England will play Australia in next weekend’s Four Nations final after a shock 28-6 win against defending champions New Zealand 28-6 on Saturday.
Just more than a year after England finished a distant third in the tournament behind the Antipodean duo, they proved too strong for the world champion Kiwis in a winner-takes-all-clash with Sam Tomkins, Tom Briscoe, Ryan Hall and James Graham all scoring tries, while New Zealand managed just a converted Jason Nightingale score.
England goalkicker Kevin Sinfield helped keep the hosts in control at KC Stadium with 12 points.
It is more than 40 years since England, or Great Britain as they were known, have beaten Australia in an Ashes series or performed better than the Kangaroos in a major tournament.
However, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney said Steve McNamara’s men could cause an upset a week on Saturday at Leeds United soccer club’s Elland Road ground.
“I thought England played outstandingly well tonight,” he told Sky Sports. “They were very, very good.”
“I think England can go into the [Australia] game with some real confidence. It’s going to be a big ask, but if they stick to what they did tonight I’m sure they’ll give Australia a real run for their money,” Kearney added.
Only last week England were beaten 36-20 by Australia at Wembley and home captain Jamie Peacock said his side would have to raise their game against the Kangaroos.
“We’re getting more confident as the tournament progresses and we want to take another step up against Australia,” Peacock said.
Having trailed 8-0 at the break, the Kiwis briefly threatened a second-half comeback when Nightingale crossed, but Graham’s try and a late score from Tomkins ensured the holders would be heading home early.
A bad-tempered clash saw Jeremy Smith elbow Tomkins when he was on the ground, leaving referee Matt Cecchin to put the second-row on report.
England focused their frustration over that off-the-ball incident into to claim the first points of the game in the 27th minute.
Hull teammates Kirk Yeaman and Tom Briscoe — both playing at their club’s home ground — combined to put the latter, despite a strong suspicion of a forward pass, over in the corner. Sinfield kicked the goal to make it 6-0.
England were handed an eight-point advantage at the break by more ill discipline from the Kiwis.
New Zealand-born Rangi Chase had his knee cynically twisted after the tackle had been completed by South Sydney Rabbitohs ace Issac Luke.
Just four minutes of the second half were on the clock when Ben Westwood put Hall in the corner with the Leeds Rhinos wing making it three tries in two England games.
The dead-eyed Sinfield again kicked an impressive goal from the touchline to leave the Kiwis with a mountain to climb.
However, New Zealand got themselves back into it just after the hour mark when Nightingale kept up his record of scoring in every Four Nations clash by crossing.
Marshall kicked the goal to make the deficit eight points, however it was England who struck next when Sinfield responded in kind to make it 16-6.
Five minutes later, Canterbury Bulldogs-bound Graham scored England’s third try of the match to settle it before Tomkins put the icing on the cake with his score — both efforts converted by Sinfield.
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