to execute a

little bit better, but they are in

the game and playing their socks

off.

Boyd Cordner is the only man to

score a try so far in this game at

the 14th minute, and he is down on

the pitch now.

Only two mistakes in the first 40

minutes, pretty clinical.

We have to

do that to be in with any chance of

winning tonight, they are good teams

we can't give good field position.

And the pace of the game?

It is what

weeks but had of a final, so it

should be a good second-half.

Good

luck. We also have Luke Gale, tell

us about it.

It is the battle of the

field position, really, they put us

under a bit of pressure, but it went

down to the last ten minutes and

field position, and pressure will

win this game.

Obviously the heat

will play a part as well, it is

pretty warm.

It is, but it is the

same for both sides. The team who

holds position best will probably

come out on top.

Good luck falls

holds position best will probably

come out on top.

Good luck falls.

Cheers.

STUDIO: Here are the statistics of

that first half. Australia

completing 22 of their 23, England

completing 15 of 20. A few more

errors made by England, and the

penalties very balanced as well. It

is fascinating, isn't it? As Dave

Woods said, maybe not the

creativity, but low scoring games

can have you on the edge of your

seat.

I think England will be happy

with 6-0 down at half-time, given

the field position that Luke Gale

touched on there. He has had to kick

out of his own 40 a lot in that

half, and Australia have plenty of

ball on their try line, so if they

have only broken down once, we are

happy with that.

Justin?

I would

agree. England have to be more

patient with the ball. Luke Gale is

kicking tremendously well, England

had to improve their kicking game

they have done that. I would love

them to kick it down the other end

of the field, we know they have

panicked early tackles, but if they

are going to break Australia's

defence, it might be a little chip

or something has got to come up to

get a try out of this game. But it

is a thrilling first half. I thought

it would be low scoring, hopefully

it will open up a bit more now that

both teams are tired.

Robbie?

I

think England are underperforming,

and I think the statistics show

that. They are probably about 20%

off what Australia are performing at

this point in time. England is

matching them. Hopefully we will see

in the second 40 minutes what we saw

in the opening game of the

tournament where England came out

and they dominated, changed

statistics around, and maybe being a

little bit more patient, and they

will get the opportunities.

I

suppose England's weakest moments

came when Australia scored the try,

20 minutes of that first half. That

in many ways invited the pressure

onto themselves, penalty, repeat,

penalty, repeat.

Yes, two penalties,

two repeats, the error from Kallum

Watkins and then this catch from

Ryan Hall, he does great to catch

it, but given that much ball in

possession in the England half, it

is inevitable that at some point

they are going to get somewhere

close. They are obviously targeting

Kevin Brown and Luke Gale on the

other side, and they have been the

two spots on the England side, and

they have got what they have worked

for there. With four sets, you would

think that you have to do something

remarkable to stop them scoring.

On

that first repeat, he should have

caught the ball, he was in the field

of play, and it just gave Australia

that chance to really get the host.

It was almost a carbon copy of the

first test, the opening 20 minutes

were all Australia, but England were

able to turn the screw and get back

into the game.

But as Justin said,

an Kallum Watkins, to break yourself

out of that momentum, you need to do

something for yourselves, don't you?

Yes, and momentum is a massive thing

in a game as tight as this. You have

probably seen Kallum catch that

bought 99 times out of a hundred, it

is characteristic of him, so

skilful, and that put us under a bit

of pressure, and then at the other

end of the field, we have had a few

opportunities where the skill has

not quite been there, and we have

released the pressure valve of the

Aussies. Before the game, we needed

a nine out of ten performance to win

it, but in the second half, we need

ten out of ten. That was a bad

option by Kevin Brown, they have us

covered man for man, forcing the

past. When we get down the other

end, you don't get this opportunity

many times against the Aussies,

stripped them for numbers, you have

the best win of the competition, and

if Kallum can just execute that pass

quicker, he would be one-on-one with

Billy Slater, and I would rate him

from there.

That was a gimme, and

this was another tell-tale sign of

being not quite at the races with

regards to having the patience to

build pressure. Australia did it in

the opening 15 minutes, they built

pressure and made England defend for

24 tackles, and we need to do the

same thing to Australia, and the

level of talent within the team to

score tries.

If England are down 20-0, and they

produce something big, but they need

to be patient, Australia know they

have only conceded three tries this

World Cup, but Josh Dugan is the one

who gets caught out, he was caught

out last week against Fiji and he

was caught out there, so England

tackle really well, they are right

on Australia's left, so they have to

keep going down there and being

patient to do it.

Can you coach

patient is?

You can talk about it.

So if you are in the dressing room

now at half-time, would that be your

main thing to reiterate as an

England player?

Absolutely, and we

all know how calm way nears! -- how

calm Wayne Bennett is! They will be

saying, give me a chance, I want to

get out here, we are putting

ourselves under pressure.

For me, it

comes down to the halves, Luke Gale

and Kevin Brown. What they need to

do is build some assertive pressure.

Some of the rushed decisions come

from the fact that we don't want to

go set the set for 80 minutes with

the Aussies, they will beat as at

it, that is what they do every week

in the NRL, teams like the Brisbane

Broncos who are competing in the

high 80s, and it is boring

sometimes. We can't go set the set,

but we also can't rush hour

opportunities. We got to be

clinical.

So is it trying to hard?

It is probably to do with the halves

not getting a great amount of the

ball in the opposition half, and

when they are down there, thinking,

let's try something, but you can't

make it up. The one that went to the

floor from Luke Gale, he was making

up a pass, that was frustration of

only being down there a few times,

needing to make something happen.

The World Cup final got off to eight

bruising start the James Graham,

although as Sam said, it is only a

bit of blood, get on with it! There

were four or five around him, but it

is Aaron Woods who has replaced

James Graham at Canterbury Bulldogs

who put his hand around to it, you

can see it from this angle. He hit

his head there, and this is where

the cut comes from. I think Woods

has 23 goes at the left side of his

face.

The front row, it is

prerogative to give each other a

slap, but that is a tell-tale sign

of how physical this game has been.

40 minutes of them giving it to one

another, and it is great that you

see that happening in the opening

tackle of the game. Five on one

tackle, James Graham doesn't get

bested. Both him and Gillett come

off second best, but they also

setting the tone of the game, and

the rest of the front row has all

come in, and they are saying,

wake-up.

But the words Graham thing

has been a good subplot in the

build-up to this game.

They are both

confrontational and want to get to

each other, and when I said it was

only a bit of blood, just to be

clear, I would have gone off with

it!

LAUGHTER

I would have had the works,

helicopter, everything! Vermijl

would have been a major injury.

The

physicality has been brilliant, and

Sam Burgess has given as good as he

has got.

Definitely and we saw that

last week against Tonga, they are

not lacking physicality, and the

only thing he did poorly was the

one-off kick-off, that huge hit on

Woods, and then overstepping the

mark with the play-the-ball.

The Aussies have got some big

enforcers. Sam gets up and whacked

him - that sends a message that

we're matching them in physicality.

The Australians, they're thinking,

oh, no, Sam is in that mood!

At how

much, as well, will this be a little

bit of a shock to the Aussies? I

mean listen, they're used to big

hits in the NRL but they've had a

fairly comfortable tournament,

haven't they? This is as bruising as

it has got for them?

It definitely

is, but one thing they've done well

in this tournament is, they've been

patient, bordering on it being

boring. 6-0 up after 27 minutes

against some teams. They're familiar

with just being up by a little bit

and then no-one panics, whereas

England need that, let's give our

last play a chance. England are

lacking that, whereas Australia are

like, you boys do your, who is asked

three will control it.

Yeah, it's

almost robotic, and that's what's

worrying from England's point of

view, they're not going to change.

England almost need to embrace that

Englishness, that Super League style

of rugby league, and when they got

the opportunity, like we saw in the