England v Australia ..... the final

So England beat New Zealand to reach the 4 nations final .

Wales finish bottom of the league but should be proud of their efforts especially against Australia .

Australia pick a so called weaker side and still score 56 points .

so its England v Australia in the final .

What do you think the score will be ?

Think Australia will win by 6.

Think both have played well this tournament from the bits i've seen. But Australia have been/are more clinical in the oposition 20, and that will be the diffrence.

At this moment in time I'm optimistic of a England victory. Come this time next week that optimism could be shattered.
England by 4.

Well done England on Saturday's performance. Totally dominated our lot from what I have read (not seen the game yet, probably no point too) and it's now time to give Australia another shake and go one better.

What I don't understand from our performances is why we have been so lacklustre? We had three teams in the major Australian finals inc the NRL and everyone was touting the domination by NZ in RL, to this abject failure within 6 weeks.

Perhaps the only thing I can think is that the season's been a long one and it would have probably been better to stay at home and rest this year. Maybe Kearney isn't the answer to our coaching conundrum. He's already favourite to be the first NRL coach axed next season...

Anyway, well done England hope you guys can win next week

I think it is a case of those two factors, chewed - the long season and lack of respect or willingness to put it all on the line for Kearney.

Benji seemed off his game and Foran lacked the usual spark. Those two are critical in facilitating a top Kiwi performance.

Also England and Australia seem to be very hungry to win it this year and it's good to see some rookies heavily involved in the thick of it.

It will be a close tussle I believe... England are looking very impressive; the Roos didn't panic when Wales made a jump on them early on... but they cannot let England do the same. I'll go for a Kangaroo 28-26 win. It think it will be closer than the first match.

However, it won't surprise me if England does get home by 6-10 points either. We do have a knack for having a poor showing in the Final.

Linebreaker, be confident! You don't have Billy Slater to botch things up this time!

Mate, it's been a long year... nothing (in sport) surprises me anymore! Someone else will step up for the botch job no doubt.

Did you hear the rumour about Matai being seen at Cronulla Leagues Club (not in the bar area) and the possibility of the Stewart bros heading off to St George-Illawarra? Feel a bit shattered actually....

Manly's side are going to break up? It happens though doesn't it? Every team that wins the GF sees the value of it's players go up, it's a natural result of success and one of the great levelers of having a salary cap...unless your the Melbourne Storm of course....

i'm going to go with my heart and say an England win by 8

Mainly a Union fan and have really enjoyed the 4 nations so far and now looking forward to the final. Heart says England but head says Australia by 4 - hope I'm wrong though.

Great game against NZ, couldn't believe some of the NZ roughing up tactics. The leg twist after the tackle was so obvious and the forearm to Tomkins was equally as bad. Perhaps if NZ hadn't tried so hard to wind the English players up and just concentrated on their own game they could have given themselves more of a chance.

Also for the record, although I'm mainly a Union fan I'm glad Sam Tomkins is staying in League. Amazing talent but union has enough top players and personally I want both codes to flourish.

Linebreakers right it has been a long season, how the state of origin players are still standing defies human logic.
Whats worse for these guys now,is that when they get back they will find that 2012 pre season training has already started...

The appointment of a Aussie ref should definatley give Australia the advantage now , they will be aware of what they can and can not get away with with him .

England look pretty good for the first time in a few years, but in all honesty I'd be utterly flabbergasted if Australia don't win and I'll still be quite surprised if it's not by more than 12 points.

Aus will win by at least 20 IMO.

dublfcynwa wrote:Aus will win by at least 20 IMO.

If Australia don't win with an Aussie ref in charge by at least 20 points Sheens will walk. Everything is loaded in Australia's favour for Australia not to win by a large score would be a national sporting disaster for them, but sometimes sport throws up unexpected results. All Engalnd fans should make sure that their voices are heard on Saturday. The England team will need all the vocal support it can get.
COME ON ENGLAND.

Are you saying our refs will favour the Kangaroos? At least wait until after the match... you may well win it. Just saying.

Anyway, best of luck to both teams.

Linebreaker wrote:Are you saying our refs will favour the Kangaroos? At least wait until after the match... you may well win it. Just saying.

Anyway, best of luck to both teams.

I think your refs have have always favoured Australia. Archer, Harrigan etc have in the recent past blatantly given Australia the 50/50 calls i know Australians have been embarrassed by them.
Steve Ganson sent off Adrain Morley after ex amout of seconds against Australia in England, Would a Australian ref have sent off an Australian player after such a short time in a test match here or in Australia?

For nearly taking another player's head off... yes.

It will be interesting on Saturday how the ref deals the notorius head hunter Tony Williams. My guess is that the ref will bottle with Williams and just put him on report If a English player does the same offence a red card.

I think he'll get a red if he does it again... and rightly so!

I think the fact that people are already lining up to crusify the ref is taking away from what should be a decent spectacule, between what is undoubtly the best team in the sport, and a team that after a few years in the doldrums is starting to come good finally.
I agree that it should be a neautral ref (like i said in another thread i'd would have liked Albert). Espically as every call he makes will be either biased to the Aussies, or trying to prpve that he's unbiased.
But lets wait till after the final before commenting on the ref, and instead comment on respective danger men, what England need to do to beat the Aussies etc, and concetrate on the game itself, after all hopefully the ref won't be a factor in what will be a fantastic game of rugby

Hope your right tiger i hate it when the talk afterwards is all about the ref not the game itself .

Still going to stick my neck out and say an England win , it would be great for rugby league as a whole .

KingKenny7Heaven wrote:Hope your right tiger i hate it when the talk afterwards is all about the ref not the game itself .

Still going to stick my neck out and say an England win , it would be great for rugby league as a whole .

The amount of times after leaving rugby grounds and hearing the complaints against the ref, it just brings me down, not everything that happens over 80 mins is his fault.

Glad your optimistic, still can't see us winning, just think the Aussies are to clinical and we're not.

But to be honest let them have this 4 nations, i'd rather we won the world cup next year anyway

COME ON ENGLAND !!!!

C'MON 'ROOS!

This should be really good...

Eevening line. Best of luck mate

A couple of high tackles from the Aussies again

Thanks Billy - yeah some high tackles around the throat. ooh... a tiny slap there from the England player.

I am amazed that its not about 18-0 right now though

Yes, time has flown by and still only 6-0.

I bet England score soon... so much dropped ball from both sides.

How is this game 6-6. Very weird. Not the greatest of quality though

The players seem more concerned about their own safety than ball control.

Penalty try was correct call - nearly took his head off. Now a penalty in front of the sticks just before HT. 8-6 to the Kangaroos

England showed last week and 2 weeks ago against the Aussies that they were capable of competing. This ay go down to the wire.

this is almost like a role reversal 2bh. The English, despite being dominated for large chunks of the half are only two points behind and the aussies arent taking their chances! come on engaaaalllaannddd

It was a correct ruling for the penalty try. Not a great attempt by Thurston

England lucky to still be in it , how is Thurston still on the pitch it should of been a sin binning at least

penalty try defo the correct call. First the guy gets tackled around the neck, then someone comes accross and knees him in the head, ouch!

8 all now. Not the most riveting game. Too many errors and cheap shots.

Good defence from England No Try

England have had the rub of the green in the TMO decisions lol

Is the video ref English ?

That try should pretty much wrap the match up for the Aussies now

Yes that could knock the stuffing out of England , next score is so important now

No idea... Ref has not had a great one, has he? Finally another try.

Thats defo it now. Well played the Aussies

Same old story

Just too goo in the end. England look out on their feet.

Who do you think will get Golden Boot award?

Yes we just cant stay with them for 80 minutes

Lockyear

Thurston, he is a record breaker