Four Nations match preview and teams: Australia v England

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Australia v England Four Nations

What: 2014 Four Nations Test match
Who: Australia v England
When: Sunday, October 2 – 4.00pm (AEDT)
Where: AAMI Park
I Can Watch It On: Channel Nine
 
What did they do last week?

The Kangaroos opened the tournament with a disappointing 30-12 loss to New Zealand on Saturday. It ended Australia's 16-Test winning streak was their first loss in nine games against New Zealand.

England twice had to come from behind against Samoa on Saturday, eventually prevailing 32-26 in a bruising encounter in Brisbane.


Cherry-Evans of Australia is taken from the field injured. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
 
Things You Need To Know

Newcastle teenager Sione Mata'utia will become the youngest man to play for the Kangaroos after he was named to replace Daniel Tupou on the wing. He will be 18 years and 129 days old – 65 days younger than Israel Folau who also debuted as a teenager in 2007. Five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans has been named in the starting side but is in doubt with a minor hip muscle tear suffered against the Kiwis. Brisbane half-back Ben Hunt has been named 18th man. Corey Parker starts at lock for Ryan Hoffman who drops to the bench. Roosters young gun Boyd Cordner has been named in the 17, with Josh Papalii dropped to 20th man. Full-back Greg Inglis is a certain starter after missing the second half against New Zealand with a virus.

England have named an unchanged 17. Captain Sean O'Loughlin was not included in the side announced on Tuesday but is still a strong chance to return from a quad strain suffered in Wigan's Super Leauge grand final loss. The back-rower missed the opening game against Samoa but will be given every chance to line up against Australia.

 Reason To Watch

If Tim Sheens' men lose on Sunday they will become the first Kangaroos team to miss the final of an international tournament since the inaugural World Cup in 1954. How will they handle the pressure?


Tom Burgess of England celebrates victory over Samoa. Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images
 
Reason To Turn Away

Losing the occasional game of cricket to England is bad enough, but watching Australia go down to the Poms in rugby league just wouldn't feel right.
 
Say What

"I don't think you're going to see a performance like that again from the Kangaroos. We set ourselves a high standard and we didn’t reach that the other night, so we need to challenge each other to do that," – Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith.
 
"Australia are a wounded animal. They are coming off the back of a loss that will inspire them even more to do their best to beat us. We'll be prepared and it is exciting - it is a chance for a lot of lads to beat Australia on their first tour. We want to knock them out (of the tournament)," - England full-back Sam Tomkins.


Cameron Smith of Australia speaks to media after losing the Four Nations Rugby League match between the Australian Kangaroos and New Zealand. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
 
Final Word

The Great Britain side beat Australia in 2006 but England haven't tasted victory over the Kangaroos since 1995. The Kangaroos have been devastated by injuries and were bad against New Zealand but the injury to Cherry-Evans and Inglis' failure to finish the game were big factors. Stephen Kearney's men also deserve credit for the way they played against the Aussies. England did enough to beat Samoa but weren't that impressive themselves and will have to improve significantly to pull off the upset. It will be physical but the Kangaroos' class will be too much for the Poms to handle in the last 20. Kangaroos by 12.
 
Luxbet Odds:

Australia - $1.37
England - $3.10
 
Teams:
 

Australia: 1. Greg Inglis, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Dylan Walker, 5. Sione Mata'utia, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Sam Thaiday, 11. Beau Scott, 12. Greg Bird, 13. Corey Parker.
Interchange: 14. Boyd Cordner, 15. Robbie Farah, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Ryan Hoffman, 18. Ben Hunt, 19. David Klemmer, 20. Josh Papalii (three to be omitted).
 
England: 1. Sam Tomkins, 2. Josh Charnley, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Michael Shenton, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Matty Smith, 8. George Burgess, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. James Graham (c), 11. Liam Farrell, 12. Joel Tomkins, 13. Joe Westerman.
Interchange: 14. Daryl Clark, 15. Brett Ferres, 16. Tom Burgess, 17. Chris Hill.

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