We always will.Australia could field probably 3 different sides that could beat us.Obviously with them missing a few key names this time it means we should at the very least compete but they are still big favourites on home soil.

Any talk of a 2nd or a 3rd string side is just b*ll*x . The Australian team is the Australian team , no excuses no 2nd string. It's the best team in Aus at that point in time. Just like we won't have Sam B playing for us, they will also have players missing. It has always been the case. Inthe past when England had key players missing the usual suspects say 'no strength in depth' when Australia play it's 'a 2nd rate team' - absolute tripe.

Big difference between missing 2-3 names and 19 potential first team members! Of the squad likely to take the field only 4-5 of them are legitimate first choice players. Not that the rest arent good but not world class by any stretch and certainly not close to being equal to players that are missing. If NZ dont win this they want a rocket and a new coach!

Likely Kangaroo team:



1. Inglis

2. Tupou (R)

3. Jennings

4. Walker (R)

5. Johnston (R)

6. Cherry Evans

7. Cronk

8. Scott

9. Smith (C)

10. Woods

11. Hoffman

12. Thaiday

13. Bird

14. Papali

15. Parker

16. Guerra (R)

17. Farrah



(R) = Rookie



One of the weakest Australian packs I have ever seen, very little in the prop forward dept. Such a shame we lost Sam, the english pack would have made mince meat of them.

If it says Australia on the match day ticket then it's Australia lining up on the pitch. They will play hard and be hard to beat.



I don't buy this weakest team in years- the same thing has been said countless times in the last 10 years. Players move on and are replaced by thise with less of a reputation, that's how it's always been.

If you don't buy it then you are a goose. This is the weakest Australian team in 50 years. Matthew Scott is not playing and the only specialist prop in the side is Aaron Woods. The Burgess twins and James Graham with the support of Chris Hill will make mincemeat of the Australian pack.



The Kiwis are without Jared Wharea-Hargreaves and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, both of whom are key first choice players.



If England cannot win this series then they have no hope in the future of international rugby league.

We have better props and that is it.Australia with that team are still superior in the back row,at hooker in the halves,centres and at full back if inglis plays there.we are also away from home.



We are still big underdogs.

Likely Kangaroo team/Likely England team



1. Inglis/Tomkins

2. Tupou/Hall

3. Jennings/Watkins

4. Walker/Shenton

5. Johnston/Charnley

6. Cherry Evans/Widdop

7. Cronk/Smith

8. Scott/Graham

9. Smith/Clark

10. Woods/Burgess

11. Hoffman/Ferres

12. Thaiday/Tomkins

13. Bird/O'loughlin

14. Papali/Burgess

15. Parker/Hill

16. Guerra/Farrell

17. Farrah/Hodgson



Outside backs-fairly even, I would just favour Aus due to Inglis



Halfbacks/hooker-Aus



Props-England



Back Row-Aus



We're in with a chance but still big underdogs.

I disagree that the outside backs are fairly even - only Hall and Watkins are really anywhere near even, and that's not taking into account Watkins has been in average form this year at best.



Our props are head and shoulders above theirs, but that's it's. Our starting back row will be able to live with theirs for maybe 60 minutes, but they've got massive impact off the bench that we're lacking - I'd guess it will be the same old story where we compete for 60 mins and then they run away with it in the end. That's where Sam Burgess will be sorely missed - he'd have probably done 80 mins in the backrow and would have been the best forward on the park.



I really hope they prove me wrong - I'll be cheering them on all the way and will no doubt feel a lot more optimistic come kick off.

As we've seen in many games, the best team 'on paper' doesn't always win.



Australian teams will always have an advantage over English as they are used to playing high intensity games all season and not just for 4/5 games a year. You can take average players and put them together and make them very hard to beat if they are conditioned i playing high intensity, quick, controlled rugby.





This may change over the next few years as more players are involved in the NRL.

The mighty Sydney Roosters have announced that prop forward Samuel Moa has withdrawn from the New Zealand Four Nations squad "for family reasons."



This is a big blow for the Kiwis. Moa is a powerful presence in attack and defense. Moa's team mate and fellow prop Jared Wharea-Hargreaves had already made himself unavailable. It gives the England front row clear superiority over their Kiwi equivalents.

This 4N tournament ought to be renamed the Coitus Interruptus tournament given the number of withdrawals.