England remains unchanged for weekend game against Australia - Rugby League
English coach, Steve McNamara, confirmed on Thursday, November 3, that there will be no modifications in the English line-up, which is all set to take on the series’ favourites, Australia, in the double-header of Gillette Four Nations Campaign, on Saturday
November 5, in Wembley.
Wembley will field four teams over the weekend, where one match will unfold with England clashing against Australia, and the second match will feature Wales taking on New Zealand.
The England coach is confident about his side’s performance which has so far given them two wins in three weeks’ time. The English side overwhelmed the French by a massive win of 32-14 in the warm-up match of the series, staged at Avignon. This was followed
up by another thumping 42-4 win against the meagre Welsh side in their Game 1 of the tournament at Leigh last Saturday.
So far England is going strong in their campaign and so is the case with Australia, as they too have a good win of 26-12 against New Zealand in last Friday’s clash. Unlike England, Kangaroos have undergone minor changes in their line-up.
Centre Greg Inglis has returned to fill in his on-field position, after a two-month injury break, whereas Willie Tonga, who sustained a pectoral muscle injury during last weekend’s encounter will play this Saturday’s game.
As confirmed by Tim Sheens, Roos’ coach Chris Lawrence or Tonga were the two choices who were most probable switches for Inglis. While talking about it, coach said, "It probably saves me having to make a tough decision because both boys have been playing
well.”
Australian coach is yet to decide the replacement for prop David Shillington, who had injured his ankle after the notorious cannonball tackle by the New Zealand hooker Issac Luke. Caution statement has been released against the occurrence of a similar dangerous
tackle.
England has retained their line-up from the previous two weeks which included; Tomkins (Wigan); R Hall (Leeds), J Reed (Brisbane), K Yeaman (Hull), T Briscoe (Hull); K Sinfield (Leeds), R Chase (Castleford); J Graham (St Helens), J Roby (St Helens), J Peacock
(Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), B Westwood (Warrington) and C Heighington (Wests Tigers).
Australia will march into the weekend’s game with; B Slater (Melbourne), A Uate (Newcastle), C Lawrence (Wests Tigers), G Inglis (South Sydney), D Boyd (St George Illawarra); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Gallen (Cronulla),
C Smith (Melbourne), M Scott (North Queensland), L Lewis (Penrith), S Thaiday (Brisbane) and A Watmough (Manly).
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